NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

maria3104

Double delight, my friend bought me lunch. Thank you, so another NSD for me, as long as I continue to resist emails, offers etc

nannygladys

Had to buy some milk when I left work and some veggies so another spendy day, mind you most spendy days are only for small amounts, so I think one goal for 2015 should be planning weekly shopping!!!

Busy day at work but at least it goes quickly.

Nannyg

mothernerd

Spendy day today - very. Sorry, seem to have let the side down a bit but training myself up to do much better in January (whole of 2015 really).

Successfully topped up my phone by £10 (get £20 free). This was on the budget, not written down on here but was on the little list of things I needed in December jotted down in my notebook. Down to £1.44 so needed it done before DS3 goes away.

Was worrying about the planned SM shop. Primary reason for going to the store was to grab any YS bargains but this bug has been very debilitating and even taking DS3, using taxis and only needing goods from a few locations in store wasn't sure if I was up to it so instead have done an on-line order to Iysland and it's being delivered tomorrow.

Went over budget at £47.69, so put £5 on the travel (would probably have been more), £20 on food budget (over budget) and £22.69 to go on January's budget - have ordered 5 loaves so ok if it snows or gets icy and things like all the veg to make panfuls of turkey stew. Hoping celery/carrot and broccoli will give me the boost to get rid of this bug - majority of the order was salad, fruit and veg so will spend time next week peeling and chopping, making low fat coleslaw etc.

Some time ago DS2 broke off a key in the front door. At the moment it's inconvenient (have to go out the back way and round to the front to lock/unlock the door) but again thinking about DS3 being away I decided to bite the bullet and get it fixed - crutches/ cobbles/ dark and possible adverse weather didn't seem a safe combination.

Was hopeful the man could get the old key out (he tried) but have had to pay for a new lock. With labour it came to £135.96. Man has given me his card so I can get in touch direct if I need his services again, but didn't know anyone before and was dependent on the phone book.

Went a bit dizzy at dinner time so spent the two hours waiting for the locksmith, sitting quietly and reading. Brought the bins back in and then went to corner shop and spent £3.19 on sweets (some left) and diet coke and told DS3 he could order takeaway (another £26.42 but lots left).

No excuses, not because I'd already blown the budget but just feeling so wiped out by this bug ( not even hurting, just annoying and won't go away) just knew that once I had got back upstairs, no way was I attempting to go back down. I've just eaten 1/2 a curry, 1/2 a portion of rice and just feel 'looked after'. Ready meals are ok in a keeping me alive sort of way, planning to make bacon soup at weekend (onion soup and turkey stew all gone) but curry was really satisfying (warm from the inside). Will spend the rest of the evening on the bed, reading (books and posts).

So lots of money spent but some big tasks out of the way. Not ignoring my debt, today hasn't helped the situation long term and there is a price to be paid but not taking unnecessary risks with my health is important too - in a few weeks I can refill the freezer with home cooked meals but need to compromise for now.

Have filled a bag with 31 items ready for the charity shop and saved money yesterday by finding 14 t-shirts when DS3 claimed he didn't have any (ok it's a drop in the ocean compared to what I've spent).

Have a great weekend everyone. I have lots to be grateful for but my head's too wooly.

maria3104

Hi everyone

Feeling overjoyed as I thought I was having a SD and it ended up a SFD. I also have done lots of jobs in the kitchen that desperately needed doing.
It has been a struggle to resist internet shopping today. Why are some days harder than others?
Anyway am ready for grocery delivery tomorrow and then holiday season begins in earnest.
HAve a great weekend all.

apple_muncher

mothernerd - getting the locks sorted was a good move. You seem to be recovering super well with your hip. Do you have exercises to do? Hope the lurgi clears up soon.

maria - well done on your SFD. They are very satisfying and quickly addictive!

nannyg - it's so easy when you are near shops, to pop in for a few bits. I've got to the point of doing 1 main shop a week, but dh will sometimes pick up milk and eggs for me. Adding 4 or even 8 pints of milk and a dozen eggsor two when I'm on foot makes it simply too heavy to physically carry!

Calling - love the image of you running down the street to catch flying bins and boxes! Do prioritise a holiday for yourself next year. You need something to look forward to.

thrifty - woohoo! to the contract extension :j. I've only ever done 1 online shop in my life and it was a disaster. I love going round the shop with my basket/trolley too much! So I would therefore say to get as much as you can from aldee.

samiszel - is your heating sorted yet?

Fmess - how is the mattress?


Today I am grateful for 5p roadkill, for a trail of elastic bands (hope the postman wasn't using them to find his way home), for dd and tinsel fun, for balm tissues, for a hug from a lovely friend.

Fmess

apple_muncher wrote: »

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...!

Ooooops

apple_muncher wrote: »

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.

Thank you

Well done calling and mothernerd on your list of goals. Definitely think prioritising your needs is a good idea mothernerd.

Maria spend days turning into SFDs is always fantastic, well done you

Today was SFDS number 7 and LTW did another hour of dog walking, so counting that. Need to get hair done and food shopping tomorrow and then I plan to have a SFD on Sunday.

Been thinking of putting back the wedding in order to get debt free first. OH isn't bothered about getting married but is happy to do it if I want to, so think I'm going to delay it and then start saving once im debt free.

Synonymous

Just catching up on everyone's posts before I post properly.

Mothernerd - I really think you've done the right thing and shouldn't be too hard on yourself. I've only pieced bits together, being new here, but I think I'm right in saying you've had major surgery and seem to do more in an average day than I do on my best... and I ain't on crutches! Sometimes everyone needs a rest, even if it costs money, and those things were worrying you, and now they're not, which is worth more than anything, especially when it's allowing you to stay safe over Christmas. Enjoy your day of being looked after and don't worry about apologising to us

Synonymous

Well, I finally went to the supermarket! After an NSD on Wednesday, yesterday I did a food shop, like, with a trolley and everything! Spent £36.46 which actually goes over my food budget for the month but as I made up my budget for this first time, and bought a lot of store cupboard items I don't feel too bad. It did take forever though as I heavily debated every potential purchase. Did forget toilet roll after leaving the relevant aisle in a smug daze with some super-cheap microfibre cloths, so will have to go back sometime soon! Also used a £3 off £30 voucher I had and a few points coupons to build up my clubcard a bit.

NSD today, had the office party but that was free food and I didn't end up having a drink. Today I've mainly been geeking out on budgeting and mortgage spreadsheets. I was looking for a spreadsheet I could track absolutely all of my money in and found one that I only had to adapt slightly to add my mortgage to. There followed a lot of logging in (and timing out.. and logging in again..) of online banking to catch up with my December spending and saving - it's sad, but I love it! Now I have to wait for more money to come (and go!) so that I can do more with it Oh, wait, I could make pretty graphs :j

Still struggling with last year's achievements, but I know that's because of my head being in a negative place at the moment. I'll pull out my diary and remind myself of the good that's been happening. In terms of my future goals, I'll be using the 'Passion Planner' from the New Year, so will use this to make some plans and set targets. If anyone hasn't heard of it and loves paper-based planning and coloured pens, then I would definitely Google it, you can get a pdf copy for free

Wanna_Bee_Free

I had another NSD on Thursday so I'm up to 6/15 now. I'm at 100% for all possible WTW and what has been very surprising is that I've enjoyed it even on the cold and rainy days apart from 1. I'm technically back in debt once all payments come out of everywhere £32.75. I want to keep a tight rein on the rest of December. This is going to need some changes from me! This weekend I'll claim my work expenses, already included in the above figure but maybe I can think of some more somehow!

speakingofart

Checking in late once again - I don't know where the time is going this month! Spendy days on thursday and yesterday - planned meal out and some groceries and have been paid today, so spent half an hour YNAB-ing to make my money fit the 3000 priorities I seem to have this month! Think I've now got the budget set and am off into town shortly to buy my last christmas presents - everything else is wrapped and all the cards are written.

Groceries £0/£150 15th december till 15th January
SFDs: 4/15
Petrol £0/ 60 15th December till 15th January
Christmas 0/£60
Lunch to work: 10/15