NST March: Marching to a different beat

Toni'sfriend

Morning Turtles
I'm climbing on the naughty step. The boy's official paperwork for the flat purchase came through yesterday and he was so excited we had his favourite take away to celebrate. No excuse really but it was delicious.
Other than that caught up on some cleaning. My life is beginning to sound very boring.

Kerry_Woman

It to be a spend day as going out tonight and just ordered the Buddy Box from the mental health support organisation.
Grateful for:
Go to social club tonight for the Elvis and Big Bopper tribute night with a couple of friends. Could be a late, but enjoyable night.
Catching up with sleep and rest.
Had a nice chat with cousin on the phone.
Not done much today. Just went to check on my Dad's property and did a few bits around the flat.

laurenh1

apple how old is the child? if the child is 3 on the next termshe should get 30 free hours or at least 16.also, look into tax free child care. 20% off the first 10k a year for all working parents xx

mothernerd

Just home after a very enjoyable day, my feet are burning and lots of bits ache. I'm having the run of things breaking down now, strap padding on my little rucksack broke free as I got out of the taxi. Found my new owl one (which mum approves of) and taped the padding onto the straps, just for today. Owl rucksack is smaller but proper one has a curved back (means you have an airspace between you and the rucksack) so they probably hold equal amounts, but the owl straps bit into my shoulders. Padding helped so I will sew it on in the next few years.

Old rucksack has only done 13 years service, do you thimk I should try to take it back and complain?

I took 2l water, a small bottle of coke, sandwiches and buttered fruit loaf with me but bought a meal there as well. I also packed a cup, a spare sweatshirt for if I needed an extra layer and an empty bag in case I bought anything. I strapped up my right ankle before I went and asked to borrow DS3's walking stick, which helped a lot.

To be honest, I don't think I could have carried more food and drink so I am not going to beat myself up - more weight would have meant slower progress and seeing less animals which rather defeats the object of the outing. I was relieved to find somewhere selling proper food, rather than the donut, ice cream, rock, slushie fest on offer elsewhere.

Everything seemed horrendously expensive but then I have no idea what hey charge for drinks at a football ground or a fairground. Wasn't tempted by the first few gift shops either - unimaginative and expensive. Could not understand why so many parents were prepared to spend £5 on a balloon (perhaps inflatable is a better word) of an animal head on a five foot tube - have they never watched Gladiators. Or is it just me who has children who would have been wacking each other with them within minutes.

The Madagascar shop offered something a bit different and I bought bracelets and letters made from recycled drink cans (under £3 each). I bought an animal croquet set for mum (£4.99) as she wants things she can play/ use to amuse any small children who visit her,

Didn't see everything, even though I missd out the animals I spent most time with last time. Loved the miniature monkeys, one golden tamarind (I think) which was the size I was expecting. The others were small enough to fit in my hand, tiny tiny monkeys. Enjoyed the monorail ride, too. I know it's not an aeroplane but you have to start somewhere.

Smiled a lot and spoke to quite a few people - shared a carriage in the monorail with a young man who loved steam trains and lego, both of which I speak fluently.

Today I am grateful for a lovely day out, a great experience, lovely weather, bringing very little back with me (felt sorry for those who spent the day at the shopping outlet when they rejoined the coach), for DS3's walking stick and especially for our lovely guest who started on the washing up pile and persuaded the others to join in, so I came home to cupboards full of clean pots and clear and clean worktops.

Not going to make the target on NSDs as tomorrow will be spendy too. Need an anybus ticket for my magical mystery tour and need to buy flowers (have bought a house warming present and gat a gift bag from mum's stash. Over budget on most things this month but part of that is doing witthout for so long - when my coat gives up the ghost that is my one and only coat (I have a thin plastic cagoule I wear in summer if it rains hard), already mentally reckoning up how long my household appliances are going to last. The other thing is that 'social events' in general haven't happened for many years, so I'm a bit in the dark about how much things cost. I knew the invite to see the new house was going to happen, but did not have an actual date until last week. I was originally making a present but the whole shoulder/ arthritis thing has thrown a spanner in the works.

apple_muncher

Thankyou all for the ideas. The child is 4, inEngland. The parents are not good with money and I can't get astraight set of info from them as to what the nursery say! Like trying to herd cats... But I'll do what I can to point them in the right direction, then it's up to them.

sashanut

Hi all :j


Enjoyable but odd day, started off well with a lie in, but then rapidly went downhill as after making the breakfast popped outside as the dogs were barking & DH was on his way down - he normally puts them away - they stay outside in the daytime. They came barrelling down the garden at high speed, I stepped aside to let them past on the path & somehow I got knocked over, went hard on to the stone path. Lay there winded temporarily, then DH came outside & hauled me up. Was very muddy & winded, but luckily although lots of bruises nothing was broken, just feel like I've been punched in the ribs etc. This meant that I had to take it easy today, frustrating though it was. Then after lunch, then supper DD decided she'd go to her own home, with luck won't be back till Sunday evening when I'm making an Easter meal...


· For the striders: still 17/18 NSDs

· Set your budgets before the challenge starts - am mindful of this & sure we are doing better. Mean to get to grips with this in April.


Be generous ; will do

· Note down Lots of receipts in file waiting to be sorted. Will do a final costing to see what the damage is, tomorrow before Aprils budget.

· 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. PAD of £26.06 to cc

· Plan. Will make list of places to go - need to have it in reserve for impromptu trips out. Still A WIP, but found another to add to the list. DH suggested another day out. list growing, another couple of ideas today. DH consulted - has ideas apparently..Want to make plans to go to Ireland, first need to sort out car but will get on with that tomorrow. Did something I've been meaning to do & checked when all cars tax/MOT is due. Have DDs schedule this month now so can plan & book to go away in April.

Check in every day. Almost!

laurenh1

Morning all-

off to a Dinosaur Feast at my local school today. It looks like a dinosaur themed fayre and I am somewhat confused by the word feast but my boys LOVE dinosaurs so I am looking forward to it. I have drawn out £20 as that is my spending limit.

I am having a moral dilema - I would like to start buying my fruit & veg at my local greengrocers and my meat from the butchers. Lots of reasons why, quality/taste/supporting local businesses. However there can be no doubt this will cost more. and although I have an EF my profit at the moment for going to work is slim to non!

April will be a tough month, Thank Goodness I have an EF as I have about 140 to live on I have budgeted though for our camping trip & everything is paid for for my boys bday.

I have officially lost half a stone. hurrah. same again next month

thank you for running this thread & for everyones support and advice & stories

apple_muncher

Sashanut - hope you aren't too sore and stiff this morning.

We are off out to a localish Easter event in a park. The forecast is drizzle all day, but that'll be an improvement on yesterday...

apple_muncher

laurenh1 - I'd go ahead with the food buying - see it as an investment for your long-term future health.

DawnW

laurenh1 wrote: »

I am having a moral dilema - I would like to start buying my fruit & veg at my local greengrocers and my meat from the butchers. Lots of reasons why, quality/taste/supporting local businesses. However there can be no doubt this will cost more. and although I have an EF my profit at the moment for going to work is slim to non!

Are you SURE it will be more expensive Lauren? Our local butcher has brilliant offers which are cheaper than the supermarket (unless you buy certain things in the SM like really the cheap sausages for example, which I don't), and as good if not better quality (comparing to Sainsburys, who are I think pretty good on the quality front).

For example, for the last few months they have had the following pack available for £25:

1 x 500g Lean Minced Beef
1 x 500g Lean Diced Beef
1 x 500g Diced Chicken
1 x 500g Thick cut Back Bacon
1 x 500g Homemade Cumberland Sausages
2 x 200g Pork Steaks
2 x 225g Rump steaks
2 x 200g Chicken Breasts
4 x 110g Homemade Beef burgers

There are loads of meals there, all vacuum packed ready for the freezer (if you want to freeze it), he knows where it all comes from (some, but not all is local) and really good quality. They have other offers too, joint packs or bbq packs in the summer. Might be worth checking out what is available local to you, because I have seen good offers in butchers in other towns too.

Some of the local greengrocers are usually cheaper for most fruit and veg too - and the local markets are cheaper still. Our weekly market veg stall sells stuff in bowls, and you end up with big bagfuls for a few quid. But if you only want one of something, or a certain weight, they will do that as well. I don't find supermarkets all that cheap for meat, veg and fruit, give or take the odd special offer such as Aldi's Super Six, though they are for many other things.

Your local butcher / greengrocer will also weigh out exactly the amount you want, too, whereas you are often bound by pack sizes in the SM. Outside the special offers, mine is quite happy to sell me 5 sausages, whereas you have to buy 6 or 8 in the SM packs. And he makes them himself, too