NST December: Frugal festivities

chocolatelover93

Evening everyone

Had a chance to catch up with the thread

Had a nice weekend and managed to bag two NSD my meal out last night was all paid for by management at work which was really nice. I think I enjoyed it even more knowing I didn't have to pay for it!!

Three things I am grateful for today:
1. I am really happy my brother announced last night he has just got engaged to his girlfriend I am so happy for them both I am so pleased they've known each other since school (he is 20 in Jan) so I am so happy for them
2. My mum, she's having us all over tonight to congratulate my brother and his new Fiance!!
3. My husband for playing chauffeur last night for me and my manager so we could both have a drink

apple_muncher

I've been to my school's Christmas fair today - straight after work - where I had a stall and have made £62 profit. Well chuffed! And I finally feel that I have shifted some of the items that I've been making all year. Now, dh may let me make some more...! Or he may insist that I get around to posting them on etsee...

fmess - well done on taking the day off. Do take as many as you need. I had to go in today - due to the Fair - so was fully dosed up, along with half a chemist in my bag! Also, I'm being observed tomorrow and it is the 2nd in a series of 3 lessons, so lesson #1 needed to get done today.

Not an NSD as I had to get more balm tissues and a few other bits that can't be classed as 'medical emergencies'.

Today I am grateful for my pupils being so nice to me, for a lovely colleague helping me out this afternoon, for dh making tea, for dd getting on with school tasks without grumbling, for balm tissues and olive oil.

littleskintdragon

fmess i dont pay the £5, but when i go on my account it gives me the option to upgrade to a plus member? You may have the opposite?

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all
I am ill But I hate taking a day off - everything gets stolen, the kids learn nothing and I have a huge amount of tidying and marking to do when I get back. So I went in - we're desperately short staffed at the moment and I figured me at 70% was better than not at all.
Oh it took me an hour and a half to drive 10 miles to work. I was SO fed up...
I even had to cancel my training session tonight - came home at 5pm with the intention of going straight to bed but ended up washing up, doing washing, hoovering and changing the bed. Then I've come up to catch up on here before sleep - and the site isn't working properly so I keep getting an error message :mad: and I'm so addicted that I won't go to sleep until I've caught up. To be fair, I probably am not well enough for work, but I fully intend to go in again tomorrow... It will be less hassle.
Today I am grateful for:
Being safe and better late to work than never.
Another nsd in the bag
Having plenty of food prepared so that was one less thing to do

Justforme

Evening all, can I ask all you PAD'ers is it worthwhile paying daily if it's small amounts too, I never know what's left in our account until the end of the month. I know this next statement is going to shock most of you but I sat down and worked out how much cash we actually have a week in work today as to be honest I really didn't have a clue with a lil tax credits and child benefit for one etc and I WAS DUMBFOUNDED to say the least, where does all our cash go?? especially as I can go Mon-Thurs without spending a penny most weeks. If I can get a grip on my spending I can clear nearly all of our debts in a 12 month, so I am so grateful to have found MSE and know I have to pull my head out of the sand and get things sorted.

I had a call off Westcot D/C earlier an automated thing I declined the call but that is on my to do list to at least set up a plan monthly with them tomorrow, and I also need to sort one other too this has a massive impact on my mental health dreading letters coming through the door and the only one who can sort this is me. (Hubby wouldn't know where to start). I definitely need a to do list and an evening sorting finances this side of new year so I can get things rolling now.

I haven't a clue what I am grateful for today apart from a reality check, the unsubscribe button on emails constantly bombarding me with shopping offers and the mild weather.

Bobarella

Just for me - yes I think PADing is a good thing for anyone to do. I'd argue that once you get the habit you'll find more ways to pay off each day because it's so darned addictive. It really is true that every little helps.

Fmess - Glad you are trying to relax at least. I definately had to pay £5 for the top cashback account.

Apple - great profits! Get well soon too.

Fmess

Thanks bob and lsd. There is no option to swap to the classic account but it does say 18th May 2015 to 17th Nay 2016 so maybe it's something you have to do in your first year?!

black_cat

So tired so must be quick...

Grateful for:

• Inspirational speaker I heard tonight
• home made cottage pie
• OH getting through a load of jobs today

mothernerd

Feeling tearful today. Watched Robbie the Reindeer last night and may need to repeat (and add Chumbawumba) tonight. I have spent money (too much) but spent all afternoon trailing round every charity shop (apart from the ones I did the other day) plus several 'normal' ones for funeral clothes and finally spent £30 on a new plain black dress (rarer than hen's teeth) and the jogging pants I need and a twin pack of leggings (will wear one or the other under the dress as wrestling with tights really would finish me off).

Was in a lot of pain by the time I finished (have done a few jabs and not getting rebound pain so have ruled out a grumbling appendix and a hernia - just a stitch from too much walking and possibly too much food). Ate about 3pm (half went on the floor - trying not to succumb to 'the universe is against me'0 and have only just felt well enough for more food.

I have done some cleaning (still difficult to do banding down jobs like scrubbing the bath). I want all the cleaning done by the end of the week. Goals are being able to sit down in the front room (have stopped Ds3 from returning to sleep there but still a mes and so much furniture it's hard to swap it round) in comfort and to have the kitchen table as a clear work surface.

Keeping on 'improving' as I go - kitchen window sill has a large jug of holly. needs tinsel to hide all the marks I can't scrub off and will add the pine cone and apple on sticks I saved from the bouquet i was given last year.

Feeling swamped eg front room curtains need washing but they are on an undersized curtain rail (DS2 put it up) which bends in the middle and are too short (just cover the sill). Is it worth getting them down and washing them when rail and curtains both need replacing or should I ignore them? I will have my back to them if I get the big couch where I want it.

Definitely need to lose weight but want something more positive as a goal for next year. Losing weight seems to have dominated most of the last 8-10 years (been within a whisker of getting down to 14stone and as high as 17st 5lb). Also feel the 'need to' lose weight is back to counsellor a couple of years ago saying that there were an awful lot of 'shoulds' and 'oughts' and 'have tos' in my life and not alot of fun.

Today I am grateful for the knowledge that this 'mood' will pass, I have been through worse and I will get through this, for which ever turtle said that sometimes purchases have to be made (my wardrobe is no longer fit for purpose and I should have recognised this earlier and set a more realistic budget) and for being able to 'field' a runaway toddler and shepherd her back to her mother.

misstara

Wow it's been a busy thread today - lots to catch up on!

mothernerd you put me to shame with how much you achieve. Hope your 'mood' passes quick.

Just for me I don't do daily payments to the debt but every time a direct debit goes out or I use my debit card I round it up to £10 and pay the extra to my debt. All the little payments soon add up

ccl hope you're feeling better soon.

apple muncher well done on your fab profits.

chocolatelover congratulations to your brother

Fmess hope you also feel better soon and glad that you took the day off to recover

Bob fab news about OH getting all his dentist money back.

Calling hope your gs and daughter feel better soon and that you don't catch it.

thriftylass glad you enjoyed your night out

syn love the hero turtle

Sorry if I've missed anyone. Today has been yet another spendy day - deposit for christmas meal for work, craft stuff and getting my eyebrows threaded (this one I'm blaming on you chocolatelover it does hurt a bit but it's over quickly). Tomorrow WILL be a NSD.

Today I'm grateful for
- having the morning off
- a lovely thank you card from my sister
- a cosy flat on this horrible night