Dancing in the Rain

in_need_of_direction

Have you a designer re sale shop nearby? It might be a better option for the handbags.

beanielou

Ooh what part of Scotland are you coming too?

Orange_Ena

doingitanyway wrote: »

Inverness-shire, is the nearest big place and it's 20 miles from there. It looks beautiful. I can't wait.:)

I had a good day today I enjoyed my work and the time spent with colleagues. After work I met a friend for a coffee. Both at work and after with my friend I keep being told how well I look. They don't say why. I think it's because I'm losing weight?

I packed my breakfast but not my lunch so I was hungry today, especially as I refused to buy any food as I already bought snacks

I spent:

coffees £5.50 (paid for my friends -it was my turn-)
an orange 34p
travel £10
nuts £2
chocolate £1.75
christmas crackers 50p

£20.09 :eek:

The Christmas crackers were in Tesco and were reduced from £9.99 for 12 to 25p. I bought 2 boxes. I plan to have an oven by Christmas!!!I want to bake mince pies and bring them into work with Christmas crackers for our big team meeting. A treat that won't cost me much but will be personal

I could have planned better today and made it less of a struggle

I couldn't find my keys so I had to get the spare from my neighbour At least she was in At least it wasn't a lock-changing disaster especially as I don't have a credit card or emergency fund. It's scary to think how everyday calamities can set you back...

I am grateful for:

1 Sharing a sunset with friends and watching the sky turn a pink striped wonder

2 A bowl of home made soup when I got home

3 My neighbour being home when I forgot my key and for having the sort of neighbour I can leave a key with in the first place

Good night reader
DIA x

Lovely post DIA, glad you had a good day

Brilliant bargains with your Christmas crackers........at that price you'd be crackers not to buy them :rotfl::p

Orange_Ena

It's amazing to see how it all adds up but if it helps to track spends, it's worth noting down.

Well done on the volunteering and the jeans fitting :T:j

Have a good weekend

MuffinTops

Hello DIA,

I've not been feeling great so haven't been posting, but I have been reading your updates and you're doing an amazing job. Your NSD's are fantastic and they seem to have triggered more good things for you too. Your posts have really boosted me during my low times as they're so motivational and inspiring. Thank you.

Have a great Thursday. MTxx

mothernerd

This reader is enjoying your diary - thought it was time to introduce myself rather than read and leave without speaking.

I like NSDs as well. Usually do quite well but not last month. I was moving my mum into a bungalow - timing was not of my choosing and there has been a certain amount of chaos as a result. I had allowed what i thought was a generous amount for travel (I don't have a car so it's mainly bus fares).

However I soon ran out of my budget (and lost a lot of NSDs) as I was bus hopping between my mum's partner's house where they had been living, the new bungalow (over a steep bridge and as I had a hip replacement a year ago not yet feeling up to it) and home - waiting for neighbours who had been offered furniture they didn't need, sorting through piles of stuff to go to the charity shop and taking it there, hunting for things mum wanted, listing more things that have suddenly turned up (mum's partner is a hoarder and this problem is about 25 years old) then taking my list to mum and distributing those in accordance with her instructions. Hopefully I have nearly finished (just 50 odd years of baking and cake making stuff - have been trying to get a cupboard clear for some of this but also keep telling mum she has to let some of it go).

I am in limbo at the moment. I have recently become debt free although I need to keep living frugally. Still not used to having any money after many years of struggling (recurring depression and poor health - had problems for over a year before my operation and have only just completed the full recovery period, kneeling down and anything at floor level are still difficult). So i am adjusting.

I have spent so much time in charity shops the last two weeks, I have started noticing the things they have on sale. Was attracted to a wardrobe and 2 sets of drawers (tall bedside drawers) in the hospice shop. Not entirely to my taste but the quality was much better than what is available nowadays. So I came home to think about it and went round and found 8 pieces of furniture I could 'lose' (probably donate to another branch of the group I have been having counselling with).

Things I have been living with, which I haven't chosen and didn't dare get without as I could not afford to replace them. Other family members seem to insist on keeping certain items 'in the family' when someone has died, but then decide it would be better kept at my house.

I have more or less decided I can live without the wardrobe and drawers but I still intend to lose the excess furniture (even if some of my things have to live in boxes or bags for a while). I have some jobs which need doing to the house and space is the thing I need most atm.

Orange_Ena

doingitanyway wrote: »

Thanks Mothernerd for coming over to say hi
It's good to know someone shares my love of NSDs. It sounds as if you have had a tough few years but now you are debt-free life is bound to be better. After all you could have your current problems and debt too. You have done so well

TODAY

Spends:
34p an orange
75p for a 30g bar of chocolate TOTAL=5.09
£4 towards dress cost

I'm pleased with my spends. I had a free coffee at Wait**** to go with my orange and took soup in my flask that I ate before I left the office.

I had a credit on an account for a coat I returned. Today I found a dress at the same company, reduced from £189.00 to £53. I had a £53 credit so I bought it. I paid £4 for delivery cost. Fingers crossed it looks good and i can wear it to my upcoming party. If I hadn't returned the coat I couldn't have afforded it as I have no other money than what is in my current account.

3 good things

Caught all my connections on time so home in under an hour
Picked up a reduced chicken but put it back because I already have good quality protein in the freezer. I'm learning!
Found the gorgeous dress

Hope your day was a good one reader
DIA x

Hi DIA. Well done on your bargain dress, that's quite a saving. Very :money::T

Have a lovely weekend.......NSD's a gogo

beanielou

Dress sounds fab.
Where did you get it?
It is for a special occasion?

Orange_Ena

doingitanyway wrote: »

A NSD for me as working from home

Lid* have massive red peppers for 45p so big only 2 can fit in a large slow cooker. I made stuffed peppers. I usually add a little beef like my friend's Greek mum taught me but I didn't want to buy any so used a broken up (reduced) pork patty. I used grated veggies, oregano, cheese, millet and quinoa. They came out brilliant

Cold here but I have 'no heating until dark' rule, so held out.

Not so great

nothing sold today
:(my tea towels are depressing me. So stained (though clean) When I get paid I'm going to buy 6 new ones in IK** and use the old ones for cleaning cloths

3 good things
:)Kept on top of my kitchen today so nice and clean at the end of the day
:)A NSD (still amazed they have made such a difference to my bank balance this month)
Washed my hair...washing my hair always elevates my mood. No one ever washed their hair and thought 'I feel worse for doing that'

Hope you had a good day reader
DIA x

Ooh how did you cook the peppers? Just cut them in half, stuff then cook? Do you use any liquid? I've only done the odd thing in my slow cooker so I'm not very familiar with it.

I'm loving your 3 good things DIA, so lovely and positive to read.

Had to laugh at the tea towel comment. When I had a new kitchen I treated myself to some L@ura Ashl3y tea towels but they're too darn nice to use so I'm still using my old scratty ones. Perhaps I need to introduce an "everyday" tea towel category alongside " luxury" and "really should be binned but ok for drying pans" :rotfl:

MuffinTops

Hello DIA,
You're making such huge steps forward. I know it may seem that you're doing lots and not getting the full rewards you want, but you're very much on the right path.

For my "new home" that hasn't been found yet, I have so many new tea towels and forcing myself to continue on with the scraggy ones too! What are we like? It's not even like tea towels are particularly expensive! It's nice to see I'm in good company here with you and Orange Ena

MTxx