NST; January Challenge- The Money Saving Game

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Samiszel - aldee are doing a heater for about £15 either from tomorrow or Sunday. Saw it and thought of you, for if the boiled packs in again.

stewby

morning.

I am sitting in the dentists school waiting for my niece (its going to be a while I think as she is getting fitted for braces) so thought I might as well check in seeing as I have a spare hour or so.

Had a spend-free day on Monday due to work so that brought me up to 13!!!!!!
Yesterday was going to be spend-free but I ended up buying petrol for the trip today so sadly didn't count.

Feeling pretty good today although still got this travel bug. It's driving me nuts. Very almost booked New York yesterday despite the fact that neither of us can afford it.
I think I am struggling with the whole slow-moving debt thing. You know the monthly gap between payments which means that you aren't doing anything despite doing stuff to lower the debt (food budgets, etc).

Really sad about those people that helped you lilt. Really makes you stop and think about how lucky you are.

1. A warm roof over my head with a safe place to sleep.
2. A job that allows me to not only afford to live but also pay off my debts.
3. My family who would never see me struggle.

I truly am a very lucky person and should remember that more often.
Hugs to everyone.

thriftylass

NSD yesterday as we needed formula, nappies and got some YS stuff. Also paid for DD passport. Today should be an SFD.

Bobarella

Thriftylass - What horrible news. So sorry.

FMess - What is the Aldi voucher please?

liltdiddylilt

Bobarella the voucher is usually £5 off a £40 spend, in the Sun/Mirror. They do ones for Mr M too sometimes. £10 worth of meat gets £5 off, £5 off fruit and veg with no minimum spend.... etc.

thriftylass I am so sorry to hear of your friend. Horrifying news, and I send a little prayer up that it never happens to me or anyone I know. Thank goodness for hospitals, talented doctors and life insurance in my world.

SFD #12 caught yesterday and #13 today unless my potatoes are beyond repair and cannot be jacketed tonight to go with defrosted homemade chilli. They were a bit sprouty... I may just exchange for rice instead to save the spend.

Walking to work in below freezing temperatures this morning, there was another homeless chap lying in the shut doorway of a local church, covered in a sleeping bag and fast asleep. He can't have been warm enough either. It really makes me so sad.

Work is dull, boring and yet stressful at the same time. WIsh it would go quicker. I just want to go home. Jellytot has a day off nursery and is home with her daddy having a duvet day to try and shake her cough.

Hugs to all xxx

shyspender

Lilt Check the potatoes very carefully. I was like you. Remember my post on sunday about all the batch cooking? The potatoes had started to sprout a little and were tinged with a spot of green. I thought, what the heck, I'll risk it.

Cooked some of them yesterday, well, warmed them through, and could taste that the potato was past it's best. I couldn't finish them.
That will teach me to try and not be fussy about food, lol

Bobarella

Thanks Lilt. A decent discount to be had then. Will look out for it.

A biggie for me today. I bought my years contents insurance up front. Never done it before. Wouldn't have ever thought to until I started reading on this forum. I saved myself £8 in premiums, & earned £23 back via TCB. It's not the amount saved, but the step change in my attitude. Fingers crossed this is where I stop using credit full stop (unless for sensible reasons, I have a reward credit card for example.

bob

liltdiddylilt

shyspender I couldn't go there. I ended up getting chips out of the freezer instead as I really can't be bothered today. Still, a little win as it could have been a takeaway. Homemade chilli was just as nice as the first time

Bobarella well done you on paying upfront. Next up the line rental I have categories in YNAB for all these annual expenses and just chuck a bit of money into it each month then it is there when I need it now. Kind of like paying monthly but just adding it up in a savings account over the year!

Today I am grateful for:
Painkillers
Work being easy
My gloves and scarf!

Synonymous

Hey everyone, hope you're all keeping warm and safe with the snow - I've not set foot outside today and it's still coming down!

No spend here since my last check in on Sunday, although the book I ordered on Sunday has been refunded with no explanation, just a notification from Paypal, which I'm a bit miffed about - I'm guessing they don't have the 2nd-hand copy they advertised, but an email would be nice! Good news is I just ordered it on Ebay for 60p cheaper!

My NSD total is 15 now, and I've spent less than £100 so far this month, including £60 for a weekend away, so really pleased with things. Think I will need petrol this weekend as I'm helping bf move house, hoping to put off food shopping until after that when I want to go to my parents' for some R&R whilst they are on holiday.

I've got a couple hours of paid work at Uni tomorrow but I'm struggling to get motivated, especially if it will still be snowy. Will have to think about the extra money and the good it will do - should get my mojo back then!

Things I am grateful for,
Yesterday:
- The kindness of people in my community who always make me feel welcome and inspire me to be kinder and more generous.
-Support from uni folks who know exactly what you mean when you say your research is held up by ethical approval! (My mum thinks I'm an evil genius with unethical research schemes)
-The crumping of fresh snow under my boots and the peace and stillness of a late night walk home from a good meditation session.

Today:
- The KonMarie concept. Although I don't follow it exactly, I've just rearranged my clothes, bedding and towels, so that they stand on end and I can see everything I have without rummaging.
-The YS Beef joint a lady passed to me in the jostle at Tesco during prime reduction time a while back - cooked today, and with another dinner plated up ready for tomorrow - yum!
-Kicking myself up the backside to check paperwork, then write a cheque to the taxman for last year - been putting it off for ages!

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Today I am grateful for being the first to arrive at cheerleading (it made dd soo happy to have the teacher's undivided attention), for dh cooking tea, for playing keepie-uppie with dd + her balloons from the party, for The Avengers, for bumping into a friend in aldee and she gave me a lift home despite living in the opposite direction.