NST March: Marching to a different beat

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 17
Glad I got the washing out and dried yesterday as it's raining now.
Really need to start trying to clear some stuff out. I just can't get myself motivated to do it. Small steps - I think I'll have a go at my bedroom cupboards today.

apple_muncher

Debtfreewannanbme - I did gulp at the price of the moofree eggs (£3.50) for a little one in aldee, but I saw them in sainz today at £3.99, so I feel a little better about it!

LavenderBee

NSD 15/18 here.


No other news other than fuming at a banking cockup today. Credit card has been paid twice (the direct debit has been taken despite having cleared the balance before the statement date), and there are no transactions showing for the last 9 days! That includes refunds made to the card, the direct debit etc etc. So there will be a huge credit sat on there, but Lord knows when their system will catch up and tell me exactly what it is! In the meantime I've taken £500 out of my savings and into the bills account to cover the potential shortfall. I've already had my March pay and was so pleased with myself for putting £700 in savings, I've never managed anything like that before but it's going to need careful accounting to get it back.

indigowarrior

Yesterday was a spend day. Today is an NSD. Not doing to well at the moment.

Kerry_Woman

Grateful for:
NSD - 19/18
Having a nice relaxing bath when I came home from work.
Having somewhat less stressed day at work.
Leaving work on time.
Checking my toiletries which can be used up. Found a few that can be easily used up which will go into April.
Used up a couple of toiletries today.

apple_muncher

LavenderBee - hope the system sorts itself out soon. I had a similar thing years ago (where I somehow manage to press the 'send' button twice and it sent it twice) and it did require careful planning for the nextmonth. But you have spotted itnow and therefore you can plan.

Indigowarrior - take care. Am well impressed that you are going to study law.

Kerry Woman - hope the Easter break gives you a chance to recharge your batteries. Are you going back to the same place after?

Today I am grateful for my counsellor, for making a decision, for catching an earlier bus, for a lovely random conversation with a lady at the bus stop, for getting some bits done around the house, for some (very) early tulips, for my kettlebell workout, for some cracking finds in a ch shop, for my sewing.

Nicky_Noo_Na

Now up to 13NSDs. A couple of little treats have crept in but budgets looking good overall.

Lovely weather on Monday, first time drying washing on the line since last Autumn! And DD enjoyed running around in the garden. Hope spring is finally on the way!

mothernerd

A challenging day. Had a message from DS1 last night. He and his fiancee have invited me for a meal on Saturday and to look round their new house (her parents have just gone back home to Greece. He extended the invite to DS2 and DS3 (he had not thought to do so before).

Went to ask DS3. I remained extremely tactful throughout the evening. Phoned DS2. DS3 listened but then remembered that a friend is coming to stay from tomorrow and would still be here. DS2 had been to the doctor's and is off sick for two weeks (bed rest).

Relayed these messages (with thanks for the invite from DS2). DS1 reacted badly. Everything but the kitchen sink got thrown in and the toys went out of the pram. I was very concilliatory and was accused of winding him up. I am still going on Saturday and determined not to get upset.

Said to DS3's gf this morning that I must have done something right because they all think they were treated worse than the other two. She said I had done everything right for them, they just treat each other appallingly.

Could not get to sleep until 5.30am (put the laptop back on at 4am and DS1 was suffering a migraine, so that might have added to his tetchiness) and slept till 10am. Woken by text message reminder of mum's foot appointment, which complicates an already tough week (/fortnight).

Having a nothing going right day, was getting in my own way, purse broke, put myself back on the bed and did 5 minutes breathing exercises. I had intended painting at mum's today but it rained. Plan B, set up a painting station in the shed and peg a waterproof cloth between the shed and the cloths line to let things dry (lots of pots and containers to be cleaned and tarted up). Then thought I could put up the tool hooks in the (very small) shed and get tools and chairs hung on the walls.

Quick trip round town. Bags, crafty stuff and bubble wrap to cs, picked up sandwich essentials (Major unplanned spend of £16 on a Champ knees gift set) spent time in Wilco's looking at all the garden stuff (mum has a want that needs filling but it means looking for something that 'will do the job'). Saw one suitable item but quite costly.

Bought filler to cover the plant pot that's being covered in shells (pencilled in for Bank Holiday Monday), saw the glues and tapes and looked for a stapler (for fencing/ chicken wire etc - on the list a while ago, bnq had a good one but not needed to go to that end of town recently) and some other bits. Bowls have been requested by DS3 as he only has 3 left (think salad bowl/ pyrex casserole dish/ fruit bowl - I had all of these until he used them for meals).
Looked at stationery to cheer me up (did not buy). Mum oaid for the Wilco shop (bowls are coming out of DS3's birthday present money, especially if I go back for the £7 ones). Also bought edible eyes (saves a lot of fiddly work making cakes for the Church fair) and some necklace string and fasteners (have the beads).

Then went across to the stationer's to check when the next edition of mum's part work was due in (did not want to miss it because of the holidays). Looked there and across the road for an alphabetised notebook that didn't cost a fortune (found one in the sale bin just as I had given up).

As time was getting on and I was getting further away from home I decided to carry on, look round bnm for 'garden bits', then get bread and other bits for the weekend before getting a taxi to mum's (determined to salvage something from the day).

20p 'yesterday's bread' from bnm, successful food shop (lots of festive bits for visitors and mum to snack on when she's on her own). Taxi driver had great music on the radio (first song was familiar, second was REM) which cheered me up.

Hauled five heavy bags into mum's, put it all away and explained what I had bought - cleaner should be back on Thursday and visits on Saturday (already bought them lots of 'puddings' which I wont be tempted by). Mum has paid, but I am paying for my share by not taking taxi money from her (coming off what I owe).

I had lunch mid-afternoon, went through the 'conversation' with DS1 (missed out the sweary bits), nearly had her crying when I talked about my brother (11th anniversary of his death was last Sunday), watched a couple of things mum wanted on, ate tea, No painting got done (mum had done a little after I went home and has decided the back fence needs replacing entirely, trying to paint it is throwing good money away - it crumbled as she painted).


In the taxi going I thought the only thing to top the musical selection was Jimi Hendrix (I have eclectic tastes, lots of rock and my heart will always be in the sixties but fairly wide ranging otherwise). Mum said I should choose something to watch. I picked Heartbeat (like being wrapped in a warm blanket) and I got my Jimi.

Today I am grateful for getting some tidying done during the night (if you can't sleep, you might as well be useful), for lovely music to brighten the day, for the good relationship I have with my mother (and all my children as long as I see them separately) and mum feeling okay about going to the foot appointment alone (very local and all taxi driver know us and are helpful - one even drove onto the Town Hall Square to stop directly in front of the library, last time it was film club).

Kerry_Woman

apple muncher - Thanks. Do not know yet, as they are interviewing this week for a couple of the admin posts. They had one of the interviews today and have offered the job already to someone internally. Will hopefully know by Thursday if going back to the same school.

laurenh1

HI All -

Today is a NSD unless you count paying money into my joint account for this months bills.

I have been paid less than I expected, booo. I knew I would have to pay more tax due to last months bonus however I underestimated just how much. As a result, April's budgets are a little tight and I have had to borrow £50 from my Paris fund. I am doing a days over time next month though, so I can put it back at the end of April.

Budgets now as follows -
£1000 EF
£700 Paris
£150 Camping
£190 Fuel
£190 Spends

Off YS shopping tonight as I need to up my game if I am ever going to make budget.

Nothing else really to report, off to a dinosaur themed day at one of the local shows on Saturday. Tickets cost me £12 & I will need a little spends.

Have a good day all xx