NST January: Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived

mothernerd

I have been out of the house since 1.30pm and have just got in. Turned into a very spendy day (and week) but think I am okay with it and within my budgets. Made myself get up before I fell asleep (had a good sleep but preceeded by 42 hours awake), went out to catch the bus to go to the crematorium. Was dreading it as there is a long walk along a lane (quite busy) once you get off the bus but found it much easier than last time I had to do it.

Left flowers in the memorial hall (there is a book with lists of people's names under the date on which they died) and put a small Christmas tree on my aunt and uncle's grave. Very very grateful that they have now put 2 club chairs in the memorial hall. A comfortable sit down in the warnth was very restorative.

Walked back to the bus stop and did not have long to wait. Did my good deed for the day by warning a woman about some broken glass so that her dog did not cut his paws.Spent most of the journey chatting to a family friend.

Had to wait 15 minutes for any of the buses going past the cemtery so had a quick look round for a calendar (mum has been told one has been bought for her bt it has not yet been delivered and we need it so that appointments can be written up.

Could not find a non-boring calendar but bought a puzzle mag and a can of diet coke (coming from my birthday money - mum has given it me early in case I saw something in the sales). Didn't drink it as I needed the toilet (crematorium toilets were locked and I won't pay the price of the new high tech ones at the bus station).

Cemetery visit accomplished and only a short wait for the bus back to the bus station. Another 10 minute wait for the bus and I was tempted to give up, grab some food and go home (tired, ankles aching, hungry and still not been to the loo as the cemetery ones were locked too).

Mum had said she would pay for the all day ticket so I could do the crem/ cem run but had suggested I could have a ride out with the rest of the day. I am owed oven gloves from my Christmas money (couldn't find any I liked and would not settle for some I didn't as it would bug me every time I used them, for however many years it took to wear them out).

I had thought about going to the big town (8 miles away) or the city (13 miles) and trying deb'nums and picking up some foody bits in MnS (have been eating from the freezer and adding veg or salad) but thought more travel would tire me out.

Then remembered we had a small MnS on the retail park next to Sainsbobs - could try there for oven gloves and the missing bits of mum's shopping (tinned grapefruit and all bran - most people only offer flakes or own brand and it's one of those things where mum doesn't like the own brand in that particular instance. Had struggled to find Orlicks as well, loads of O val teen but again that wouldn't do.

Stopped for something to eat and a hot choc to warm up (longer walk than expected as a former path has gone and I had to retreat and do a dog leg all round). Bought some foodie bits (birthday money, as was the meal) then a spendy trip round Sainsbobs. Ticked off everything on the wanted list plus tinned mandarins (very expensive, frequently out of stock elsewhere), herbs (Beloved recently bought mixed herbs in a larger than usual tub plain with a black lid and I thought they would make good permanent herb jars, given the quantities we use, we can refill from bags bought on our market or the larger 500g packs (some available in Tosco's world food aisle or at the Asian market, DS1 got some in Aldini once).

Also bought 3 large ceramic storage jars in a misty green colour ys to £5.99 each, a bowl in the same range (dark grey outer, green on white vaguely oriental/Arabic design inside) ys to £1.87 (saw similar at the garden centre on Tuesday for a tenner) and a small misty blue tin supposedly for matches but may use it to keep plasters and a tube of antiseptic cream (also ys) and two jute bags for life with polar bears on. I am sure this is not what mum envisaged my spending my birthday money on but they all make me smile, will last for a long time and are useful. Also had a lovely day. I 'm not a dedicated shopper but looking around at lots of nice things and selecting one or two to take home is my kind of shopping.

I did see some baskets (powder coated wire in black and dark grey) which looked useful but I did not have a specific purpose for them - thought it might be useful info for those looking to avoid plastic.

Just behind the tills there was a pile of banana boxes (dolly take note) for customers to take for carrying their shopping. I know they are super strong because all the market traders use them for packing their stock. They are well constructed (some have extra triangles in the corners and can be stacked). If you have a Sainsbobs it is well worth considering them for underbed storage or in a garage (toyboxes/ building your own doll's house/ castle/ fabric folded so you can see each piece/ craft stock apple?). I picked 2 smaller boxes which had held organic celery ( base a bit larger than A4, 5" deep). Could be covered with fabric or paper if they are going to be in general view.

I decide to have a taxi home and when I took out my phone it said You have achieved your steps target. Very pleased about that. Now I have to go through a mountain of receipts and work out what I have spent, what mum is paying for and what has come out of my birthday money.

My budgets are set the same as last month except for an entertainment budget of £50. This is because my film club membership of £20 is due this month (it's also £2 for each film attended). I hope to see some of the evening films this year, not just the classic ones in the afternoon with mum. The film club do excellent work and I want to continue to support them. The other half of the budget is for me to 'do something' to mark my birthday - may be a visit to a gallery or the cinema, don't know. I hope DS2 intends to treat me to a curry eaten over a film watched together - this may involve me actually paying for the curry and him repaying me on payday (after my birthday).

I have done another spendy thing this week but I think this post is quite long enough.

Today I am grateful for tub chairs at the crematorium, for improving health (minor ailments but lots of walking slowly and my shoulder is more flexible) and the joys of simple shopping.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for time with my sister in person, for dd and my niece's bf getting on well, for finding dd a new rucksack in a ch shop, for my knitting, for Father Brown (had to try to explain the difference between father Brown and Father Ted to dd...:rotfl:),for prompt buses, for a warm coat, for sewing with dd, for dh putting the pull-up bar back up for me to hang from and stretch my back.

f0xh0les

Janus - I will have an orderly household. Spent 4 hours turfing out cupboards and finding loads of stuff I can make use of, and putting the rest where it ought to have been in the first place.
I still have a long way to go, but I also have a massive N3xt Sale bag full for the charity shop, and have moved out lots of clothes which were 2 yrs younger than DS4. Off to find new homes. :hello: bye bye!


Activity. Only cleaning, clearing, tidying and scrubbing

Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs I have 3


Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s).
Very happy with the amount of space I cleared/created / filled today. It might not be obvious to anyone else, but the clutter is being reduced.

Always plan your meals; yes!
always take a shopping list; I have a list, but will not go shopping until Monday when I drop the 2 smalls back to school.
always take lunch/ drink/snacks when out and about;all food within the house.
avoid all coffee shops, ok

Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read.
Found cushion inners I rescued from step-gran. Found the fabric I meant to cover them in. The other cushions in the house need new covers too. I will make new covers once I have finished the painting extravaganza. Should also be a no cost endeavour. Cut up the Xmas cards to make tags for next Xmas and put in a box and stored with the tree in the cupboard of convenience.

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can.

January is going to be very tight. It is utterly do-able, but I need to be on top of the food planning and packed lunches. It is just a short 24 days where I need to be on top of my game, and make a list of all the things I want to be doing now, but can't, ready to go in February. I have cleared Xmas completely already , the kids after school clubs are paid for, I have enough to pay off the other 2 residential trips entirely, and I just have the car insurances left on the cc to pay off which I can do 1st Feb. If I stick to the plan I am fine. I am more than fine.

But for some reason I am nervous this year.
Probably because I have £0 emergency fund after I paid the plasterer 3 days before Xmas. :rotfl: There, at least I know the reason now.

Very short term cash flow problem.

mummylewis

Evening all, today turned out to be spendy. Needed a card for a birthday tomorrow and we forgot! So I'm still on 4 so far.

Just ate a new teriyaki recipe that I found a few days ago. Blooming delicious. Got extra for lunch tomorrow so I hope it's nice cold.

No bites selling those shoes on Facebook. Will try eBay if I get no luck.

Signed up to pinecone research and qmee and joined in on the earn £10 a day board.

Evening turtles!

Kerry_Woman

Was a spend day. Sorted out payment for electrical work. Repayment of Mum's overpayment of pension. Had used pension received to pay it back. Set up direct debit for tv licence to come out on 1st February.
Did a fair bit of walking today.
Decluttered some more things today.
My dream goal is to move to another area and living in a property with my own garden.
Grateful for:
Spent some time around my friend's this afternoon.
A understanding GP, had a chat about how I was coping with my Mum's death.
Went to another Catholic church this evening for 6.30pm mass, which covers Sunday. Think I will be going to this church from now onwards.
Making scones.
Started my book about positive things that I have achieved each day.

abundant1972

Hey all...

Had a nice evening yesterday/today with my family and have managed another NSD - I'm actually amazed at my progress so far. Been twice to the gym too... so going to try for a nature walk tomorrow.

Today = NSD number 5

Today I am grateful for:

• Actors and the film/TV industry for making stories that can take me into another World.
• Fresh drinking water. I know I said it yesterday but it's pretty amazing.
• My computer - crystal ball on the World around.

Thank you Universe for all the gifts that continue to manifest in my life. I am abundant and blessed.

Eager_Elephant

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thriftylass

Quick check in before bed. Dh off on business trip and me and the kids are staying another night at FIL's. Treated him to a cuppa and a cake at the park today so no SFD. But the next 4 days will be.

Night night

Eager_Elephant

Today has been a bit spendy - had to collect DD's blazer and school cardi from the dry cleaners so thought I would also do a bit of shopping while I was in town (this is the town I work in but I never get a chance to shop as always too busy to take a proper lunch break.

DD also came with me as she had to get a friend a present plus had Xmas/birthday money to spend.

Brought everything on the credit card and then I will work out what pots it all needs paying back from and sort that in the week.

Was nice to spend time with DD but a bit rushed as we did not go out until the afternoon, in the morning I managed a tip run and also took DS to the hairdressers.

In between I managed to make a dent in the very messy house, I was feeling overwhelmed but sat down with coffee and chocolate to formulate a plan and then executed it. I was pleased with how much better the house looked after doing a few jobs.
Still have mount washmore but once DS back at Uni there will only be clothes from 3 people and DD is back at school so only her uniform and not 20 changes of clothes every day!!

misstara

A spendy day today - £35.05 on food, £38.37 petrol, £1.50 drink, £1 on weighing machine and £7.99 on a corner caddy for the shower to keep toiletries tidy.

Me and OH sat down today and made a list of all the additional little things in the flat that need done/bought and the corner caddy was one of them. There are various things in each room that need done and the plan is to sort them out over the coming year.

Budgets - £45.03/£150 food, £38.37/£100 petrol, £0/£50 social.

Went to the gym today, first time for ages that I've felt well enough to do so and plan to go again tomorrow. Spent £1.50 on a drink there as I forgot to lift my water bottle and also spent £1 on the fancy weighing machine that does your weight, bmi and body fat. I plan to weigh myself once a month to hopefully see some progress