NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

stewby

speakingofart wrote: »

Stewby, I have to ask, what's a bongo pot?

We have a campervan called a mazda bongo. It's very cute. We are taking over paying for it from my parents (well, from my dad) so we now need to save for insurance, MOT, road tax ,etc... plus holidays. So OH and I are both contributing £50 a month which means it will be £1200 a year.


Nae worries traveller. It is a good pot to have... especially with a name like yours, I would be worried if you didn't have a holiday pot.


Spend-free day today which puts us up to seven!!
:j

I can't believe how well this month is going in terms of spend-free days. It's shocking but great at the same time.

Loving reading the goals everyone is putting. Hope we all succeed in 2015.
Hugs.

apple_muncher

Fmess - will check in the Radio Times tomorrow. It is already highlighted! Channel 5 in the mornings, sometimes evenings too. Think it.s between Cmas and New Year.

It's not such a secret now...!

CEW

Hi All,

Failing dramatically on the SFD's still on 4/15 (I think) but I have been doing all of my Christmas shopping, 36 gifts to buy in total, and only started on Tuesday. We have a large family with lots of children, some now grown up and with partners, that we buy for. :eek:

Despite the lack of SFD's I am currently under budget for all budgets, at the moment :rotfl:

I will work on my 2015 targets. I have a couple in mind but need to finalise the details.

Thanks Fmess for the heads up on the ALDI voucher. I am planning to get lots of Xmas goodies and also stock up for January with it.

Night all

Chez x

Calling14

Just a quickie as my Internet is running really slow, spent ages installing new router as well.

Great News Sazzlebegood.

Good luck with your job interviews guys.

2 more Sfd to report. Need some war paint for the dreaded xmas do tomorrow. Can't wait for it to be over, not going to drink would not be best idea, so fed up with my bosses might say something I may regret lol.

Write more tomorrow and sort my goals then. Night turtles

mothernerd

I have been thinking about goals for 2015, tackling it from all different angles. One of the threads I follow started last year by asking people to put down words to sum up how they wanted the year to be - words like healthy, fun, optimism. My goals were a little bit vague, were they goals, a manifesto, a blueprint for living.

Then this morning (sorry woke at 4.30am) I had a mini light bulb moment. I went to put something in my diary, then thought that was silly as I would need to transfer the information in a few weeks. I haven't put a diary on my shopping list (waited till they went down to 75p last year) then I thought "What do I need in a diary?"

I have signed up to the Not Buying It 2015 thread. So I thought if I can manage my finances by turning a page each month and putting down the dates and days of the week, then adding regular standing orders and bill information as it comes in, why don't I use one of the many notebooks I have instead of buying a diary.

Went to the cupboard and amongst the regular notebooks there was one I bought several years ago (5 - 8 years ago) with a Thoreau quote on the front - ironically one I jotted down yesterday from someone else's signature and added to the page I was using to work out my goals. I bought this (from an eco/recycled/supporting developing countries shop if that helps) because I loved it, then when I got home I decided it was too good and I put it away to give to someone else as a present.

So why do I consistently put other people's needs ahead of my own. It's natural when your children are small and dependent but mine are old enough (or should be - DS3 is still a work in progress) to not need this any more but I have fallen into the habit of giving to and supporting others without expecting (or getting) anything back. Why is the notebook 'too good' for me.

:jGoals for 2015:j
BE DEBT FREE
BE HEALTHY
BE SELFISH
KEEP LEARNING
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined" Henry David Thoreau

Obviously each goal needs breaking down into specific tasks and actions and the third one is only 'healthily selfish' - I should give my needs as much respect as I do other people's. But I think that covers it and its going in the front of my diary.

thriftylass

Good morning!

Nipped to the shops yesterday as lunch items and fruit were running low. Also bought cat litter and loo roll = 33 quid. I hate food shopping nowadays. We used to have a weekly food and household bill of £50 (ok before kids, but still) but prices have gone up so much. Ok it doesn't help that we eat loads of fresh fruit and veg, and meat is dear but there is hardly any treats in there or food that gets wasted. Most things are cooked from scratch apart from the odd curry sauce.

I'm not too busy at work today and I will try my luck at proper meal planning for January including lunches, snacks and dinners, although I'm not sure if that will make that much of a difference. We're all on the slim side so I on't really want to reduce portion sizes but I might have to curb our fruit intake and meat consumption. I also need to buy more in bulk like sandwich ham and freeze it to avoid little top up shops See P.S. below

Also had to stick a tenner in the car and my mobile last night.

Hubby feeling a lot better today so he's sending me out for a few drinks as I never do that anymore. Might just go for a couple straight after work.

P.S. I'm making good progress with my menu plan for food and a list incl tinfoil, looroll etc. for January. Now what would you do? Make use of the cheap delivery in Tesco, being able to avoid going to an actual shop and stock up on things online OR go to Aldi and get most of it there?

P.S.II some good news before christmas. My contract got extended till June 2016

Calling14

Well up to 7 SFD.

Been such a good neighbour yesterday, home early chased everyones bins and recycling boxes and returned to their back gardens. Good deed done.

Today need xmas cards bah humbug ran out! Tights for xmas party. Will make do with make up got don't need to spend. Free meal and drinks later.

Goals for next year - Sorry got 7
1. Clear as much debt as possible 3.5k ? All of it be better
2. Lose at lease 1 stone in weight 1st 9 lbs be awesome
3. Be grateful for what I have and stop whinging.
4. Get fit - start new exercise besides dog walking.
5. Treat myself to a holiday - need one after this horrid year.
6. Increase my income and not use credit cards.
7. Find my rich Prince Charming. Any recommendations welcome.

Spendy day tomorrow as well Mot and car service booked in.

thriftylass

Calling14 wrote: »

7. Find my rich Prince Charming. Any recommendations welcome.

Sorry, cheaky tip for that one. Stop looking . I thought I'd die an old spinster when I finally found OH at 26 (first proper boy friend have to admit, just didn't think it worth it before if it wasn't right, so never went beyond a third date ). Love at first sight, and still together 10 years later, married with two kids. I just stopped caring/almost gave up and that made me much more relaxed when I finally did meet someone. Although he's not rich but beggars can't be choosers :rotfl:

apple_muncher

Fmess - starting on Sat 27th with programme 5/11 (not sure where the firat 4 went!), channel 5, starting anywhere between 9.20 and 10am. And evenings anywhere between 6.35 and 8.30pm!every day is different, so maybe set the series to record...?

Anyhow, the FINAL in New Yesr's Day at 8.30pm.

sazzlebgood

thriftylasswonderful news about your job.
NSD today as spending the day sorting paperwork and cleaning today as DD2 decided she would rather be at school than be bored at home. Result! DD2 is a real home body so i had to make been off really really boring. School agreed to do her afternoon physio session.