NST September 2023: Turtle Tightwaddery with a sprinkle of Alchemy

Thrifty_Taylor

Sending all of today's posters a hug. I think there's been something in the water today, lots of the children (& staff) were feeling the same way, making the working hours quite stressful!

Work felt very long, but helped that the teacher gave lots of thanks at the end of the day. Wrote receipts into spends book.

After tea I shortened 4 dresses, sewed 2 of them, should get the other 2 done tomorrow night. Ordered the rest of DS3's birthday presents, so hopefully have a few NSDS now.

Have to have an early night as DH needs to be at the airport by 6.30, to fly to Aberdeen for his hospital appointment.

Grateful for lots of cake in the staffroom, getting bits done at home, inspiring garden programmes

grandmanerd

 downstairs early yesterday as it was threatening to rain and I wanted to get my washing in. Too late it was semi- soggy so left it where it was. Heavy rain over night so it should be well rinsed. Whilst I was there I put multiple towels in the WM (mainly small ones) and a large piece of white linen (very coarse, cheap stuff) which I cur into smaller pieces and threw away the bits with the worst stains. My pills arrived whilst I was downstairs, I put more leftovers in the microwave to bring back with me. Added to various rubbish and recycling bags but then decided I'd had enough.

Food for the rest of the day was easy as they both brought me bits from their meals and late on I had the last leftovers and a tin of chunky soup (did a bit of a can reshuffle when I was on my feet), DW contents mostly decanted. More cross-stitch done (bear has half a head (need more of that colour cotton) a muzzle and enough left to fill in his ears (maybe enough for his tummy too, will count how many stitches I'm getting from the lengths of cotton.

Had an offer on some craft stuff and probably put too many things in my basket (need to slow down and not buy stuff in anticipation of things I'm going to make (sometime in the next five years). Luckily their website went down and I haven't got an e-mail so perhaps it didn't go through. The offers ended at midnight so I won't reorder unless they give me a bigger discount. I'd decided to buy some prints at weekend (a set of 3 that I've been looking at for over a year). It wouldn't accept the code for the £5 off offer so I abandoned my basket. The seller sent me a discount code and this time the £5 off went through which meant I got A3 prints for the size of A4 (wanted the A3 but thought the price was over the top so got just what I wanted after  a year of waiting). I did another small craft order and there are another couple of items I want (waste canvas and more 100% wool felt from a seller I've used before). Was hoping to pick up the thread I needed but may treat myself to the ones in the cs (4 for a £1) and maybe the £3 set of bricks (simplest way to make appliances for the dolls' house).

I've been cold during the last 2 nights so got up at 4 am and put on a t-shirt and a long cardigan. I was still awake at 6 am and it was pitch black so that's probably why I've been waking later (with the sun). Definitely not well today (all low grade stuff but such a lot  of it) so staying where I am for now. I'm 'washed', I've gathered rubbish and recycling, plus library books (due back at the end of the week, I think but will take back the ones I've read or can't be bothered with - not today unless I improve vastly this afternoon and weeded out various items in the bathroom and my bedroom. 

Grateful for getting washing done and out on the line, concentrating on the things I can do and current craft projects, looking forward to seeing family at weekend.

apple_muncher

Wotcha turtle gang!

I don't think I've ever been so absent from a thread, so you have my apologies. I've no life-shattering events going on, I'm just not being very good at posting!

Dc has been back at school for a little over 2 weeks now, and has only needed 2 afternoons off so far, which is good. I am so glad that I am not working any more - so dc can have all my attention when they are around.

I'm exercising my tightwaddery muscles by not doing unnecessary spending and am making the most of my gym membership.

I am grateful for recordings of the rugby to watch at my leisure, for 2 local cats popping by quite often to say hello, for getting outside more, for free knitting patterns online, for my dh and dc - always!

apple_muncher

When you don't need to be a tightwad anymore.

It happens. There will probably come a time when you don't need to be a tightwad anymore.

It happens because tightwaddery really does work. But tightwads can be confused as to how to let go of a lifestyle that has brought order and control to their lives and that they have come to enjoy.

The problem is that pressure to spend more increases from all sides.... And you start to doubt yourself. You wonder: Does having more money really mean we have to waste it?

The answer is to understand that the tightwad life is not about spending less...it's about spending in a way that reflects your values, and that should not stop if you have a billion dollars. Having more money simply means you can pursue your values in a larger and even more satisfying way.

Consider the following:

1 Spend in ways that are environmentally sound....Having surplus income does not grant you the right to be wasteful with the planet's limited resources.

2 ...buy locally, even if it costs a little more.

3 Consider charitable giving.

4 Consider retiring early.... If our work creates extra income we raise our standard of living. However, we can choose to live well beneath our means and invest the surplus.... Once free from having to earn a living, you can devote your time to doing things you find more enriching. You might choose to volunteer or have a low-paying but satisfying career.

The bottom line: spend money in ways that are consistent with your own personal values. Don't let others pressure you into spending according to their values.

Saving money is the means to an end... not the end itself.

grandmanerd

Well I've spent money, but by serendipity, I've managed to stay within the tightwad guidelines. I sourced the thread I need to finish the bear's body - apparently the colour is now a 'rare find' (it was always one of my 'go to' colours in my workbox). The seller is away until Friday so  won't complete that util next week.   I've just spent money with Oxfam online - second hand clothes in second hand September. I now have a new smart black jacket for funerals and other occasions, a linen skirt (really will have to lose weight now - I am losing weight but it's still hanging about wobbling in all the wrong places). I needed a new black handbag (current one will be 17 yo on Halloween) and I bought a second hand one with the little dog (I love the little dog but I've only ever had a purse) and some vintage black gloves. 

Bought new wrapping paper from there but it's fairtrade, recycled and recyclable (same with a small gift and an embroidered card). I also got £10 off. I was tempted by a dry as a bone type raincoat for £30 but it might be one of those cult items that just look wrong on me. Faded denim grandad shirt - ultra cool on everyone else. On me - instant Victorian prison wardress. I might also have bought more threads from Oxfam's habdashery section. I browsed the Barnado's website yesterday and they had stuff I wanted too (mostly for other people) but I may be all shopped out now.

It must be therapy day as DS3 and Beloved have disappeared. I finished last month's puzzle book and have added to my 'bags 'rubbish/ recycling/ library books etc. I've had soup an dhot chocolate and ate all the easy peelers.

Grateful for finding the things I wanted in Oxfam (without having to get on a bus), cross-stitch and a good book.

f0xh0les

No spends for me today (13?)  because it was Tuesday, and Tuesday is CLEANING DAY!!! Skipped out top 2 bedrooms, and my bedroom, and put all the laundry away, stole back my mugs and glasses and big glass mixing bowl (DS3's preferred h/m popcorn bucket), cleaned the bathrooms and loos, hoovered from the top down to the bottom step. Had lunch (sausage sandwich) and then attacked the hall, cleaned the living room, did the recycling and the bins, and then sat down and had a lovely cup of tea. Put all the candles back on the hearth (taken away while visitors here), did some diary management, folded laundry and now I am knackered.

Going to give blood tomorrow, go to a jobs fair with DS1, and deep clean the kitchen.

Thrifty_Taylor

Finally into NSD#5
Woke at 5.30 to take DH to the airport. Back home by 6 am, woke DS1 for work & 3 for school. After breakfast I hand washed DS3"s work uniform (washing machine still hasn't been fixed) & hung it on the line, fed the outside cat & birds, then washed some dishes.

Work went ok, though others had a difficult day. Collected DH from the airport, he'd got on ok at the hospital 😊 got some sour cream for free as used accrued points ar coop, then dropped a bag of clothes off that I'd sold. Made fajitas for tea, using up very soft tomatoes to make a salsa & the leftover roast chicken, + peppers from the fridge.

Have just played games on my phone since. Think I'll head to bed shortly with a hit water bottle & my book.

Grateful that DH didn't have to stay longer in Aberdeen, that I got a few things done before work, another sale & using up food getting close to expiring

ditty1234

Grateful to find a refund from phone company this morning as I am changing phone contracts! And I found a receipt for £87 that I can now ask for a refund for. This will get me through the rest of the month along with my cover money going through tomorrow night. Yay. Hope everybody is well. I am struggling with workload so not reading much. Hugs and hurrays for refunds towards the end of the month. 

grandmanerd

Just tried to go to the library to take books back (due Friday). Climbed off the bed, ulp. Climbed back on the bed and renewed online. Yesterday DS1 messaged me to ask about arrangements for Sunday. I mustn't have been making sense because half way through the conversation, he asked if I'd had a stroke.

Grateful for soup and drinks, more ideas for food use ups (need uncooked rice to give weight to a doorstop - I have ood rice which I'm struggling with), may use some dried beans for collage/ small parts.  Books and online library services. Sorting through my festive shopping list (DS1 wants a donation to Survivors UK and says darling d-i-l will be fine with gin - I don't want to imply she 's an alcoholic but I asked him last month and it will be fine if I pick the pretty bottles). I'm treating them all this year but will go back to mainly not bothering afterwards (my sons don't care if they get a card or not but I think darling d-i-l and daughter out law like having a fuss made). Will discuss.

lcc86

Evening turtles 

Busy day yesterday so didn't post, but it was a spend day. Had a lunch at work for someone so had to buy some food. Also had to buy dinner as we took some kids on an educational trip in London. My employer "generously" gave us £6 each to feed the kids (which as you can imagine didn't go far in Central london) so had to make up the difference and buy my own. Long day in the end, didn't get home until 10.

Today was a work from home day, I went to the gym at lunchtime and also picked up a prescription after work, walked to the chemist in the pouring rain, loved it! Got an email from my energy company to say they're lowering our DD by £13 so can't complain about that either!