NSK; February 28 Days Later!

dolly84

Tiptoes - me & DH have cut down our portion sizes a lot this year so far. The kids still get the same amount but they are not big meal eaters, like most kids they like to graze. The less I eat the less hungry I seem to be, within reason of course. DH has lost nearly 2 stone since new year (grrr) and I've lost 13lbs in the last few weeks, admittedly we do both lose weight for fun but put it back on just as quickly if not careful.

Today was a spend day as predicted, DH came into Asda with me so we ended up with more than milk, £3.99 spent on bread, milk, fruit malt and sausages. The sausages have all gone in the freezer in pairs to be used when I make HM pizzas.

We have a takeaway style supper on Saturday nights in and last week I bought Sainsburys Chinese meal deal for £10, it was 4 mains and 2 starters, we will share a main and split the starters up so the whole meal deal lasts us 4 weeks. We still eat at teatime so we only want a bit of supper not a huge portion and doing this seems to satisfy the urge for a treat without going overboard.

Billie-jo

NSD - 9/15
Grocery budget - £71.52/£190
Petrol budget - £40.33/£110
Birthday present £10/£10
Food Bank £1.00/£3.00
De clutter 28 items 11/28
Outings 2 - £0/£40


This is how its looking so far, there is some petrol to add but until DH gets in I don't know how much.
I also won lottery last week and have put the millions in the bank - opps sorry meant £25 gone in the bank. It had to go in straight away because I could see a couple of Zombies approaching fast, there must be some sort of magnetic field just inside the doorway of the bank because as soon as I was in there they left. (Phew lucky escape)

mothernerd

Think the Zombies have got me. Tried to get an early night and woke at 3am. DS1 has been doing his stuff all night but only started getting things downstairs late on. Only managed another hour of sleep before the alarm went off.

He left at 7am. Van coming between 4pm and 5. I caved in an offered to do the things in the small bedroom as I didn't want anything left behind. My one seat on the couch was inaccessible (behind a double layer of shelving units so have spent most of the day on one third of the single bed in the small bedroom. Middle third had a farmhouse chair (with arms) and an ordinary dining chair on top (but I could stretch my feeet and legs out underneath the arch of the chair back). My things on the remaining third (emptied out of a box in order to use it for more of DS1s possessions). Tried to rest whilst staying alert as lady from cat's protection is coming sometime over the weekend to collect cat carrier and remaining food, litter and flea drops -was above the front door so would hear if anyone came.

Went down to investigate as heard sounds of bins being pushed around. DS1 had arrived back as the Van man phoned to say he was ahead of schedule. One van load gone and then gf's uncle brought DS1 back and took another car load by 20 to 5. Remainder has to be bus-hopped but DS1 has taken Monday as a day off. Not got fridge back as his has to settle before he can take across - took the Chinese banquet though.

He has pies in there - I haven't eaten a pie for 4 or 5 years but every time I try to find something to eat I see the bag of pies (really really hungry all day, being up so early I was up to lunch by 9 am). I have had a mature cheddar butty on white bread (both no-nos usually). I had tuna butties and wholemeal bread in the freezer but couldn't get the door open wide enough to pull the drawer out due to the 3 sets of drawers in the middle of the kitchen so I ate his food (he does so much exercise he can eat really bad food like pies).

Was in bed by 7pm. DS3 brought my mattress from the attic and it is so warm down here in comparison. Have a lovely clean white cotton sheet on the bed (they had to go away in the cupboard as they didn't go with black cats) and my favourite bedspread (DS3 kept taking it). Washed all the bedding from the attic - 3 loads. No walk today but lots of moving boxes and up and down stairs.

I haven't had a lot of success with portion control. I tried putting a little bit less in each box and getting one more portion out of the pan but the first time DS3 opened one of the new batch, he thought it looked less than usual so he put two in - I will have to stick with throwing in as many veg as possible and adding lentils and/ or barley. I heard him talking to one of his friends once - No but I DON'T EVEN LIKE CELERY but she chops it up really small and puts it in spag bol and I can't even taste it - it's great.:A (trying not to think about pies)

stewby

So.... spend-free day today. That is number 10 out of 15.
:j

We have emptied all of our savings pots and currently have 713 pounds and 56 pence!!
:eek:

I have now caught the savings bug.


I know that we could put that money towards the debt but then the debt would be a recurring cycle. The plan is to save this year into pots for 2015... so we have a holiday pot to use for holidays and a christmas pot for spending on christmas presents. (we have smush pots for unnamed stuff).

The aim is so that we never have to go back into debt. We can always pay off what we spend regardless of what it is.


I hope that makes sense to people.

Keep safe out there.
Hugs.

MrsGSR

It makes a lot of sense Stewby. I have various savings pots, physical and online.

ikesmummy

I have just started my savings pots alongside paying off debts, very lucky that my debts are all 0% so definitely the right way for me to be doing it and can see the logic even if they aren't. In reality I just have one savings account but my total monthly transfer includes saving for various things including Christmas, holidays, car maintenance etc ettc etc and the spreadsheet should keep track of what I have in each pot.

Struggling with the NSD's, seem to waste so many on little unexpected spends like extra milk, money for school disco etc, didn't realise how hard it would be. Grocery budget is also going to be hard to stick to although it is definitely still possible as really shouldn't need much now after topping up yesterday.

I thought the exercise would be done without really trying as had been running three times a week but illness and now half term means even this may not be in the bag, I have been walking lots but don't count this in my exercise as really want to improve my fitness.

Did pay towards my debt at the beginning of the month and really look at and plan my budgets and my money is looking much healthier than it normally does at this point in the month so confident this challenge is helping even if I don't achieve all of the targets.

Thrifty looked up your dress, it is beautiful!

B17c

Hi everyone, hope everyone is ok and well...
I'm afraid I'll have to pull out of all challenges this month, too much going on here as both grandparents are in hospital and my hours have increased and I'm absolutely exhausted atm, hopefully I'll be back and ready to go for March challenges. X

apple_muncher

B17c wrote: »

Hi everyone, hope everyone is ok and well...
I'm afraid I'll have to pull out of all challenges this month, too much going on here as both grandparents are in hospital and my hours have increased and I'm absolutely exhausted atm, hopefully I'll be back and ready to go for March challenges. X

Hello B17c, what a lot you have on your plate. Hope things improve for you.

Do keep reading even if you don't post,or can't fulfil the challenges. It will give you something to take your mind off the rubbish, and we don't want you to disappear. Hope you feel able to join in again next month.

NinjaSavingKat

Hello one and all. I am at work. Treats. NOT. Here until 2300 on a busy day so my check in is short and sweet. Bike dripping oil on the way here has me a little worried. Although I also missed an OT shift last night that I "honestly" did not realise I had. However went to a house party instead and had oodles of fun with a few inhouse "indie" bands singing/playing instruments in the front room. Very cool!

Very cold in my office at the moment and I am sure I didn't bring enough food for the shift. More soon....

apple_muncher

NSD 8 at last :j :j :j.

Can't believe how many things I'm forgetting to get this month - usually involving ca1po1 or gf bread because I didn't put the prescription in in time. Have remedied that by including 3 different types of loaf, so oooooooodles of bread stuffed in every nook and cranny now.

Money out is on target: about half spent and halfway through the month. But the next week may be another story as it's 1/2 term. Ah well, if the challenge isnt 'challenging' then it's not a challenge really! I allocated monies, so now I need to keep to that.

Exercise is doing well. Have moved on to an old Men's Fitness plan, with 3 days on, 1 day off. It uses quite heavy weights and I love it!! Am already on the second time through. When I workout hard, I usually eat better and make better decisions, so there should be some weightloss along the way.

Crafting is also progressing very nicely - using what I already have of course. Tonight I shall attempt stripey.

Having othrr things to focus on helps me to keep on track generally. Not much mse to report other than ticking over.