NST: September: the Turtles go Wombling

nannygladys

Hi everyone, another sfd so it's starting OK for me, but I drew this months money out so I may do some shopping tomorrow as I have the dds, other halves and dgcs for dinner on Sunday.

Went up to the city to change my sewing machine light bulb, I had bought the wrong one last week so it was just exchanged and I caught the bus and used my pass, so no money spent.

Everyone seems to lead very full and busy lives on here, what with jobs and kids and looking after finances, I don't know how you all do it!! it wears me out just reading about you all and then I wish I had all your energy!

Nannyg

apple_muncher

We are now going to focus on ... 25/12. :xmastree:

What do you want from the day/season?

Make a list (if not already done) of who you will buy a present for plus the amount you expect/plan to spend on it. Go through your stock of presents and allocate them, re-gift things, reduce the amount you are willing to spend because you are planning ahead and have time to search around and find a good gift.

How will the food work? Are you hosting? Being hosted? How many will you feed each day? Can you buy things now and put them aside? Make another list of the food you think you will need. Can it be sourced cheaper? If people are coming to you, can you ask them to bring something specific?

How will you involve the kiddies/grandkiddies?

How will you spend the Advent period?

When will you be paid in Dec - if it is earlier than usual, will you have the self-discipline not to touch it until your usual payday?

Are you travelling? Do you need to have an 'emergency kit' in the car?

If it gets cold, do you have enough blankets to be able to keep the heating down? (I lined my floor-to-ceiling lounge curtains with fleeces from primarni last year and boy! what a difference! So I did the same with the bedrooms.) Do you know who to call if the boiler breaks down?

And finally, what gifts would you like to recieve? So that if someone asks you, then you can give a specific answer and get something you need/like.


Tell us your plots and plans!!

Bobarella

WelshKitty - how unthinking these doctors can be. What a worry for you. So pleased all is well.

NannyG- you say that but haven't you already raised your family and put the graft in? Now you should be taking it easy

Is anyone watching Eat Well for Less? It's on BBC one. I can never believe how clueless they make out the average family to be. Also extremely jealous of how cheap property is in their area. They have to save a whole 10k for a house deposit....:rotfl:

cybertortoise

I love the idea of sorting out Crimbo now apple muncher. I will get on that with my trusty notepad in hand.


Today was a spendy day but I shouldn't have to buy anything for several days now except if we run out of milk. I have finished the school uniform shopping ready for Monday. Still need some items for my oldest to start college and myself to start university but that can wait until next week and even later for my items.


I'm off to search my house for items I can re-gift and to have a think about what I can make instead of buying.


Hope everyone had a great day x

Fmess

Evening all,

traveller - congratulations to your daughter getting into medicine and well done on getting under 1k!

welshkitty - how unthoughtful of the person who called you in to the doctors, they shouldn't make you worry like that

bob - hope you got some ys bargains. I'm watching Eat Well For Less, I can't believe they spend over £200 a week for a family of 5 and how much they eat out of the freezer.

misstara - what fantastic jobs, I'm sure they are really hard work but they sound very rewarding too

Sorry for yesterday's absence, I was back at work and then had my shower fixed and went out for a birthday dinner with my family. Yesterday and today were SFDs, so that's 2 done :j I have had two lunches provided at work too, so that was lovely and cost nothing, but back to providing my own LTW tomorrow.

Bobarella

Apple - I will certainly give it some thought. I usually take 3 weeks off between Christmas and the 2nd week in Jan. As I am self employed this takes a lot of planning. So I will be thinking of that as part of the Christmas thing. Thanks.

Fmess - the fact she wouldn't cook from scratch before the show was ridiculous. She felt that grating cheese was too much effort. And microwave pancakes were a good idea for kids breakfasts. Sadly I do think she is representative of the average British shopper. I think those of us who can cook well from scratch are in the minority. Anyway all you can do is watch it and feel proud of being able to meal plan, batch cook, reuse leftovers and keep food waste to an absolute minimum.

WelshKitty85

Thanks guys. I went into a mini panic as DH had the same tests a few months ago and it started with the same phone call - next thing he was being rushed by blue lights to hospital and spent the next week there. I was just dreading going through it all again with DS so am sooo relieved that there's nothing to worry about.

I watched that programme too and even DH was shouting at the TV. He doesn't cook unless it comes from a jar (hence why I am chief cook in our house!) but he does at least grate cheese!

Apple I am so blummin excited by this challenge!!! I absolutely love Christmas!! We spend the day at my in laws so we tend to have a family meal on Xmas eve. Last year we went to a restaurant and it was lovely, so need to decide whether we will cook at home or go out again this Xmas eve. They do lovely Xmas eve celebrations in our nearest town. Everyone gathers to sing carols around the tree in the square and then Santa appears on the castle to talk to the children then they set off fireworks from the castle. It's magical and I cried last year!!

Must start the cake soon. Have most cards and paper that I got in the January sales. Will be making some crafty items related to my business for most friends and family. I have already got some theatre tickets put away for DH. Little ones will be getting Xmas eve hampers with new PJs, slippers, hot chocolate, reindeer food, and some sweets. Will start buying some of these bits this month. They loved making clay pots on our last trip to Cardiff, so they will be getting some sort of pottery making kit each from Santa. The big presents will be from us (drives me mad when Santa gets the credit for my hard work!) but not sure what they are getting yet. DS wants a new bike so have started looking around to get an idea of price.

I'm rubbish at knowing what presents to ask for myself, so will start thinking about that!

We don't have any curtains in our house, just blinds. It's getting cold already so I need to think about getting some curtains put up. I have made some draught excluders though from some old jeans!

Sorry for the long post! Can you tell how excited I am??!!

luckystarr

Hello Everyone

I have bagged my first NSD today WOO HOO !!!.

Hoping for another one tomorrow.

It has been a really long day so I will catch up on the thread tomorrow and update my signature.

Night all xx

crazy_cat_lady

Thanks for the Christmas planning applemuncher - this is something I really do have to start planning. We always went to my mam's house for Christmas dinner - I've never not been there... but last year, it all went a bit wrong and so this year we are starting a new Christmas tradition. Just the four of us on Christmas Day (me, DH, DD and DS), followed by 3 days away between Christmas and NY, followed by NY at a friend's house. Whilst this big stuff is 'planned', none of the detail is sorted yet. I will get to it over the weekend though as it's been another busy day.
Not a NSD either today - cat had her (hopefully final for now) visit to the vet.

misstara

Morning turtles, yesterday was a NSD so 3/20. Today won't be as I've got a meal out with the girls later.

Payday from 2nd job today so have paid £10.16 to the debt and added £5 to the emergency fund

Also loving the christmas aspect to this challenge, this year I'm working an early on christmas day, OH will cook dinner for me coming home and we'll spend the rest of the day together just the two of us. I'll head down to see my family the weekend before christmas. I've got a day off tomorrow so plan to make a list, budget and see what I've got already/can make.

Hope everyone has a fab Friday