NST;September Squirrels

LoveaDove

Good morning Squirrels!

Sorry I missed you all over the weekend- it was incredibly busy, seeing friends and family! Alas, money was parted for fuel and food so no SFDs gained, but feel good for seeing family- some of which I usually only get to see at Christmas.

Thank you for all of the iron enhancing tips! I used to love a cup of tea in the morning with my breakfast, but after reading on my blood donation leaflet that both tea and soya inhibit iron uptake from food, I had to replace my beloved hot cuppa tea (and soya milk) with a coffee and cows milk!

My Futurelearn course starts today, so I am looking forward to logging into my account later to get started on it!

Love the second mini challenge mothernerd- I have already decided with my closest friend's what I will be doing regarding presents, however I still need to consider my family & other half's gifts and the card situation. So thanks for a prompt to get the thinking cap on and start planning!

Hope those feeling poorly and poorly pets are feeling more spritely today! The sun is shining here today, which will make ecotherapy that bit more delightful!

x

dolly84

mothernerd - thanks for the mini challenge, I will check out that link later.

Calling - you and your poor tum, really hope it gets better soon.

applemuncher - could you post a photo of your bunnies?

Today WILL be a SFD, yesterday almost was but we spent £1.50 on chips for the kids after their bike ride - DH promised and buying them was better than the moaning if I'd said no but they didn't need them.

Calling14

Hi folks feeling better today, met a friend Saturday who had always suffered with IBS symptoms badly so decided to take up his advice as he seems to have his under control.

Ditched mebeverine given by my Drs and found a free 4 day healthy eating system on line. Seems to work on how you combine foods but can eat most things. So far better than I have been last month. Going to treat myself to some chicken for tea so will have spent again today.

Now feel bit brighter will join in xmas fun and catch up with the clothes challenge later Mothernerd.

Going to pop home and see if dog has ate the decoraters. Will report in later with low spends

MrsGSR

Hello, sorry I've been AWOL the last few days, it's been a funny old time. However I have managed a two further NSDs making it up yo 4, hurrah!
I've sold my old phone and the money went towards paying for my new one and the rest went on some DM boots from fleabay so pleased with that. I've paid off everything that needs paying this month too so feel like I'm achieving something.

The mini challenge sounds fun! We collect all 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p and 20p pieces and then when we have a bag full we put money onto our Iceland bonus card that goes towards Christmas food so our Christmas dinner ends up costing us nothing! Plan is this year to get the children one main present to open and then a wooden playhouse for the garden, I'm fed up of getting stuff they aren't really bothered about!
We are embarking on some house improvements which in the long run will give us a much better living space, step one is buying a shed which I ordered today!

XSpender

Hello


I haven't posted for a few days but have been keeping my totals going. I have started walking DS to school and back (he only started Thursday) so am getting my exercise in and as the meds have kicked in I am getting better and may manage a swim this week.


I started the 52 week challenge in January where you save the same amount of £s as the week of the year so in week 1 you save £1 and in week 42 you save £42 etc. This is the best preparation I have ever done for Christmas. It has allowed me to take advantage of items when I see them for gifts and I had the money ready to book us on to the P0lar expr3ss when they came out and sold out within hours which was a planned Christmas treat and a Christmas gift for the inlaws.


DMIL has told us they are not coming to ours on Christmas afternoon this year which will make things easier as there is just 3 of us and we will have a quiet dinner, all go out on our bikes (Santa is bring DS a big boy's bike this year) and have a snacky tea in front of the telly. I wont be buying any extra food or boxes of chocs this year:)


DMum and stepdad have asked us to get them only a small gift this year as they are cutting back on presents, especially to adult kids and adult grandkids which I think is a good idea.


DH and I will be getting either a much needed coat or a joint present of a new fridge freezer this year:rotfl:


Totals are (including today)


Food £114.29/£200
Cleaning etc £16.59/£15
Dog £10.66/£15
Diesel £30/£30
Social/yoga/misc £132.82/£100 blown on some bits for the l/room
LTW 6/22
F&V 1/30 5/4/4/4/2/1/2 still to add today's on
Exercise 6/22
Foodbank 0/3
Mindfullness 0/30
NSD 3/15


Claiming a NSD today and trying a new recipe for tea (almost veggie) which was my 'learn something new'.

stewby

Wow xspender... I am so pleased someone managed to do that. I did it with my OH (couldn't afford to do it myself). We managed the big months as we did it backwards but then halfway through the year we ended up not being able to afford the money so gave up.


We did do the £1 a day one which we will keep doing forever I think as it has worked out so well for xmas.


So.... confession time. I have decided that I am not going to be debt free by 12th December unless some miracle appears. So I have been thinking about it for a few nights (whilst dealing with stuff from work too) and having decided to be realistic so, here is the story:

* I am determined to start saving for the wedding so spoke to my OH. He will up his money from £200 to £250 from April 2015 and this will go into the wedding fund. I will be contributing £250 as well. This means that each month we will save £500 into the wedding fund.

* I cannot start the wedding fund until the credit card is gone as I cannot afford to pay both so the debt must go before April.

* My credit card bill arrives roughly the 10th - 13th of every month so I have decided to make my new debt free date:

12th April 2015.

The decision is whether or not to change my credit card. Can I ask a stupid question?? I am looking at the tescimo credit card (the one martin spoke about) and it doesn't charge to change the debt across but would the current provider charge for you taking it off them?? Sorry for the stupid question.
:huh:

Hope everyone is keeping well and sorry for the rambling.


P.S - lost my bank card (my budget account) so am managing to save lots of money by not being able to get access to my account. Must be the best way of doing these things.
:rotfl:

mothernerd

I've never been charged for moving cc debt from an existing provider - the new provider is paying the bill on your behalf so it would be unfair if they tried to punish you for this - have you got your terms and conditions (read the small print).

MagicCat

Hello everyone,

Unexpected SFD for me - I had a hospital apt so thought I would need to pay parking, but the machine was broken so no charge - £2.50 saved! Also did market research interview, it was quite interesting and earned £40 to the debt!

Hugs to all who aren't feeling great. I've been rubbish at exercise and steps over the last few days as not feeling too good myself.

Christmas challenge is a great idea mothernerd - I really need to bite the bullet and speak to family/friends about exchanging a token gift, and just getting presents for children. I do find this hard though.

Luckystarr and fmess - I totally agree about trying to stay in the moment more - working on the mindfulness!

crazylady - sorry to hear about the car, how annoying, but good to get someone who left a note

Stewby - good luck with the new DFD, wedding saving plan sounds really good idea.



SFD – 5/15
Groceries £97.48/£180
Petrol/parking £30.03/£90
Personal (prescription/toiletries etc) £7.44/£15
House £15.78/£25
Birthdays £11.75/£150
Car Tax £0/140
Social £0/£40
Exercise 5/25 Steps 38882/186000
Mindfulness 7/30
Foodbank 0/3

dolly84

Stewby - no you won't get charged for changing to another provider it is just the same as paying of your credit card except Tesco will be doing it instead of you.

I have a Christmas dilemma, last year I told my almost 10 year old DD that there was no Santa and we had to pay for everything. The way we have Christmas set up has led to all sorts of expense but it was too late to change the way we had explained Santa and his gifts. My DS is 9 in January, do I tell him the same thing or wait for him to find out himself? The problem is even if he finds out he may very well keep quiet as it is in his interest.

The main reason for me wanting him to know is the stress of trying to hide things from children of this age and then have it magically appear on the morning, plus I don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on things they don't really want, if he knew it was our money for sure I think he would be less demanding and only ask for things he really wants. DD has her birthday in December and DS in January so it is a very expensive time. Any comments would be appreciated.

apple_muncher

dolly - I have noooo idea how to put pics up on here. Can anyone help me?

XSpender - I did that challenge, but started it in August last year, and went in reverse, to get the big amounts out of the way!

I claim anothrr NSD for today. But i took my poor dd to the doc - and she has shingles! She hasn't had chickenpox as far as I know!! Poor thing has been struggling on since last weds - 6 days, so I'm mighty glad we now have some medicine for her. A couple of days off and she should be kuch improved.


Today I am grateful for the dr, for the 3rd chemist having the medicine in, for dh staying off tomorrow with dd, for lovely neighbour's concern, for dd still falling asleep quickly.