NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

Caeraugirl

Hi all, managed to clock two SFD over the weekend, but meal planned yesterday and so today did the epic shop at butcher's and Mr T and have made a massive dent in food budget.


Mum coming for two weeks over Xmas, which has increased food spends. On the plus side, although she gives both DSs money she's also asked me to spend for them on things they want for them to open from her, so she'll repay me when she gets here, plus she's saved £60 in Mr S points that she wants to spend on goodies here. Feel a bit mean that she's knocked £100 off my kids' present costs for me, but don't see the point of buying them stuff they haven't asked for on top of the stuff they want and are already getting. In the end, they don't care who gave it to them.


Good deed done, picked up my friend from station on Friday and she'd met a lady on the train who didn't know the area but had an appointment at our local community hospital for a scan - gave her a lift to the door, as was sort of on my way home.


Off to update sig, and hopefully will have a few more SFD's now fridge and freezer groaning! Hope everyone well, that naughty step's getting a bit crowded lol!

CoffeeandStitches

Caeraugirl - That is a lovely good deed!

So after assessing this weekend, the only budget that I feel might be in bits is the food budget. But, it's done now. I spent a little (lot?) over what I wanted to this weekend, but I'm taking some positives from it and I'm NOT going to let it derail me for the whole month!

1. All presents are now DONE.
2. I tracked all my spends, this is totally unheard of as usually when I have one unplanned spend, the whole things goes to pot.
3. I managed a NSD (promise it wasn't because I was too hung over to move....)
4. Today is another day, and a whole new chance to start again.

Can I come off the naughty step now please?






I had a fab weekend.

Caeraugirl

CoffeeandStitches wrote: »

1. All presents are now DONE.
2. I tracked all my spends, this is totally unheard of as usually when I have one unplanned spend, the whole things goes to pot.
3. I managed a NSD (promise it wasn't because I was too hung over to move....)
4. Today is another day, and a whole new chance to start again.

Can I come off the naughty step now please?



I had a fab weekend.

Thanks Coffeeandstitches, just wanted to say you should definitely be off the naughty step now especially for positive #2 - I can certainly identify with that one, and not just for spends but for eating too...

CoffeeandStitches

Caeraugirl wrote: »

Thanks Coffeeandstitches, just wanted to say you should definitely be off the naughty step now especially for positive #2 - I can certainly identify with that one, and not just for spends but for eating too...

Me toooo :j:j:j:j (jumping because I'm not the only one, not because it's a good thing to do!) I totally lost control with money and eating this weekend, currently on SW, and I've completely noticed the correlation! I think I must be a total control freak, because all the time I'm sticking to a plan, money, eating or whatever it is, I'm great. As soon as I deviate one little bit I lose all self control and everything (that was meant o be a plan) goes to pot! Literally, the unplanned spends this weekend were mostly on rubbish food.... Mcd's, frozen pizzas, french stick, pringles & sour cream, Kit kats - the lot! So angry at myself for having to not only confess here, but also on SW too!

Thank you - I feel a little better knowing that it's not just me.

Caeraugirl

CoffeeandStitches wrote: »

Thank you - I feel a little better knowing that it's not just me.

Nope it's definitely not just you... !! The good thing is at least we're aware of it, that's halfway to dealing with it - or at least that's what I keep telling myself !!

CoffeeandStitches

Caeraugirl wrote: »

Nope it's definitely not just you... !! The good thing is at least we're aware of it, that's halfway to dealing with it - or at least that's what I keep telling myself !!

Agreed I've only just noticed it over the last few months, and it's something I really need to work on. I'm thinking if I can start with just tracking everything when I do lose control, and see if I can find any triggers, maybe I can work on it from there..... I know that this weekends trigger was vodka and a rotten cold

mothernerd

Tried and failed to get to the doctor's - DS3 was sleeping downstairs (found out later he only got to sleep at 4am) and I couldn't wake him so was stuck upstairs without my shoes on (I would sleep in them but frightened of the weight dragging my poorly leg the wrong way).

Another lazy day mostly reading and a bit of pottering. Feeling a bit better so depends what time I wake in the morning, if I make another attempt. Went to put money in the bank this afternoon and spent £1 on sweets and nuts. Nothing else to report really.

Today I am grateful for the internet, beef lasagne (yummy) and the post office (bank is 8 miles away but I can pay in at the PO).

sazzlebgood

coffee and stitches you are definately not the only one who does this as I do this alot. :mad: However since joining this forum when i fall off the wagon i just get back up dust my self off give myself a stern talking too and then run like mad to catch the wagon back up. In the past I would of just given up and hated myself.
Been to Mr T £41.85 on food. Off to do more physio with DD2 who today stood for 1 minute without any support making good progress:j

traveller

Well maybe I should just throw myself off the naughty balcony :rotfl::rotfl: Remember the cheap sofas??? Well they came today. The delivery men were a useless pair, so I told them to leave the sofas and I'd get them in the house myself. Well they wouldn't go through my actual front door to my flat I was nearly in tears. My eldest tried to help and we were short of about an inch and a half to get them in and we don't have much space in the hallway which is very narrow. My ex said he'll come and look after work as he said we had issues getting the sofas he bought years ago (old Victorian town house). So, not only did I spend £500 quid on sofas, but I can't even enjoy what got me on the bleeding naughty step as I can't get them in the house :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I can laugh now! Sazzle-that sound great regarding your daughter:T Caeraugirl totally agree regarding the kids presents, I'd do the same and well done on the good deed! Mothernerd, just take care of yourself Coffee and stitches def not just you

CEW

Hi All,

Not a SFD today so sitting on 4/15.

Still haven't started on the Christmas Presents. I have a long list of presents to buy but have very few ideas if what to get. I'm currently waiting to get hold of someone to get ideas for one side of the famiky. This will cover almost half of my gifts. Will ring again in an hour or so.

Had some good news. I have sold my renovation project without actually renovating it and for a good price too :T:j:T

just need to make sure everything goes through smoothly from here on. They are first time buyers with a mortgage agreed and the house is vacant so no onward chain. Should be a piece of cake but not quite counting my chickens yet :rotfl:

Hope everyone is having a frugal week.

Night all

chez x