NST: November 2023 – Sparkle

grandmanerd

Two small bags out to the bins and another two packed. Noted lots of jobs I could move on a stage but was fighting the urge to doze off and  after I dropped my book for the third time (only had a few pages to go) I gave in and came back upstairs - I had been downstairs for over an hour just didn't get far with my actual  tasks. 

I ate  lots of bits/ leftovers - finished the grapes and the last 2 easy peelers, a lone cheese triangle that had fallen into my sock drawer and ate a bag of cranberry,  fruit and nut mix found last week when going through random boxes of packets (I threw away random ancient packs of already opened nuts) which substituted for a meal. More water consumed but not as much as the previous day.

I'm going to start today by working through a pile of paper bits (hoping they are mostly old shopping and to do lists) and add  any relevant items into the new notebook / password and address book notebook as appropriate. Will help give structure to the month and prioritise where my limited energy should be going. After all  my warnings DS2 managed to trash his car -  he seems to be okay (I only have this second-hand via DS3 as it means we need to find an alternative way to deliver the records).

Grateful for resting (not much choice about it but need to  make more effort to move things forward),  tv drama and  books. Food findings and having confirmation that they aren't 'using' the kitchen (all the mess is mine apparently). Later DS3 came asking where I'd put the rolling pin as 'they'd  looked in every cupboard, drawer and the filing cabinet'. I was too tired (and frankly not that bothered) to go and look (I suspect it's in the cupboard I think is most likely as his 'searching' leaves much to  be desired).

leftatthetrafficlights

I'm a bit late to the party but can I join in please @apple_muncher? 

My new year starts on 7th November and I'm planning a much more frugal life for the next 12 months so this challenge is ideal for me! 

Spending - aiming for 20 NSD's this month. I did grocery shopping yesterday, bought the wine for my new year celebrations on Tuesday and filled up the car. I did a freezer inventory recently so am working my way through that too.

Habits - I need to reintroduce healthy habits; lemon water on waking, asana practice, meditation and a daily walk (although I think I'll wait to start the walking until this storm has passed - walking in an area with lots of trees lining the fields could be a bit dodgy at the moment!! 😳) 

Remove - I'm not sure I've got 60 items to remove but I did speak to a lady at the community fridge yesterday who is happy to take some of my excess stock of buckwheat and lentils (household is a lot smaller now so we'll take a lifetime to get through it all!! 🤦‍♀️) so I'll count each bag as one item! I also have some demijohns to go to the charity shop 

Live life, love life - I'll post daily gratitudes (of which I have an abundance thankfully!!) 

Excercise - walking and asana practice will cover this! 

ldee2111

f0xh0les said:

chipmunks, chihuahuas,  crocodiles, Cummings, cryptologists, and crackers.

You forgot chipolatas… they go well with sprouts on Sprouts Day.

But if @grandmanerd says we can say it, then…

CHRISTMAAAAAASSS! 

Ok, got that out of my system now. 

Yesterday I bought DS’s Sprouts Day gift to be delivered by the man who has clearly eaten too many sprouts. It’s also the reason why his sleigh goes so fast… a wee bit extra wind  

ditty1234

Hi all to add to my November sparkle I am thinking about buying a second hand sewing machine. But I am not where to start. I had a Husqvarna I bought from new in the 80's and it served me well until it had a literal melt down. What should I get - it needs to be jeans proof and 'silk proof' but nothing fancy beyond that? I know there are some sewers on here! Alternatively I will just get a new pedal for the 60' machine somebody gave me, but at the moment I don't trust it!
I am grateful for finally getting paid up from work, and for my Mum being a lot better after she got a pacemaker a few weeks ago. 

f0xh0les

DS4 spent 5 and a half hours in A&E last night after swallowing a 2cm long push pin 📌📌.  Today will be sponsored by caffeine and spite.  Poor DH got him back  home at 2.30.   It will apparently exit via the doors at the rear and is in no imminent danger.  Teenage boys are daft. 
£175 on the PBs. Which is lovely. 
Knackered! 

wishus

Oh my goodness @f0xh0les that must have been worrying! Glad she's okay.

I'm en route now to my music festival. Got water bottles and flasks of tea. We can holiday frugally!

Realized I haven't set an NSD target. Will go for 15. 

lcc86

I'm a bit late to the party but can I join for November? Back from holiday this morning, full of food poisoning and the like so today is just a day for relaxing, getting some washing done and taking it easy. Yesterday was a NSD (easy when you spend pretty much the entire day on a plane!) But today I have paid for a train ticket home from the airport and shopping is also being delivered later. I've decluttered lots of holiday receipts etc and some recycling from parcels that arrived.

PurpleJay

 Hi, 

i have just gifted some items via a Facebook recycling group (6 x kids bodywash/shampoo, a toothpaste and a medication organiser) so am off to a good start with getting rid of stuff. I posted them online yesterday (along with a few other bits) after clearing out a couple of drawers.

Ordered a bathroom bin from Dunelm which arrived today and it has no inner so that needs to go back!

it is rainy here in the midlands but not especially windy. We will be going out for a walk with the dog later. Hope those of you affected by the storms are staying safe. 

My son (17) and I are going out for dinner tonight to a local Moroccan restaurant which I am very much looking forward to. They are having a vegan night. I don’t have any other social events planned this month. 

apple_muncher

f0xh0les, just how did he manage to swallow it???

laura_lau

I'm also a bit late, but can I join for November, please @apple_muncher?

I really enjoyed taking part for the first time in October, and I found it immensely helpful for my focus on the things that are good for me, even if I haven't been exactly successful. Only real challenge I succeeded in was the NSD, and I'm planning at least 15 NSD's this month.

I like the suggestions for the month, and will come back with some more details about my own challenge later today (hopefully) or tomorrow. I wanted to update my monthly budget first, so I can put down some proper objectives in terms of expected expenses (mainly presents for Xmas) and my food expense. I have been using pre-paid reloadable cards from the main grocery shops, (they are part of a rewards website as part of benefits I get through my work) where you upload money in advance and you pay slightly less than the actual value (for example, pay 9.50 to upload £10 on the reloadable card), but I haven't been very good at using them lately, lack of planning on my part, but ultimately they provide quite big savings at the end of the year.

Thank you to all who have already posted their challenge, lots of inspiration to be found there, and I wish everyone a steady and sparkling November!