Bonfires and fireworks - NST November challenge

greent

Clear Out - nothing, other than tidying freezer and using up odds and ends

NSDs - 4 - definitely not one today! Started with C-I-N donations for 2 children, £23 on DS1's theory test, Sainz shop, Tesc0 shop and fleabay shopping (Xmas) May also do some more Xmas shopping on amaz0n later...

Organise - set your budgets now, pay to your debt/savings first
Food - £250.14/ £400 -
Fuel (me) - £54.45/ £65
Social - £125.74/ £150 -
Toiletries - £2/ £10
Clothes - £96.48/£100
Gifts ( have DD's birthday just before Xmas and DS2's just after) - £295.14 -

Value for money -doubled up £15 worth of nectar points to get £30 of toys in Sainz. Also used a triple points coupon and a £12 off £60 spend coupon. Tesc0 - used some extra points coupons on things I was buying anyway and scored really well on YS meat and veggies. Fleabay - remembered to go through Quidc0 first for cashback - and also activated a bonus £2.50 cashback offer before doing it too :T And by paying by paypal I've collected some nectar points too

Exercise - hmmm.....

Mental health -Same as yesterday (and the day before, and the day before....)- more sleep than usual is helping here, as it's helping physical well-being. Getting some Xmas stuff sorted also helping.

Be Christmas ready -Getting there - bought the last of my new nephew's present today. Also bought the choc coins and smellies for my 4 stockings. And some other presents too Think the back of it is well and truly broken - need to update my lists and see just what is left to get. Also bought the bird for Xmas day dinner

Eat well - Yes And have made 6 x bolog and 6 x chilli 2 portion tubs. Cooling and will be frozen. LOADS of veggies used up in it

Report/ Gratitudes -
* It's Friday! :j
* My family
* Sainz double up scheme
* Lots of good YS things in Tesc0
* A warm house
* YS cream cakes!:o:p

laurenh1

Hi all-

So the boys didnt need new shoes:j & as a result Ive managed NSD # 9

Hub bought me some trainers for xmas but I don't count his money unless ive given it to him or its come out of the main/joint budget. He is not an MSE & but I try and keep him in line I did make him shop about though& that saved 20 quid :j and i used TCB. Hub let me have the rest of the money he had put aside for my xmas gifts as I dont need anything and I cannot bear spending for the sake of it will probably end up saving it.

Greatful for- hub cleaning the carpets this morning , a very funny article I read this afternoon and thr lady in Clark's who didn't mind re-checking the boys shoes or thar I didn't buy anything.

Timetopullmysocksup

Friday

9/18NSDs still @ 9, shopping today.

Organize -cleared out a few of daughters bits and took to the charity shop.

Value for money - got 6 tops in the charity shop for £10.50, really good quality ones too so very happy.

Exercise - none sorry

Mental health - did not sleep well last night but despite a grumpy hour this morning I was fine the rest of the day and managed a few giggles.

Be Christmas ready - I got another gift for my daughters advent.

Eat well - yes thank you

Thankful for - people who think nothing of donating perfectly good clothing to charity shops and for not all charity shops charging extortionate prices. Mum giving me a lovely scarf. Daughter being thoughtful and saying cute things to me.

DawnW

Day 17 /30 Checking in

NSD - Spend day today, so still on 9/12.
Organise - Did a re-inventory of my freezers today, as the existing one was out of date. Did a shop, now on £210.25/ £250, so it looks as though I will go over budget again this month Hopefully not by too much! Tidied up, and gave kitchen floor a good clean
Declutter - Dropped box of bits and pieces at CS this morning
Value for money - Managed to get a pack of YS fresh chicken drumsticks for 99p Also got a present for less than the RRP.
Exercise - Just the two dog walks today.
Mental Health - Stressy this morning due to having to drive in the icy conditions to take OH for a blood test (don't like driving when it is icy ). But we got there and back ok, so cheered up a bit after that. Got quite a lot done today, which always makes me feel better
Xmas - Went up to the top floor to look in the trunk to see what I have in the way of Christmas wrapping paper and cards. Found enough to get me started at least
Eat Well - Not bad, porridge and fruit for breakfast, a cheese and salad sandwich for lunch, pasta, HM tomato sauce and salad for dinner. Not too many naughty snacks
Be Grateful - Grateful for a safe drive to the surgery and back this morning despite it being rush hour and very icy, lots of food in the freezer, and keeping on top of the housework

Kerry_Woman

Day 17
Was a spend day.
Brought my lunch and big flask of tea into the hospital. Was again offered a cup of tea, which I gladly took.
Organise - Just did a few bits in the flat.
Mental health - Did have a good night's sleep. Will go to bed after posting as I am really tired.
Grateful for:
Some of my Mum's other health issues are being sorted out in hospital.
Good night's sleep.
Saw a friend this morning and had a coffee.

sashanut

Hi all turtles :j

Checking in: 17/30

NSDs: 8/15 tried to buy something but payment didn't go through - by the time I sorted it, it had sold.. I claim an NSD LOL


Organise:still on with the blasted cupboard, you would never think it would take so long...and just to cheer me up there is another one the same size on the other side of the chimney breast...hah! Having said that I really want to clear it properly & it is going to take time to do. On the plus side, we really don't need any alcohol this side of 2020 I would think...Also cleared out mostly - 2 fridges & chucked away anything gross...not too much thankfully..

Value for money - didn't spend so no VFM, although we won't need to spend on booze for Christmas.

Exercise - might as well sack this off because I never take any formal exercise & can't see me ever doing it.

Mental health - All OK


Be Christmas ready - In the first cupboard of doom I found a box of a dozen Stella glasses - unused - as no-one drinks lager here (!). And nobody can remember where they came from either...DD claimed them as a Christmas gift for a lager-loving friend..

Eat well - Ate healthy meal & some left over. Did however have slice of cake....

Gratitudes - Happy to have done fridges as I said I would & progress on clearing although glacially slow, is happening...

mothernerd

Thursday did an on-line shop to be delivered to mum's on Tuesday when I am there (mum's money) and an on-line shop (different SM) to be delivered here between 6am and 7am Wednesday morning. I have gone over budget but my order includes enough toilet rolls for the next six months at least (+ one or two things that were on mum's list but I thought the first SM was too dear). Bought bread, milk, tinned soup and fruit for mum to get her through the weekend.

Went to my new counselling (CBT) session. Not sure what I think about it. Was slightly apprehensive before I went, but a little bit lost and bewildered after. Did have a chat with the trainee afterwards - I had stopped in the cafeteria to finish my drink and have a piece of lemon cheesecake (was talking to someone from crafts, apparently the book folded nativity has been well recieved - nearly makes it feel worthwhile). Definitely going to the rest of the sessions but I was aware that I was rubbing my thumb against my forearm throughout the session. It is probably the largest group of people I have been in for a while (more people at cinema club but any interaction there is with only a couple of people at a time).

Friday I have been to mum's. I wanted to get all the outside stuff done but the weather was not co-operating so I have trawled through three old calendars and some other lists and put all mum's doctors and contacts into my new diary (trying to get rid of the bits of paper everywhere) and written out a new birthday list for her - she used to put how old people were/ how many years married (hence the old diaries so a year could be added to each when transferring to the new calendar) but this was for her partner. She doesn't care how old they are as long as they get sent a card.

Did some phoning in pursuit of the 'Certificate of Visual Impairment' - first number people were not answering the phone (possibly dinner time and only one person in) then it was the wrong department (number gven to me by social services). Everyone was very helpful. I was passed to the right department who had already been briefed by the first woman, the secretary asked a doctor to talk to me. She thinks mum probably does not meet the criteria as the consultant would normally have done the referral at the time (mum's right eye is good) but they will retrieve the file from storage and the consultant will look at it to see if we proceed to the next step.

Have booked tickets for the pantomime (not my sort of thing but mum wanted to go). Only local amateur performers. Hoping to go and see the reindeer tomorrow. It's the official opening of the Christmas decorations/ Santa's grotto in the shopping centre. They have a parade with Santa on his sleigh, pulled by real reindeer and assorted elves, a band and a bunch of pensioners on mobility scooters. I went to see the reindeer 2 years ago but was too ill last year.

I am grateful for all my code numbers working (the computer gets confused because there is more than one account for the same supermarket and once it's decided which account it is in, there is no changing it's little wired brain), for pleasant and helpful NHS staff, for an expected visit from DS1 (next Tuesday), for the prospect of being able to sit on the couch once DS1 has collected all his parcels, for pinterest (it's a bit too addictive, must limit my time on there) for giving me more ideas about how to squeeze a little more storage into the kitchen (can't move for Beloved's gadgets) and tiny houses and lofts to aspire to.

f0xh0les

Toni'sfriend wrote: »

This is the most beautiful thing I've read in ages. You really brightened up my day today.

DH just says I am a deluded nutjob!

Glad your troubles seem to be resolving themselves.

Love this thread!!

laurenh1

Hi all :wave:

today is NSD # 10- might even make it to 11 by tomorrow. :j really greatful for this challenge, as its highlighted just how much we spend on drinks while were out, silly bits that we just pick up. This will be the second month I haven't dipped into savings or gone over budget.

Organise- will be pottering about doing house work, will get swimming lesson stuff packed for tomorrow and organise what I can

Value- not spending

Healthy eating and excersize- will watch food & planning on taking kids out

Christmas- made and froze more mince pies yday.

Mental health- full of cold but otherwise ok :ol

BadBookkeeper

Day 18 - #18 checking in....
NSD - another one today now 9/12
Organise - Groceries on under will update tomorrow. Might just make it!
Value for Money - None today as NSD
Exercise - Cleaned the house does that count?!
Mental Health - Good today
Xmas/DS birthday -Invites all written, just need names adding leaving this until last minute as likely to change! I've been looking for a tea, cookie, cup hamper set for a friends present. Saw an advert that the cafe where we meet are doing them so will need to go there.
Eat Well - Being good so far!
Be Grateful - Its Saturday & the house has been cleaned & beds changed lovely for a few hours!
Declutter - need to tackle the junk drawer may do that later today.
O/D- same