NST November: battening down the hatches!

stewby

Hiya.... well, I think I have won the award for quickest trip to the naughty step.

We went to a christmas food and craft fair today and it was beautiful. We bought some cheese, pies and fudge (hardly MSE purchases). OH wanted some honey so picked up the jar and handed it to the woman... £6.50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I almost fainted at the price but felt guilty as I had already got a £20 note in my hand and she didn't seem to be getting much custom.


So... money is pretty much destroyed. I have £90 left out of my £400 but have paid my mum back what I owed, and we have all our money put into envelopes for the month.
:undecided

Also put petrol in for the month. Hooray!! (I don't know why this is a hooray moment but I guess I just want to be proud of an achievement today).


Erm, I am not really sure what else to say. I am away to plan our honeymoon a bit more this evening so that I have something to dream about at work.


Hope everyone else is managing to keep their heads tucked in, turtle-style.
Hugs.

bobs_burgers

Hi everyone,

NSD number 1 for me yesterday. Went to a friends house for a halloween party and rather than waste money on an outfit, I wore my Christmas jumper and claimed to be the ghost of Christmas Future

Low spend day today as we went to a museum which was free but they had a pressed penny machine and I'm slightly addicted to collecting them!

Also managed to hit target on my FitBit for the first time in too long.

I've been using YNAB for about 12 months now, and it's great for helping to budget for yearly bills. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop me spending money on pointless things; I just budget for them / correct budgets after the fact and say it's ok because it's been accounted for in YNAB. I need to get better at sticking to what I say I'll do in it!

Calling14

Hugs to all those not feeling 100%.

Sfd no. 2 under my belt. Had a lovely day doing not a lot. Friend came over to watch a film, had a walk this morning but dog refused to go out tonight fireworks and rain. Happy to stay in too.

Mini Challenge tricky one, pay for everything monthly except car tax, insurance. Unexpected bills probability my boiler will not go on much longer. Got breakdown cover for it and now joined EF challenge to save £1000. Then if washing machine, fridge freezer go will not be put onto credit card. PLUS any insurance cover you have always an excess to pay need cash for that.

I downloaded Ynab but forgot about it so missed out on my trial period.

Off to get my Downton fix for the week. Feeling happy all this sea air.

stewby

Whoops...

Forgot to say. We already have our pots sorted out for the year.

Our Xmas Pot is £1 a day each which gives us approximately £700 for buying presents and a turkey meal (turkey is scarily expensive).

:eek:

Our Bongo Pot is getting £50 each a month which makes a total of £1200 over the course of a year.
This isn't how much it costs to run the bongo but it will give us spare money for any running repairs, anything we decide we would like, etc.
:happyhear

Our Holiday Pot is also getting £50 each a month which again gives us £1200 over the course of the year.
The plan is to use this for trips away, including trips in the bongo (which is our campervan).


So total savings is £128 - £131 each a month.
:j

sazzlebgood

OH and DD2 got back from their day out and came back with change from the £20 i gave them as DD2 got her meal free at the chip shop.Both very pleased themselves on their bargin :rotfl: Didn't manage to reach their set total of seeing 50 birds, only saw 48!

mothernerd

Spent around £3 on 'snacks', main spend was on bin bags (two rolls, 1 stronger - both to be used for clothing and bedding packing) and more stuff for cleaning paths, 1 for side path here and rest for old house as don't want anyone slipping on moss whilst carrying heavy furniture. Ate a salad (using up all remaining salady bits earlier) and had toasted teacakes (from the ys bargains bought on Friday, when I got back.

Confirmed arrangements with the relative who will be taking me into hospital and bringing me home again and took some measurements at old house (hampered by the futon mattress in the middle of the floor). Left DS2 a cross message on his phone (he's not picking up again).

Mopped the bathroom and kitchen earlier, which left me exhausted. Want to stay strong for this meeting with the valuer tomorrow but seriously considering it if a reasonable offer is made. So tempting to take the money and let go.

This has not been a great house. Some good things have happened here. DS3 made lots of friends in a way he never managed whilst at school and weekends with lots of young people around were fun even though I eventually got swamped trying to solve everyone else's problems but a lot of bad things have happened.

I think I worked so hard to get my first house that letting go seems wrong or perhaps like taking a step backwards but I've spent the last nine years clinging on to two houses which both needed time and money I hadn't got. So tired of only being a week in front of the next standing order (only a few hours sometimes).

I've added up the figures all different ways (and checked on-line for up to date costs on student pods). Will have to wait and see. If it's a ridiculously low amount the decision is simple - call the Estate Agent and get it on the market.

But I would still have a roof over my head and no mortgage but no student pod.

Today I am grateful for the lovely weather, for pretty fireworks (not sure how Halloween to November 5th became one long holiday) and that I managed the mopping (was difficult) as it has made a difference.

vintagebrighton

Good evening all.... lovely to see so much enthusiasm

NSD #1 for me today, have to point that out as have done nothing else! I didn't go for a walk as it was foul out there. I did have a go at the mini challenge though. I'm pretty much sorted already due to my savings challenge (we're going to live in Scotland for a year from next September) but it doesn't hurt to check things.

Did a bit of study and sorted son's receipts but still need to put them on the computer.

Today I've really appreciated my OH and his cooking skills. Also the way he looks after me.

Off to bed now, early start in the morning.

Nite all VB x

LoveaDove

Hey folks! Have had the busiest weekend and feeling super duper shattered! Will have to have a cheeky catch up on the morrow. No SFDs to report just yet, but looking forward to totting some up this week!

Hope you are all having a relaxing end to your weekends! I am absolutely ready for an early night (for me!) So I shall bid ye all a good night! x

thriftylass

Good morning.

Got the day off today and can't wait for everybody to be gone to work and nursery. Got the dentist with DS at 9 and then home to a day of cleaning and cooking. Looking fwd to have the house again in an decent state of cleanliness and the freezer filled with easy quick meals.


Have a nice day.

P.s. realised CB will be paid twice in December the way the dates fall which will be a massive help as it's a long month.

speakingofart

Glad to hear everyone's been making progress - I finished drafting my first assignment last night and ticked 5 people off my christmas present list, so it was a productive if spendy weekend! Hoping for NSDs most of this week, will possibly need a top up shop mid week but that will only be for fruit. Am also trying to have as healthy a week as possible, as gained a pound last week - not unexpected, but not helping towards my goals!

stewby - I hope the honey tastes nice! I also went to a food market yesterday and had a real samosa.. mmmm

thriftylass - is it sad that I think that sounds like an amazing plan for a day off? It's lovely when everything is tidy and organised...

Have a great week turtles!