NST December 2018 – Exterminate the debt!

Kerry_Woman

ccl - Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Was spend day, which included a food shop and cash donation to a charity. Crossed somethings off the list of things I already planed to get.
Did park run and a find polar bear names around town centre only had to find 10 out of the 20 to be put into a prize draw.
Grateful for: Murder She Wrote, wordsearch, mindfulness colouring and a chilled out evening.

Maisie_M

[FONT=&quot]D[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ebt-free date / Mortgage-free date / Savings target date. Savings for Disneyland America 2021[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]rganise your outgoings. – budgets all done for the month including xmas spending.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ount up to 15. 0/15[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“T[/FONT][FONT=&quot]here is no such thing as an ordinary human.” – just had my hair cut short for the first time in 15 years. Now need to colour it and also arrange to have eyebrows waxed. Also need some TLC on nails so they are festive ready.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ne thousand days. – pending sounds interesting[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT][FONT=&quot]efrain – am going to do this as I have recently become addicted to a word game and whilst exercising my mind its stopping me from doing other things I like to do in the evening.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]W[/FONT][FONT=&quot]hat kind of month do you want for yourself? – this links in with the above rule and one further down. Going to start doing more of the cross stitch I enjoy and reading.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ere’s a space to make up your own rule for the month. – oooh will think about this[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]utings. – have none arranged at present but I have decided not to go on our works night out but go out with a close friend who I have not seen for ages instead.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]S[/FONT][FONT=&quot]low living this month. – will try. I am fairly well organised for Christmas but I am every year but end up in a last minute panic each year so going to pace it better this year.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]mm. – ties in with reading, cross stitching and pacing myself this month Write down 4 gratitudes each day – today I am grateful for DS2 doing well at swimming, for the shops being quiet when I went food shopping, for DS1 being happy with something he asked for for xmas (saw it online and not sure it would live up to expectations), for the howling gales and rain having stopped [/FONT][FONT=&quot]😊[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
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[FONT=&quot]N[/FONT][FONT=&quot]o entry to any sales. – I always do the next online sale as I stock up on stuff for us all for the following year and its budgeted but I wont be doing any other sales.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“I[/FONT][FONT=&quot] am and always will be the optimist. – I will try[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT][FONT=&quot]andles – we don’t have a fire of any kind but I don’t like bright light so we have lamps which all have low voltage bulbs in them. Yep definitely time to dig out some Christmassy smelling candles[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“S[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ome people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. – need to ponder this one[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT][FONT=&quot]hase down more awe and joy. definitely had a giggle with ds2 yesterday on way home from school splashing each other in puddles [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ead fiction before bed. will do as have several books to read to get to last years total [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]E[/FONT][FONT=&quot]xercise[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. Get 10,000 steps a day manage this most days[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]“W[/FONT][FONT=&quot]hat’s the point of being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes.” yep will partake.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“D[/FONT][FONT=&quot]on’t give up will try[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT][FONT=&quot]efuse to get sucked into guilt spending. have already cut down a few years ago of those we buy for.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I[/FONT][FONT=&quot]dentify activities and people who drain you. unfortunately, the one person I can think of is a work colleague and she is unavoidable but I will try not to let her ‘get’ to me[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]V[/FONT][FONT=&quot]isit your local area. fingers crossed we get some decent weather for exploration.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]E[/FONT][FONT=&quot]xterminate linked in with rules above re game on phone.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT][FONT=&quot]emember that you are blessed. have got quite a few donations looked out for things to do with work. But will see what else I can do.[/FONT]

apple_muncher

Told dh that I was going to buy some things for the food bank today. He replied with, 'haven't you done that already?' I patiently explained that I did do that, a fortnight ago (!) and that I was going to give more! So I did. 8/31.


Dd and I went to see the local high street lights today. They are simple but really lovely to look at, so I'm v glad we made the effort.


Today I have ommed, been slow, got my 10k steps, read, refrained, candled, visited and exterminated. Not bad for day 1!


Today I am grateful for a better night's sleep, for Fisherman's friends, for Murder she wrote (we watched the 2-parter, Kerry Woman, did you?), for mild weather, for good coffee, for my knitting, for getting a little admin done, for baking some fairy cakes that rose and stayed risen, for having a plan for the rather busy week ahead.

Saving_Glut

Budget: Completed.

Plan meals & batch cook. Meals planned, will batch cook tomorrow.

NSDs: 0/15.

Vision for December: Balance training, socialising & downtime.

My Rule: Lose 3lbs in December.

Drop an Outing. Declined work Xmas party (£54), but attending work Xmas lunch (£25). Avoiding Xmas party aligned itself to avoiding negative people too!

Slow Living: Decided to defer decluttering kids books in attic until February, when I’ll have more spare time.

Vending Machine at work. Used three times in November, going for gold this month!

Dream: planning self-guided summer Euro cycle with bestie next weekend.

Exercise. Wearing fitbit after a long lull.

Exterminate DailyMale for 10 Days: 1/10. This can be a time-sink and there are more informed alternatives available.

Gratitude for OH, opportunity to support bestie carol singing today, restful evening, adorable pooches.

laurenh1

Congratulations lavender bee , I have been wondering how you were getting on.


Debt Free Date- December 19. I am on track to pay the car off and have 18k for our home in savings by next Christmas but I have to be frugal to achieve this.
Organise- Budgets set, I have 219 in the budget for this month & extra for fuel and other planned spends such as Xmas food. There is also a jar in my cupboard with 30 quid hiding in it that I'm hoping to add any tips hub gets to.

Count- hoping tomorrow will be a NSD

The month I want is- a month where I stick to budget! Im hoping any vouchers I get from work (I usually do around Xmas) can be saved to help in January.

4 gratitudes- for friends, for finding a cafe with a great play area attached meaning I could get a brew in peace & my boys had fun, for my hub working tonight to earn extra ,& for my lovely Christmas tree.


Loving the positive quotes & inspiration. this is our last/first chance to get January off to a hood start

XSpender

Broke a few rules today, not good for day one!!

We took DPIL to Mr A and did our weekly shop as well as picking up some bits off the Christmas food/drink list. Ended up meeting DPIL in caf! afterwards where we had a hot drink and a biscuit.

After Mr A we took DFIL to B&Q to price up some coving and DH and I found the perfect artificial tree for our house and some lamps and bits to dress the guest room. We have a big bay window to fill and our existing tree from our previous house is a narrow one as that house was tiny and it looks like a twig in this house. For the last 2 years we have had real trees which tend to die before the big day. It wasn't budgeted for and has gone on the CC which will be cleared by the end of January. Big fail on 2 rules there

Today I am grateful for 1) central heating 2) the perfect tree 3) Christmas family fun decorating the house and then watching a Christmas movie together 4) an ice gold gluten free beer

mothernerd

Quick report in for me. Budgets are staying the same as last month (10% reduction on October) Food £180, Travel £12, Entertainment/DIY £12. Extra - Christmas £100 (absolute max), already bought token presents for DS1 (hot sauces) and dil (gin flavourings) and a candle from when I went on holiday.


Have several hm bits for mum and embroidered items for DS1 and dil and Beloved. The £100 is for whatever I decide to do/ not do for DS3 and Beloved and their friend who is coming to visit - resisted buying advent calendars today and have bought a small candle for Beloved two weeks ago.


Have decided that the event I will miss out is a local amateur pantomime - mum likes them so I gritted my teeth and suffered through last years. It was mostly dreadful. The leading lady is well over 40 and forgets her lines. The 2 comic women (villain's sidekicks) were fun and there was one very good male actor.



We are away for the weekend in two weeks and a visit to the pantomime is included so I have decided that 1 pantomime is enough. We have several appointments and other things to factor in, so no point in cramming in things that will cause more stress.


Today I was up at crack of dawn to write and deliver 2 Christmas cards and one birthday card. Slept on and off as I fell asleep after afternoon cinema and did not wake until after 9pm. Read and rested mostly but was wide awake early on.


Have tried to do a balance of things today from the mundane but necessary -washing and drying clothes. Bits of bed were obstructing the radiators for most of the week so there is a backlog of drying and their room tidying produced a small mountain of washing.


I took a book back to the library and went round the latest exhibition in the gallery - I've missed out on a coupe and really wanted to see this one. War photographs by 5 women, all very interesting.


Florence Farmborough was working as a governess to a Russian family when WW1 broke out. She worked as a nurse on the front line and took photos of fellow nurses, doctors, the peasants displaced by the conflict - she mentions the luxury of having a real tent to sleep in as they often slept outdoors.


She also mentions making a large 'cave' like structure using trees and canvas. Everyone - soldiers, medical staff and country folk decorated it with pine branches, pine cones and hm decorations and together they celebrated Christmas there - 'the children's eyes lit up at how beautiful it was'.


The second set of photos were recent. A young woman has spent 3 years researching and then finding the places where British, French and Belgian soldiers (many suffering from shell shock) were executed for desertion.


Olive Edis was the first woman official war photographer. She documented the work of nurses, auxilliary workers (Frenchwomen repairing tents on small sewing machines), female ambulance drivers and those who took over 'male' tasks to replace those who were fighting. They even had time for humour. When thee regimental goat mascot injured his foot, the chief surgeon operated on him.


There was a set of modern women in conflict zones and a beautiful but disturbing collection of photographs that looked like elaborate lace work. This was based on a set of war diaries and photos (WW1 again), used a modern take on the same technique used by the earlier photographers and illustrated the various injuries of casualties brought into the hospital (so those who had lost a eye were illustrated by a complex piece with a black hole in th centre). It gained more complexity when it was explained that the 'lace work' was in fact composed of the words from the diary.


I now have my Christmas money from mum (though some is my own money which I have to reclaim) so I went shopping round town. Main purchase was £130 spent in Oxfam - I have safe water for a family of 10, a pair of goats, pigs and chickens, education, seeds, bees and equality for all (supported by Moomins).


Other purchases were 2 plastic decorating sheets (so the mattress can be wrapped up and go outside instead of taking up half my kichen, a large rack (unplanned but it's actually for baking trays, they did not have them before and I was trying to make do with pan lid holders, only suitable for the small ones) and a small amount of food - living out of the freezer for the week.


Immediate plans are to continue with the washing/ drying, write the rest of the Christmas cards and place a couple of food home deliveries.


Lavenderbee congratulations on babybee and I find the suggestion of putting the baby in black quite horrible - don't people think a six hour journey and then managing a small baby throughout the service is enough. Hugs to ccl, Kerry Woman and anyone struggling.


Today I am grateful for the wonderful range of presents I have bought, for seeing the baking tray rack, for time spent sitting on the town hall square (with a bag/ my coat underneath me) and for a pleasant chat with a man I shared a bench with, for trolleys in Wilko (needed to hang onto, not because of my shopping).



Today I was up at

plumduff55

Hi, can anyone help? Is there any way to copy a post and then just edit it to give answers? Hoping there is as it'll take ages to type it all out.

Thanks xx

chocolatelover93

Hey everyone!

Sorry for a late check in has been a manic day for my sons birthday party, we all had a lovely day though and he was so good with lots of other children playing and sharing his toys.

CCL -Hope you feel better soon!

Plumduff - click edit and copy and paste and then cancel

Debt Free Date - 11.12.2019 53 weeks to go

Organize Outgoings - Budgets for the month are:
Fuel - £0/£150
Food - £0/£200
Ent/Xmas/ETC - £0/£50
Meal plan has been started need to do a bit more.

Count - 1/15 today

There is no such thing as an ordinary human - Tided mess from party but not everything so just sitting and chilling watching a bit of TV.

One thousand days - am curious for this one.

Refrain - Haven't looked at my phone much today, a good way to tell how much I've looked is how much battery I have left (36%) which is a lot left for me! Usually I have charged my phone again by 7pm!

What kind of month - Had a lovely time with family and friends today.

My Rule - I like the idea of doing 19 things before 2019!

Slow living - Am having a chill day tomorrow with my son, popping out to get a swimming vest for son that is on free site on FB and will be donating a bag of bits to CS.

Omm - Not time to read son a book today was so hetic, spent lots of time with him though.
1. Friends and family helping out today.
2. Seeing my son smile
3. Energy drinks! (I know not very good but have needed them today!)
4. Heating, it's cold this evening!

I am and always will be the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes, the dreamer of improbable dreams - Had a bit of a moment earlier when I was tidying up so decided to sit down and have a bit of me time first.

Candles - Not done today.

Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It’s not the time that matters. It’s the person.” “We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one. - This has inspired me to join the project zero again, it's 101 things to do in 1001 days and I did it before and tried loads of new things

Chase - there is a house not far from mine that every year puts out lights for charity, there was an issue last year where some one stole some of the lights and ruined some of them. Am hoping they put them out again this year and I will be able to take my son to have a look at them.

Read - Don't think I will be doing this tonight as already quite late.

Exercise - Am going to dig out my fitness tracker - still need to do this.

What’s the point of being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes - Had lots of fun today playing with my sons "checkout" haha and dressed up as a unicorn!

Don't give up - Will do!

Refuse - I've already told everyone they have a low budget this year and it's about giving not receiving and the thought that counts. I have bought everyone gifts that I know they will use rather than tat that will get thrown away.

Identify - Have already done this, this year and it has helped me no end!

Visit - Will try and go to more baby groups with my son

Exterminate - My bad habit of going into my OD!!!! Am in OD atm but hopefuly will be out on Thur

Remember - Have a bag of bits to take to CS

LavenderBee

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome back

Mothernerd, very well done to you on your Oxfam trip. I've previously purchased goats for people, and this year I bought the moomins invisible child book for DD (there's also a Christmas story in it). She can have both stories at bedtimes, never too young!

Yesterday was NSD 1, I'm holed up with sinusitis at the moment which is starting to lift. However DH and DD are developing the original cold/chesty cough from whence it came so it's a lazy indoor weekend all round. Another couple of days mending, a decision on our travel dates and then I'll get cracking with our meal plan. Knowing we were burrowed in I added eggs and potatoes to our milkman order (my logic being that if all else failed we could probably find the energy between us to make potato omelettes!!) Potatoes were a real bargain, though they may need to be a daily occurrence on the mneu for sometime as I have a heck of a lot of them.

Oh and no eBay bidding :-) was horrified to learn what a relative spent on one outfit for their baby yesterday; let's just say I could reasonably get enough clothing to see DD through a whole size for that amount...

Virtual, non-germy, hugs to other poorly people. I saw last month some of you stocked up in the event of a winter illness. I did this of my own volition but the tissues ran out yesterday - I underestimated that I'd need more than a box a day!