NST March 2019: WINS against the debt

XSpender

Lots and lots of hugs Fmess xx

Lovelifeloveliving

Good afternoon all:j

Fmess I'm so very sorry. Hugs and lots more hugs.

Waste management
- Food waste - I'm working hard to ensure I have no waste which sometimes creates unusual meals.
- Plastics – Trying to repurpose or reuse.
- Utilities – Continue to switch off and unplug all electricals when not in use. One load of laundry line dried today.
- Money – Still focusing on reducing spending and aiming to be within budget at the end of the month.

Invest in yourself
- Do something every single day that makes you happy.
I have planned a pampering evening after work this evening.
- 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 this evening.
- 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 working from home arrangements, a dry windy morning to line dry, the peace and quiet to get work done and leftovers for lunch, no cooking

Simplicity

-Put routines in place that keep your life running smoothly and make things automatic.
I have a weekend of cleaning and organising planned. Will let you know how I get on.
- 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.
I hope to have some quiet time this evening.
- Be frugal in your needs.
I haven't purchased any cleaning products, toiletries or clothes.
6/15 NSDs.
9/12 Lunch to work.
No vending machines purchases.

Take care all. Xx

Toni'sfriend

NSD 8/15

Went to M & S and got a Dine in. HUGE chicken, potato rosti, apple pie and wine plus some YS items. Popped into Aldi and got a few bits. Having a YS quiche for dinner. Under budget so far this month and not needing lots hopefully.

Saved some little plastic pots that contained puddings to plant some herb seeds in.

Been really cold here today with heavy showers of rain and sleet. Haven't really done very much.

Have a good weekend.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for plenty of walking, for not being blown away, for making full use of my one oyster fare, for having (for me, at any rate) an epic baking session , for the fence men postponing until Monday, for dd enjoying her day, for dh finishing his week of extra work, for my food shopping being only what was on the list, for a good day!

Fmess

Morning all,

Thank you for all your hugs and kind words

Spendy day yesterday. Bought cake for the whole department as everyone was tired (mock exam marking) and people have been so supportive of me recently. Then did a top up and fuddle shop on way home. Having a fuddle with family on Sunday before my dad’s op next week. Did a PAD and then chilled on the sofa and watched comic relief and donated to them.

Today needs to be productive. My house needs an epic clean, I have loads of marking to do, I haven’t been to the gym for a week and I need to update my finances. The weather looks awful so maybe just a few short dog walks in between showers if possible.

Shrewbie

I am so sorry fmess you did the right thing for your best friend.

and such a lovely quote apple perhaps we should be more like the animals.

I am on NSD 7/15.

Waste management

Been worrying that I’ve bought too much veg to eat in time / stuff into my tiny freezer. Need to do a freezer inventory and proper meal plan. Been reusing any jars into containers for coffee etc.

Nobody recycles in my flat and it is starting to annoy me. I know it’s not a solution but we have to try something!!

Invest in yourself

Yesterday I went to one particularly beautiful library here which is attached to the reina sofia museum. It really is beautiful and modern with all of the books around on back lit shelves and all the desks arranged around in a circle. On friday it’s a very peaceful place and I felt happy memories flooding back from uni days. Think it will become a haunt. Although I am due to start new classes on friday soon but I hope I will have a gap to visit the library.

Tried breathing technique this morning and now spending the morning watching videos in bed with coffee. I came straight home after work yesterday, made a veg chilli and went to bed early. No alcohol which is a win for me.

Needs not wants

I have a list of things to buy after my spend freeze on Monday which I’m scrutinising.

One potentially expensive need - I have had mild allergy symptoms of a runny nose for weeks and a sore throat in the mornings. I’ve only just linked it to the possibility that it might be caused by cockroaches in my flat. :eek:Horrible thought. We have had a few cockroaches - I just hope there are no more but I know there are likely to be hundreds in the whole building. If this suspected allergy gets worse I may have to move out early. My landlord/housemate puts down poison but doesn’t think it warrants further action. Will have to keep an eye on it.

Simplicity

Having a weekend to myself is going well so far.


Hope everyone has a lovely day

f0xh0les

Morning!
I had a very successful charity haul yesterday. Tilly tidied a lot of accounts and moved small amounts about a bit between other accounts. Ran out of milk, so used a £5 off voucher and a 4k points voucher and did the weekly shop after tea last night. I don't think the kids noticed I was gone. Freezer full of ys bread now. All good cheap fun.
DH has announced he wants to eat out this weekend. We have a really lovely veggie Indian buffet place in town. So we will probably go there and it won't cost more than about £7 a head including soft drinks for the kids,. Besides DH is paying, so I will combine it with a trip to SportingDirection as I am a terrible mother who has managed to shrink one pair of football socks in the dryer. The other identical pair is fine, just the one has decided to go on a diet and shrink down to ridiculousness(ness). The kids still have xmas money, and gift cards, so they need to be spent this weekend.

Two weeks til payday, four weeks until Easter holidays.

I am a fuzzy headed muppet at the moment, but I feel as if I can see that things are getting done. Feeling calm. The building, and contents, are insured.


Shrewbie- cockroaches! Urgh! I used to work in a student bar that was infested. yuck, yuck, yuck. Scarred for life! Apparently they really like cardboard, so it might encourage your housemates to recycle, even if for a completely different reason than saving the planet. I feel the need to clean my kitchen and put the bins out and scrub..well..everything now. urgh! heebie jeebies!
Apparently bait traps work better than poison anyway. Even if it seems you are daring them to come in. Hope it turns out to be hayfever, not 'guests'.

Shrewbie

f0xh0les wrote: »

Shrewbie- cockroaches! Urgh! I used to work in a student bar that was infested. yuck, yuck, yuck. Scarred for life! Apparently they really like cardboard, so it might encourage your housemates to recycle, even if for a completely different reason than saving the planet. I feel the need to clean my kitchen and put the bins out and scrub..well..everything now. urgh! heebie jeebies!
Apparently bait traps work better than poison anyway. Even if it seems you are daring them to come in. Hope it turns out to be hayfever, not 'guests'.

Cheers for that f0xh0les will see what happens!!

apple_muncher

Going back to a simpler life is not a step backwards.


The happiest people do not have the best of everything. They make the best of everything they have.




Enjoy your Saturday, turtles!

greent

apple_muncher wrote: »

Going back to a simpler life is not a step backwards.


The happiest people do not have the best of everything. They make the best of everything they have.

Oh! - I love these! I am very much embracing a more simple life nowadays - it maybe not as simple as some, but it's a lot simpler than it was a few years back

For me, Marie Kondo has been helpful with this - I know the method's not for everyone, but it fits well with our family

Weather here is rubbish. Sadly, there's quite a lot of washing here (drying/ in the WM/ waiting to go in the WM) - I so much prefer getting it out on the line! Over an airer it will have to go (and shirts over backs of chairs) and then this evening some can be on radiators

Lurgy is on its way out - finally! Very glad - it's been a long and busy week here in the greenhouse Looking forward to an easier week next week!

Weekend plans - 'persuading' DS2 and DS3 to do their homework, a very small amount of food shopping, laundry & more laundry and a visit to my nan in the care home - it's her birthday next week and I shall be at work. Hopefully some chill time and some yummy food

Back on turtling 'properly' next week - it's been a bit hit and miss so far, sadly - which is a shame, as I really like some bits of this month's challenge.

Happy weekend, turtles xx