NST: May the NST force be with you

Bobarella

Cat sorry you are struggling with your anxiety at the moment. It is totally understandable though given the uncertainty you've been facing.

Well. Last night was woeful. DD had a temp and was out of sorts and wanting to feed for 5 mins here and there all night..DS has a sore throat and woke in tears at one point and is angling for a day off...to be honest I think he is just really worn out.
Send coffee

The news about Donald Trump was unsavory to wake up to. What with that, Brexit and the vote for London mayor this week I feel all politic-ed out

Frugal tip of the day. Never throw away milk that has gone out of date. It is like butter milk and can be used in cakes and scones.

Have a good one all

Bob

clippy_girl

Morning all

Sorry didn't post yesterday, was sooo tired!

So I walked to work yesterday which was nice but on the way home I called in to the walk in centre about my rash. It was still oozing and sticking to the dressing and was very sore. It started to heal from the middle out but was getting bigger outwards. As its now in red rings the nurse said it looked like ringworm so try antifungal and proper dressings. Unfortunately the out of hours pharmacy by the walk in centre doesn't now open late so I had to walk 20 mins in the opposite direction to home to go to boots and then walk all the way back home. So didn't get until 8pm really wanted a mcd but resisted. Unfortunately I caved and bought a big bar of chocolate for £1 when buying my guests bread so I lost my NSD

Today I have woken up to a cold sore so will need to buy cream for it tonight. Think I am falling apart. :eek: Although my stomach looks so much better already this morning :T

My frugal doing of the day was to stop the washer dryer before the dryer cycle as realised it had just finished washing so can hang it out before I leave. Not really a tip but saving me money

SpekySquarehead

Morning,

Yesterday was a spend day. Little bits from Aldi and then £8 for parking for my interview. Today and tomorrow will be NSD’s though . Keep going turtles!!!!

What has made me happy?
Truly discovering how cost effect Aldi/Lidl are! After a visit yesterday I was astounded to spend half of what I’d usually spend!

One thing I done for someone else?
Yesterday evening, when visiting my gran in hospital, I took the time to speak with another patient who had no visitors. She offered me some of her chocolate which I was really touched by her generosity despite her being the one needing looked after. What a kind and gentle woman she is. So I took the time to sit and chat with her for a while as my gran was sleeping. I think she enjoyed the company and attention, at least I hope she did.

Frugal tip?
I go back to my first point. I’ll now be no longer snobbish around my food shop and happily buy my groceries from one of the German supermarkets. If you haven’t tried it, please do.

thriftylass

Wow, loving the good deeds and the frugal tips. Esp. the one about the spring onions. Might try that while waiting for the ones in the garden to grow.

SpekySquarehead amazing isn't it. The quality is good, most meat is local (Scottish up here). When I still lived in Germany it was a totally different story (about 13 years ago). Lidl was ok but no-one bar alcoholics and the really poor would go to Aldi, I mean you wouldn't go there to save money only if you were really desperate, it had a bad name for cheap prices for poor quality. How far they come along now, I almost prefer Aldi over Lidl depending on what I need.

Today will loose another SFD as I need to post my auntie 50th wedding anniversary card.

Last night DH finished the first coat of paint on the shed. We had a lovely homemade fish pie for tea. Just irks my that you spend over an hour cooking and then it's eaten in 10 min, didn't even have many leftovers, just a small lunch for me.

I'm in that restless phase again where I'd love to do stuff in the garden and the house but in between job, household and kids there is just no time. Feel like I'm on a hamster wheel.

Anyway, good swim at lunch should lift my mood.

Bobarella

Thrifty it is hard isn't it. I feel that a lot of the time. But you are doing an amazing job 'just' raising 2 little ones. The rest is just nice to haves.

The_Only_Girl

Good morning Bob, I hope the little bobs are feeling much better today. Hugs aplenty to all who need them, especially ccl. I hope this abundant sunshine we seem to be having in our part of the country (I hope I haven't jinxed it) will cheer you up a bit.

Just wanted to share something I've seen on other forum I'm on. This is my frugal tip of the day (and a bit.... )

10 Money Lessons To Teach Your Kids Before They Turn 10

Want your child to be money-savvy like Warren Buffet? These tips will help your kid learn how to save and manage money.

1. Money Lesson: Money Doesn't Grow on Trees
When kids see bills pop out of the ATM, they don't realize that money is a finite resource. Explain that you work to make money, and the bank is just a place that keeps it safe (try to banish your cynicism about the recent economic crisis!)

2. Money Lesson: Work with Your Budget
The best way to teach kids to start managing money is to give them some. If they blow their allowance on a new Star Wars figure and don't have enough left for a DVD they really want, that's actually a good thing: "They learn firsthand the consequence of overspending," says Pearl.

3. Money Lesson: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Teaching kids delayed gratification will help combat the "buy now, pay later" mentality that could mire them in credit card debt later on. So, as much as you can, reinforce the idea that waiting pays off. For instance, make a homemade pizza together with all the ingredients your child loves; then microwave a store-bought frozen one. The homemade pie takes longer, but it tastes way better.

4. Money Lesson: Don't Spend It as Soon as You Get It
Curbing impulse buying goes hand in hand with teaching delayed gratification. Show by example. Before you go shopping, create a budget. Outline what you're going to buy, what stores you're going to, and the price range for each item. Then compare prices online and clip coupons together (consider letting your child keep the savings so she sees that bargain-hunting pays). She'll learn that planning purchases before you buy is the routine.

5. Money Lesson: Saving Is Cool
Your daughter wants a new doll that she doesn't have enough money for? Tell her to save up! Once has enough, take her shopping and let her pay the cashier herself. She'll never forget how good it feels to work toward a goal and be rewarded in the end.

6. Money Lesson: Keep Track
Simply knowing where her money is going is a big step forward in your child's money management skills. Have her use a notebook or go on a computer to keep track of her money. Make a file (or use an old purse) where she can store receipts.

7. Money Lesson: Have a Wish List
It's hard for kids to set priorities, so sit down together and make a wish list of the things your child wants to do with her money. Then help her rank the list by discussing what's important about each wish.

8. Money Lesson: Make the Most of Savings
Introduce your child to savings vehicles that could earn her interest, such as savings bonds and certificates of deposit. Search for a compound interest calculator online and show her how just $1 can grow with interest over time (and check out ThreeJars's Allowance Calculator, which shows the allowance you got as a kid in today's dollars). She'll be amazed!

9. Money Lesson: Be a Little Skeptical
While you don't want your children to think companies are out to get them, every now and then point out manufacturers' sales tricks. "Healthy skepticism is crucial not only so kids can resist the allure of products on TV, but also because it helps keep them from buying into the messages behind the ads -- like if you have the right clothes and toys, you'll be popular," says Pearl.

10. Money Lesson 10: Share
Have your kids donate a portion of their allowance to charity. It teaches them that money can be used to help people, rather than just for buying things. Remind them that it's not how much you give -- every little bit counts.

thriftylass

Energy companies must have different maths rules. Changed over to another fixed deal with EDF. My old DD was £70 which roughly covers the cost come winter or summer (sometimes higher but in total i pay about about £1000 a year). Now my new annual cost projection was £807 for both gas and leccy and they want to set my new DD at £143 :eek:, how does that work? Doing it the old fashioned way on paper £807/12 month is £67. So I signed up anyway and requested an adjusted DD.

Swim was lovely but short as I got bored.

Found some egg carton style cardboard in the recycling in work. Will used that to transplant some of my seedlings as some are outgrowing their seed trays and I don't dare plant them out yet.

SpekySquarehead

Just tucking into my 49p cous cous from Aldi. Very nice indeed!

It has the Speky Seal of Approval!

Calling14

Feeling tad worn out at the moment, just not enough hours in the day.
Not sleeping well as stressing out about the most stupid things.:(Fences, water leaks, drain issues.

Anyway went for my eye test yesterday and relief no change - so no need to buy new glasses.:)
Today chasing my tail in work so will stay in and gain a SFD.:T

Got grandson after work today, he had a swimming gala this morning and won his race so we will celebrate with lollies on the patio he will be probably be tired out.:D

Decided last night the fencing is too big a job for me, would be okay if my neighbour looked at all practical but he seems useless. So rather than stress out any more about it, will have to pay someone to fit it. My boss is coming to look at the problem I have after work, basically fence will be above the concrete posts by 3ft. I have 2 ideas how to attack it but hey ho better to get a professional in, hoping he will release a labourer to me for a few hrs. Lot of lifting and top of it is at least 10ft -12ft from my side. Houses grrr. Better get my tatty knickers in off the line before my boss comes around.:o

Fmess next month there will be major underwear shopping:rotfl:

CCL - hope you are feeling less anxious, we will be good turtles, this month for you to try and help.:) I will fend everyone off naughty step for you.
Bob - coffee whinging its way to you. Hope you little ones feel better.

Clippy Girl - you sound very run down, glad your rash is healing up.

SpekySquarehead - decided that Aldi is my fav out of lidl/ aldi more choice for meal ideas. Lidl seemed great when it first opened, however meat offers don't seem to be on weekends now and more of their deluxe range last time I went, nearly 3 freezers full of them and little anything else. Brilliant muesli and nuts however. Fav's Aldi s fish cakes.

The only frugal thing done today defrost half a loaf of bread rather than whole one.:D
Made tea and happy smiley in office, could be creeping to boss just a tad for my fences.:rotfl:

Hugs to all those feeling down

greent

WelshKitty85 wrote: »

Frugal tip - cooking disasters aren't always a disaster. Before our hols I needed to use up some berries from the freezer and decided to make jam. But I did it from memory, not measuring out ingredients and timing it properly and it didn't set. So I threw it in the fridge and decided to leave it until we got back. Well, I have been using it up this week a spoonful at a time in a bowl of natural yogurt and its delicious, nicer than those corner yogurts. Glad I didn't bin it when it didn't turn out right!

Oooh yes - I've used up overdone ginger biscuits as a cheesecake base before now and the other week I left some cookies in for too long - they weren't burnt, but they were crunchy and not chewy - I used those in a sort of rocky-road fridge cake thing so as not to waste them


Things which made me happy today - the weather


Helpful/ kind thing - nothing I can think of


Frugal tip - love your freezer - use it to make the most of YS purchases, to freeze things before holidays etc (such as chopping peppers and then you can use them in something like chilli another time), freeze leftovers, bulk cook and have HM ready meals.


SFD 2 yesterday. (OH spent c.£10 but was claimable on expenses, so am not counting it) Not today, though - went to local outlet centre. Spent £2 on carparking (full of cold and felt too rough to walk a mile or so in from free on street parking and back). Bought OH new boxers and me a vest top in M&S - purchased with giftcard (received when switching bank acct) so no cash spent and then bought me needed new shoes from Skechers outlet (need comfy shoes for invigilating exams) - went up half a size from usual as managed to put toes through both of last pair! Not at all a sexy shoe, but v comfy and will be good for all the walking around on our hols after the exam period is up Oh - and bought bday cards for my mum from us & children (from a [EMAIL="H@llmark"]H@llmark[/EMAIL] outlet - so cheaper than normal) Swift dash in and out because I felt a bit rough - I make that cold number 4 so far this year - I seem to be picking them up after exams and the children who are all in with sniffy noses!

xx