NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

CoffeeandStitches

Morning All,

Logged onto the banks this morning so I could see the real damage from the weekend. Squeaky bum time for the rest of the month, but I've not blown it yet, so here's hoping! Although another unexpected home breakdown cost is looming on the horizon. Fingers crossed it'll be under £20, will know more tonight.

I totally think that as it's December, and it was so hard to get them in, that we should use the new sofas as the naughty spot

Thanks for all sharing the loss of control, I genuinely thought I was a bit weird for being like that, it's so nice to know I'm not alone. And thank you for the suggestion of setting yourself a time frame, rather than just tomorrow being another day. This loss of control spilled out over the weekend, but the damage was not catastrophic, but I've totaled £51 unplanned night out spend, and then a HUGE £36.50 on completely rubbish food over the weekend following the night out. I'm not beating myself up about the night out, but I am mortified that £36 has gone on crisps, fast food, and rubbish. I can make a weeks meals out of that. It's certainly bought it home that I need to be a hell of a lot more careful. But damage is done, need to reign it in for the rest of the month... so...

NSD number 3! Yay! Tomorrow should be a NSD too, fingers crossed.

Happy Tuesday all!

ETA - I have just realised that £7 of the £36 was on lemsip, sudafed, night nurse and tissues. BOO MAN FLU! - Not much but small mercies....

Caeraugirl

Traveller, so glad sofa issue resolved! And thanks for input regarding kids' presents, felt like a bit of a cop-out even though it made sense, so helps to know somebody else can see the logic. And well done on sale CEW - lovely early Xmas present! Nannygladys and Calling, amazing MSE-ing, can I use you as my role models?


Synonymous, great idea about altering the timescale - if I go a bit off the rails with eating or spending I tend to think "sod it!" and keep going, so perhaps I need to shorten my turning point as you suggest. Coffeeandstitches, think you hit a nerve with a lot of people on here, perhaps that's why we're here... lol!


Off today with two poorly boys, or at least they were poorly first thing - now both moaning they're bored as I'm not letting them have electronics on a school day, have pointed out that if they're ill they shouldn't need entertaining as they'd feel too rotten to do anything. Back to school for both tomorrow, I suspect.


At least should get a SFD out of it, as won't be going anywhere to spend.


And yes, applemuncher, it is only Tuesday... whoop-de-do

thriftylass

:eek::eek: It's only the second week in December and my numbers look horrendous. I'm done with christmas shopping and only need postage now but the food budget is nearly blown and that is mostly Aldee and Liddle :mad:. Think I got a bit too relaxed when I thought, och well I have 300 quid. Bought a goose and some joints of meat but can't really think of any other extravagances the money wasted on . Will heed the advice though from previous posts and will not let that totally throw me. I too are guilty of usually just saying och f... it the damage is done, let's deal with it next month. Not this time! I'm sick of cheating on myself by then borrowing from the savings or the CC. Enough is enough.

I'm meant to catch up with the girls on Friday after work on a rare visit to the pub, but that dampened my enthusiasm a bit now. At least this week I definitely don't need anything apart from bread which I'll pick up today when I need to post some cards anyway.

Off to catch up on the weekends posts.

Oh another quick rant. The nursery that DS goes too (heavily subsidised compared to private) never got our application for DD which we did over a year ago online :mad::mad::mad:. Only found out by chance as I questioned the manager about some new regulation and when the new built will be finished. I talked to her about DD joining DS a few times before. As a good will gesture she slotted us into the waiting list roughly where we should have been but I think we don't have much of a chance of a place next Sept as they are all taken I heard. Raging. Anyway, can't be changed...

Oh and our heating went a bit mental yesterday. It suddenly seemed to ignore the thermostat which was set at 18 and then 15 and kept heating. Never had the radiators that hot. Seems fine now but maybe better get another service as we now pay for a plan anyway.

liltdiddylilt

Hi guys, not a SFD today. Haircut was £1.90 over budgeted spends. I also fell off the wagon spending in Mr S. Went in for emergency sweetener, some pastry and lasagne sauce. £22 later I had 12 packs of babywipes in a broken box for a yellow sticker bargain at £6.99, 4 more bottles of soya milk whilst I was in there, a spaghetti bolognese meal that Jelly adores while she is refusing to eat due to her mouth being sore, and brown sugar. I also got 2 rolls of pastry when I needed only one as it was £2 for 2 or £1.60 for one.

Need to go and get a oaf of bread and a £5 present for Jelly from Nursery Santa at the party next week. Will do it tonight and then if will be SFD until we run out of milk at the weekend.

mothernerd

Feeling a bit better so had a day of tidying (walking round with grabber stick). Found cupboard space for some herbs and spices, some stationery for mum (she needs to sort her 'recipe cupboard' out, tools and fixings sort started and lots gone to the bins (including old cardboard,plastic and tin containers) - some of the 'fixings' went to the new house in these containers and have just sat in them for years (need to be ruthless).

Winding down now but DS3 has filled the washer for me and knows the bins have to go to the end of the row tonight.

Today I am grateful for having enough to be able to suggest solutions to another's problem, that I got the lurgy bug and not the sick one and for my returning appetite.

Samiszel

Managed NSD number 7 today. Heating/hot water not really working in my house for past week or so. House at around 14 degrees which is pretty freezing for me Don't much fancy paying hundreds to get it sorted, so just living with it for now. Cold showers sure do wake you up!

Have been good with spending so far this month- trying to empty out cupboards and freezer, so haven't visited a SM since November! Quite enjoying rustling up random dinners and lunches to work.

Work meal tomorrow night which will be spendy and work party Friday, which shouldn't be spendy (depending on how much drink is provided )

speakingofart

Another SFD today, may not be tomorrow as I'm going late night shopping, although don't plan to purchase anything till I get paid at the weekend and won't be on thursday as I'm going out for dinner.

Groceries £16.54/ 16.54 till 15th December
£0/£150 15th december till 15th January
SFDs: 3/15
Petrol £0/ 60 15th December till 15th January
Christmas 0/£60
Lunch to work: 7/15

apple_muncher

Another NSD in the bag. :T

Samiszel - 14 degrees is a tad chilly! Are you wearing your panda outfit to keep you warm?

mothernerd - you are truly amaaazing. Even with a very nasty lurgi and major surgery, you are still unstoppable!

Lilt - bargainous, necessary buys - well done!


Today I am grateful that Tuesday is over, for ham omelette, for sunshine, for great pupils seeing themselves make progress, for good coffee to start the day.

apple_muncher

ps - am already pondering 2015. Who is running the challenge in January?

sazzlebgood

took dd2 to the local panto with school today, was a bit on edge as i only had 3 hrs parking and the panto seemed to go on forever.Got out in time though. trip to MR S £24.66 as OH had forgot to get the chicken (did get other things) out the freezer and chicken curry was promised to DD2 for doing so well with her physio. STOOD UP ON HER OWN TODAY . Nearly cried as she has never been able to do this independently (she's nine). Trying her at school for a couple of hours tomorrow but will be on standby if needed. Fingers crossed.