NST February A FOREST ADVENTURE

sashanut

Hi all :j

Ended up not going out for this darn Christmas meal...it will be Christmas before we get to it at this rate....Upside is we didn't spend any money so an NSD gained...will be a spend day tomorrow as do small shop, plus my stint in CS where I never manage to get out the door without spending something...however look upon it as another charity donation..

Always : Will try to make sure I can make/save some money this month instead of always spending up to the max..NSD today again.

First : Agree

Organise : Lunch was sausage sandwiches for DH & DD, leftover chilli & pasta for me. Supper was HM fajitas. Finally made the sourdough bread from the book I got from CS, a longwinded recipe but turned out surprisingly well, pleased as it is so expensive to buy. DH even had a piece with HM jam for pudding, we had YS hot cross buns


Reserve : Already make a charity donation each month from joint acc. Made animal charity donation.

Environment : Wet again but had a run around with DD & dogs in garden, was fun if muddy. One dog has tendency to smear muddy ball on the back of your legs to indicate he wants it thrown again. Not met with universal pleasure, this habit.

Stock take : Still lunch & dinner all from stocks in fridges/freezer Need to stocktake all other food stocks (kitchen cupboards, pantry, larder, cellar ). No progress as had to spend large part of day at DDs waiting for gas engineer.

Takeaways are forbidden (unless as part of family entertainment night/ birthday choice). Coffee shops, vending machines, works canteens etc are also banned (pastoral exceptions): Not planning on any takeaways, too much food here to need any.

Always take your lunch to work and snacks and drinks for outings or appointments: will do.

Do something different. If nothing changes, nothing changes. We want to see small positive changes which become habits and then just part of who you are. Pick 2 or 3 things you want to change. Start with one small change and after five successful days, add another: Surface still clear but still the only one!! Cleared another very large surface & also under sink space, yuk.. Looks far better though & now its needs to stay clear, have warned DH. Surfaces have stayed clear & returned flasks to up cupboards using ladder. Floor also cleared & rubbish chucked, clear surfaces made it so easy to make bread.


Exercise 5 times a week please: Could well be gardening or clearing, cleaning etc but will aim to be active. Active at lunchtime.

NSDs are staying at 18 this month: NSD today so now 11/18

Big push on this, much clearing needs to be done but refuse to toss useful stuff, will freecycle or CS - but preferably sell! Have photos ready to list now, will list this weekend. Gas engineer finally called only to tell us that DDs boiler is on its last legs, she needs a new one @ approx. 2k (he says). Then check the non working gas fire & condemned that! At least you can get some spare parts for that as they still making that model. Charged £117 to do these 2 checks. Not sure will be using them again.


Use what you have. Fix something : Have some knobs on drawers cupboard etc in bedroom that have come adrift. Need superglueing or I have already bought 4 new ones if not fixable. Not done yet. Maybe will need to buy more outside paint, the one I used was rubbish...Cord that open curtains has broken, have to get up ladder to try & see how to fix it. Need DH to hold ladder as ceilings so high. Took photo of pulley effort from upstairs so I can see how to bodge the downstairs one. DH fixed hoover from where I inadvertently sucked up a plastic bag. Used risotto rice & almond milk for rice pudding, surprisingly nice..although not cost effective in the long term I shouldn't think. Have used 'glutinous rice' mountain for rice pudding, seemed to work fine. That would be cost effective as have probably 2 large bags..Tried to fix curtain track as DH held ladder but too tricky & high up to manage without moving furniture...and taking down massive curtains. Will do. No progress. DH fixed my shoes where the trim was coming off with superglue, great repair.

Refuel properly: Will do this, already am taking some steps to improve health & sleep patterns. Taking supplements now & bedtime tea, seems to be working. Tea combined with pillow spray etc got me to sleep, no bother, just have to remember to make tea an hour before bed. OK today

Elephants and Frogs: Frog printer tackled today & is now working, albeit intermittently. Elephant - sorted out some of DHs old polo shirts that will only be ragged at CS but that's fine, he won't wear them again as he found some that actually fitted him & never wears the old ones.

Frogs: No frogs today

Thanks mothernerd for running the challenge, it is very much appreciated even though I am not a model turtle pupil yet

mothernerd

There is always a reason to smile, find it.:)

If I was meant to be controlled, I would have come with a remote.

Life is short, Break the rules, FORGIVE quickly, KISS slowly, LOVE truly, LAUGH uncontrollably and never REGRET anything that made you SMILE

The mind should dance with the body and the whole universe is your stage. Try to feel that whatever you are doing it is the most beautful thing, the prettiest dance because you are dancing with the whole universe.

I am enough
I am full of sparkle and compassion
I genuinely want to make the world a better place
I love hard
I practice kindness
I am not afraid of the truth

No one is useless in this world, who lightens the burdens of another

Please have a good day
and a great week and just a wonderful life in general.

f0xh0les

Doing really well. £125 left in budget for the rest of the month - 8 days, but the petrol warning light is about to come on and I have not inventorised the pantry.

NSD 12 in the bag.

Kids happily back at school, I am back in the swing of making pasties and iced buns the night before school.

Today I am getting visited again before they leave properly - they are making a picnic at my house so they don't have to stop anywhere. So I am expecting a guilt trip while DH is out of the way.

Distraction therapy worked well last night - home made warm choc sauce did the trick - hard to listen to someone complain about their terrible ibs symptoms while they are shovelling dessert into their face like there is no tomorrow. IBS is not a suitable dinner table conversation.

Right. time to get the smalls out of bed. Day 2 of school and I still have not seen anybody up yet.

Have a fantastic day Turtles.

My visitors should be gone by 11 at the very very very latest.

Onourwayup

Can I join in too Please?

dolly84

foxholes - I think we will all be waving your visitors off for you, they sound dreadful.

Went to a shopping centre yesterday, first time in a long time that I've been. I have a Debenhams store card and a while back they said if I upgraded to their CC and spend £100 on it I would get £30 in vouchers so I did, I just put my groceries and fuel on it. I ended up with £33 but they don't last long so I wanted to use them. I bought DD 3 pairs of tights for school, 6 Kilner jars and a box of truffles to make up the spend. I'm very pleased as I wanted jars and they had 20% off them too.

laurenh1

good morning lovely turtles

today is NSD #16.

budgets still the same-
£1000 emergency fund
£700 paris
£100 xmas 18
£7 spends- only 2 more days to get through though.

hub spent last night sanding down & varnishing our old dining chairs so they match our new table and I love them. a few more to do but will save us a fortune

got a 12pound pay out from TCB. :beer: not sure what im buying with ny voucher yet but It will come in these things make a big difference when you have a budget of 200 pound a month for 4 of you :rotfl:

awaiting my first full childcare bill, a little nervous - really hoping I have worked it out right. cant see I will be too far off.

hope you all have a lovely day

Calling14

Tackled an elephant and a frog.:T:T

Took my car to the garage with long list of advisory notes from the MOT in Dec. So new discs and pads being fitted, together with new suspension arms and bushs. Total cost after lovely lads giving me 20% discount. £386 pounds. That was the elephant and to be honest been worrying so much about safety of my car. Glad it is getting done today even though I need to find money from somewhere.

The frog - don't ask me why but I hate cleaning car so yesterday before garage visit tad ashamed so cleaned inside and out.

Only did 8k steps yesterday but add car cleaning to it. Good workout :rotfl:

Made a lovely roast dinner last night. So may just roast few veggies with leftover chicken tonight.

Budgets updated as I spent £8 in lidl food yesterday, Petrol £40.

NSD - 10
Food £66.01/£80
Petrol =40/£40
ME upkeep(hair/make up)- 13/10
Clothing 10/20
Social - 37/50
Money gained surveys/extra income this month - £149.81
Credit card payments this mth - £439
New Blinds to paid for £224/£224 and fitted.

laurenh1

I need to retract a spend day my hubs car has a puncture & needs a new tyre so thats 80 quid of my emergency pot gone. I am hoping I can put it back on payday if I jiggle things around *sob* keeping in mind that at least we have such a pot. tight budgets are not forever & as hub pointed out we choose to be skint as we are saving for a home, others are not so lucky as to have the choice

so I am back on 15. still hopeful for 18 by sunday & 19 in all.

also casually tucking into a bar of chocolate. tomorrow is a new day

Calling14

laurenh1 still brilliant NSDs . Craving chocolate here and my EF will have a big dent in it today as well.

Fmess

SFD next move 9 yesterday.

Today I bought a chocolate brownie :rotfl: oh well!

Dogs results and not back yet but car is booked in for free work as it was faulty when I bought it and new contact lenses are on there way with another months free as they keep messing up setting up the direct debit!

Took a bag of clothes to the charity shop today and considering putting a suitcase full of unworn clothes away and if I don;t wear them in 6 months, they can go too. I have a wardrobe full of clothes but only wear a few outfits as the rest either don;t fit or make me feel self conscious wearing them.

Calling I;m the same, I hate cleaning the car and hate taking it to have the outside cleaned but I always appreciate my car more once its been cleaned. I can;t clean it myself as it;s too tall and some bright spark left the outside tap inside the conservatory when they built it.

Better go hoover the inside of the car!

Sorry for the weird punctuation, Im still having issues when I use an apostrophe.