The October Awakening!

fyggy

Hello there all!

It's obviously been quiet as I've not been here rambling on for ages! :rotfl:

The weekend was spent at my friends watching the Fitness & Body Builders show. Sat - spend day, a cheap tea & drinks with dancing. £30 in total - from my misc/pocket money/housekeeping fund (it's used where required!). Haven't been out drinking in aagggges.

Sunday was a SFD (no13). I took my meals over with me on Sat am- organised!

Monday- work with a quick hosp appt and then prescription pick up (I work in a hospital and so just popped in on my break and I pay monthly pre paid certificate for my prescriptions). SFD (no14)

Tuesday- Housework & a meeting with some work in the evening. Got my sec (of a committee I run, I'm not a CEO or anything) to bring the milk, biccies & flask to the meeting, whilst I brought some ready to go cups of tea and coffee I'd light fingered away last meeting, so nothing was spent but all important hot drinks were served! Managed another SFD (no15)

Weds- Work day. Slight run in with my boss over what the term development actually means, which means I will definitely be applying for a job in another hospital. Sadly my future doesn't appear to be where I am if I am to progress and flourish. After work I went to my Mums to meet my eb.ayer to FINALLY get rid of the wheels I have been flogging for months. He was cool and I have big girl muscles so helped him carry them to his car, surprising him haha. The £100 I got from them I was using some towards buying €90 from my Mum that she has left over. However, my Mum refused to take the cash and gave me them. How nice is that? Another SFD (no16) as a result!

Today- Day off. Been to the dentist, which was planned spends. DH has also been. Been into work for a meeting. My friend/colleague suggested we do coffee afterwards. But I managed to co-erse our other friend/colleague into hosting us for coffee at his house, just down the road from his. So so far a SFD, but I shan't count it just yet!

Totals
SFDs- 16/20 - the number I reached in both Aug & Sept. I plan to hit 20.
Fuel- £145/120 over. We usually spend £150ish, but I thought we would try for less. Unsuccessful but not too disappointed. I think we both started the month on the fuel light so this is prob why.
Food- £130/£120 Another overspend here, but again it's in part to the challenge being to set it then reduce by £20 as per OA rules. I can live with a tenner over/under
Cash generating- £280/£100 Another budget that's over, but in a good way! Haha. Proud of this, plus the €90 from my Mum for our hols next week. Woo!

Next month is going to be horrific though due to the additional costs we didn't know about for the holiday (diving courses nod extra equipment).

Tomorrow shall be one hell of a spend day. I think close to a grand will part my bank account. It's my payday tomo thankfully. DHs is Weds.

Aside from the numbers. This week has been a hard week. Some inward fighting amongst DH and I over the finances. Still not really resolved. I suppose he has a bit of envy as has been mentioned by others. But his in in going out for a meal or drink. He likes doing it and I am not really bothered/would rather spend money elsewhere. He still says £30 isn't enough for him a week in order to entertain (buy beer and go to the pub), but I really struggle, not that I would deny him money, but I see £150 on the budget this month for his weekly pocket money. Seems a lot to me really. He's still fighting with me over the finances. I think he has some resentment and blames me for the situation when the truth is I led the spending but he was a willing participant in it.

Anyway, keep going guys. Nearly time for Novembers challenge!

Fmess

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Good Morning All......

To the rest of you - WOW! There is some seriously mental and physical changes. Walking past conveniance stores ( like I did last night ), using vouchers for gifts that you got as gifts ( I would do the same ), planning and scheming for November - incidentally Fmess they are SFD's if you have the money put aside for them already or at least budgetted for from November's pot. I really want you to join us for November so I am super happy you have mentioned your plans here.. :T

Onwards!!!

Thank you for both the vets bill and the MOT/service, I have saved half the money from October and the other half will be from November's pay packet. I've got my fingers crossed that I need nothing/very little done to pass the MOT. If there is any money left over then it can go straight towards the ccard debt

NinjaSavingKat

Fyggy have you actually said that to him though - that he has willing participated in the fun?... And how was the body-building show? I have body-fat callipers now so being measured tomorrow..;-((

NinjaSavingKat

Watching Extreme Couponers...(I know how to live).. these women amaze me. One got £1100 of groceries for £33. Fed her church congregation for 2 months... amazing!

NinjaSavingKat

robrooo wrote: »

Yes, I still get a colleague come up and inspect my food every so often since he found out I was vegan, and all I want to do is just eat in peace and not listen to his inane waffle about protein etc etc. This has been happening on and off for 5 bloomin' years...was hoping he would be bored by now. I never comment on anyone else's food, and if I see someone eating at their desk, I prefer not to interrupt them; this is just manners, let alone talk and breathe all over their space. I'm incorpoating more raw food too now, so there are lots of "weird" things he has never seen before that he has to remark on

You need to tell him to do one. I don't understand this whole protein argument. Quinoa is a complete protein, steak is not. Millet is more nutritious protein wise than any meat. People have been brain washed that meat is better - if you like the taste then so be it - but it's not healthier.....(sorry for the rant to all you meat eaters)...

Have you had grated beetroot yet? I have heard sweet potato is lovely raw although I haven't tried it yet.... I wish you the very best of luck though... 5 years is a lot to deal with someone like that.. sure he doesn't fancy you (whether you are a boy or a girl)...:o...eek!

TiptoesDB

OOO, I love coming home and reading the challenge, it's my little treat to myself! Cuppa and a catch up. Not that you guys are not in my thoughts all day. Today for example, I was coming from a difficult meeting at work through the shopping centre to the car park when I heard my name being called. I turned round and there in the shop window, calling me seductively, was a lovely cosy winter jumper. I went into the shop and found my size right there ready for me, all soft and snuggly warm. I held it up to myself in front of the mirror and realised that it would solve ALL my winter wardrobe dilemmas in one, plus make my hair, skin and figure look so much better. It would make me happy, this jumper of amazingness. Then I thought of coming home and admitting the spend on here. And then I looked at the jumper again and realised it looked a bit cheap and thin, and that I have a similar one at home I hardly wear from a few years ago. I put it down and backed slowly out of the shop. I am pleased and proud to report SFD 16.

thanks guys!

andrar

Well I've been lurking but not cos of spending cos I haven't really. I just struggle this time of year. I'll be honest as I think I need to get it out (sorry if not the right place but I only really post on here!)

I lost my parents a few years ago, my mum when I was 21 and my dad who was my rock when I was 23, so thats 5 years this Halloween - he had a great sense of humour! Since then I've been on my own (i'm not blessed with family unfortunately and you really learn who your true friends are when the proverbial hits the fan that's for sure) and really that's why I'm in the situation I'm in. Debt came from funeral expenses and suddenly being thrust into the world of renting and living on my own post uni and all that it entails.

Even though I've only been doing these challenges a few months and im not always the star pupil i've really found this thread grounds me and makes me focus, especially at times like this next week when I'm feeling super reflective and emotional and would love to turn to chocolate and spending to get that instant hit of joy to only crash back to reality.

So thanks everyone, you're a great support and you should know it!

PS sfd yesterday but not today, but my new free sofas got delivered for free yay!

NinjaSavingKat

Tiptoes... it's like an ode of debt-busting. I am copying that to facebook.. brilliant...

Fmess

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Watching Extreme Couponers...(I know how to live).. these women amaze me. One got £1100 of groceries for £33. Fed her church congregation for 2 months... amazing!

I love Extreme Couponing! I tried to coupon for a few months last year but never managed to save much. I might have another go next week as its half term

TiptoesDB

thanks NSK! Fame at last :rotfl:

Andrar, I know what you mean about being grounded and focused by the challenges. Thanks for sharing, and I am sorry to hear this is a tough time of year for you... well done for staying strong. And yeay on the sofas indeed!