NST April 2020: Fools we are not!

Toni'sfriend

Afternoon, Turtles. Hope you are all well and managing in these very strange times.

NSD No 1. Nowhere to go and have everything we need.

We always have well stocked cupboards and freezers and so we're working our way through them using up what we have. Lots of vegetables which were gifted to us by a neighbour which I have frozen and will be used in soups, stews, curries etc. Meal planning with what we have.

I can't quite finalise the budget until Friday but I know we have enough money to pay all the bills etc

Just one birthday this month and I already have the present plus I bought the wee ones Easter eggs last month.
I have a Tesco delivery slot for 16th but we will be only buying what we need. Nothing frivolous and no hoarding, I promise
I don't quite fall into the very vulnerable category but still over 70 with asthma, high blood pressure, etc so I'm not going out at all.

Oh does my house need a proper deep spring clean and declutter. Started reorganising the kitchen this week.

Gratitudes (as well as the wonderful people who are working in key occupations and keeping us going)

My neighbours. One has washed everyone's outside, downstairs windows. One is at present cutting all the grass (and it's a lot of grass)

My friends and family, home and abroad, who are keeping in contact.

Hearing the birds singing now that the noise of traffic is not drowning them out

The little blonde neighbour for coming to dance outside her window.

And her smaller sister for making us all laugh with her facebook videos.

Take care, everyone.

BadBookkeeper

How do I amend signature please?  Sorry!! 

apple_muncher

Bbk - go into the profile icon at the top right of here. Click edit profile. Ther should be a left side menu where you can change it.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a new month, for having money in the bank, for fresh water, for the oomph to dig over and weed some of the back garden and plant some potatoes, for dh cleaning up and oiling some rusting tools, for the sunshine whilst I queued for 40mins to get in to sainz and the lovely people who work there, for getting my kettlebell workout done, for all of you who have joined in this month.

Kerry_Woman

Achieved my 1st NSD.
Grateful for:
Walk in park - daily exercise.
Nice weather when I was out.
Seeing the first episode of Last of the Summer Wine.
Jessica Fletcher.
A employee(mh charity) from the mh programme I attended phoned to see how I was.  They had to stop the programme half way through.  They are looking to see how they can support the people who attended from afar.

BadBookkeeper

Evening Turtles!
I hope you are all well.  Thank you apple muncher for helping with the signature.
BBK checking in....
NSD - 0/15, finally got a food delivery slot so did my weekly shop.  Gone back to T£sco so food budget will be increased as we were shopping in 3 per week to save money but not prepared to do that at the moment.
Budgets - All set and at a point were I’m paying more than minimum to credit cards so feel like I’m getting somewhere!
Savings - Paid £10 to my EF, I set myself 20 goals for 2020 and one was save £10 20 times, I already have £100!  Also saved £50 in Christmas pot.
Frivolous - no frivolous spends planned this month.
Lunch to work - Staying at home so nothing extra spent here this month.
Spring clean - Starting this on Saturday 
Charity - Charity bag ready to go.
Gratitudes - Month end going smoothly, dry day, craft supplies, ds coming with me for a walk (on his scooter).

mothernerd

Started on the paperwork today and started to lose heart mid-afternoon. So much stuff I don't need but have to keep for legal or other reasons. Was trying to sort out the 90% that just needs filing/ throwing away (receipts, expired to do lists, puzzle workings) so I can concentrate on the stuff that needs doing but worried about things I haven't yet found like my password notebook. I am sure I packed it but I started to doubt myself. Found the replies from WTC as needed to know the deadline for replying - June 6th , so feeling much calmer.

Did all the milk, veg and window cleaner envelopes this morning, cleaned a small table for the delivery but decide it was too flimsy. Wrote notes for everyone. Had a (safe distance) chat with a dog walking neighbour who liked the note I had taped onto the bin, thanking the bin men. Finished everything on the use up list but have made a few items to start the next, boiled some of the older eggs as mum was fretting about them. Did paperwork sat by the window so I could watch for the veg box delivery. Not sure if it was through being hunched over (and mum has nothing to hang things on - at home I can hang a bag up so that I can easily put paper recycling in, today I was reaching down to the floor) or yesterday's outside work but my back was excrutiatingly painful. Mum said I was like a jack in the box - I kept going to lie down to stretch out my spine and then remembered something else I needed to do, so went back.

Ibruprofen spray was in the basket DS2 brought yesterday. I had wiped it with a disnfectant soaked rag but left it outside on one of the bins as an extra precaution. So I went and got that and after I had checked for the deadline and the veg box arrived, I was able to relax a bit and eventually the pills kicked in (spray warmed me up and helped a lot). Spend day today (I've decided I will have to count days I spend mum's money).

Silly thing - sky was gloomy so I was waiting for it to rain so I could go out and do 'singing in the rain routine' (hopping on and off the pavement) to amuse everyone, but it never rained. This was before I had read about doing silly things to start the month.

Today I am grateful for ibruprofen spray, bin men, veg deliveries, lots of dogs being walked to watch and yummy smoked haddock and chips for tea (looking for bulky items in the freezer to make some space).

Today i am grateful

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening everyone
Typed a long update but then laptop froze so will have to be a short summary:
I achieved my first NSD today.  DDs and i have had fun doing a quiz and we went for a walk before tea; saw a few people who were all smiley and friendly - from a distance
Gratitudes:  keeping in touch with friends and family; DD1 for cleaning out one of the kitchen cupboards; dry weather so we could go for a walk; a robin in the garden; hot chocolate 
Deni x

greent

Count me in please, apple

Started the month with a spend.... DH had another very stressful day at work (in home office) and needed to clear his head so took his exercise session to the shop - NSD 0/15  Spends were low (and included a Leg0 mag for DS3)

Made sure we used up a bag of stirfry veg and some extra veg and 1/2 bag of beansprouts for dinner (enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow) before everything went slimy. 

Mtge only OPd by a small amount - rest left in a savings account for OPing after this is over (mtge is BTL and I have no idea of our tenant's current financial situation)  CCs paid. STOs and DD to savings/ investments

Planned online purchases for April: possible new dwasher (as ours has been broken since late Nov and washing up for 6 is a drag!), bday presents & cards for DS1 (he still needs to celebrate his bday), maybe some fence posts, panels and paint - we have several missing panels and our garden is now open to everyone from the front, side and back...…. 'Frivolous' purchases: will likely buy a cake from s'mkt when there around bday date (we have home baking anyway) and maybe a bday takeaway if our local Indian is still open then (can order by phone and sit outside in car until it's ready)  Oh - and the local farmers market are doing a food hub during this - will likely place an order one week in the month if it continues - supports local small independent producers and is bloomin' gorgeous. 

Not at work - no exams or school in general (have asked about being furloughed.... fingers crossed....) DH working from home - but is having a 20% paycut for min 3 months. All lunches therefore at home

Plan is to carry on with getting rid of things - but am busy with everyone home! However, garage clean/ clear is to continue. Have several bags and boxes ready for CS when they re-open  and a pile for Flebay/ fbook when travel is permitted (things like bundles of clothes for children, bundles of books etc) 

Will check what local foodbank needs and see what I can get! 

Gratitudes: listening to and watching birds in the garden, Central heating, fluffy slippers, my family being well, having (more than) enough, getting into jeans a size down (and them being comfy!)

ditty1234

Hello April :-) am just checking in. X