NST OCTOBER 2022: Autumn Leaves and Sloe Berries

greent

I don't separate toiletries/ cleaning products from grocery spends - it's just another job to do   

Today I am thankful for Autumn sunshine, for DS1 coming shopping with me to carry stuff, for getting a few things done, for an afternoon nap 😁😁

^^ written on Friday and then clearly I forgot to post it... 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Lousy sleep due to various aches and pains - slept in until 8.40 - and then only awoke because DS3 came in! Currently sat with a cup of tea and the robovac doing its thing. I've put recycling out, put a load of washing on and not much else. It's grey and damp looking outside.

Today's plans - boys are cleaning their bathroom and then I'll make sure DS2 and DS3 are ready for back to school on Monday. I need to pack my bag for back to school on Monday too - we have an inset, so have very (un)exciting training in the morning and then department time (ie work) in the afternoon. Free lunch - so that's a bonus 🙂

I've got lots of iro ing to get done this weekend, and I need to bake rolls and a loaf of bread - and think what we are having for dinner tonight and tomorrow  - argh! 

ldee2111

Thanks @hazeldreams. I’m an early bird myself so I should give YWA a try in the AM. 

@Thiriftylass I’ve been the same. Just started listing items for sale again. It all counts. Every pound paid off in debt, is a pound you’ll never pay interest on again. And It’s one pound you no longer owe but you now own. 

@Toni’sfriend I’ve found having a smart metre is really convenient. It saves me having to get into awkward positions to read metres in dark cupboards. I have turned off the screen that showed me usage costs because it just gave me mild anxiety. 

@Esmaralda2662 I include everything in my grocery budget. 

Thursday - spend day

Sold one of the items I listed on Vinted so took that to the postage drop off place. Had to print postage label at the library (20p) as we don’t own a printer anymore.

Committed an hour or so to SwagB - aiming to collect the 1000 SB in 30 days needed to earn bonus £30 AmaZn vouchers. I’ll be giving it up after this because like you @Thrifty_Taylor, I keep getting thrown off surveys part way through. Very frustrating. 

Glad to hear DH is home, Thrifty. And good that you’re taking time off work. 

Also volunteered at DS’s Halloween disco. £2 spent on entry. I really enjoyed helping out and was very impressed with some of the homemade costumes - a robot, an onomatopoeia, and even the captain of the Titanic! The boat did have to come off the wee boy pretty quickly though - you can’t play musical bumps with a boat around your waist.

Friday - spend day

Committed a couple of hours to earning SB. Now on 554/1000. 

Out for dinner and then to a light show in a park where we spent money on treats. All budgeted for.

Today/ Saturday - grocery spend day

Called friend this morning - her house was broken into yesterday and the criminals have wrecked their home trying to find cash. They broke in while she was on the school run / taking child to music class! Broad daylight! Police have taken fingerprints and have some video footage (captured by neighbour’s house camera) and told my friend that criminals must have been watching her for a while because they knew her routine. It’s so bloody awful. 

It’s put a dampener on my good luck this morning. Saneberries delivered 3 large packets of chicken when I only ordered/paid for one. Each packet cost over £12 and I’ve been charged only £10.88. I did tell the delivery guy but he insisted his paperwork was right and there was no issue for me keeping them. Fine by me! I’ll be heading to the kitchen soon to chop them all up and freeze. 

No plans for today so it’ll be nice to have a bit of a rest after a late night last night. And to tidy up the house.

Grateful this morning to speak to my friend, for the quiet day ahead, and for free chicken. 

Take care turtles x

apple_muncher

hazeldreams, could you use your phone for the yoga and meditation?

hazeldreams

@apple_muncher, yes you're right I could use my phone. Its just I'm blind as a bat without my glasses and the laptop is so much bigger and easier to see!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dc having good bouldering and dance sessions, for getting eyes and buttons on all my snowmen, for finishing my book, for the colours on the trees, for not buying anything in the charity shops.

ldee2111

Saturday: Today was grocery delivery day so not a NSD. Also ordered a bouquet of flowers for my friend whose house was broken into - asked the florist for something bright and cheery. 

Vacuumed the whole house, cleaned the kitchen, put away a washing and hung up another, and did another hour on SwagB. Have reached SB 652/1000. I should reach the 1000 within the 30 days. 

OH has occupied DS for most of the day which has been so appreciated and tonight they made pizza for dinner. DS was very pleased with himself.

Not the most exciting day but it was nice to not have a schedule and do the day at our own pace. 

Grateful for a relaxed day, for having OH and DS in my life, and for food in my fridge and heat in my house. 

lcc86

@hazeldreams I have a yoga app called down dog on my phone, you do have to pay but you can choose from so many different combos of yoga with a focus on different areas of the body and it uses your selections to make you a routine to follow, I love it. You can also pick the length of your session from 5 to 60 minutes. It costs about £30 for the year, and I know YWA is free but for me it was worth every penny as I have arthritis in my back and can choose exactly the right routines for me. Round my way a class is about £10 a pop so it's much cheaper! They have other down dog apps too for other workouts and meditation and I seem to have free access to them all just by paying one subscription.

Anyway, enough free advertising! I was doing overtime at work today, we get paid 9-1 for any Saturday overtime working in my local court. Only problem is we got stuck there till 5 dealing with something, I'll get the extra 4 hours back but it's annoying nonetheless. Very frustrating trying to deal with children's social care about an emergency situation when they have no sense of urgency but that's enough moaning.

Because I got stuck there much, much longer than anticipated I ended up buying lunch at about 3.30. I did bring a snack but just hadn't anticipated still being there so late so didn't bring lunch. Made a quick easy dinner of pasta, dropped OH into town for a night out with friends and came back home to relax.

I'm glad I have a week off now, but I do find it hard to switch off after days like today. I find myself replaying things despite myself. Hopefully will be able to get off to sleep okay.

beanielou

Enjoy your week off @Ice66. 

beanielou

@Thrifty_Taylor.  Look after yourself  xx

grandmanerd

Did mum's tax return and went to the GPO to post it (the 2 nearest boxes are emptied at 9 am on Saturdays). Roundabout route home, £13 on food to get through until whenever I decide to do a food delivery - going to try getting back to one delivery every 10 days.

Grateful for not getting very wet, lots of places to sit (especially the Will  Co inside bench), finding fruit loaf (it's the festive one, with orange)