Just Say NOvember 2013!!!

cottage_retreatist

andrar wrote: »

Phew 12 pages and only day 3!

Had my two spends days with food shop Friday and getting my poppy yesterday (first ones I've seen selling so wanted to get my donation in there and then)

Did a run and swim, sauna & steam yesterday so feeling accomplished. Won't be leaving the house today as batch cooking for the next couple of weeks meals to see me through so declaring my first nsd.

Only thing on the list I'm going to struggle with is making £80 - I decluttered when I moved, my house is made up of freecycle and freegle stuff and I don't get paid overtime at work. I'm going to go survey crazy if I can and see what I get. Although this throws up a whole host of problems too as my job always discounts me from surveys boo!

I've no planned nights/days out as I've still no social life here but I suppose that helps my cause! I've got cub camp and cub group to look forward to though so I'm not a total loser.

Have a good sunday

I agree Andrar - I am going to have trouble with the de-clutter 20 items because I am a minimalist anyway so we don't have anything in storage etc! We used to but we sold a load of stuff before we moved into the flat.

I'll do a rummage round but I'm keeping everything at the moment e.g. clothes because I can't afford to replace them, but I have a plan when we are debt free to sell loads of them and replace them with better, newer clothing!

Oh - I could try and de-clutter some of the 50 jars of jam I made over the summer - any takers?! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

SFD for me today - just need a hobby to take up the time so I don't think about spending! Thinking of joining Textbroker to make some extra money and try and make that 80 quid?

xx

clippy_girl

Re batch cooking I make loads and eat the same thing each week so I make a big sas casserole, spicy beef stew, curry, chilli & Thai curry (yes I love spice ) I only cook for me and its pretty much impossible to cook any of that just for one. Also batch cook pots of soup for lunch. Most things do 4 portions of but chilli does about 6/7 as I put so much veg in it! I have 2 smallish freezers so can't do it all in one go as can't fit it all in. I stagger it and do one or two things per weekend so I don't run out of room. I also find using frozen veg so much cheaper and easier. I currently have peas, sweet corn, peppers, green beans, spinach, mixed veg and frozen stir fry veg. Find that way there is no waste and always have lots to bulk out. I freeze loads of veg and always buy yellow sticker and freeze plus it means I don't need to bother peeling and cutting so its easier as well as cheaper. Only exception is diced onion as that's more expensive

Good luck for tomorrow magic lily

traveller

MrsBrownBear wrote: »

Well, off to a good start with having a SFD on 1st November! Planning to have a SFD today but rather update tomorrow to be sure. I had my online food shop delivery with Asda yesterday but will have to wait for some items to be refunded as they were either damaged or missing - which is a first with Asda for me (Hope I don't get too many).

I used to do the envelope challenge before I did online shopping, but I always found I caved into bargins in store. Instead, as done last month successfully I did a delivery pass for £8 and managed to squeeze 5 deliveries in and not going over budget, saving nearly £25 (after taking out the delivery pass fee). I have decided to pay £15 for 3 months shopping which will cover Christmas as well. I have been a lot less stressed shopping without the children and hubby!!!

Can anyone tell me how much you would budget for a family of 4 for food? (2 adults, 7 year old and 3 year old)

I have also upgraded my phone Wednesday and have sold my old phone online yesterday, but again will update when I have the funds in my account.

Well done to all that are joining the challenge.

Hi,
I too am worried that having money in the house as opposed to having to go and get it out, will lead to more harm than good I never have money readily available, but I only took out what I needed plus a tenner for the month.

andrar wrote: »

Phew 12 pages and only day 3!

Had my two spends days with food shop Friday and getting my poppy yesterday (first ones I've seen selling so wanted to get my donation in there and then)

Did a run and swim, sauna & steam yesterday so feeling accomplished. Won't be leaving the house today as batch cooking for the next couple of weeks meals to see me through so declaring my first nsd.

Only thing on the list I'm going to struggle with is making £80 - I decluttered when I moved, my house is made up of freecycle and freegle stuff and I don't get paid overtime at work. I'm going to go survey crazy if I can and see what I get. Although this throws up a whole host of problems too as my job always discounts me from surveys boo!

I've no planned nights/days out as I've still no social life here but I suppose that helps my cause! I've got cub camp and cub group to look forward to though so I'm not a total loser.

Have a good sunday

I too will struggle to make anything. Overtime is not available in my job. I did do Valued opinion surveys, but have stopped recently, as I have noticed, it takes you further than before, then says they reached target ect-which is wasting my time :mad: I have made quite a lot from them in the past.

Good luck everyone and have a good sunday

PurpleJay

Morning everyone, loving to read how everyone is getting on. The sun is shining here - hope it is shining where you are.

Well yesterday went well. The fair was good and we spent £19 at the fair of the £20 allowed. I think I spent about £14 and husband the rest. We found some vouchers on line for 50p off a ride making most of the kiddy rides £1.50. He also got a couple of prizes for that (hook a duck and what have you). Walking back to the car hubby offered to buy kebabs for tea so we will be having our picnic tea either tonight or tomorrow (depending on whether M gets a cooked meal or sandwiches at the birthday party). As I don't eat meat, I just had bread and salad with chilli and mint yoghurt but it was scrummy. Haven't had one for years. M and H shared a meaty one. I am not counting this as a spend as H paid and we keep our money separately - I assume this is allowed

I am going to put the £6 left over from the fair in a pot in case something crops up which I haven't budgeted for. I will do this each time I under spend on a budgeted outing and any surplus can be used if some thing unexpected turns up.

I didn't get the bread and paper yesterday so will get them today. They just save them another day if we don't get around to calling. Tonight is the fireworks which will be free and parking will be free. I am just making jam tarts (with yellow sticker pastry from the freezer 19p) and a few little pies with cheese and olive (don't know how they will turn out but sounds alright). We can take some of these to munch at the fireworks if they last that long (munches warm jam tart)!

Planning to list some stuff on ebay later.

Off to update my siggy

PheoniX

Mrs GSR "My friends cannot believe my shopping budget and how I stretch our meals, use leftovers and not turn my heating on. I'm becoming very aware now that things like this might make me seem "tight" (which admittedly I am:rotfl:)"

It's funny you should say that because I have a very good friend who I used to view as being "tight". It was at her wedding that I actually had my LBM and the realisation of how financially savvy she is and how she has got herself into an admirable position from watching the pennies.

I have never spoken to her of my financial mess and how riddled with debt I have been! And she has no idea that she has given me the biggest kick up the bottom I needed to look at my finances!

But the moral to the story is that it goes to show that those who judge others of penny pinching and who appear to be spending freely may well be in a very different financial situation and hiding a lot of debt.

And you never know Mrs GSR, you may inspire somebody with your money saving ways in the same way that I was by my friend :A

rumblytum

Everyone's doing really well so far :T:T

Checking in for Day 2:

1/25 SFD - didn't have a SFD yesterday, but that was expected - the final tour of Britain in the way of university open days is finally over -October has been mental (and expensive :eek:)
1/21 lunch
£5 squirreled away in purse
Petrol - 0/300.00
Food - 0/250.00
Misc. - 0/50.00
Christmas shopping - 0/40.00
Car maintenance - 0/150.00
Toiletries - 0/£10

Jobs for today
list food cupboards/freezer stocks
menu plan, inc. batch cooking
transfer £3 to Trussell Trust
Look at diary to decide on the one outing this month
declutter 5 things from house
list 5 things on ebay to make some money

Happy Sunday

rumbly x

PheoniX

Hullo folks!

Touching base on day 3..

First spend free day and night out achieved yesterday. The restaurant was pre booked and budgeted for some months ago and the fireworks display ticket was gifted! Had a fab night which ended like a damp squib as I lost a fiver! :mad: This would account for 36 meals according to A Girl Called J4ck! I know it's a long shot but I think I will contact the restaurant and ask whether a fiver was found where I was seated, since thats where I last saw it and it may have fallen out of my pocket

Today will also be a spend free day as I intend to 'ming out' in my pyjamas for the best part of the day!

Am also proud to report that my first bread making attempt yesterday was a success! :T

I'm off to make 'fresh' bread toast oooooh

MrsGSR

PheoniX wrote: »

Mrs GSR "My friends cannot believe my shopping budget and how I stretch our meals, use leftovers and not turn my heating on. I'm becoming very aware now that things like this might make me seem "tight" (which admittedly I am:rotfl:)"

It's funny you should say that because I have a very good friend who I used to view as being "tight". It was at her wedding that I actually had my LBM and the realisation of how financially savvy she is and how she has got herself into an admirable position from watching the pennies.

I have never spoken to her of my financial mess and how riddled with debt I have been! And she has no idea that she has given me the biggest kick up the bottom I needed to look at my finances!

But the moral to the story is that it goes to show that those who judge others of penny pinching and who appear to be spending freely may well be in a very different financial situation and hiding a lot of debt.

And you never know Mrs GSR, you may inspire somebody with your money saving ways in the same way that I was by my friend :A

Thanks for this Pheonix. It's really good to see it from from someone elses view.
A friend confided in my last week about finances and I advised her as much as I could, she text me the other day to say that she had worked through a few things and thanked me for my advice. So maybe you're right and I am inspiring others!

PheoniX

MrsGSR "Thanks for this Pheonix. It's really good to see it from from someone elses view.
A friend confided in my last week about finances and I advised her as much as I could, she text me the other day to say that she had worked through a few things and thanked me for my advice. So maybe you're right and I am inspiring others!"

I'm sure you will have helped her more than you realise Mrs GSR! Discussing personal financial matters can be such a sensitive subject so she is lucky to have a good friend that she can confide in and who has lots of money saving experience to share!

LoveaDove

Happy Sunday everyone,

Had a lil spendy day yesterday on foods and my £5 outing. Although we didn't go to the pub-hooray, I still spent my £5 on wine to take to my friends and towards ingredients for mine and OH's Rocky road cake (choc, syrup, butter, cherries, munchies, rich tea biccies, cookies, choc fingers and twix) My other friends brought pizza and crisps. Had a lovely eve in and have arranged a lil 'running' group with my two girlfriends. I wonder how long it will last First run is on Thursday- eek!

Had to do a little bit of work today, but finished now. SFD today (2nd for the month), relaxing and a walk geocaching and going to see the local quarry (i've never been there before!) Great thing about geocaching is going places you wouldn't normally go or discovering places you didn't even know were there in your local area!

Catch up with you all later!