NST DECEMBER Don't Be a Martyr for Christmas

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for having a car to do a big liddle shop (had a 5 off 40 voucher), for easy clearing + cleaning of the chosen spot for the tree to occupy when it comes inside, for finding 7 great items at the ch shop + being charged just £6, for dd's ortho appt going smoothly, for a useful (and free!) appt with an IFA.

I'm loving the cmas lights everywhere. And because I'm not in many shops, I'm loving the build-up to cmas with a distinct lack of blaring music!

ldee2111

First Olio success today. I was going to delete the app after thinking there was nothing in my area, but a quick check this morning brought up someone less than a mile away offering milk with a good date on them. I actually felt quite awkward going to a stranger’s door for a freebie but now having done it, I’d do it again. I would have been getting 2x 2 pints of milk in my delivery tomorrow but have just removed them from the order and saved £3.10. Thank you Olio person. I also offered them some unopened preserved lemons which they took so win-win for us both. 

Homemade carrot and rice soup for lunch today and our planned takeaway pizza after putting up the tree. OH placed the order via D0mino3s app and forgot to add the discount code. As soon as he told me, I was saying with a just ever so slightly raised voice ‘call them, call them now and cancel the order!!!’ I know it was a planned treat for us but I wasn’t willing to pay more than needed. OH was saying it was too late to cancel (I know he just didn’t want to call them - he’s funny about asking for discounts, refunds, etc). So I called them and explained that we forgot to use the code and the nice person on the phone refunded the £14.70 we would have saved had we used the code! £14.70! 

No walk today unfortunately. Had my 1500ml of water. Still on 2/20 NSDs.

Grateful for waking up to festive-looking frost-covered streets, getting my first Olio swap, and having a fun time putting up the tree with DS & OH ❤️.

DawnW

Managed my first NSD of the month today. Better late than never!

apple_muncher

May it be the first of many, Dawn!

greent

@ldee2111 - I've used 0li0 for the first time last week, too (despite downloading the app apparently 919 days ago!!) - I collected a couple of things from the same person this week (a food waste hero who lives very near to a tesc0 express) and dropped her a good pile of carrier bags for re-use off in exchange, as she gets through loads of them

mothernerd

A spendy day for me. Went to town although was not really feeling up to it but hoping the miserable weather would deter people and it started badly. The cash machine took mum's card but not properly in but wouldn't give it back. Luckily a member of staff was just inside the doors directing people to machines, cashiers or advisors as appropriate so I was able to summon her whilst keeping an eye on the machine. She extracted the card (they have a special thing like a long flat pair of tweezers) and invited me to use the machine inside. Got cash for mum and used the bank a cheque facility for the tax refund which came today.

Not many in BHF so got scarf, gloves and hat plus socks for mum (beige, white or brown she said, you'll get what I can find - shocking pink and turquoise with llamas but BHF gets lots of brand new accessories like this). Then went to my bank, who fortunately sorted my sending money to DS1 and wife and DS2 and his beloved (not forgetting the grand puppy) and I paid money in. Went back to the farm shop for plate pies (they had cleared and cleaned all the counters yesterday), dithered over a couple of other places (decisions made on the basis of number of customers) and picked up some soft drinks at a convenience store (part of the old wallpaper supplies shop so size of a small SM) in between there and the taxi office.

The only thing on my list I didn't get was an alarm clock. Wanted this mainly for today's appointment but would be helpful for resetting my waking and sleeping pattern. If I wake very early and then drift off, I'd set the alarm for an extra hour or two. However am doing quite well with it atm (not awake until  4 am or waking up then) so it can go on the non-urgent list. I also need to organise the shopping. Yesterday there were a few slots available before Sunday (for this week's shop) and latest pre-Christmas date was the 20th. This morning there were still some Sunday slots but Monday was taken and the latest date was the 17th. Have done a partial sort of what I could buy now (bread nearly all gone, soft drinks, cheese - last lot was dated mid-January) but struggling with what I actually want/ need to buy, available freezer space and where to put everything.

I need my dry working space so I can get out all the wooden/ recycled raised bed pieces out of the shed and paint and set them up. Then do the proper tidy and sort of the shed - when mum had her melt down a few weeks ago I just gave up and stuffed everything I could into the shed (that's her sort of tidy - she can't see it).

Today I am grateful for getting the money sent off (so is DS1 as he has a definite start date for his new job after months of security checks/ vetting and postponements but due to injuries and not being able to train, he's worried that he won't fit into any of his existing work stuff). That's all the presents sorted except for sourcing a cookery book stand for mum (cast iron would be too heavy and of course it has to 'go' with the rest of the kitchen). Also have the latest list of random items to purchase and some non- urgent ones that need upgrading - like the microwave that's dying slowly. Grateful for a plan of what I want to get done over the weekend.

abundant1972

Good evening...

Thanks everyone for your support as always! Great idea F0xh0les... I did that last time with colouring in boxes! I shall do again in my new 2021 planner!!! How exciting 😊 Awesome thoughts and quotes for the day too Mothernerd... Definitely food for thought. Love that some of you are having snow <jealous> - I just had rain here in Manchester. So what's new haha! 

Today = NSD num,ber 3

Night for now folks!

facethemusic

Friday- NSD 2/15, far too busy at work to even think about shops or spending money! 
Not much planned for the weekend so hopefully very little money will be spent, I have a very long "to-do" list so I'm hoping DD will get on board with alternating a "boring" job (tidying/cleaning/sorting) with a fun task (decorating/dog walking/christmas related bits). If she doesn't want to help them she will just have to occupy herself (without a screen!)

ldee2111

greent said:

@ldee2111 - I've used 0li0 for the first time last week, too (despite downloading the app apparently 919 days ago!!) - I collected a couple of things from the same person this week (a food waste hero who lives very near to a tesc0 express) and dropped her a good pile of carrier bags for re-use off in exchange, as she gets through loads of them

You’re far more patient than me - I’d only had the app about 40 days before I thought about deleting it! 😂

Shrewbie

Morning turtles and happy weekend!
I have finally worked out my budgets. It was very cathartic, actually answering all of the points was, thank you mothernerd

1)   D   DEBT OR SAVINGS (R) should be paid first, live on what is left. 

I will be very happy if I can at least €80-100 from November’s pay! 

2)   O   OVERVIEW (R) of the month ahead,

This year I am staying put in Madrid so no plane fares for me and the annual London raucousness which usually tests my bank balance at this time of year. So there is a positive in not being able to come home. I never think of Madrid as being that Christmassy but I have to say that this year the lights are awesome around the city and I may be catching the spirit! 

3)   N   NSDs (R) No spending days

I will try for 15 NSDs. Currently on 1 though. 

4)   T   TIME (R) The challenge is for the whole of December  

5)   B   BUDGETS (R) for the month should be set before the start of the month. 

There have been some extra spends already this month.

Gym €100 and €40 equipment  for working from home, Christmas and a heater for the tropical fish tank I’m setting up. The tank and fish are a gift from a student who bred too many. 

Here are my December budgets for myself. Will aim to come under and send any extra to savings. 

Fun  €160

Food  €150

 presents €100

6)   E   EXERCISE and EATING (R). Eating well and moving your body is good for you, good for your long-term health and good for your mental health. 

Will exercise every day either in the gym or yoga at home except the weekends when I will aim to go for a walk at least. 

This week have exercised 5 days. 

Eating has definitely been better this week, all meals cooked at home apart from €6 takeaway pizza (between 2) and have stuck to the meal plan. 

7)   A   ACCEPTANCE

It really is sad that I can’t come home but I think I’m over the initial feelings about it and just really looking forward to the time spent next year as soon as I can get back, with a new realisation for how treasured some people are to me. 

8)   M   MAGIC Think about what makes Christmas special for you 

I am definitely going to make a scavenger hunt for bf… never too old for that. We are also going to a light show at the botanical gardens. 

9)   A   AVOID Chain coffee shops, fast food outlets, takeaways, vending machines etc (R).  

Next Monday and Tuesday are public holidays in Madrid and we will probably go for a coffee or two out. But main meals will be batch cooked and meal planned. 

10)  R   Be REALISTIC. 

Haven’t got started on present shopping. I’m going to write cards which will arrive hopefully in time if I post them this weekend, but the presents won’t, and I’m ok with that. I’m going to take my time and if there’s anything in the sales for people, all the better. There are no littleuns to buy for so I won’t buy anything if I don’t see anything nice. 

11)  T   Give THANKS. 

I do love this turtle custom. It really does help me day to day. Today I’m grateful for having a day to myself, currently watching mad men and eating a cheese toastie in my pyjamas. Absolute bliss!!!

12)  Y   YOU Need to Look After YOU.  

Will write a list. Will factor in daily meditation (week days at least) and will try to read in the evenings and reduce the TV time. 

13)  R   REMOVE things that sap your happiness or your energy.  

Honestly, drinking at the weekends really saps my energy. I don’t drink during the week but at the weekends I probably do drink a little too much, and it doesn’t take much to make me feel rubbish. I think I finally had a realisation last night I enjoy the first two drinks and that is it. I need to work on appreciating that and knowing when to stop after a few. 

14)  F   FORGIVE quickly.  

In this case I am the one who wants forgiveness from someone else. I have been planning to write this person a letter and I think this weekend is the perfect time to do it. 

15)  O OUT WITH PERFECTION.  

I love this. It is sometimes hard to remember that perfection is not the answer. I will work on this!! 

16)  R  REMEMBER OTHERS.

bf and I are going to donate to the local food bank and see if there is any other way we can help. I will get the RAK’s going too!! 

17)  C   COOK FROM SCRATCH (R).  

I am really looking forward to this! If we end up going to friend’s house for xmas dinner I will need to bring something for me as I’ll be the only veggie, so going to experiment with a couple of recipes. I have upped the food budget for December. 

18)  H   HOPE. Have something to look forward to. Plan for the future you want but be flexible as things may change.

I am really hoping to come to the UK by Easter. This is what I’m aiming for right now and we just have to get through the winter and most of all, enjoy it! 

19)  R   REMOVE yourself from the situation.  If things are getting too much for you (over the holidays, because of lockdown or just the way things are) take yourself to a quiet room and lie down/ cry/ have a time out.

I will! 

20)  I   IN TOUCH. Listen to your body.  

I think I am becoming more aware of this. For example this weekend I knew that I needed time out and time for myself. bf and I live and work in each other’s pockets at the moment and although I love him, I do need time alone sometimes. 

21)  S  SIMPLIFY everything.  SIMPLIFY your life - work on eliminating or automating mundane tasks.

This is a good one. I’ve been thinking about this because I’m spending too much time sending out personalised homework to students. Building a bank of general homework and then will send with a general element that is easily personalisable. 

22)  T   TAKE ACTION towards a goal. It can be a baby step but work out what isn't okay in your life, work out where you want to be and then take one tiny step to take yourself nearer to your goal.

I am trying to change career and have different options. Christmas is a good time to work on this as I get so much (unpaid) holiday. the steps I’ve taken so far this month are working on a free course online. 

23)  M   MINDFULNESS Live in the present.

24)  A    ADVANCE PLANNING is your friend. If you are posting cards or presents send them as soon as possible as delivery and postal services are already stretched.

Need to write and post my cards! on the list for today. 

25)  S   STAY IN TOUCH (R) Reporting in regularly keeps you accountable. It's especially important when things are going wrong for you. Turtle hugs are awesome.

I will!