Bonfires and fireworks - NST November challenge

Pauper1

NSDs - Still 2/12, as I need to get a few bits from the shops later. Tomorrow has the potential to be number 3.

Organise - Groceries £137.98/£200 will update after the shops later
Petrol £0/£150

Value for money - nothing so far

Exercise - will walk to and from the shops in a bit
Week 1 3/4
Week 2 1/4

Mental health - I took some time for myself when DS was with my mum yesterday; had a bath and did my nails. Also got a bit of studying done. I've sorted out two huge boxes of random stuff in our bedroom and tidied all the summer clothes away. My mind is feeling a bit clearer today.

Be Christmas ready - nothing so far

Eat well - we're doing well today, and tea will be puff tart with mini roasties so I think we're winning!

Report - Grateful for productive feelings this morning, for Weetabix encouraging DS to actually eat something for the first time in days and for hopefully getting out for some fresh air this afternoon.

BadBookkeeper

Day 9 #18 Checking in....


NSD - I'm reclaiming one from yesterday. Reported yesterday that I needed a gift bag but none suitable size so had to make do with wrapping paper I already had (how very MSE)! So now on 5/12 Need to buy yet more birthday presents and wrapping paper and cards so a spendy day today.
Organise - Grocery budget £140.96/£283, pocket money left for month - £65.88 (£2.66 under budgeted for a DD).
Value for Money - What would have been value for money was if I realised a family ticket (2 adults 2 Children) £143 would have been cheaper than 2 adults & 1 child for £170 for a popular car event show . Will be using bee&m for birthday gifts cards etc. Ordered '3' apples on grocery order 3 packs of 6 have been delivered but weren't much more expensive.
Exercise - Won't be any today as not on school run. Can't really fit it in anywhere else.
Mental Health - Not sure if should go here as not really mental health but general health feeling bleurgh today. DS woke at 1:30am and 4:30am and I'm not sure I had much sleep before then. We had a family meal out last night I did have an alcoholic drink feel so tired and yucky today.
Xmas/DS Birthday - Tickets bought for DH for part of Christmas present bit gutted overpaid for them but live and learn!
Eat Well - Only ordered a club sandwich for tea last night and no dessert. Porridge, Soup and meatballs for today. Will need to eat more apples too
Be Grateful - Grateful to have got tickets sorted, for having family around me and a job that means I can just keep my head down today and get through it.
Declutter - Sorted through 2 food cupboards and binned some ood items.
O/D - Same

laurenh1

Well done Fmess

Kerry Woman sorry about your Mum I hope both you and her are okay!

Picked up some free nappy samples from Nursery today and ordered my hubs xmas present (free with vouchers)

greent

Kerry Woman - sorry to hear about your mum. Definitely second looking after yourself x

Fmess - congrats! :j



]Clear Out -

NSDs - 2 - not one yesterday as had to pay for OH's car repair (£195! :eek:) - and the engine warning light has come back on again :mad: - so it's going back into the garage tomorrow.
Also went to see my sister and her baby yesterday, so spent on some gorgeous flowers and a yummy cake. He's a very scrummy baby Today *should* be one......

Organise - set your budgets now, pay to your debt/savings first
Food - £130.08/ £400 - need to update with OH's receipt
Fuel (me) - £54.45/ £65
Social - £19.09/ £150
Toiletries - £2/ £10
Clothes - £84.48/£100
Gifts - £14.78

Value for money - picked up Aldi flowers for sis - beautiful and a lot more than I'd've got from a florist for that amount - she loved them

Exercise -

Mental health - baby cuddles yesterday - always good for the soul

Be Christmas ready - Lists done in rough (on paper) - now just need to put them on laptop (whoops - must do this!!)

Eat well - Yes

Report/ Gratitudes -
* scrummy baby cuddles
* surviving a busy day yesterday which seemed to involve a lot of time in the car! (3 x school bus/ school drop offs in morning, drop OH off to train station (15 miles return down country lanes), quick catch up on ironing, off to see sis in next town, left there and straight to DS3's school to collect him - drove to garage to pay for OH's car and collected the key, home for 30 mins before going to collect DS2 from school (after-school rugby) in next town (not far from sis, in reality!), got caught in traffic in the town, got caught in traffic on motorway back to our junction - and then went down horrid, windy, dark country lanes to get OH from train station - and then home to feed smalls. Back out to collect OH's car from garage - and get DS1 from school @ 8pm (open evening event))
* sorting more trades people to come out for quotes (first one due later today...)

Pauper1

As you are all very knowledgeable, does anyone know if I were to make cookies and freeze them, would they turn out okay? Or am I best making and freezing the dough in a sausage shape to then defrost, cut and bake when needed?

Mini update -

Organise - Groceries £143.24/£200 got some ys blueberries for DS and some baby potatoes to roast later, yums.
Petrol £0/£150

Be Christmas ready - trying to find somewhere to take DS to see Father C, as the place we went to last year is all booked up

greent

Pauper1 wrote: »

As you are all very knowledgeable, does anyone know if I were to make cookies and freeze them, would they turn out okay? Or am I best making and freezing the dough in a sausage shape to then defrost, cut and bake when needed?

Freeze the uncooked dough. If you can slice it whilst it is semi-frozen you can bake it straight off. Or you can open freeze in 'balls' and then bag them up and cook straight from frozen :)4x

Pauper1

Brilliant, thank you greent. I knew someone here would know!

apple_muncher

Kerry Woman - just to repeat what others have said - do take care of you. My mum had a mastectomy 14 months ago and was unfit to go home for another 6 weeks (not directly due to the op - dad had died the month before and it all threw mum down a steep slope of not coping, dementia and alzheimers). My sister spent up to 12 hours a day with her, and (in my opinion) wrecked herself. And she got piles - ouch! So, what I am trying to suggest is that you take time to rest, strengthen yourself and try not to worry. Your mum is in a safe place, being looked after, fed, watered, dosed up with the necessary pills. Hugs x

DawnW

Day 9, Checking in....
So sorry to hear about your Mum's accident Kerry Woman, but I echo what others have said, remember to take care of YOU too

Managed to get OH up and to the doctor's today, he is being referred for a scan, xrays etc. He is moving about a bit more, and sitting downstairs watching TV atm, rather than flat out in bed, which has to be an improvement!

NSD - Nothing spent today, so 6/12
Organise - Changed the bed once OH was out of it, got various bits out of the freezer to make a stir fry for dinner, cleaned the lounge, and contacted the stove firm to book for the chimney to be swept. Also started a shopping list, as I am running low on fruit and a few other things. Feeling quite organised!
Declutter - Copying this from one of the other posters, hope they don't mind. I have a small business selling antiques and vintage items, so minimalism is both out of the question and totally out of character, I have stuff everywhere - but to keep it looking nice and avoid it getting out of control, I find it helps to get rid of random tat as and when - today I put 2 books I had finished with, and a pillow case (that is new but I hate) in the CS bag, and rounded up various small items of debris when I was cleaning which went in the bin/ recycling
Value for Money - Nothing today as I haven't spent anything
Exercise - Nothing much today, 2 short dog walks (short dog won't walk very far and I end up carrying him :rotfl:)
Mental Health - OK today, keeping on top of the housework helps (me, at any rate)
Xmas - The presents I ordered yesterday have arrived :j
Eat Well - Been quite good today. Made a stir fry for dinner with lots of veg
Be Grateful - Grateful that OH is out of bed and I managed to get him to the doctor's ok, that it wasn't raining, and that I got some housework done

DancingDragons

Do take time for yourself like others have said KerryWoman, and I hope things don't become to stressful for you.

Fmess - yay... but boo on the whole new job titles less pay shizzle.


On the bad side, DD1 came home with a broken set of headphones (as they have to use them in school - I think I am being had here) and a busted phone too. Apparently 'someone' knocked her bag from the shelf causing her water bottle to break and soak her phone and all her books. :mad: That's two phones in a year. The first one she lost. Still a year to go on contract. Is 'No more phones' is the fair response to that? She seems incapable of looking after anything. What would you guys do?

On the good side the Screenwise box has been installed at last and Big Brother will be watching over our useage, but earning us £££ in the process.

[FONT=&quot]Value for money: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Made a £25 giftcard buy £30 of half priced stuff. Only paid £20 for the giftcard to start with...!
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Groceries[/FONT][FONT=&quot] PW 80.00/£79.20 W2 80.00/1.60 not done the big shop this week - yet.
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Petrol PW[/FONT][FONT=&quot] £25.00/£25.00
[/FONT] Monthly Social inc extra fuel: 16.95/50.00 We don't get to go out on evenings so I was treated to a lunch, I got the petrol, he got the food.(£10 for two courses and drinks!) Lovely little place often passed but this is the first time we stopped. Glad we did, will be going back next month I think.

Half School run: 2/5