NST: February: Back to Basics.

stewby

Hello.

Sorry for my absence. I have been reading but every time I tried to figure out what to post, I struggled to think of anything to write. Everything was a bit cloudy.

Budgets are all blown and I mean completely blown. A bit of my birthday money has also been used just to get by. It is quite common for my spending habits to be related to stress levels. The only saving grace is that I haven't touched the credit card or gone back into debt.
:embarasse

Attempting to refocus and hopefully be a better turtle in March. I apologise again for my poor performance during February. Have spent the past two days working out finances.
Hugs to everyone.

Calling14

Hi sorry didn't check in last few days. Not a lot going on to be honest and I just feel totally fed up.

Including today will be up to 15 SFD.

Debt busting at a standstill till mortgage has been paid. Somehow my heart isn't in it at the moment. Will try harder next week.:(

Went shopping yesterday in Lidlees someone given me a sun voucher for 5 pounds off 40 pound spend. So that meant my wine was FREE, after voucher spend 35.80. Got lots of store cupboard stuff. Will take me over budget this month but hey ho that's life.

Feel bad had planned to go to pub after work with a friend but now changed plans as I find that I always get bit down after our meet ups, need more fun in my life so onto my other offer

Gorgeous day, gutted I didn't do my washing and hang it out this am.
Off to a walk to the bank.

Quiet in work, which means the day drags I prefer to be busy.

Fmess

Enjoy your other offer calling

I'm trying to maintain my SFD but I feel chocolate calling me from every shop! I'm off tutoring soon so hopefully that'll distract me.

dolly84

Well I have finished my first week in my new temping job and all has gone really well. Today was payday so I have withdrawn the cash we need for the month, transferred £50 to the EF and also paid an extra £20 off the debt, the main debt repayment will be done on Tuesday by DD.

I have hm pizza in the oven right now, the dog is walked and I am in my pj's already and feeling pretty pleased with myself. Plan to watch a film with the kids tonight and have a glass of wine.

Bobarella

Hello All

OH'S payday is the last day of every month which this time round means Monday so I have another weekend to get through. That's ok though we don't have any plans and have food in.
DD is sick. Horrible cold combined with teething and general disturbance from her last set of jabs. Poor thing.
Son came home delighted to have recieved a head teachers award today. For improvement in all areas. They give them for things like behaviour and academic performance. In his case I think it's the former as he was a bit unruly in term 1 but the school feel a lot of it was the arrival of DD. I think the long summer break (which feels forever ago now) didn't help either. So we've made a fuss of him tonight and let him sit up with us and watch Brother bear on Netflix. Very nice evening.

Today I am grateful for
1. DS and DD. Both bring me so much joy.
2. Hot tea on a cold night
3. Feeling stronger. Haven't taken any painkillers in 2 days now.
4. Kind friends. Another bag of hand me downs has appeared for DD. People are so lovely.

Night
Bob

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a walk with dh, for dd having a lovely playdate, for finally feeling ready for tomorrow evening, for discovering that the rugby is on (as I type!), for free library books.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all
Bob - pleased to read about your ds. Mine hasn't coped well with dh being ill - it's nice to hear that improvement is definitely possible.
My payday is Monday as well, so I too have a frugal weekend to get through first of all. But as dh is still off work we're still a lot of money down on the usual. Ah well. Thank goodness for these challenges to keep me on the straight and narrow. Thanks for this one applemuncher and thanks in advance for March mothernerd.
Today I am grateful for:
dh taking dd to gymnastics
good friends at home and work
getting another observation out of the way
reaching my nsd target.

Fmess

Today I am grateful for:
- having the opportunity to earn extra money
- the company of my dogs (and cat)
- a home to call my own
- lovely friends and family

mothernerd

I have had a lovely but quite spendy day.

Went back to buy the curtains - they would only take £19.99 for the pair so a really good buy, a cheap and nasty basic pair would have cost more to buy new. Had to carry one back and then the other and have promised to take back the large bag they gave me for carrying (I intend to fill it with donated items). Put washing out.

After a short rest I went to the hovel and lined up the furniture that was being collected tonight. The last few things I had to sort were missing so hope they are in a box in transit and have not been thrown. £3.40 on bus fares and spent £5 on some reduced flowers from the florist mum is always raving about. Should still last a week to ten days and she will get lots of flowers next week so I usually give mine earlier or later.

Back home for lunch and a rest. Had a bath and washed my hair (did more jigsaw whilst my hair was drying). Moved pieces of wood into the kitchen and several basket loads of clean washing upstairs. Generally made more space. Furniture people called and they are collecting my items on Monday.

Had told mum about a sink and toilet in the Age Concern shop so got sent to look at it, possibly purchase and work out who could collect it later. Decided against in the end. Bought sweets on the way back - film club is very relaxed about people taking their own food, snacks and alcohol and bought sweets to help if I started coughing during the film. The £1 emporium had cooking bacon so bought that as well (next month's budget) as want bacon soup and it's an easy make for next week.

Ate tea and read my book. Van man turned up promptly (he had said six and then went a little vague) and the two of us moved the 2 sets of drawers, one chair and one bookcase to their new homes (hope the bookcase is only temporarily at my house but not letting it be put in the skip) with very little fuss. Mum gave me money for the van man, extra for my bus fares and a little 'present' which will more than cover today's extravagances.

The film was excellent, really good (plot, leads, supporting cast, music, background scenery, funny, sad everything). Won lots of European awards (especially Brendan Gleason) but was only released in four US venues. Apparently lots of venues were pulled at the last minute in favour of showing Star Wars on every available screen.

I haven't made lots of new friends but have learned some people's names and spoke to one or two people. Everyone was very friendly and mostly my age group with a few both older and younger. Didn't feel uncomfortable or odd being on my own (a lady who came in at the last minute sat with me but she usually comes with her friend) so very successful launch into having a social life. Have paid £11 but that is for the year (normally £12 but missed January).

Today I am grateful for finally completing the process of 'moving mum'

For a lovely evening out

For my beautiful new curtains

For feeling appreciated.

apple_muncher

Well done dolly on yur first week.