NST January 2026: Shake and Vac

thriftylass

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81856490#Comment_81856490

Thank you for offering, always like your months a lot.

Not much to report, spent the last of the month's money on fuel and a wee top up shop for the locusts that reside in our house. Big stock up shop coming one Friday - payday.

thriftylass

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81858140#Comment_81858140

I lived with my fiancé in his flat till 2011 with only a electrical "fire" in the living room, you just got used to it. I would have the heating now way lower if it wasn't for the rest of the family.

Hope you get it fixed soon though, no heating is one thing but no hot water is worse.

f0xh0les

I have a massive water cylinder, but it did service for all the flannel washes this morning, and has done two loads of washing up, it is still hot (nobody had a bath last night) but I know we are on borrowed time as the hot leaves the tank, and it is switched off at the wall because that is the switch that trips the board, so it wont be getting any hotter until after the man comes.
2 kids have a gym membership so they can go and shower down there instead! The rest of us will suffer with a kettle and a flannel in the sink. O where is the Humanity!! 🤣

grandmanerd

February Thread

NST February 2026 - You Are Enough — MoneySavingExpert Forum

NST February 2026 - You Are Enough — MoneySavingExpert Forum

grandmanerd

I used my air fryer/ convection oven yesterday (only had it about 9 months). I couldn't find the instructions and was daunted by all the buttons. However as it was my birthday last week I'd ordered a few 'nice bits' including lamb kebabs and it was either work out how to use the damn thing or throw the kebabs out. I read a general 'how to' article - let it warm up, set time and temperature, cooking time roughly 2/3 of normal and then did it.

I followed my own advice and got to sleep much earlier last night (a bit too much, first wake up it was still yesterday and the second was at 1.15 am). I also walked to the bin and then took the bin to the collection point

grandmanerd

Yesterday I took a book back to the library. Furthest I have walked since before Christmas. It started to get hard when I was part way across the car park (would normally have sat on the concrete block next to the entrance for a while) but I got there and checked the book in. It was about 2 months overdue (they don't charge anymore) as I'd overlooked it when taking back the others.

They were having a book giveaway (the ones they've withdrawn from service) so I picked up 5 large print books to read. They will go to the cs afterwards.

I had my cousin's card with me but decided that getting to the far side of the main road was beyond me. The work being done on the Civic Square mean you have to go all round the outside and they have also removed all the benches. I had had to remove all the boxes that were on my walker in order to use it which means some are piled up elsewhere. Ah well, it means I can see clearly which boxes need to be tackled first.

Grateful for walking, for the library and it's comfy club chairs, for food from the fridge.

apple_muncher

Grandmanerd - thank you for setting up Feb. Well done on getting so far out of the house.

beanie - hope your head is doing ok. And the rest of you. And your mum too.

Today has been a very successful day and I am feeling rather smug 🤣. I am clearly over the 2 week virus that floored me. Phew. I had a good night's sleep, took myself to liddle and then the gym, where I was able to do quite a tough sesh. The multiple road works that line to route home weren't too bad, and I went straight to pay in a tax rebate cheque, to drop off my time sheet for the month (only 10 days late!) in the hope of being paid next month, and finally emptied the boot of the charity shop donations that had taken up residence there. The rebate and time sheet should add up to around £850+ so I wasn't too bothered to find a pair of joggers for Pip for £2, and to buy myself a magazine.

I have also completed a draft EHCP application and emailed one of my bosses on an issue she asked for opinions and advice on.

apple_muncher

Thank you to everyone for joining me in January .

I have found ways to 'find my happy' and incorporate it into my life. Snowdrops, crocuses and even daffs in a sheltered location are bringing colour to the winter soil. Days are lengthening.

See you all in February ❤️

DawnW

Thanks for January @apple_muncher 😊

grandmanerd

Many many thanks for January apple