NST January 2023 Best Possible Me

ldee2111

thriftylass said:

ditty1234 said:

Morning hope everybody is ready for Friday. I just submitted my pre retirement part time PhD proposal! I am very happy with it, so even if I don't get it it can move me forward. Unfortunately this means I've been a bit of a bad teacher so I now have well overdue marking to do. But  ... That can be done. 
Sorry I'm behind on reading but the good bit about spending every free minute reading is that it is hard to have time to spend money. So a good amount of nsd days. Happy days.

Good luck with your PhD proposal.

I had sent a wee parcel for valuation to Vint@geCashC0w and got an offer today. Luckily I had already decided in advance if the offer is over £50 I'll take it as I knew I couldn't sell them for more myself and they weren't sentimental enough to keep really. Got a £61 offer to put towards debt. I'll see what else I can find in the house. 

DH just told me he still owes the taxman 3000 (or so). I thought that was sorted but no, that is the new bill from last year. I guess I won't see my 2 grand back for a while then. There's just no talking to him about money. I'm now thinking, why did he get himself a coffee this morning, save the !!!!!! money. I'm sitting here eating freezer burnt soup as not to spend money...hopefully his LBM will come. I'm even more determined now to do the no/low spend year and cut everything I have influence over.

My OH is better with money now but it’s taken me about 15 years to mould him into it… he still has moments of ‘I’d like this totally unnecessary silly novelty gadget’ and you need to slap it down quickly and give them no glimmer of hope 🤣 But I do dread him going to the shop to pick up some milk… 

ldee2111

I’ve had a lovely slow morning… slept in and stayed in my bed faffing about on my phone: reading turtle updates, planning my February, text chatting with friend, and only getting up to put on a washing, make a tea and eat cereal. OH and DS dealt with the Sainberries grocery delivery and then went to football training. DS asked me why I was still in bed. “BECAUSE TODAY I CAN, SON” 🤣

I will get up soon but I’m loving this rare occasion. 

Grateful today for a long lie-in, tea in bed, the sun being out (going to the park soon to soak it up), for the lovely sound of birds tweeting away outside my window, and for my OH and DS. 

DawnW

NSD #17 today, go me!!

DD2 and her two little ones came round this morning, and have just gone. I did soup and rolls for lunch for most of us, and pasta with peas for the one who didn't like the soup

9 y o GD helped me with some tidying while DD took her little brother for his swimming lesson. GD's session was cancelled this week, so she stayed with me. We tidied the seed tin, then two drawers, and threw some junk out. DD took the candle ends and broken candles to make new ones, and GD was thrilled to discover my old digital camera which I haven't used for years, as phone cameras are so much better.  I got it working, showed her how to use it, and gave it to her

I haven't dared to look in the bureau yet, as GD tackled that on her own, while I made lunch for everyone. She was fascinated with the little secret drawers and cupboard, so goodness knows what I will find in there   

Grateful today for family, and for making a bit of progress on decluttering.

lcc86

Fell asleep on the sofa before 10 last night, found my way to bed at about 1am and woke up at 8. Haven't had a nice lie in for ages!

Popped to get some eggs first thing then OH and I went up to London for an event that my sister got us for Xmas. Decided to make a bit of a day of it and had lunch up in London too, so have spent on travel and food today.

I needed some new riding gloves and found some on sale recently, I was going to wait until Feb but the sale was so good that I didn't want to miss out in case it had ended by the time I got round to it.

NSD's - 16

Healthy food days - 17

Workouts this week - 3

BadBookkeeper

I’ve had a long lie in and a very lazy day but I was determined I was not doing any chores today and DH washed my car so couldn’t go anywhere.  Felt the need to just switch off today.  Has done me good.

Not an NSD as I rarely have left over ££ weekend before payday so offered to pay for tonight’s alcohol & DH bought takeaway tea.  Enjoyed it very much.  

Early start tomorrow as ds has a match.  

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for the bucket in the bathroom we can use to flush the loo, for finding a throat numbing spray for dc, for my gym session, for finding out that the 6 nations starts next Saturday, for the clear yet cold air reminding me of when we were in the Rockies in the snow!

Thrifty_Taylor

Happy Saturday to all!

As previously mentioned in my earlier post I woke early with terrible cramp. Couldn't nod off again, so looked at my emails, etc. Got up just after 9, when my friend woke up too. Sat chatting, then took her dog for a walk. Didn't go the planned 4 miles, as her OH phoned & said he was picking her up sooner than she thought he would, so headed back. It rained on our way back 😓 grabbed my bag, then walked into town to collect my car. Messaged mum en route & treated us both to a takeaway toastie. Stopped in at a CS & got DH a pair of jeans (&3 books for me!). Had a good chat with mum, luckily there weren't many customers, as she was at work. Nipped in L1dl then headed home. Wrapped & delivered a birthday birthday present for my friend in the village, then had a short nap when I got home. Washed the dishes after tea & unpicked a zip, before collecting DS3 from his friend's.

Grateful for a nice walk, good chat with mum, my tea as I was starving!!

facethemusic

NSD 14. 
Managed very little off the list, but been to work, seen my parents, played some games, sorted animals and kept everyone fed, watered and generally content so that will have to do for today! 
DD has a list for tomorrow that is almost as long as mine, but contains items which are more fun than necessary so I will see how many things we can get ticked off them both. I see a lot of alarm setting for 20 minute blasts on tasks and alternating fun and chores (although we can hopefully have some fun while doing the chores as well). 

ditty1234

Quick summary of 2022 : 
- I am learning to be a carer.
- I am relearning to be an artist - give time, money and focus to my endeavours.
- Love mostly this involves boys, friends and family, there don't seem to be any chances of dating that occurs!
- I find forgiveness difficult, I find it hard to identify a wrong, it always seem to be my fault. As much as I want to be forgiving others and not carry a grudge - I need to let the feeling surface first before I can address it. I will keep an eye out for this in the coming months.
- It has been a peaceful month in many ways, squirrelling away to try and stay afloat in January and make plans for the year. 
- I had some happy days.
- Had some moments of kind presence.
- I try to get new ideas every so often, usually too many, but hanging on to them and using them to lift and change gives a lot of energy. 

And overall for January I am grateful for ds1 completing his therapy away, and now getting on with work life, for ds2 submitting a run of assignments and some coming back with good grades, he is aiming for a firm 2.1 at the end of his second year, for a getting a phd proposal in to the no one arts university (they now tell me this 24/7 in advertising!) And for coming out of January with a bit more energy than I came into it..
On to February and @grandmanerd thanks for guiding us through January. 

Shrewbie

Morning turtles 

I have updated my expense spreadsheet and allocated my bonus. Itching to send money to savings but need to wait for various direct debits to savings accounts to move and credit card payments and then do a sweep. 

Had a great day yesterday, had breakfast with bf at home, a nice slow morning and then went ice skating with a couple of friends. We were all terrified at first having not skated for years, but it was really fun and we ended up there for about three hours in total.

Here's my round-up of Jan

Dreams & ideals

Looking back over the month I wanted to set a savings target and I feel that I am more focused and on track with that. I have done OK with batch cooking and meal planning (could get better and need to integrate more protein and less bread into diet) 

I wanted to cultivate my relationships in Jan and I think I’ve been doing better with that. Have reconnected with a few old friends and will continue trying to make new ones. I’ve been chatting more with my fam on the phone.

ask for a pay rise - well I got a small one without asking but need to have a plan to ask for a higher pay rise this year.

Increase flexibility - could do more with this. I haven’t managed to do the splits challenge yet 

Write every day - haven’t quite managed this. Need to wake up slightly earlier in the morning. only 15 mins or so should help.

Meditate every day - yes I have done this

Exercise at least 4 times per week - I have achieved this

NSDs - didn’t reach target and was pretty dismal. Will try harder in Feb.

Take breaks outside in the morning - nope. hasn’t happened but I will try starting from next week.

Avoid sugar - managing during the week but then need to control bingeing during the weekend.

90 day break from el boozio  - doing well so far. Currently on day 22 

30 day break from social media - currently on day 24 and I’ve been putting my phone away in a drawer when I get home from work.

Grateful for hot buttery toast and good coffee this morning and for some quiet time while bf sleeps off his hangover.