The Awakening.....the amazing April NSD challenge thread

zenshi

Can you put me down for my usual 15

Nargleblast

Jodies16 - hello again, and well done on getting number 1 out of 20!

Yasmin2 - number 1 accepted gratefully!

Zenshi - nice to see you again, 15 NSDs logged in as your target.

Debtfreedolly - ah, those Costerpacket and Shaftbucks coffees! Well dodged there!

Nargleblast

Mustn't forget my number 1 NSD is secured!


Talking of fancy coffees......my OH last year splashed out on an expensive coffee machine, the sort that grinds the beans and froths the milk. I thought he was mad but now see the sense of it. A pack of 200gms coffee beans from Aldi's at £1.69, plus hot water and milk.....not sure how many mugs of cappuccino it makes, but when I am on my days off we treat ourselves to a mug of coffee shop style coffee for a fraction of the cost of buying it ready made.

If you can't afford a fancy machine, get a cafetière jug, you can get them very cheaply nowadays, put in a rounded tablespoonful of ground coffee for each mug, pour on enough boiling water for the number of cups you need. Leave it 3-4 minutes, during which you pour milk in a jug, heat it in the microwave then whisk it till frothy. Push plunger down in cafetière, pour coffee and milk in mugs, add sugar or sweetener to taste, sift on chocolate powder if that's your thing. Enjoy!

Gem-gem

1 / 15 NSD for me today.
Made lemon marmalade, did some gardening and loads of ironing - I'm knackered now.

Nargleblast

Productive day, there, Gemgem! Not only a NSD, but you have avoided the need to buy marmalade for a few months!

Nargleblast

I am working the next three days, so will not be doing any spending. Hopefully my OH will avoid spending as well......

Thought for the day....

I recently ordered some hand cream and perfume from a famous company that puts all sorts of luscious (clue to name there) ingredients in its products, and received my order yesterday, together with their latest catalogue. Sadly their prices have shot up in recent years, and they still contain the dreaded sodium laureth sulphate and parabens thingies. As I have for a while now been drifting towards using more natural products for personal and household use, I have reluctantly decided to say goodbye to those luxurious products. I am now looking for recipes for homemade products, using my essential oils collection and normal household ingredients.

Anyone else changed the way they have done something for years?

yasmin2

Azzzaa wrote: »

The worst thing about magazines is, there is one published for everything imaginable, i go in WHsmiths and see a fishing one, a camper van one, a canal boat one, then another camper van one, then a fishing newspaper, thats £30 right there, so i've stuck to just a £2 fishing newspaper which also doubles up as a fire starting in the early mornings

This is my weakness as well.. Before my debt-saving ways I would think nothing of spending £10-15 on magazines and newspapers on a quick trip to the newsagents every few days:mad:. Those beautiful magazines with all the nice, glossy shiny covers and gorgeous pictures on the inside. I am afraid to admit that I still do this but limit it to when I am in airports before a holiday - not that I have done this is in a while lol...

jodles16

Ohh Nargle that sounds like a great idea! I think I do lots of little things, I rarely buy lunch out anymore, always buy from aldee, shop around for deals and generally try not to impulse buy online! Leave it in the baskets a few days until I decide if I need it or not! Also great idea on the coffee, hubby's work has a cool machine and he buys the aldee pods for a bargain price and now the others steal them as they love it as well! Much cheaper than the proper pods!

Up to 2/20NSDs!

Jodles

Gem-gem

Nargleblast wrote: »

I am working the next three days, so will not be doing any spending. Hopefully my OH will avoid spending as well......

Thought for the day....

I recently ordered some hand cream and perfume from a famous company that puts all sorts of luscious (clue to name there) ingredients in its products, and received my order yesterday, together with their latest catalogue. Sadly their prices have shot up in recent years, and they still contain the dreaded sodium laureth sulphate and parabens thingies. As I have for a while now been drifting towards using more natural products for personal and household use, I have reluctantly decided to say goodbye to those luxurious products. I am now looking for recipes for homemade products, using my essential oils collection and normal household ingredients.

Anyone else changed the way they have done something for years?

For years I have only bought Clini..e make up and moisturisers.
Last month I bought an eyeshadow (4 colours in one pack) from AV.n at a fraction of the price. (I am very happy with it). Will try more AV,n things. Have also bought an eye base from Clar,ns, at a similar price but it is on a tube and gas lasted me much longer.

NSD 2 / 15

Had another productive day. Made piccalilli, cooked dinner and tea. Spent the afternoon in the garden putting together a wooden box with hubby and then filled it with 18 home made strawberry plants ( from last years plants). Also weeded plants and removed dead leaves from the plants. Finally gave finished my book.

Nargleblast

Number 2 NSD for me, seeing as being at work kept me out of mischief!

Well done jodies and Gemgem for both getting NSDs today!