NST December 2018 – Exterminate the debt!

laurenh1

Good morning Turtles,



Manic day yesterday as I had a 5 hour tound trip to drop my mums xmas stuff off. Mum hasn't much money at the moment & has given me her old sewing machine as a christmas gift (she insisted, I wouldn't have minded one bit if I got nothing) anyway I am over the moon. I've wanted a sewing machine for agggges.:j
boys got a bit more cash off relatives so thats gone into the jar for Butlins. They/we have 113pounds now. I buy all their clothes etc ,so I feel a bit cheeky using it for stuff I'd get anyway & looking at their haul for xmas they wont need more toys for the next 5 years!! No doubt when were away they will want balloons, tat, face painting.
I did succumb to a sale yesterday & bought myself some wellies. HOWEVER they are needed & they were cheap...they were actually on my Christmas list so I quickly phoned hub, checked he hadn't bought me anyway & I will give them to him to wrap.
Budgets are a bit all over until I get my next invoice for next term off nursery & find out if the bank will honour a cheque etc. I will have a much better idea of where I am next week.

I managed a good haul on Thursday going YS shopping, I need to keep this up & will go Tuesday/Thur next week.

Day of packing today, getting ready for our short trip tomorrow (just for one night)
Have a lovely day everyone

dolly84

We've already had a few flakes of snow this morning so I'm not going cycling, may run later but that will depend upon the weather.


Do need to nip into town though to stock up on ruffles bars for me, return some things to Wilko and Argos.


Whilst the oven was on for pizza last night I made my first vegan chocolate cake, just 5 ingredients, all into one bowl, turned out really well, I froze half. Found a recipe for vegan chocolate brownies using lentils which I have loads of so I will be giving that a go next week.

Toni'sfriend

Hello Everyone

I'm back today. I would love to say that it was a great relaxing holiday but that's not true. For various boring reasons I ended up on edge, stressed, not sleeping and having panic attacks. That sounds terrible but I had some nice things happened too. I just think I'm going to have to be a bit more assertive in the future.

Anyway, I'm back now having a glass of wine and starting all over again. Long list of things to do. Onwards and upwards.

Off to catch up on the forum xx

Karmacat

dolly84 wrote: »

Whilst the oven was on for pizza last night I made my first vegan chocolate cake, just 5 ingredients, all into one bowl, turned out really well, I froze half. Found a recipe for vegan chocolate brownies using lentils which I have loads of so I will be giving that a go next week.

:dance: could you put those recipes up, dolly, or link to them? I had a vegan pizza at a posh cafe last week, and I was surprised how good it tasted. And a chocolate brownie that uses lentils has got to be worth trying, sounds great.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening everyone :wave:
What a day! Kind of productive. Not a nsd as I had to go out and buy bread this morning. While I was out I also bought me and bestie a posh coffee with the points on my card, then headed over there for a couple of hours. Lovely catch up.
Got home, wrapped some more Christmas presents and finally decided to have a go at Christmas sweets and fudge. I've made a mess of the fudge - it's turned out much more like tablet. This could be a good thing because I love tablet, but I don't think it's ideal for presents. The rocky road looks a lot better, but I am lacking in confidence a bit as always. I'll see how I feel tomorrow.
Also got an unexpected visit from one of my other best friends. She lives about an hour away but was doing something else locally so popped in quickly. That was nice too.
Now settling in for the evening. The freezing rain has arrived so I'm snuggling in and ignoring the outside world.
Today I'm grateful for:
5 more school get ups
Free posh coffee
My friends
My neighbours

Toni'sfriend

I've made a mess of the fudge - it's turned out much more like tablet. This could be a good thing because I love tablet, but I don't think it's ideal for presents.

If anyone gave me tablet as a present I'd be DELIGHTED. Go for it.

Kerry_Woman

Was a spend day. Had hair cut and entered another virtual race for February(get medal and 20% of the money goes to charity).
Self care and lit candle.
Did not spend too much time on computer, no computer games and did not go onto my mobile a lot.
Did park run, walked the route.
Grateful for:
Hairdresser who comes to the flat.
For scarf, gloves and hoodie whilst I did the park run.
For not rushing around today.
Piorot.

apple_muncher

Hi Toni'sfriend! Sorry the hol wasn't so good. Hope you can get back on an even keel really soon.


Kerry Woman - my cousins were chuntering on about park runs today. One of them lives right near to Clapham Common, so just has to roll out of bed and is almost there. He said there was one lady who walked the course and nobody and nothing was ever packed away until she finished. It made me think of you -not cos you're last, but cos you walk it!

Kerry_Woman

apple muncher - This is of the main reasons why I like doing Park Run, as no one leaves or packs away until everyone goes by the finishing line. There is support for everyone regardless if they run, jog or walk.

misstara

For today and yesterday

[FONT=&quot]D[/FONT]ebt-free date / Mortgage-free date / Savings target date. What’s yours? Currently August 2021 but hope to bring this forward quite a bit. Nothing paid today or yesterday.

[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]rganise your outgoings. Budget for the month. For e v e r y t h i n g. Write it down. And stick to it. Plan your meals – avoid waste.[/FONT] YNAB updated with budget for the month. Meal plan completed for this week. Stuck to meal plan again .

[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ount up to 15. Fifteen No Spend Days.[/FONT] Currently on 9/15. Had to spend money on a PVG update yesterday plus bought more wrapping paper. Nothing spent today.

[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT]efrain from browsing your phone when nothing else is going on for the duration of the challenge. Be present in the moment. Be okay with “boredom.” Shall do my best. No aimless browsing.

[FONT=&quot]W[/FONT]hat kind of month do you want for yourself? Take a moment and really ask. What activities do I want to enjoy? What seasonal foods do I want to take advantage of? What do I want to have the energy to take on? Where can I build more leisure into my week? How can I be outside as much as possible? I'd like to enjoy December and not feel exhausted by the time we get to the end of the year. Catch up with friends and family, spend time with OH My dad is up this weekend so popped round to my grans last night to see them both plus went out for lunch today

[FONT=&quot]H[/FONT]ere’s a space to make up your own rule for the month. Please share it! Home - make the most of the time I spend at home instead of just slumping on the sofa.. Nothing done over last 2 days as I've barely been home.

[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT]utings. Drop one. Decide which one, inform those who need to know and enjoy the time and money you have just given yourself. Decided to drop my work's Christmas do and feel very relieved for doing so . Especially relieved as it is tonight and the weather is horrendous.

[FONT=&quot]S[/FONT]low living this month. In a month of manicness, make a clear intention to keep your schedule and pace in check. Because, really, does anyone want a hectic December? This definitely fits in well with the kind of month I want.

[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT]mm. Take care of your mental health. Do something every day this month that makes you feel good: gym, reading, time with family, favourite tv programme, meditation, building a snowman. NOT spending, of course!! Write down 4 gratitudes each day. Yesterday - coffee, seeing family, free eggs and a cosy jumper. Today - yummy roast beef for lunch, seeing family, not being at my work's Christmas do and being inside listening to the wind .

[FONT=&quot]N[/FONT]o entry to any sales. Unless you have a planned budget and have been saving for a specific item PLEASE do not go to the Boxing Day Sales. Or any sales. Anywhere. It’s temptation you can’t handle to buy tat you really don’t need. STAY AT HOME! Likewise, no takeaways, canteen meals (unless free), coffee shop or corner shop visits. Ok.

[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT]andles - Switch to candles and firelight after dark (or the high-tech adjustable hue bulb equivalents). Love this rule and have a huge supply of candles to use up.

[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT]hase down more awe and joy. Go after it with a purpose. Go and enjoy the sparkly lights. Take a tour of your neighbourhood to look at other people’s outdoor decorations – and be smug about how you are not wasting your money like that. Go and seek Santa’s sleigh in the sky on Christmas Eve. Will do.

[FONT=&quot]E[/FONT]xercise. Get 10,000 steps a day (or set your own target). Move a little more. Embrace the outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. Aiming for 16 days exercise this month, currently on 6/16 . Almost at 10,000 steps today. Got there yesterday :T

[FONT=&quot]“D[/FONT]on’t give up. Not ever. Not for one single day. Be safe if you can be. But always be amazing.” Pop on here every day and tell us what you’re up to. Not just the good stuff, but also the bad and the ugly too. Will do my best. I'm here

[FONT=&quot]I[/FONT]dentify activities and people who drain you. Give yourself permission to take a break from them for 21 days (or as many days as possible) if you can. Just maybe this is a gift you should’ve given yourself a long time ago…? Unfortunately I can't quit my job just to get a break from people who drain me :rotfl: but will continue to avoid as much as possible. Chief drainer has just gone on holiday for 10 days :T.

[FONT=&quot]V[/FONT]isit your local area. Find new footpaths, see where a road or path takes you. Explore new horizons. Boldly go where no one has gone before. Oops, mixing my sci-fi….! Will do.

[FONT=&quot]E[/FONT]xterminate (see, we can learn from the DALEKS…) one bad habit from your life for the first 10 days. This is NOT about food. I shall be renouncing a particular game I play on my tablet that just sucks me in and takes hours of my time. And I have recently moved up a level, so it’s even harder to put down…! I shall not play a particular game on my tablet, not played for 15 days.

[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT]emember that you are blessed. Count your blessings daily. Be grateful for what you have. And remember those that have less – donate money, food, non-perishables, blankets to a charity that you want to support. Relish life, one day at a time. Had a conversation with my dad over the weekend about various charities and have one in mind that I want to look into donating to. Set up the direct debit to start next month.