Nst november in new york

thriftylass

Hello,

no SFD for me I'm afraid. But I did a fair bit of Christmas shopping. Got the friends' kids DIY craft kits sorted (less then a fiver each, don't have nieces and nephews yet so we give to our closest friends' kids) and bought some sweets to make into Santa sleighs. Also decided that DD doesn't need anything big for Christmas (like a physical item) so she'll get an experience as her main present (a few horse riding lessons once she's 5 next spring). The other day she announced she'll be getting a job soon so she can pay for a horse, bless.

Also dragged DH to D3benhams to buy each others gifts. Good husband beelined it straight for the 30% off rail. He wanted a nice dressy overcoat as he only owns jumpers or snow board jackets and got one £140 down to 98. I didn't see the hand bag I wanted but found one in TKM@xx for £59 down from £119 (real leather, will last forever). Result.

Then on Sun we had a friend and her daughter over for Sunday roast dinner.

Got some homework projects done but not much else in terms of housework.

Will need to clean the house properly this week as we have a big family dinner next weekend and I might start decorating the house a bit early in preparation for Christmas :xmastree:, as we'll leave the country at the 19th.

greent

lcc86 - hope today goes well!

Got it wrong - chap was coming just to check and price radiator job, not do it today - but he's going to do it next week, so that's still fine (We do have 1 radiator in kitchen which is working, but it's a big room and really needs the 2 radiators when it's properly cold!)

Have made a huge pan of chilli - using up some tired veg from fridge (mushrooms and peppers) and some bits from freezer (more peppers and a small leftover portion of ratatouille) If hubby doesn't want the half tin of beans sitting in a tub in the fridge (he is having leftover steak pie and chips) they will also be added in to make sure they are not wasted (although baked beans are ok to freeze - have done it before - they're just a little mushier after). Have also made falafels (well, mix is in fridge to firm up - will bake them later), using a can of chick peas brought back by DD from uni (was a freebie and she doesn't like them) and some grated carrot from the freezer. And a pan of tomato soup with HG tomatoes from the freezer and the last rashers of smoked bacon from the fridge. Oh - and have prepped some bubble and squeak from leftovers from yesterday :T

Can you tell I'm re-doing my food inventory after the student children visited?! :)I have gaps in my freezer - too much space now - will need to fill it. I will make bread sauce ready for Xmas day and get some other Xmas bits in there I've also got 1.2kg of HG strawberries in the freezer, so will make strawberry and prosecco jam to go in Xmas presents

Today should be NSD - hubby is picking me up a 4pt of milk, but that *should* be it (although have told him to check YS items ) I've been out for a walk - it's a bright, clear (if a bit chilly!) morning, so I walked to the post box to post my RM survey item - about 25mins return journey at pace.

Today is a good day - so far! May it continue!


Wishing all turtles a happy Monday
x

XSpender

NSDs - still on 4/10

ORGANISE your time - almost finished the Christmas shopping , setting up next years bullet journal.

VALUES - chipping away at carpet account - £87.82

ENJOY yourself – lovely visit with Dad and Stepmum, enjoyed the Christmas fair with DH and DS, nice chat with school mum friend, gluten free macarons, using the free stencils that cam with next years bu-jo (I'm not artistic so need all the help I can get!)

MAKE an inventory nope

BUDGETS – all looking good

EXERCISE - dog walking but nothing else

RULES – sticking to 'em

IN case of emergency – still need screenwash and a fleece in car

Stock up with generic painkillers, cold and flu meds – done

NOW – But about half a pound back on as not eaten as well this week

NO takeaways – None

EVERYONE Aiming for June 2021 (while I'm still 50) at the latest

EXTRA income – none today

WINTER proof your home – rehung dining room curtains

YOU should cook from scratch - busy weekend has meant more stuff getting eaten form freezer

OUTSIDE – walks outside, watching DS training, school run

REPORT – missed the weekend due to visitors but I'm back now

KINDNESS - I have received some lovely service in shops this week and have hopefully shown my appreciation

FROGS - adding these to be completed by end of month

1) Set up new savings account for DS - duff advice given in bank so need to sort child trust fund transfer first :mad:
2) Book dentist for me and DS
3) Book smear test
4) Book flu jab
[STRIKE]5) Locate contact details to change address on old pension [/STRIKE]- found

Toni'sfriend

NSD 15/15 AFD no 19

Well, Himself had a successful Christmas shopping trip. Thank goodness. That'll stop him moaning about having to do it for the next month.

Amazing the amount of things I can get through when he's not here asking me what I'm doing every two minutes. Bedding changed, washing done and drying, bathroom cleaned, bedroom cleaned, all presents wrapped, etc ,etc, etc.

Still eating from the freezer and using up all the bits and pieces therein. Sausage casserole made for tomorrow's dinner and cheesy garlic bread prepared for lunch.

bit of Christmas shopping tomorrow. Things for the Boy to open. Box of 100 Jaffa cakes, tub of wine gums, tub of celebrations and other things chocolatey. He's an easy sole to please really.

Ok offf to make a baked potato to have with some cooked mince I found lurking.

mothernerd

Hi turtles. My holiday lasted until today, had to juggle my clothes a bit but had taken enough pills. Was fun but tiring - we were on the coach at 8am this morning and I walked through the door at 4pm. Some people were from Whitehaven (Cumbria - the bit where it starts to go out in abig bulge round the Lake District) and the poor driver was expecting to get home to Scotland by 8.30pm (also hoping another driver was going to relieve him at some point - he was collecting our suitcases from 6am this morning and the hotel didn't have a lift).


We opted out of Saturday's half day trip. Mum wasn't feeling great and although she said I could still go, I was worried about something happening whilst I was out.


We both felt better after a couple of hours napping so we walked down to look at the sea and then went the other way into town and had a lovely lunch at a small bakery. Wonderful oxtail soup. With many many sit downs (mum was using a stick not her walker and was hanging onto my bad arm) so we were both content to return to the hotel. More napping and a bit of tv (Nanny McPhee).



Yesterday was the Island Highlights Tour which was hit and miss, probably too many stops which was tiring and tiresome. Our first stop was the next little village down and it was closed - not a single shop open and not a soul on the streets, so we did not get off the coach.


Not impressed by the Pearl Centre but loved the glassworks, enjoyed just sitting in Yarmouth harbour looking at all the boats, eating sandwiches I'd bought earlier , saw a field full of alpaca-llamas and did some browsing but not buying in a variety of shops.


Hugs to Fmess and anyone else who needs one.


Today I am grateful for quiet, pleasant company, for snoozing on the coach and for nearly finishing my book.

mothernerd

Day 19
I am going to explain 'portable rainbows' which is one of the many techniques I use to live a happy life despite long-term (at times crippling) depression. Apologies to those who've heard it before - feel free to skip over it.


Several years ago, I was doing some work experience which involved a long commute. One very dark grey overcast day I had to stand through the whole journey with a fully loaded 65l rucksack on my back as the bus progressed slowly, moving a few yards then coming to a juddering halt in the dense traffic. I really felt the weight of the rucksack, the sky, my life.


Suddenly a rainbow appeared arching over the bus from one side to the other. It changed the way I was feeling, it transformed the day. I thought how good it would be if you could carry a small rainbow in your pocket, to take out whenever you needed one.


So now I have portable rainbows - small things, that are portable. I have an elephant keyring. It's a small (fairtrade) wooden one, roughly carved but wearing it's ceremonial 'jewelled' cloak. I sometimes thread it through the lowest button of my cardigan so that it bangs against my thigh with each step I take. I try to think of something good or positive, each time I am reminded of it's presence.


I did have some bangles that I wore occasionally, just cheap tinny things that slid up and down my arm as I moved so that I both felt and heard them. Again I try to think good and positive thoughts.


There are many things we can do to give ourselves a lift - I rarely wear jewellery, or perfume, or makeup so putting one of those on is a conscious decision to invest in my appearance, a way of reminding myself of my worth. They also help with the concept of 'change' which many of us find scary. I can use a different perfume, it can highlight a different aspect of my personality/ een an alternate me - I can change (if I want to).



Using your senses is a useful grounding tool for anxiety and for keeping yourself 'in the moment' (mindfulness) when feeling overwhelmed - stop , think of 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, 1 you can taste.



We all have ways of cheering ourselves up without spending money (or only a little) hot baths, music, a favourite film (funny or weepy, both have their uses), ice cream, reading. The problem is that when your mood plummets you forget them, or the stress of have to's and ought to's makes you omit the things that feed your soul.

ponypal

Had a terrible mental health day last week and bought a book on my kindle app to read on the bus as I was feeling really anxious. I could definitely have avoided this! I usually try and read ebooks for free through Borrow Box (local library app, check it out!)

As such I have spent £8.69 this month, which to be fair, isn't very much! and so far done 17/19 no spend days. Plan is to do No Spend Days every day til end of the month. I get paid on 26th and 29th as I have two part time jobs. Cannot wait for December!!!

Kerry_Woman

NSD today - 12/20.
Went over what has been spent so far this. Also went through my diary as to what I have planned. Only have one social event to attend and will try attend Parkrun on the last Saturday.
Did not go for my usual walk in the park. Was waiting for a parcel and did not feel 100% today with my mh.
Did a few household chores.
Only went out to put recycling into the recycling communal bin.
Did most things on my to do list. Only a few things to do. Did manage to clean the windows inside the flat and the window frames.
Self care done.
Unfortunately I did play a computer game.

XSpender

Sorry for the 2nd looooong post of today, trying to keep on track and I have achieved a few things today

NSDs - 5/10 - didn't realise until 6pm that I haven't actually spent anything today

ORGANISE your time - meal plan done and shopping list started

VALUES - still on £87.82

ENJOY yourself – finished my book and really enjoyed it

MAKE an inventory 1 freezer done and started on the 2nd. Found a box of GF quorn sausages which will save me a special trip to Morries :j

BUDGETS – having to increase the grocery budget as only £13 left after weekend spends. Still much lower this month than usual.

EXERCISE - short, freezing walk with the dog

RULES – sticking to 'em

IN case of emergency – still need screenwash and a fleece in car

NOW – Eaten loads of rubbish today that was left after feeding visitors. This is why I don't buy it, cos I eat it!

NO takeaways – None

EVERYONE Aiming for June 2021 (while I'm still 50) at the latest

EXTRA income – not today

WINTER proof your home – DONE

YOU should cook from scratch - cooked DH an omelette using lots of freezer veg

OUTSIDE – dog walk and school run

REPORT – back on track

KINDNESS - recommended an OTC medicine to a colleague I saw recommended on MSE and she rang to tell me how much better she was after the weekend

FROGS - adding these to be completed by end of month

1) Set up new savings account for DS - duff advice given in bank so need to sort child trust fund transfer first :mad:
[STRIKE]2) Book dentist for me and DS[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]3) Book smear test
4) Book flu jab[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]5) Locate contact details to change address on old pension [/STRIKE]

the_cross_rabbit

Still plowing through the paperwork shaped elephant for the 3rd day running
NST will aim for 15. 9/15 none today
ORGANISE your time. Will try and find a balance between studying,household chores, family time and me time. Balance is tipping towards OU course as have a piece of work that needs to be on Thursday and anything else is waiting to be sorted

VALUES. Ultimate goal is to continue to OP the mortgage but to keep in mind ethical, environmental and family values.DH on board with OP well and truly given me some money his mum had given him to cover lunch yesterday and told me to put it towards OP,. However will just but into our account as he did pay for lunch originally, but its the thought behind his offer that counts

ENJOY yourself. Try and do something everyday that I enjoy.

MAKE an inventory of the food in your cupboards, fridge and freezer at the start of the month. Meal plan and shop from the cupboards, freezers and allotments first before visiting supermarkets. Meal plan done and small shop done today, shopping is taking slightly longer than normal as having to check ingredients for palm oil. Got a few tins for the food bank done also

BUDGETS should be set before the start of the month. Already done will log spends on here and look at, at the end of the month.Will aim to buy something for the food bank every week.

EXERCISE will aim to walk for an hour everyday with the dog.Dog walked but didn't litter pick as did it in the dark.

IN case of emergency Add any items you might need (torch, shovel for snow, old carpet for traction, extra coat or blanket) to your car boot. If you don't belong to a breakdown organisation, make sure you have phone numbers for friends or relatives who might come and help you. Make sure you and your children can be seen if walking or cycling. still need to sort the cars. think snow will have to fall before this gets done, have put old carpet into the car so getting there

NOW is always the right time to start.will aim to have more faith in myself.'I can do maths' needs to become my mantra this week

NO takeaways, coffee shops, vending machines, canteens unless for a special event. Take your own food and drinks to work, hospital appointments and days out where possible. sshhh i had chips from the chippy

EVERYONE should know their debt free date continuing to pay bank of mum (Nov 2019) and OP the mortgage (another 17 and half years). TT of 60p. Had a big fat red cross (imagine the sound of the big yellow cross on family fortunes accompanying it) from another bank (so glad they were only affordability assessments so won't go on our credit history).Spoke to mortgage adviser who is ringing tomorrow.

WINTER proof your home, if you haven't already done so. Need to hang new thicker curtains in dining room- still on the list. First priority on the list for when OU goes in on Thursday

YOU should cook from scratch when you can (unless time is short or it costs more to make) and batch cook.Will aim to do this at least 5 days out of 7.2/7 dd1 cooked spinach,pea and feta omelette with pots in a spicy tom sauce
OUTSIDE It may be cold but wrap up warm and make the most of the available light - it will help your immune system and your mental health see exercise

REPORT i'm here

KINDNESS costs nothing. Everyone you meet is carrying some sort of burden, so try to be kind, especially to yourself.
CRx