Nervous of my own challenge - reduce or stop spending!

LilacLillie

Mad Monday the 8th yesterday!
Had a great day.
Both my son's came over with their sons, I was so made up, its a rare occasion they all come at the same time

Both grandsons (1 just 3 in Jan: the other 2 last Nov), screeched & screamed all day with excitement, I've waited so many years for a day like yesterday.

There was food flowing all day but it hasn't made a dent in the fridge or freezer
No spend day either as I didn't go out :j

Sadly, late afternoon I had a call that my favourite great aunt died.
I appreciated the day even more after that.
I have been asked to speak at the funeral................ many times by my aunt!!
She said she wanted me to 'cheer it up a bit'.
When we'd speak on the phone she'd say 'have you wrote down yet what your going to say?'.
I told her I was going to spread rumours that she was on the gin, owed me money, gambled her life savings and had numerous affairs.
All not true, but she loved it and said 'that'll shake 'em all up'.

Today I am off out with friends to the 'Britain's got talent' auditions................... my son wished me luck :rotfl: doughnut! (free tkts)
One of the friends used to be a 'Tiller girl' for those who remember them, maybe she'll have a kick about?
She is also a bad infulence and will try to get me out for both lunch and dinner.
I have to be very strong with her today.

Here's to the day :beer:

LL

mummysaver

Well done LL! Sounds like the challenge is being met!

I find not going to the shops helps, or not taking cards with me, just cash - concentrates the mind wonderfully! Yesterday I met a friend for coffee in town and despite pootling round the shops only came back with the stuff I'd planned to buy: scrapbook and paint for dd1, home brew bits from wilkos for wine and cider!

Good luck and keep going! x

LilacLillie

Well the day went way better than I expected.

The auditions were fun, but very long winded so I shall look forward to watching the show on TV.

I ate a big breakfast before I left, took a piece of bread pudding & water in my bag and ate a banana out of my friends :rotfl:

We were in the theatre for about 5hrs, so it was tiring and we all got hungry, 2 friends left me in queue and got themselves a sandwich (as a late breakfast).
As we left, I had to drag the others away from the shops for an evening meal.
I'd made a curry for my arrival home.
They thought I was a bit of a bore, but I stuck to my guns :A

Walking back home from station with 1 friend in tow, when she suggested a quick look in Co-Op for any bargains, it was 7.30pm.

I gave in and bought:
12 eggs @ 99p
a very large pack of steak & kidney @1.25p (that I didn't need and am now feeling bad about)
AND .............oh dear! A lottery ticket for Friday's draw @ £2 :eek:

It has set me back a bit. Had I left her and walked back alone I wouldn't have spent, I just couldn't resist and feel bad now.
It could have been a lot worse I guess.

Tomorrow is another day .
LL

taplady

LL - sounds like you had a good day out! I too bought some eggs from the coop - reduced to 38p for half a dozen(use before 14th feb) might go and get some more actually as they are a bargain imo.I've had one for my breakfast today.
That was my only food spend(not counting the prebooked meal out last night)yesterday. Today I need to get some more brown bread for myself - I like a small brown loaf while the others prefer a big white.
That should be my only spend today.

my spends this month so far are £13 at Aldi, £2 sack of spuds £2 veggies and 38p eggs making £17.38.

keep up the good work LL x

zippychick

LL - hiya , not checked in in a while. SOunds like you had a lovely day with Caterina

Seems like you are learning a lot on your challenge and being challenged at every turn. How is your running total spend going when compared to your monthly spend target?

Hope you are feeling a bit better after hospital etc .

I think it's really sweet you still gave £1 to charity even in your current challenge.

Subscribing now so i don't keep missing updates!

Caterina

Hi LilacLillie,

Sorry to hear about your great aunt, but if there is one to liven up the wake that's you, for sure!

Glad you enjoyed your evening with us and did not find us a bit too disorganised (or maybe you did but are too polite to say! LOL).

You cracked me up when you told me on the phone you had been to the Britain Got Talent audition, I wondered what you were auditioning for - you would be great if they auditioned for the Best Bargain Spotter or teh Cheekiest Discount Asker, though!

Unlike you, this month I am finding myself spending like it has gone out of fashion, really losing the OS thread a bit, so I am really looking up to you for your great challenge, well done for persevering! Perhaps this will encourage me to take up a similar one in March. Mind you I could not give up money altogether because I also have the Hungry Twins to consider, so I would have to target my own spending mainly - that would be good enough for me.

Love

Caterina xxx

LilacLillie

All going OK, wish it was better but it seems very difficult in this day and age NOT to spend money.

Wednesday: went to my craft class £1.50 fee

Thursday: Out to Stitchcraft show at Excel with Caterina (free tkts) who encouraged me not to spend and 'bought' me a coffee in M&S with her free vouchers.
I wanted to buy so many things that I 'needed' and beat myself up on the day for not getting them, but today I know I don't need those items at all and I'm not missing them (much )

Friday: A slight 'technical' cheat today.

Went to M&S on behalf of DH (who says he doesn't know where M&S is :think:) to buy the Valentine meal...............with £20 gift voucher from Xmas.
Only used the vouchers, which I'd forgotten about, and know it would have cost us at least £100 if we'd gone out, so feeling it was an OK cheat, if there can be such a thing.

Beginning to wonder if the store cupboard challenge would have been more suitable?

I'm quite enjoying having to think more about money, especially when people ask why I'm bothering.
Its almost like taking a step out of the moneyrace (adapted from Ratrace by me )

LL

zippychick

Hi Lillie - well done for resisting craft fair stuff! You're stronger than I am

I guess your Marksies valentines was a technical cheat - but i think (not that it matters) that is ok as it was for Valentines day and a special occasion. If you just went out and spent £20 on general food that would seem really silly in the light of your challenge. So don't worry about it and enjoy it. If you felt really guilty I guess you could throw it all in the freezer, keep the wine, and get into the Storecupboard challenge and try come up with a lovely meal from that (but let's not be hasty!):rotfl:

Yoru challenge is making you stop and think about spending , so it sounds like you are achieveing and doing brilliantly as it is making you more aware of spending patterns.

How is your running total going if you don't mind me asking?:j

I'm unemployed so am trying to keep an eye on my spending also although I'm not sure where my new crochet hooks come into it (but they are ever so exciting! :j)

Just wondering - with valentines - sometimes there will be occasion like this - birthdays etc. Do you think it is better to include that in advance when you set the budget - so you actually put the £20 in ahead if that makes sense? Bit like being on a diet and planning a splurge on a special occasion.

SO if you were doing the same in March, you would include occasion x with a separate budget of £Y . Again I'm rambling and thinking out loud.:D

Good going girl.

LilacLillie

Again in March :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I think my actual spend to date is................oops lost my scrap paper, but have written it all down here , so am guessing its still under £15.
I'm sure I could have done better though.
LL

zippychick wrote: »

SO if you were doing the same in March, you would include occasion x with a separate budget of £Y . Again I'm rambling and thinking out loud.:D

Good going girl.

zippychick

ha ha ha! well done missy