NSK; The August Fairwell

apple_muncher

It started raining here too, dolly, as I hung out the washing! It is now on the airer, but I doubt I'll get through the 2 planned washes. Dd is still in her jamas and next door's dd is round to play - in her gym leotard! We shall have a mega tidy up day as dd's stuff is spread throughout the house!

Calling14

Thanks Dolly 84/Tiptoes stomach still not great. More upset that haven't lost any weight after weeks of a tummy upset. Not wanting food today will just have a slice of toast later.

No spend day today hopefully for me.

Lilt - join in for the banter you will be missed. Understand need to get organised with your Mother ill. Xmas budget not bad idea. I don't spend a lot now, just 2 daughters and grandson, 2 friends. Cut back set budgets with friends and daughters. Nothing worse than a cold bleak and broke January.

Now I want homemade apple pie Lilt anyone got any apples going spare ?

Going to work on September budget next, wish my tummy would clear up and I could walk to work save bit in petrol then.

LoveaDove

Hey Turtles!

Sorry about my absence yesterday- I am still full of cold but better than yesterday! I couldn't bring myself to turn my computer on yesterday *shock horror!* as my head felt so full of it! Thank you for the well wishes MagicCat and Calling14. Calling I hope you feel better soon and your tummy settles.

Lilt- please do join in next month, even if you do not post everyday, I do love your posts!

Mothernerd- Just having a browse of the new thread- great job! I like the idea of mini challenges incorporated into September's challenge!

I have been thinking about Christmas gifts, I always make my closest friend's something, usually costing approximately £5- £6/person in materials, however a lot of them are married and have had children so I am finding my budget ever increasing. So I have decided this year to just buy or make for their littles. Instead of gifts for my friend's I will buy £3-£5 worth of foodbank items/ friend or couple, and donate these items throughout December to my local foodbank. Myself and my friend's are at an age where just seeing each other over Christmas is enough. The consumerism surrounding it, especially on the lead up is overwhelming, so I feel a large donation of food would be more greatly received by those in need, than another novelty trinket to my friend's. What are your thoughts, Ninjas?

PS. NSK - we still miss you!

NinjaSavingKat

Well hello to you all...

Seems like there is a LOT happening on here. Lilt I wonder if the same server knocked out our computers here. I lost some work. I don't care!

The big news in my life is that I have resigned! Completely and totally all official - I have no job and in 3 weeks I will have no home. CANNOT WAIT! Haha!

A massive Amazon order was placed today for "essentials" (promise!), the elusive hoody was located at a £30 discount or so and the rucksack of choice is on it's way.... It's all coming together!

I also booked a Spa day at my local college for the Monday after I finish work for good - a list of 5 treatments and a relax in their sauna/steam room on a day by myself - on the cheap obviously - and a hair cut at a different salon for £7.50?... I swear this MSE mindset is never going to disappear - I am a penny-pincher and always will be! Lol! .. but it is time for a "professional" haircut... :rotfl:

So I need to have these two days of relaxation - I am looking forward to doing nothing with a countdown of 8 days to the end of work after today!

Mothernerd has done a splendid job on next months challenge - I will be around though making sure this "buy a takeaway once a week" rule doesn't get out of hand...:).. It is my intention to drop in though from some of the most obscure places I visit in order to say hello to those intrigued as to where I have ended up...

Fmess

Yay to the resignation NSK, you must feel so excited ��

I'll pop back with an update of today once I'm on my laptop later

apple_muncher

I've cornered another NSD - yay!

And off to aldee tomorrow to use my £5 off voucher. So will start September with plenty of food!

speakingofart

NSK - that's wonderful news! When do you actually go?

Another NSD and walk at lunchtime for me, tomorrow is editing and submitting my masters but will be a spendy day as I need some food and petrol.

SFD 17/12
Exercise 19/16
Food £85.06/ £150 (till 15th September)
Petrol £0/60

mothernerd

Only one takeaway in the month, not one a week - and I did add warnings. Forgot to add regular check ins. I am so pleased by your responses so far. I did wonder if people would think I had stolen bits, but then thought no if several of us have been thinking along parallel lines then that should be the right way to go.

Quiet day at mum's for her birthday, spent a net £1.50 on taxis both ways. Watched 2 children's videos, had too many bad things to eat but probably less than anyone else and asked if I could bring my second piece of chocolate birthday cake home rather than have 2 in one day.

Today I am grateful for taxis, duck rolls and chocolate cake.

liltdiddylilt

Fmess, LoveaDove & Calling you are very sweet, and much as you almost persuaded me, I just don't have the organisational skills to hit a single target this month. Apart from possibly the takeaway one, with flying colours (1 takeaway in 2 months must be a record minimum for me!)

Fmess Thank you. I managed it because Jellytot finished one nursery and starts a funded place soon, so I got my £104 deposit back. Also a well known power company screwed up again and paid me my nicely built up winter credit of £171 back. The rest was scrimping and saving and not eating takeaways or spending the usual £250-£400 on groceries!

Kat It apparently affected huge areas of the country who dealt with this enormous ISP. And was out for 29 hours in the end. Crazy...

SFD #19 today!!! Quite proud of that I have no bread, no bananas (this is a crisis in my house) and hardly any soya milk, so shops must be hit tomorrow... Only for those bits though. Still got food to cover us to Monday.

On Monday I am mystery shopping a high street bank 2 recording devices have arrived with my instructions and cover story. I am to apply for a product, go through the whole process and then send the devices and a survey back via special delivery. They will then pay me £50 plus the delivery charges back whilst cancelling the product and scrubbing my credit history. Not bad for an hours work!

Also I have been advised I will receive a refund for my 'final bill' from the massive muck up with my internet, phone and tv. £59 back to me. Considering I didn't pay for the last month anyway, and got all my charges scrubbed, I am interested but sceptical. I have a feeling my 'new' account will have a huge starting bill... Still it currently says £171 credit... lets see! (These have not been included in savings totals )

Applemuncher travel costs so low on budget?!?! How did you manage this!

apple_muncher

Hi Lilt - travel only so low because dh filled the car (approx £75), and also because I haven't had to make an emergency journey to deepest Cornwall to see my dying uncle. I deliberately set the budget high so as to cover any emergency. I'll still set the next 2 month's 'travel' high, as I shall need to go down, at least for the funeral, which will also need accommodation + food (am coeliac so can't grab n go from shops)