NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

The_Only_Girl

SkintTeacher wrote: »

super inspiring stuff here - we've been through tough patches too and love each other more than ever after nearly 13 years. Love your savings idea - it did make sense ( and I didn't know there were 5% savers you could save up to £500, mine currently allows £300 and I was well chuffed with that!

Good morning SkintTeacher, it's also inspiring to hear how you have successfully passed through the rough patches. I wish you all the best as you face more challenges together. For us, money wasn't the big problem, it was something else. But we weren't on the same page when it comes to money. He came from a family where one parent encouraged his uncontrolled spending and the other parent questioned everything. He resented the latter. So on the early stages of our marriages, every time the subject of money would come up, my hubby clammed up and locked himself into this massively thick walled "room" I couldn't get in. So to avoid problems, we just brushed every talk about money under the carpet, hence the massive debt problem you could see on my signature. After the light bulb moment, when we both realised how deep the problem was, we started singing from the same hymn sheet.

Regarding the regular savers, check out nationwide. We switched our current account via the nationwide refer-a-friend scheme where both the referee and the referred (?) will receive £100 each. (We're still waiting to receive our £100. And we could recommend up to 10 people and receive £100 for each referral. That's £1000 free money !!! It'd be rude to say no to £1000) Their flexdirect current account offers 5% interest up to £2500 for 12 months, and you could also open the flexclusive savers (up to £500 a month for 5% interest).

The_Only_Girl

Lazy morning today, had a proper lie in, which I haven't had for a while. Hubby is doing an extra shift today, a reversed half day, and my boss allowed me to take some TOIL (time owing in lieu). Hubby is heating our brunch as I type this post. Bliss isn't it?

I'm hoping for a NSD today but will update you later tonight.

Toni'sfriend

Afternoon Shipmates

Well, Storm Doris really scuppered my day! Windy, freezing, snowy and slippery underfoot so no walk. Hope it improves tomorrow as I really need a long walk and want to go along the river into town.

C has braved the elements and gone to meet his friends so won’t see him for a while. I’ve taken the opportunity to get the washing, ironing and some housework done and meal planned for next week, Just the Cabin Boy and I for dinner when he gets home from work. Knew all that mince I bought last week would come in handy.

Silver lining – a NSD.

Today I’m grateful for;

Being inside.
Getting organised
Watching what I want on TV

crazy_cat_lady

My first 'proper' day off this half term. No shopping, work or appointments required today. I stayed in and missed the worst of the storm, although looking at the news I think the North East of England got off lightly anyway. The only thing I've done was visit bestie and put air in my car tyres (free) and I'm now home for the evening and ready to settle.
Can't declare a nsd just yet as dd has a friend coming over to stay and I suspect I might need to find some cash for snacks.
Today I'm grateful for:
Bestie
Time off work
The tyre pressure warning light on my car (because I wouldn't have bothered otherwise)

abundant1972

Evenin' all!

Had a great catch up day at work today and feel really on top of things there too now, as well as at home. It's amazing how much better I feel as a result. I'll say it again - it's really lovely to be back on here! You're all stars! Thanks again for your comments everyone.

Today = NSD number 13

Today I'm grateful for:

• A secure and warm roof over my head, at times like this when the weather is awful
• My catch up day at work
• The online game time I had last night with my brother. I need to do that more as I miss him.

Thanks TheOnlyGirl for the information on your savings - yes - it makes a lot of sense. Mine from last year is due to mature next month, when it drops to something ridiculous like 0.1% interest. So... I will open 2 new ones - drip feed from my old one into 1 account, and deposit my regular savings into another. Presto! Great advice! I never would have thought of doing that!!! I have a Help to Buy ISA already so can't open another cash ISA (thought their rates are awful anyhow!). Thank you!!! I'm tied into my bank for a while longer or I'd have totally let you refer me!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for people like abundant who make time to be encouraging and speak so positively into other peoples' lives, for dd knowing her patterns for her taekwondo grading already, for a good day at work, for good books to read, for dry clothes to change into at work.

The_Only_Girl

Captain Abundant glad to be of help. Does that mean I can sit in the captain's deck? :rotfl: Let me know when you can move your account and we'll see if the promo is still there.

Toni's friend I too am pretty cross with Storm Doris. She ruined my favourite umbrella beyond repair. oh well, it could have been worse.

CCL, glad to know you had a proper day off today and you go at your tyres sorted.

Had a pleasant day today at work. I managed to fix a problem that has been troubling our department for a year now. I earned some brownie points there.

My planned NSD didn't happen ::p . Hubby and I did a bit of clothes shopping as our work clothes are getting thread bare and pitiful. Spend £45 on 6 items, most of them on 50-70% off. So pretty chuffed with that.

Tomorrow is pay day so looking forward to setting next month's budget.

Have a good evening everyone, I'm off to the sofa to watch the telly while hubby is getting supper ready.

mothernerd

Felt guilty yesterday as I didn't do much, apart from going to crafts. However I slept for 12 hours last night (was wakened by the phone) so must have been really tired.

Today I went to my local history session and then to visit mum. The 2 phone calls this morning were checking whether I was venturing out at all and suggesting I use bus/ taxi rather than walking. I gave in because the thought of sitting in wet clothes all day was not appealing. £3.65 on transport and £2.65 on food - I had pasta salad and some beef to take with me but thought I needed a second meal and I have bought popcorn and sucky (quiet) sweets to take to film club tomorrow. Was going to try for ys time att the SM but will use what I have.

Today I am grateful for the option of taking a bus or taxi when necessary (the seat at the bus stop was wet through and surrounded by small branches which had fallen off the trees - also had to avoid travelling/ fallen dustbins and large puddles), for good company and quiet time with mum (she was telling the carer how different we are - mainly about me offering to tell partner's family when she has had enough). I am not nearly as confident and 'bossy' (not the right word, but can't think of a suitable one) as my family think I am - I have been to conferences and even spoken at them but I am uaually filled with terror and desperation (as in, if I don't speak up about this, who will?) Also grateful to 'enjoy' the weather from inside.

mrshubbard

A NSD here Won't be hitting 15 but much better than usual - next month I'll get there.

I can't wait for payday, I'm looking forward to putting a chunk on the credit card and starting a fresh months budgeting. I think this is the first time we've been anywhere near our food budget - we usually massively overspend. We've been doing some budgeting tonight as a few expenses change next month. We've swapped to a better mortgage deal & it's costing us £55 less a month. We've also cut £14 off our house insurance. I've found out I get more free life cover than I thought through work so am going to cancel a couple of other policies I have and just upgrade the work one. I'll have the same cover but think I'll be saving about £18 a month. Plus it comes out my wage so I'll save in tax too. We will have £48 a week childcare now but that's coming out my wage too so will be a bit cheaper.

Just waiting for my car to go in the garage to see how much money I'll have spare to chuck at ccs.

I am grateful for:-

No problems from Doris here ( why do they have such unthreatening sounding names? I'm sure more people would take them seriously if they were called Butch, Rambo or Beelzebub)
Noticed some little wild flowers appearing in our garden - spring is coming
Little man enjoying his 2nd day at nursery

SkintTeacher

Was so on track for an NSD until I decided to go for a swim. So swam for an entire hour 7-8 and feel great for it.

Grateful for :
Getting out of staff meeting quick enough to see my boss before a swim
A fridge still packed with healthy food
Tomorrow being Friday (nearly the weekend wooooooooooo)


Oooh any other teachers out there - tonight we were told that if we didn't put our planning on the school system wed lose our right to go home for PPA!!!??? What do you think of that?