NST August - AB's Amazingly Aware August Challenge

nannygladys

Morning everyone
Day off from dgc' s today, and house moving as I'm just too tired so told everyone I'm having a day off!
Spendy day yesterday so still at 2/20, I just had to get some bread, the crispbreads are as hard as rocks so dd has had them. Came away with loads from the garden I'm watering and going tonight as well so will pick some more, Stewby quite jealous of you and allotment, I had a half one year's ago but had to give it up cos it got too much with working etc and being on my own, but I do grow quite a bit in the garden, I have a small patch and loads of pots and really enjoy it.
Anyway not sure if it's going to be a sfd today as a friend and I are going into the city for a look around and we may have lunch, not sure yet we may take some sandwiches and eat in the park will have to wait and see what her plans are.
Nannyg

Fmess

Morning,

Any body know anything about TVs?

The one ex is taking is a 32" with a big surround, so not sure whether to get another 32" or apparently they do a 39" too. Does anyone have a smart tv? I don't think I need one as have VM for another year but do want one with freeview so I can cancel VM next year. Any suggestions on a good make? Some of the unheard of makes are about £150 or about £200-£250 for a Samsung or Panasonic.

Thanks

academiablues

Morning all
Thrifty – good to see you, please keep waving those pom-poms extra hard for us (and for you)!
Wishus – welcome! I know what you mean about mindful spending, that’s something I’m going to think about later in the challenge. Super good luck for the triathlon!
Calling – we went to see Kate Voegele, American singer, very good. I like the idea of a rich prince, think we could all do with one of those!
Fmess, I think you’re right to balance things, everything in moderation (even debt-busting if possible). In terms of tellys, mine is a Sam Sung and it works well. You can always get a freeview box, you don’t necessarily need a smart TV. Also think about the space you’ve got – will 39” fit? Did you want the 32" in the first place, or was that someone else talking? I hope you find a good one
Apple – good luck with your stretch, we’re all cheering you on
Dolly – Minions sounds good but you’re right, it’s still pricey for a couple of hours. I think if you’re aware of the attitude that got you into difficulty before, it’s slightly harder to slip back. If you didn’t know how it had happened the first time, it would be easy to repeat those mistakes. You can sit on the naughty step if you want, but don’t feel too bad.
Bob – I just about survived! I love autumn too, I’m glad the mindfulness exercise you did made you feel happy
Shyspender – I don’t think you can do it without turning the whole fridge off, sorry
Misstara – if you’re noticing when you’re thinking of other stuff, that’s a win in my book, as it means you’re noticing where your mind goes. You can’t always “rein it in,” but every time you notice you’ve drifted away, that’s being aware. Also, send some of that baking my way please!
Mothernerd – the list of things you always manage to accomplish completely astounds me, even when you say you’re not doing much. Moving the fridge at 1am is definitely an accomplishment!
Welshkitty – congrats on SFD #1 and :T :T to paying off the amount you wanted to by Christmas! You now have five extra months to think about what you want to pay off/save! :j
Stewby – yay to the allotment, boo to the wasp’s nest! Growing all that will definitely be a challenge, but hopefully worth it in the long run.

Phew! Today at work has been okay so far (calls to important people about scary topics done, just a clinic this afternoon now), at volunteering tonight so should be another SFD. Done some mindful handcream-using at my desk earlier, I got one in a birthday present box that smells of vanilla and sandalwood, which is lovely. My birthday is in December and I’m only just opening it, so that’s pretty good! Happy hump day turtles!

thriftylass

GO TURTLES!

Calling14

Happy hump day turtles.

Today popped into Morrisons had an apology off Asst Manager and a five pound voucher for their lack of customer service, the other day. Wine maybe:D

SFD for me 3/20.

Happy got a physio appt not for another 2 weeks but any help with my back better than none. Walked further yesterday and tidied up my back garden wish I hadn't later on was in a lot of pain.

Fmess Samsung always been got tv's for me. Avoid cheap ones tescos and aldi - heard a lot of problems about then. Dog better when I got home yesterday thanks.:)

Stewby - won't the council remove your wasps nest free of charge or is that just from houses?

Shyspender I defrosted my fridge/freezer last week, Just keep the fridge door shut and everything stays cold. Mine took about 7 hrs but it was really bad. Towels everywhere easy method.

Dolly not knowing how old your kiddies are, I do kids cinema usually sat/sunday mornings, but noticed in holidays few others do it midweek. Under 2 pounds each.

Welshkitty what a brilliant amount to have cleared well done more than my total debt.:T

Academia - will google your singer now and have a listen

Thrify - Right choice not putting a car onto your mortgage. :T

In the absence of Prince Charming Bob your right us sisters are doing it for themselves. Thought of having alternative debt busting months, one extremely frugal next one a bit more relaxed as find getting a tad down in the dumps lately and with just my income its going to take a while before I reach DF status.

Tonight plan to walk dog, groom bunny and relax. Last night attempted to put a reddish colour on my hair, just wasn't mixing well together and my ears looked orange so abandoned it after 15 mins. Hair has got a bit of auburn running it through it. Dye was in poundland, Nice and Easy make but not sure how long I had had it. Mess in bathroom was it worth it?

Back to mind blowing boring job I am doing today :rotfl:

Synonymous

Hello :wave: Sorry I'm late, but can you add me too please, academia?

Still up and down but plodding along. Reading the thread is total self-sabotage at the moment, but I'll do something productive after this. Had an interview today for an internship and got a freebie hair shampoo sample in Lush to try. Had to pay for the bus as I didn't want a sweaty cycle before the interview, so should pop to the shop later for milk whilst I'm on a spendy day.

Haven't set targets; as I mentioned last month, being low has made it easy to save but that's not a good thing when I'm isolating myself - so my target is to spend money this month :eek: But will still keep track of it all.

I've been thinking a lot about self-care, and how a lot of what we call 'treats' and what we often end up on the naughty step for are actually bad for us (chocolate in my case), or don't last long (the high of buying something new), and crucially cost us top dollar! Wouldn't it be great if treating yourself involved doing something nice and also more fulfilling but that we didn't take for granted? So my treats are all going to be more positive and I am going to enjoy them mindfully - hot baths, pamper sessions, a nice walk, crafting, a browse round a free gallery or a healthy meal. Also trying hard to hit my five-a-day and will only be topping up food with healthy stuff.

Mindfulness is also my day job so this is a good topic for me, did two sits of meditation yesterday and was unexpectedly grinning in the middle of one thinking about my ex and today's unknown interview panel with compassion. Hopefully will get on the cushion tonight for another sit before bed and am going to try it after my shower in the morning (I'm not a morning person so it might not work!)

Hugs to everyone, sorry I'm just talking and not responding to people, I'm reading a few pages at a time and then it's all a blur or out of date. But I'm proud of thrifty not putting the car on the mortgage, bob's nifty balance transfer, and everyone cracking on without a knight in shining armour (I got told I would need to marry a millionaire to achieve my FIRE goals and I'm keen to prove those people wrong!) x

shyspender

Fmess, Apple, Academia

Thanks for the advice. I kind of thought that was what it was going to be. The good thing is there is barely anything in the fridge, nothing that can't go a day without being totally chilled.

Will wait until the garden is finished (having it landscaped and a door and electric put into the garage) and then I can plug my old f/f back in and save the food a little. I will do it in winter next time because all the food can just go outside.

Fmess as for the TV, size is up to you. I've never heard of a 39", I have heard of 40". There is a big difference in size. It won't take you too long to get used to it though. I would suggest getting a supermarket one or own brand. The way TV's change and everything now they are out of date before you get them home. My last one was a sainsbos own brand and it was brilliant. Had 3D and freeview and HDMI and everything. I loved it but then got my ma and pa's old one donated to me and gave my new one to some friends.

academiablues

Synonymous, you're totally right about treats - it's chocolate for me too, or diet coke - doesn't last long and then I always want more the next day too. I watched a really interesting documentary last night called Fed Up - definitely aimed at the US, but talked about how sugar is in EVERYTHING now and how the sugar lobby in the US stopped the World Health Organisation from putting RDAs for sugar on food products (not like here). Also, all the schools over there have contracts with coke and pizza places, really not healthy at all. I'm making a conscious decision to cut down on sugar now, not having cola during the week and will then see if I want it on weekends or not. Browsing round galleries sounds fun
Thanks for the pom-poms thrifty, made me laugh

apple_muncher

Agree re the sugar thing. When I've kept off it for a few days, even fruit tastes extremely sweet!

Today I am grateful for discovering a FREE Family Fun Day in a local park (only stayed 1+ hour but dd loved it), for getting my washing dried outside despite the rain, for a good friend visiting this afternoon, for getting a cheque for money owed to me (am going to have to up my target again, methinks!), for dss cooking a yummy stirfry for tea.

Bobarella

Hi Guys

Late check in from me. Today was slow as heck in the morning then bat bleep crazy for the remaining 3 hours. I am very grateful for the trade & the cash flow, but wish it could be a bit more evenly spread.

I still havent taken any big steps yet as we wait for the balance transfer to take effect, (thanks for the cheer on that one Synonomous) but did make a £10 payment yesterday & a £6 one today to the business account card.

Found 2p, made £2.50 in tips & despite having longing thoughts about a take away, forced myself to cook the last of the YS mince & sauce to do spag bol for son, & us later.

Calling - Why not try that approach & see if it works for you? It might be hugely motivating to know 1 month you are going to push all the stops out on getting debt free, & the next have a month off as it were.

Fmess - I have to say, we bought a smart TV earlier this year & it has changed our lives. We had a perfectly good 42inch flat screen, that died after 7 years, & I looked into it and just thought stuff it. The cost of repair vs a new TV was just so unappealing.
We paid £300 for ours in the end, I'll check what it is etc, but its 32inch so smaller, but the quality of the picture is amazing, & having Netflix through the telly, is just such a treat. We dont go out really at all, so having all the latest TV shows at the click of a button is worth the cost to us.

Thrifty - Awesome smilies there! I really feel for you on the extra childcare cost, in the same boat over the summer. My OH is working from home tommorow because of the tube strike so I wont book son into the summer camp, which is a £29.60 saving. Thankfully I do it each day, so no cost lost if either of us can cover an extra day, or an all day play date is offered.

Off to soak away the day!

Bob