NST: October Turtle Triathlon

nannygladys

Spend day today of £2.40 so not a great amount and 80p of that was a packet of creamed apple turnovers for a friend that were on offer. So hoping to get to the middle of the week not spending, hopefully the washing up liquid will last out!

My dreams now are a lot different now I'm more frugal, what I would really like is to be able to afford a small camper and travel around the British Isles to all the places I want to see. I don't want to stay in hotels but have the freedom of going where I want, when I want and I don't think I could manage a caravan on my own. It used to traveling the world but as I get older I realise there's so much of this country I haven't seen yet.

Anyway off to bed as I'm in work again for 6am tomorrow, the last of four days and then 2 days of looking after dgd which I love doing.

Nannyg

mothernerd

Yet another NSD. Hoping to keep it up until Friday (travel to mum's) but may deviate tomorrow if DS1 and I decide it would be productive to go to the old house (possibly with DS3) and get rid of 2 of the old sofas and some of the tv tables. DS2's responsibility but holding everything else up atm. Lots to do here still but think DS1 wants a break after this (can't keep giving up his day off every week).

Getting ready to explode (frustration and number of things I am juggling) mainly with DS2 but had (quiet) words with DS3 today, told him he needs to do more and he agreed. Think I may ask DS1 to talk to DS2 - he won't be bothered if DS2 stops talking to him whereas with me DS2 is always ready to play the "you don't love me as much" card (poor little middle child).

DS3 brought his friend home and I have managed to feed them, last night and today (found another pack of roast beef, so made a 'dinner'). Also made a pan of soup and steamed extra potatoes to go mashed on top of baked beans (usually cheesy mash but followed a tip on another thread and mixed in beaten eggs and some milk - taken from DS2's fridge). Tackled the washing up mountain and a couple of other little jobs but never got to the kitchen clean up (had gathered cloths and did the sink) or mopping.

I nearly bought a trike (full size) once. It was in the second hand shop (nearly brand new) and was only £50 but someone had already said they wanted it and gone to get their money. I left my phone number in case but twas not to be. Would have made shopping and transporting small children so much easier. Good exercise but no need to balance as with a bike and I would think safer too as you are more visible to all those drivers who ignore cyclists.

DS3 is a cosplayer (dress up as characters in their favourite books/ cartoons) but also has friends in the furries (animal characters) and Steam Punk groups (his yesterdays outfit but Victorian/technology cross - the first episode in the new Doctor Who series was all about steam punk and the fan made titles are too - wheels and cogs, visible workings).

For Christmas, well I told the doctor I had no problem going into hospital between Christmas and New Year if they had a vacancy then. Mum is very involved with her partners family and is going down south for a wedding on the 23rd (if it's back on again - wildly divergent views on what is important) and DS3 will probably be at gf's again, now he is back in favour (with her parents, she's always been mad about him although neither of them wildly fancied each other at first, both were getting over bad break-ups). Still nearly 6 years on.

It's just been DS3 and me for the past few years and apart from him opening his presents, he spends most of the time talking on the computer with gf. After several years as a churchwarden covering the Midnight Mass and then the morning service (with full blown flu so just concentrating on staying on my feet) it's a relief to have very quiet Christmases with good books, simple food (throw the odd dinner in DS3's direction). no fuss. Peace, candles, put my feet up.

Like the sleep station. The solid wood beds last a long while and don't date. However when one of mine wanted a similar arrangement (midi height bed but one with a 'tent' space underneath), I sacrificed my drawers and dressing table (past their best after storing all ex-OH's camera gear for several years - had to glue them and tie the legs together with twine till they dried). The two units were the same height and one of our single beds was an old one with a rigid 1"+ thick wooden frame so had the two sets of drawers facing each other, green baize to protect the tops and the bed across them both with a curtain rail and curtain attached to the side.

I am continuing to use up things (2 more bottles of path cleaner today) including toiletries. Have cut a foot cooling cream and a hand cream in two so any dregs can be scraped out - the top half goes back over the bottom half to prevent spills in between.

Mr moneymoustache is interesting but has limitations. It's interesting /irritating in the same way as John Seymour's self-sufficiency books used to be and !!!!!! whatsit with the moustache is now - they ignore the fact that most of the actual income comes from writing/ broadcasting about it (these may require talent but still not available to everyone). I've always wanted a wooden cabin type house but Americans/Canadians have obvious advantages in construction with wood framed houses - so simple to put in a kitchen for example when you are screwing into/onto wood rather than 1/2" of sandy plaster over rock solid brick as is the case here. Downsizing gets me the same way when it is an article on "selling your London mansion and buying a farmhouse/small holding/ des res in the north/Wales/Scotland" - again usually a journalist/columnist with the freedom to work from home.

I like the early retirement idea and am aiming for a partial version of this. I am hoping that when I sell this house house I will have enough to buy two student 'pods' in Manchester or Salford (demand always outstrips supply) which would give me an income of around £100 per week (old figures since it's a while since I looked at it but if anything percentages have improved).

Once my debts were paid off, by living frugally that should cover my basic living expenses. If I then sell my little house (about half the money from this goes into purchasing something mum and I both like, with her putting in any extra required) that might buy me a third 'pod' with some savings as a buffer. Extra income could be put aside to cover cost of living increases and any income from my business (currently loss making) would be a bonus.

If I am not constantly worrying about covering the next bill due I can put my energy properly into the business and being creative and if/when my mobility and general health improve I can do some environmental work (mostly available on a voluntary basis) or return to study "just for the joy of it". A big house isn't important, peace and quiet and being able to grow things in some capacity is - so for example I would spend money on raised beds that would let me garden from a wheelchair or without having to bend.

Well think I had better post this - then see if it's a record breaker. Things that made me smile today :- DS3 bought me a bar of chocolate (I didn't ask, I didn't even hint), my mum says brother definitely wants one of the couches from the old house but has "no way of getting it" (I did think we could try strapping it on top of his camper van) Good news is he has won his appeal and will get his disability backdated, "they made a mistake stopping it in the first place", so only another year of no money, fretting and worrying, having spent a year fighting the first stoppage, they stopped it again a week after he won. So plus ca change, 54 years of looking after brothers, husbands, sons (and if mum dies I inherit her lodger as well - brother and lodger both in their 50s but can't be expected to look after themselves). Enjoyed DS3 and his friend arguing about having a cos-play group where people actually cos-play ie everyone comes dressed as characters from same series and they film 'scenes' - very wide ranging discussion.:rotfl:

moohound

nannygladys wrote: »

Spend day today of £2.40 so not a great amount and 80p of that was a packet of creamed apple turnovers for a friend that were on offer. So hoping to get to the middle of the week not spending, hopefully the washing up liquid will last out!

My dreams now are a lot different now I'm more frugal, what I would really like is to be able to afford a small camper and travel around the British Isles to all the places I want to see. I don't want to stay in hotels but have the freedom of going where I want, when I want and I don't think I could manage a caravan on my own. It used to traveling the world but as I get older I realise there's so much of this country I haven't seen yet.

Anyway off to bed as I'm in work again for 6am tomorrow, the last of four days and then 2 days of looking after dgd which I love doing.

Nannyg

I want to go caravanning in every county

Mothernerd Dr Who has gone very steampunk this series, it seems to be a recurring theme, and is visible in the design of the tardis, the chap on the train with the mono goggle thing last night really sealed it, I love steampunk literature and fashions, but I'm too old for dressing up

Fmess

Evening all

I have started reading Mr Money Moustache and agree that many of the the principles are the same as on here but he is much less realistic about what is achievable by the vast majority of people. I love that our thread is done slightly differently by each of us and that we make it work for ourselves but are also a collective. I feel that I couldn't follow what he advises to the letter and so wouldnt be welcomed or would be told I wasn't trying hard enough.

Today was a big unplanned Spendy day, but was needed for the soul. I've been grumpy for a while as have made many sacrifices (as I know we all have) on my debt free journey. Today I had convinced myself to not go to a one off local event as it would require car parking costs and I would want to spend whilst there to support the local contributors. I drove near the event this morning and resisted, got home and was so grumpy. So I used more petrol, drive back, spent on parking and items from the local companies but thoroughly enjoyed myself (even if OH refused to come so I had to go alone). I also bought three work tops from a discount store on the way home, as I have worn most of my others until they have holes in/other undesirable/socially acceptable issues. I now feel thoroughly pleased, with an edge of guilt ��

I walked the dogs for exercise, so one more exercise point

liltdiddylilt

Hiiiiiiiii

I should be asleep. I may well be asleep and dreaming that I am typing this. :huh:

SFD confirmed. #9. Groceries shot to pieces already but house groaning with food. I will be smart! Decluttered half a bedroom full of small people stuff, and it is so much better in there. Hoping to get some money from the stuff that was saleable. Plenty of 'me' time had. Watched Die Hard and an episode of the 100. I am about 12 behind so please don't spoil it

Night all xx

sazzlebgood

still awake but did have my first nsd yesterday:j but that was mainly down to both DS2 and I been too ill to go swimming.
Day dreaming that in five years time I'll be almost finished my degree and looking for a job. well that the plan any way.
Not sure what we're doing for christmas other than dog sitting for my WM whose going to spend time with her sister.Christmas presents almost sorted except for the kids really not sure what to get them this year. Well I'm going to go and try to get some sleep. Hope you all have a good day today

tori.k

Mothernerd I also have one that's into cosplay he headed off to Manchester this weekend for an anime convention altho I don't even pretend to understand half of what he's on about

A mixed weekend for us Saturday was a SFD with DS1 girlfriend officially all moved in shocked me to see how much clutter the kids own compared to DH & I

Sunday saw success when youngest choose his new glasses as he opted for cheaper frames it was covered by his NHS voucher first time in years I haven't had to stump up did manage to spend £12.83 in Iceland it's not somewhere I think to shop often but had a great price on butter (89p) and bread (2fot£1) so will have to pop in there more often.

DH and I had a chat and have decided that im going to take a temporary Christmas factory job over November/December it's just min wage but im guaranteed 6 12hr shifts a day and would put an extra 2K straight off the debt with him covering my regular taxi bookings it should have little impact on the business and get us back on the straight and narrow, he feels crappy that it me that's working the extra but really does make sense to take the opportunity to make a little extra over the Christmas period before the seasonal work dries up again, gotta love Christmas commercialism

Been giving the BIKE some thought, something I have been avoiding we are lucky to live in our dream home but like most listed buildings it's a bit of a money pit and the maintenance will only get harder and more expensive as we get older so there will be one more move on the cards at some point when the lads leave the nest..I can dream :rotfl: I know DH & I have very different opinions on where this would be to.

I waffled im sorry

speakingofart

Ummm... what on earth has happened to all the boards??? Came on to check in and they're all full of an extremely unpleasant message!! Think I'll come back later on....

NSDs: 6/16
Petrol (till 15th Oct) £0/£0
Groceries (till 15th Oct) £8.32/ £20
Exercise 6/ 20

apple_muncher

speakingofart wrote: »

Ummm... what on earth has happened to all the boards??? Came on to check in and they're all full of an extremely unpleasant message!! Think I'll come back later on....

NSDs: 6/16
Petrol (till 15th Oct) £0/£0
Groceries (till 15th Oct) £8.32/ £20
Exercise 6/ 20

I went for a mooch around after reading this, soa. I see what you mean! I've not opened any of the weird-looking messages, but hasmse been spammed? Infected? I certainly don't want to get it on my tablet!!

speakingofart

I think it's just a spambot - moaning about something one of the board guides has done because he deleted a thread... something to do with kitchens but to be honest it borders on illiterate so a little difficult to understand! I don't think it's infectious, more annoying!