NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

apple_muncher

Happy Boxing Day to all!

The apple household are enjoying the frugal festivities - keeping it all simple has worked a treat. Pay went in early but will remain untouched until the 30th.

Already looking forward to January's challenge. Thank you Fmess for a great December one! :T

traveller

Hi everyone, hope you all had a good christmas. Well, I won't be cooking for a good few days, as their is an assortment of food to get through for everyone I feel quite tired, but we are all happy and content. Enjoy your boxing day. Take care

Fmess

Evening all

How have your Christmas' been?

I had a SFD Yesterday (number14 ) but went to the sales today. Just used vouchers and Christmas money but as some was cash I'm counting it as a spend day. I'm going to use the money I got to pay for a few social events over the next week and then take some out of my January budget to pay off some more debt

Feeling really blessed as got some lovely thoughtful and useful presents and my family were really appreciative of my presents to them

Also looking forward to January's challenge and opening my sealed pot, which will also get paid off my debt

Calling14

Well it's nearly over, lots of snow here tonight. Had my grandson here saw the snow and says it's Christmas. Love innocent 3yr old. Was supposed to sleeping over but full of cold/coughing after his injections and just wouldn't settle down, daughter wasn't going out so been collected. They just want mummy when ill.

Had a lovely day yesterday spent £20 drinks down pub, very drunk with youngest daughter great fun. Nice to see friend who is very poorly as well.

Today. Sfd ignored sales don't really need anything had lots of lovely gift sets will be sparkling clean and moisturised. Diet hairy bikers cook book someone trying to tell me something ?

Can't wait for Jan really going to work out how to sort teeth out!!

mothernerd

It snowed! Because of all my preparations (was beginning to think a couple of bad winters had made me paranoid) there was no need to go out - rubbish bins by the back door and enough food to withstand a siege, so could just enjoy it, how pretty it was swirling down and remembering years when the boys were small. Would have got them out of bed early, pulled on warm layers and wellies over their pyjamas and taken them out in it. One of the joys of living on the edge of a car park is that you get a whole field of pristine snow to play, make patterns in and roll into snowmen sized balls before the cars get there to mush it up. Doesn't look like it is going to stick though.

I had a NSD yesterday and today. looked briefly at one on-line sale, but only because I have a pound off voucher and some points and if some of mum's favourites are in the sale it may be worth putting them away for her birthday.

Already sorted her next year's Christmas present out (and started de-cluttering). The person who came to take me to the other house to bring bits back, brought mum and her gifts for me, to my house. We left her at mine whilst we went to the other house and she must have been looking at my decorations as she asked if I could look out for a reasonable nativity set for her, for next year's present (her's are painted and losing their features).

I asked if she liked mine - the dark wood one is only a few year's old but I have a few pieces of the original, bought when the boy's were small, including the 3 legged camel (I fixed him 2 years ago, but his leg had come off again this year, so he's remaining proudly 3-legged - I told you we were an equal opportunities household). So when it comes down, it's being wrapped and going to mum's (+ one of the boxes I have earmarked for de-cluttering, also have several cs sacks to fill).

Thinking I might have a cooking and crafts weekend. 10 portions of the rescued lasagne are now in the freezer. Would like to make leek and potato soup and have a few veg recipes (managed to get the recipe file off the floor) to try. Also fancy turkey with either Mediterranean veg or sweet potato mash.

Have brought a jacket out of DS3's wardrobe. It's very ripped but I said I would try to make him a scarf from it (soft velvet in light/dark grey mini-check). Wondering if I can save enough good pieces to make a soft toy (rabbit/mouse or cat) or glove puppet(s).

He also has a long purple coat which he says is not repairable. I know it is one of his favourites and he has wanted a 'Father Christmas' version for a while (long flowing full length type not the short jacket). They only do it in purple needlecord and black 'velvet' with a black fake fur edging (he has both).

So thinking I can take it apart, make a pattern from it (it was made for his measurements) and then re-use the cord to make draught excluders. He likes fantasy stuff so I thought snakes and dragons (did see a cute dragon scarf someone had had knitted, but I can't knit). Could also use the worst of the pillows to stuff them. Should make a bit more room in his wardrobe. Wouldn't give him the coat until next December.

He also wants a Stitch onesie (proper Kigurumi one) and I did buy some purple material a while since (could only get purple crushed velvet) although the online ones all seem to be pale lilac (sure he was dark bluey-purple when we saw it at the cinema). May ask DS2 if I can borrow Pikachu and then add an extra foot in length onto the legs.

Have paid the minimum on the cc bill that has arrived, even though it is not due until January 15th -must keep on top of the pesky blighters and it may save a few pence interest (both the two I could verify online are a few pennies lower). Would love to overpay but finances are squeaky tight until the house sells/ I am on my feet again so just making sure everything gets paid and just keep going.

Have set a clothes budget of £25 for next year and hoping the £22.66 in my purse will stretch to the end of January. Taking this not buying it seriously folks.

Thanks for this month's challenge and looking forward to the next (and all the personal challenges next year will bring).

Today I am grateful for the snow (and not having to be out in it), for DS2 and DS3 putting the bins where I wanted them and candles (love them, haven't bought any this year, just using up ones left by DS1 and DS2, thinking about next year - another long no buy story).

sazzlebgood

we have snow, took us nearly 2 hours to drive 14 miles but we made it home safe and sound (had to dump car a few streets away from home as it wouldn't go up a hill). MIL and FIL still out in it.Kids very very excited and can't wait to go out in it tomorrow.Nsd again today. Fingers crossed the old boiler doesn;t pack in

stewby

Good evening.

I am sorry for my absence but trying to balance nightshifts with xmas means that I don't get anywhere near the computer (use my phone for facebook).
:embarasse

I have calmed down a lot about OH's mum now. I think the problem is when you see all the bad things (working where I do), it's hard to think that it can be absolutely fine and everything could work out great.
:undecided

Erm... budgets have gone completely wrong. Credit card has been destroyed (sorry). I went off the rails a bit in December, only myself to blame.


So.... starting again in January. Going to work twice as hard and try to get this sorted. Who do I report to for January??


Will have a look at these goals of mine and see what my plan is... will post it on here later.


Hugs to everyone.

stewby

1) Eliminate credit card debt, hopefully by the end of June.
Credit card is currently £3310.54 which is crazy. I have £360 coming from other people as I booked flights. I have asked for the money by April. I am going to work really hard to get it gone.
I know where my weaknesses are, which is a major problem. I just need to learn to control them.


2) Use pots effectively.
We have three pots and the payments are: £50 each month in the bongo pot, £50 each month in the holiday fund, £1 a day in xmas pot. We each pay this which makes the minimum amount paid in total at £56 (February). We officially start in January although we paid in money in December so we have an extra little surprise.


3) Lose weight.
Ideally I would like to lose 6lbs a month which would make my total of 72lbs by the end of the year (preferably sooner).
OH's sister is getting married in 2016, we are getting married in 2018 and I would like to look better. Plus I have a heap of "skinny" clothes which I would like to wear at some point in my life.


4) Start saving for our wedding.
Hopefully OH and I can both contribute £250 each but this will be after the debt is gone so I really need to get a handle on this credit card debt.
:undecided

Forseeable problems include the lack of extra shifts available at work and me going off the rails again.
:eek:

LoveaDove

Happy day after Boxing Day, all!

Hope you have all had relaxing and cosy Christmas breaks?!

Very interesting convo regarding pampered OH's. I believe this could work both ways, guys and dolls alike. Thank you all for your words of support to push on solo with the move! Some of your points really hit the nail on the head and in all honesty I am in no rush to move in with OH. Not completely sure what this says about our relationship, but at the moment I am going to have to start putting my needs first. I rushed moving in and across country for an ex and it completely fell flat on it's face and I was stuck living with him for a while hundreds of miles from good friends and family. I suppose part of me has that little element of fear instilled still of a repetition. Me and my current OH have been together for over 2 years now, but at least live in the same town which makes it easier. He is several years younger which I think also pays contribution to our somewhat differing mindsets regarding finances and the real world. :undecided

Anyhew, I shall be drafting the new thread later. I'll let you lovely lot all know when it is up and active- this should be within the next couple of days! I also need to sort out my SMART Targets (I am a fan also of timely, measurable and realistic goals), just need to dedicate some time to planning).

I am up to 14 sfds- I reckons I can bagsy another one to hit my target for the month before the month draws to a close! I have been avoiding shops, but will need to pop to a shop today to acquire a car charger for my mobile. I have got a fairly long trip tomorrow and certainly will require the aid of my mobile sat nav to get to and from the big family annual do!

Uh oh, my laptop is threatening to crash best post this before it disappears! Have a lovely day whether you are in receipt of snow or not! (We have just had buckets of rain down here in Essex) x

Fmess

Afternoon turtles,


Hope none of you are snowed in? It is starting to thaw a bit here but I am on a quiet road in my village so it is still pretty treacherous on the pavements.


Today is unfortunately a spendy day as OH was out of bread, and uncompromising on the need for a bacon sandwich. However since I lost a SFD I have sent him out to get pasta, milk and kitchen towel, which should keep me out of the food shops for another couple of days.


Yesterday was a successful spendy day in the sales. Used vouchers and cash presents to get lots of items to keep me going throughout the year (underwear, socks, pjs, basic tops etc) and perfume, which I haven't had for nearly 12 months


Today I have also opened my sealed savings jar and I have saved £68.22 over the year, just from loose change :j I am going to the bank next week to cash the coins that round up into the amounts the bank accepts, I have pocketed the larger coins that didn't round up to the right amounts and have transferred the corresponding amount towards paying off the debt, and then the last few remaining pounds (made out of odd coins) are going into next year's pot


Feeling really excited for the new year and the possibility of my final 12 months in debt. I'm not sure if it will be possible but I'm determined to give it 110%. I need to be rid of this debt on my shoulders.