January's Big Financial Freeze!!!

NinjaSavingKat

OOOh PurpleJay this is a superb day! What an organized chickadee you are!! I am super impressed with that meal deal. What a brilliant treat. I am super super impressed and would be well happy with myself if I managed something similar!!! So well done you!:j

Mayfair like you my 20 minute journey to do overtime at the weekends on the bike is a 3 hour round trip on public transport. Makes all the difference if you are doing night shifts!! I do think a good reliable car is essential.. covering three years insurance is even better. So a :jfor you too!!

So proud I am!

Mancman86

I could really eat a dominoes pizza round about now although that would just ruin my weight loss achievments.

PurpleJay

Sorry for tempting you Manc. Well done for the will power :T

I didn't eat pizza for at least the first half of last year as it is about the worst thing you can have on a diet. I am doing slimming world - or rather should be but am not exactly 'on plan' right now. Feb is going to be the month for me so back on the diet after the weekend all being well.

Lots of fresh veg in so not really any excuse. I am planning to make soup, stew and chilli Also made cakes today though....

My bread didn't rise - I have no idea why! It looks as though someone has chopped off the top. It is completely flat! I am sure I did everything right but it was a brown loaf so different recipie. Very odd. Tasted ok if a bit stodgy. Should be ok with cheese. It also took longer than planned so we had scrambled egg, goats cheese, toast and cherry tomatoes for lunch. Very very good.

Just waiting for tea to arrive. Son and hubby very pleased with the unexpected treat.

Got on well with my book keeping but didn't get around to the budgeting. Still there is always tomorrow.

Ninno820

Hi everyone - tripped up at the last hurdle. I forgot to take some milk into work with me so that was £2.64 I could have avoided spendng (not all on milk if I am honest!). I agree with all the comments about a new car - the benefits far outweigh the downsides - if the budget can stretch to it.

Otherwise I have nothing interesting to report - just limping across the line!

citizenkitten

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

CitizenKitten - that money definitely does count!! Well done!

My overtime from December is not in my pay packet for the end of this month. They also won't pay it fast-time... not amused!!!

oh no! hopefully you wont get too stung on on tax in feb, make sure you check your tax though for the financial year end.

because i changed jobs often for 3 years they over taxed me and every year my rebate got bigger, once to the tune of near on 500!

oh good then, and i hope my holiday spends didnt count either *innocent smile*

only one more day of this dreadful month left

here is to February and if all goes to plan I WILL NOT BE IN MY OVER DRAFT!!! first time in 5 years! so thank you everyone. :D:D:D

new car - cant beat it, didnt get a new car, just got my dream car last summer, like others either 20 min drive or 2 hour roundtrip on public transport (below not my car, mine is grey but this is the make and model of my car) it makes me smile every day i am in it, even with the hardtop roof up. everyone who sees it and gets a lucky lift loves it too. hard to get road rage when you are essentially driving the noddy car :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Kerfuffle

Hi everybody,

Here I am with my status for my penultimate day:

Food 118.68 / 198.00
Petrol 176.61 / 212.00
Hair 25.73 / 26.00
Postage to UK 15.23 / 14.00
3 Birthday cards 15.66 / 10.00
Preplanned Monthly Treat 70.45 / 20.00
Unplanned purchases 47.38

NSD 20 / 25
SD 11/6

So the food, petrol and hair came in under budget

Postage to UK, Birthday cards, planned treat came in over budget plus I also had three unplanned purchases.

Postage to the UK wasn't even for what I'd budgeted for as it was for sending birthday presents and cards, in the end it was used for a recorded letter that I needed to send.

The 3 birthday cards turned into 6 birthday cards and a 'congratulations on becoming Grandparents' card.

The planned treat for Hubby and myself turned into a treat for Hubby and me (burgers etc), a meal out for Hubby, myself and DS1, plus a pie and 2 London Fogs from the bakers for me.

The unplanned purchases were a new printer cartridge(16.80gbp) from the stationers and a curtain rod from the Home Store. In my defense the curtain rod was 30% off and is to cover a doorway with curtains that I already had, so the 7.84gbp is hopefully going to make the hallway warmer. I also had to pay 22.74gbp in duties and taxes for the importation of The Bag.

So all told the original budget for the month was 480.00gbp, I'm currently under budget at 469.74. Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a spend day as son and I are going to have a pizza delivered to work as we're working together tomorrow, so fingers crossed if my half of the cost is 10.26gbp or less then I should be under budget for the month.

The NSD weren't acheived but I'm okay with that as I know some days the spend was a Low-Spend Day.

So, from the front page:-
NSD = fail
No sales = fail (Curtain rod)
Petrol Budget = pass
Food Budget = pass
Unplanned catch-up = fail
Keep away from cafes/restaurants = fail
Notebook = fail (Paperwork got messy)
Ebay = fail
Toiletries = pass
25.00 penny gathering = fail ( I got 80p + 10.00gbp M&S gift card)
Get something for free = pass ( a second-hand toweling bath mat)

4/11 passes
7/11 fails

Will update tomorrow after I've had the pizza. Other than that onwards and upwards into February.

See you over on the new thread.

rosiecheeksblossom

Morning all

Well the last day of January is upon us and this challenge is almost over. I for one have enjoyed it (thank you NSK) and feel glad that I commited although I didn't pass all of the criteria.
I have finally been paid and for the first time in ages, was not overdrawn:j:j:j:j:j:j and that make me bloomin' ecstatic as No Bank Charges!!!! due in feb.
Will numbercrunch Jan's total when the day is over and let you know later, but I know I have spent far less total month budget:D:D:D, hence no OD.
On the downside, won't be a last NSD. I'm out tonight for tea and Strictly which I have so been looking forward to:):):):).

Have a very good day xxx

thriftylass

Last day of the month and a little recap.

Today is NSD 25 :T

made £150/155:D

failed the find £25 and went way over my food budget

But finally paid CC off and as today is payday stuck money in savings accounts and hope for once to actually leave it there :j

Learning2Budget

morning campers!! Well today is NSD 19.......should be 20 but need to buy school trousers for eldest and i refuse to start the new month breaking my NSD!! Also paying a garage bill in advance for same reason.....is that cheating???
I know i didn't hit target but for me i am very pleased because i am Sooooo easily distracted by new stuff......think i was a magpie in a previous life!!

I came under on petrol budget by £5
Slightly over on food shop......
Made £250!!!! Over my 155 target through overtime n selling.

So all in all a fairly good January! Now off to number crunch for Feb.

Well done guys!!!!

Mancman86

PurpleJay wrote: »

Sorry for tempting you Manc. Well done for the will power :T

Thats ok, no worries. The temptation can sometimes be too much though.
Glad your getting back on track in february.