NSK July: Back to Basic’s.

NinjaSavingKat

:T:T:TNSK July: Back to Basic’s.:T:T:T
Reduce, Reduce, Reduce!

Good day to you readers! My have I a treat for you this month!!!

I have been reading about this amazing lady that you all might have head of. Another thread on the “debt free wannabe dairies” drew my attention to this lady called Kath Kelly. For a year she lived on £1 a day after her rent (which included bills) was paid.

That meant hardship for 365 days. Cycling everywhere, eating weird meals, hitchhiking to see family in France, attending book launches for free nibbles and free lectures for entertainment. She also did not have a TV.

So the basis of this month is to reject consumerism in every way we possibly can. It might seem hard, unrealistic or just plain stupid. But hey, if you have been doing my challenges for this long you can’t expect something normal and easy now can you! :rotfl:

So join me dear reader as I explore my town for free entertainment, exercise more instead of sitting on my butt in the evenings, look for freebies, buy the cheapest food items going, cycle to Tesco’s, leave my TV to cry alone in the corner, sell items on eBay for 99p and see how far I can get through this month with spending very little.

Calories out / money in. That can be the motto for the month!

HOWEVER - there is one main rule. That you are in for ALL of this. NO excuses, no saying that “this rule is not for me” unless there is a genuine reason (health issues for no exercise etc).. I know some of you are already incredibly frugal - now it’s time to pull out all the stops and make this a month to remember. And share your ideas please… ; - )

The rules are simple!

• This challenge will commence on the 1st July @ 00:00 and end on the 31st July @ 23:59.
• You will aim for 15 SFD’s (Spend Free Days).
• You will check in once a day!
• Pay off your debt first this month - decide how much that will be and pay it off FIRST and then live on what’s left.
• Cut your food budget by £20. But still aim to make serious savings!
• Cancel all your outings this month unless it’s very (very very) important or the kids will start crying. If you MUST go to something endeavour to bring lunches, drinks and snacks etc. Remember the golden rule : Plan Ahead
• The most obvious stands true; no cafes / restaurants / work canteens (if you all aren’t bringing your lunch everyday by now I would be incredibly disappointed), no vending machines or corner cafes…
• Use supermarket own brands, yellow sticker, dented cans, £1 shop (although you have to be savvy going here as they are not always cheaper), freezer stocks… use them all and then tell me what bargains you have found! Yes you can boast!
• Exercise 3-4 times a week. I mean proper exercise for about 30 minutes - cleaning the house and walking the dog is great but I need that heart rate up ( consult your Dr if you have any medical issues) which means swimming, cycling, fast walking or simply lifting cans of beans above your head. Make it worthwhile!
• On top of that planned exercise use your every day routine to add more - whether this is stretching into lunges while you vacuum, taking the stairs at home 2 by 2, taking the stairs at work instead of the lift or tube station stairs, fast walking with the pooch, walking someone else’s pooch (ask them first), … you get my drift.
• No buying clothes, shoes, beauty products - see what you can get for free. Swap with friends, use up what you have, look out for freebies online. Be imaginative and then come back here and boast… however the rule is - IF YOU DON’T NEED IT DON’T BUY IT. Make do and mend, darn your stockings.. see what new outfit you can make with what you already have…
• TV is restricted to 1 hour a day. Find something else to do. Watch all those movies you have stacked up but never have time to watch, read those books you hoarding then send them to Amazon and earn a few pennies, knit something, darn those stockings, have an at-home spa day with all those un-used beauty products stacked up in the bathroom….Or cook..make something for the kiddies to do the next day as a surprise.. and again - share your ideas…

Right that’s it. Hopefully a cheap and cheerful July is on the cards for us.

What am I saying - of course it is!!!!

NinjaSavingKat

Saved for Contenders....

1 - NSK
2 - Lubava
3 - PheoniX
4 - ThriftyLass
5 - Apple Muncher
6 - Speakingofart
7 - WannabeSE
8 - Stewby
9 - Shyspender
10 - Abundant1972
11 - Cottage_Retreatist
12 - Dolly84
13 - Hummingbird
14 - Calling 14
15 - Loveadove
16 - Mumofthetwins
17 - Homemademama
18 - MagicCat
19 - Mooomin
20 - OldestGnome
21 - Fmess
22 - Hummingbird
23 - Crazycatlady1
24 - NannyG
25 - Munchin
26 - Liltdiddylilt.
27 - CEW
28 - GaLa15
29 - Crazy_Lady2009
30- Zafiro1984

lubava

Yes please NSK. Unfortunately my DH is not on board, but everything I save will go towards my debts. My goals are:
▪15 NSD
▪£45 petrol communiting to work
▪£300 food budget
▪£300 towards debt on top of minimum payments .... plus all the rules listed above.

PheoniX

ooh please count me in kat!

thriftylass

Count me in please!!! My hubby is not on board as usual either. Love the tv rule. On maternity leave the telly is on a bit even if just as background noise. So off now.

apple_muncher

Me too, please!

speakingofart

Hi Kat,

Please count me in! 3 months until my DFD and I'd love to make it two....

WantToBeSE

NSK, am I allowed to join in, even if I am not in debt? I really want to save as much money as possible this month and was planning an extra frugal July, so this suits me really well.




No probs if I cant join in though

CEW

I'm in

Everything, although for medical reasons exercise will not always be easy but I will give it a good go.

Chez x

NinjaSavingKat

wanttobese wrote: »

nsk, am i allowed to join in....

yes!!!.....:)

shyspender

I'm back in please Kat