NST July - Bobs Bucket & Spade Boogie to the beach!

The_Only_Girl

Bobarella wrote: »

Sorry to chop so much of your post, but I just LOVED this part. What a brilliant & motivating sentiment. Thank you. :T:T

You're welcome.

The_Only_Girl

Quick update, fellow turtles: not a NSD as planned. Had to pass by A!di on our way to work to pick up bread, bricoche, bananas, carrots, eggs and cherries. Spent only £7 so not too big a dent on my grocery budget. Tomorrow will be a busy day and might not have time to check in. Church all day tomorrow, then going out with colleagues to support another colleague who's performing in a play. We might end up having a meal so might be spendy. Got a free ticket though coz one colleague couldn't come and he let my husband have his ticket. Bed is calling me now so good night everyone! Sweet dreams.

mothernerd

I keep thinking of what I can contribute to the World of the Strange and thinking I don't do much but I have never had a car (57 years of walking everywhere has led to my hip replacement operation though) and my hairdresser became an MP at the election prior to this one. I had my hair cut for DS2's 21st (he's 28 now) and the hairdresser said then a woman of my age could expect to be 75% grey.

Well I let the hair grow, chopped it off last year (to chin length) as I had so many paint knots in it I couldn't get a comb through it and it's now back to short pony tail length and I still only have two grey temple streaks and a light dusting when I brush it back. I tend to let it grow as I don't have many other ideas about what to do. I cut it myself when I was younger but my eyesight is no longer good enough to do anything fancy at the back (using two mirrors).

I didn't use baby wipes when my children were small. I used cotton wool but didn't buy the balls. If you buy the large rolls, unroll them and let them fluff up (sometimes putting them across the radiator) then pull little bits off (ball size) they last for about six months for bathing/ wiping / nappy changing. I also mostly used terry nappies for DS1 and DS3 (plus looked after a friend of DS1's who was also in nappies). DS2 had very delicate skin and broke out in rashes all the time so I had to use disposables for him.

When they were a little older I kept a kitchen roll in the nappy bag at all times (for hands, noses and spillages - been grateful for it so many times and been thanked by other parents when a drink has gone all over the table).

We took home made sandwiches and biscuits for all outings including the cinema. Froze a bottle of made up cordial to keep everything fresh until lunch. If we went on trains the first thing I did was hang up a carrier bag into which any rubbish went. When we left the train we took our rubbish with us.

The hot weather reminded me (not sure I can recommend this as it has undoubtedly led to my general decrepitude) bathwater was left in the bath (myself and three smallies, at first together then consecutively would bathe daily). The water was use to flush the loo (ex broke it and it was a couple of years before I could afford to replace it - this was my original £25 bathroom suite brought from 2 sets of friends who were having new).

In summer I would bail out the water and carry it downstairs (I used to carry two buckets, as well) to water the plants. I did switch to using a half sized bucket before my hysterectomy and also had a water butt installed to collect rainwater. You can get water diverters so that the bath water can be directed down the drain or to outside (depending on what is in the water - don't know if epsom salts are good for plants. I have tried syphoning as well) but as my children tell me my problem is that I have always done things the hard way instead of paying someone to do them.

Fmess

Morning all,

Impressed with all your ideas for saving money and glad to see I do many of them already.

I'm at a wedding this weekend but hoping to keep costs minimal. Yesterday was £12 at arseda to buy wrapping, card, suitable underwear and snacks and then £10 for a meal at pub near our b&b. Going for breakfast in a minute so will eat plenty to keep me going until I can get a snack around lunchtime. The bride and groom have really generously put on a lot of alcohol so aiming to drink that and then hopefully stick to water afterwards as it's going to be a long warm but lovely day.

Hope you all have a great day and get to be outside, I'm looking forward to the summer holidays and getting my prescribed day outside

misstara

I've managed to pick up a wee extra 3 hour shift this morning so that's £20 or so extra that can be put towards the debt.

It looks like its going to be a lovely day here so we'll be able to go camping . Hope everyone has a good day.

Bobarella

Morning All

Mother Nerd - you have lots of great suggestions there. Do you really think walking so much contributed to your hip problems? I would have imagined that being physically active and fit would be a good thing not bad? My grandmother had a hip replacement in her 50s but that coupled with chronic arthritis meant she never recovered full mobility. But she was never a really active person anyway.

MissTara - well done on your extra hours!

Fmess - woo hoo to free booze have a fun time.

The Only Girl - Isn't it interesting how 'tight' is seen as bad. Yet I bet if they go off to uni those skills will stand them in good stead long after their less frugal classmates are out of money each term.

I'm just having a late breakfast today prepared by OH. Bacon sandwiches and coffee yum. Then will think of my DFW list for the weekend.
Have to let some people in at the shop at 2 for a space only hire party so I won't be doing much just helping to tidy up after.

Have a great day back later!

Bob

dolly84

The Only Girl - it is scary how some parents are teaching their children about money. The long and short of it is the parents don't want to be seen by other parents to not have an endless amount of money.

Mothernerd - fingers crossed for a house sale, the housing market in my area seems to have really picked up pace in the last few months which is a good sign.

Re the World of Strange most of the things I do don't seem strange on here but do in real life. One thing I do is save nice birthday/christmas cards then use them to make new ones, you just need blank cards and some of those little self adhesive squishy pads to stick the recycled design on. People always comment on how lovely they are too:rotfl:.

wishus

Hello all! Just a flying visit. 4 SFDs unlocked, but a spendy weekend as I'm out and about doing things for job 2 + 3. But Monday through to next week should be cooooool.


Catch you later!

stewby

Hi all.... a lot to catch up on.

Nannyglady. So sorry to hear about your step father passing on.
Hugs.

So many strange but logical ways of saving money. I don't really have any unfortunately.


The only thing I do which is different to my friends is wear clothes until they are almost falling apart... and not drinking alcohol (well, I have one bottle of cider a month).
Not exactly strange on this forum but my cousin (who I normally go shopping with) thinks I am crazy.


Spend-free days total eight today.
:j

We had one spendy day whilst I was working as OH had run out of bread and he doesn't believe that frozen bread is good for you. It's a battle, just like the no fruit and veg will be eaten if they have a yellow label on them.
:doh:

Not much else to report to be honest. Skin is doing much better since starting the gluten free diet. So, that is one bonus.

apple_muncher

Good to hear that your skin is better, Stewby. All incentives to carry on to the end of a month of doing it.

Bob - hope the 'space only' hirers didn't make too much mess...

I went to uni in the 80s, and was the last year who were eligible for the grant allocations. However, I would NEVER in a million years have gone overdrawn! I remember even then, people were surprised at how little I spent. But for me, I just knew that my parents could not ever bail me out. In fact, the only time my dad gave me some 'free' money was when I went on my year abroad, for a taxi in London. I left it on the kitchen table by mistake!!!

My sister was - and still is - my greatest inspiration as she went to uni 3 years ahead of me, but had her year abroad in her 2nd year (the usual was the 3rd) and the exchange rate was so good that, coupled with her lack-of-spending habits, she came home with half her grant still intact. I was in awe!


Today has been another NSD! Dd and I were out all day at a kiddies zoo and theme park with Kids Klub. I took a gallon of coffee and a ton of food, and spent not a bean. Smug face is on . PLUS, I have garnered another outdoors day.