NST July 2023: Jurassic July

grandmanerd

Thank you for this month's challenge Starlight. I think I totally lost the plot some where in the middle but there was a lot to think about and much helpful pondering. I've been out for several hours this afternoon, spending money (which all came out of my 'penny' tin). Biggest spend was £14 for 3 black dresses from a cs. Biggest single item spend was the last purchase of the day. I bought a dolls' house for £9.99 (but told them to keep the change). I've picked up a few things we  needed (to varying degrees - I have some garden gloves but mostly singles so bought some heavy duty ones in HB and then another pair in the 3rd cs).

I went in 2 clothes shops first (the ones most of my purchases have come from for the last 5 - 6 years) but neither had anything suitable (confirmed what I'd seen online). But I have something to wear for the funeral now, so don't need to go to Mc or the Trafford Centre. There were a few things online that I liked (both specifically funeral wear and some bright colours) but many were online exclusives. If I bought all the things I liked, I'd be wearing black for the next 5 years. 

I bought some cleaning stuff (something I ran out of yesterday and it's definitely the last bottle we had), more red grapes and little tomatoes,pot herbs from the market, some things to put away for December ( a dog toy that will challenge my grandpuppy), some quality wooden toys at bargain (cs) prices, more white handkerchiefs (no more kitchen roll) and a few new items from the last cs. They normally have arg0s rejects - I once bought 2 double beds for £60 each, but they've obviously been given items from some store that has maybe gone bankrupt. Instead of the large furniture items they had several stands of assorted new goods - stationery, diy, garden stuff, ornaments and one stand of party ware - paper plates and cups in different themes and bags of 50 balloons. I also bought a jigsaw. I looked at new and cs ones. i was thinking part of my staycation could be to create a scene of the place I wanted to be but in the end I bought a £2 one in a cs which is illustrations of several ice creams (can't have a holiday without ice creams). Oh I put some pennies in charity collection boxes  too. Was going to put some in the Oxfam box but our shop has closed.

Grateful for this challenge, a tiring but very successful shopping expedition (ankle, knee and hip are all throbbing), help from lots of people including quite a few drunks who responded to the challenge of a walker loaded with several bags and a large dolls' house on top. 

grandmanerd

I counted what was left in my penny tin and it came to £105.10, so that's next month's food budget (will be aiming to use at least 23 packets/ tins/ jars a week plus the freezer contents)

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#15 woo hoo, I made it 😊

Thank you all for your support over scam-gate. Received another phone call tonight (I'm going to faint! Twice in one week, after none for years!), to say the wedding had gone ahead. The court staff were apparently working late as he'd got an email to say he was married, with a photo of the marriage certificate, so now he's a MULTI MILLIONAIRE! I knew there'd be a sniff if money in it somewhere. Apparently, once she's moved in with him & more settled, they're going to get married in s church. We'll see. Still not convinced.

On a brighter note, took DH for his blood test, nipped to s friend's to get the key for pet sitting at the weekend, collected sofa cushions for a sewing job. Shortened 2 dresses before dinner. Put a wash on, then painted 2 sides of the garage, followed by some weeding. Washed the dishes after tea, then did a bit of my rug.

Thanks for this month's thread @Starlight_at_Sea. See you all in August 😃

Grateful for more potential sales, chatting with s friend, time outside

Toni'sfriend

And, of course, he'll have to transfer all his money to "her" so that she can release the millions of pounds from  wherever they are now!

Thrifty_Taylor

Probably indeed. He's deluded! One day he'll see what we've all been telling him...