NST December: Debt Destruction December

f0xh0les

Yesterday was a NSD too! so NSD7 in the bag.

I think I will have lots and lots of NSDs between Xmas and New Year. So not too worried I have been rather rubbish so far.

DS1 & 2 are being picked up at 12.30 - end of term - smallest 2 finished yesterday.

Ho Ho Ho!

Plastering will be finished on Friday (I thought he was going to finish today!!)

Grateful that we are all well and safe ;

For twinkling fairy lights and harry potter potion lights on my tree ;

Hot chocolate and peanut butter flapjacks ( least said, soonest mended) ;

Great films on tv which the kids are giggling like crazy at (sorry about the grammar);

That the man at the door who asked to come in and do a 5 minute water test (and I said no, I was going out) was actually legit. Cos I contacted STW to make sure. Oh well, if there is lead in the water they can sort it out.

Not grateful that DH, the swine, has decided he will go into work and finish at 3 on Thursday instead of finishing yesterday like he said he would. So I am home with Mr Plasterer who DS4 saw, said with great glee ' I like this one!! he has cool tattoos, can we keep him?' Like the poor man was a kitten. Funny little boy. Poor plasterer did not know what to say.

Does adopting a plasterer count under R this month?

Fmess

Thanks foxholes I’ll keep listing!

greent

NSDs Still 8.
Lunches taken/ prepped at home - yep. Yest was leftovers, today a sausage and mushroom sandwich

Debt destruction: Aiming for DFD (exc BTL mtge) of 10/18. Have joined the 'pay off all your debts by Xmas 2018' challenge to hopefully gain inspiration and keep motivation
Exterminate Facebook gone from phone. Will keep it off. Regenerate - will re-start cleaner eating - starting with dropping sugary snacks in between meals
Clear up, clean up and take control. Clear space by removing 31 items - 70/31 Clean up your way of talking to yourself. Let yourself sparkle. Take control of your finances, your time, your habits, and your health. - (Had GP appt today to discuss some issues - first time I've been since 2013, I think)
Explore your local area - failing at this.
Mental health.. Do something every day this month that makes you feel good: Write down 4 gratitudes each day.
* the trip to HP Studios was a success yesterday - and not much was bought in the shop!
* DD's bf has been great playing with DS3 & 2 (lego, Nintend0 switch (his, not ours))
* Did a Sains shop today and it wasn't too busy!
* Used a £12 off £60 mov in Sains (original total was £60.60 - yeay!)
* peace and quiet this afternoon whilst people are out watching the Star Wars movie
Budget EVERYTHING
Food 379.49/450 -
Social 26/£120 (cinema tickets for 4 people)
Gifts 82.65/£125
Fuel 50/65
Make extra money 60.66:j:j (+ 6 extra hours at work) - (and kids have made over £150 (net) from selling toys!!:T:T)
Evaluate (Done) Now to 2018: (targets set)
Remember to do - DONE (foodbank/ save the children/ hamper scamper appeal/ shelter/ homeless collection/ bag of various to CS)

Sonic screwdriver - not sure - I think time out away from people will be my survival mechanism. I have always liked my own company and need time away from others to recharge - I find I get very tired otherwise!

mothernerd

Definitely a shopping day, but the mega shop has now been done and I have even bought myself a few things with my present money. A mixture of practical and decorative so I am comfortable with spending it - 4 wildlife mugs and an owl bag from the red cross shop (new), a freesia spray (thought it would make me think of Spring), two pots of white hyacinth, one pot of white cyclamen, a good wooden tray, a clipboard with a wrap around file, 2 flexible chopping boards (oops forgot to buy lemons for cleaning the large wooden one - looked at them and couldn't think of anything I need them for any more) and 2 larger than average magazine file boxes which will hide an assortment of small A4 files.

Decided against going to the crematorium today then thought that I am the only one making myself go - may postpone it until January and save the bus fare. Next year I will put it the diary for the beginning of November (also starting Christmas shop earlier or may go for mini-prepping all year and build all the basics up so I only need the fresh stuff).

Phoned for a taxi and girl said I could not be picked up from the SM only from the staff entrance (it was taking the drivers too long to get on and off the bypass, round the car park and back again). I said I would walk to the staff entrance. Was not looking forward to it as had trailed two small trolleys all round the SM (with about 4 bags of shopping collected from shops and the market on the way) and even my stomach muscles were aching from pushing. Went 3 steps and two men (staff members) asked if I needed help - they each took one of the trolleys and we walked all across the front of the building and all down the side to the staff entrance at the back. they even had a zapper machine to allow the trolleys to proceed beyond the part where their wheels lock automatically. I gave them a £1 and a handful of shrapnel from my purse, they said it wasn't necessary but they were so kind and helpful (I would have got there but it would have been slow and painful especially the half of the building where I would have had to leave the trolleys and ferry the bags two at a time. Taxi was waiting but for someone else. She phoned base and they said to take me. trolley men helped load everything into the boot and she helped me unload at home.

Need to regroup, decide what I need/ want to get done (and put aside anything that cannot be finished - nearly bought a card from one of the craft shops on holiday that said "Keep calm and finish it for next year". So very true).

More tidying is needed but I might then settle for the put everything that doesn't fit into a decorative basket (or throw a cloth or piece of material over a box) and then throw ivy, tinsel and decorations around.

I have nearly conclude my evaluation of the year (bank statement was a nice surprise) and have an idea what I want to do/ where I want to be in 2018. Will think about my sonic screwdriver (and will not start looking at all the variations on pinterest - did not carry on the non-browsing for the middle part of the month but have cut it down to a few minutes mostly).

Today I am grateful for helpful shop assistants, staff and taxi drivers, for finding most of what I without searching and for having had the foresight to ask everyone to make lists for me - the rule is that if they didn't put it on the list, they have no right to complain or say I forgot it. Very grateful to all the turtles and what we all bring to this group, whatever our differences in RL.

apple_muncher

Mothernerd - bet you have lots of ivy - you are always cuttin down the stuff!

Today I am grateful that it was dd's last day at school, for having a relaxed mooch around the ch shops and finding a couple of nice cheap items, for cheerful shop assistants, for helpful bank staff, for a gazilion buses with cheerful drivers, for geting my bunny slope workout 10 done,for finishing the wrapping (I think...), for tonight being our one and only cmas social, for dh successfully making some Biggles goggles for a friend who recently bought a 'flying jacket', for the gift wrapping service from amzn (gorgeous fabric bags tied with ribbon - definitely re-using them!!), for finally getting my tooth seen to tomorrow (yay and gulp in equal measures...).

Kerry_Woman

Day 20
Was a spend day. Got new pj's and slippers from that lovely shop - M&S. Did use an M&S voucher as part payment. Also a few extra food items for Christmas for family.
Took my time doing things as I had a bad night's sleep.
Did some decluttering and housework.
Grateful for:
Comfortable slippers.
Achieving what I could do today.
Catching up with something I recorded on TV.
Getting a lovely free gift in a shop.

Florence_J

Oh boy, I was being so sensible with Christmas, really stretching the pennies and cost cutting and not being caught up in the consumerism of it all. Then...

I started panicking about my wardrobe, i.e. that I didn't have anything nice to wear. As I am out of work it's not like I had any parties to go to but I am spending Christmas with my OH and his family this year, and whilst they are lovely and don't exactly get dressed up to the nine's I started panicking about wanting to look nice.

I think deep down I am trying to send a message that I am doing well, and for me the only way to prove that is with a nice outfit.

I bought a dress in N3w l00k today using a £10 gift card I had earned through shop and scan, so it only cost £7.99, but then I went and bought a new pair of tights, so another £6, and it is only through serious restraint that I haven't bought new pj's as well.

My OH and his family have seen me in all manner of clothes and still love me, but nearly all my clothes are over a year old if bought new or were second hand to begin with and I think I am getting a bit concerned I look shabby.

This year was supposed to be a no spend year, so no unessential purchases as far as possible but I now am having trouble spending any money on myself, or even spending vouchers on myself.

I am trying to lighten up a little.

Oh well, in all other ways things are good. I saw It's a Wonderful life in the cinema today using a free ticket and had a lovely time. I have had a few NSDs, but can't remember how many exactly.

f0xh0les

Today was unexpected NSD 8.

All kids home from school now.
All food from stores
Car still nearly full up to the top with petrol
Fruit steeping in brandy in the kitchen - the kids have eaten the Xmas cake I did not get around to icing. Need to make another one and ice and marzipan it quickly before they notice it. - Does Xmas cake count as one of your 5 a day?????

It has taken a while, but I have finally realised why the kids will eat Xmas cake and mice pies one year, but not the next! I tend to use up ends of bottles of things in the cake/pies. The kids like amaretto and brandy, but don't like whisky! The using up peaty whisky years are the ones they leave the cake to me and DH. Mystery solved. Just call me Sherlock F0xholes.

Fmess

SFD number 9 today (I think!)

Visited a friend with her new baby and took gifts and a card from work. It was lovely to catch up and the baby was so well behaved.

Walked the dogs twice, wrapped all the presents and made cheese, onion and potato pie. Yum.

Hope you’ve all had a great day.

apple_muncher

:bdaycake::bdaycake::bdaycake: Belated happy birthday Toni'sfriend. Hope you had a good day.

F0xh0les - love your powers of deduction!

KerryWoman - keep looking after yourself x