NST March 2019: WINS against the debt

Lovelifeloveliving

Good morning all

Sorry I've been missing in action. It's taken be a couple of days to catch up with everything on my return from Birmingham. I usually don't work Mondays or Tuesdays however I was working yesterday and Monday.

Shrewbie Good luck with the freezing spend.

Waste management
- Food waste - I'm doing OK so far with this element.
- Plastics – Trying to recycle or reuse.
- Utilities – Reduced laundry to three loads per week. Put the last two loads I done on the airer to dry.
- Money – At last I have updated my budget on the spreadsheet. I have to be frugal for the next two weeks to stay on track.

Invest in yourself
- Do something every single day that makes you happy.
Spending time with my DP.
- Do something else every single day that takes you a little bit nearer to your long-term goals (and now is a good time to set some, if you don’t have any…)
Spin class yesterday. Still need to try harder with the healthy eating.
- Learn a new skill or re-start an old one.
Still thinking.
- Can you grow any food this year?
I now have a basil plant which I will provide tender loving care to. Hopefully it will survive.

Needs not wants
- We all know Martin’s mantra. Be consistent in applying it. Learn to distinguish between what you truly need and what you want to have now and simply cannot ever live without…
I will make a huge effort to focus on this mantra.
- Appreciate what you have and enjoy it.
I am grateful for minimal disruption on the country roads following the storm, a smooth morning routine with the kids allowing me to leave early for work and safe journey to work.

Simplicity

-Put routines in place that keep your life running smoothly and make things automatic.
I need to develop a cleaning routine, a pamper/beauty routine and exercise routine.
- Simplify your stuff. Just get rid of the unnecessary stuff. Donate it to a charity shop. Freecycle it. Give it to friends and neighbours.
I have decluttered a few items of clothing for the charity shop.
- Make space for yourself.
I will look at the space I have and make the best use of same.
- Cut out the extra noise in your life. This might be computer games, the Interweb, tv, radio, certain people. Allow yourself peace and quiet to simply be.
To be honest I haven't had any me time over the past couple of days, been busy with home life and work. Will try and fit in some time to relax this evening.
- Be frugal in your needs.
I haven't purchased any cleaning products, toiletries or clothes.
4/15 NSDs.
7/12 Lunch to work.
No vending machines purchases.

Enj Xx

dolly84

mothernerd - I had to try and get my mum through telephone banking security a while back, it was horrible, she couldn't understand what they were saying even though we asked them to speak slowly and clearly, she didn't know the answers to the questions they were asking and I was having to help her understand and she was shaking through fear, in the end they stopped all her accounts as they said she was being coerced (by me), the whole reason we were phoning was because someone had defrauded her by phone.


ccl - I had one of those microwaves in the past, it was massive, I only ever used the grill function once then just used it as a ginormous microwave. On the subject of rust I wipe mine out after every use and leave the door open for a few minutes so it can dry to stop it rusting.


Ran last night, at one point I was almost lifted off my feet by a gust of wind. May run today too but it is even windier at the moment so that will have to wait.


Got our council tax bill yesterday, has gone up by nearly 5%, not amused.

f0xh0les

NSD 9 today - I spent most of yesterday hurling insults at a sewing machine. Good for the soul:rotfl:. Watched the sewing B last night, wondered how long it would have taken them on dh's machine, there were no broken needles as the timing can be slightly off, or not picking up bottom stitches, :mad: I hates it, but I can see how it would be great if I actually could use the blimmin thing properly. :rotfl: Oh well.

Council tax here was up 3% and came with a letter explaining why the services are being cut when the cost is going up, but if I remember correctly, it went up nearly 10% last year. :eek: So I will take my 3% and count myself lucky.

It is getting quite windy now, School run should be over by 4.20 and I will be glad not to have to go out again. Battening down the hatches and hoping for calm as DH will be clenching on the sofa every time a big gust whistles down the chimney (not a euphemism ).
So, all food from stores, dodgy builders still crashing about next door, reminds me I need to sort B&C insurance (my frog this week), burgers for tea, all within budget.

Off to brave the windy wilds

Toni'sfriend

NSD 7/15

Bathroom light went. I've got lots of light bulbs but none that was the right fitting so off to the hardware store. It's a really strange fitting. Completely different to all the others in the house.

I've taken the last of the chicken breasts out of the freezer to make a curry. In the slow cooker as we speak. Also make soup out of bits and bobs. I did buy some YS items whilst we were out as the freezer is now full of bits and pieces of things but nothing to be the basis of a meal.

Need to try to get cleaning tomorrow.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening everyone :wave:

Fmess - I will be thinking of you this week. Lots of love to you and pooch
Another busy day for me today, got lots done at work. My mood is still improving, just as everyone else is getting a bit more stressed - feels as though they all have what I have last week.
Another nsd in the bag, and I'm now just about to start exam marking again. I'm lucky I get offered so much of this work as it makes a massive difference.
Nothing else to report here really, just work, work and work!!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for getting to work early, for catching up with some colleagues, for no rain, for getting more compost from liddle, forthe delivery of fence-replacement items, for teamwork from dh and I to transport the items from their drop-off point to our garden, for dd having an awesome parents evening report, for de-cluttering with dd.

bizzie

NSD 7/15

Trying to get on with some stubborn jobs rather than get distracted by more enjoyable tasks.

Still waiting for the Council Tax bill which will be going up as are water, gas, electricity....

Fmess will be thinking of you.

Shrewbie

Hi everyone

Yesterday was 6/15 NSD.

waste management spent a good part of the evening yesterday chopping up veg to put in the freezer. A new 4 pack of onions with a mouldy one in the middle, grr so needed to be chopped up. I definitely am conscious of waste these days- a couple of years ago I'd have thought nothing of letting 4 onions fester in a cupboard, not considering how many one person would actually get through. Now I know - a 4 pack of onions lasts me 1 month if chopped up and frozen. Trying to get lots of veg into me as I am totally vegetarian now and there is only me to cook for.

invest in yourself - got up at 5am today and watched motivational videos on u-tube which I think I'm now addicted to. All very well but need to actually find a direction for this new found enthusiasm! Tried a new breathing technique, and yesterday did 10min of easy yoga and 20 min meditation.

needs not wants spend freeze! realised I went a little mental in the charity shops last weekend (everything was 1-3 euros only) and bought a lot of stuff that I don't need. I did however find a lovely dress for a wedding for the princely sum of 1 euro which I also managed to do last year for a summer wedding - so that seems like a bit of a tradition that I need to continue.

simplicity - as well as a spend freeze I have decided to have some solitary me-time this week (thanks to apple for your timely quote reminding me that this is an option) so apart from my weekly language exchange for 2 hours I am going to spend the weekend working towards my goals, relaxing and not drinking!!

Have a great day turtles, thinking of you fmess

XSpender

Sorry, I haven't updated for days! I hope everyone is happy and healthy

Waste

Food - Using up a lot of bits today. Sad banana and leftover egg whites made into pancakes this morning with some almost past it strawberries, left over pastie and left over beans for lunch followed by a risotto made with baby spinach from the veg box, some of the 3 bags of peas in the freezer and a bottle of white wine no-one will drink for dinner.
Plastics - reusing plastic bags, recycling everything that can be recycled including tin foil, using the cardboard trays that my tomatoes came in in the veg box for storage in drawers
Money - have been watching the pennies closely this month. Bought a different foundation and bronzer which cut the number of products needed from 4 to 2. I had been trying to hold out and get by on the BB cream I had left but have 2 nights out this month and was told I looked peaky:eek:
Utilities - I still haven't adjusted the heating settings but as it has been warmer the fire hasn't been on. I have used the TD as it was so wet last weekend and will be using it today as I have laundered our pillows and they need to be puffed up again.

Invest in Yourself

Happy - a sunny, windy walk with the dog
Steps Forward - Fee free BT on 2 CCs to extend 0% to 25 months. Doubled my payments to pay off quicker. Set up DD to reg saver to rebuild EF used for roof repairs

New Skill - have not started yoga practice. I think the only way I will fit it in is to get up before everyone else.

Needs not Wants

Gratitudes - 1) Sunshine 2) A tidy dining room to work in (our dining table can be a dumping ground) 3) A good week at work even though my workload has just gone up

Planned Expenditure - Food budget is becoming tight so planning a low spend this week as still lots of food in, all other spending as planned

Simplicity

Routines - Doing a little every day with the housework - today I am washing our pillows and duvet and will hoover the LR and DR
Simplify your Stuff - More items added to the charity shop box
Make Space - See above
Cut out noise - Lots of reading getting done but too much time looking at renovation projects on insta

NSDs - 2/12 - I think!:o
DFD - Feb 2022, aiming for Dec 2021 - I am in the mid month lull when no payments go out
Budget - All up to date on YNAB

greent

Fmess, so sorry to hear about tomorrow. Lots of (((hugs))) xx


I don't think I've checked in for a couple of days (not sure! - it's one of those weeks! :rotfl:) Not much to report - lurgy lingering in milder stages, but keeping me awake a lot at night with a cough. Busy at work and have had to go out every evening for one reason or another (and traffic is poor this week, due to Gold Cup Festival) and am out tonight again (DS3's swimming) Looking forward to the weekend!!
x