NST April 2026: Thrift and Thrive

weenancyinAmerica

Trying to figure out things to be thankful for. Right now we are having great weather, having time for myself to work on my book (only working on it for the last 63 years - I have finished others in the meantime, including some I sell on Ancestry). Have several books almost ready to go on Ancestry that I had to update. Have enough food for the month.

On the down side, one of the roommates in in the hospital on a mental health hold; one hasn't done any of the clean-up I asked her to do, and one roommate keeps disappearing. Maybe I need to turn my attitude around: G is getting help and I don't have to worry about him falling and calling the paramedics for the next week or so; the non-cleaning roommate is "hiding" in her bedroom so I have the computer by myself; and the disappearing roommate I don't have to really worry about except he needs to be here to pay his rent. The other roommate is supposed to be helping out more and he is doing the dishes most nights.

And the cats are mostly behaving well. As long as I don't watch the news and can work on my writing I should be okay and get along with the Thrive part.

grandmanerd

Yesterday I did one load of washing, got it all out on the line and brought it in again before night fell. I also sat on the chair by the window and collected toys and found 3 unread library books, some cutlery and a bowl and more recycling and rubbish (several bags o recycling out to the bins.

Today I've mainly been washing up but chopped some veg into sticks (one lot eaten and a second lot boxed up. Front room still looks terrible but doing what I can with various bits o my body complaining vociferously.

Grateful for books, drama and comedy series and easy food (had bread and wraps and los of salad bits to use up so added sandwich fillings/ salad meats.

grandmanerd

5 Signs You're Probably A Dragon

You hoard useless shiny things

You eat too much

You sleep too much

You hate leaving your cave

Frequently fantasize about flaming annoying humans

(Dragon Lovers)

DawnW

Oh goodness that sounds just like me @grandmanerd 😀

Spendy day today - dog had to go to the vet's for routine meds, and OH needed a new lightweight coat, and I needed new trainers for the summer as my old ones are almost worn through on the soles. I live in them in the summer. On the plus side, my winter boots x 2 pairs will be fine for another year at least. I will clean up the knee length ones and put them away, though I must check if they will need reheeling. The ankle length ones I will leave out for a bit longer as they are good in torrential rain such as that we had this afternoon for a while.

Not much else done apart from the vet's and shopping, though I did a little bit of routine cleaning and will make a chicken and veg curry for dinner.

((Hugs)) to @grandmanerd and @weenancyinAmerica and anyone else who is struggling a bit at the moment.

beanielou

I sound like a dragon!

weenancyinAmerica

I like that flaming annoying humans part. I'd like to be a dragon. I plan to think of my hospital visit coming up (maybe in May) as a mini-vacation from the annoying humans I live with. Right now I'd like to roar like a dragon also.

grandmanerd

Being thrifty is good

However

Stop Saving Your Life for "Later"

Burn the good insence

Wear the 'good' outfit on a regular day

Use the damn stickers

Use the skincare mask on a Tuesday

Eat breakfast on the 'nice' plate

Stop waiting for 'someday' to feel proud of yourself

Thrifty_Taylor

Hugs to all those feeling under the weather & well done on the decluttering.

I have managed a bit of decluttering too. I've done a 500 piece Jigsaw, finished a book & sold 3 things locally/online. In between working through a mountain of sewing jobs, I've managed to see a few friends, go for some walks & potter in the garden.

Tomorrow is my last day off before going back to school on Monday.

Grateful for finding 2 more of DS1's tags, seeing friends & not needing to get up so early!

grandmanerd

Any day you're making stuff is a good day. Make connections. Make love. Make art. Make food. Make conversation. Make up ideas. Make mistakes. Make a mess. We're so hard on ourselves sometimes, but any day you've made something is a good day. (Positively Present)

When it feels like you did nothing, You Actually: Allowed your mind to relax… Let your body rest …Nurtured your mental health…Enjoyed some quiet moments…Prioritised your wellbeing…Spent time rejuvenating…Took time to recharge…Did not judge your self-worth on your productivity…Were kind to yourself (sugar and sloth)

apple_muncher

Apologies for being quiet and disappearing. Life potters on and I'm enjoying the here and now, and all the benefits in my life from previous thrifty habits.

I decided to shave the back of my head recently, with Pip's help. I love it as I can still wear my hair down and it looks 'normal' because it's so thick, yet can shove it all up so easily into a high ponytail. It takes so much less time to wash too!

My plans for the back garden are slowly moving on. I've stained the 2 new fence panels - though they're still free-standing and not at all doing what fence panels should do 🤣.

Most of the trench for the sleepers at the edge of the grass is dug and I discovered that the sleepers are the same size as the breeze blocks I've been removing. Just need to go and buy some builder's sand this week and get dh to help. He's offered, so I'll definitely use him.

Invigilation is ongoing. I'm fortunately working in centres where they use external invigilators for internal exams for y10 and 12, so there's plenty of work. I'm being much more measured this year as to how much of my time I offer for working. Pip needs me around, plus I have no need to work all day every day. And working all day, every day is just not fun!

I have been discovering new parts of London as I've been accompanying Pip to different things. There's a lovely garden near St Pancras and a millennium garden by Waterloo! The weather has been favourable too - warm enough with enough cloud to keep the temp from getting too high.

I am grateful for all the spring greenery appearing as if by magic, for having the choice to work or not, for Pip being sooooo much 'better' than he was a year ago when he dropped out of school, for dh finally taking himself to the GP and getting antibiotics for a bad UTI, for my health.