NST: May the NST force be with you

apple_muncher

Ooh, ccl, I have dished out 2 compliments today, without even reading your challenge. Go me! Both to colleagues: one who has been brilliant at keeping an eye on me since a kid had a seizure in my class; the other to another one who deals with the kids in such a great way, she is ideal for her job.

Am on NSD number 10 and have impressed myself mightily!

Happy today to see the fruit of the year's relationship work with my classes - they were all lovely.

I like the tip about water - I tend to drink only water and black coffee. My 'treat' drink is fizzy water with ice and a squirt of lemon or lime juice - but not both!

apple_muncher

Fmess - when I conduct the language orals, I am super nervous, especially the A level ones! And when I moderate or mark for the board I'm also nervous, but only until I am cleared as acceptable for another year! Clearance for the gcse speakings is sorted within a few days of the moderating procedure all starting, but the writing is taking much longer as it started later and needs live scripts. Am sending my ones off tomorrow so hope to be cleared soon next week...

And once I start, it is a case of getting my head down until I clear it all - not easy with a dd!

The_Only_Girl

Hello all, good evening . NSD number 6 today! Finally....

What made me happy today? I lost 2.5 lbs at the fatties today! I thought I have completely sabotaged my diet yesterday when I ate the chicken and bacon sandwich yesterday (19p at Morris when we stopped over for petrol top up.). Was so full of regrets after realising I have gone over my daily and weekly points allowance but happy to find that all is not lost. I need to use that as motivation to be good next week.

I have been good today. Used up all my daily points allowance and only 1 weekly point. I have my lunch already planned which is only 6 points. Keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to stick to it and not be tempted to graze fatty and sugary food.

Frugal tip of the day: Try and eliminate/reduce the "wants" in the shopping and try to live without them. I do that by not stocking crisps and choccies in the cupboard. That way I am not tempted to "mindlessly graze."

Bob and thrifty I hear you about the student finance. Having spent the last few years "kicking down the debt" (borrowed bob's term) I would like to think that my kids wouldn't end up in the same position. I would like to break the cycle of debt in my family. I came from a third world country - my mother was a not-too-well-paid science teacher, my dad was in the navy who retired at 42 and decided to go into farming. Life was basic, we didn't have much spare cash. Pretty much my entire life revolved around frugality and economy. My 3 brothers and i all finished our degrees paid for by my parents and came out of uni debt free. As soon as we graduated and found jobs, my brothers and I were financially independent and didn't rely on our parents. In our culture, education is considered a legacy. They might not be able to leave us lots of money or properties or what have you but starting us well in life via a good education was the best gift they could give. I'm ashamed to say, I didn't prepare myself for such a noble goal. Too late to realise it because my son will hopefully be going to uni in Sept and 2 years after that DS2 will follow.

A lot of people are saying, the student loan is not a proper debt. It's not like my son will go to prison for not paying. He won't have to pay until he earns more than 21,000 pa and anything unpaid for after 25 years will be written off. A few things going through my mind:

1. A debt is something you owe anyone for anything. Whether it is from your parents, your spouse, the bank, the building society, etc. whether it is 50p, £50 or £50,000. If you spend it before you earn it, it is debt. And it needs to be paid. My favourite definition of debt is "Spending tomorrow's income today."

2. If my sons graduates from uni at the age of 22, and assuming he gets a job earning over 21,000, by the time the government wipes off that debt he would be 47, and his children might also be university age.

3. If he marries somebody with student loan as well, they'll be bringing that into their marriage, and won't give them a nice start to their family life dealing with debts so early on. My hubby and I didn't have student debts when we got married and yet ended up almost bankrupt.

Do I sound very "doom and gloom"? I know there's nothing I could do right now about it because it's too late for me. my children WILL have to take student loans but I will do everything in my power to get them or motivate them to get rid of their student loan debts ASAP well before the 25 years is up. If only could live my life all over again, I would try to become more sensible with money and not spend like there's no tomorrow.

Sorry for this long post and above is just my honest opinion.

The_Only_Girl

Bob, what a coincidence. While cooking our supper this evening, I thought the same about broccoli. I used to just use the florets and throw away the stalks but this evening I chopped the stems thinly and cooked them at the same time as the carrots a few minutes before I threw in the florets, meant I added more nutrients, fibres and bulk to my dish. You know what they say, great minds think alike.

I forgot to add my good deed to my rather long post above. A lady in my WW class decided I had a friendly face. She chatted and chatted and chatted with me,told me lots and lots of stories about herself and her family, she even told me about her sick granddaughter. I was more than happy to listen and I gave her the opportunity to let her steam out. It must have been gnawing at her and she felt good after discussing it with a total stranger. She had a huge smile when we emerged from the hall.

Dizzy_Imp

Hello everyone - been away for a few days so not been posting as internet was a little sporadic. Just caught up and have enjoyed some of the frugal tips, thank you!

Calling - I had actually complimented my young builder lad on the care of his work today. He's been extremely careful and considerate and I told him today that I was very pleased. He actually blushed, bless him.

My happy news is that my brother and his long term girlfriend are expecting a baby. Due the day before my birthday, so very exciting!

My good deed was giving eggs to a couple of my friends. We now have eight hens, so have a bit of a production overload.

I also hate wasting food, so rather than buy more of one type of pasta, I mixed several nearly finished packets of different shapes and styles together to make a tomato, cheese and bacon bake. Cleared some cupboard space and saved a trip and cost of a shop. All tastes the same anyway...

mothernerd

thrifty I remember listening to my sons' headmistress talking about her daughters. One was very serious, worked hard at school took science subjects and followed up with a science degree then struggled to find any employment at all. The other lived with her head in the clouds, floated about dreaming, did a music degree and has been in full employment since leaving university.

I don't think the subject is that important unless aiming for a particular career path (and even then what they are interested in at 18 may not be the same when they are 27 - apparently that is the average age people decide what they do want to do with their lives.

The problem is that as there are more would be employees than jobs (most of the reduction in unemployment comes from 0 hours contracts and similar measures ie 10 people working 4 hours per week is only one real job but 10 off the unemployment figures) employers can pick and choose and decide on what qualifications they want.

I remember reading a few years ago that travel agents and estate agents had decided to ask for degrees as an entry level requirement - not needed or relevant to the position but they could pick and choose and they did.

University education is no guarantee of employment either - I pushed DS3 towards it mainly on the basis of the lack of jobs and if no-one was going to pay him a wage then it was better that he got 'paid' to study and that it is easier to study when you are young and commitment free. As someone who has tried to study alongside caring for young children and running a business (may be 26 years ago but I still remember having to walk round the 'playground' in breaks just to stay awake - luckily DS3 chose to arrive in the Easter holidays and rushing back from exams and at lunch and tea to feed him) and finally getting the chance to do a degree when I was 42.

I think you should NOT think about student debt as real debt. I know some of you have been high earners but a family where both partners were earning over £21 k would be really lucky. That is also assuming there are no low earning years when one takes time off to care for children or parents (as women are having children later many now end up caring for frail or elderly relations at the same time as their children) or either becomes sick or has a gap in employment.

So many will never pay off the full loan and quite a lot will never have to pay anything.

What made me happy - I was up before the alarm this morning and had time to peg out two wash loads of clothes and bedding before walking to my local history 'meeting'. I'm getting a reputation, people are popping by specifically to ask me questions.

I have been worried about letting you all down as for the past few weeks I have been so lacking in energy, I have had to force myself to get up (when my body has been screaming to curl up and go back to sleep) - only the thought of letting people down has got me out of the house and sometimes I have had to go back to bed when i got home. Long may the improvements continue.

Good deed - does answering people's questions count. One of the other things going on at the centre is a drop-in doctor service for refugees. A couple of weeks ago someone was taken ill and an ambulance had to be called. I recognised one of the girls there today as a friend of the girl who was ill so I asked if the friend was ok (yes).

Frugal tip - query bills that are not right. My broadband bill needs querying.They wrote to announce an increase but said those on agreements would not be affected . Silly bill has arrived so need to get onto that. feel like I am forever arguing just to get them to do what they should (still awaiting final bill from old energy company) but if that's the only way, so be it.

Calling14

Dizzy Imp lovely news. What month? My new grandchild is due December.

Student finance well my oldest daughter did her degree whilst working on day release . Took longer but no debt at the end and had specialist work experience as well. Was a hard way to do it but her idea. Driven by money and determination not to end up with lots of student debt.

My other did usual method, lots of debt, bit work and off travelling!

Everyone different :rotfl:

Bobarella

TOG what a life journey you've been on. Funny enough I ended up Sat next to an elderly lady on the bus yesterday who said she was from the Philippines and was telling me she cleans houses here and sends money home to put first her children and now their children through school. She said she was 70. She has one grandchild left in school now and then she will retire. It made me think how much we take for granted in the UK.

SpekySquarehead

Morning,

I must admit, I've fell of the bandwaggon. There's just been expenses that I cant avoid! Today will be a NSD though, but I'll ruin that tomorrow and Sunday with spend - which will hopefully be minimal.

I'll pop by later with my 3 points for today. Until then, have a great day turtles.

SpekySquarehead

As promised, I'm popping back with my list

What has made me happy?
I had a lovely relaxing and chilled out night last night.

One thing I done for someone else?
I picked up and dropped of my friend to save him from driving.

Frugal tip?
Don’t let the revs in your car go over 2,000 and don’t add needless weight to the car from junk in your boot.