NST January: Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived

Eager_Elephant

Fmess wrote: »

There’s a lot of whooping cough about at the moment EE, several children and teachers have had it at school.

)

Hi Fmess

DH works in a school and as they take international students there is a risk as not all countries vaccinate and the GP said that nowadays a lot of UK parents don't vaccinate. We do know 1 child had it and so we guess DH picked it up from there.

Eager_Elephant

apple_muncher wrote: »

What is your dream goal?

(I came up with 2! Will tell you them later)

My dream goal is to own my own smallholding with campsite and to run that as a proper business.

I will get there eventually, I don't want to get to 60 and have loads of regrets - life is for living!!

Eager_Elephant

mummylewis wrote: »

I
Can I ask a Question please? I've seen a few people here getting amazing vouchers or similar for surveys, which sites are you using please? Is it worthwhile with the amount of time put in?
Thanks!

Hi mummylewis,

I am one of those who does surveys. In terms of whether it is worth it with the amount of time put in I would say that compared to minimum wage it probably isn't worth it but I find that it suits my life. I work full time, have a poorly DH, dogs, cats, a smallholding, DS at Uni and DD at home (teenager) and I don't know how I would fit in a part time job to earn minimum wage. With the surveys I can do a few each day when I get a chance and it does all add up, if I feel tired/ill I don't worry about surveys but if I had a part time job I would have to go in whether I felt tired or not.
Also with the part time job I would be paying 20% tax on all the earnings as I earn over the tax threshold so would be earning less then minimum wage anyway.

I like being tucked up at home on winter nights all cosy and warm and doing a few surveys.

You wont make your riches from it but it can help boost the coffers for things like xmas/birthdays etc

If you want a list of sites I use and how I find them I can do that - I think some also have referral codes.

Or head over to the Up Your Income board and there are some threads on there about surveys.

Eager_Elephant

lcc86 wrote: »

I think I need to take some of your tips on board about children - except apply them to OH! :eek: he's been frustrating me recently, he gets home from work, switches on the computer and sits there all night, and I have to do everything. Then he expects a medal for taking the hoover out once in a blue moon... I need to get him to realise that I'm not his mother and that this isn't a hotel, but he gets so defensive any time I bring it up! I am half thinking of going on strike, and just moving any mess he makes into the bedroom (his side of course) and leaving it there until he gets the message!

If you exchange computer for TV I would have thought we have the same OH:rotfl:

My OH is the same and is one of the reasons I have told him I want a divorce, since that announcement we have both been ill so nothing further has happened but it will once we are better.

I don't understand why it is ok for men (generally) to work all day and when they get home to relax for the rest of the evening but women work all day and then get home and do kids/housework/cook/other housey things and then only get to rest at bed time.

The reason he gets defensive is because he knows you are right and is trying to deflect your concerns. When I went to Relate (years ago) with OH we were taught that when we wanted to discuss things we should never start a sentence with 'You...' as that is accusatory and gets people on the defensive. Its better to start with 'I feel..', 'I think...' so for instance 'You are a lazy pig in the evenings:rotfl:' is not very nice and is accusatory but if you say 'I feel really annoyed when you get in from work and relax all evening when I have to cook tea/do housework etc and I don't get a chance to relax', it is saying how you feel and no one can remove your feelings but also it is not as accusatory as you are not calling him lazy but just telling him how you feel.

Sorry if it is a bit of a ramble but hopefully you get the idea, when I used this idea ( and we had a sheet with ideas to start sentences) it did lead to better conversations as no one accused any one and instead just expressed how they felt.

DawnW

1SmallStep wrote: »

Just popping in with a quick question for you home bakers...
Have been through my cupboards today (Eat ALL the food up!) and located a ood pack of dried yeast, expired recently in my book (sep17). Is it likely to still work? Need to buy in some flour to make use of it so just wanted to check first!!!

It should still be ok, though you would be best using a bit more than the recipe states. Not sure I would be buying bread flour just to use this up though, unless you intend to bake regularly enough to use it

1SmallStep

Thanks DawnW! I have a full audit of the cupboards now! No flour of any sort in any quantity. Bizarrely our coop often reduces bread flour so I'll keep an eye out over the next week or so!

apple_muncher

Welcom chandelier- you are now a turtle with a number!

mummylewis

Hi Eager_Elephant, thank you for your reply!
I'm just after something that supports things like birthday present buying as I never really budget for those, they tend to come out of the grocery budget!
I'll take a look on the boards but if you do have a referral link I'd really appreciate it!

Today is shaping up to be a NSD, only half a bottle of milk left though so will need to get some tomorrow. Gutted as I didn't want to shop until Tuesday! Damn DH telling me on spendy weds that we didn't need any more milk!!

I've emailed British Gas today, I think they've been charging me for gas during my free time, which if that is true (saw my smart meter go up today when it shouldn't!!) It's probably been the case since June 2016! Fingers crossed for a refund of some sort.

Still waiting on my costume refund, will give til Tuesday before I chase.

Put some shoes up for sale on Facebook today too, hopefully they'll go, brand new and a desirable brand. I was bought them about 6 years ago and couldn't walk in them! Can't justify having shoes just to look at! Will make me around £30 if they go.

MLx

Lauralozzle

Both Thursday and Friday were spendy (and to be honest, could have been avoided) but today has been a NSD so I’m at 3/18.

I’ve managed 10,000 steps whilst at work, but today has been a quiet day where we haven’t done anything and because of this, my step count today is down. I don’t mind though, I need to recoup because I was very tired after going back to work. Sometimes you just need a day where you don’t do much at all and just recharge.

I didn’t take a packup to work on Friday and ended up going to Tesco to buy my lunch. Epic fail there as it was one of my main targets this month, but I’ll make sure I don’t make the same mistake again this month. Buying lunch at work is not something I can afford, and I must make and afford to sort out my lunches in the evening, even if I’m tired. I might set a ‘no relaxing’ rule until lunches are prepped and the kitchen tidied up after dinner.

I’ve been trying out surveys this month, to try and boost my income a little bit. I’ve been invited to take part in some market research which I’ve accepted and as long as I carry it on, I should get £10 vouchers a month. It’s not a lot, but it all helps and vouchers will come in handy when it comes to birthdays and such.

Using up more bits from the fridge and freezer today - it’s looking very bare but we have enough. Shopping is tomorrow and I’m hoping I can keep it down and use up bits from cupboards. We can’t avoid it though - we have no milk at all. After today’s dinner we will have a bendy carrot and a bendy leek in the fridge so we need more veg (and fruit, the fruit bowl is empty).

My long term dream goal - is to be able to afford to work part time and be in our dream house.

x_raphael_xx

mummylewis wrote: »

Can I ask a Question please? I've seen a few people here getting amazing vouchers or similar for surveys, which sites are you using please? Is it worthwhile with the amount of time put in?

I use Qmee, there is a browser app, and you can sometimes get 5p etc for a search like 'Currys'.
They do surveys too, around 25p-30p per 20 min survey. The surveys have been a bit thin on the ground since NY but I've made £2 since 1st.
Won't break the bank, but I'm sat watching youtube most nights so it's not bad for a little bit of side clicking.

apple_muncher wrote: »

What is your dream goal?

Mine are quite boring.
I want to get down to my goal weight.
I want to have decent savings behind me.
And I want to be a mum

I posted my ebay parcel today and put the profits into Mums fund. Then went for a little walk to hunt down a new pokemon, which was a unsuccessful.
Had some lunch & cleaned through downstairs (I'll tackle upstairs tomorrow).
Then I went for a run.

Janus - 12 Months target to repay Mum. £241.03 / £3000
£14.64 added today.

Activity. Crochet & keep active.
I've been for another run today and went for a nice long walk. Crochet will be done tonight while watching some youtube.

Non-negotiables:
-[STRIKE]18[/STRIKE] 25 NSDs 6/25 Day six achieved.
Only spend was posting my ebay parcel, which buyer paid for I have no plans to spend tomorrow. But I know Monday will be a spend day.
-£5 to foodbank / charity

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). [more on this later]
Did my run, pleased as I got a good min/mile too.

Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens... BF did the shopping today, I'm planning on defrosting the freezer, so my food plans are all helping to empty out the freezer.
We usually buy 5 kg of chicken breasts from the butcher for £25 and freeze them, they last us the month. But I've had to be a bit inventive and pick meals that don't need chicken so we don't restock the freezer.

Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. Xmas cards cut up for tags ready for next xmas.

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can. So look after yourself - physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
Ebay profit added to Mums fund. Really enjoyed my run, it's a great mind clearer.

I want to re-introduce Bob's s t r e t c h challenge for January: how much extra an you earn / save off your food shop / move / remove.
Will keep an eye open for surveys popping up tonight.