NST February 2020

dolly84

ditty- hope your DS continues to recover well.


It is raining today but the wind has finally died down. We plan a tip run of cardboard and some other recyclables today, the cardboard is too big for the curbside bin, will tidy the garage at the same time. Hoping to decide what we want to do for holidays this year and start getting organised with that too, DD has an eye test this afternoon and one of the cars will be filled up using Tesco 5p off voucher.

f0xh0les

Today is DS3's birthday. So I had a shake for breakfast, sandwiched a 3 layer coffee cake with walnut butter cream, iced the top with coffee icing and decorated with walnuts. Dieting is such fun! See my willpower!**

My date for the day is taking us all out for lunch which will be horrifically spendy and I am not really up for it, but there you go. P1zza Expre$$ is the requested venue. Got a 3 course deal, and found out while browsing that the one in the centre of town (free parking) charges less than the one in the shopping centre. Who even knew?

Right. Off to get ready for photos.
Happy Ground Hog Day!

**I may be a tad grumpy, hoping my Flapper spirit shines through.

PurpleFairy26

Foxholes we went there yesterday with some mr T vouchers, would be shocking otherwise. Who knew about the price difference. Enjoy!

So we had a family date last night courtesy of mr t vouchers and it was lovely

Today we’ll be staying in so a NSD and having a ‘free’ roast dinner having found a small beef joint in the freezer.

Today’s gratitudes:
Roast dinner
Eating round a table with my wonderful family
DH giving blood

apple_muncher

Happy birthday to ds3 f0xh0les! Enjoy your pizza.

f0xh0les

Thanks, it was all jolly good fun and I think I actually got a family photo suitable for a present for in-laws!!!! :T

All the boys together. Also have some absolute shockers as one always decides to pretend to be dead, or a zombie, or begins a slide under the table (dh starts it:rotfl:)
Not too bad all in all - £105 for 6, 3 courses, a free carrot cake with a candle in for the birthday boy, at least one drink each. £17.50 a head. So glad I only have to do it 4 x a year + dh if he is a good boy. At least I saved some money by making my own cake. It is a good £25 saving on the local cake baker.:j

Plus I wore a dress and makeup and perfume. So technically, today, I was a girl.


Purps- I want a magic freezer that gifts me food too. I am very jealous.

crazy_cat_lady

Feels a bit early to be in and declaring, but here I am with my first nsd of the month. I'm in for the night and the only thing I'll be doing for the rest of the evening is marking exam papers.
Have had a busy-ish day and I'm not feeling that good physically either. I was awake for a lot of the night last night, and suffering a bit today. Nonetheless I have been up, done my tutoring session and been to my mam's with the kids for lunch and a catch up.
Everyone is on board with the idea of saving for holidays in the summer except for ds who just can't quite get his head round the idea of delayed gratitude.
Today I'm grateful for:
My lovely mam
Being able to earn a bit of extra money on top of my day job
Findng ds old mobile phone which I can trade in for £

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 1

Must confess it's been a bit of a quiet, lazy day trying t get back into the swing o things again.

Holiday washing done and most of it dried overnight and put away. Just a tiny bit of ironing although I suspect that may be vastly increased when the Boy arrives. Bedding changed and all washed as well.

Chicken is ready for roasting. Focus this month is to use up what is in the freezer and cupboards. Rather a lot of it ! Started last night by using some chicken balls and rice from the freezer together with a jar of sweet and sour sauce from Aldi. It was remarkably tasty. Got a kind of meal plan for the rest of the week but it's dependant on how many meals we get from the leftover chicken.

Really must get around to making some to do lists for this week.

Toni'sfriend

Oh and my gratitudes.

Looking forward to seeing my Boy for the first time in nearly a month
The blonde bombshells giving us lots of hugs and kisses and being so excited by their presents
My lovely neighbour for giving me six bottles of prosecco. He works for a drinks company and gets them free
Most of all for my sister in law looking and feeling better. Going to see her on Thursday.

facethemusic

Hi, so here's my summary of the rules and plans for the month!
Clothes- I tend to wear the same things all the time, will dig through my wardrobe and drawers and wear some of the stuff at the back/bottom, if I wont wear it I should donate/recycle/bin depending on suitability. I have no plans for new clothes, but if a decent pair of boot cut jeans at a sensible price fall on front of me I will snap them up (the current trend for skinnies is a major inconvenience when you have calves like tree trunks!). I do actually need new riding boots, but will search for a reasonably priced pair.
Music- most of my CDs and DVDs have gone over the last year or two, but I have one shelf left to sort- will aim to get it reduced in half at least by the end of the month.
Dance- in the kitchen, every month. Does everyone not do this?
Dates- I actually have a few planned things already, 2 " nights out", one with child, one without, and a 4 day trip away.
The trip away is budgeted and the "big things" are already paid for, and I'm due some money back from others so that should cover spending when I'm away.
Make up- I don't really bother so no problem there, but I do have lots of moisturisers, body lotions, hand cream etc so will try and aim to apply something good for my skin daily.
0%CC- no overdraft here, but i do have a 0%CC which I'm paying off. I actually have enough in savings to clear it, but i don't want to see that account balance go down! So I'm trying to clear a "chunk" of it monthly. Want it down as much as possible by the time the deal runs out (would need to clear 20% each month which I don't think i can do but might manage 10%).
Investigate- I know one of my major downfalls is "popping in" to a shop for 3 or 4 things and coming out having spent £30. I know if I meal plan, make a list and stick to it i spend less- guess what I'm doing this month?
NSDs- today is 2/14, if you work all weekend you don't have time to spend- silver linings of working!
Budgets- all planned (but that's the easy bit, sticking to them is harder!).
3 gratitudes- salted caramel m & m's! A cuddly cat, my parents being the most amazing grandparents.
No chains- not a big issue around here, I don't do coffee shops etc, but as we're off to a city for our trip away we will probably use some. This is budgeted for though, so I'm not worried about it.
So if I can stick to only buying what's on a list everytime I go to a shop I will be fine!

abundant1972

Afternoon fellow MSE-ers!

Welcome to any newbies that have joined! Always lovely to meet new people eager to join the good fight!

Had a day in today, and just catching up with a few bits and pieces...

Today = NSD number1

Today I am grateful for:

1) Appreciation from a friend
2) Recognising an emotional trigger and stopping a reaction/spend
3) Having a total recharge day

Staying in now for the evening, and planning on some reading, and relaxation. Have a good one folks and catch you tomorrow!