NST December: Frugal festivities

Fmess

CCL, TOG and traveller - I completely agree about being drained at this time of year. I usually feel really low in the last couple of weeks of term before Christmas but this year is especially bad. I think the year is catching up on me mentally and physically.


However, I need to try and focus on the positives (at least once a day ) so I am grateful for:-


1.) My family travelling to me today to save me travelling whilst still under the weather
2.) Finding out I could put off all school work until tomorrow at the earliest, so have had a rare work free weekend
3.) Timing the one Christmas shopping trip into town right and avoiding most queues and traffic

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dd coughing less, for dh cooking dinner (and it should last several meals), for utube exercise videos, for candles, for chilling time with dd.

Can I just say hello to all the lurkers, cheerleaders and supporters out there! Thank you for loitering and choosing to be with us. Do pop in and have a natter. No one ever fails on these NST challenges. We each have different months and different difficulties and different successes. Staying the course month after month, to varying degrees of 'success' (however we choose to label it), is a great success in itself.

Hugs to all my turtle companions!

crazy_cat_lady

I aimed for a NSD but didn't quite make it... I ended up going into £stretcher while I was visiting my mam this afternoon. Such a bargain shop - got a couple of bits of groceries but mainly I was in there for a few bits for my form class 'party' on Friday. Can't make them get involved without joining in myself I spent £8.39 on various bits - all added to my monthly grocery spend.
Was nice to catch up with my mam and get a free feed. Can't believe that will be it before Christmas now (unless I see her at my niece's birthday celebrations, if I go)... I don't really feel all that festive I have to say
Anyway, today I am grateful for
finding the stuff I thought I had lost (no idea why it was put in a box and into my wardrobe)
only 5 more get ups for school this year
Resisting the urge to buy more Christmas tat

short_bird

Grateful for:
Generous folks
An hour's quiet!
The last 2 episodes of Doctor Who...!

mothernerd

A NSD.Cooked a few things. Also totally not feeling in the mood for Christmas.

Today I am grateful for having food, for good music and for having the heating on (taken all day to be able to feel it).

misstara

Sorry have been missing for a few days, been reading along but just not had time to post. Work has been horrendously busy, I'm on holiday from Thursday and I don't even really want to think about the amount of work I need to complete before then :eek: One of my mental health aims for this month was to work less so a bit of a fail on that one but gym is going well and I'm reading a bit of my book every evening.

My loan repayment has gone out and the interest has been added on so that's £230 of the debt gone almost 2/3 paid :T

Sorry to hear about everyone who's feeling ill or down or struggling. It can be a tough time of year. Look after yourselves turtles.

My three things for today are
- completing some work that I've really been struggling with
- a lovely roast dinner
- my christmas tree (whoever said they enjoy looking at the lights, definitely agree)

Bobarella

Traveller - sorry to hear that in relation to the strange man..and your MIL.

TOG - I fell off the posting wagon for 6 months in 2014. I was going through a terrible time and just felt that I couldn't contribute positively. But I always thought about the people I'd chatted to on here and gradually returned. Sometimes you need a break.

dolly84

Bob - that sounds awkward on the bus.

TOG - hugs to you.

Yesterday was spendy, I went to Tesco to put petrol in my car, only £8 and that should last ages but it will need gas again soon. I also went to Sainsburys to use a £3 off voucher, I just got the basics as I am doing an online Tesco shop for collection this week but £3 is £3.

I also made a couple of online purchases for me which I certainly didn't need, it came to about £125 and I feel guilty but it's done now. Just need to be careful not to fall back into old habits.

No plans to spend today which is a bonus.

The_Only_Girl

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. Working again tonight, last night's shift was a killer, my feet felt like they were going to detonate after working non-stop from 3-11pm. One more shift tonight then I'm off the rest of the week (maybe I can get my Christmas shopping started if I'm lucky?). Not much money allocated to the Christmas shopping so I need to be firm and inventive at the same time. Maybe I can put this sewing to good use and MAKE stuff rather than buy expensive stuff. I have started on a super hero cape for my 4-year old nephew using a felt fabric I bought from the remnant basket for 25p. Other plans are bags, tissue holders, aprons, etc. Before Christmas, I only have 4 shifts to go and then off after Christmas and my new job starts in January. Can't wait to have no more night shifts and weekends.

Have a nice day turtles.

thriftylass

Hello,

just a quick check in to say I'm out for this month. We just had one course of chicken pox and I guess DS won't be far behind. I'm totally p**ped after being home for 5 days with DD plus OH being out a couple of nights and me having to sort the kids three night in a row too. I don't do well with having the kids constantly, I know sounds strange to say that about my own kids. Love them but feel overwhelmed easily by the constantness of noise and wanting etc. Anyway, lost track of the challenge (not too bad though) but thought that is one thing I can't keep track of atm but I will definitely be there again next month, promise.

Have a fab christmas and a happy new year if I don't see you again till after :santa2:

EDIT:

Sorry TOG to hear you are having a bad time time and this preseason tiredness seems to be quite common, skimming through other posts.

One reason for me to bow out is being overwhelmed with things atm, but also simple technical reason. When I'm off I can't post here as the site won't work on my phone and I don't have time for the laptop at home over the holidays and maybe more time off with another sick child.