January's Big Financial Freeze!!!

NicNocs

Yippee....made my first £5 of 2013!! :j:j Just received email from Swagbucks with a £5 Amazon Voucher code in it. Swagbucks and surveys is my way forward I reckon this month.

nannygladys

Happy New Year to everyone:j

Today will be a NSD for me, having the all the family round for dinner to say cherrio to DD2 and family, as they fly home to warmer climes tomorrow:( but food and drink is coming out of freezer, stores and leftovers

Still have to finalise my figures but sig is practically right now, just need to see if I can save a bit more on budgets, will do this tomorrow after airport run, it will give me something to do and not think of missing DD2:(

I should be able to complete most of the challange, but the making 155 is going to cause me problems, Ive never used ebay before (not sure what to do) but Im sure I could find a few bits to sell if I tried it - I will have to get back onto doing surveys again.

Probably come back on later
Jxx

abundant1972

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

:beer:

I had a quiet night in last night which I really enjoyed and woke up determined to make this month... this year count!!! I signed my changes form at work yesterday and so when I go back tomorrow I'm in my new post!!! Hoorah! That alone has given me incentive to do better.

I'm going to do a bit of meal planning myself - inspired by PurpleJay - am going to make it simple and really try and stick to it... Also going to look at ways I can save money on stuff I take to work. Time to get creative!!!

Have a great day everyone!!!

:cool:

NinjaSavingKat

Good Day everybody!! I am aiming for an NSD but out and about at a New Year Day family fete as an honorary family member.. Fun and frolics await! Hope everyone has a splendid day.. I'll update tonight!!!

gelmc

Happy New Year everyone! I'm glad we're through the Christmas period now so that I can concentrate on some serious money saving/generating. But I think I've caught the nasty chest infection my mum and brothers have had/still have.

Went round to a friend's house last night and we were doing our resolutions/goals for the year. Obviously my main one is financial so that I can make that big purchase and have my own space again. Also she is into moneyspinning/saving too and comes on here a lot. She told me about Adpoints which is linked to the nectar card. You can get 250 nectar points per week simply by watching ads on their website - that's 1000 points/£10 per month or £120 per year. Hope that helps some of you to generate that extra £25. One of her goals was also to generate an extra £200 per month so I may join here in this. I figure that even if I don't make all of it, having a higher amount will spur me on to do more money spinning.

OK so the amount for food this month is £80 factoring in the slashing method Kat advised. May try to get it down to £15 come Feb. I've got no social engagements organised in Jan. I am going to London on the 18th and staying at a hotel for one night with dinner and breakfast provided, but this is paid for by the exam board which I'm doing marking for. Should be a nice little sojourn as they have a pool and jacuzzi there! Will have to work the Saturday mind, but lunch is also provided and they reimburse you for your train ticket down there.

Apart from plans in the short term I am looking foward to September when I begin studying for my MSc in Psychology, with a view to doing Ed Psych in September 2015 (unfortunately they don't let you apply for the course until you have got British Psychological Society membership - which the MSc will give me). That means I get a year 'off' between courses. At the moment I am sorely tempted to part work that year and part travel somewhere further afield. I lived in Spain for a year, 10 years ago, and would love to have a similar experience again - travelling up the west coast of the US and visiting South America (Peru/Chile especially) is an option.

Sorry to go on a bit about all this, but I feel that getting my finances in order and planning things well in advance will afford me these great opportunities and this year is just the beginning. Bring it on 2013! Change is most definitely in the air...

p0lly

Happy New Year everyone I am having NSD 1 today. Having just woken up I won't be spending today I had a frugal fun night with friends. I have worked out a budget groceries will be £100 down from £200.
Travel is £50
I have been listing and listing on ebay and menu planning for the month and I have a spreadsheet budget for the year First time ever.
I am feeling very positive about 2013 thanks to MSE and all the supportive people on here. Hope you all have a great day and thank you NSK for the thread p0lly x

nannygladys

Well updated signature with food money and fuel money, hope they work, it went down a bump with the 20.00 off, but Im hoping to do it as I still have a fair amount of food left from Xmas and what was already in the cupboard:) I was allowing 2.00 a day for food but that is now down to 1.35 eek!!!!! still its not meant to be easy is it?

The OD and CC I will update in my sig when I do my banking tomorrow, and still wondering about the 155!!!! not sure what to do there, I have been offered a days overtime, but didnt really want to do it, but that might be a good option - I'll have to think about it as its a couple of weeks away.

Anyway onwards and upwards, better get in the kitchen to start dinner for family later on:)

Jxx

nimbo

I know i'm a newbie - but can I recommend selling on facebook - it will help keep the NSD's down as no postage... (some peeps can be a pain in the arris and not show though)...

Dooyoo you write and read reviews for points - they soon add up to either amazon vouchers (cash out at £20) or cash (cash out at £50)... There is a referral system in place.... I've made about £100 in the last few months (well probably 6 months)..

• Within your NSD budget you are allowed 5 extra days for food buying and petrol re-tanking ONLY but you must stick within your allotted budgets. My only possible daily spend will be train tickets as I save no money by buying weekly tickets (I only go in 4 days a week)... And If i buy in advance and then am sick I loose the money...

• Ladies and Gents – clear all your beauty products before buying any more!!! I may need a face powder this month... Other than that I will be fine... (only £3 or £4 though - and i'll only get two if there is a GOOD multi-buy on, and I'll take it out of my food budget)...

• Try and get £25 together somehow through penny gathering – whether points on something, pennies literally picked off the floor, receipts wombling in supermarket car parks, doubling coupons etc. Best get looking down the sofa...
  

• Have fun! See what you can get for free? Shampoo sachets inside magazines “borrowed from friends”? On-line surveys for points to prizes? Amazon book Trade-In? (I made £44 and bought a much needed motorbike cover)…O2 Priority moments for O2 users give free tea and coffee away now and then…make me proud and boast about it on here!

I have £25 on the way in the form of Amazon vouchers (I'm a student so I'm counting this towards my £155 to make)... I know I'll be spending the on books this month as I start my placement...


my food budget is £130 - but looking at others I feel that I may be a bit 'high'... (that is after the -£20)...


I will also read through the thread as I realise my posts are a little rambly, and I will see the format that other use also....


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

poodlegal

Ok updated sig, doing for £190 food, £80 petrol and today will be NSD number 1 as we are having a quiet day and still eating christmas goodies. Its going to be tough but motivated to stay on the straight and narrow. One area for me is to cut out all booze, i've decided to go tee total hoping to get to April. I dont drink that much but its def an area to make cutbacks in.

Spending_Vs_Saving

Hi everyone & Happy New Year to you all!

Please can i join up for this month.

Planned
25NSDs
£155 from ebay etc
£25 Findlings
No Buying Smellies/Makeup/Nail Polish

Budgeted
£25 Re travel (i dont drive)
£50 Food (down from £80)
£100 Re Going out already planned

Spends diary 2013 located and important dates entered.
Good Luck everyone and May battle with the shops commence

PS NSD No 1