Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

Our snowy forest walk ❄☃️😁

HairyHandofDartmoor

Our snowy forest walk ❄☃️😁

elizabethhull

What beautiful photos ! Snow has a magical effect on a landscape, doesn't it ?

I take decorations down and swap out the xmas things for everyday things a few at a time, as my back allows me, finishing somewhere round Candlemas! I pretend this is a 'thing' for us, but I hate doing it and I don't have to, although DH does sometimes ask when it's going to happen!!

Willowtree222

That looks gorgeous x

Sun_Addict

Lovely photos. Glad the warring DSs made up. You made me smile when you listed toilets as a plus point, that would be high on my list of priorities too 🤣

milann

Glad the arguments were sorted. 5 adults living together though it’s bound to happen.
I’m keeping my decorations up until 6th....we haven’t put many up this year though as we’d only just finished the building work. The Christmas lights will come in from the garden but the fair lights will stay on the fence.

HairyHandofDartmoor

elizabethhull said:

What beautiful photos ! Snow has a magical effect on a landscape, doesn't it ?

I take decorations down and swap out the xmas things for everyday things a few at a time, as my back allows me, finishing somewhere round Candlemas! I pretend this is a 'thing' for us, but I hate doing it and I don't have to, although DH does sometimes ask when it's going to happen!!

Thanks Elizabeth . Taking down decorations is quite strenuous.

Nicnak said:

That looks gorgeous x

Thanks Nicnak .  

Sun_Addict said:

Lovely photos. Glad the warring DSs made up. You made me smile when you listed toilets as a plus point, that would be high on my list of priorities too 🤣

Thanks SA .  DH and I are as bad as each other for wanting the toilet frequently  😂.

milann said:

Glad the arguments were sorted. 5 adults living together though it’s bound to happen.
I’m keeping my decorations up until 6th....we haven’t put many up this year though as we’d only just finished the building work. The Christmas lights will come in from the garden but the fair lights will stay on the fence.

Thanks Milann . I hate it when the DSs argue, I find it really upsetting .

HairyHandofDartmoor

I wanted to have a complete rest today as I'm back at school tomorrow, but that plan was scuppered when I realised there are several items we've competely run out of and so I needed to go to the supermarket 🙄. I went in to buy bananas, oat milk and bin liners, and ended up spending £87 😳😳😱😱 . I kept seeing things we needed and I realised that our next Mr T delivery isn't until 13th January, so if I didn't get a full shop today I'd end up going back again in a few days time. I still managed to forget oven chips 🙄 but we'll have to manage without them for  a while. By the time I'd got it all home, wiped it down with antibac wipes and put it all away the whole morning had gone 😭. There weren't many people in there today though, which made it easier to socially distance.

If the government announce tougher measures or a lockdown tonight then I may be glad I stocked up on some items. I got a great deal on diet p3psi (24 for £6.50) 👏 so I bought two packs and I bought three conditioning sprays on a three for two offer 👏. I also stocked up on baked beans, tinned sweetcorn and some frozen foods. The oat milk was reduced to £1 per carton so I bought six cartons 👏. 

I had an email from school yesterday (Sunday) wanting to know if I was attending tomorrow, so I said yes. Today I had a new school risk assessment emailed to me. We're being told to wear masks and/or visors in communal areas and corridors, and encouraged to wear them in the classroom. Extra cleaning will be done and numbers will be limited even further in the staffroom, etc.  It's all very well cleaning everywhere but it's the viral load in the air I'm breathing that I really worry about 😩 . 
I was intending to wear a mask in the classroom anyway so I'm glad it's being encouraged and I think I'll avoid the staffroom as much as possible and drink my coffee in the classroom. We've been told to wear layers as all the windows and doors will be open again (hypothermia here we come!). I think all the staff are feeling quite stressed about going back now😩, it's amazing how much difference two weeks can make to a situation!

I've put the two Christmas tablecloths on to wash with some other clothes. The house is looking completely non-Christmassy now apart from the fariy lights which I'm very glad I kept up.

Now I'm trying to relax before whatever tomorrow will bring. Even if they suddenly decide to 'close' schools we'll still be open for vulnerable children and key workers' children, so all the staff will still need to attend. Boris is going to make an announcement tonight so who knows what he's going to announce 🤔. Even Jeremy Hunt is saying schools should close! 

I hope everyone in diaryland is having a good day despite the current uncertainty 🙂. I think we'll be needing our masks and hand gel for a good while longer, but hope is in sight.

milann

Hope school has gone well for you.

elizabethhull

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

I went in to buy bananas, oat milk and bin liners, and ended up spending £87 😳😳😱😱 .

I think this scenario is familiar to everyone, even in normal times ! But it is a nice feeling to be food-prepared, and with 5 people you do actually need it all.

I love knowing I have portions of turkey, red cabbage casserole, chestnut stuffing, and our own spinach and rhubarb jostling for space in the freezer. We even have a little loaf xmas cake as my recipe makes extra.
After March & April last year, no-one dares to get too low on food.

Hope you get some relaxing time the rest of today and that going back tomorrow is not too stressful.