NST February A FOREST ADVENTURE

Fmess wrote: »

Has anyone else noticed that some apostrophes are turning into random numbers?!

Wondered what that was about!

Always pay to debts or savings first, live on what is left. - car & 0% CCs on direct debit. 'Regular' spending CC cards always paid off in full by start of month. Once kitchen/ workmen fully paid for this month we will know what (if any!) we have left and that can go to OH's 0% CC. Any extra monies will also go there

First of February until the 28th, inclusive.
Organise your budgets before the start of the month and stick to them.
* Food 56.93/450 - Tesc0 shop today
* Diesel (me) - 0/65
* Toiletries - 0/10
* Clothing - 0/100 (DS1 desperately in need of new jeans)
* Social - 0/50
* Half term - 0/75
* Money in - 0/50

Reserve a small portion of your budget (cash or goods) for the food bank or charity of your choice. - ok. Monthly DD to WWT. Should be attending a charity coffee/ cake morning mid month. Also £1 in aid of charity for non-school uniform last week (and will have another this week)

Environment Be aware of your surroundings and use all your senses. Be alert to danger but also to beauty. -
[/COLOR]
Stock take your cupboards, fridge and freezer. Base your meal plan upon them and your shopping list on what is needed. Stick to your list. - desperately in need to top up supplies once kitchen is in!

Takeaways are forbidden (unless as part of family entertainment night/ birthday choice). Coffee shops, vending machines, works canteens etc are also banned (pastoral exceptions). may have family takeaway as social if budget unspent elsewhere

Always take your lunch to work and snacks and drinks for outings or appointments (may excuse one trip with children or allow ice creams etc if part of the experience). - have half term budget- will take lunches if applicable but something like ice creams may fall into budget here

Do something different. If nothing changes, nothing changes. We want to see small positive changes which become habits and then just part of who you are. Pick 2 or 3 things you want to change. Start with one small change and after five successful days, add another.

Valentine Who? after 30+ years together we don't really do Val now (although I may buy some of the flowers for myself afterwards if they have been reduced

Exercise 5 times a week please. It should be commensurate with your abilities and current state of health (be careful after flu/ viruses). Getting outside helps with mental health too. - 3 weeks into flu/ post flu chesty cough/ fatigue/ poor breathing. Not doing any cv exercise until much better.

NSDs are staying at 18 this month. that is still 10 days available for necessary shopping. There would be far fewer opportunities in the forest. Exceptions for medical care, petrol (should be within budget), bus fares, ys bargains and milk for greent. 1/18 - not one today. As well as some Tesc0 shopping we also bought tiles for our shower
Throw it away. We should all be aware that there is no such place as 'away' and recycle or donate appropriately but we all have too much stuff and even if you are ill, getting the rubbish and recycling helps slow the descent into chaos. - looking to remove 150 items this month - whether sell/ donate/ recycle/ bin - recycled a magazine and some paperwork today and returned some brochures 6/150

Use what you have. Fix something (for free if possible). we need to update our house to do list this month - some jobs are being done as we have workmen in for the kitchen so are having them do some other bits whilst here (more cost efficient ) My main focus is a big clean and tidy- lots of dust spread everywhere from the works

Refuel properly. Feb is a month of re-charging for me

Elephants and Frogs. .Am sure I can find some frogs. An elephant I need to tackle is getting OH's co accounts for the year ready for the accountant


New oven (old one was broken anyway so went for recycling) delivered at 7.45 this morning - delivery men unpacked it, checked it for damage and I signed for it and off they went (with packaging and old oven) - half an hour later I realised they'd delivered the wrong one:mad: - too big. No customer service open until Monday - argh!!:mad: Means more time without an oven (was hoping to have it connected today - definitely by Tuesday) - more hassle for food
Bought tiles for the re-fit of the shower in our bathroom :T
Haven't managed to sell old kitchen units

Fmess wrote: »

Oh no apple how upsetting that it!!!8217;s been called off, I take it it!!!8217;s not worth still going for a holiday?

Fmess wrote: »

Has anyone else noticed that some apostrophes are turning into random numbers?!

We thought about still going,but we'd have ended up paying over £7K easily and that is about 7months salary at the mo, so we took the hit. And it wouldn't have been the 'holiday of a lifetime' we'd been planning. More of a let-down, half-hearted affair, I think.

The apostrophes aren't turning into numbers for everyone - it might depend on what device you are using...?

Spend day today I cut my finger and needed Elastoplast when did it get so expensive £3.59 for a box assorted sizes. No other spends.
Eaten out of stocks today, plenty left.
Have started to get rid of lots of tadpoles, which could turn into frogs and then elephants. I refer to the multitude of emails suggesting you buy their goods. No emails no temptation so unsubscribing to all I do not need especially as I didn't request them in the first place.
Gave the change in my purse to a young girl selling Big Issue on the high street in the pouring rain, just enough to get a warm drink.
Am going to question buying anything this month which is not food or necessary cleaning items. No magazines unless free, no chocolate and no alcohol etc. Hoping this will boost my pots.
Grateful for a warm home, good food and lovely friends.
Hugs all round

Today was NSD 1.

Had DS3's two little friends over for 4 hours, they played hide and seek all through the house, I don't think I am going to have to dust anywhere for months, they were EVERYWHERE, then they found the N3rf guns and that was that. So good clean old fashioned fun for 10 yr old boys down the side of my bed:rotfl: and in the pantry:rotfl: and the cupboard under the stairs:rotfl:

When I went to pick one up, his dad asked if he needed any money to take with him. He was only coming over to play! I must be out of touch with play dates - it has been a while.

All food from stores, naughty birthday takeaway did us last night, then I whipped out my trusty tin foil roll for the left overs before anyone could decide on a possible 10pm snack-ette, and popped them in the fridge. There was just enough for supper tonight, so I don't feel too wantonly decadent. Besides, DH paid not me. :T

It is more like a rainforest here, it has rained all day long. No tree-frogs eaten, enjoying reading my books and just chillin' today. It will all be horrid tomorrow as it is homework day (boo!) and making sure the laundry is strung between two trees.

Will try and hunt YS bargains if DH makes it back from town with DS1 in time. Sunday is becoming rather a scrum at YS time in Mr T's. I fear someone may dig a man-trap in aisle 4.