NST: January 2017

apple_muncher

A quote for today:

Have clarity of purpose. Know what you want, what matters, what doesn't, what you will and will not do, and where you want to end up in this game of life. Be mindful of this at all times. Set your boundaries, stick to your vision, and live the right life for you and your family.

crazy_cat_lady

Dolly - I'm not sure how teacher hours stack up against regular job hours and pay. As for holidays though, I can reassure you that there is a significant amount of work going on there. I do love my job and enjoy what I do, but it's very full on and really tiring doing so many different things all of the time. Today for example, I got 20 minutes of break between 8.15 and 4.15, during which I had to get lunch and go to the toilet. I reckon I do about 50 hours a week during term time plus holiday stuff as well.
I'm just about to take ds out to football training so quickly reporting in with a nsd and my gratitudes:
my role as mental health champion at school
having lots of leftovers for dinner
mindfulness

greent

Half way through update:

greent wrote: »

Here goes my pledges for Jan:

Usual rules:
Set a NSD target, aim for at least 15. - not a personal challenge of mine as long as budgets aren't exceeded - have been shopping most days for one reason or another but under budget
Donate to a charity - regular DD to one a month and I donate my time most weeks - monthly DD, bags of items donated to CS, 3 hours of my time 'donated' last week and this week 5 or more hours are planned
Pay to your debt or savings first - will do. - debts have been targeted
Post as often as you can - will try and check in daily - have been here most days, I think :cool:

January's rules:
Look at your usual food budget and aim to spend 10% less. Do a stock take of everything in your freezer/fridge/cupboards - I am setting a budget of £400 for the 5 of us and 3 guinea pigs - doing ok @ 226/400
Post 3 things that you are grateful for each time you post - I like this idea - still liking this :T
Post something that you would like to have achieved by the end of 2017 - think about how you will achieve this, break your goal down into small achievable steps.- By the end of the year I want to have halved the (non mtge) debt we have and have lost 20lbs - and also get fitter along the way - 17% of debt target paid this month. Zumba attended 3x so far.
Organise some cheap (free if possible) things to do with family or friends. January is a long and usually boring month, it's nice to have things to look forward to - We had a voucher for a cream tea at a local hotel as a Xmas present which we must use in Jan, so this is one definite thing! Also have access to some discounted cinema tickets so we may see if there's something on which we'd like to see (ideally with DS2 as it's his bday in Jan) - Afternoon tea voucher used last week. Board games played quite a few times with smallest 2.

Food from stores - breakfast - porridge, lunch - rolls and Heck chicken sausages (both from freezer) and HM flapjack. Dinner (currently cooking) - baked risotto (chicken scraps, spinach & stock from freezer. Onion, seasoning, rice and wrinkly mushrooms from fridge/ pantry) with oven baked (wrinkly) tomatoes in balsamic vinegar - yum


Today I am grateful for:
* my mum offering to take the kids to school for me on the days I am working - OH has been doing this whilst he hasn't got a job but not possible from tomorrow. Tried a childminder (dropping off at 8) - but no availability (also not helped by the fact I have a very irregular work pattern) - therefore my (fairly newly retired) mum will be saving me the cost of childcare and kids won't need to be 100% ready before 8am (time I need to leave for work):T
* my children
* my new iron arriving

Toni'sfriend

Kept up with my challenges and had another NSD. That's no 7. Didn't sleep well at all last night so today I'm grateful for
A nap in the afternoon
Easy meals
Going to bed early

FurryBeastOz

Not a NSD today. Needed petrol and veg, and loo rolls. Not one of those things you can really substitute/put-off:D

Grateful:

1) Making it to the gym even though I hurt after yesterday's run. Just did upper body instead.

2) Pinterest. New recipe for dinner. Needs a bit of work, but will become a staple to make chicken breast and brown rice more interesting:rotfl:

3) Bluetooth in my car. I'm keeping up with family and friends so much more now I have 1.5hrs commute home twice a week. :T

Fmess

SFD number 9 today

Work was really annoying (staff not students) and the grey weather didn't help.

dolly good question. I've been a teacher for 7 years and get money for taking on extra responsibility, working on a 39 week year and pretending we don't work in the holidays, I average just over £10 an hour take home pay. I work between 50 to 60 hours on an average week.

Bobarella

Lauralozzle What a fantastic deal on chicken breasts.

Greent I'm pleased your mum can help you. There are lots of Grans on the school run at my son's school.

Apple Thanks for the motivational quote.

Today I am grateful for:

1. Libraries. It is such a lovely thing knowing there are warm, welcoming places you can drop into and enjoy the books, wifi, peace and quiet.

2. At the risk of sounding all Blanche Du Bois, I am incredibly touched by the kindness of people who don't even know you. Someone went especially over and above today.

3. For a beautiful day today. Cold but sunny out all day. A great day for being out and about.

mothernerd

Thinking of you and your family Toni's friend.

NSD yesterday but paid for taxi home after appointment this evening (had to hobble/ walk/ run there - no taxis for at least 25minutes). More plodding yesterday plus 6 hours sewing (probably more), very tired today. No problems at Diabetic foot appointment (I can go back to them if my foot does not improve - to check whether I am walking correctly or if foot turning is causing falls etc).

I am grateful for a visit from DS1, for finishing the anti-biotics (helpful but tasted foul) and for enjoying the sewing.

Progress on goals. Pampering is going well although hair is still misbehaving (came close to cropping it all). Moisturising good and I hae made some cold tea to bathe my eyes. Made the effort to dress up, put on perfume and bangles last Thursday. It doesn't make much difference to my appearance but it is more about 'valuing' myself. Still not formulated my other goals fully but I will be working on filing (business and personal), chipping away at the housework (developing new routines and shortcuts), trying out bed based exercises (things that would normally be done on the floor) and doing more socially (film club and holocaust Day next week, may go to wool therapy on Friday) for the remainder of the month.

Saveforabetterlife

Toni's friend massive hugs

SpekySquarehead

Gooood morning everyone,

NSD yesterday for me, woohoo!

Today however won't be as I've got football tonight (£3.50). A low spend, so I can live with that.

Enjoy hump day if you can.