Just Say NOvember 2013!!!

Pinkylds

Hi everyone,
I've been trying to do this challenge for the last two months and I've failed miserably as I have struggled to get organised so I'm hoping that people may have some ideas that I can use.
Meal planning is hard as I can't batch cook due to only having one small shelf in the freezer. I wish I could freeze more as its such a waste having to cook for one all the time. I split my time between my home and my bf's but we don't cook as he's in a shared house and its quite awkward with his housemate. I don't drive so I tend to buy breakfast or a meal out once a week or so as my way of putting money towards petrol as my bf drives me around quite a bit.
Any ideas on how to be more organised or cheap meals for one would be great.
Oh I also can't budget for the life of me as I've never actually been shown how to. It sounds daft but my mum has always been the kind to spend all her money and then my ex was the kind who refused to spend any money on anything even if things were falling apart. I've not been around anyone who actually manages their money.
Thanks xx

NinjaSavingKat

Right then Pinklyds.... seems like you are stuck in a rut... it's all hands on deck I think.....

1. Make a list of essential payments made each months ( rent / bills etc)
2. Add to this list a estimated/guestimated amount spent on eating out each month.
3. Then add to this what you would roughly spend on food for the month...perhaps consider giving him money towards the journeys that you need his help with above and beyond the normal boyfriend duty as eating out means wracking up more bills as it's easy to add in a desert, drinks, etc = £30.. whereas getting a lift here and there may only come to £15 in petrol..?
4. Post your full debt amount and how much you are paying towards it each month.

Batch cooking could be classed as making two meals in one hit. Can you make three servings of soup, one to eat then and there, one for the next day to fit in the fridge and one for the freezer...? You don't need to make meals for the next two weeks.


Meal plan.. it will seem silly and a little un-spontaneous to know what you are going to eat for dinner in 5 days time especially as you might feel like something else - but make a plan (just this once) of food that you can prepare with ease, that include the "3 portion rule" as mentioned above.



Perhaps do this and then bring portions to your boyfriends house - is his freeezer bigger? Why is it awkward to cook there - he is paying for use of the kitchen yes?? I would have words with flatmates that are being silly or getting in the way......


So we need to find you a happy medium away from miserly ex and spendthrift Mummy's ideals...


This is for starters by the way - more to come when questions are answered and details added....:T:T:T

rosiecheeksblossom

Evening all

Really should get up, need to cook tea and watch strictly it takes 2 and then its off to work I go..... But working nights means SFDs :jalthough only 9 in total up to now:o.
Keep up the good work everyone xxx

jofish2669

Hi just a quick update,
This is my first challenge and as I get paid on Friday I thought I'd do a quick review of how it's gone.
Packed lunches ; I took Thriftylass's advice and made a load in one go to get over the can't be bothered days.
Giving to a food bank ; that went well.
Declutter ; I need to do more and hope to get rid of more in the next couple of days when I'm off work.
Fuel ; this has been an eye opener as I actually seem to spend less on petrol than I thought I did!
Food ; Keeping within budget has been hard and I have had to be strict with myself and vigilant not to slip up,it's far too easy to just 'accidentally' put food not on your list into your trolley.
NSD ; I am not going to make the target but I have given it a good go and hope to do better next month.
Miscellaneous spends ; Now this is where it has gone badly wrong.I had budgeted £100 for some outings for my DS 16th birthday,pressie's,my one outing and a little bit extra for'just in case'
My'just in case' became £50 for eldest DS to pay for his D of E,£30 for books for his courses and then £40 for youngest DS new shoes.
Grrrrr

So I feel like I've failed in this aspect and am not sure what to do in the future,do I just make my Misc/contingency fund bigger and hope I don't use it all?

I have to say though how thankful I am to NSK and everyone doing this challenge,without you I know I would be far worse off than I currently am and I appreciate your stories ,solutions and general camaraderie.

I will do better next month!!

clippy_girl

Hi all,
Broke SFD again today as spent 75p crisps and choc bum muscles hurt so day off gym! Took food bank stuff into work, 1st day today of the collection and by lunch there was quite a bit which is nice decided to sort charity stuff, cheated a bit as I have had a big bag of stuff to take for a while but not got round to it. Added some more stuff and pulled out the clothes and shoes as there is a clothing collection for the Philippines at work so will take them in tomorrow. Didn't count but I'd estimate around 30 items. Found a few gift type items in cupboard that I will list on intranet. If they don't sell I will take them to charity shop in few weeks. Going to list Wii and Wii fit tomorrow as well. Had email to say my £50 m&s vouch has been posted (free with insurance) so will list that for £45 when it comes. Won't take less as I can use it for food when or on offer or buy staple clothes in sale when loose weight!

tennisfanatic

Another SFD to report. Not planning to spend any more money this month which if i manage it will mean i've reached 23 SFD's by the end of the month. Thats far more than I have probably achieved in the last 2-3months put together thanks to NSK and everone on here.

Looking forward to December but hoping its not as difficult! Although I get from this challenge that you need to aim high to achieve what you want.


SFD18/25
Lunch to work 14/18
Food £93.44/£100 (including foodbank donation)
Foodbank £3.59/£3
Toiletries £3/£10
Moneymade £7.09/£80

cowboymum

Thought I'd also do a what went well post. I have struggled with the nsd - I haven't even managed to get to 10 yet, let alone 25. I think this is something to do with being self employed and having business and personal finances all muddled up together. We often have to spend on work stuff and as we are paid to do food for the children, can't really not have the food there for them to eat. I have tried to plan better, and this week have pretty much used up the freezer stuff too.

I've also realised that we don't have a misc fund for all the school things - recently money for charity donations, locker deposit, Christmas dinner etc etc. the list goes on! In fact it is quite difficult to budget for everything, especially when we often start the month with a bit of an overdraft.

What went well was getting a big wodge of cash out at the beginning of the month and splitting it exactly for school dinners, bus fares, parking etc.

Food budget wasn't quite enough so will have to up that a bit. I have signed up to do the grocery challenge for December so will tackle that one bit by bit.

Food bank and charity shop stuff all fine (got some clothes to give away to take me up to 20).

DH made some extra this month but to be honest that's been spent on all the overspends. £120!!!

We are in a good state financially as we don't have any debts (the one we had, we paid off with some savings) but it's good to keep on top of what you spend as it's very easy to slip back into debt, especially on a fairly low wage.

TiptoesDB

Hey all

Sounds like we're getting to the end of the month review time... well, I am not going to make the 25 days, but will prob come in at 20 which is not too bad. As last month, we both have taken lunches every day, and have hit all our other targets. And most amazing of all..... DH has got his sorn car tax back.... 11 months on! He phoned them up today (with no nagging from me) and so that's in the post, along with my chiropractor costs refunded from my work health scheme, so that's bonus money - yeay! He also cancelled his PPI and cleaned the house so he's deffo in the good books tonight!

We all seem to be doing well this month, in our own ways - paying off credit cards, learning new ways of doing things, recognising our weaknesses etc... bring on December and 2014!

MrsGSR

I think my DH may have had a a teeny tiny LBM. he got a CC statement and old me he had to move it to a 0% card. He also sat and worked everything out and how long it will take to pay off! I'm gobsmaked!

splodgethefirst

Evening all,

Thanks NSK and Kangadoo for the well wishes! Just been a tough month.
Pay day tomorrow Looking forward to trying again for NSDs next month. Will try to be less harsh on myself. am grateful to have helped others (declutter/foodbank) and this is something I will try to carry forwards

I am honestly finding the organisation the hardest part - e.g. buying pop and petrol on the same day as posting letters etc. I realise how pathetic that must sound right now - but that's the nub of the issue as I see it at the moment. getting organised would prevent much silliness!