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

Kenyakate

clippy_girl wrote: »

would you mind saying where the rewards bit is please as i cant find it in my account not sure if it is package dependent? i have just upgraded to family so i can get the box sets

HiClippy_girl,

I've just been trying to find a link but I can't. I searched it in the help community forums under my account and just came across it. I'm so sorry I can't blooming find it! If i do I will send you the link, I will have another search now.

I didn't update yesterday, was in bed for 8.30 as not very well. I had another SFD which takes me to my budget total :j:j other that I'm in work today and need something for tea and a bit of shopping so I will be stocking up tonight (using vouchers, no cash). It's mums birthday tomorrow, bought her present ages ago so just need a card. Might even make a cake.

Happy last day everyone, I'm off to catch up on the thread, missed last few days

clippy_girl

morning all

so last day of the challenge have had epic fail on sfd (stopped counting) but have stayed within budget on everything.

overall has been a pretty good month for me as i have exceeded my mystery shopping target by over £100 :j as ive not been paid for quite a few jobs it means i still have plenty to be paid in june which is good as i have not got any june shops booked yet and i am on holiday which means i will miss out on some being posted as well as not doing any whilst i am away.

am ending the month with £244 in my 'savings account' although i will be using about £30 for the cattery and need to get another £50 in euros so have £164 towards india nothing is due until mid aug when i need to pay £531 for my flight so it can sit an earn me 3% interest in my current account the electrician has still not sent me the bill yet so his money is earning me interest as well

need to list june events/purchases so i can plan my sfd target

thanks for checking re sky, shame the dont do it anymore

dolly84

mothernerd - I truly hope things turn around for you soon and that you can draw strength from the lovely people on here who find you an inspiration.

Going to the bank this morning to withdraw cash for envelopes, it is all budgeted for and is mainly for kids activities for the month. Hopefully I won't be spending any money today but won't declare it a SFD until I'm sure. I did a grocery shop yesterday and had £6 in vouchers to use we now have everything we need for the week. I will be making HM pizza tonight as I didn't have time yesterday (Friday is pizza night here).

The sun is shining here today after wall to wall rain since last Thursday, the washing is out on the line but due to the sheer amount of it I am going to have to do a load in the dryer. I have to clean the caravan today after last week away in it and bath the dog, I am having fun just saying bath to him and watching him scarper.

Have a good day all.

Moneymash

Ok fellow tributes, end of the month round-up and the figures don’t add up. I was over on my food budget by £23.27, but under on my spends budget by £20.59, but my bank balance was in credit by £6.73 on the 29th and pay day was yesterday. So despite Q*C emailing me they were going to take my second instalments of my beauty products one on the 28th and one on the 29th they didn't. Therefore I didn't end up overdrawn by £9.80 for one day. I have budgeted for these instalments for the coming months, so that is ok; they made it sound like there were due earlier than I had budgeted for.

So yesterday I paid £616.70 on the Bcard, and £129.99 on the Arg*s card, that takes care of the first BNPL item which wasn't actually due to be paid until 5th July which would have been from my June pay day. However, we have all read these boards/posts where people have waited until the last minute to pay off BNPL, or 4 years interest free credit on a sofa and there has been a problem, they forgot to make the payment in time, went on hols, got ill, issues with the bank etc and they have been charged the backdated interest. I wasn't taking any chances and feel happier that this item is clear although it’s cost me a few pounds of interest on the Bcard.

I now owe less than £2000, £1951.16 (give or take a few pounds of interest, that will be confirmed when I get my Bcard statement). I am at that point in my journey that quite a few people get to where they almost relax because they owe so little and feel ok to splurge. This month I have wanted to buy so many things, things that I have recently decided I need and things I have needed for months if not years but I must remain on this path and be strong. It will be so much more satisfying to pay for things with cash...in just a few months time!

mothernerd

Thanks for all the lovely things you have said but don't feel sorry for me. I don't feel sorry for me, I was just trying to be honest and explain how I got to this stage. I made choices and spent money I didn't have.

This was mainly on keeping a roof over my children's heads and getting them through university - the middle one had health issues which meant he had to repeat each year due to time off (with attendant lapses in/ complete absence of funding). That isn't to say that my debt is 'more virtuous' than your debt but there is no wardrobe full of clothes and handbags or gadgets with a high resale value.

Any money I have is in my house and although I would sell for less than I paid for it, I need enough to pay off my debts and buy somewhere for me and my mother to live if/when her partner dies. (Possibly a bungalow or somewhere with a downstairs bathroom as she will probably need these by then). So will keep plodding - as the lovely beanie always says.

Actually feel very good this morning. The moderate exercise I did yesterday has had the same effect as when I used to do all day field trips or helping cut the reeds at one of our borough nature reserves. I ache all over but its a good ache - just properly used muscles. I have taken my morning pills and have no plans to move very far - as we went out to eat and I was told to pack food for all day I have enough leftover picnic for today. Sometimes food additives or too much sugar can give me headaches, bad dreams or sticky eyes in the morning but no problems - I bet my little late night cholesterol pill had to work hard.

I am fairly paranoid (wow weird choice of words) about sugar. The reason for the annual diabetic eye tests is that sugars can attach to the back of your eyeball and eventually send you blind. One of my sometime best friends (we went to the same schools from the age of 4 to 16 and she was my best friend for several periods during that time - we aren't enemies now) has had diabetes for 12 years and is now at this stage and even the short period coping with my old glasses when my prescription was being updated last year, convinced my that I really do not want to be blind.

So making the carrot cake is a priority - uses olive oil (good fat) instead of marg (bad fat), the carrots (sweet but good) replace some of the sugar (bad), wholemeal flour (good) not white (white bread/ pasta/rice/ flour all very bad - only allowed brown basmati, think it's lowest gluten content) and add a few of the very ood sultanas and further reduce sugar content. Cut extremely small (1" squares) and freeze (won't 'keep' as normal because of reduced sugar). So when the cravings get too bad I have something I am allowed.

Feeling very clear headed today so will plot and plan. Last night I decided I need to sort my immediate environment ie this room. I was trying to be organised last week and brought all my clean dry clothes and bedding upstairs. Because DS3's gf was here I brought all his things in here as well and the pile was so big it disintegrated everywhere before I had time to start putting it away - still have to step over bits of stairs but I have made 'stepping stone spaces' round the room. Time for another big sort in here (in little stages of course).

Also need to get DS3 to climb into the attic again, but need a list of what I want and need to visualise exactly where it is in the room - want him to take a basket and rope up so that he can lower things down and I can take them out as it is difficult enough to get down without the added burden of trying to carry anything (was only half joking about the sherpa and ropes).

And please don't ask why DS3 can't do the diy - he inherited his father's diy skills (it might end up worse than it is - I got his friend the stair mender to 'encourage' him to help and though he got some of the stairs out successfully some of the subsequent patching is due to his use of the inexpert use of the crowbar). Standing there trying to 'supervise' whilst he tries his best might leave us both in tears and hiding in our respective rooms.

I once saw my (now ex then prospective) mil reduce her 16 yo to tears over cutting up a cauli. She had broken her arm and instead of retiring from the kitchen (her husband always cooked Sunday dinner anyway, he was just still at the launderette) she woke the whole household by yelling at G to get out of bed to carry out a non- urgent task and excoriate him over his performance of said task. I didn't think it was a good way to treat anyone (I also quietly resolved that she would never do it to me - I don't rebel openly, I just decide where my line is and don't budge).

I am also claiming another SFD for today (think its 23, will update in a minute). I have several mini goals in mind for June and one is to beat this total - one spend day a week would be good. I have been looking at the 7 day fiscal fast and might try it - my only reservation is that people seem to prepare for it and I am at the end of the month, out of some things, mentally rationing others (really thinking every time I use the eggs - bought with my nect*r points).

I won't be joining you for the June challenge - I will cheer you on from the sides. I am not physically able. I understand it is good to raise the bar from time to time but it isn't what I need at the moment. It is obvious that this leg injury is something I have had for a while and possibly made worse. I need to do my prescribed exercises and get everything back in alignment and in full working order before increasing the intensity again. I don't need to feel like a toddler in a pack of marathon runners. This is not a criticism Kat. As always we all owe you a debt of utmost gratitude. I just need to concentrate on getting the basics right - I am still going to get back to hill-walking before the end of the year. I just need to do things in the right order - retreat into my turtle shell for a month.

SiannieLaz

Evening All,


Mothernerd - I think you're an inspiration, and hearing about how you deal with your day to day challenges certainly make me get up and get on, especially when I've got my 'can't be bothered' head on - will miss you next month x


Didn't post yesterday due to late finish at work and being too tired. I need to remember to check in before I start work, so I've put a reminder on my phone for next month! SFD's for me yesterday and today, as well as a workout both days so that's heading in the right direction.


Totals to end of month:
SFD - 20/15
Groceries - £78.84/£80
Misc - £28.68/£40
Petrol - £30/£15
Exercise - 13/20
Daily check in - 29/31


50% of targets hit, I'm pretty pleased with that but must do better!!!! Congratulations to all of us, I think we all did a jolly good job!!


See you on the other side xxxx

traveller

Hi everyone Well here it is the last day of May!

Yesterday was not brilliant for me. My 15 year old sons bag got nicked at football and he only had his birthday money in it £100 :mad: He says he forgot to take it out. Basically, mobile, oyster pass (just paid £10 for a replacement today) new trainers and tracksuit and jacket all gone. Where was it left, by the goal post with loads of other bags. His was the only one missing. I'm not convinced, it isn't someone who knew what was in it. He won't hear of the thought that someone he knows probably had something to do with it, but hopefully it's a lesson learned and at least he wasn't held up or harmed in any way I am considering replacing the money for him as he is such a kind hearted boy and would do anything for anyone.

So, the only thing I've bought is a replacement oystercard and tomorrow I have to pay £35 for my daughters tutor. Well my ex has taken the younger ones again (he must be having a midlife crisis :rotfl:) so I'm going to pop over to see my neighbour. Not for too long mind as I do feel very tired.

Mothernerd, I'm sure Kat would make an exception, as your part of the fixtures and fittings of the challenge now (meant in a good way)

Well have a good evening, well done for this month all and see you on the otherside :T

apple_muncher

Please sign up for June mothernerd. Just ignore the exercise part of it!

Found the final £58 to push the mortgage down, so am wearing my smug face. Dh hasn't seen it yet, so am enjoying my secret!

Half term wasn't as spendy as I'd thought it might be, so that was good. And now I've paid the mortgage down, June will have to be a careful month too!

Looking forward to changing my signature for tomorrow!

dolly84

traveller - how awful for your son. Hopefully it will have been a mistake and turn up.

mothernerd - join in in June and do what you can.

moneymash - well done on your debt busting.

Well I have only managed 14 SFD's this month as today I spent £2.25 on new slippers for DD, they were in the sale and will last a long while.

See you in June.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for the birdsong going on outside as I sit with dd, for dd's peaceful breathing, for the French Open (which means it'll soon be Wimbledon!!!), for my exercise mat, for coffee (as ever!).