“Just Say NOvember; Batten Down the Hatches 2016”.

x_raphael_xx

dolly84 wrote: »

x_raphael - that blanket sounds like your life's work.

It wouldn't be so bad if it was all one piece, it's the hundreds of tiny squares then the stitching together. It's taking shape thou.

mothernerd wrote: »

as a family they are gadget mad so a house with no television will baffle them.

My work colleagues always look at me in confusion and horror when they ask if I've watched *show* and I tell them I don't have TV. There is very little I am interested in watching and I can't justify the monthly payment for 1 show a week.
They get equally confused when they come round and I have a huge flat screen TV, but it's just for my video games (and was a free cast off)

£2 spend for me today, on a Poppy Pin, I've been wanting a proper pin, rather than the paper poppies for a while now.

Massa1982

Having a lovely morning so far today with a well behaved for once monster!

Food 29.61/£285
Travel 39/£185
Xmas /200
Entertainment 14.4/100 (built into mini break & Xmas shopping, budgeted & Planned, hotel already paid for)
Toiletries /0
NSD 1/13

Enjoyed fireworks out last night thanks to the city council, good display and because Monster was really enjoying it even OH who hates fireworks was cheerful. So a good night for the cost of trainfare. Tonights tradition is V for Vendetta movie night with popcorn (got some kernels to pop in cupboard) Hoping for 2 NSD this Sat & Sun to meet civilian target. will update on those later if i achieve it!

fairy3

Morning/afternoon all

Did not check in yesterday as did not spend much time at home. Managed a NSD so 2/4 and no spend expected for next couple of days.
Exercise - completed an hour of walking with the dog already and although sunny weather is certainly 'bracing' house felt positively tropical when home.
Menu plan rechecked and freezer curry and nan bead for tonight - will make cucumber raita to go with it.
Completed 10 lines of knitting and its finally starting to grow
No progress on the wine bottle bags but have materials at the ready
Washing load done and pegged out - ever an optimist!
Need to pot on my jade plant 'babies' for gifts for friends in March - forward planning going well
Had third quote for damp patch on outside wall in hallway - its definitely rising and needs a damp course - quotes range from £550 - £650 but am going with the last one at £587 which included 5% discount for friends (thank you to my friend who recommended him and endorsed his work) so need to sort out date. Bit of a blow financially as not expected but have emergency fund. Have taken photos of 5 items for fleabay and will try and recoup some of it.
This time of year certainly seems to 'find' the weak spots in our humble abodes - hope everyone has a good day

F x

jojitsui

thriftylass - Sky bet is a betting app

Greent- Sounds stressful!!

Furrybeast-Have a great time

Aiming for my 5th NSD. Hubby is going to the pub and will pay.....would this class as a NSD (his client has my car so it's payback) if it counts as a spend day I am not going. It would only be for the rugby as we have to get back for the dog.

I've started to "thin out" my clothes. I have so much stuff with tags on. I really need to start getting rid of stuff I don't want/need.

Have a great day all x

Eager_Elephant

thriftylass wrote: »

Plus i was !!!!ed off with DH as he already asked me to borrow money just over a week after payday. Oh the car was expensive and the jacket. Yeah never mind the nights in the pub etc. But then i don't really have the courage (for lack of better word) to say no and discuss this with him.

.

((thrifty))


Do you want to discuss this in more detail? I am concerned by the use of the word courage.
As a partnership you have as much right as your partner/husband to bring up issues that are of concern.


I can't remember now how you run your finances but I recall you saying that your DH had offered to pay for the car bills but really by you giving him money from your income for the next 3 weeks you might as well have paid the car bill yourself.


If you want to discuss husbands and money then I will post about how me and DH work given that he loves to spend and has £23k of debt which includes a £5k truck brought on a whim:mad:

Eager_Elephant

Yesterday was a NSD - all food taken from home including breakfast.
I did spend on parking but that was connected to work and will be reimbursed next week.


DD had a spendy day, she has her CB to spend each month and this month she needed a new coat (last years coat lasted a year and was only £20 from Primark so I 'm pleased, it has tippex and a rip in a seam but she can use it on dog walks) and some jeans. She is nearly 14 years old and curvy with it so is in size 10 or 12 clothes and regularly outgrows stuff. She got a coat, 2 jogging bottoms and 3 pairs of jeans for £72.


Today is a spend day - dog been to vet, this is the one we adopted in Aug so she has joined pet club and had a check up. Only cost £19.00 which is the 1st payment of the plan and she had kennel cough vaccine, and her flea and wormers for 3mths.
Also popped to greengrocers for bag of potatoes and savoy cabbage and cauli.
DD has a facial booked in for this afternoon plus we have a bonfire event to go to - donation only so usually stick £10 in. Might buy a hot dog while there (not for me as made some soup).
Then will pop to supermarket for weekly bits - soya milk and washing powder.


Need to look at meals for the week and make sure I have enough vegetables in to go with all the stuff I am trying to use up from the freezer/cupboards.


Have made parsnip soup today and used up some GF cake mixes that someone gave me last year so that us a large box disposed of and some yummy brownies to eat today.


Tomorrow will be a NSD.


Have a good weekend Turtles.

mothernerd

Hugs greent and well done on the problem solving.

Did quite well last night alternating cleaning tasks with tidying and putting away. All clean washing (3+ loads) is piled up in a laundry basket near the top of the stairs (thought I might start screaming if I brought it in my room). Doing well this morning (back is bit better), bathroom is clean and the single bed is downstairs. DS3 said I was not to 'hide' anything as that would be putting on a facade. Tried to explain that having only been able to do the minimum for the past few weeks, house is below my standards.

I have spent money. I knew I would have to either today or tomorrow but went very tired after cleaning the bathroom (including moving things out to mop the whole floor) and although I had tentaive food plans I was so hungry I went to the chip shop. DS3 asked me to buy for him as well but expect he will reciprocate at some point (he would give me the money if I asked).

As I had already spent today I went to buy the bread, apples, bananas + a few ys bits. Also bought chocolate and fizzy water and one bottle of diet decaff coke. Knee jerk reaction to bad news. Animal lovers please feel free to skip the next paragraph, it's not good.

Beloved was due to arrive any time from 1pm. At 1.30 she phoned up in tears. Crying so hard that DS3 couldn't make out what she was saying. Beloved's adopted brother (aka child from hell) has pulled lumps of fur out of the chinchillas and one has died from shock.

I don't wish to demonise a child who has severe mental and behavioural problems but he has repeatedly attacked Beloved and her possessions, her parents refuse to let her put a bolt on the door for protection and the mother insists on no sanctions for his behaviour. He is aware enough to understand that Beloved was leaving today and would no longer be his to torture and has found the most devastating thing he could do.

Departure is delayed until another chinchilla can be purchased as they do not like to live alone but Beloved is heartbroken and will obviously need lots of tlc when she arrives. I am having a chocolate and light entertainment break. Hope to get back to finishing the kitchen later.

Today I am grateful for finding a £1 roadkill, for having a good relationship with each of my sons and that Beloved will soon be safe with us.

wit40iwtwan

Hi all

I joined this challenge a few days before but never really introduced myself, etc. I have been on MSE for years now dipping in and out when I need to. I need to again to get me back into UK bills.

Having spent the best part of 2 years living in India on one salary, coming back to the UK with debt was not what I had anticipated. Right now we are paying the bills and living OK but I want us to live well and be free of debt (except the mortgage) by June 2018.

This challenge is great as I love NSD's and am on 3 of 22 today. Hubby does the cooking and house shopping which does help and thankfully he too is keen to clear out the freezer so this challenge is way up our street.

Things I hope to achieve this month:

*22 NSD's
*Only buy if I really need it
*eBay or by other means my wedding dress (I have no real reason to keep it and could get a bit of ££), books, other things we no longer use to reduce clutter and make a bit of money
*Finish off some of my quilts (3 x unfinished ones)
*Finish NaNoWriMo (i.e. writing 50K words in November)
*Decide if I will create a few felt ornaments and kits for craft market (not sure I have time for this)
*Loose 2 kg by getting back to my daily cycle and 3 times a week run with a bit of yoga thrown in for good measure
*Clear out all the cupboards (food and cosmetics) and see how much we save
*MOT the car after 28/11 so if we have any costs we can use the money saved to pay for them! ;-)

Back to NaNoWriMo for me. Hoping for a NSD tomorrow but that is not guaranteed.

Fmess

Oh no mothernerd! How awful for the chinchillas and beloved. I'm shocked that her parents wouldn't let her protect herself and her belongings and pets, I would have thought that very sensible (and not completely unheard of in houses where on sibling does not have behavioural and mental issues). Big hugs, she must be distraught although I would have thought the best option was to come to you and get a companion chinchilla once in the safety of your home.

Today has been spendy on a hair cut and milk and a cat flap. I'm very proud that I've installed it myself although it was the same size as the old one so no major DIY needed. I've done two dog walks and am in the process of rearranging the house ready for the builders in a few weeks.

greent

Sorry to hear that mothernerd

Well done on fitting the new catflap, fmess!

Spends today - needed milk so did most of weekly shop at Tesc0 at the same time - and scored some YS bargains which were on the list anyway . Very pleased that with that and Thursday's small shop we have still spent less than £55, which includes fresh veggies for the guinea pigs for the week Also spent £5 of household cleaning budget - needed carpet cleaner and fab softener.

Lunch was leftover soup and roasted butternut squash chips (BNS had been lurking in fridge for 3 weeks) Tonight's food is Saturday nachos - using value tortilla chips (and a YS chicken breast stir fried with onions, YS peppers, YS chillis, garlic powder (have a huuuuuge bag) some white wine (gift and we don't drink white) and topped with YS chopped fresh tomatoes, grated cheese and sour cream. Very filling, yummy and naughty enough for a weekend treat! I have stewed apples leftover in the fridge if I want something sweet after.

Made sort-of flapjacks today for lunchboxes - used maple syrup (brought back from US and needs using up) instead of golden. Also added in a mashed banana (from freezer), a handful of ood pumpkin and sunflower seeds (although ood they still taste ok - not gone rancid yet) and 2 packs of dried up snack boxes of raisins/ sultanas/ apples. Texture is different but the edge piece I tried is good! I like flapjacks for their ability to use random odd ingredients in - once I have finished all of the dried out (but in date) raisins and sultanas I will move onto the prunes or possibly the dessicated coconut. I still have about 8 bananas in the freezer to use, too - now that DD is away at uni I can use 1 or 2 every time I make flapjack (she hates bananas)
x