NSK; "The Janus Illusion".

TiptoesDB

I agree, I would say pay the debts first as they are costing you money in interest... and it seems counter productive to have money sat there just in case which could be lowering that cost.

I think an emergency fund is a great idea, and I want to have one too, but I will not set one up until we are debt free, and until that glorious day every bit of spare goes on the debt. Any emergencies we'll have to find the money somewhere and use a cc or o/d if needs must.

But, I know everyone is different and I think it's about whatever works for you and your circumstances.

Just back from weekly shop. DH came with to help as I feel so ill, but man, does the cost of the shop go up when he comes!! (and when my willpower is low due to feeling pants - solero ice cream lolly anyone?! - its medicinal honest!)

Right, back to the sofa...

Fmess

Thanks for the advice clippy, thriftlass and Tiptoes. I am going to move the money and pay off some more debt right now

I love the support on this Challenge, you guys are fantastic

Edit:- paid off the emergency fund money that I had saved this month and last month, and a bit extra, so I've paid another 1% off my debt This also means I've paid 10% off my 2014 target and my credit card is now down to £999

his_missus

SFDs: 13/20 (I think)
Food budget: £270/£240
Lunch: £1/£5
Brand downshift: 1/5 (smartprice nat. yoghurt)
Foodbank: £0/£3
Exercise sessions: 4/15
Social: 2/2

Yesterday was a SFD.

Today I spent £80 on shopping but should last me 2 weeks.

kangadoo

*sneaks back in quietly so no-one notices *

Hello! Has been a very long time, no post for me, and to be honest I've sort of lost track of where I am. I have definitely had more SFDs than my signature says (including today!) - my spending pattern hasn't changed from the last few months, I just don't notice SFDs so much and so don't note them in my head like I used to! This is a good sign but makes it hard to pat yourself on the back at the end of the month!

It's been a pretty difficult month health-wise, which is why I've been falling behind. I've had some sort of undefined illness since before Christmas and it just won't shift at all. I'm used to being tired, but it has been especially difficult this month!

The good news is that, just as it looks like my hours working for my main client (I freelance) are about to be cut drastically, I got a part time job this week! It's similar to what I do freelance, three days a week and leaves me some time to still do some freelance work (which I will need to do as the pay's not great at all). The best part is that it's working with a subject I really love, so should be interesting! Only thing is I'll need to budget a little bit of money next month for a starter work wardrobe - it doesn't look like an overly formal-dress workplace but still not sure I can get away with wearing the scruffy chic look I get away with working from home! Apparently normal people's clothes don't have airholes! :rotfl:

Fmess - in a similar position to you, I started an emergency fund then moved it all over to paying off debt. Based on the soft-checks on this site I'm in an okay position if I do desperately need to get more credit quicklyish, and it's really satisfying to watch the numbers going down on my current CC. The only thing I do have is a very small emergency vet fund that I started this month, just because I'd find a way to delay almost anything I needed until I could afford it but if the rodents need treatment they need it immediately and it relaxes me a little knowing I have a bit of a buffer there.

apple_muncher

Grabbed another NSD with both hands today. Funny how that's the part of the challenge we seem to most focus on! I know I'm not going to hit the target, but I also know my spending has been under budget this month, just done in a 'spread thinly instead of in a concentrated' way.

Dd ensured we stayed in all day as she's under zthe weather. We did get the Ice Castle box chosen, reinforced and painted blue. So I guess we may come back to that tomorrow. How to do ice turrets, chandeliers, staircases and archways to fit the image she has in her head will be a challenge far harder than any NSDs!

Thank you kat for coming up with new inspiration every month. There are other challenges out there that have one element of yours as the whole focus, but yours does seem to be the only one that encompasses so many facets. Well done girlie!

[Deleted User]

Happy Saturday folks!



Also grabbed another NSD today and am chuffed to have used up a lot of random odds and ends in an adapted aubergine dish, which had a lot of substitute ingredients, almost all which were reduced initially and were nearing the end of their life! It has made about another 4 portions so I hope I still like it come Monday (the freezer is currently full of reduced bread).



Tomorrow won’t be a NSD as picking up a lot of things for my friend on the way to see her and new baby J so I have been through my cupboards too to try to meal plan the rest of the week – tricky as I am into hospital midway so not sure what I will feel like eating once I’m out. We have a lot of soup filling the freezer now but I’ve really scratched my head as I have very little appetite at the moment.



I’ve found the challenge hugely motivating, thanks so much Kat and others for your encouragement. It has made me stop and think before any spends, and whilst I’ve been way of the NSD’s much of the spending days have been very tiny. Knowing that you probably aren’t going to be buying anything at all that day really relaxes me, which has been surprising.
Budget wise my beauty spend was blown – but that was haircuts – first for 6 months – which were actually cheaply done at a friends house, and my petrol costs are also higher than I’d hoped for, but 200 odd miles of that was a work journey I should be able to claim back for. Some of my social spend I’ve taken from my food budget, which I am within at the moment but in desperate need of joining together ingredients and some fresh fruit and veg. The freezer is far from empty though J I will be making a special trip to Sainsbobs to contribute to the food bank – quite late in the month I know, but I genuinely haven’t been through their doors – or Mr T’s – this month!


Exercise hasn’t really happened at all – I’m shocked at how little I’ve done when I see it here, but it was a flu-ey start to the month then all sort of health complications. I’ve walked a lot more than I might have done but have been loathe to count it as a exercise session when previously I would have been much more active!



Good luck with the last bit folks - we must be nearly into the sprint finish! Tighten belts for the last few days x

mooomin

Spent £19.85 today on food and some toiletries (not beauty spends though; toothpaste and handwash!)

I've made a massive pot of soup which will keep me going for a few days for lunches.

Fmess

Thanks kangadoo. Sounds like you have a similar situation to us. We have 4 dogs and a cat so need to have access to money instantly in case of unexpected vets visits. As we don't have to pay council tax for the next two months, I'm putting away the saved money as a vets fund and if we don't use it before next winter, then I can use it towards vaccinating them all.

Feeling much better today about my debt as the total us further in the right direction and tomorrow when OH gets paid, he shod give me £100 that he owes me and that us going straight off the ccard ��

Better go get dressed for a visit to the gym, I'm aching like crazy from yesterday's class but didn't manage a gym visit during the week due to work and tutoring and marking. Not sure we'll get any dog walking done today if the weather stays this wet and blustery ��

dolly84

Fmess - I think you did the right thing with your emergency fund.


Tiptoes - my grocery shop is always more expensive when DH comes, massive packs of peanuts, crisps, sweets etc.


applemuncher - if you get your castle done would you post a picture up, I would love to see it?


Kangadoo - I work from home too and my attire is school run/dog walk friendly and generally old, I have a favourite black top with a series of holes all the way down the seam of each arm, it's fine as long as I don't wave or anything.


Had our day out in York yesterday and spent a total of £5.40 on the park and ride, it has gone up by 10p per person, I was not happy. We took a picnic (you have to be British to picnic in January), and sat by the river and the sun came out for us. Had a lovely day, the only downside was the diesel to get there and back as it is a 60 mile round trip.


Today will be a SFD but we will have to be inventive as it is throwing it down and DS's football match has been cancelled and I don't think DD will be riding either. I have a beef and tomato casserole in the slow cooker, and I think DH will light the stove so it will probably just be a cosy day at home.

mooomin

Forgot to add that I hit my exercise target yesterday by walking for over six miles round and about the town. I went to our local massive (free) museum with some friends which also chalked up a good amount of walking. It wasn't a SFD thanks to my supermarket shop, but we also grabbed a cup of tea at the museum - £2.40 :eek: My friend paid nearly £7 for a latte and a slice of cake :eek: :eek:

Declaring my SFD for today already - the weather is AWFUL here and I have a load of housework I want to get done, so I'm staying in and doing that.

SFD 13/20
Food £155.59/£200
Downshift 3/5 - bought Asda own handwash instead of Carex yesterday
Lunch to work 9/11
Outings 2/4
Exercise 15/15 :j
Petrol £50/£50
Food bank £0
Beauty spends 0/£10