NST June 2021: Jolly simple

lcc86

Evening turtles 

Up to 4 NSD's, today is a planned spend day as have the shopping coming soon. Also bought some hay-fever tablets online, picked up a prescription and ordered a fathers day gift for my dad. Had to refund one of my eBay sales as the buyer didn't "like" the postage cost (even though eBay sets it) and it was slightly too big. But still made some money overall.

My zero hours job is restructuring and we all have to reapply if we want to continue. The role is changing hugely and given I only work once a month or so I don't know if it's feasible for me to continue. Have to read some paperwork and then make a decision. 

ldee2111

NSD 6 today. 

Despite my enthusiasm last night for starting a yoga programme today, it didn’t happen. Too cosy in bed with a tea this morning, too busy at work, too many things to do after work including visiting my dad who celebrates a big birthday today,m. I’ll try and get the yoga (me) off the ground tomorrow. 

Running list of frugal wins in June:

- NSDs 6. 

- cancelled TV package saving at least £34 pm

- got a good deal on home insurance plus £45 cashback

- taken new fibre broadband contract (£2 less than what we would be paying with current)

- £23.59 cashback for online purchases 

Grateful for birthday cake, seeing my auntie for the first time in about 3 years, and a positive ‘parents night’ call from DS’s nursery teacher.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

f0xh0les said:

@Deni_debt-free_dreamer - do you have  test kist at home? Would be interesting to see if it picked up anything - I am not quite convinced at the effectiveness of the home tests - I am still doing them -  but really not sure how sensitive they actually are.

@f0xh0les - DD1 does regular lateral flow tests at home as she works in a school; she had a positive result so went for a PCR test which was also positive.  DD2 and i have both tested negative on lateral flow tests & we've done 3 now.  
So DD1 is still feeling rough and we are all still isolating.  Had a long day WfH yesterday & a busy day today.  Very hot here so lots of washing dried on the line; have been spending every day as ordered contact lenses for DD2, done a couple of online food shops and ordered a birthday present for DD1.  
Grateful for - nice chat with boss; TV keeping DD2 occupied; sitting in the garden with the cats
Love Deni

f0xh0les

Still on NSD2, ticking along nicely.  Nothing to report except tomorrow is exactly one month until the loooooong Summer holidays, which is worth a happy dance in anyone's book, and will make getting up at 6am tomorrow a lovely thing!

It's all perspective, innit?

mothernerd

Okay, it's turning into a very spendy month. Only two NSDs and current totals are Food £169-36/£400, Miscellaneous £51-46/ £100, DIY £28-50/ £100, Travel £3/ £35. Not included 'rent' credit for DS3 (my contribution to latest visit by big sucky machine and drain camera) and taxi fares for mum's hospital appointment (use vouchers which were paid for in March - mum pays £30 but gets vouchers with a face value of £120). May do a food order for tomorrow - a few things have run out and I want heavy items delivered, the bits I bought today were to tide me over until they arrive and were heavy enough (had to rest on the church wall and on the salt box (road gritting type) at the back of the library. Other big shop split between Misc/ DIY - biggest items were cross point screwdrivers and fake flowers fro mum's fairy grotty but lots of other bits as well.

Got a lift into town with mummy of twins and went to my house. More boxes broken up and put int paper bin (out for collection). According to messenger DS3 was asleep (offline) for 14 hours and his key was in the door so mine wouldn't work. Went in the yard, added more of the cut down ivy to the green bin, pulled up some weeds and more ivy (lots more to do), went to little arseda (first time since March 20th, 2020) for sandwiches and drinks (so sick of mum's tap water) then tried knocking on the front door. DS3 was awake. Found more boxes and cardboard including some I flattened last time. When his bin was full I sat in the yard breaking more boxes up and putting them under the legs of the chair I was sitting in. Neighbours asked what I was doing and offered me the remaining space in their bin. Lots of empty plastic bottles put in a spare bin in the backs (probably won't get emptied but they aren't lying around on the floor and can be added to our bins at a later date when we have space.

Moved all my food into one bag and set off to do my other shop. Limped back home (sat on benches in the middle of the shopping area but the ones nearer home were occupied by teenagers). I did intend filling the dishwasher and setting it off but just phoned for my taxi. Six o'clock when I got in so at least 3 hours work. Hoping to go back and do more on Thursday (new puzzle book day).

Past two days have been more digging - mole was my favourite character in Wind in the Willows so I don't care if I can't dig to Ireland or the Orkneys. I am making good progress but it's tough going and yesterday the tree stump was causing difficulties. Every three inches I dug down I found yet another root. Half the large bed is now mostly level with the top of the flags but it's higher at the back and there's a heavy clay layer. Mostly forked it over to loosen, dug soil/ moved it onto the flags so the sun could dry it out for sieving and hunted down more buckets to put it in. Definitely overdone it (and caught the sun) so opted for the change of activity today. Parts of me have been hurting for 3 days now, the sides of both index fingers are sore and I've run out of different ways to hold the trowel. However I've allowed myself all week to tackle this area (half a bed) and another good day's digging should clear it. Putting the new containers in place and building it up are much easier and more fun. Lets hope the tree stump co-operates.

Grateful for brother continuing to recover, mum liking the fake flowers, tackling some frogs (maybe an elephant in disguise, with it's toenails painted red), being back on the bed and not going out digging some more, hand cream/ body lotion of all kinds.

f0xh0les

You will definitely be the best moisturised mole in the whole of the North East @mothernerd . 

The weather is very nice for plants, and drying laundry, but not really conducive to me getting much done over here in Le Shire.

Not getting below 23 during the day  or 15 during the night at any point this week and at the weekend  we have 27 to look forward to (I mean hide from).  All the mattress toppers have been bunged in the washing machine, line dried, and back on the beds before 4pm. 

The school run is like a sauna, so I have missed a few NSDs because an ice lolly was an essential crowd control measure for the boys or there was going to be a serious meltdown, and they cannot argue whilst sucking on a rocket lolly, it is a scientifically  proven fact. 8 for £1 is doable, but annoying when it means losing a NSD.  Still, the budget is not broken. Just a little crumpled.

Calling14

Apologies for disappearing. Worst cold/ throat ever got onto my chest nearly up to 10 days of it. Went for a covid test Friday as I felt so bad and Delta variant is high in our area. Negative result but still was rough. First day back in work today besides tickley throat I am doing ok.

I have only managed including today 3 NSDs.

Thursday - did a lidlee shop

Friday - popped into Bn Q for compost and got lots of trays of reduced plants. plus needed coffee on way back home.

Sat - NSD Played making tubs up and planted sweet peas. I love them

Sunday- popped out for more yogurts and ice cream - best food ever when feel rough. Ordered trainers from Amyson. which only cost me £13 as had a decent balance on there from my surveys.

Monday - NSD, why when you are ill do you feel the urge to clean everywhere? Collapsed in heap by afternoon

Tuesday - Took a dress back would of been a NSD but feeling rough got a coffee whilst out. Intended to do a walk but just wanted my couch.

Weds - today  woo hoo NSD number 3. Will go for a walk after work, need to water friends garden.

Get well everyone who's under the weather.

Idlee I cancelled Sky 2 months ago, besides taking tad longer to find things and recording I don't miss it. Mananged to watch some football Champions League Final on youtube free.

Grateful for

Surveys

Quidco

Lucozade & Honey/ Lemon/ Ginger drinks.

Toni'sfriend

Feeling a bit stressed today. Himself fell over last night, whacked his nose, knees and elbows. He couldn't get up and I couldn't help him move. Eventually he managed to crawl into bed. Blood everywhere. I've spent all day trying to clean up the bedroom. He's a bit battered and bruised today but no real damage.

I've decided the bathroom is looking decidedly tatty so I've ordered some things to give it a bit of a makeover. Not really budgeted for but we have the money. In fact, the whole house could do with a bit of TLC so I'm going to start a little savings pot and make some plans.

Early to bed for me tonight. I hardly slept last night.

ldee2111

NSD 7. 
Feeling low today. I’ve got yet another ear infection and a mouth ulcer, and am generally feeling run down and lethargic. GP has given me an appointment for bloods to see if I’ve any deficiencies.
June:

- NSDs 7. 

- cancelled TV package saving at least £34 pm

- got a good deal on home insurance plus £45 cashback

- taken new fibre broadband contract (£2 less than what we would be paying with current)

- £23.59 cashback for online purchases 

Grateful for NHS.

mothernerd

NSD 3 today, but spent quite a lot yesterday evening. Did the planned small food shop for delivery today (all the heavy stuff) and then went through yesterday's list, looking at things I hadn't bought. The list has been put together over the past couple of months, so varying degrees of 'need'. Spent nearly all the miscellaneous and diy budgets (have left enough to buy my puzzle book) but it means I can travel to my house and concentrate on the work that needs doing there rather than being dropped off in the town centre and doing errands until I can't walk any further.

Digging for 2 hours this morning, then an hour's painting (just for light relief). Food order came then I came indoors for a couple of hours (too much sun or too much work but needed a lie down). I have been back out about 4 times since, digging and hacking/ sawing/ crowbar-ing the tree stump and then resting in between. I am more or less level with the flagstones now (ideally I want to be level with the bottom of the flags but there are odd clay patches and rock hard patches (plus several lumps of bricks from when the house was built). It's raining now so will wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Grateful for food, making progress and my new book coming (I was sure I had pre-ordered it but it never arrived so added it onto last night's order).