NST;September Squirrels

nannygladys

Hi everyone

I'm back home now and can't wait to get back to my frugal life. I haven't spent all my holiday money but quite a bit of it as I managed to get a couple of Xmas pressies whilst away. I had a very peaceful time with plenty of time to think and work out what I would like to do over the next couple of years whilst watching the sea and sunsets.

But when I got back I realised that I hadn't paid my cc before I went so that will be a late payment charge!!!! Oh well paid it now but too late, could really kick myself as I haven't done that in years!!

So tomorrow I will see what I have in my cupboards and freezer then do a menu plan, I'm also babysitting tomorrow night but I should get fed whilst there (dgd) so tomorrow should be a sfd.

Anyway off to get in my pj's and recover with the tv after all that driving, ps it is warmer down south!!

Nannyg

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for the extra view we have now that the tree is gone, for dd being glad that she went to school, for for argus having a particular doll in stock, for my washing drying in 2 hours(!), for my thoughts on frugality, MMM, and not spending.

speakingofart

Claiming another NSD for today - trying to focus on being debt free on tuesday to take my mind off the worrying! Very glad today for it being the weekend and my wonderful boss who knew everything was getting on top of me and told me to work from home today.

Groceries: £30.10/£52.57 (until 15th September)
£120 15th September- 15th October

Fuel: 0/£16.14 (until 15th September)
£60 15th September - 15th October

Daily Exercise: 7/18
SFD 7/18
Food Bank 0/£3

liltdiddylilt

Hi everyone

Just thought I would check in to say mum is doing a lot better today. Finally got a chat on the phone with her and managed a bit of facetime with her with Jellytot so that is a pleased nanny and a very excited Jelly. She is struggling with the pain and tiredness, and has some utterly horrifying cuts right now, but she is a trooper and had an excellent plastic surgeon working with the team to minimise the overall look. Once dressed, she will look great.

NannyG sounds like a lovely holiday and well done on the frugal spends and Christmas organisation! Sorry about the CC. We have all done it. I somehow got away with it recently when I didn't put the money in to cover the payment and sat in my £1 a day overdraft for 10 days. I wasn't charged... Maybe you should call them, apologise and see if they will waive the fee as you haven't done it in so long.

LoveaDove I very much struggle on my non-working days to get up and do anything very co-ordinated. I think I need to follow your lead! That is excellent, and yay for the Weds start! Week will be over before you know it

Luckystarr I would say hit the overdraft before the loan overpayments, because it is probably costing you more in interest. Once that is paid, then you will know how much money you really have to play with each month and can throw more at the loan without going into the OD to cover it!

SOA thanks for your well wishes. The 30th will be here before you know it. Keep busy, and keep your mum busy in the meantime. My mum went on holiday to Newquay for a week before her op!

Mothernerd I may have strangled DS2 by now. I admire your patience! I would have told him he HAD to move out on Monday as your toyboy was moving in... :rotfl:

Calling I know it isn't the best way to lose weight but once it is back under control and you feel better you might be grateful! Hope you feel better soon!

Everyone else, lots of hugs, thanks for thinking of me!! You're all doing great I am just about to tuck into a chinese. It is within budget... just! :eek:

have a lovely weekend all! xx

mothernerd

MagicCat wrote: »

Hooray for Friday! Having said that, this week seems to have gone very quickly without me accomplishing much:(

Take care all and keep plodding on. I need to remind myself we are turtles as well as squirrels and baby steps will get me there.

I think several of us are feeling slightly less bright eyed and bushy tailed and need to re-discover our inner turtle.

luckystarr wrote: »

Trying to stay in the moment but it is hard. I really want to move (we are in rented at the minute) but OH isn't keen and we really can't afford it as we have loans and an overdraft to clear !!! so i have decided I need to prioritise (my OH is really good he spends hardly anything) . here is what we owe

£1500 loan from Mam
£4438 loan from bank (£235 per month repayment)
£500 overdraft (approx depends on the end of the month balance)

I am thinking it's best to over pay the loan and pay it off quicker as we have it over two years. Mam is not desperate for the money back but feel bad for owing it . However really need to curb my spending to ensure we don't keep going into the overdraft.

So I think overdraft and loan .... what are everyone's thoughts please ????

Sounds like a plan. Can you think of any small rewards (not necessarily money) that will help you succeed? Are you making your budget too tight and giving in when you find it not working? Ways of making staying more fun? Can you do a big push just to get to not using the overdraft - ie being an extra couple of weeks ahead (do it over a couple of months if you have to), then throw everything at the loan.

LoveaDove wrote: »

HAPPY FRIDAY Squizzels!!

I have *finally* got a start date for the new job- wednesday! :dance: So a nice short week's intro to the job- I am looking forward to getting started though and finally having a proper routine 5 days of the week. As up until now, each eve I have to sit down and write a list of things to do for the following day to make sure I get up each morning and actually get useful bits and pieces done. Oh, and to also have a proper budget again!

I've also had another declutter which has been quite therapeutic and have also completed some more of my futurelearn work! So all in all a productive day!

_party_

Congratulations and yes a 3 day week sounds like a good way to start. Also gives you the weekend and a couple of days to do more sorting/planning - have some fun as well.

Welcome back nannygladys, so happy you had a lovely peaceful time and thinking time too.

lilt hoping your mother continues to improve and as always, take care of yourself.

soa as someone else has said, try not to worry too much about what might happen, take each step as it comes and :j:j:j to your approaching debt free date.

Calling14 glad you are improving and well done on staying positive.

I would like to thank you all for your positive comments about the mini challenges. I am enjoying running the thread much more than I expected (there were a couple of things I didn't think I would be good at, but if you can't see the cracks, I must be managing).

I have had a lovely day and I didn't spend any money. Was picked up shortly after nine, went to pick up mum and her partner, sat with mum in the car-park whilst his grand-daughter took him in for his hospital appointment, set up another appointment as we traveled (department that normally takes three days to reply called back as soon as we set off, so liaise between driving grand-daughter and department).

We took the scenic route (lots of country lanes, farmhouses, cottages and mansions we will never be able to afford - almost unbelievably still within our own deprived borough, albeit on the border with the next, comparatively wealthy county). Stopped for hot chocolate, then had lunch near to the canal wharf and tea -sandwiches, scones and cakes - on the canal boat. With lots of taking our time and sitting on benches in between.

Have been playing 'who's poorliest' all day. I was helping mum back to the car (she needs to hold on to someone, if not two people) and had to ask her to slow down slightly (also lost the race into and out of the pub for lunch - to a 79 and 80 something year old) but mum had most trouble eating (she had to resort to putting the thickening granules in her chocolate and her soup) whilst her partner ignored half the people waiting for the toilet queue and nearly wandered off when I was the only person with him.

Meanwhile mr and mrs builder have been in and tackled a number of bits left on the list - I have bath panels, a double electrical socket in my room (was on an extension lead which came through the wall) and the three crumbling bricks under the dining room window have been replaced (we saved a few good ones earlier in the year).

Not sure why but I still feel under-whelmed by this whole process, apart from tiredness (did 3 lots of washing and lots of wiping things clean last night). Lots of tidying up, neatening and re-doing still to be done. Ah well, sleep first then go round one room at a time ticking off bits as I go - the hall, stairs and landing are being carpeted on Thursday so need to concentrate on any painting around that.

Today I am grateful for canal boats, good food (I didn't have chips but finished off a few others had left and said if I could only have chips once a year, I would choose those. Maybe that's the secret, find a 'gold standard' and refuse all imitations) and taking the scenic route, lots of time to admire, dream and wonder.

New (bought last Christmas and never worn - trapped in the attic since February) was lovely and fits well - it's a 16 (shh), forgiving fabric but even so, and bra back on middle hook (had to use slackest/ undo at one point last week) so maybe can plan on making myself something. Think the clothes buying is bothering me as I expected to be in the smaller size by now with even a moderate weight loss, whereas recent setbacks ( forced inactivity) have cancelled out my earlier efforts.

Fmess

mothernerd your day out sounds lovely and it must sending a shock to see all the jobs in your house being done so quickly after you have worked so hard to get to this point mainly on your own.

Today was a spend day as bought chocolate and paid for two of the dogs to be vaccinated. Looking forward to a chilled day tomorrow, may stay in my PJs all day, unless I decide to do the food shopping.

Night all, hugs to all

[Deleted User]

Just checking in really quickly (and on my phone so haven't scrolled back through yet) to share my excitement at having got through my national conference! It was the most exhausting and nerve wracking few days, but we pulled it off and my chief exec was over the moon. My confidence has really grown in these circumstances...and the posh outfit I pulled together for an interview a few months ago did me proud. I think maybe I am finally a grown up! Back tomorrow after doing totals and reading up! Just welcomed my paying guests in and need to get to bed!

mothernerd

crazy-lady well done. It's great when it all comes together, isn't it.

dolly84

mothernerd - you are doing a wonderful job of running the thread. Your day out sounds lovely, glad you had a good time. Regarding chips we have a fish and chip shop in our town which is awesome, has won lots of awards and are consistently amazing and I am not a big fish and chip fan but love these.

calling - overnight oats - soak porridge oats in equal amount of milk or milk alternative or fruit juice/yoghurt, add in other ingredients and leave overnight, in the morning you can add seeds, fresh fruit etc, there are loads of recipes online.

nannygladys - how annoying about the cc, I agree with lilt, they should waive the fee if it is a one off.

stewby

Sorry for the lack of post yesterday, there was a problem at work and I ended up working a bit more than I should have.


However, that is another 6 hours pay. Then another problem hit at work and I now have an extra dayshift next week which will be working with brilliant staff so I am quite excited about that.


Due to chaos at work we haven't been shopping. Think we are sitting on either 7 or 8 spend-free days but will class it as 7 cause I honestly can't remember when I last updated it.


Today will be a shopping day though as we have now ran out of milk and bread.
Had a lovely brunch cooked by my OH whilst I was still "zonked out" in bed. It was wonderful.

So... today I am going to (once I work up the determination to have a shower and get dressed of course):
* go to the bank. My new bank card has come, so I need to go and sort out the pin code. For an eejit like me, I really need my codes to remain the same (not as other cards, I mean as before).
* Have a lovely afternoon out with my OH visiting a local castle (we have that NTS membership to use up).
* Go to morries shopping. We need a list so that we don't overspend.
* Relax and enjoy this wonderful day off with my OH.