NSK; February 28 Days Later!

cottage_retreatist

Oooh - I walk to work - 35 minutes each way like a maniac through central london!!!! I'm one of those who dodges past the tourists who walk like tortoises everywhere and look miffed at people walking three in a row who take up the whole pavement!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

But it saves me goodness knows how much money and is good for my legs (I hope!!) Maybe i should intersperse some hopping or skipping to tone up extra muscles? :D

PS - did a very big shop yesterday (6 weeks worth of food and we meal planned the month so we know we have enough to last!) - did forget a few things like black bags and kitchen towel but no worries! But did stock up for little kitty as well! Did I mention I got a ginger and white kitty? :cool:

Going to take out 20 quid and that is mine and OH's money for the month! Can we do it? Yes we can!!!! February is the month I start hitting this debt again face-on.

Hope everyone else is well?
hugs
xx

NinjaSavingKat

Well now - I am astounded and so pleased with such a great feeling of optimist. My fingers are freezing and I can barely type but I am grinning! So proud of my Zombie Slayers...

RBR - well done on cutting up that NEXT card and clearing the OD. How many cards to go?

So one long post instead of millions of little ones...

CEW wrote: »

Well at least I can see everything we have and as we have lots of strong white flour OH has decided he needs to make a lot more bread so as usual I am looking on the bright side.

I just chucked out my c*ppy bread macker and am going back to doing it by hand. More satisfying, and more tasty! Well done OH!

Mountaingirl wrote: »

I planned out a '3 year escape plan' the other day and some of the major things I need to do is de-clutter, sell off, finish the house, tidy up the loose ends. I keep adding on extra things as I think of them, little steps to get me to my goal.

Where do you live?? I like this goal though - this is wheat makes success happen. A clear defined goal. A single minded focus! I am rooting for you!

Midgie wrote: »

I did my weekly shopping and was really surprised at how well the meal planning worked in reducing my weekly shop (particularly when I went down a shelf on things)!

This is a very good thing to read. Planning makes perfect!!

missyv30 wrote: »

Am also away to do a full income and expenditure to send to legal aid get that figure down £3770 is a ridiculous amount the more I think of it the more :mad: I get but it will get sorted I hope.

What is this legal aid for?

kangadoo wrote: »

............it's a month forward again, meaning (all going well) a new DFD of May 1st! :T
..........(Honestly, what are peppers made of to cost that much?! Pure gold?!)

Big YEAH for the new DFD and a big BOO HISS for expensive peppers although I know what you mean. Sometimes doesnt to 50p in Lidl but I refuse to pay 80p for just one!!

rubywhatashmoo wrote: »

A tiny breakthrough today though - found out the Aldi near us is open til 9pm - how did I not check this sooner?! We normally get an online Tesc0 delivery every week but am planning a trek down there on Monday night instead and getting what we need for the week.

Will this considerably reduce your expenditure? Who will drive you? Could you live out of Aldi alone?

themarsbargirl wrote: »

I live in a static caravan and have to be off site for the month of february, so i am only planning on staying until 1st march.

Are you serious? Please please explain how you do this - I know you can't live in them for the entire year as they are not "homes" but I would live in one if I knew it was a little cheaper and that I didn't have to move so much. :j I don't want to have to move as I do now when I come back from travelling. I might look for a barge (very difficult and very complicated not to mention expensive)... or van, caravna, tree house, hobbit house etc...

RainbowBridgeReturns wrote: »

I have painted my finger and toe nails a sparkly, monster busting, purple, put my lippy on and done my hair. The heroines in these movies always keep up appearances! .

I concur. This is very important. Just cause we are cheap don't mean we're ugly...:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:..I carried fresh "everything" to work today including undercrackers.. cahnged at work and no one is any the wiser to my hike this morning! :T

clippy_girl wrote: »

I eat well now and have lots of healthy snacks which has pushed the budget up. its been £100 since the summer but tbh i struggle to stick to it. i need to work on this! I upped it to £110 last month and had £15 left but i think £110 is too much so dropped it back to £100.

This healthy malarky is hard. Please see about about gold dust-peppers. £100 is okay - £120 is better cause hemp seed, flax, nuts and healthy bits are very expensive and if thats all you snack on then you are bound to spend more!

SarahB1989 wrote: »

...... but contemplating swapping my cider for a diet coke ........

Do it do it do it! Think of all those calories you burnt - don't put them back on (I had monster munch after my porridge this morning).

Siouxsie32 wrote: »

Declutter: I'm looking forward to getting stuck into this one! I seem to have stuff that I don't need and little space to store it...not to mention, a few extra pennies made if I can sell it would help too!

I am getting back on this this week. My stuff did not get reduced by as much as I would have liked. I am going to have a sort of tings this week while the LL is away. More money to be made I think!!!

clippy_girl wrote: »

I know you can get the ones to hoover your pet but he is scared of it so dont think that would work!

I use a lint roller on Dorothy. She loves it. Why not use is on the sofa (although not as cheap as a rubber glove) and probably not good to use on a long haired moggy! Food I but is Natures Best from Zooplus..also pennies gained from TopCashBack first. Worth a look!:o

traveller wrote: »

He needs to realise as you grow up, you have to pay your way! Cheeky so and so To be honest, this is more for him to realise nothing is free, rather than me profiteering,lol!

On another note, Kat by accident, I discovered your travelling plans/diary! How amazing!

Kick him out - please see post about caravan above...:rotfl:Seriously though a true business man pays his own way. Let him read that!!! And I will located some blogs for you and post them on my travel thread...

cottage_retreatist wrote: »

Oooh - I walk to work - 35 minutes each way like a maniac through central london!!!! I'm one of those who dodges past the tourists who walk like tortoises everywhere and look miffed at people walking three in a row who take up the whole pavement!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:But it saves me goodness knows how much money and is good for my legs (I hope!!) Maybe i should intersperse some hopping or skipping to tone up extra muscles? :D

This is so cool! I will think of you when I am trudging to work. Albeit it was rather refreshing, I am going to get fitter, I am greatful for legs that carry me and the fact I have a job! But yes I might inadvertantly on purpose swing my bag to get those pesky tourists out of the way - they drive me MAD!!

You ladies have been added by the way..

67 - Wizzypop
68 - PurpleJay
69 - Lubava
70 - LindsayGalaxy

SarahB1989_2

NSK - Willpower failed me, had the cider! Friend bought the first round so when it was my turn I only got a half for me, so not quite as good as I could have been but an improvement on previous times. Will be doing a Nike Training Club workout from the phone app tonight so that should even things out!

ikesmummy

Morning all, happy new week.

I was a little gutted to have to loose my first NSD so late on yesterday but when I went to make Yorkshire puddings to go with our roast beef realised someone had used up the eggs (that someone may have been me but I don't recall it). Anyway they were worth it (love Yorkshire puddings) and will just men I need to bank a good run of NSD's now.

This morning has started well. Boys (H-8 and K-4) rode to school/pre-school this morning with me jogging alongside and thn i did a loopy route home at a slightly faster pace bringing me up to 5.4miles so I have got my exercise for the day (although still have two more school runs which are over 1.5 miles a direct round trip to do today) and haven't used any petrol.

Need to have a quick tidy round with before picking up my youngest from pre-school at 11.30, think we may make brownies this afternoon as have no prep work to do for dinner which is left over HM Pizza from Saturday with garlic bread and salad. may also try to list a few more things on our local Facebay site to help towards the de-cluttering.

I love my bread maker but was really lucky with it. I borrowed my parents when they went on holiday (for a month last January for there annual India trip) to see if I got on with one and would actually use it. I loved it and happened to post on Facebook how much I loved borrowing it, a friend replied to my post that she had one collecting dust in a cupboard would I take it off her hands?? I make bread in it of various descriptions but also use it a lot just to make up dough or Pizza or rolls etc. Think the good ones can be expensive though so ideal if you can borrow one initially to see whether you like them or not. Would guess second hand barely used ones may come up on selling sites a bit as think lots of people are more drawn to the idea than the reality of making bread at home??

abundant1972

Morning everyone!

Had a lovely (if spendy!) weekend - and hoping for my first SFD of the month today... This month I have a clear plastic wallet to keep all my food/spending money in and a note book in there to record spends. I've done it before - but it's the first time it's felt so contained... The book is in the wallet, so if I want money I have to get passed the book!!! No escaping!

I was contemplating my debt yesterday thinking how I'd be debt free in a year... then I realised there's only 9 more pay days - 9 months and I'll be debt free!!! That was an awesome realisation... and a little surreal. I haven't been debt free since I was maybe in my late teens/early twenties!!! I keep thinking wow - I'll be able to afford a holiday outright... or I can replace my entire wardrobe in one hit... (not that I will ha ha!!!)... it's kind of exciting though.

I'm off for a week now - so am planning:

a) gym 4 times this week
b) go through all my clothes and e-bay/charity drop
c) go through ALL the boxes under my bed - e-bay/charity drop
d) i passed a counselling course 2 years ago and done nothing with it... I need an action plan to get it off the ground

I know I've been saying I'll do b) & c) on and off for ages - but this week is THE week!!! I'm off for a shower... make a coffee... then all systems are GO GO GO!!!

:T

dolly84

clippy - I don't have a cat anymore but when I did I used to put an old fleece throw on her favourite seat and then just shake it off and wash it when it needed it, it saved a lot of wear and tear to the upholstery.

Regarding the food the vets always go for Science Plan for some reason, I have a dog and feed him on Burns (they also do cat food) he has all dry food and whilst it is expensive he doesn't have a lot (we measure it out with a ramekin dish which holds 50g) so it doesn't work out any more money than more readily available brands. The thing I don't like about the mainstream brands is all the additives and colours which can affect behaviour and long term health. I speak from bitter experience on this.

Today will be a spendy day, Sainsbobs are delivering my grocery order and I need to go to Asda for Milk (£1 for 4 pints there or £1.39 at sains) and crumpets as they have the best prices, luckily we have a small Asda within walking distance.

Mountaingirl

Just back from town, where I managed to do all my chores without spending any money, something that I am very pleased about. I now have the rest of the day at home so I am aiming to get everything organised fpr the week ahead. I have a meeting tomorrow evening which is causing me much anxiety and I have been a bit all over the place for a while, so once I am through that I will feel better I think.

mooomin

The first two days of the month have been spendy, but not excessively so. Today will be my first SFD as I'm off work with a stinking cold I have got the ability to work from home, so once I've worked up the energy to have breakfast I'll log on, and then I won't be tagged for a full sick day.

Two items decluttered via Ebay. They sold for less than I would like, but it's still items not in my house and money in my bank account

KittyBoo_2

My first SFD yesterday.
Made homemade stew and dumplings for lunch and Mum came and shared it. We had a lovely evening talking about our family tree and Ireland (home of the ancestors).
Planning for today to be another SFD as I'm at home most of the day, apart from a bit of mystery shopping that will earn me £26.
My hair needs a good cut as its not been done for nearly a year, but I'll go to local salon and have a dry cut. I'll do this on a day when I need to top up the shopping, so I don't waste one of my SFD's.
Planning on using freezer and pantry stuff up for the meals this week and will make a large pot of lentil and veg soup for lunch.
I need to get all my money for the month out of the bank today and split it into my envelopes.
Also got some stuff for ebay and a bit to take to charity shop.
Keep at it.

lilian1977

Morning everyone

First check in today:

1st feb - Spend day - had budgeted for swimming for DS but then all his friends were staying for lunch in the cafe, who am I to deprive him of a hot dog and chips?! Got a lift home rather than getting the bus though so saved there.

2nd Feb - Bought DS the Alphablocks magazine as a treat for being well behaved and for entertainment on the train, didn't end up needing it though as we bumped into his friend.

3rd Feb - SFD so far, not doing anything at lunchtime and heading straight home after work.

Lunch to work this week - HM chicken and chickpea stew for today, tomorrow and Wednesday then a tin of soup for Thursday (didn't make enough!).

£100 left in food budget - meals planned up until Friday.

Have happy days all x