NST - Stupendous Sextilis

Me too, please, EE! Fell off the wagon in July - need to jump back on for August

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Thank you for the thread, E_E

This month we also have National Allotment Week and National Afternoon Tea week which both happen to be on the same week so I think we need to mark these in some way – ideas to follow.
Hmm.... I bought my mum a voucher (Gr0000pon) for afternoon tea as part of her birthday present - I think we will be using it towards the end of this month (Ideas - afternoon tea at home? - pretty/ best china, teapot & cups, tiny sandwiches and some cakes (A5da do a box of fresh cream 'afternoon tea' cakes, I believe) - a Gr000pon deal if you can afford it as part of your me time?)
I don't have an allotment, but am growing some fruit and veggies at home - will see what I harvest this month and can use in meals

We also have Colouring Book day on 2nd August so if you don’t have colouring book and felt pens/crayons you can go out and buy them and we won’t count them as a spend!!! - no personal plans to buy one - can download and print some colouring sheets if you feel the need - or draw and colour a picture?


Rules:

Allocate – set your budgets for the month – this needs to includes any money needed for holidays away, days out, maybe even school uniform/items. Make sure you have something allocated for treats.
Food £450. Entertainment (inc meals out, days out, icecreams out etc) £250. Gifts £75. School uniform & shoes £300 (have already bought a lot, too... ) Other clothes £120. Car £175 (MOT/ service due) Also setting a sales target of money in of £150
Once you have done your budget you then need to pay any surplus to your debts or savings. OH's current account does a round up of debit card transactions and sweeps this to a savings account, which will go towards holiday fund. £250/ mth being saved towards final payment of his car

Use (Up) – we are going to try and use up as much as possible, whether that is clothes/food etc. Do you need new clothes for holidays or will your current clothes be suitable? Do you need those sparkly sandals when you have a similar pair in the wardrobe? Do the children need to replace all school items/clothes or can some from last year be reused?
DS2 is starting secondary school in Sept - total new uniform (different school to his older siblings) although have already purchased some. New shoes, rugby boots and school trainers will also be needed. DS1 should be ok - new shirts already purchased, and suit will be fine (M&S washable) for UVIth form. His shoes will last for a few months at least (although need a good polish!) Will need to check if he has sufficient black socks (his room eats them.....) DS3 needs more school socks. May need new white PE polo - will need to check what I have as hand-me-down/ spares. Will definitely need new school shoes and PE trainers.
DS1 needs a pencil case! I also need 2 new lunchboxes and 2 water bottles for the boys.
DS2 and DS3 will need new out-of-school trainers. DS1 could also do with a new pair of casual shoes. I could do with another pair of jeans (only have 1!)
Food - am on a use up mission, anyway - Autumn glut will be starting and I can't fit it all in freezer. Plus I need to save some money somewhere!
Toiletries/ cleaning stuff - we are on a general use up mission of these in the household too. Have several part used bottles of cleaning stuff acquired from clearing out DD's shared kitchen (she was last one left) so they are my targets to use (several down already, several still to go! D)

Gratitudes – each time you post I would like you to post at least 3 gratitudes.

Upcoming (holidays) – what plans has everyone got for August? If you haven’t yet decided and are worried about keeping the kids entertained then now is the time to plan the month. Get yourself an A4 piece of paper and draw 31 squares and start filling in the days.
Free activities are preferred - can we all share some tips?
is there a friend or family member you haven’t seen for a while – plan a catch up with them.
Need to catch up properly with my sister (although did bump into her when out today, but only briefly)
Couple of days out with friends and their children planned - they are usually of the free and take a picnic variety, thankfully

Spends – we will have 15 NSD’s (unless you want to set a separate target).
Medical spends or days when the only purchase is reduced items do not count as spends.

Time (for yourself) – make time for yourself this month, I know its hectic for a lot of people so take time to have a coffee in peace, a bubble bath, indulge in a good book, do some colouring or something else that takes your fancy.
I plan on getting some of my unread books read (and passed on!)

Even though it's still July -
Today I am thankful for:
* bumping into my sister and her OH when out
* my mum offering to look after smalls whilst we popped out (enabling the above to happen )
* finding a gorgeous pair of gloves in the clearance bit at M&S outlet (I ordered them at Xmas but returned them as couldn't justify them) for me - in my size and favourite colour
* simple pleasures of playing card games with the smalls
* gorgeous HM bread used in sandwiches for lunch
* lovely hg tomatoes used in above sandwiches
* DS3 sleeping in until almost 8am! (not sure that's ever happened before - and he's 8!:T)
* MSE - it keeps me sane at times!
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