NSK; The August Fairwell

MagicCat

Hello everyone,

Sorry for disappearing the minute we got into August - had some sad news over the weekend - my grandad has passed away. It was not unexpected, as he was 95 and in the end stages of Parkinsons, at least we know he is at peace now, but still sad. Not sure when the funeral is yet, but will be travelling to that, and travelling to see my mum tonight to check she's OK.

It's lovely to hear everyone's positive posts and plans - it looks like people are making a really good start with the challenge! i've also been really interested in hearing about people's legacies and how they are starting to work towards them.
Well done for the sales applemuncher and good luck with the job loveadove.
L_D - I'm always meaning to give blood and it's one of those things I've never got round to - if I pledge to do it this month (will have to have a look to see if I can, can I check online do you know?) you can count me as a recruit!


Have updated my totals so far:

SFD – 0/12
Groceries 99.84/£190 (0/£20 buffer)
Petrol/parking 21.50/£90
Personal (prescription/toiletries etc) 5.68/£12
House 0/£25
Birthdays 19.50/£130
Car (MOT/insurance/breakdown) 0/£550
Social 13.50/£40
Dentist 0/£20
Exercise 3/25 Steps 19353/186000

Today I am grateful for memories I have of time with my grandad, my family, the smell of home-grown tomatoes in the greenhouse, living a 40 min train journey from my mum so I can pop home (used to be nearer 3 hours!)

Ninno820

Afternoon everyone. Today was a planned and budgeted spendy day - £17.77 on groceries. In my defence its my birthday today and I am getting together with some friends for a meal tonight - I'm bringing the started and most of the groceries were for this - so in reality its a cheap night out (honest Kat).


I have, however, cut some spending from my budget through re-negotiating a contract, and earned £3.05 through ebay / facebook.


Exercise is the usual with the dogs.

NinjaSavingKat

A few posts that stand out for me - not to say the rest of your postings aren't appreciated - they really are. But I like highlighting some now and then for all to read again...

LoveaDove wrote: »

.......Hawaii was amazing by the way......... and all saved for and pre-paid for. No credit used and no debt as a result)!

This is a great post - what better way to enjoy a holiday than to have it all paid for before you go. So proud!

luckystarr wrote: »

.....I turn 30 in 5 days :eek: and I have been dreading this for a long time. However in the past few days I am starting to feel excited about the next decade (it can't be any worse than my 20's) . In thinking about my next decade I am wanting to become Debt Free and have a rainy day fund..........ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

It can only get better. Turning 30 did me the world of good. Would never have thought the position I am in now was possibly 2 years ago... good goals as well!!!

L_D wrote: »

My planned DFD is the end of 2015 but I intend to get my finger out and make it sooner.

This is the attitude I like to encourage!

Ninno820 wrote: »

DFD - 4/8/2020 (I will have retired by then so my aim is o go into retirement able to use my lump sum to help and protect me rather than simply use it to pay off my debts and "Waste it". My ultimate aim would be to then raise £20k to buy a camper van so that I can go off on adventures.)

Now THIS is a goal! Not enough people look ahead and think about what happens when they are no longer working. I am so glad you are on top of this and pushing forward for a DFD BEFORE you get your lump sum - I would also love a wee VW van....

speakingofart wrote: »

I have one social event planned (Robin Hobb signing! Woop!)

I am a little saddened that this is not a Robin Hood signing which is how I read it ...

LoveaDove wrote: »

....... I'm treating this as a case of falling off of my board (being knocked back the first time), paddling back out (applying again- it's been just over a year), and jumping back on (ready to take on that wave- good or bad!) Writing out various applications is definitely improving my writing skills and self-analysis. So silver linings an' all!

I like this attitude. You will get what you deserve with a mind like this. You should be proud of yourself!!! We are rooting for you though - I can only imagine how hard it is looking for work!

abundant1972 wrote: »

£672.00 paid off debt yesterday plus an extra £19.18 off my card - am now totally back on my planned target. Whoop!!!

Plan away. I like to see how people think when it comes to their scheming. I do this as well. Will be getting my "food" cash out today and enveloping it accordingly! :T:T:T

[QUOTE=Munchin;66169697]Today I sold 15 items on either Music magpie or We buy books - so hopefully if they are happy with them I will have made £23:D[/QUOTE]

Love it when these little amounts add up. You are putting me to shame though as I have been saying I need to eBay for weeks now and still have not got around to it... right game on sister ....


Onwards!!!

speakingofart

Tee hee, not Robin Hood unfortunately. Although, if you have a kindle for your travels I throughly recommend her books, they're excellent! Checking in for the 4th and reporting my second NSD; I'm very pleased with this as I think it's some kind of record!!

SFD 2/12
Exercise 1/16 30 mins walking done! And I felt refreshed when I was back at my desk
Food £43.59/ £80 (till 15th August)
Petrol £0/£20 (till 15th August)

TiptoesDB

MagicCat so sorry to hear your news... I hope your granddad is at peace now.

Spends here as did the weekly shop, and no exercise as monday is always my rest day. I feel like this month has not got off the ground for me yet, and its already the 4th. Off for a walk now with DH and will start being serious about money tomorrow... (I did only spend £20 on shop tho... that's good, and we had leftovers for tea tonight)

x

stewby

Good evening.

Spend day today... but it is an intelligent spend day (I think).
:undecided

I took my mum to morries and we did a joint weekly shop. For the past couple of weeks, morries has had a special offer on alcohol so we replaced our empty bottle of bicardi and bought two bottles of vodka (one for the drinks cupboard and one as a xmas pressie). My mum also bought three bottles of bicardi (it was a really good deal).
Because we split these purchases up into four at a time, we went on seperate days and ended up spending £40 during both shops and getting some weird voucher thing.
The whole idea is that you buy heaps of stuff at morries to get £15 off at the end... but we are playing it sly and joining our shopping together. My mum is then letting us keep the money off voucher.


Today was a massive shop... £28 spent (£53 if you include mums shopping as well). We have fruit and veg coming out of our ears and loads of meat. We have even got three bags of cheap meat in mum and dad's freezer as our freezer is not that big.
We now have voucher number 3 of 4.
:j

Apart from milk, I do not think we will need anything else this week so budget should be maintained. We currently have £17.60 left in our food budget but OH is still to add his first £15 (that will be added tomorrow).

Wow... this post looks really huge. Sorry.
:eek:

I can't remember if I posted about the weekend but it was brilliant and we tried to be good. We hope to do it again sometime but only once we have some more money saved up.


Oh... and my parents bought me my euros this week (I had given my dad money to buy my mums last month from my savings account). The rate thing had gone up again so I got a good deal. It is back down again now... but I have now fully paid for the December holiday AND I have paid for my spending money without going into debt. Go me!!
_party_

Continuing to spend my day planning holidays and trips away. It's quite good fun and also reminds me why I am limiting myself now.

Today I am grateful for loving parents (they really do support us so well), my OH for caring about me, my cousin and her partner (I wish them the most happiness ever)... and for me not being a social butterfly. I know that sounds stupid but because I don't have a lot of friends, I don't have the pressure that other people have to go out and spend money and do stuff. I just live in my own little world. I know that sounds sad but I promise I am happy.


Anyways... sorry for war and peace. Speaking of which, we have a wee candle (blue and electric but the thought is there) for tonight. TV will be off, lights will all be off, internet will also be off and I think we might play a game in the candlelight.
Hugs to everyone.

Caeraugirl

Sorry to hear your sad news, MagicCat.

Today wasn't a spend free day, spent £68.19 in Sainsbo's but hoping that I am now truly finished food shopping for the month except for milk & bread. No exercise either as long day at work, but very productive day. Aiming for a bike ride with my sons tomorrow - exercise and free holiday entertainment in one :-) !

If I don't have any further inspiration, my act of kindness was letting someone go in front of me at the Sainsbo's checkout as she only had a couple of items - she looked a bit surprised that I offered but did thank me afterwards, didn't think to ask her to PIO at the time though.

Today I'm thankful for a quiet office, the continued nice weather and my funny, well behaved kids (not always the case, I can assure you....lol!)

mothernerd

NSD 3/12 (4/12 NFSD

Exercise - carried bedding, towels and underlay for laminate (board type) upstairs. Planted heathers from next door (but DS1 had to dig the hole for me - yesterday's exertations meant I couldn't push the spade today). Tidied away lots of things - filled the wardrobe and top boxes in the tiny bedroom, so lots of bending and stretching. Things that need to be accessible - sewing kit/ scissors etc - but out of sight and all stray bits re-united.

Sanding didn't go well. DS1's budget sander didn't work (so glad I didn't take the one I bought back). DS1 realised the sanding was going to take longer than he expected - much longer. I knew this but he wouldn't have listened so left him to find out for himself. So new plan is for him to check when he is working at weekend (he will have two days off in that week) and hire the edge sander to break the back of it. I managed to do a much larger room (upstairs bedroom + landing) at the old house in a week (some years ago). DS2 re-did that room last summer but over a number of weeks.

I did succumb to a sandwich. I had offered to get bread out of the freezer to make DS1 a sandwich (crispbread and low fat cheese spread for me) but he said he had to go for ingredients to cook tonight's meal and would get himself a sandwich at the same time. He offered to get me something and I asked for a £1 sandwich (allowing myself this as I did not ask for sweets, chocolate etc which I want but am being good). DS1 is also going to re-imburse me for the cost of the sander hire (coming off what he owes me) on his pay day (28th).

Then DS3 said he was ordering Chinese and had enough to treat me, so what should he get me. So being good:A I said no, I wasn't allowed (dietary as well as challenge). I did ask where he had got the money (he has been paid for some artwork he did over the weekend and has a commission for a game). I said I would prefer rent money (he is still in front) and have been promised some when the games commission money comes (everyone keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't fall through). He is also writing proposals to crowdfund a couple of games. However he thinks being nearly succesful means he shouldn't have to wash his own pots (made him take them downstairs yesterday, to use the washing up water whilst it was still hot - he left them to soak and I'm refusing to do them so far).

stewby

Posting again but have a quick question for people...

I have £250 in my secret stash (to pay off the credit card in the future).
I have £143.13 to pay in my n3xt account.

I don't really use n3xt anymore (their clothes are expensive and not really my style) and am trying to cancel getting their books (£3.75 for books that I don't even open).

What would people do?? Would they pay off n3xt or keep the money to pay off the credit card??
:undecided

I am very tempted to get rid of n3xt. I only ever use it in the sales or for wedding outfits and that is just encouraging me to spend money I don't need to.
Any opinions??

apple_muncher

I had an email from £co today with what looked like a fantabulous offer from Tesc0 - 15 off a 60 shop PLUS 9 cashback. Had a quick chat with dh and decided I'd brave their website and consider it. I was going to look at my usual Aldee purchases first, to compare prices. But after I got to the Tsco site, I then decided to just stop. I do not want to spend 60 in that shop! Simples! Am pretty sure that I'd still pay less in aldee. And the delivery charge wasn't included in the offer.

Am quite proud of myself for stopping and choosing to pay with cash and put things in my real shopping trolley and lug it all home .

I also closed another window with a wishlist of cheapo books. Needing £25 to qualify for free delivery, I could only reach £20.50 and even that was a struggle. So i chose to stop and walk away.

I gave myself a shock recently when I realised that I'll have paid out £1100 this summer, just on holiday cottages. Does it need justifying? The first was to visit my best friend who was over from Spain with her 3 kids. There was no room in her mum's house for any more, and it was the only was to spend good quality time with them. The second is in the West Country and is so that we have a family break, and gets me nearer my uncle who is so near the end of his life.

£1100 is one month's mortgage repayment. But we are able to absorb these costs because we have been living more carefully - thank you kat!


Today I am grateful for being able to absorb big costs, for dd having a wonderful day playing with friends, for closing down web pages and choosing not to buy stuff from them, for still having enough stuff to give it away to the Sally Army, for dd sleeping well in her new bed.