January's Big Financial Freeze!!!

Cranny44

Ooh glad NSK is going to take account of us YS shoppers.... I once again found myself tempted with YS in Mr Ms they were just reducing down agin as i wandered along

So now have some spicy bean burgers (2 packs), spicy potato type thingy, warburtons bread, egg mayo sandwich filler, four pack of battered fish all for less than a £5

I have no YS shame............ but could now do with a bigger freezer..

Another week til payday for me but still looking all good and food/petrol still within budget..

Cant wait to see what NSKs february holds ..

Onwards and Upwards everyone

gelmc

Hi everyone,

Long time no see. Struggled this month to get on the hardcore money saving/spinning. Mainly because I'd spent most of my money at the start of the month, plus I was ill with flu/coughing virus so had no energy for anything much.

Nevertheless, I do feel on the brink of great things. My exam marking has started now and I will earn over a grand, with the potential for a few hundred more. I also get paid tomorrow, so a grand will go straight to my Isa. I've chased up my SAR request ( sent 3 months ago and I've not even received an acknowledgement letter) and the financial ombudsman is going to send HSBC a letter, to chivvy them along.

How is everyone doing with the Adpoints and have I missed anything major? And what is Kat planning for my birthday month? I would read the past posts but my eyes are worn our from reading/marking kids exam responses.

Also glad to say I sold a couple of books on amazon. Can't wait til the car boot season starts up again and I can do one of those!

fairy3

Evening all, have been reading but too shattered to contribute, still on target but will update at the weekend. My petrol will probably go over but think I underestimated and my car is 10 years old and 2 hour journeys home from work have taxed her.
I love YS too hint hint and can spot them at 50 yards..... cupboards and freezer still look quite healthy and would be tempted to try a week of no buying food at all.
Everyone is doing fantastically well and I think for me the challenge has helped me focus on things I am not so good at e.g. planning for the year ahead so thank you Kat.
Was offered extra work today so bang goes my planned 'organising' weekend but have a really tough February due to two insurances being due and no pay til next week so needs must when the devil drives.
Right bed calls - all preps done for last day at work tomorrow.
night all and stay warm

NinjaSavingKat

Good Evening chickadees.. I am nearly off to bed but had to pitch in and advise another NSD.. need to actually mark up the last three...I think...

So back to the bike tomorrow... £18.74 in my petrol account, £41.35 in my current account and £17 in my kitty from a cash in hand eBay payment... my train ticket tomorrow is either £19 for a return / £69 for a 7 day card OR I take the bike and all the way through until payday.. with a chance it might snow again tomorrow...? I am getting too comfortable on the train I'll tell you that...

I think I am tempted to take the bike and will get up and see what the weather is doing tomorrow before making a decision. I just don't want to put anything on my CC..( the total amount ) and pay for it next month. I have other things to pay for in FEB...:T

Yes I am counting down the days to Payday.. I need to have at least a spare £500 to tuck away.. better if it could be £700.. doubt that will happen though. Overtime again on Saturday night and Sunday day equalling 15 hour double time.. still don't know how this structure of doing overtime will pay out.. ( work entire weekend, following weekend only work 8 hours Sunday and have Saturday night off, then the following entire weekend and so forth...).. if I hit the next tax bracket it's not worth loosing my life over working so much and I will cut down. Just need to do it for one more month..

Anyway... working like a loon but if I get out at a decent time tomorrow despite all the work I think I might go see Les Mis with a girlfriend...2.5 hours long???. I saw the stage production - so well done. And I cried so I am not sitting through it again on my own..:p

I think to much of my money is filtering out.. I think I might reign it in a LOT in Feb since its only 28 days long ...Can I survive on £150 for EVERYTHING?.... lets get my little spreadsheet out and I will let you know...:p:p:p


Onwards and Upwards!!

Siouxsie32

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

.. I think I might reign it in a LOT in Feb since its only 28 days long ...

YES YES YES!!! I need to reign it in too in February. My wage isn't going to be great and my extra income hit the skids as well with me taking time off at Christmas/New Year etc so I need a Hatch Battening Down style month and you're just the girl to lead me through it!!

YORKSHIRELASS

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

I think I might reign it in a LOT in Feb since its only 28 days long ...

Onwards and Upwards!!

I am liking this thought - yes I know its not even the end of January yet but I am feeling those positive vibes. Now I really must stop playing with my spreadsheets and go to bed as I have to work tomorrow.

rosiecheeksblossom

Evening all

How is everyone, looking back at the posts there has been some good savings through the month of Jan.
Today was another NSD which I think brings me to 19:) and there's still 7 days of the month to go, so 25 is possible:T. I have done the last of my shopping hopefully as only got 5p left in the kitty. Although yesterday I ordered cat food from the internet which I hadn't budgeted for, I only paid £26.77 with discounts and it's normally £35.99 from the vet. So not as bad as could of been:o.
Up to now, I don't think there's much planned for me to spend money on for the rest of the month. I have £44.78 left for petrol and £113.21 in my going out/ other fund and only out to see Strictly next thurs. So looking forward to it. Paid for last year!!
This budgeting has well and truly opened my eyes to my previous spending habits and hopefully I can continue with this positive mindset that NSK and all you MSErs have helped me to see. Although I havent got into the ebaying much and finding £25 the rest of it I think I have stuck to. No sales, no canteens, vending machines etc, no buying beauty products - Still got 17 bottles of shower gel on the go....
I have been shopping in Aldi and have found them cheaper by far on fruit and veg. I have been accepted for the Royal Mail surveys in order to get free stamps and have been recycling unwanted gifts, although does this make me seem ungrateful:o:o:o. However in 2012 with Christmas, birthdays and new baby presents etc, I spent over £1200 on people, something that I really can't afford to continue:o.
Anyway I think Ive waffled enough....
TTFN xx

Kerfuffle

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

- Fluffy can you hear that bag calling to you yet..?

- Offered to assist a friend of a friend with her debts as she is currently having 'no eating days'... Not good!

Onwards and Upwards to you all.. Never has this felt a more appropriate saying.. Despite the lows of no holidays, redundancies and struggles. It is worth it!!!

Maybe The Bag has been calling me "Mommy, Mommy - save me". It's been sitting in Fedex facility in Calgary since last Friday (unfed and unloved). I finally got in touch with Fedex to ask what the hold up was and I've been stung with a duties and taxes bill. It was expected but I would have expected their customer services to be more efficient and get in touch with me to let me know rather than letting it just sit there. Also I'm not too happy with the satchel company as they've filled the customs form in with the gross tax amount, and VAT shouldn't have been charged as it is an export item. Their Q&A page says that they don't deduct the tax aspect of the gross figure as they use that money to 'offset' the shipping costs (even though I've also paid shipping). I can accept that they 'may' offset the VAT amount against shipping, but at least put the net amount on the customs form. As it is I've now paid Canadian taxes and duties on the VAT amount. :mad:

I'm so pleased I don't spend money often :rotfl::rotfl:

Well done NSK for stepping in and helping your friend who thinks not eating is going to save money :eek:

karmachilovething wrote: »

I have no idea where I got this from but I though Rosie was a pony! :rotfl: MAybe it was all the hay :rotfl:

karmachilovething - I don't think Rosie is a pony, but there was one time nannygladys talked about doing something with the GP, possibly waking up the GP to put a warming mat in there, and the first time I read it I read it as waking up the Doctor.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well folks I've had a spendy day today so I'll be back later to update the status once I figured out what I've done

thriftylass

Gosh it's quiet here . Been to the gym the third time this week and NSD number 20 today. BF will supply a few goodies from the SM tonight and then we'll batten down the hatches as it started to snow up here properly too. In town it's more slush (close to the sea) but everywhere else is quite bad (although nothing like down south).
Put some items up on ebay last night for 10 days and already have a few watchers each. However I think it's too late to count towards the Jan money as they only finish in Feb.

Mancman86

Another 10cm snow:snow_laug predicted for Leicester/east midland this afternoon/evening. Should make the evening commute all the more joyful. Have a safe journey home everyone.
Ripped open the £500 coin Jar today and got the £26 out of it as needed for the car repairs