Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

Am decidedly better, thanks.

Ran 1.2m of the way back from the counsellor (the UPhill part). And have been swimming this evening while dd had her lesson. Two days ago it didn't seem that either would happen.

All my purchases arrived this morning and I'm happy with all bar one item. It looked much better in the picture than it does on me...:rotfl::rotfl: So it can go back.

Snuck in a foodbank shop before getting the bus to the counsellor, which I'm pleased to have done. I usually have it all done much earlier in the month, so it was bugging me.


And we have 2 bags for the Sally Army ready to go. I still feel that this is a really important thing for me to do, as they can reach so many people thatI can't. And I shall be operating a 'one-in-one-out' system, so now need to remove 5 items.


Will it snow? Won't it snow? Wish it would!

CathT

Snow has arrived here, would have preferred it to have arrive after the school run!

apple_muncher

It did arrive here, at 9pm last night - 1cm max - and then spent the night freezing on my car. Bit of a damp squib really!


By the time I got to work, there was not much to show around the place, but on returning home, most of it hasn't melted here as the sun hasn't reached it. So I still have a pretty view out of the back window.

regalcookk

If you want anyone to come in on the carvery business with you apple muncher, just say the word! Sounds like a winner!

That's some good going on the Thunderbirds book, I love it when simple presents work out so wonderfully, shows you what it's all about really! So heartwarming

All this talk of knitting is making my fingers twitch. I haven't picked up my needles in ages, about time I got back into action methinks.

apple_muncher

A jolly day overall. I quite like the satisfaction of scraping snow and ice off the car. Although I'm slightly less keen to have to get ice off the inside of the windscreen... And given that the sun did not reach many parts of the estate, it still looks quite pretty.

Am currently frustrated with the azda website as nowhere can I find the magic button to return an item. Dh will help me tomorrow.

I decided at the start of the month to 'award' myself £1 for every NSD, or exercise session or sugar-free day. It started off very slowly indeed, but by tomorrow, I'll have 'earned' £40 + £4.10 for the free swim = £44.10.

If I then offset it against my personal purchases of needs (jeans, sox, bikini, nix = 14.50) + nice-to-haves (sports bra, running top, cushion inner for the stuffing, 5x mollie makes issues = £19.50) + unnecessary (notebook, sock knitting book = £2.75), a total of £36.75, then I have £7.35 left over.

Smug face is on! Tho' there's stil tomorrow...

I admit to not keeping up with the UFM emails - tho tbh, the titles didn't make me feel I'd learn new things.

Now to maintain the lack of fritteration for February... I'm signed up to mothernerd's NST feb challenge and want to keep making consistent notes of our expenditures on food and 'bits and bobs'.

My jan spreadsheet showed a LOT of spending, but half was not on food. Once I got into it, I realised that out of the food spends 1/3 are dd and 2/3s us big people. Most of her food stuffs - the ones that she'll eat - are stooooopidly expensive. But necessary. The other half of the outgoings splits (from high to low) into physio - fuel - gifts - clothes (mostly dd's bday) - household - coffee shop and foodbank.

Karmacat

I haven't kept up with UFM either, apple, the titles don't do it for me, and I read through what Cheery's written in any case on her thread, and thats enough. I guess we really are old hands at this!

apple_muncher

NST February Frugality and Frolics

The focus of this month's challenge is CHANGE and SURVIVAL. Change needs to be 'managed' or you need to change in response to changing circumstances. How well you do this is a demonstration of your 'fitness'.

Survival - well we are going to have another tough month (but it's only a short one). Focus on the difference between NEEDS and WANTS. What can you do without if it takes you closer to your long term goals, whether that is debt reduction, a family holiday of a lifetime or just struggling through until retirement.

No matter how tough it gets we always have fun.

THE RULES

Food Expenditure.
Decide on your food expenditure for the month - do not exceed it. You are to downshift 5 - 10 products that you use on a regular basis. Don't have brands to downshift!

E Excursions and entertainment should be planned before the month starts. Prob entails a trip to see mum. Already going to 2 different sch productions - for free both times. Might have a couple of coffees with friends...

B Budgets should be set before the start of the month. OK

R Reduce your planned food expenditure in accordance with the table below
Minus 40 pounds if your planned spend was 201 - 300 pounds We fell into this category in Jan, so are looking to drop £40.

U Useful leftovers. If there is anything from last month or a previous challenge which you found useful, keep on doing it. Small changes that last are preferable to dramatic ones that peter out. Frogs + lists, increasing exercise

A Aim to take your lunch to work every day Indeedy. So hard to buy nice g food when out, and triply hard to buy nice gf and df.

R Remind yourself of what you have and be grateful. Always

Y You should pay to your debt or savings first and live on what is left. Ideally pay it on the first of the month/ payday. Yep

S Spend Free Days (SFDs). You will aim for 18.

U Use it up. Still plenty there to be used.

R Regular check ins are recommended, daily if possible. Of course

V Turtles generally avoid the consumer fest of bad taste on the 14th of the month. Will have a chat

I Indoors/outdoors. Regular exercise is important. Working on it and aiming to run 28 miles in feb

V Vending machines, coffee shops, takeaways (everything from an Indian banquet to a pastie or a bag of chips) are forbidden (except for those who have them as part of a budgeted family evening).

A Advance planning. Meal planning and making meals from scratch (no food waste) are your friends.

Are there any garden prep tasks you could do now? Plan what you aim to grow and maybe set some seeds if you have a suitable place for them. Any projects you bought the materials for and didn't get round to it?

L Let the challenge commence at midnight on 1st February 2019 and end on 28th February 2019 at midnight.




So there you have it.

apple_muncher

Happy news - dd has been offered a place at the posh school up the road, with a rather humungous bursary added on for good measure.
All feeling very over the moon here in the apple household :j

apple_muncher

Have just ordered the berry plants on offer via the email. Happy! Some I'll use myself, and others I'll gift.


Another bit of my tax rebate spent!

XSpender

apple_muncher wrote: »

Happy news - dd has been offered a place at the posh school up the road, with a rather humungous bursary added on for good measure.
All feeling very over the moon here in the apple household :j

Absolutely fantastic news :j Well done to DD:T