NST; January Challenge- The Money Saving Game

Debtdrowninglondongirl

Hi everyone,

So sorry to hear everyone's news. thriftylass hope your friend is ok and I totally agree. Doctors and nurses are never given enough recognition. They do such an amazing job.

cupcake_queenwhich charity are you baking for? Such an amazing idea. Would love to get involved as well.

Sadly yesterday wasn't a NSD which I was hoping for. My housemate mentioned a take away and usually I would have said no but as we have been having a stressed week and been taking it out on each other I thought for the sake of her not thinking I was being difficult I said yes. It was £7.50 and I am still within budget but I have 5 days left and not much longer of this month to hit my NSD target.

I need to do a food shop tomorrow and then try and hit 5 days next week.

Need to step up on the exercise as well.

Still only spent less than £130 this month so far which I am thrilled about - am going to continue this for the rest of the year!!

My positives are:
1) had a really good job interview today for my dream job so fingers crossed I get it.
2) had a lovely chat with my bestie this evening and feel we have gotten closer the past few months which I have missed (I've known her for thirty years she is like my sister). Looking forward to working hard to keeping our friendship strong.
3) I am just grateful for what I have got in life. I struggled with a lot of depression last year and this year as I take more control of my finances and paying off debt I am becoming so much stronger and feel I can manage my depressive moments so much better.

Good luck to the rest of you guys! Happy 'almost' Friday!!

sazzlebgood

some more shopping done. More toffee and fudge made for DD1 best friends birthday party on saturday. DD2 enjiyed making a snow fort when she got home from school.
great news about your friend thrifty fingers crossed things continue to improve.
1)Schools back open today
2)Yak tracks stopped me falling over in the snow.
3)spending time with DD1 making sweets and listening to the ed shreen concert.

WelshKitty85

Evening everyone!

Well, today has been a better day for me. Managed half a bowl of porridge for breakfast. However, DS saw it and decided he wanted some so that's where the other half went! Homemade pea and ham soup for lunch and our 'home made takeaway' this evening of pizza, popcorn chicken, chips and cheesey tortillas.

Spend day today. I also got 2 copies of the paper just for the vouchers. Have planned tomorrow's shop using my supermarket. It should be just over £40, which will allow me to use the voucher. Should leave me enough to stay JUST within my shopping budget this month.

Today I am grateful for:
The amazing progress DD has made in martial arts
New furniture for DD that has been donated by family
A roof over my head and food in my belly

LoveaDove

Goooooood Evening, Turtles!

It's Fri-YAY again! :j

I submitted my uni application yesterday morning and received an email to say that a document was missing from my application. This is the academic reference, however I am unable to obtain one as I graduated 8 years ago and I have not studied for 6 years. In their guidance notes they state that one professional and one academic reference are preferable. When looking at the guidance sections for the application- if an academic one is unobtainable then a reference from an employer who could comment on my skills and suitability for the course would be required. My references are from two qualified professionals in the field that I am applying for, so I hope these are suitable. I am a little worried in-case they still feel that my gap in education is too big, which is frustrating as I have so many years of work experience...can only wait to see what the administrative staff recommend. The closing date for applications is mid-February so I have a few weeks to hopefully have a complete application which can then be assessed by the admissions team. *fingers crossed*

Debtdrowninglondongirl - Thank you for your good luck wishes! Fingers crossed on your job hunt and interviews- glad today's one went well!

cupcake-queen- Sorry to hear about all of the stresses with OH. I can completely empathise after going through similar experiences with my OH who (until last week as he lost his job) was earning nearly 10k more than me.

blubella - You sound like you are really thinking about your purchases, it really is ultimately changing shopping habits and it absolutely does get easier- you are doing great! :T Happiness jars are such a lovely idea!!

Samiszel- It sounds like you have a really fair set up with your OH, financially.

thrifty- Sending love and positivity to you, your friend and family x

Bobarella- Great savings with your insurance purchase!! :T

mothernerd- I promise I will go straight to bed after this post!

Positives for Thursday:

* Going into work late (claiming back hours worked yesterday as I am on salaried pay)
* Spending quality time this evening with my house mates (we are like ships in the night with our various hours of work)
* Sunshine

Challenge to follow Friday eve :j

N'night! Keep Saving! :money:

speakingofart

loveadove - I know it's hard but try not to worry! I'm sure professional references will be acceptable instead; I know someone who went back to medical school 10 years after undergrad, and they took a reference from his current employer, who was an accountant! Best of luck with the application

SFD yesterday, hopefully today as well although... I am graduating today! So lunch out may involve spending some money, but will be well worth it

Groceries 15th Jan - 15th Feb £32.82/100
Fuel 15th January - 15th February £0/£50
Spending money - 6.38/11.37
Lunch to work: 14/19
Lunchtime walks at work 16/20
Food bank 0/£3
SFDs: 9/18

thriftylass

Hello and Happy Friday,

been naughty. Not only could I not be bothered to go for a swim, I also got chips from the canteen (well and a salad ). Feel really bad for having spend that money when I had lunch sitting there, but I couldn't face celeriac soup the fourth day in a row. Left OH the beef olive, mash and cream sauce leftover as he is off today. Should have taken that. Gosh I feel bad about spending 3.67 on lunch once in a blue moon whereas he probably spend 30 in the pub last night. He said he's going grocery shopping today, dread to think what extras he comes home with :eek:

Anyway, eb@y finishing today but don't think I'll be making much especially since eb@y now started taking 20% (well depending on the price/postage ratio) since the new selling fee on postage. Plus whatever paypal takes. But every penny counts. Would just gone in the bin otherwise.

Probably won't check in now over the weekend as usual so have a nice one

traveller

Hi everyone Happy Friday!

Lilt - I hope your feeling more calm now

Loveadove-I'm sure common sense will prevail regarding the reference

Thrifty don't be so hard on yourself-I hope you enjoyed your lunch!

Well fun and games last night, my faithful old indesit oven, my first oven I bought when my eldest who is 21 was 6 months old, switched off mid roast and the door fell off :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:you have to laugh, or you would if you saw it on a comedy! But, it means I have to spend hundreds on a new one Added to this, the last time I was going to replace it, apparently my kitchen does not meet the new regulations-as there are tiles on the wall. Makes no sense as I have up to date gas saftey certificates! This was a few years ago mind. I'm not sure whether to go for electricity instead, as I have the huge plug thing that says cooker on it, but during power cuts, I'd have no food :eek: What to do? What does everyone else have? I've only ever had free standing gas cookers.

thriftylass

traveller wrote: »

apparently my kitchen does not meet the new regulations-as there are tiles on the wall. Makes no sense as I have up to date gas saftey certificates! This was a few years ago mind. I'm not sure whether to go for electricity instead, as I have the huge plug thing that says cooker on it, but during power cuts, I'd have no food :eek: What to do? What does everyone else have? I've only ever had free standing gas cookers.

Sorry had to laugh. Anyway. I'd go gas. Do you often have power cuts? Where are the tiles, behind it or just above. Our house had a new gas hob fitted not that long ago with a tiled back wall. Could you not take the tiles off if the oven has to be without tiles behind it?

BTW we got a gas hob (love it, had electric from the age of 20-33 and hated it) but a electric oven, which is fine (34 years old!!!).



P.S. I will have to rejig my grocery budget to a more realistic number. I just can't do 3 breakfasts, two lunches and 4 dinners a day on £6-7 a day (which is my current budgeting estimate). That's why I feel like a failure every month because I run over and then have to borrow from other accounts. We don't waste food, we don't eat extravagant stuff, all home cooked and mostly bought in Aldee and LIDLdiddle, but we go through a lot of fresh fruit and veg and are carnivores. So I think I'll try 270 from next month. If we stay under-great. I have a few things were I can reduce the cost. Like breakfast I might switch to porridge oats with frozen fruit rather than muesli. And hubby loved the semi veggie (lentil) chilli so that's a keeper.It should also get better in 2 months time once DD is off formula (about £32 a month) and on normal milk.

Calling14

Mothernerd Belated Birthday wishes - hope you had a cake.

Thrifty chips and salad sounds good to me.

Traveller - I have a gas cooker must be the only one, I work for a housebuilders as well, we just put electric ovens in all the time. They all thought I was nuts costs bit more but I read and can confirm that cakes are more moist with gas cooker. I like the fact it warms my kitchen up as haven't got a radiator in there.
Think they last longer, had so many problems with electric glass doors smashing and elements going after about 3 yrs in new houses we have built.

Sorry been awol, super busy in work, tablet useless at home plus went to Manchester to see Queen in concert one day and yes let myself and the turtle team down went to Primark and spent on clothes. Got some great bargains new woolley hat #1.00, vest tops #1.00 when I got to the till, few cardys and skirt for work. Too much excitement when country bumpkin sees shops to resist.

Will lie on the naughty step for the rest of month as failed on food challenge and my petrol went over by 3p,

On the Plus side paid off over 123.00 on my credit cards. Up to 15sfd.


Grateful for
1. Health.
2. Its nearly the weekend not that I am doing anything
3. Cuddles with my grandson he's so cute.

traveller

thriftylass wrote: »

Sorry had to laugh. Anyway. I'd go gas. Do you often have power cuts? Where are the tiles, behind it or just above. Our house had a new gas hob fitted not that long ago with a tiled back wall. Could you not take the tiles off if the oven has to be without tiles behind it?

BTW we got a gas hob (love it, had electric from the age of 20-33 and hated it) but a electric oven, which is fine (34 years old!!!).

LOL He also complained the wall was papered and had electrical outlets! I've looked at these regulations, as it's to do with the measurementsas opposed to having them and we are fine. I think i'll excell myself and take a picture and my measurements of said issues to john lewis and see what they say. It was an online company that said this, so not sure if they were just playing it safe.I'm really blessed the oven lasted so long, so can't be too upset just don't think i'll be debt free by May, but i'll still have a go,lol.