NST December: Frugal festivities

misstara

ccl hugs to you and hope your DH gets the help he sorely needs.

Calling :eek: to the water coming through the walls and garage roof, hope that sorted soon.

Bob what a fab result on those games.

dolly the rain didn't stay off for long so got soaked on our walk but it was still lovely to get out.

Today I actually achieved a NSD :j. Very pleased as it's been difficult this month, that takes me up to a grand total of 6 so far.

Bipex

Quick hello and good night

Misstara: Thank you. I'm looking forward to the rest of this month's challenge.

It's reassuring to find that it's not just me who thought that "Eat Well" spend was ridiculous!

Chocolatelover: sorry to hear your sleep issue. I know only too well how debilitating it can be.
Bobarella: very nice result with the games console and trade-ins
Calling: sadly this will be my second year without my faithful doggie. Crying can be very cathartic, but it's also important to remember the good times. Changing the scenery and/or doing some exercise (for the endorphins) when I'm feeling low also seems to work well for me. If I can't do either, music is a big help. Staying positive can be challenging, but favourite tracks and remembering daily achievements usually lifts my mood.
Crazycatlady: only just seen your post, drifted off somewhere between starting this post and posting it. Hope it all works out. Glad to hear he may get support he needs, but hope you don't castigate yourself too much for falling off wagon. Perhaps the facility he is in can suggest a further support contact for you as his principal carer at home? It's important that you get the support and advice you need as well.

dolly84

CCL - I can't imagine how you are feeling at the moment, I hope your DH improves soon.

Calling - the best medicine for getting over your dog is to get another. When our chocolate lab had to be put down due to cancer we got a puppy 3 months later and it was the right decision.

DS is playing football today for the first time in weeks, DD is riding later and I will be running but other than that not much is planned. I have a huge chicken in the slow cooker for tea which we'll have with salad and chips today.

Fmess

ccl hugs to you and your family, glad DH is getting the date he needs

calling I agree with dolly about having a new doggie, it would be a good distraction over the festive period and the amount of walking you do, it'd love to accompany you I wouldn't have got through the last 6 months without mine, they make me look forward to coming home and are such brilliant company that I'm never lonely. I'm not sure whether you said if you old dog was from a rescue but I'm sure you could find the perfect new companion in your local Rspca or Dogs Trust place.

Last night was my works do and it was spendy and had to go on the credit card. However, I have decided that today marks the start of the next phase of my debt free plan. All Christmas spends are done, credit card has been used for chiropractor and all sorts but that debt will be moved to a 0% deal where I can pay the minimum whilst the chiropractor and electrician require all my cash in the next few months. I am going to have a very frugal couple of months for personal spends at the start of next year as I don't want my debt to increase but I do need to get the electrics sorted and my back sorted. Socialising involving spending can go on hold, except one meal planned for Christmas Eve and I'm just going to tell everyone I need to pay for the electrics and the chiropractor so I won't be spending money.

Today should be SF as I'm doing to a prepaid local craft workshop with a friend. I stocked the cupboards yesterday so there should be lots of SFDs from now on

Hope you've all got the 24 hour dry forecast that I have here. Seems so long since we've had a completely dry day!

apple_muncher

:grouphug: CCL - sending you hugs. Sounds like dh is in the right place for him (and the rest of you too) for now. Chocolate, wool and being a little grumpy seems a decent way to be coping! Do keep posting and let us know how things are going. xx

chocolatelover93

Hello
Quick check in from me bit better sleep last night so thats good.
Three things I am grateful for:
1. My dad coming to help putting the rest of shelves and photos up
2. Hubby finally getting my xmas presents
3. Day off work

Bobarella

Bipex- Glad to see you joining us..

Calling - feel free to tell me to do one but would you consider volunteering for something like a soup kitchen on Christmas day? That way you'd be with others and know you were truly helping too.
On the dog front if you aren't emotionally ready to welcome another pet what about a bit of pet sitting as a way of making money on the side? I bet if you put a note up in a few local hot spots you'd get customers. I'm forever seeing dog walkers on my local routes. Anyway some times its annoying when others suggest your life away so feel free to ignore if too Polly Anna

CCL - hope today has been as good as it can be.

Today I am grateful for
1. Having enough kind friends giving me clothing for DD either new or pre loved that she is kitted out and warm head to toe and hasn't cost me a penny.
2. A full stomach. I've seen too many sad looking homeless people around here to not feel grateful for that.
3. Time to relax and enjoy my home.

Love to everyone

Bob

traveller

Hi everyone Sorry I've been AWOL for a while!

CCL, I really hope your husband will now get the help he needs-sending you hugs xx Calling, sending you hugs xx
Sorry about the bill Fmess and Bob, well done on your good financial results I've been spending more than I would have liked to be honest. Next month, I'm spending only essentials and will try to weather this storm from this month I've also come down with the dreaded flu. To put the top hat on all of it my working kit blew up on Friday, so I have to go in to the office on the days I could have worked at home. I was supposed to be out of the office from Friday until the beginning of January, but have to go in next week on Tuesday. My ex has the week off, so I have asked him to look after our youngest and I will work Monday to Wednesday and put back some of my annual leave :T I feel awful, but at least I can have those days off in a different school holiday as I only have 9 days leave left until next November :eek:

Well I will be without the little one for 3 days and It will be so nice not doing the school run, but I will miss him. However, I need to have a nice shower now without worring about how long i'm taking,lol! I need to catch up on this thread now Today I'm grateful for feeling a bit better than yesterday, time to myself and time to do some holiday planning Have a good sunday everyone

luckystarr

Hi everyone

Sorry I have been AWOL.

hugs/congratulations and well wishes to all that need them.

It has been a bad month no SFD and over spending.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and new year.

See you all in January xx

Bobarella

Traveller- thank you & sorry to hear you are sick. Why have you got so little annual leave though?