NST December: Frugal festivities

littleskintdragon

Evening everyone,

Nsd 3 here.

calling and dolly thank u for the advice re the zoo

bob well done on the pad, i did that once and paid off loads, may start again soon.

Had my money yesterday that i said i was going to be getting and we've decided what to do with it, so tomorrow, im going to pay off a loan, loan to family and the remainder of the n3xt account.
This will mean £2939 less debt to start 2016 then I'll also have an emergency fund as my back up if i need one. We've still got a long way to go but im so happy to be able to pay such a bit lump towards debt.

I havent mentioned the mental health past of this challenge yet, but ive been having some really down days, crying lots. Not sure if its normal pregnancy related issues, or if i need to speak to someone. Im going to see how it goes, but in the meantime, im going to do what ever i can to try to make things feel a bit better. So any suggestions gratefully received. Tbh i think a lot of it is down to worrying sbout how im going to cope with three children, and how i'll manage.

Today i am grateful for -
1. Ds going to sleep without a fight
2. Leftover food
3. My afternoon nap which was more than needed.

chocolatelover93

Hello everyone,
Just a quick check in today
Not had a chance to read the thread but will have a read tomorrow when I have more time.
Spendy day today but got some more Christmas presents and a bulk shop at Booker's:
£25 Xmas present for hubby
£9 Xmas presents for my auntie
£6 Xmas present for manager at work
£20 Xmas presents and a couple of bits for the house from Home Barg
£66 Bulk buys (toilet rolls, cat food, litter, milk etc) Booker's
£10 Haircut
£35 fuel
£20 Electric
So yeah a bit of a spendy day!! Now off to see who I still need to buy for Xmas wise

Three things I am grateful for today:
1. My mum coming shopping with my and buying me lunch
2. My cat for curling up next to me right now (even if he is sitting in a silly place)
3. Talking to my friend on Facebook, having a good old catch up

Hope everyone is ok
xx

Calling14

Bob well done on yr Pad's. Will try in the new year to do that again.

LSD perhaps you are just tired, low in iron? Coping with 2 kids and being pregnant must take its toll on you.

Grateful for
1 cutting the grass today
2 drying my washing in this storm and glad all if it stayed on line.
3. Walk without getting wet.

crazy_cat_lady

Hi everyone
I am so pleased that I've survived a particularly stressful week at work. There are some real ups and downs, and it's usually to do with those higher up rather than the kids.
I did the grocery shopping last night, so when I got home after ds footy training tonight that was me done for the day. Just as well because it seems to be blowing a bit of a hooley outside at the moment. I was just about awake enough to make dinner, and get the Christmas tree down from the loft - the kids have decorated it.
LSD - I would talk to your doctor or midwife. It's a tough time of year anyway, without little kids and another on the way. Always best to keep an eye on things and get help sooner rather than later. It may be nothing other than tiredness, but something isn't right. I know that my stress is getting out of control when I get either really snappy or really tearful. Usually I see it coming but sometimes people need to point it out. When that happens I just have a really early night and time away from everything (which I can do now my kids are a bit older). Hope you're feeling better soon.
Things I am grateful for today-
Not needing to go out in this horrible storm
Already having done the food shopping
Feeling festive now the Christmas tree is up.

misstara

Very quick post tonight - hope everyone is ok. Will catch up with everyone's news tomorrow.

Today I'm grateful for
- a NSD
- yummy HM fish and chips for tea
- a good day at work

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

Quick post from me tonight to report that it's been a SFD and I've completed lots of orders.

Work tomorrow (my old job, only 5 more days to go!) so must get to bed.

mothernerd

Fmess and LSD look after yourself (sending hugs). Change (even happy change) is always stressful. I would write a list of everything that makes you feel better and do several every day. Try to get outside in the light each day. The time of year, plus 'coupley Christmas' and the dying of the year (reflection and introspection) all contribute to low mood and you are both assimilating change.

The 'Eat yourself Happy' book recommends salmon, mackerel, almonds,eggs, kale, sweet potatoes, brazil nuts, turkey, dark chocolate,oats, strawberries, avocado, Romaine lettuce, bananas, dairy produce, pineapple, sour cherries, garlic, barley, lentils and sesame seeds for winter blues (15 other lists available, depending on your problem).

I have had a bit of a roller-coaster day. Decided to peg the washing out late last night and woke to sunshine. Rounded up all the things hanging around on radiators and airers and pegged out until I ran out of pegs. Did kitchen jobs so I could keep monitoring them, washed sheet and a fun fur throw from my bed, took a quilt outside to air. Did quite well getting rid of things (14 cans and bottles from the backs, my bit for the local environment and matched containers and lids and discarded several non-matching and broken ones).

Made appointment for foot exam and for hospice shop to collect 3 things from the other house whilst I was eating lunch (Butterbean casserole defrosted overnight).

At 2.30pm I switched on the laptop. Nothing happened. Don't panic - went to DS3. Plugged his charger in (old one, new one didn't match) to establish whether charger or laptop was dead. Happily it worked although it's not charging, it needs to be plugged in.

Opened e-mails. One from estate agent. Buyer has switched mortgage provider to get a better rate but new mortgage company needed to survey house and the key wouldn't work. EA has had problems as well so could I go and DW40 it and report back:mad: then surveyor can revisit. Could EA not have mentioned it before (or done it himself?) rather than waiting till it causing critical delay.

Tried to pay old internet supplier £1.20 for calls I have made. Cancelled direct debit as I thought they had taken the money out on Monday (bank didn't let them). Tried to log in to pay for calls direct (not paying charges for advance line rental etc as they delayed the transfer). As I am no longer a customer I cannot log in. Not paying extortionate phone fees. Will send fierce letter, listing all their shortcomings.

Nearly cried then decided chocolate was a better option. Spent money on DW40 and various things (will update signature later - bit complicated). Did include £3 for a peacock jumper to replace the green one I bought last year (starting to look shabby but can always be worn as a layer inside the house). Upgraded from Mattalan own brand to MnS. Was looking for a long black top as am going to a funeral next Wednesday and zip on best skirt keeps sliding down (long top and safety pin budget option).

Ate then caught bus (£1) to a couple of stops past my house. Delivered cards to aunt and cousin, did the door thing then filled dolly truck (32 litre kitchen bin) with loads of wood. Too much as came a cropper at first crossing. Some teenagers helped me get truck upright again and took some wood back to house. Later a couple helped me by pushing it for a few blocks.

Eventually made it home. Shouted DS3 to bring it all in for me. Went for ibruprofen. Have had hot bath with lots of salt and made picnic tes in bed (was going to buy a sandwich but they had none so bought YS buns and grabbed ingredients from kitchen - mature cheddar so little cholesterol pill will have to work overtime (normally have low fat cheese spread, proper cheese is rationed)

Today I am grateful that when my skirt fell down I was out of public view, that I have done much more walking than recently and that several people helped me.

short_bird

Spent £9 on a pint of shandy and a noisy band. Feel better for it.
Grateful for:
Afternoon naps
Music
The NHS.

mothernerd

My epic is compensating for everyone else's short posts.

Fmess

Wow morhernerd you are like wonder woman!

Maybe go to your dr sooner rather than later lsd, it took me 7 weeks to get an appointment to talk to someone when I went to my gp

Well done on the PADs bob

Thank you for all your posts of support. I downloaded the headspace app the other day and did the first session and it was really useful. Yesterday I went out with friends for a Christmas meal and survived a stressful week at work so feel a bit more positive.

Tonight I'm out for a second Christmas meal. The food is paid for so just need taxi money and drink money, which I earnt tutoring earlier in the week. Hopefully the electrician is coming today to do a bit of work but haven't heard from him yet. Also need to get a couple of food items to see me through the week and do school work so that I can just lie on the sofa tomorrow.

Yesterday I was grateful for:
1. Seeing a barn owl flying
2. Good friends and long chats
3. Dry weather for walking the dogs