NST December 2018 – Exterminate the debt!

apple_muncher

Happy St Stephen's Day - the day mentioned in Good King Wenceslas. Does anyone know all the words? I think I can sing along to them, but not produce them all myself...

Chandelier.

I haven't posted on these threads in a while as life just seemed to get in the way but I wanted to pop in and say Hi.

I look forward to joining you all in January where I will knuckle down on my spends as much as possible. I shouldn't need anything for a long while.

Christmas can be a rough time of year for me as it is a trigger in regards to my MH conditions. However I have tried to take it in my stride as much as possible even though I have been struggling a wee bit. I spent the morning with the boy yesterday and then had to go to work on a late shift. It was nice to see everyone come together and support one another. Once I finished work, I headed straight home to bed. I've had a lie in this morning and feel a lot better for it.

I hope you all have a lovely time over the next few days, See you all in January where hopefully I will be a bit more active.

apple_muncher

Thank you for popping in Chandelier. Take care and we'll see you in Jan x

Toni'sfriend

I've actually had a really nice day today. I was up early, did some washing, ironing and tidying and dinner has been in the slow cooker for hours. The Boy is coming for dinner but has informed me that he has half a massive chicken and half a roast beef joint left and doesn't know what to with it. Why on earth his dad and him bought all that for two of them I don't know. However, I'm sure I can sort something out and they can have it for ready meals in January.

The Boy's best friend (also known as my second son) invited us to join him in the local pub today but Himself is not at his best but it was a lovely invitation. In fact, he's postponed a day out with his friend tomorrow. He really needs to see a doctor. Why are men so stubborn?

Anyway, hope you are all enjoying your break.

Kerry_Woman

Was a spend day. Went to the M&S sale. Got what I wanted - Christmas cards, saw pj's half price so got 2. All useful.
Grateful for:
Not buying anything else in the sale.
Chilling out today.
Lovely dinner.
Relaxing bath.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a walk in the woods, for family time, for dd insisting we go to see gma tomorrow despite having a cold, for leftovers for lunch and tea, for all the wrapping paper and packaging being cleared away, for chatting to step dd1 + 2 on either side of the world from us, for the lovely lady in the hotel when I booked, for dh sorting out our tablets (the electronic ones,not the pills!), for getting a workout and my shoulder exercises done..

Saving_Glut

Extra Income for December: £70, which is £70 more than expected for this month! Sold game of Cranium day before Xmas Eve and earned £10cash back from AMX cc for using petrol payment app.

Read MSE ‘Make £2018 in 2018’ posts in prep for same challenge in 2019. Have started to complete surveys again, which are definitely not a ‘get rich quick’ scheme in my experience! My only purchase this week were some items on FB which I hope to resell and make a profit on. Worst case scenario I’ve enjoyed them this Xmas at a good price! No desire to hit sales this year! This is a first and may be in prep for payment of big ol’ tax bill in January.

Used up all the food I like in the freezer (with the exception of our own sliced and diced cooked apples). As a result we had to hit the supermarket for emergency shop before it shut on Xmas eve!

Saying ‘No’:
Didn’t stay over at friends for Boxing Day dinner as know it’s important I have some downtime during hols to recharge and prep for the new year. Spent Xmas day with them and will celebrate NYE with them. Spent enough time to be inspired by them, as I always am!

Also ‘redesigned’ 2019 cycling challenge with bff as what was supposed to be a cheap and cheerful cycle in Europe was losing it’s ‘cheap’ element! We will complete challenging one-day event in London instead; it will be the furthest we will have cycled in one day, so still a great PB to aim for. It was a relief to avoid that mounting expenditure.

Which gets me thinking, I must rethink annual holiday with Mum also. Still very happy to take her a road, but might combine it with Xmas next year. Prospect of trip away is tangibly good for her health and positive outlook for some time before and after each trip.

This element of the NSD challenge certainly gave me a little more courage to say no. So muchos gracias!

4 Gratitudes:
My OH.
My family and friends who were generous and welcoming this Christmas.
My health.
Amazing opportunities life brings each year.

f0xh0les

Today is definitely NSD 15, it might actually be more, but a few days got away from me and I did not note down if I spent or not. So I may be on even more, but a minimum of 15 have been achieved already.

Everyone here at FoxTowers are happy with their gifts, and happy not to have to go to school, although they are talking about going into town tomorrow to spend their loot/gift cards.

Embarrassingly, I have to admit to still having 20m of wrapping paper still in its celaphane wrapping, and another probable 5 meters which has been started. So I have wrap for next year and I will not be buying any in the sales. I have run out of family member cards, so will have to buy some more of them, and hope I am not struck down for sarcastic intent. Zapp! bzzzzzz! flashing skeleton.

Slowly starting to remove decorations. I am leaving on Friday, and am slowly whittling down some things so that it is easier when I get back just to de-bauble and collapse the tree and stick it into the suitcase.

Unsurprisingly the oddest present was from m-i-l. I got 4 reusable wraps for wrapping sandwiches in. Hmm.

Grateful for:
Happy kids
Happy and relaxed DH
masses of Boxing Day football matches to steal off t'internet,
not being able to hear DH snoring from the living room sofa, where I escaped to at 5.30, after barely getting an uninterrupted 15 minutes of sleep before he woke me up again with his chainsaw impressions. He really is quite talented.

Getting excited by a neat, shiny new diary ready to go as soon as I get back.

greent

f0xh0les wrote: »

Unsurprisingly the oddest present was from m-i-l. I got 4 reusable wraps for wrapping sandwiches in. Hmm.

Beeswax wraps? If so, m-I-l is very on trend with them - quite a funky present - useful, trendy and eco-friendly - although I guess you'll be using them on the boys' packed lunches - so not really a present for you, as such....

However, it could have been worse.....:D

crazy_cat_lady

Evening everyone :wave: :beer:
I have done barely anything today. Didn't even get dressed, unless you count having a shower and changing my pyjamas :rotfl: As a result I have completely avoided spending money unnecessarily in the sales and chalked up another nsd.
Woke up early, cooked big Boxing Day roast dinner as we were out yesterday. Watched tv with the kids, have done plenty of crochet, drank gin and snoozed on the sofa.
Today I'm grateful for:
A chat with 2 of my best friends
Being able to sleep when I want
Not being sucked into the sales
Loads of food in the house