NST; January Challenge- The Money Saving Game

LINKYPIE2009

I'd like to join please - was only going to try for 10 NSD's this month but in the spirit of a fresh start and new year etc....I'm going for it!

Will be back later to post my objectives/budgets.......

Linkypie xx

WelshKitty85

Can I join please? This sounds like just my thing.

I will be back to share my budgets.

Dottydaisy

Thanks Fmess thought £7.49 won't break the budget so have signed up, now need to understand it!

LoveaDove

Hey all, Happy New Years Eve!! I can't get onto a computer until the morning so hold tight, your numeros are coming for those awaiting their challenger number!! Please feel free to share your goals etc as we only have several hours left until the New Year- New Start!! I'll stop by next year and have a proper catch up with you lovely lot! x

Fmess

Evening all, so in the MSE spirit, I am sat on my sofa, in my PJs, drinking hot orange juice and will probably go to bed before the new year starts J
Here’s my plan:-

2. Set ALL of your budgets at the beginning of the month:
Food = £270 (2 people, 5 dogs, 1 cat)
Misc = £95
Petrol = £110
Other (vets etc) = £86



3. Pay money to your debts first:
I have already paid £478.39 towards debt from December’s pay/January’s budget. If I can pay £403.50 a month off the debt, I’ll be 80% debt by 2016 (if I can stretch to £626.08 a month, I’ll be debt free!!!!)



4. You MUST bring your lunch to work every day
This is my area of weakness. I will do this in January. LTW = 0/20



5. Donate £3 from your food budget
I will do this tomorrow J



6. Down shift 3 of your branded food items.
I have downshifted chocolate today – Cadbury’s to Aldi own brand. Two more to do.

7. Meal Plan!-
Do this already and love it. It makes such a difference. A friend who often comes to dinner, looks at the meal plan on the wall to decide which night they’d like to come to dinner.

8. You will aim to achieve 18 Spend Free Days (SFDs)-
Will do. SFDs 0/18

9. Document your spends
I love a spreadsheet (or two, or three)



10. Time to get moving
I am going to aim to do at least 30 minutes exercise a day, so 31 lots of 30 minutes, and I am going to start wearing the pedometer again tomorrow and aim for 10,000 steps a day.

11. Choose your Debt Free Date now.
January 2016, my loan should be paid off in May 2018 so I want to knock over 2 years off the schedule.

12. Share your 2015 Goals
1. Be at least 80% debt free by the end of the year.
2. Pay £60 a month, every month into the savings/emergency fund.
3. Be more appreciative for everything that I have.
4. Get to 9st and stay there.
5. Do not adopt or buy any more dogs.



13. Check in regularly
I’m MSE obsessed at the moment so this shouldn’t be a problem.


Have a good evening everyone

Bobarella

F mess you do have a lot of dogs, there must be a story there?

apple_muncher

I too have downshifted chocolate today. It shifted down my gullet very easily indeed!

Fmess

Bobarella wrote: »

F mess you do have a lot of dogs, there must be a story there?

In short, OH wasn't allowed pets as a child and I can't say no and want to save them all. All but one are rescues, I just find them great companions.

apple_muncher wrote: »

I too have downshifted chocolate today. It shifted down my gullet very easily indeed!

Ha ha me too!

millionaire_in_training

Hi can you sign me up please
.

2. Set ALL of your budgets at the beginning of the month: let us know what your budget is for: groceries- £250, fuel/travel £100 social/leisure £50, Birthdays £20.
3. Pay money to your debts first- This will help you budget your money for the rest of the month and make adjustments accordingly. But please do not leave yourself really short! Trying to overpay by £3k in 2015
4. You MUST bring your lunch to work every day No using the canteen (unless this is free of course) or local cafes. Coffee shops are also banned throughout January! It's time to detox (or get your money's worth from the home brewed variety if you can not do without) Usually do this anyway as canteen is disgusting
5.Donate £3 from your food budget, or £3 you have saved from not visiting a coffee shop and purchase £3 worth of items to donate to your local food bank. Many supermarkets have Food bank drop off baskets, alternatively donate unused tinned products from your cupboards or donate online £3 to The Trussel Trust who help to run Food banks across the country. Let's support those in our local communities and make a positive start to the New Year. - Absolutely
6. Down shift 3 of your branded food items. Try down shifting a brand to super market own! Yellow sticker items (reduced items) are also your friend's- so long as they can be used towards a meal!-Already do this
7. Meal Plan!- Try to meal plan as many of your meals as possible. This will work wonders with helping you to condense your shopping list (along with your cupboards) if it is all written down and justified for allocated meals. Helping you to be armed and prepared for the Supermarkets inevitable consumerist advertisement, drawing you in to sales of items you would never normally buy! Definitely starting this again
8. You will aim to achieve 18 Spend Free Days (SFDs)- Plan your spends, think about what you are buying. Is it worth losing a SFD over a chocolate bar? Exemptions include: prescriptions/ medication, yellow sticker (reduced) food or drink and regular direct debits- these will not lose you a SFD.:eek: Eek this'll be difficult
9. Document your spends- Use a spreadsheet, notebook or your phone. Document every single spend that you make. You might be surprised as to where you money is going! 2015 all ready to start
10. Time to get moving - Increase your movement, whether it's taking the stairs at work instead of the lift, getting off a stop early, going out for a walk. We all feel a little sluggish after the indulgences over the festive season. You do not need to join the gym- save your money and get creative! Bought an exercise bike with Christmas money
11. Choose your Debt Free Date now. Before 2020
12. Share your 2015 Goals- financial or other. Overpay by £3k and lose 100lbs. Get groceries down to £200 per month by end of year
13. Check in regularly - Check in with us regularly throughout the month and keep us posted on your budgets, your successes, general chat and if you want a bit of motivation from team NST- give us a shout! (or a message).

mothernerd

Budget for January (for food and travel) is £18.86. Should still have enough food in the fridge, freezers and cupboards to get me through and do the food bank donation. I will be jotting down what I eat (and trying to cost it) so that I can set a realistic budget for February.

I already have a notebook to jot down spending. Since I already have food in, instead of downsizing I will aim to make 3 things that I have previously paid for, more if possible. SFDs should be easy. Hoping I can start to walk further outside - planning to go round the library as there are benches and walls to sit on if I run out of steam part way.

Wanted to go further most of last week but don't like being out on crutches in the dark (have been to top of street) and then the snow/mush/ice put me off. Not having to use the crutches in the house has meant I am doing quite a lot more as it's no longer stop/start/get in position/ crutches rest/pick up again and it's easier to carry things.

Goals already set out, lots of lists written down, de-cluttering will continue (still no sign of DS3, how long will this last?) Going to look out of back bedroom window as fireworks have started.