Pay Off Before Lay Off!

Habibiboo

:wave:

Little update ...

MFW actions:

* Both yesterday and today as NSDs, so 4/5 so far this week!
AA actions
* Signed up for A*M's October challenge yesterday, to help keep me focused through next month as it's going to be hard to free up any cash for MOPs unless I can be seriously frugal!
* Today I signed up for another bank account switch (for my work monies current account) as a way to earn some more incentive vouchers towards Christmas (will off-set having to use any spare cash for festivities). Have been accepted, just need to wait for paperwork to come through.
So, overall AA day 34 / 100 = £632 / £2,000

Grey Cloud:
Cooker is misbehaving. Clock keeps going back to reset mode and when it's in that mode you can't turn the oven on. Have looked it up online and is a common fault apparently with this old make (is about 16 years old) and apparently the part is either a) impossible to get or b) very expensive because it's impossible to get. Have found a work-around tip online so oven can be used, but is mildly frustrating for short term using and PITA for longer term financial efforts!

Silver lining:
Did cheeky meal swap from published weekly menu today as neither of us fancied soup. Had cheesy garlic omelet with green salad of beetroot spinach, sorrel, basil and rocket leaves and tomato salad. With the exception of a sprinkle of grated cheddar in the omelette, everything else on the plate was from the back garden!

Daily declutter:

Nothing left the house exactly but a couple of minor preps:
* Charity bag came through door today for Monday, so started sorting a few clothes.
* Sorted through some toiletries from last Xmas / my birthday etc for a use up campaign next month.

Simple pleasures:
* A colony of hedge sparrows seem to be joining chooks at mealtimes. Great fun to watch.
* Putting PJs on early!

Hope everyone is Ok and has a happy Friday tomorrow! x

tootallulah

Hi HBBBO I am sorry my post was thoughtless, I do hope that you are feeling better soon. Good luck with October frugalities I am with you on that journey.

Habibiboo

tootallulah wrote: »

Hi HBBBO I am sorry my post was thoughtless, I do hope that you are feeling better soon. Good luck with October frugalities I am with you on that journey.

:wave:

Toots, no problem ... I didn't think it was thoughtless at all, it was supportive and helpful - I'd really like to just shove it all in the car, drive off to a boot sale and have it all done with and if I was able to drive currently it would've been just the gentle spur I need to just do it! Unfortunately life just isn't conveniently adjusting itself to my plans and wishes, darn it!

Have you seen Apple Muncher's thread on the DFW challenges board for October? I'm using that to help through October too.

Have you heard from the surveyor yet? Good, grim or bearable news? x

greent

Ahhh, sorry to hear about the vomiting Hope you get better soon! xx (I have 3 vomiting boys here this week - yuck!)


I grate courgette (and stick in the freezer when I have a glut) and put it in chilli, cottage pie, Bolognese/ lasagne and make courgette and tomato soup (v yummy) I also griddle thick slices of it and have with some sort of chutney Ours are still producing (yellow, green and a stripey one) but I'm picking them whilst they're small as they've slowed right down in fattening up - but I have a decent freezer supply to see me through for a while! x

Habibiboo

:wave:

greent wrote: »

Ahhh, sorry to hear about the vomiting Hope you get better soon! xx (I have 3 vomiting boys here this week - yuck!)

Eeew, three boys at once ... I remember it well, you have my sympathies G*T...I hope it doesn't go round everyone!

I grate courgette (and stick in the freezer when I have a glut) and put it in chilli, cottage pie, Bolognese/ lasagne and make courgette and tomato soup (v yummy) I also griddle thick slices of it and have with some sort of chutney Ours are still producing (yellow, green and a stripey one) but I'm picking them whilst they're small as they've slowed right down in fattening up - but I have a decent freezer supply to see me through for a while! x

Excellent plan, G*T ... the leaves on the two plants are starting to go a bit funny so I think I need to rescue the remaining courgettes in case the plants give up. Grating it before freezing it is a good idea as it'll take up far less freezer space (as freezer is little now).

I hope you and yours have a healthier weekend! x

Habibiboo

:wave:

Hope everyone's OK and had a good weekend! Not a lot to say about ongoing progress, but gentle update nonetheless ...

MFW actions:

Last week's total was 6/7 NSDs ... 5 of these in a row, only day involving spends was Saturday, so pretty pleased with this. In pursuit of frugaldom I'm hoping to continue in the same way through the coming week, so Sun (yesterday) to Sat I'm aiming for 5 NSDs again.
AA actions yesterday and today have included:
* Successfully achieving NSDs on both so that's 2/5 so far this week!
* 7 jars of spiced crab apples made yesterday (1kg of fruit from little tree in garden). The tree's only a couple of years old, so I'm pretty happy with that.
(:wave: thanks again for getting me onto this MWC)!
* Harassing Skittish Power again today ... they aren't playing ball with my refund.

So, AA day 38/100 = £632 / £2,000

Grey Clouds:

Having to phone said utility company three timed and still not successfully resolving the issue ... kept on hold each time!

Simple pleasures:

Mr. Hbbb got his plants into the front garden over the weekend and it's all starting to take shape out there. Neighbours are appreciating how much better it all looks too!

Daily declutter:

Nothing to add here yet! Ooops.

Simple pleasures:

* Chooks
* Dogs
* Husband
* Nice phone chat with son who never phones, on Saturday :T

Hope everyone else is OK and that the coming week is gentle for you! x

apple_muncher

Good to hear from you Hbbb - be gentle on yourself this week.

Wow!!!!! to the NSD tally. You'll storm through October like that!

Habibiboo

apple_muncher wrote: »

Good to hear from you Hbbb - be gentle on yourself this week.

Wow!!!!! to the NSD tally. You'll storm through October like that!

:wave:

Thanks for kind wishes A*M, muddling through all the options available to me at the moment.

Yup, pretty pleased with the NSD so far, not sure about storming through October with them, it's going to be more a case of using them to help me weather the an upcoming financial storm in October, I think! But it's been a good way to limber up for your Triathlon challenge, that's for sure! x

Habibiboo

:wave:

Hope you're all good, out there in MFW and DF land!

MFW actions:

Small grocery spend today so this week's NSD total is still 2/7.

Today's AA action:

A week or so ago I ordered a couple of catalogue items (with money off incentives) to try ready for a couple of forthcoming events. Today I sent them all back (freepost, of course) rather than be tempted to keep hold of something that's a "that'll do" or making do item. If I'm going to make do with something then I might as well make do with something I've already got, rather than incur an extra spend at the moment.

AA day 39/100 = £632 / £2,000 ... hoping for a little MOP from Mr. Hbbb's pay tomorrow!

Grey Clouds:

Still no joy with Skittish Power, will try again tomorrow.

Silver Linings:

Managed to get dogs out with help of Mr. Hbbb this evening, had to swap to walk before dinner rather than after because the evenings seem to be drawing in so quickly now!

Daily Declutter:
No energy for that today, was pacing myself to try to take dogs out this evening.

Finished getting my toiletry use up basket ready for A*M's challenge ... Have a total of 31 items to use up so will be aiming for 1 a day, which I will add to ongoing total as they get used up.

Simple pleasures:

* Plotting and planning for my mum's Christmas present.
* Accidentally finding out something nice someone said about me
* Paying it forwards by trying to be thoughtful to others.
* Garden grown beet spinach leaves in a salad, very nice too!
* A*M's triathlon challenge starts tomorrow.

Hope everyone else is Ok and has had a good one! (Hugs if your hump day is looking grotty from here). x

Alchemilla

Good making do wisdom.