NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

speakingofart

Morning turtles! Flat is clean, about to start studying (no, I don't know why I'm awake at 5am on annual leave, either) and heading into town later to deal with the return of some pyjamas and to post a dvd back to amazon. Also taking my grandmother round the sales <shudder>. Luckily, since I hate shopping, it'll probably still be a SFD.

Officially back on weight watchers as of this morning - don't regret my decision to take christmas off, as it would just have been ridiculous to try, but now need to focus on having a very clean week and getting back into healthy habits. I'm going to try and go for a walk every day this week as a start.

Groceries £56/£150 15th december till 15th January
SFDs: 9/15
Petrol £34/ 60 15th December till 15th January
Lunch to work: 15/15

apple_muncher

stewby wrote: »

Going to be nosey... OH's parents have given me some money for my xmas and I was thinking about getting a fitbit zip.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/ipad-tablets-and-ereaders/tablets/tablet-accessories/fitbit-zip-activity-tracker-charcoal-19393602-pdt.html

Does anyone have one or what do people think??
:undecided

I am really competitive and I desperately need to lose weight. I am thinking that by using one of these, it may help me as it challenges you to do better and achieve goals. I am looking for people's opinions??

I have what is probably now an old-fashioned fitbit. And I absolutely love it! It gives me a read out of steps, floors, distance, calories, and a flower with up to 10 leaves that grows the more active I am. And it tells the time too! And has a stop watch facility. All at the touch of a button. It is a clip-on one, smaller than the one you are looking at, and probably no longer available.

I didn't want a wrist one, or one that synchs with an app, as I am a luddite when it comes to apps!

If you want some competition, there is a thread called 'The Ultimate Biggest Losers' which is starting in Jan but you can sign up now...

liltdiddylilt

Fmess Amazon deals today!!!! Who needed a new mattress?!?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B008I1E2M0?m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&dealid=280742b0#mobile-twister_size_name_1419840197462

Sorry just saw on my phone and trying to send from it!

Fmess

Thank you lilt , that's very kind of you to think of me. I got one just before Christmas but someone did mention needing one yesterday

Edit:- caeraugirl see the link above from lilt

Calling14

I would love a fitbit. Would encourage me to the walk more.

Struggling with itchy dry skin in this cold weather. My face is driving me mad today. May have to buy some Aveeno cream today if daughter hasn't got any going spare.

Been out and hugged cold bunny and heated up his hot water bottle. He is in garage but still very cold out there.

Up to 16sfd, used my M and S voucher I had for switching bank for some yellow stickered food yesterday, got bread and milk whilst there. Not a fan of their clothes may be a granny but still not wearing their stuff. Bras bought so far and still £70 left on gift card.

Can't start diet yet, most of my Xmas cake left and it's so cold. Ate lots of fruit yesterday felt so much better for it.

I really need a laptop got withdrawal symptoms from my spreadsheet and have another week away from it, it's on work computer.

Decided to get one this year and declutter cds.

Right heaps of face cream on and crisp dog walk next. So lucky where I live scenery awesome with sun, snow mountains and sea. Not going to take it for granted and get out and explore more.

liltdiddylilt

Ahhh on laptop.

Sorry for stupid previous panicked post. I was on my phone, and knew someone had mentioned mattress buying for today then that popped up on my 10 ways, and I could only see the 1st page of our thread of my doofy phone! So I had to post it blind. I thought you had caved and bought yours fmess!!

Hopefully caeraugirl sees it before she goes out shopping. I mailed her as well when my post allowed me to see the last page

I am off out to do a miniature food shop for January shortly. I am just doodling my list in my new notepad

Hugs to all. I've got 1 more SFD to find before the end of the month, and my op is tomorrow with 5 days enforced rest afterwards so I should be able to grab a few in there for January and hopefully the last 2 days of December...

sazzlebgood

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
the above sums up how i feel about DD1 right now. She's decided to make sherbet and needed citric acid which i had to do get as they won't sell it to children. She was buying so nsd intact then she phones me to say that she couldn't make her and her friend a sandwich as there was no butter.Asked her to look again. Rang back no butter checked 'everywhere' no butter, so i buy butter, get back and they had made sandwiches with the butter that was 'hiding' in the fridge.No thought to ring me back to prevent butter buying!Sorry for rant but the butter i had to buy isn't organic (can't get to sainbob's due to ice ) and that's what we try to stick too.Deep breath.
Ordered jam thermometer and used books through amyzone using my vouchers. Decided one of my resolution is to buy only second hand books. Reading is one of my vices especially on winter nights better than the telly.
Decided to not wait till new year to start healthy eating as i'm sick of eating cr*p as its making me feel cr*p.Chocolate biscuits sent to OH work today.

Fmess

Oh no sazzebgood, I hate it when you lose a SFD because of others. My OH usually does it to me.


Today is a spendy day as had to go get all the flea treatment products, however I looked online last night and have ordered most of them for 50% less than they are in the shops. I have been an bought some spray and these canisters that you set off in a room and leave for 2 hours (bedroom is in progress). This may be an overreaction to say that I've only seen one insect, and I don't even know if it was a flea, but with 6 animals in the house, I'm hoping its better safe than sorry.


Went and cashed in my savings tub money, so transferred another £33 to pay off the debt :j :j

mothernerd

Not a NSD. I went for my check up at the far away hospital and am now allowed to walk without crutches in the house (still need to use them outside, especially in the current weather). Paid £2 for the car park (traffic was very good so we were 3/4 of an hour early for my appointment) and £1.80 for 3 cans of diet coke from the friends of the hospital tea bar - originally bought 2, felt guilty as took nearly all their change (wanted to change £10 in case driver needed more car park money and I may need some later in the week) so added an extra one. They were still a lot less than the ones in the vending machines and I think it was the friends who pay for the free fruit and chocolate trolley that came round when I was in - I had been asking for fruit as a sign said it was always available, so in gratitude for that.

Taken both off my travel budget - works out less than the cost of the all-day bus ticket, saved hours by being driven there and avoided the hazards of having to get from bus to bus, Driver dropped me at the entrance to out-patients and I phoned him to collect me from there when I had finished.

Good news is my next appointment will be on the anniversary of my operation in November. Still some rules to be followed for the next few weeks but can sleep on my side if I want. Everything else is a matter of doing what my body is comfortable with and being sensible. Don't need to make a special trip to return the crutches, November is fine for that, unless I feel like a ride out in the Summer (lots of lovely places in that area, when you aren't under pressure to get to the hospital). Already finding it much easier to get around and carry things as don't have to allow for the crutches.

Paid a bill by phone using the cc when I got back - still paying bills on both houses and trying to keep track of what arrangement each supplier has made. This was for the Council Tax here and could have been paid in 3 installments, but got it out of the way. February and March are usually the 'free' months for Council Tax and was worried I might overlook it. Other house is now on a reduced rate and still covered by the old dd.

Today I am grateful for the crutches (they have helped get me to this stage, but so happy to be less dependent on them), for hospital friends and the wonderful birds in the back yard.

apple_muncher

mothernerd, you are making a fantastic recovery - well done you! Glad the hospital visit went well. Do you still have physio?


Today I am grateful for the recyc collection from the house, for a friendly robin who keeps dropping by, for dh working his magic and getting the printer to work again, for dd's constant cheeriness, for a beautiful frost.