The October Awakening!

Fmess

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

It is just me or is the word "fondle" just a little bit creepy?..:rotfl:

I agree! Very creepy!

Checking in with SFD number 16 :T I'm so hoping I can make it to 20 however I need milk tomorrow and food shopping is planned for Friday as its payday for me. Next week I am taking all the dogs for their annual vaccinations on Monday and the car for an MOT and service on Tuesday (do these count as SFDs if I spend nothing else NSK?) It could be an expensive start to the week, although I have hopefully saved enough to cover the MOT and service

It is getting quieter on the board this last week, think everyone must be busy watching their budgets or making their £100. Speaking of which I sold a book on Am4zon today, think the money will only come through next month though so won't add it to my total until it arrives in my account.

I've got a week of holiday next week and I'm aiming to make the most of it by staying in, not spending, making Christmas cards and trying to earn money through survey sites.

Maisie_M

SFDs: 12/20
Food budget: £350.99/£350
Donation: £0/£3
Planned outings: 1/1 Meal out for birthday with OH (paid on voucher already)
Takeaway £19.40/£20 - Chinese to celebrate birthday with children,
Take lunch to work: 12/18
Beauty spends £2.67/£10

Hi all

Just caught up on the last couple of posts. I think for all of us there is someone who's house, car or lifestyle we envy, after all it's only human nature to want more for yourself and your family. As long as it's not obsessive then it can be quite a healthy motivator, as long as you use it right.

Had two more SFD and two more lunch to work days. Hoping to get another SFD tomorrow.

strandedinaber

Hello everyone! I was a bit confused when I came to check and realised I didn't need to read back three pages - folks were quiet today! Also realised I've not posted any totals in a while, so:

SFDs: 11/20
Grocery budget: £120.12/£180
Donation: £3/£3
Take lunch to work: 14/18 (100% so far)
Beauty spends: Um, no idea, I'm afraid. Definitely not over £10 though. Might be £0.

Looking at my grocery bill, I'm completely baffled. That's half than what I used to spend and I've not changed how I eat at all - in fact, if anything, I probably eat more organic food than I used to, although I do 'bulk out' more and make meat stretch further. I did quit drinking, but I certainly never spent more than £30 a month on alcohol (I'm a wine snob). Kind of terrifying to realise that I may have actually been throwing an entire month's worth of food in the bin!!

karmachilovething

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

KarmaChi taking a day off is an excellent idea. Silver lining and all that. When will you propose this to the board? And what would you do with the day off..? May I ask what you freelance at and whether you think their is ample clientele out there... OOOOh I hope you get Fridays off - long weekend...:rotfl:

There was a meeting amongst the staff at lunch today. I was out at meetings all day so missed it unfortunately, but it seems they came to the same conclusion as me anyway. Our delegates are taking our proposal to the partners tomorrow afternoon.

I'm an architect, so freelance jobs are small house extensions, mostly planning applications. So far I've got clients by word of mouth, because I can only really have one at a time and it takes a few months to get through the process. But with half a day a week I could get the work done so much faster. I would probably start advertising, and see what turns up.

I have a client at the moment, so I would have a couple of months of that one to figure out a business strategy.

Of course, I'd have to avoid the temptation of long weekends as you say

Otherwise, SFD although work expenses that will be reclaimed.

TiptoesDB

Gosh, where is everyone? tumbleweed...

Well, spendy day for me as I did the weekly shop a few days early. Had an hour to kill in-between visits at work and was near a supermarket. Plus we are away this weekend visiting a friend and I don't want to miss out on this week's money off voucher at Morrison's! It's funny, not long ago I would have easily spent £80 on the weekly shop without even thinking anything about it. Now I have to really plan hard to spend the necessary minimum £40 to get the voucher, and so have been stocking up on cleaning products, tins and non perishables. We could survive a nuclear winter round at ours at the moment! What I can't figure out though, is what did I spend £80 on? We seem to be eating better, and far more at home - as we are not eating out or buying lunch / snacks out... bizarre.

Anyhoo, should be spend free the rest of the week until we go to see friends on Saturday overnight. I have warned her we are on financial lock down so hopefully it'll be cheap and cheerful. We have budgeted £20 for the entire weekend there. I have already bought her a gift, would usually get a nice bunch of flowers for her, but instead have bought a big bag of daffodil bulbs for the spring - reduced to £1.50. Cheaper and longer lasting, I just hope she's ok with the delayed gratification.

Seem to have got over the low I was feeling earlier this week, thanks for the help NSK and you guys...

Hope everyone's ok out there

strandedinaber

TiptoesDB wrote: »

It's funny, not long ago I would have easily spent £80 on the weekly shop without even thinking anything about it. Now I have to really plan hard to spend the necessary minimum £40 to get the voucher, and so have been stocking up on cleaning products, tins and non perishables. We could survive a nuclear winter round at ours at the moment! What I can't figure out though, is what did I spend £80 on? We seem to be eating better, and far more at home - as we are not eating out or buying lunch / snacks out... bizarre.

Glad it's not just me! I reckon it's the effect of chasing after those NSDs.

Glad you're feeling better today!

Kaybeebop

Food shop day today and managed to spend £70!!!?? In lid!. Only deviation from list was marshmallows & waterproof trousers for DD (£6 against £18 from Decathalon yesterday). Did get a months worth of chicken & ice cream but who apart from me can spend that in hey diddle lidl?

Took to bed as still feeling rubbish with the remains of the cold, 2 weeks now, sauna & steam room yesterday didn't help much.

I've been joining the envy band wagon as our neighbours have just redecorated their living rm for the 2nd time in 12 months & threw out 2 perfectly new doors. 2years ago they scrapped a 2 year old £25k kitchen when they moved in. Our kitchen is so old & broken that the work surface comes with you when you wipe it! But I am not going to add to the debt to do it so we'll manage. It is v annoying though.

Kitchen scales have broken I had no idea how many times a day we use them, measuring cereal, pasta, rice we will all be the size of houses by the time they are replaced I made a mountain of pasta for me & DS earlier!

Haven't done totals in a while:

SFD 9/20 should manage tomorrow & fri so hopefully double figures also I think I've done myself out of a few days along the way ie travel & petrol where I've thought they were spend days.

Lunch 5/8 back to work tomorrow
Food 270.55/280 DD wants paella on Sat we need rice, chorizo & prawns hmmmm then again prawns half price in Mr T & the chorizo lasts about 3-4 meals so with a few careful purchases next week we might do it...first month ever of almost sticking to a budget.
Travel 50.90/75 car will need at leat a wee tenner before Halloween
Misc 267/200:mad: but kids needed winter clothes think I'll start a wee savings pot for this
Toiletries 5.92/10
Donation 0/3 with everyone feeling grotty this has been a bit forgotten, might double up next month.

K

cottage_retreatist

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

It is just me or is the word "fondle" just a little bit creepy?..:rotfl:

hehe! well - with a cheque that large i couldn't just 'hold it'!!!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Fmess

Talking of changing shopping habits... I had quite a remarkable moment yesterday. I walked past my local convenience supermarket and could not remember the last time I went in I have been known to frequent it up to 3 times a day in the past! My bank statement often looks like I have shares in the place and could easily have spent our whole October food budget in there in one month, on top of the weekly shops at a larger store! Thank goodness for finding this thread and NSK!

Superdopsa

Evening all. Another SFD for me, bringing my total to 12. Had packed lunch in work and tea from the freezer. Have just made tomorrow's packed lunch and need to take something out of the freezer for tea.

I used 2 x £10 vouchers in B00ts today and got a voucher for the change (£3.20). Was hoping for the cash but it was put on a giftcard - but I still have 3 more vouchers to use (from V Opinions) so I can use it with one of those.

Hoping for another SFD tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Have a good Thursday and will check in again tomorrow.