The 'complete this challenge' challenge...suitable for all!

scrooge2008

OK, it's the weekend yippee!!

Plan for today

[STRIKE]- Lazy morning with family[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]- Put cheques into bank before it closes[/STRIKE] -DH Monday
[STRIKE]- Tesco shop from frugal list[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]- DS hair cut[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]- Two times M&S meal deals[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]- TW with family[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]- Move cases into loft[/STRIKE]
- Gillian DVD
- 1400 calories today - up to 1700 if I complete DVD
[STRIKE]- Rest in afternoon while DH makes roast lamb dinner[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE] - Finish letters
- Pinecone survey[/STRIKE]

Frugal Menu

- Roast lamb - Need potatoes/Kale/Brocolli/Carrots/Mushrooms - Saturday
- M&S meal deals - £25.00 - DH donating £10.00 here - Sunday Paella
- Vegetable burgers and HM chips/Peas - Need chick peas - Monday - Need big potatoes
- Chicken soup with leftovers from chicken meal deal - Tuesday
- Chicken pie with leftovers from chicken meal deal - (Need Lard) - Tin of condensced chicken soup/onions - Wednesday
- Pasta bake - (Cheap crisps/Mozarella/Basil/Chopped tomatoes/Pasta) - Thursday
- HM pizza - mushroom/pepperoni/tomatoes

Salad stuff and ham for lunches
Weetabix for breakfast
Milk/cheese and bread (double for freezer)

I estimate the above will cost £60.00 and then I need another £10.00 for DS's hair cut, which will leave me with £28.50 to last me until the end of the month, but food until next Saturday 24th 2010. It looks like the last week of the month will be another one spent standing at the reduced section of the supermarket as final reductions are made. C'est La Vie!!

I spent £73.00 including the £10.00 hair cut, so just £25.00 left to spend until month end, but at least we are not going to starve. I was pleased with my haul today.

Food today - Meusli and skimmed milk - 300 cals
Tuna and sweetcorn sandwich HM bread and light mayo - 350 cals
Angel Cake - 145 calories
2 x small glasses of wine - 250 calories
Lamb and trimmings - 700 calories
Total - 1750 - no exercise - no weight loss

scrooge2008

Onwards and upwards - Plan for week commencing 18/4/2010

Tasks to be done each day:-

Gillian Shred work out every day - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
DS writing each day - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Food diary each day - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Spending diary each day - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Five no spend days - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Flylady M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Organise night before M/T/W/T/F/S/S
TD/RB M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Wash on out and away M/T/W/T/F/S/S

Tasks each day:-

Monday
[STRIKE]Ring JL[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Respond to mum's email[/STRIKE]
A&M's machine back
[STRIKE]Bank cheques [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Take garden waste to the tip[/STRIKE]
Gym on Monday
[STRIKE]Wash Lollypop uniform[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Roast chicken - M&S meal deal[/STRIKE]

Tuesday
[STRIKE]Meet up with C on Tuesday - take to Dr's [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Money back to C[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Transfer contacts into Blackberry [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Fill in the new VAT form - 1/2 done[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Make sure VAT file is up to date with all receipts etc[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Wash Lollypop uniform[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Reconcile business accounts quarter 1 - 2010. Pull together accounts for 2009/2010 [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Family film evening[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Chicken pie and vegetables also make chicken soup for lunches [/STRIKE]

Wednesday
[STRIKE]Gym [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Accounts job [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Money for DS trip from DH [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Check with Scottish Power that DD's are adequate and ask about any free monitoring systems [/STRIKE]
Spend time on business website - check it works - 1 hour
[STRIKE]Look at removing DD's on list highlighted in yellow[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Vegetable burgers and HM chips and vegetables [/STRIKE]

Thursday
Shopping to get new carpet authorised under insurance
[STRIKE] Lunch at friend's house[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Preparation for MT[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Pasta bake[/STRIKE]

Friday
[STRIKE]Accounts job[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Timed two hour deep clean of house[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Cinema with friends to see Blind Side - Free vouchers[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Park with DS - picnic[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]HM pizza and salad [/STRIKE]

Saturday
[STRIKE]Shopping - very frugal following another inventory[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Inventory of DS clothes[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]TW with family[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Post on Lou's weight loss thread[/STRIKE]

Sunday
Lite minds business development session - 3 hours working on a master plan
[STRIKE]4 x mystery shops[/STRIKE]

[STRIKE]Aim for 5 NSD's this week and not to go over the £25.00 that is to last until month end.[/STRIKE]

A pretty good week so far. The areas that I need to work on over the weekend are DS writing and exercise.

I have spent a lot of time on the phone to BT over faults with my broadband and VOIP line, but hopefully that is resolved now and I can crack on with developing my website and business tomorrow.

43/51 = 85%

scrooge2008

Onwards and upwards - Plan for week commencing 25/4/2010

Tasks to be done each day:-

Gillian Shred work out every day -M/T/W/T/F/S/S
DS writing each day - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Food diary each day - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Spending diary each day - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Five no spend days - M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Flylady M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Organise night before M/T/W/T/F/S/S
TD/RB M/T/W/T/F/S/S
Wash on out and away M/T/W/T/F/S/S
DPPS M/T/W/T/F/S/S

Tasks each day:-

Monday
[STRIKE]Type up Mystery Shops[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Lite minds business development session - 3 hours working on a master plan[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Report BT speed fault[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Gym on Monday[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Phone Maria[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]£10.00 from DH[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Meeting at school re: DS trip[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Pasta Bake[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Nails done [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Phone Dad[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Thank You cards for Jean and Hannah[/STRIKE]
Change beds

Tuesday
[STRIKE]Early morning cleaning[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Meet up with C on Tuesday [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Phone Mar[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Lunch with Jack[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]DS school trip - water and packed lunch[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]One hour working on New Business[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Family night - film and popcorn[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]S with family[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Spaghetti Carbornara and brocolli[/STRIKE]

Wednesday
[STRIKE]Accounts job [/STRIKE]
A&M's machine back
[STRIKE]DS tree felling - dress in old clothes and packed lunch[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]One timed hour working - Business Overview Section 1[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Sausage and chick peas casserole[/STRIKE]

Thursday
[STRIKE] Find insurance claim
Deep clean the house today - 3 hours - 9.00 am-12. 00 pm
Watch film, once completed house[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]One timed hour working on new business[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Prep for meeting[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]DS homework for the week[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Tomato soup and lentil soup[/STRIKE]

Friday
[STRIKE]
Accounts job
Pick up DS friend - McD and badminton with them
Networking at accounts event in the evening
One timed hour working on new business
[/STRIKE]

Saturday
[STRIKE]
Post on Lou's weight loss thread
One timed hour working on new business
[/STRIKE]DH cooks dinner
[STRIKE]TW as family[/STRIKE]

Sunday
[STRIKE]
One timed hour working on new business
Catch up on anything not done earlier in the week
[/STRIKE]

Morning routine

Wake up - 6.00 am
Breakfast - 6.10 - 6.25 (washing out and dishwasher emptied)
Gillian Shred - 6.25 - 6.50
6.50 - 7.10 - DB
7.10 - 7.20 - TD/RB
7.20 - 7.50 - Wash - Dress to shoes - Make-up
7.50 - 8.15 - Police hotspots/Swish and swipe and make sure DH and DS are sorted.
8.15 - Leave for Lollypop

Evening routine

3.45 in from Lollypop
3.45 - 4.45 coffee break and internet catch up
4.45 - 5.30 Writing - homework with DS - prep tea - organise for Next day
5.30 - 6.00 Make tea
6.00 - 6.30 Eat tea and clean up
Washing machine on and Dishwasher on

No money to spend until new month starts for me on Friday 30th April so I need 4 NSD's to keep within budget.

100% of daily tasks done this week!!

scrooge2008

Review of April

1. Budget

I have kept a very tight reign on finances this month and have noted down everything in my spending diary and started a file for receipts.

An £80.00 overspend, on my holiday, on presents for my nephews and father left me with a very tight second half of the month, but with 10 NSD's and a two week store cupboard challenge I finished the month just £11.00 behind budget, which I am pleased with :T.

2. Weight Loss

I finished the month where I started. I put on 7lb on my holiday and I have managed to lose that, but I need to get a grip in this area, I am like a yo-yo .

3. New Business

This has been a major focus for the last couple of weeks and I have now got three new client leads, through a local Accountant, who I will be meeting up with over the next couple of weeks.

I am being pushed out of my comfort zone here, but I am pleased that the growth phase of the business has now got some legs .

4. Family and Friends

I've done well on this front, this month, and I feel that i've not neglected them and they have not neglected me . I also had a lovely time with my mum and sisters and extended family during the Easter week.

5. Flylady

The house has generally been tidy this month and washing under control, but it really needs a deep spring clean which I am going to schedule for May .

6. Nature and Culture

I've had trips to Oxford, Henley on Thames, Colchester, Blenheim Palace, The London Eye and The Science museum this month, so I can't complain here.

I went to see 'The Blind Side' and I went out for a networking jolly.

I read a couple of lightweight books, as part of my endeavour to read the books I already own, before purchasing any more, but I am desperate for a decent reading book. I am going to join the library in May :rotfl:.

Different_Corner

Hi Scrooge, love your avatar.
Think you've done well over the last month.
Always in awe of a succsessful spending diary. Congrats on the expanding business, breaking out of the comfort zone is challenging but sense of acheivement will be worth it.
Am impressed.

scrooge2008

Plan for May

1. Budget

I've prepared a budget, which is tight, but doable. I must stay within the budget in May.

2. Weight Loss

I will lose 7lb in May, if I can put on 7lb in one week surely I can get 7lb off in one month.

I have a food diary and exercise plan that works, SO I WILL STICK WITH IT!!

3. New Business

[STRIKE]I will convert at least one of my leads into a new client in May.[/STRIKE]

4. Family and Friends
[STRIKE] Meet up with close friends at least once in May.[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Ensure DS and DH get quality time[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Call/e-mail mum and dad regularly in May[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Speak to sisters and cousins at least once in May[/STRIKE]

5. Flylady

Organise a Flylady week, where each room gets a deep clean.

Date - week commencing 17th May 2010. I have a few days off work that week.

6. Nature and Culture

[STRIKE]Join the library.[/STRIKE]
Organise a beach walk, followed by Fish and Chips, along the East Coast.
Organise two trips to the cinema - one with family - and one with my cinema friend
Take a boat trip to the Isles of May with DS.

scrooge2008

Different_Corner wrote: »

Hi Scrooge, love your avatar.
Think you've done well over the last month.
Always in awe of a succsessful spending diary. Congrats on the expanding business, breaking out of the comfort zone is challenging but sense of acheivement will be worth it.
Am impressed.

Hi DC,

I'd love to say that the picture was one of me .

As I am a curvy blonde who can't jump without injuring my back, I will dream on :rotfl:.

I'm hopping over to your diary to see what you are up to in May.

nikki20022008

Here I go I am going to do the following over the next month:

Budget

Plan my food budget for the next 4 weeks (which takes me to pay day)
Pack the cigs up for good
Take lunches to work

House

Tidy up and put things away
Follow FlyLady plan

Here goes

Pooky

Pooky wrote: »

I'm a great one for reading a challenge and thinking...ooooh fab - I could do that....and then simply forgetting about it so this would be ideal for me.

So my aims

1. Try and negotiate a rent "decrease" (rents have gone down in the area) or move somewhere cheaper (would rather not move as we love the house)

2. Pay at least £6k off the debt

3. Learn to say "no" more often to people who seem to have money tree's at their disposal.

4. Encourage DH to pass professional exam for the £1k bonus it pays.

I'm sure there are more but those are the main "must do's".

Oh and the eat choccy one.....considering we now are the proud owners of 4 large tins of sweets!!!

Pooky wrote: »

I've realised that all my goals are pretty long term which doesn't help in the "wanting to have something to show for the effort now" feeling that I want.....so to that end.. alongside my long term goals...here's the short term/daily/weekly ones

1. Sealed pot - I don't tend to use cash much but I did get DH a sealed pot for xmas and we've dug out all the spare change/emptied purse/wallet and managed to put in just over £15......this WILL continue.

2. Empty 2 draws a week around the house and sort them properly.

3. Sort the filing cabinet and get shredding, using the oppertunity to sort/close any cards/accounts that have been missed.

4. Make an inventory of the bathroom cabinets and actually stop buying stuff until the rest is used.

5. MS is a no-go for me as I don't have transport and live to far out, can't get my head around MB, daily clicks bore me to tears so need to focus on what I can do which is comping...aim to enter at least 10 a day.

6. Ebay/freecycle at least 10 items a month to clear clutter.

7. Aim to shave £10 per week off the food budget.

Blimey - I'd forgotton about this thread..my posts date back to December 2008..so much has changed......so where am I up to?

1. Try and negotiate a rent "decrease" (rents have gone down in the area) or move somewhere cheaper (would rather not move as we love the house)

We moved - saving £290 per month in rent and utilites

2. Pay at least £6k off the debt

Have cleared £20k but in some ways I wish we couldn't (will expand later)

3. Learn to say "no" more often to people who seem to have money tree's at their disposal.

Done! I'm more than happy to say "no" now - if people don't like it they can !!!!!! orf!

4. Encourage DH to pass professional exam for the £1k bonus it pays.

He did it - he passed it and bonus recieved :j

I'm sure there are more but those are the main "must do's".

Oh and the eat choccy one.....considering we now are the proud owners of 4 large tins of sweets

Well I don't have them now so I must have achieved that one

1. Sealed pot - I don't tend to use cash much but I did get DH a sealed pot for xmas and we've dug out all the spare change/emptied purse/wallet and managed to put in just over £15......this WILL continue.

Sealed pot got half filled then used, do have an ongoing jar for anything smaller than 10p...when the jar is full it gets cashed into the bank. So still ongoing

2. Empty 2 draws a week around the house and sort them properly.

Hmmm.....not had the time or the inclination but am much tidier in general so don't think much is being added to the clutter.

3. Sort the filing cabinet and get shredding, using the oppertunity to sort/close any cards/accounts that have been missed.

Twas done but needs doing again now.....a job for a rainy bank holiday..

4. Make an inventory of the bathroom cabinets and actually stop buying stuff until the rest is used.

Another job I really need to get on top of...rather than buying to much I tend not to notice until we've run out....I should try and get a little more organised here.

5. MS is a no-go for me as I don't have transport and live to far out, can't get my head around MB, daily clicks bore me to tears so need to focus on what I can do which is comping...aim to enter at least 10 a day.

Not a chance. Not enough hours in the day now.

6. Ebay/freecycle at least 10 items a month to clear clutter.

Ebay and freecycle still get the odd splurge of listings but again, time and energy are main factors here.

7. Aim to shave £10 per week off the food budget

With the price of food going up and generally trying to eat as healthily as possible my food budget has gone up by £30 a week....oooops.


So....some I've managed, some I haven't.

DH was involved in a car accident last March that has resulted in some spinal damage, he's still just about able to get around in the house with sticks but totally reliant on me for everything else....My wheelchair pushing skills are 2nd to none It has put everything into perspective in that no matter what goals or aims you have they have to constantly adjust in order to fit around life. Things that would normally have been a real bug-bear, like keeping on top of the filing, the ironing and knowning exactly what's in the freezer just don't seem so important anymore.

The debt busting has been fantastic due to some interim payouts but it's really not how I'd have liked the debt to be cleared....if that makes sense. I'd still rather be struggling and eating 9p noodles with a fit and healthy husband than be where we are today.


Ongoing goals and aims.....To stay happy....oh and to find something that keeps slugs off my plants!!!!!

thrifty_fifty

Hello,

May I join your super group please? I'm starting out gently, as I know my willpower is low. My challenge is not to buy any more toiletries or makeup until I have used my old ones up. Little steps.