An in-between phase

PennysIntoPounds

Sorry if I sounded a bit melodramatic yesterday, it just really shook me to be reminded how vulnerable I am as a female and as someone whose body can be made significantly less able because a stranger chooses to have a problem with a woman walking down the street. 
I'm a bit less shaken and cross today but still sore. And a bit sad that it happened at all. Extra annoyed as I was hoping to be able to ease myself into doing some gentle exercise this weekend and forthcoming week but I know from experience my shoulder is going to take 1-2 weeks to get back to its 'normal'. Blimmin psycho man.

But found 20p in my handbag so thats gone in the spare change pot

Got £2.33 credit from EE so that's gone in the flat pot

Chased money for a couple of jobs

Did a small lunchtime walk and got Sainso dinner deal; huge pizza, mozzarella sticks and a dip for £6.50. Yes there were more mse options I could have done, but I want comfort food and it was a much more money saving option than takeaway pizza

Used c*-op vouchers to get a free bag of salad

Saved receipts to do feedback surveys and hopefully win points/vouchers

Did a couple of surveys including one with potential to take part in a study about antibiotic resistance in the population that requires a few swabs and stool sample for a £50 voucher. If there's one thing I *can* contribute to scientific progress, it's a stool sample 😂😭😂

Had a lovely letter from a newish friend who feels like a very old friend. The cost of stamps and paper/cards is absolutely worth it for the heartwarming joy of having a loved penpal, and having actual nice post come through the letterbox in this modern era

Had a couple of pints with a very old friend which was lovely. So reassuring to know your good pals from 'way back when' are still knocking about, and still love you and get comfort from your existence even if they are much better off
(I'm a well balanced individual, I have a chip on both shoulders 😁)

But a productive, pleasant and money saving day overall, and I hope you're all having wild evenings out with all the money you saved this week, or comfort laden money saving evenings in x

foxgloves

What an interesting clinical study, @PennysIntoPounds. I wonder if the researchers are going to be looking at different gut microbiota & seeing if the presence of various strains of gut bacteria could potentially increase or decrease resistance to antio-biotics. You can tell I'm reading a lot about gut health atm, can't you?!
F

PennysIntoPounds

I had a gut feeling @foxgloves (I'll get my coat 😁)
It is *such* an interesting field of study though, I read ages ago I think from New Scientist, that there's tentative evidence that flossing your teeth helps prevent dementia because otherwise plaque goes in saliva which goes into your gut and gets redistributed with everything else around the body including the brain. Obviously thats my very amateur understanding but it did make me super committed about flossing! 

PennysIntoPounds

No significant updatings but trying to make myself post regularly to try to remember small good mse things/nag myself or be nagged 🙂

Entered competitìons, was well up for the C*rrys vacuum one as my mum (and me) wants a lightweight one what with her back (and my cpc) but the website entry form wasn't clear whether you'd successfully entered and the captcha kept saying I was a robot even though to the best of my knowledge I'm not, so prioritised blood pressure over long odds

Missioned it over to Mr PIPs (the other side of the city), happily Mr PIP was able to be on hand to help carry necessaries but I am still knackered. But I did remember to bring over things that needed to be used like half a jar of pasta sauce. Yes, cheaper to make your own but I was also knackered on the day I bought it so pleased I at least got an Ald! own brand jar that we added veg to

Got an old charity shop purchase oversized mans suit jacket out from the wardrobe to be my summer to autumn 'chuck on' going out layer. Good to be able to shop from home (the lovely phrase I picked up from @foxgloves which has rung true many a time) and apparently tailoring especially with big shoulders is very in for Autumn/Winter daaarlings

Blackcats

Your Greggs quipp made me laugh and reminded me of an incident my daughter was involved in.  Her first aid training was called into action when she saw a man choking in the street outside Greggs.  After performing the Heimlich Manoeuvre a partially digested sausage roll was expelled onto her fancy new trainers.  Turns out he had stolen the sausage roll and when pursued he decided to eat the evidence too quickly.   Not expecting her to be nominated for a Pride of Britain award any time soon 🤣

PennysIntoPounds

Hahaha @Blackcats that is a brilliant anecdote. Well done your daughter regardless! I was told when doing training that the Heimlich family after his death got very litigious and wanted money every time it was taught, so now the manoeuvre is largely referred to as 'abdominal thrusts'. I mean, there's money saving, then there's hearing 'kerching!' when a life is trying to be saved! 

PennysIntoPounds

Upstairs still clomping away in the early hours. If I was in charge it would be illegal to have parquet flooring if people live beneath you. And possibly illegal to own shoes (I'd be a brutal dictator 😁)

Washed my hair. My shoulders not grateful. Really need to get it cut but the prices are very off-putting

Declined going to a party next week which I'm a bit sad about but it's fancy dress and I have nothing to substitute hiring or buying an outfit. I am absolutely not spending unnecessary extra money to have drinks with mates, especially on something that'll never be used again and adds to environmental tat

Resisted buying the Sunday papers, tempting as it was

Got a book accepted by z!ffit and put a box together and sent it all off. Extra pleased to have been able to take advantage of their bank holiday promo code. It only gives me another 50p but it all adds up!

Found out a pub mate is in hospital having intensive treatment for throat cancer, he's doing well thank goodness, but such a shock as he's not a fag ash lil like the rest of us in there, never drinks heavily, hasn't worked in culpable surroundings. Just bloody harsh bad luck. A good reminder to enjoy and appreciate what you can cos life ain't fair, and to keep an eye on achieving an emergency pot! Have offered to get/do things if he needs, which will obviously cost me more in fares etc but what are we trying to be financially sound for if not to be able to help make things better where we can

P.S. dinner is the mashed and frozen spuds I prepped when they were going off, with a load of chopped onion and grated cheese squidged in. Nutritious, delicious, and very mse

PennysIntoPounds

Today's bits:

Couple of surveys, screened out of a Panelbase survey, I don't know why the providers don't ask the key qualifying question near the start. It's no use going through the rigmarole of gender, age, location, income bracket, inner leg measurement, do you dance around naked when there's a full moon, to then ask 'do you have this streaming service tho' 🙄

Entered a few competitions

Went for a 15 minute walk rather than saving up the steps I 'should do' for some unknowable future long walk in which I'm magically full of energy and ability and have many hours available

Finished the Kazuo Ishiguro book (Never Let Me Go) and I thoroughly recommend it. Didn't think I'd like it, was engrossed. Not going in the z!ffit pile.
Started new book, it's readable but so-so at the moment and I'm on page 40 and warming less to it . It's another one that has awards and recommendations on the cover and sleeves, which I find off-putting as I don't react well to peer pressure but I'll try to give it a chance!

Cleaned outside Mr PIPs where the powers that be had decided the upstairs railings of the block needed stripping and repainting. The whole space clearly (going sarcastic now) looks so much better with a huge amount of peeled and chipped paint all over the place and into everyone's plants. A fine use of service charge money. Nothing says spruced up like a ton of irretrievable paint flakes everywhere and a load of crying plants

But I'm pleased with the kitchen roll sheet in salad bag tip that I read lately, can't remember where so apologies if it was someone on here I'm not crediting. Seems to work a treat to keep leaves lasting longer

And me and Mr PIP went up the high street to L!dl as they had an app offer of 15% off their craft beer cans, which were already decent value and from respected breweries, so we got a few to put in family Christmas gift hampers, and a couple for us to try, what with them being good value

Apologies for using the C-word, especially in August! I do find it so useful to pick up bits when I can afford it throughout the year if they're something someone will like *and* a bargain. Getting to costly, stressy, busy (and cold and dark) December and finding you've made good inroads into the necessary shopping is just joyful. Thank you past me for making hibernating me's life significantly less grim and expensive! 

foxgloves

Morning Pennysintopounds,
I enjoyed that book too. Found it thought-provoking & preferred it to the film, although that was good too.
Re surveys....I get annoyed with the major survey company which sends regular invitations to surveys, then when one clicks the link to participate, a message appears saying "This survey is not available". Well, don't invite me then, you time-wasters!
No need to apologise for mentioning Christmas. I buy & make gifts all year round to put in the presents bag, ear-mark which of my preserves will be kept for the festive table & a couple of gift hampers, save Co-op & nectar points towards December's grocery shopping & stash vouchers from my credit card points towards the turkey! Nothing at all wrong with being prepared for an expensive time of year!
F

EssexHebridean

I'm struggling a little with lack-of-book-anxiety at the moment - most of ours are now packed. I've not quite managed to cope with the idea of packing the Diana Gabaldon ones at the moment but equally my headspace is not quite in the right place for starting on one of those as they are ALL huge (Not usually an issue, but right now, just no!). Some fluke of inner wisdom lead to me deciding to leave Nella Last's War out of the most recent box of books though as that is proving to be a perfect distraction at a time when distractions are much needed! 

I'm also struggling with a survey provider whose surveys are seemingly never available when clicked on...very frustrating!