NST OCTOBERFEST

DrCarrie

Hi all, spendy day for me;  some groceries, Zoom monthly subscription for private practice and the roof on the extension fixed. 

Grateful for
- a gorgeous walk by the river and in the woods, the light was just gorgeous. 
- cleaning the outside of the windows when the roofers ladder was up. (was a bit scared though)
- a glass of wine, sleepy tea and a hit water bottle - to go to bed with. 

Betharooni

Evening all,

NSD #2 today. Quiet day today as still off work with migraine. Came back home this morning when DB2 drove my nieces to school. Lots of sitting and crocheting, watching tv and napping. Planning an early night and hoping I’ll feel better tomorrow as need to get packing for going away again on Friday. 

Thankful for getting the washing basket almost empty (just items used yesterday and today in there), a surprisingly delicious dinner that I made tonight and hugs with my nieces this morning. 

B x

laura_lau

Can I also join please, I’m on holiday until Sunday but will be properly posting right after that. 

weenancyinAmerica

Hard to think of getting ready for winter when it is 35.5C today. Going to be hot all week. It has to cool down soon, doesn't it? No rain in sight either so I am watering tomorrow. Not much to water thank goodness. Need to get a new hose before I start really planting in the back yard. 

Made it to the library today while roommate was at her Chime class. Found two good books on gardening to get me in the mood. One is on herb gardening. Worked on my crocheted bag I am making for my knitting class while waiting for her in the nice airconditioned center. We don't have air conditioning at home and we have a new kitten (4 months old) so easier to crochet away from home. Usually do it while waiting at doctor's appointments. 

Paid our utility bill. It went really high due to another roommate getting an electric vehicle. Forget it - they do not save money at all. Not sure they will really save the environment either. Fortunately, our medical insurance is giving us some help with our electric bills this year. I hope they change the rules over there so more people can get help this winter or it is going to be rough for everyone.

Went to the FamilySearch Center tonight and our computers are finally admitting they are in a Center, so I was able to copy a section of one of the films that I normally can't see. I need every page for the family history I am working on. We have to call in a specialist to get the computers working correctly.

Shrewbie

Good morning everyone,
I also like the idea of a run of 8 NSDs.... I will think about how to organise that. 
I am trying to think of ways to turbo-save and that would definitely help. Need to have a proper think about this month's challenge - I want to read/re-read some other inspiring threads/diaries on here.
I am grateful for warmer weather and for managing to eat a nasty work frog. 

ladybird1106

2 nsd so far. Most of yesterday was spent getting the original copies of dad’s will and his wife’s ,listening to the sales patter of the solicitor of why we should pay them nearly 3500 to get us probate. When we said we were more than capable of doing it ourselves, had the scare tactics thrown at us of doing it correctly around iht. The estate is way, way below that threshold. Will was expected. 
Grateful for 
1. having a ef to access to pay for everything related to sorting out their estate. Currently running at just under a £1000.
2. No traffic on the motorway 
3. heated blanket, so didn’t put the heating on.
love 🐞

grandmanerd

Thursday 3rd October 2024

No Spend Activities in October
Listen to self-help/ motivational podcasts
Make your room/ home cosy for the winter months
Do some volunteering in your local area
Make an Autumn inspired playlist
Have an at home spa night to yourself
Invite a friend over for a hot cuppa and cake
Do a dance workout or yoga session on you tube
A hallmark movie night
Write down the goals you want to achieve before the year's end
Snuggle up for a duvet day and read a nice book 
Daily leaf-crunching walks for your wellbeing
Visit a National Trust property (or local attraction - maybe they have a fair or special market)
(@savingmoneybish)

That Day in December
As Martin has given his usual 100 days before the big day message (mid September), here are a few things to think about
1  It's a good time to make no present/ token present pacts with family and friends (especially if money is tight). Think about experience presents for families or older relatives who do not want another scarf/ cardigan or socks. Home made things if you are crafty. I used to make presents for up to 8 people each year (those who helped us out during the year). Notebooks made from last year's cards, calendars (did the same things for my grandparents/ aunties when I was young), padded coat hangers, draught excluder snakes, potted plant made with paper flowers moulded onto a bare branch. Arrange no card/ one card for the whole group pacts with church members/ colleagues/ other groups you are part of (maybe with money going to a charity)

2   If you are crafting you need to start early. As someone who sat in my mother's house on 'That Day Eve' sewing together an embroidered cushion I'd spent months on and promised her she would have, it pays off (I did similar for my m-i-l, finishing the sewing up on the train the day before Mother's Day, meeting my in-laws in the pub for one drink, handing over the present and getting the next train back).

3   It's the right time for baking your C cake (+ extras if you're in the church/ school fair years or doing them as gifts). Fruit cakes last (it was traditional to save the top tier of your wedding cake for your first child's Baptism). They can be iced (some years we had wedding cakes stashed on top of every wardrobe in the house awaiting collection) or just bake them (many hours in the oven) and wrap in foil to save time later. Sponge cakes of all flavours can be cooked, wrapped in cling film or foil and stored in the freezer (if you have space)for decorating later (useful if you are cake decorating with multiple children). 

4  Talk about who is hosting (if it's always you and you are fed up of everyone else's assumptions/ ingratitude/ bad behaviour start making changes now - or nothing will change). Organise when you will see members of the extended family - two sets of parents, or four if they've all remarried, arrangements for children of divorced parents. If it's just you decide how you want to spend your time - are you a beloved auntie, do you join with like-minded friends and ignore the whole thing or do you spend it alone - whether you love that or want a change (volunteering, a short holiday break, spending time on a favourite hobby or activity)

5  Office/ other parties - love them or loathe them.  If you enjoy them and get on well with your colleagues work out how to budget for them. If parties make you want to go and live in a cave say firmly that you're not going (unless they are seen as a necessary obligation). This also applies to drinks after work/ social meetings - say no or limit it to one or two drinks especially if your group feels the need to 'celebrate' for the whole month

6  If you are not 'in the mood' take time out. Remember that it's not a joyful time for everyone and can make things worse for the bereaved, isolated, homeless, broke, those facing redundancy, those with chronic illness.

7  You do not need a new couch, dining set, tree and decorations to celebrate. If you invite people to your home they should be grateful not turn their noses up at mismatched chairs or a slight shabbiness (with houses there is always a next thing to do when you've saved enough). It's your house, you decide what needs replacing and when, don't give in to the advertising hype.

8   Your holiday will not look like the adverts. There will be accidents, illness, record players setting on fire, squabbles, pettiness, people feeling resentful, dinner may be under or overcooked (just try not to give anyone food poisoning), cats will eat their way into the defrosting turkey, children will throw up, adults will revert to their childhood family roles, people will drink too much and decide to tell everyone exactly what they think of everyone else. Try to set rules in advance, co-opt your immediate family into taking responsibility for awkward family members and ignore bad behaviour rather than escalate it.

Well I didn't mean to write so much. 
PS Indoor bulbs can be started in a dark cupboard or wrap a circle of brown paper around the bowl so they think it's time to grow.

grandmanerd

I think I did too much yesterday. 6 trips to the bins + taking 2 to the end of the row for collection, 3 buckets from the sink to the drain outside, up and down the yard twiddling with washing, going up the stairs with bath towels and mats. I hurt - really hurt, muscles I didn't know I had are screaming at me. Getting off the couch requires so much effort.

So not much of a plan for today. I've done a food order (because there were a few things I'd run out of and I couldn't cope with another day of soup, baked beans and toast (the bread was ys so it's finally turning blue). I will order a mattress later - using the Oxfam link up (will probably add a donation as I've had multiple appeals within the past few days). Our Oxfam shop shut so I'm looking at alternate ways to contribute. I'm okay on the couch but it feels transitory (as though I were sofa surfing) so I want to get my new 'bed' set up asap (decided against buying the sofa bed base yet).

The month is being dictated by the month end visit by Mrs Builder, hopefully to be followed pretty quickly by the installation of the new kitchen + the downstairs shower and toilet. Mrs Builder told me she is ruthless about throwing things out and we will be having a skip so I need to continue to declutter and decide what I'm keeping.

I will also be using up food from the pantry and freezer and fridge freezer (one or both of those will be living under the stairs in future and moving them empty is the best option). Once I've finished 'using up' I will be restocking but not necessarily with the same foods. I like to have a stock going into winter to cover the days I can't get out of the house (out of bed sometimes). I'm hoping to get more of the kitchen usable by weekend and intend making a big one pot dish each week using up bags from the freezer.

I may try tackling my couch later (the 2 seater, not the 3 seater I'm sleeping on) as everything' convenient height for sorting sitting down. If not I will work on my 'plan' - I've just finished a five things five minutes a day challenge in September and I'm feeling a bit lost now and slightly scared by how much there is to do. Really need to get things 'out' every day. Frustrating not being able to move (hoping the ibuprofen kicks in and I can move aa bit more.

Grateful for sleep, online shopping, another no rain day (I really need parts of the yard to dry so I can sweep/ scrape them.

beanielou

@grandmanerd. So have I got this right? You are moving downstairs & are going to have a new kitchen and a downstairs toilet & shower? I really hope so. Xx

f0xh0les

I spent £17 on food today and that might see me through most of next week. 
Yesterday I bought new computer chairs for DS3 and DS4. 
I made cinnamon rolls too. They were lovely. Will be doing that again for high days and holy days. Luxury for pennies..
Went volunteering earlier, but now I am knackered. Hot bath, football, and bed.