NST March: Marching to a different beat

LavenderBee

Sorry to hear about your MIL Raphael

Mothernerd, I saw on another thread that you were debating whether you could get away with not moving onto frozen onions to save energy in chopping them. If you're anything like me, then I expect 50% of the time they're going towards a tin of chopped tomatoes as a base for something; have you tried chopped toms that already have onion in? Mr Lidl's are 35p a tin, and are a 'cheat' food for me whilst my standing capacity is limited (but not that much of a cheat, and no extra cost)

NSD 2/18 here. Going to clear out my 'saved for later' items in my Amazon basket and watch list in eBay to remove temptation. I've eaten a few frogs the last two days, not all listed here but all in my notebook. Realised that if the groceries come in on budget, there's £50 to spare for the baby fund. If I can be ruthless and chop £50 off, then there's £100. Quite an incentive, and doesn't look impossible at the moment.

Grateful for: arranging to work from home sometimes to save driving in to the office.

indigowarrior

Sorry to here about your MIL Rapheal

mothernerd

x_raphael_xx wrote: »

BF took MIL up to hospital for the scan results, it has spread down her oesophagus and into her stomach. Not much they can do. Think it's going to be mainly keeping her as comfortable as possible.

Thinking of you all. Sounds similar to my uncle, they had the option to operate but this would have meant cracking open his chest, which was thought to be too traumatic. They admitted him several times to'stretch his oesophagus' (not medical advice) so that he could continue eating and drinking.

LavenderBee wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your MIL Raphael

Mothernerd, I saw on another thread that you were debating whether you could get away with not moving onto frozen onions to save energy in chopping them. If you're anything like me, then I expect 50% of the time they're going towards a tin of chopped tomatoes as a base for something; have you tried chopped toms that already have onion in? Mr Lidl's are 35p a tin, and are a 'cheat' food for me whilst my standing capacity is limited (but not that much of a cheat, and no extra cost)

Grateful for: arranging to work from home sometimes to save driving in to the office.

Thank you for the information. I will look into that. Lidl is quite a walk in my present condition but it's only an extra block when I go to Icyland (not even a block but they have altered the road so that I have to cross 3 sets of traffic lights). Many moons ago I used to buy the sainsbugs ones with garlic/ herbs (often same price as plain toms) which saved time and some fussing.

I am also going to try doing the chopping sitting down - since my hip replacement I do a lot of jobs sitting down (and alternate standing and sitting tasks - so I might do some washing up and when I start to ache, sit at the table to chop veg or sort plastic boxes/ matching lids).

DS3's Beloved had been using my chopping board so it was on the worktop and as I was only trying it out, I did the chopping where it was. If I try at the table the pressure will be on different parts of my arms and might be easier.

Going to reread the poorlies thread for more tips and help with not feeling guilty - thanks to the turtle who said no-one would think it was lazy to buy frozen onions but it is me who thinks it's lazy (early conditioning, I think).

Extra gratitudes for finding some gridded paper (wanted to make a giant reindeer at Christmas by scaling up an embroidery pattern to dressmaking graph paper - think it was in mum's sewing stuff and has been there for donkey's years). will do it in anticipation for this year and then I can throw the tatty little scrap of reindeer pattern. Thankful for all the products available (even if I won't use most of them) for household stuff and for crafting. Grateful for persevering with a library book that was mildly amusing but not gripping, it got better. Grateful for online renewal of library books as it meant I was not in a panic about the ones that were due back today. Also grateful for on line e magazines, it is showing me how little contant some of them have (better than paying a fiver and then they languish in the basket.

sashanut

Hi all :j

All drips seems to have stopped in bathroom thank goodness. Have large ladder in way downstairs so will have to get up there sometime. Tree surgeon finally came after 3rd time of asking (was about to give up). Tree preservation order on tree so have to get permission from council first for any work to be done, so further delay.

Done a bit more clutter but not really enough, will attempt to take a few things tomorrow to CS as it's my day to work there.

Feeling a bit meh today, not sure why but did get out into front garden & do a fair bit of pruning. Pleased it was light so late.

· For the striders: 4/18 NSDs

· Set your budgets before the challenge starts - Still no spends, but will do a small shop tomorrow


· Be generous ; will do

· Note down Certainly need to do this, in order to get a handle on spending. No food spends this month so far, or visits to shops although have spent online, so noted that.

· As ever, will do

· Pay towards your debt first! Do not have debt now but have been there before so am very wary. Do have a CC paid off in full every month. Will use PAD to pay for items through the month so no big bill surprise at the end of the month. Made PAD yesterday & will today.

· Plan. Have not made list but will out Friday to show tickets were a gift. Also have afternoon tea tickets but DH says will make another trip so 2 days out. DDs boiler being replaced on Wednesday so will have to see to that, repayment plan to be finalised. Visit tomorrow to look at potential new kitty.

· Check in every day. Will do

bizzie

Check in#5/31 and NSD#5/18.
A busy day but no spending.
Planning on venturing out to shops tomorrow with a list and sticking to it.

Thoughts to those with difficult situations in their lives.

Debtfreewannabme

So sorry to hear about your MIL Raphael. Sending you a hug xc

laurenh1

Raphael sorry to hear about your MIL. thinking of you all.

Today is NSD #2. I can still make 18 but only if Im super organised!!

Budgets £820 EF
£700 Paris
£60 Fuel
£150 spends

The big push is to get EF back up to £1000 pretty sharpish. Might look to sell a few things on Ebay tomorrow night.
Hub & I are also going to do any over time we can.

Need to go reduced shopping will go wed I think & try for more next week.

DawnW

Raphael, so sorry to hear about your mother in law's illness
Mothernerd, it is by no means lazy to buy frozen onions. Nobody thinks it is lazy to buy frozen veg, it is often cost effective, especially if cooking for one, and there is no waste involved as they don't go off.

Other supermarkets do the tins of tomatoes with onion too, I think Sainsburys do - I will have a look later in the week when I make it in there!

Very busy spendy week dealing with an issue / helping out a relative, which has been going on since Christmas Hoping this week will see a resolution to it, and I can start to rebuild depleted savings (and he stands on his own two feet). I ought to be helping my kids out, not someone of my own generation who has gone through life making bad choices and expecting others to pick up after him :mad:

dolly84

The snow has all gone here now and normal service has been resumed, it is raining as per.

Work today, dog walk, visit mum, run and school run.

Baked bread rolls yesterday for school lunch boxes, they will see me into next week now as kids are having 2 school lunches this week, they normally have 1 on a Friday so they are having last Friday's this week too, isn't it mad that a school lunch is a treat, there is no way we could afford them everyday.

thriftylass

Hoping for another NSD here. Have some of those rolls left that you have to finish baking yourself for the kids dinner and will later make a fresh loaf. Only have plain flour but that'll have to do. Just needs longer kneading. Was so tempted to treat myself to some chocolate after an hour in the pouring rain to school and work but the baking rather than needing to buy a loaf kept me in check.

Will do a shopping list some time today for Friday and plan my lunches/dinners for the month (or at least two weeks depending on freezer space).

Still waiting for the hair clippers I ordered. Cut DS hair yesterday with scissors again but he's getting to the age now where he wants the sides and back a lot shorter. Boys' hair cuts don't cost much but still save £6 a month or so hopefully for a while yet. Been practising for 7 years and he still likes a mummy cut (a rather good one ) rather than a stranger doing it.