NST December 2018 – Exterminate the debt!

laurenh1

Crazy cat lady, hope you're feeling a little better.



Debt free Date-- December 2019. I have been thinking how I will get there next year, googling & planning free days out with the kids. I have 24 pounds worth of Clubcard vouchers so they will come in :money:
Organise-- Budgets- 219 left for Groceries, 60 for fuel, 150 for our weekend away, 40 for xmas food (most of it bought already)

Count-1/15.
What kind of month- I want to stick to my budget, start 2019 on the right foot & also enjoy time with my family, watching xmas films &enjoying the simple things.
Gratitudes- for my sons love of our Elf "Maxwell" ,for den making , for warm blankets & thick socks keeping us toastie & for my hub who hates his job but sticks it out so we can save our deposit. I cannot wait until he can resign.
10 pound added to his tip jar bringing our total to 40 quid. I haven't added this to our budget aa its nice to have a little spare maybe for a little treat


Have a lovely Sunday all :D

LavenderBee

Oops, forgotten gratitudes
DD's life
Petroleum jelly (put it round the bottom of your nose to make breathing less painful with upset sinuses)
Milkman service
For "getting carried away" with my Christmas prep last month which actually turns out to be essential in order to have everything done in time

apple_muncher

Kerry Woman - lots of hugs for you today. You are in my thoughts and prayers x

apple_muncher

plumduff - you can press the 'quote' button under the post and then edit it. If you want to quote multiple posts, press the double speech bubble on each one and then also press the quote button on the last one. (I think you can quote up to 3 posts)

System

Could I join please? After a rough year this sounds just what I need. I’ll get started with the list.

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :coffee:
Thinking of you today Kerry Woman - lots of love.
Mothernerd - the exhibition sounds fascinating.
Yesterday's gratitudes: well wishes from you lot, Day and Night Nurse (miracle), getting my house decorated for Christmas, and watching Christmas films with the kids.
I have woken up this morning after a restful night, feeling much better than I have done in a few days. Don't know if I was getting better anyway but the day and night nurse has really made a difference, so I shall continue with it today.
I haven't made any plans for today as I have been quite poorly so just resting and surviving. I am pleased I will be well enough to do my tutoring session this morning as I can't really afford the time off. Other than that I'm sure there will be plenty more taking things easy and recovering. I need to make sure I tidy the house ready for my cleaning lady tomorrow, finish the washing and hoover through. If I'm well enough I might do some cooking this afternoon, or force myself into writing Christmas cards - I only send about a dozen now so it shouldn't take long.
The other thing I'm getting a bit desperate for is some adult company. It's been Wednesday since I spoke face to face with another adult on a social level, and much as I love my kids and posting on here, sometimes I just need a bit more. I will have to see what I can do about that.

Loz2018

I had my first NSD day yesterday and by the end of today will have completed my second one.

I did some overtime at work this week and then walked half way home afterward my shifts to reduce my taxi fare by £1.

I also took in a cereal bar/banana to eat on my break rather than having to top up my fob and spend £1 on a sandwich from the heavily subsidised staff vending machine. If I keep bringing my own snacks/walk halfway home that will be another £5 a week I can use towards debts/save up.

I’m going out for my brothers birthday lunch today. He didn’t get me a present for mine last month as he was so skint so we agreed to just skip each other’s birthdays this year. But I felt bad so I’ve just got him a card a £3 box of quality street that I saw on offer the other day so at least I can give him a token gift.

Hope everyone has a restful Sunday! x

chocolatelover93

Morning everyone

Will post a proper check in later. Plans for today are NSD 2, there is an xmas market in the local town, but no money and in OD means I'm not going to go even to "have a mooch" as I know I will end up spending.
Am going to nip out in an hour or so to drop some bits off at CS and pick up a free swimming vest for my son.

Going to be doing lots of tidiying today as well I think and may go through my sons toys and see which ones are no longer played with or age appropriate and see if my brothers want them for their little ones.
C xx

f0xh0les

Saving_Glut wrote: »

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

Books are classed as important insulation, not clutter. They reduce sound and heat loss. Leave them there for winter!:rotfl:

Today I am going to a Christmas street fair half a mile from the house, so just a little wander up the road, will nip into every C/S I pass. I have no qualms about going into somewhere, looking, and leaving without purchasing. Might take DS1 with me as he has mentioned he would like a job this year, and there are plenty of small shops that might welcome a Saturday boy.

The rest of the day will be taken up with festive laundry, seasonal football watching, a bit of advent hoovering and December list making and weekly inventory and meal planning.

Might need a loaf of bread, That should be all. Will endeavour to get a ys one, as yesterday was NSD1 - ds1 offered to pay for parking as he had change and I only had folding money, then would not take it back when I got home. He is turning into a lovely, albeit reclusive, young man.

Then i remember what i was getting up to (all sorts!!) at 16 and I wish he had my confidence, and a lovely group of fun loving, social, sociable boys, to do it with. They seem to be happy on devices or just on the phone, there is no face to face anymore. Progress? Not sure.

Gratitudes -
Getting out for a bit.
Pickled vegetables!! yay! I love pickles
DH being less of a grump (natural state)
It not raining!! It's not raining!! So the towels are on the line!!
All of the fairy lights still work!!!!
My tree

greent

Kerrywoman - thinking of you today xx


[FONT=&quot]D[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ebt-free/ MF/ Savings target date [/FONT][FONT=&quot] savings 08/2020. mtge 09/27 Xmas & bdays spending on CCs - to be repaid no later than Feb payday Small OP to mtge to keep balance at a round figure
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]rganise your outgoings. .[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Lots of spending this month, not all is Xmas related - will need to keep track - spends yesterday (planned) on kitchen blinds (haven't had any in the 13 years we've lived here), small amount of food (inc YS), bday present for DS3's friend and small present for DS2. Oooh - and a bottle of Ba1leys is £10 in A5da!:beer:
[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ount up to 15. Fifteen No Spend Days[/FONT]will monitor 0

[FONT=&quot]“T[/FONT][FONT=&quot]here is no such thing as an ordinary human.” Treat yourself well. [/FONT] Yesterday was not a good day

[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ne thousand days. .[/FONT]Intrigued by this!

[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT][FONT=&quot]efrain from browsing your phone when nothing else is going on for the duration of the challenge. .[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]Mindfulness! Could do better - but yesterday was not good, so am going to let myself off
[FONT=&quot]W[/FONT][FONT=&quot]hat kind of month do you want for yourself? [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT] December - a month of 8 days at work, 1 trip to Cardiff to see DD on her 21st, 1 trip to Swansea and Cardiff to collect DD & DS1 for Xmas (OH will do this), 1 meet up with relatives at my house (eek!), 1 Xmas show to see (DS3), 1 meal out for DD's 21st when she and DS1 are back home, ! Xmas/ bday meal out combined celebration and paid for by OH's business , lots of cooking, lots of family fun and games and a decent amount of sleep! A mixed start to the month. Onwards and upwards!!!
[FONT=&quot]H[/FONT][FONT=&quot]olly and other decorations[/FONT]I may change this as we go through the month. Boxes of decs from loft. Teatowels, glasses and mugs now all in kitchen (am sat here with a cuppa in my favourite Xmas mug) Xmas kitchen roll in use 2 decs hanging in dining room, 1 on mantle.
[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]utings. Drop one. .[/FONT]I dropped a work one.

[FONT=&quot]S[/FONT][FONT=&quot]low living this month.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Will take time for R&R and set timescales to get things done in reasonable time
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]mm. Take care of your mental health. Do something every day this month that makes you feel good: Write down 4 gratitudes each day.[/FONT]ok Not such a good day yesterday. Today WILL be better. Grateful for DS2 helping DS3 rebuild 2 large Leg0 sets which got broken, OH rehanging curtains in living room, OH sorting a problem with a light in living room, solar fairy lights in the trees

[FONT=&quot]N[/FONT][FONT=&quot]o entry to any sales. Likewise, [/FONT][FONT=&quot]no[/FONT][FONT=&quot] takeaways etc.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]Will likely pick up more cards and paper in sales . No takeaways
[FONT=&quot]“I[/FONT][FONT=&quot] am and always will be the optimist. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]I generally am Sometimes hard
[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT][FONT=&quot]andles - Switch to candles and firelight after dark And switch off your tech an hour before going to bed please.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT] Didn't do this last night - although did have soft, low wall lights on
[FONT=&quot]“S[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ome 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.”[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT][FONT=&quot]hase down more awe and joy. Go after it with a purpose. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]DD tracks FC on Xmas Eve with DS3 and we have already started Xmas light spotting when out and about
[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ead fiction before bed. .[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Didn't manage this last night
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]E[/FONT][FONT=&quot]xercise. Get 10,000 steps a day Move a little more. Embrace the outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.[/FONT] target of 10k steps each day (may give myself Xmas day off) + a squats challenge + tracking food Only 9498 steps Food tracked - inc some rather moreish salted caramel icecream….:o

[FONT=&quot]“W[/FONT][FONT=&quot]hat’s the point of being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes.”[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Yes!
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“D[/FONT][FONT=&quot]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 .[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]Here
[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT][FONT=&quot]efuse to get sucked into guilt spending. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT] None yesterday
[FONT=&quot]I[/FONT][FONT=&quot]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. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]I've been gradually doing this over the past few years....
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]V[/FONT][FONT=&quot]isit your local area. Find new footpaths, see where a road or path takes you. Explore new horizons. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Would like the weather to be drier to do this....
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]E[/FONT][FONT=&quot]xterminate (see, we can learn from the DALEKS…) one bad habit from your life for the first 10 days. [/FONT][FONT=&quot] Darn - looks like Candy Crush for me... Did play 2 games of it
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT][FONT=&quot]emember that you are blessed. [/FONT]will donate 3 more (new in packaging) items added to CS bag