NST April 2019 - Spring Forward

f0xh0les

Good morning!

Today should be NSD 11, we wanted to go to Avengers: Endgame, but it is all sold out, so we can't (damn those organised pre-bookers with reliable lives) plus they have changed our cinema to luxury recliners. DH has run off camping with his mates. Just cleaning round the place today. Suddenly, with 4 days of holiday left, and no back up, the kids want to go out and do things.
Today was indeed NSD 11, everyone is happy. Lots of jobs done.

Lauralozzle

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

I could have written your post about takeaways Laura. I don't enjoy cooking much, and I'm the only adult in the house. It takes little to no persuading for me to get a takeaway or go out for dinner with the kids. I must have spent thousands over the years .

The funny thing is, I actually enjoy cooking when I have the motivation to do it, but sometimes the work slog gets the better of me and I just want to hibernate and not think about cooking anything!

SpekySquarehead wrote: »

Laura - I was in your position before and was partly to blame for me getting into debt. So I started getting into the habit of prepping food which in turn meant healthier food so I feel better, as does my wallet!

I've done the calculations, just under £140.00 this month on eating out/takeaway. It's appalling! I'm always much more motivated at the beginning of the week (after weekend break) so maybe I should prep like the boss Monday/Tuesday. We are not usually this bad, I've told the OH what we have spent, and he was shocked, so next month the 'entertainment budget' will have tight purse stings!

On the plus side, I'm well under the grocery budget at the moment (£100 to spare). Haven't managed a NSD - met up for lunch yesterday with ex-colleague which was lovely. Cheaper meal though, as we went to Wetherspoons.

Today won't be NSD as I still need more cabinet paint which I'm going to get this evening after dinner. Kitchen is coming along nicely though, I'm hoping it'll be finished by end of next month. I haven't had any more takeaways though! We've been sharing the cooking this week which has been great. As unhealthy as it sounds, we might need to get some freezer food in (like a pizza or some fish fingers) for those times we forget to defrost something, as it might curb the takeaways if there is something we can pop in the oven from frozen that'll take 30 mins.

I did something new and out of my comfort zone today. I received a promotion in February but My salary hasn't been updated yet to reflect it. I had told my boss, but wasn't too vocal about it because I didn't want to rock the boat. But today I was vocal, and complained, and he's promised he'll get it sorted for next months pay and put a complaint in to HR. He also said is not sorted for next months pay he'll request an advance. I will know more next week, but it hopefully seems like we are getting somewhere.

Kerry_Woman

Have managed to get 2 NSD's over the past few days so now on 16/15.
Not been doing much the last few days. Have been doing a tiny bit of tidying up.
Was a spend day yesterday. Got some photos printed of my Mum when she was really young for my brother and sister. Also got myself a couple of treats.
Have been thinking of what I need to do over the next few months. Really need to plan carefully.

apple_muncher

Ooh, those photos of your mum must be nice to have. We're still sorting through bits and bobs - I'm amazed at just how many photos there are, given how expensive they were to buy the film and then to develop.


Today I am grateful for getting things done, for doing some required online training, for making hobnobs and power balls, for trying to make soya yog (a work in progress still...), for rearranging the garden and it looks much bigger, for hm soup for lunch, for a good book, for the Tour de Yorkshire starting next week.

mothernerd

Good day but very tiring.

Positives - I did walk to my exercise class (slow but not far off 'normal'). Did more exercises (haven't been able to do the walking one before), did more standing up and nearly managed a bit of dancing (ankle not quite strong enough yet).

Spent money because I really needed the bus back. Was lucky to catch it. Class finishes at 11 am but we overran slightly, quick visit to the loo and decided to go straight to the bus stop rather than to the volunteers cafe even though I was ravenous (breakfast was remains of a head of celery and dips, scraping the bottom of the barrel of use up bits now and talking about food for half an hour works up an appetite too - today's topic was myth busting). Bus turned the corner as I got to the front entrance but there was a long queue and I made it across.

Home to eat and put my feet up for a bit, then off to the library to meet mum for film club - one of the regular drivers so he drove onto the town hall square as far as the ramp ( even Prince Andrew had to walk further than that). Great film but I struggled to stay awake (and had a dizzy episode - may have slightly overdone the exercise but it's been so long since I could walk for more than 5 minutes).

Stopped mum from facing off with a digger (transformation of the Town Hall into a new archives/ exhibition space is now underway, they've been putting up scaffolding, taken a slice of the car park to store materials and are currently filling skips with bits they've pulled out) but the man guiding him let us go first. I know mum's hearing and eyesight aren't great but failing to notice a full size bright yellow digger :eek::rotfl:

Left mum at the taxi office. So glad to be home but haven't had a sleep.

Today I am grateful for being part of the film club community, for the support from my exercise group and for being able to walk (won't be doing the marathon this month though).

sashanut

Hi all :j


Simplicity - think about the simple pleasures in your life which you really appreciate, friendship, family, cake. Focus on those this month as much as you can (maybe not too much cake though). Simple pleasure of pottering about outside before the rain kicked in.


Persevere - I know that trying to reach your goal can sometimes seem never ending but try to remember that each time you waste money/time it can take you further away from what you really want for the long term. No spends today & a little start on packing for hols next week.

Reduce - I wouldn't be me if I wasn't asking you to reduce. Think about what you really need and what will be left at the end, is there a better way to consume. Aim to attack sun room tomorrow if weather is bad as predicted (it gets very warm in there). Lots of junk to chuck out I am sure. Got a few things for CS to take on Tuesday but they do moan if we bring stuff in!

Invest - in yourself, your family, your home - the things that really matter to you. Into greenhouse to inspect the damage, Dolly they had got one seed tray down off the staging - smashed it & eaten the compost & runner bean seeds. (from 2009!!). So not too bad & I planted some more just to see if they are still viable. Want to get all plants/bulbs etc in before we go away as I know DD will not water anything so they stand a better chance outside faring for themselves.

Grab - take life by the horns. Do something which takes you outside of your comfort zone at least once this month. Now making a new sweater that is definitely out of my comfort zone. Let's see how that goes. So far so good, but only on the first sleeve. More challenges to come. Unpacked dishwasher which was then revealed as an integrated one, not a freestanding one. Will have to go back now...grrr

NSDs: now 13/15

NO spending in coffee shops, work canteens, vending machines. If you do it needs to be planned in advance and budgeted for. Never go in coffee shops, no canteen, don't use vending machines either. But I still waste money! No spends today, all food either leftovers or from stores. DD said she ate the sandwiches for breakfast (early start).Kedgeree for supper using up leftover basmati rice.


Go turtles!

greent

NSD still 10 - small spend (<£8) in L1d1

Simplicity - was lovely hearing all 3 boys (19, 13, 9) play together last night - so nice that I let the smaller 2 stay up late to carry on

Persevere - school job money paid - only 7 hours done in April, so not masses - but added to hol fund

Reduce - just the usual recycling etc

Invest -

Won't be NSD today - OH and DS1 & DS2 are off to cinema to see Endgame, so need to buy popcorn from A1d1 to take in. Boys still have Easter choc, so they can take some of that, too

crazy_cat_lady

Spendy day yesterday as I went out for 2 for 1 cocktails with my sister and bestie last night. I am definitely suffering this morning and hoping for a quiet Saturday if possible. The weather is miserable again so I'd love to stay in and feel sorry for myself but exam season is looming large and I need to go do some tutoring today.
Other than that it is definitely going to be a quiet, and hopefully non spendy day - you can't spend what you don't have and I'm still 4 days from payday...

f0xh0les

It is a long 4 days til payday here too ccl, with cb the day before.

Good cheap healthy smoothie making by kids this morning. Football fun via internet (we lost), scone making, scone eating, kids still raving about scones and arguing about who gets the leftover ones. While the oven was on I did a tray of buns (that they have not yet discovered), and a rice pudding. So veg stew for supper tonight, and all is sorted for today and tomorrow.

NSD 12

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for easy food, for my sandbag, for dd enjoying dance, for having more than enough.