NSK: MAY the Odds Be Ever In Your Favour!!!

NinjaSavingKat

lotti379 wrote: »

£50 food (this could be tricky as also trying to reduce carp :eek:)

Tell me how you are going to do this? I was tempted to make people try Jack Monroe on her £5-for-the-week Hunger Challenge (Hunger Game).. But you might just be in and around that target - just about. Do you live with parents..?

NinjaSavingKat

MagicCat - Wow! What a nightmare for you! I can see why all this needs to be done asap. Living on a building site is not fun never mind for the length of time you have been stuck there..

However looking at the budget you are right to over-cook things a little but then there is the problem of thinking "well it isn't included in any other budget so why not spend it".. the groceries - is that just for two people? Any pets or kiddies?

lotti379

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Tell me how you are going to do this? I was tempted to make people try Jack Monroe on her £5-for-the-week Hunger Challenge (Hunger Game).. But you might just be in and around that target - just about. Do you live with parents..?

Nope! But visiting for two weekends (1 long) so anticipating being fed for those days! :rotfl:

I have been reducing the grocery budget over the last few months and - apart from January - have come under each month so thought I'd be a bit ambitious!

I have quite a bit of non-perishable food in stock - rice, pasta, oats, noodles and spices in addition to some portions of soup, mashed potato, red thai curry, cooked chicken, raw chicken and fish in the freezer. I need vegetables, I don't actually like much fruit (LOVE veggies though) and going to pick up some red lentils as I adore them and they can bulk up so much and add protein. I have a sliced loaf in the freezer for toast too. I love to meal plan, it makes me feel secure!

There is nowhere to buy lunch near work, so that helps. I do need to plan how to manage multiple days on other sites - we get evening meals and breakfasts on expenses but not lunch, unless the site in question provides it - normally only for big meetings. I keep rice pouches in my desk for days I forget my lunch, so those might be an option? :think:

Have you got any tips Kat? Or anyone else for that matter?

EDIT - I am on a course for a week where lunch will be provided too. I had forgotten that!

NinjaSavingKat

Lotti - Okay food is where I and most people always overspend. Getting to my local Tesco's means a 20 minute walk or getting the motorbike out so it ain't easy but I know now I need to plan better.

I managed 1 month on my tod for £60. £50 was mine, £10 was donated by Mumsy. That month i paid £1700 off my debt - HOWEVER I am letting things slip.

So I think I am going to plow more time and effort into this especially after reading Jack's blog and seeing her challenge again this year.

Time to plan much better.

I have dried black beans, a large 400g can of black beans, lots of different flour, rice and pasta, red lentils and millet so I think I am going to work around using them all up...

Recipe wise - Jack's carrot, cumin and kidney bean burgers, sunshine buns ( bread rolls with carrot and pineapple) - or simply embrace the extra-value range which I love.

Divide your money per week. With £90 and getting back next Tuesday I will have £30 per week which is WAY too much.. you could try that?

NinjaSavingKat

Having looked at my Calendar I have realized I kicked off this challenge WAY to early in a panic this morning thinking I had let you all down :o:o - right I am going to "shhhhhhhhhhhh" now and let more folk sign up before the official kick off tonight...

Get those budgets drawn up...:o

Kenyakate

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Hello Kate - welcome aboard. Question - are you actually in Kenya...:p Tell us a little about yourself - your debt, your motivations, your dreams for when you are debt free etc.... NSKx

Hi Kat,

Not too badly in debt, just finishing paying my holiday to Kos off by September, £600 left to pay back to the parents :cool: (only just booked this so not too bad)

I have been to Kenya a couple of times but I live in Sunny Blackpool, the name stuck with me from uni when I first went

As a single girl I am saving a lot of the future and want to be mortgage free in 11 years.......it's gonna be a challenge but I'm off to a great start! £67200 left to go......

I've been challenging myself since the new year around overhauling and reducing my bills, massively reducing my food budget and generally cutting back and so far so good, I've managed to pay my over draft off (all £870 of it) and now I'm starting to save a bit too for a rainy day as well as the holiday

And I love to set myself goals like this so I'm excited for May!

Thanks for the welcome :j

Calling14

Well had a month off but I am back and facing car repair costs of 500 pounds today. Really need some help to steer me along a strict path this month so count me in please Kat.

luckystarr

Hi Kat

Please sign me up ... off to sort totals

thriftylass

Hello, been MIA for two months due to new baby but am back.

Count me in, YAY

Nowisnow

Hi Kat and all Tributes!

Please count me in. x