NST September 2021

lcc86

Congrats @Deni_debt-free_dreamer, what a great feeling!

Today is NSD number 9 I believe. Managed a swim and a walk today, nothing crazy BUT I feel like my pain levels are starting to go down so I'm praying everything is going in the right direction. Nothing much else to report tbh, just trying to keep a lid on everything financially. In good news my employer seems to have sorted the issue with my P45, so hopefully it was done in time for this month's pay run and I will get my normal pay!

cybertortoise

I'm so frustrated and still stuck at 1 NSD.

I've been so tired since starting placement that I've come home, we've had random stuff for dinner and I've been in bed by 8pm latest! I've had no money or time to go and do a decent shop so I've had to send the kids down to the local shop to get some bits for dinner and lunches. From tomorrow I'm also going to be starting a new job, a few hours here and there irregular, so I'll have even less time. I'm still tracking all of my expenses though.

We seem to live with a perpetually low stock of food in the house, certainly nothing much to make actual meals from, and when I'm struggling to stand up because I'm in so much pain after being on my feet all day the last thing I want to do is cook a big meal. My plan is to use the weekend to sort out some slow cooker meals, prepped and ready to be thrown in the cooker in the morning. I should also be able to do a decent food shop on Friday as it's my half day. My blood pressure has been elevated at night too so I need to change my diet ASAP and start exercising more which is difficult because of my knee. MRI on my knee on Saturday evening, so I'm hoping they find something rather than just say it's because of my weight.

Hope everyone is doing well. I'll go back and catch up now.

mothernerd

I've had another spendy day - I think I'm still only on 2 NSDs. Wishing I had a monitor as it feels like I've done my steps today. Went in the shower an hour before mum's normal 'getting up' time. Packed handbag - phone (charged yesterday), glasses, purse, bag of coins, keys, hankie, pens and lists (checked several of my favourite authors and which books I already have), mask, book I am reading, rucksack with library books, quick trip to the shed for 2 cans, 2 small bottles of water, tape measure, garden gauntlets, secateurs (getting the door shut again was very interesting). Felt exhausted about an hour before our first appointment.

Mum had booked the taxi early so after swapping our masks for hospital ones, we sat in the small waiting room until just before our appointment. Toddled down the corridor, mum sat down in audiology and I went to talk to the receptionist. mum had booked in for next Monday (she says the woman didn't say the date - I suspect she did and mum didn't hear her). Receptionist looked through the schedule and technician had a vacant spot at 12 noon. Asked mum if she wanted to come back at noon or if I should come next week (decided noon). Receptionist let me leave the hearing aids with her and pick them up at 12.15.

Went out the far end of the hospital - mum said some people were going the other way but I said we'd just stick with the rules (busier than it has been for some time), back round and into the new building (or newest building strictly speaking). Told podiatry receptionist we were early, sat in the waiting space (mum had to use her walker again as not many free seats). Lovely podiatrist sorted mum's nails and a sore spot on one toe. She admired mum's comfy shoes (so getting a slipper in a similar style has been added onto my list (told the girl mum puts them on her gift list and people turn up with daft options - pink bunny ears front and no back). Made new appointment (December 15th).

Down in the lift and back across to the original building - followed the same route round so mum could look at the menu (we filled in the time by getting lunch - there are benches outside but it was a bit chilly to be outside for 15 - 30 minutes). Mum wanted a pie and they hadn't arrived (delivered hot at noon). Paid for it and told the server where we were sitting. I had a baguette and mum drank her tea then the woman brought the very hot corned beef hash pie. I put my rubbish in the bin and then we had a sudden influx of staff queuing for their lunches. By the time the queue cleared and mum finished her pie, it was time to pick up the hearing aids. Left mum drinking her tea, went back to lovely receptionist (she was on her break but keeping an eye out for my return). No faults detected but have been retubed (black look from mum when I told her). Phoned for taxi sitting outside on a bench. I had used a bag for life to sit on earlier as benches were wet. Mum pointed out an elderly man at the next bench, trying to dry it with a tissue so I gave him one of my spare bags.

Lovely taxi driver - I told him to drop me off in town but gave him a 3 block option as to where he stopped, depending on how the traffic was. More or less got the midpoint and I asked him to make sure mum got safely as far as the handrail at the bungalow (he saw her right to the door). Went in the library, returned 7 books, picked another 12. Went to my house and my key wouldn't go in the door so had to hammer on the door until DS3 came to answer it (he will have to learn not to leave his key in the back of the door).
He went back to bed. I negotiated my way to the couch and sat and had a drink. Picked up some cans, did a bit of weeding (lots needing cutting back/ down again) and broke up a couple of boxes - all in their respective bins. 

Had a miscellany of things to buy and wanted to go round town using the spare walker before the teenage after school invasion  - weeding etc could be done later. Stopped to get cash from the machine for both mum and myself. Pound emporium looked a bit busy so gave that a miss. Went in the Red Cross shop and spent quite a bit, some list items, some not. Six large white oval dinner plates for 4.50 (I only have one T & G Green plate left and the set Beloved brought with her are nearly all gone too), 3 small metal items (2 lanterns and 1 small watering can - will probably use it as a pen pot but it was super cute), a couple of books by favourite authors and a large men's zipped knitted cardigan in dark turquoise/ light teal for 4.50 (97% cotton and Weird Fish brand). This is to replace my recently binned winter cardigan. It wasn't fit to be seen in public but was so lovely and comfortable that I would put it on and forget to take it off when going out. Winter wardrobe sorted (still wearing dresses until they're only fit for painting in and then continuing until the holes get too big).

Boots still had the sun cream on at full price (large notices saying offers but not bargain prices as far as I could see. However on the aisle (side wall) that was mostly sun cream a lot of shelves only had one row on the edge of the shelf so the end of season reductions will be coming (and then that wall will be full of items covered in little present stickers saying 3 for 2). Thought they had ibuprofen by the till (didn't take any this morning, there were none in my bag and I was really hurting by this stage) but they only had paracetemol and wasn't going back the length of the store. 

Looked briefly in BHF but a customer went in just before me and the two assistants were adding to displays on either side of the shop so came back out. (Lots of sitting on benches in between these forays, must have used every bench in town and some twice). Next was HB. Couple of snack items bought. Several packs of plastic boxes suitable for freezer and microwave. Used to collect bundles of takeaway containers from mum for all my batch cooked meal. However they are getting thinner all the time, break at nothing and can only be reused a few times. A couple of years ago I got some from W's with a variety of coloured lids (which helped identify dishes) and M's did some with turquoise lids. I checked a while ago and W's only had the plain ones and these were cheaper. Mum made and boxed some meals at weekend (only two meals but multiples of both) so has used all our existing boxes.

Bought a pack of wooden pegs (mum's peg bag is getting low as a batch have pinged away recently) some festive cards (asked mum before I went out) and festive presents for my grandpuppy and the grandchinchillas. I'm expecting visits from DS2 and daughter out law and DS1, d-i-l and grandpuppy and have a number of items to hand over in case we can't visit later (one is their wedding sampler and they've just had their 3rd anniversary). Looked at every notebook in the shop (mum wants lined writing pad but she's had A5 notebooks before with a perforation so you can take the page out and leave the bit with holes) but no joy. No 21st card for a boy either. They had a good selection of light bulbs - jotted down a reminder earlier to check the light bulb supply in the next week or two

Sat on another bench pondering whether I could get to Age Concern shop (possibly having to miss out W's which was one of my primary objectives). Went for it and quite a good haul of favourite authors, all look brand new (8.99 new, sometimes in the 3 for 5 pounds offers as they sell in large quantities, 1.30 for something I'll read over and over - sold). Bargain of the day - a home facial kit by the Sanctuary, 5 products for 39p (only little tubes) but I think a face mask alone is that price (not something I buy very often).

More sitting then onto W's. Paid full price for 2 bags of onion sets, garlic, 1 pack tete-a tete and a pack of mixed white bulbs (DS2 is very upset that everything in mum's garden is painted blue (and mainly the same blue although I have tried to introduce some toning shades), yellow and white spring bulbs will look splendid with a blue background and *** 33 packs of seeds *** for 5p per pack ***. Did the every notebook in the store again, found a reporter's notebook which I thought might be the best option and then **actual lined writing paper**, got 2, not going through that again, 2 boxes of those tubs of chocolates (2 for 7 pounds - mum's list). No 21st card but picked up the ibuprofen and some toiletries I'd noticed mum was low on.

Bench hopped all the way back down the main shopping street, then long haul from traffic lights to my house. Sat down, ate and had a drink + 2 ibuprofen. DS3 was up and settling in to half the couch. Phoned for a taxi - probably 30 minutes. No problem - I have things to eat and drink and books to read.

Grateful for 5p seeds, finding a few things on my 'long-term list', getting to take off my shoes and put my feet up.

apple_muncher

I'm putting my feet up after just reading about your day,mothernerd. Well done you! That is a huge list of things done.

Several turtles seem to feel bad about being low on NSDs. Remember that they are only 1 way to measure things. If your life has become hectic central, then throw NSD counting out of the window. Don't give yourself another stressor. Even if all you do is keep on keeping a note of your spends to look at/ analyse later, then that is a very good thing.

Today I am grateful for the end of the day, for working with some lovely people, for finding a job to apply for, for dc telling me all about their crappy day and not bottling it up, for WSM 2017!!!! (Can't believe I didn't take much notice of the Stoltman brothers back then!)

ldee2111

NSD 5.
Tired.
Low.
Grateful for a slow day at work, a dry day, watching DS have fun at his sports class after nursery, 

greent

Ahh, Denise- that's a lovely surprise


Thankful for easy food - used up various leftovers. Last of leftover leftovers will be taken for my lunch tomorrow:)  a dry day for drying clothes, for a cup of tea waiting for me when I finally got home  

CEW

NSD # 9 today. 

Didn’t sleep well last night, think I finally dropped off around 5am. Alarm goes off at 6am so put it on snooze and reset alarm for 8am.very quick wash and dress ready for a 8.30 meeting. Tired so packed up at 5.30 pm which is only 30 minutes later than I should. I think today was the first time that all 4 members of our team logged off by 5,30. 

Nothing much done tonight except baking an All Bran cake, sounds awful but is delicious sliced an buttered with a cup of tea or coffee.

Grateful today for quick and easy meals (I cooked lots of extra baby potatoes over the weekend), nice weather at lunchtime so I could eat my lunch outside, cooler weather tonight which will hopefully allow me to sleep better and fresh cake to freeze in slices tomorrow.

Thrifty_Taylor

Wow, you've all been so busy! I'm impressed with your bargains Mothernerd. Glad you've got a savings cushion Deni, even better that it was a surprise! Hugs to those that need them today, remember that tomorrow is a new day to make it the best you can, even if that is just taking time for yourself, it is important. You can't look after others, if you're not well yourself!

NSD#6
I've had a great day. Did yoga again before breakfast, work went well. Afterwards, phoned about son's free boat tickets (he's now too old to get them, but at least I know now & can stop looking for them!), loaded the car up ready to go to the dump after work tomorrow, then moved more soil into the raised bed. Washed up after tea, then assembled the coat lining, ready to handstitch into the coat. My friend loved her poncho, she said blue is her favourite colour too, so I made a good choice there 😍

Grateful for friend liking her present, yoga, negative tests & spending time outside

f0xh0les

Evening!  I am sticking on NSD5 as the child benefit came in this morning, and so I stocked up on a couple of crates of milk.   I have a vegan b0unty bar somewhere..... but where??     I know I put it in the basket, I vaguely remember putting it on the conveyor belt, but cannot remember what happened between there and putting all the stuff down on the back seat of my car....  tonight it is Schrodinger's Bounty Bar.  I will find out tomorrow. 

To quote Toyah Wilcox,.......It's a mysterwy!

I am going to go into W's (always think W00lw0rths, then the posh Green Grocer's currently masquerading as 0cad0, and only then the Co of William) and hunt for 5p seeds.  You have motivated me for next year mothernerd. 

Cup of tea, and then time for bed, it is after all a school night

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Thanks everyone I'm very grateful to my parents for the surprise money.  I haven't had any savings since 2007 when i split up from my partner and used the £4k i had to put towards the mortgage.  Since then i've mostly had debt (till this year).  
WfH this morning and then went into the office at 3pm.  Had an eve meeting which meant i didn't leave the office till almost 9pm.  Filled up on petrol on the way home.  Put some washing out this morning and got it almost dry then left it on the airer while i went to work.  
Had a big salad for lunch with some leftovers from the weekend and just had some toast when i got in from work as hadn't taken any food with me.  Trying to eat from stores this week.

Gratitudes - helpful colleague doing a task for me; easy drive home from work; DD2 settled in her new uni flat

Nite all 
Deni xx