The Ultimate February Challenge

Ninno820

Oh Kat - PLEASE can we have a March challenge - I am doing so well under your guidance and leadership! Like many others I find February a tough month - weather wise its not yet spring and mse wise we are too far away from the enthusiasm of post christmas.

Today is day one of my "at home holiday". After a lie in I met up with some friends for a sewing day. After a minor panic (where my machine would not work and I thought that I needed a new one) we had a great time - really relaxing and full of laughs. After a long dog walk I am now thinking about tea - ys roast turkey with the trimmings. Ebay is steady - £4.99 yesterday and two bids on a total of £6 today - not going to bring the debt down much but at least its the tortoise version.

Financially I still have nearly £5 left of my food and fuel budget but payday is this friday and I have no spends planned until then so I am hoping to limp across the line. If I do then I am projecting a debt reduction of around £750 - hence the reason why I need you Kat.

thriftylass

Oh I definitely need a March challenge. And I guess I have to take the SFD bit more serious again which I def let slip, but that's just my fault not yours NSK. This month we all seem to struggle a bit more (same here, the odd crisp packet, soft drink etc). Now I got another target - a wedding, not that a new kitchen or a rainy day fund aren't important. But they can wait a bit longer, I'm not waiting another 8.5 years to get married. Plus its another two months of cheaper nursery before we hit a 5 week pay month again, so better make the most of it. The good thing is I started cycling to work again. So as long as the snow stays off that means no money at work for naughty treats etc.

mayfair1985

Another one in for March!

And although i'm still within all budgets for this month, and possibly the only one I will go over on is food, and only a little bit (yes my sig needs serious updating) It's only because of you lot here that this has been possible so far.

When I think how far I have come in a few months, the thought of not having this to help every month until the end makes me sad

I'm defo one of the ones that needs to brace up and batten down after a relaxed Feb, I need to be a proper March Miser! (sp?) Every time I look at the numbers I'm reminded of you lot. Every time I want to spend on something unnecessary you're all in the back of my head. Every time I think of something to eBay and then think I'll do it later / I can't be bothered / ohhh wine it given me a kick to do it NOW not later!And although it's been a 'spendy' month, I don't want this to continue. So basically

YES PLEASE FOR A MARCH CHALLENGE!!!!!

nannygladys

Just lost post:mad: silly me pressed wrong key

Hi everyone, count me in Kat without you my budgets would be shot though, my debt up and sanity down the pan, so please please continue:)

Another SFD from me, (couldnt do this on my own, I always think that Kat is watching me) but I will have to go shopping in the next couple of days as Im quickly running out of milk.

Not a lot has been happening today, finished work for a couple of days, so Im hoping this sunny weather will continue and I can get out into the garden (not sure what for but there seems to be a lot of people doing it and I dont want to miss out:rotfl:) I actually cleaned the inside of the car out when I got home, then had to have a sit down and a coffee to recover:) so I may have a go at the outside of it whilst Im off.

Anyway off for a lurk, hope everyone wants a March challange

Jxx

Bobarella

Hello

I would like to have a go. I have followed the Feb challenge with interest. For me I am still at the stage of tracking all our food and fuel expenditure via receipts into envelopes, which I will tally up at the end of the month. I have downshifted my shopping habits and want to see how that has gone in Feb. I think I can save more on food, but fuel more of a challenge.

Sign me up!

Bob

Learning2Budget

Morning. Had a spendy day again yesterday. Finding February incredibly hard. Think itz cos i didn't budget for school holidays. So managed to spend 22 yesterday on visit to town, lunch and entertainment. But on the plus side i bought my little girl a bike for bargain price of a fiver which i took out of my saving pig. So wrong will be doing lots of biking to the park now which will be free.

Today's plans are blown out the window by a poorly girlie. So may pop out n do the food shop while oh watches her.

Having problem with sfd from a psychological point of view. Found nsd's easier to stick to. Why is that?!!!

Right off to look at my budget again. L2B.x

Bobarella

Learning2Budget wrote: »

Having problem with sfd from a psychological point of view. Found nsd's easier to stick to. Why is that?!!!

Right off to look at my budget again. L2B.x

Sorry to be thick, Learning2Budget but what is the difference? Surely a spend free day is the same as a no spend day?

Ninno820

I agree with L2B - I know its the same but I have to think twice (or more) to remember which one we are using (lol).

Kat - I have been thinking overnight - was your request re March a plea for more shoulders to help with the burden? I dont know about the others here but I need to commit to 2013 so if you are struggling a little to juggle everything wondered if we should offer to take on a month each?

Today is a SFD - I am going into work for the morning (I have a rule that I will not spend a whole day in work during the holidays - even if that means going in two mornings!). This afternoon will be another long dog walk followed by the housework that was ignored on yesterday's "at home holiday".

Weatherwise it's beautiful sunshine - and severe frost. Hope that all is well with everyone. x

thriftylass

Bobarella wrote: »

Sorry to be thick, Learning2Budget but what is the difference? Surely a spend free day is the same as a no spend day?

In principle yes. But SFD feel a bit more relaxed. I felt more compelled to stick to the NSDs as we then also had them more enforced, like you had to make/sign up for 20 NSD whereas now it'd be good to have 20 SFD but ok'ish of not. In my head I need to be told proper so I guess the NSDs worked better. I know doens't make much sense

NSK I think we need a kick in the b*tt and go back to 20 NSDs and no less!!!! :rotfl:

Learning2Budget

That's exactly it Thrifty. I am weak and need someone to beat me over the head and give me strict deadlines. SFD's in my head are too relaxed. So i shall have to turn myself back to NSD to stay on target.x