Nst; fearless february

Bobarella

thriftylass wrote: »

bobarella how did you manage to spend £30 to fix a bike puncture?

I know right! The bike only cost £75 itself. This is fast becoming an obvious case of false economy however. Long story short. We bought the bike at Xmas. Son's first bike. Thinking he'd take it to the park occasionally. But he was like a bike addict from day 1 demanding to be taken out on it every day. In short he loves it.
We have a long journey to school and as we are now car free have been doing a blend of walking and bus since last August. At Xmas my husbands parents brought up his old bike too. Poor parents they probably have a house full still of their 3 kids old junk and my husband is 44!
It quickly became apparent that as we now had 2 bikes cycling to school was an option. Husband cycles him there. Leaves bike locked in bike park. I then cycle us home. This is where the decision to buy a toys r us bike for what is almost 8 miles of cycling per day makes no sense. In less than 2 months the rear tyre had completely lost its tread. Then it got a puncture. So the tyre had to be replaced at £14.99 in halfords. Plus a new inner tube purchased. A couple more quid. As the bike was at school we had the choice of me dragging both bikes the 4 miles home. Or paying for the lovely independent bike shop nearby to do the fix. Adding another £7. Whilst in there I saw an awesome bell that looked like Skeletor, which we have christened Bellator. So that's how you spend £30 on a puncture
The sort of bike we've been recommended he gets is called a Frog bike. Lightweight with gears and a 2 year parts warrantee but they start at £250!!! Bites nails. But if you look at the fact we are saving £40 a month on travel....

cupcake-queen

Feeling a bit sad as I've just filled in the forms to have my dog rehomed. It's for the best but I feel like a complete failure, everyone told me I was wrong and it turns out they were right. I just can't cope with him and the household will be happier once he's gone and maybe my boys can have a small pet that they can enjoy instead of a giant one that they are scared of.


The estate agent has phoned and can't make the viewing so asked if I could do it. I begrudgingly said yes as it's an investment buyer looking for a property with a tenant and to be honest I'm desperate to be rid of this landlord. Just feel annoyed that I'm having to sell his house for him whilst they sit on their big fat behinds using my money to pay their mortgage. They want their cake and eat it and I want rid of them so I can live my life freely again.


Going to spend today, I want to get DS2 the new dinosaur partworks that has just come out - he deserves it. He's so so good, I don't know what I've done to deserve such a little angel but he's a pleasure to be around and I'm going to miss him when he starts school. I shall probably cry for weeks if not months.


Going to meal plan for the rest of the month with the intention to do another shop at the weekend to last us until the end. Some of the grocery budget may have to come from the half term as I'll have DS1 at home who gets fed for free at school so it's bound to make impact. My business account is now up and running so this should really help me keep a better eye on my budgets and hopefully I can start taking a wage in a few months.


groceries: £84/£130
SFD: 5/15
Travel: £5.60/£33.60
childcare: £14/£14
half-term: £0/£50
LTW: 1.5/5

MagicCat

Hello everyone,

Sorry for lack of checkins - still feeling unwell and sorry for myself, and finding it hard to get anything done! Hugs to everyone else who is not feeling so well, there seems to be a lot going round.

I have spent on some groceries, which I need to update when I find the receipt (really not on top of things at the moment!), otherwise nothing to report - had to cancel dentist as feeling really ill and didn't want to give the poor man my virus, so will save that budget until next month.

Lilt - sorry to hear holiday plans won't work out, it sounds like it's for the best moneywise though. Hope your mum is doing OK.

Shyspender - love the soup spreadsheet - such a nice way of looking at it! People's appreciation of spreadsheats and saving and sometimes both together is one of the many reasons I love this thread!:A

Fmess - you are not the only one with the fruit and veg not going so well. Today I ate a banana, and realise the last piece of fruit I'd had was last week, when i had a pear. Clearly it is a real event when i have fruit and it sticks in my mind - if you ask me the last time I had a biscuit, I would have no idea...maybe I can see why i can't shake off this cold.:o

Bobarella - bike does sound expensive, but when you think of the cost of travel and the miles he will be cycling, it's not bad per mile - it's having to pay for it up front that's difficult. It's great that your DS is so enjoying cycling though, that's something that will be useful to him forever - my OH cycles to his current job (new job will be too far), he's always trying to get my to cycle at weekends but I'm embarrassed to say I've never learned to ride a bike, so can't.:(


Cupcakequeen - sorry to hear you're feeling down, it must be a really hard decision to make about the dog, but as you say it's the best thing for you, your family and the dog if things aren't working out. Don't ever feel a failure for trying something and and deciding to do things differently if it doesn't work out.

Stewby - any news on your boiler? Hope it's all OK.


Have a good Thursday all - personally, I am counting the minutes to the weekend when I can go back to bed...

SFD: 7/15
Groceries: £140.39/£200
Dentist/optician £5/£20
Petrol and travel: £41.04/£110
Birthdays: £25.76/£30
Social: 0/£40
Food bank donation - done
15 mins/day - this will be decluttering or mindfulness meditation 7/28
Exercise 6/25

Calling14

Morning folks.

Thought this flu was on the way out but I still feel awful. Was nearly going to cancel my dentist tomorrow but want to get it over and done with.

Good news paid off 140.00 off my credit cards today.

Today will be a sfd, staying in warm office lunchtime.

Ffestiniog railway Mothernerd would be a different type of job, my grandson would love me forever.

Apple muncher - breakdance push ups??? Tell all feel faint at the thought of it today.

Shyspender please make a rubbish job of March Challenge as I have no idea even where to start for the April Fools one !

Today grateful for
Credit cards going down down down.
Grandson loving Frozen film, day 3 of watching it later !
Bosses out of office all morning.

thriftylass

Bobarella wrote: »

So that's how you spend £30 on a puncture

Ah, thought that there was more to it like a new tyre and tube etc.

cupcake-queen wrote: »

Feeling a bit sad as I've just filled in the forms to have my dog rehomed. It's for the best but I feel like a complete failure, everyone told me I was wrong and it turns out they were right. I just can't cope with him and the household will be happier once he's gone and maybe my boys can have a small pet that they can enjoy instead of a giant one that they are scared of.

Sorry to hear you have to let your dog go. Hopefully he'll find a nice new home. It's not your fault. Not every pet necessarily fits into the family no matter what you try to make it work.


Will be another SFD today, number 10 I think. Fitted the elbow patches on OHs jumper last night but didn't have time to crochet as it took longer than thought as it was quite fiddly.

Our home brewed beer will be ready in time for my birthday on Sat and I got a couple of bottles of bubbly in the house that were gifts. So should be a cheap celebration drinks wise :rotfl::rotfl: Not much planned though. Might take DS to see Shaun the Sheep the movie, quite looking fwd to it myself.

Till later

That's the first two things from the attic on ebay sold. Put some on as auctions and some as fixed price to see what works better.

Calling14

Sorry cupcake must have missed your post. Dogs are hard work, love my sheepdog to death but you have to do what is right for your family. I find if I am ill no one to walk it, struggle along and impossible to walk with wee grandson in tow. Luckily even though my dog has never grown up with little ones she is such a softy. Don't be hard on yourself, treat yourself.

Happy Birthday for Saturday Thrifty as won't be about much tomorrow. Have a great time.

liltdiddylilt

Hi all,

Sorry for no check-ins. Am being pursued across the forums by some kind of cyber oddity. If she appears here to join in, just a heads up I am outta here. My diary has been crashed, and shes posted on another challenge I am in this year more times than I have since Jan 1st in the space of a couple of days.

Thanks for all the support on the holiday. Nice as it would be, I did indeed splurge £1k on a laptop and just cannot do the same again a month and a half later without seriously denting the savings.. about the passports... well Jelly has never had one and I let mine expire a few years ago as I did not see a holiday in my future. Good job as I would have lost 3 years of my 10 prior to it expiring, doing nothing! With that in mind, I will just save up the money monthly for the passports alongside the holiday fund and buy them in plenty of time to go next year but not too early so that I lose out on time!

Yesterday I bought a valentines card and a pack of jelly for a 4 year old and popped them in works post to him so that he can give it to his girlfriend tomorrow hahaha! I paid with my Nectar points so no actual spend!

Added 2 more days to my SFD's so now at 7 tomorrow should be number 8 hopefully.

Hugs cupcake for the decision on your dog. I had to leave my giant doberman with my ex when I moved to a cramped flat with no outdoor space down south. Best decision for him but broke my heart. I got a kitten to fill the gap, and she was amazing til I had Jellytot. She then turned into an absolute horror, doing nasty messes all over the house, in the pram and car seat etc. So I had to rehome her too not having another pet until Jellytot requests it. And it better be a hamster...:rotfl:

Happy birthday for this weekend thrifty xx

Bobarella

Lilt -don't be chased off. Is someone being horrible to you? We can report it.

Debtdrowninglondongirl

cupcake sorry to hear about your doggie but you are doing the right thing. I had to put my dog to sleep just before Xmas and the decision was so hard but one person said to me that if you love them that much you need to do what is best for them and make them happy. It's hard but we are all here.

Sorry I have been off the radar for a bit. I have had a bit of a crazy few days as I have to wait two weeks to start my new job so am very worried about the money situation but just need to tighten my belt and it will all be ok for the end of March.

I also need to do more exercise and start clocking up more NSDs as only at 4 at the moment.

Happy Thursday everyone xx

mothernerd

Big turtle hugs for all my poor sick and struggling turtles. It's February, we are all cold and tired and fending off nasty bugs and lurgies left,right and centre as well as cyber stalkers - please stay lilt, turtle power will overcome cyber bullies. I had a weirdo on another thread a couple of weeks ago. They made a nasty anagram out of a contributor's user name and then said they must be smelly and stupid - I mean grow up.

Welsh Kitty good idea to use the college library,saving money by using their lighting and heating as well.

shyspender I think your soup spreadsheet is wonderful, but then I love a good spreadsheet.

cupcake queen such a hard decision but I am sure it is best for everyone.

Bobarella :eek: to the cost of bikes.

Now turtles shut your eyes (read what I want you to do before you shut your eyes). For the next 15 minutes (less if you are pushed for time) I want you to think forward to next year. We are all going on a turtle trip to the airport to wave off Lilt and Jellytot and lilt's parents as they set off to their holiday in the sun. We are wishing all good things for them. We imagine lilt on the beach.

We remember what that feels like. We are lying on the beach. We feel the warmth of the sun, seeping into our bones, the gritty feel of the sand under our fingertips, the sound of the sea and the birds overhead, the roughness of the beach towel. We are so relaxed, our eyelids are heavy, warmth and love surround us.

Right wake up now. We are going to carry our beach around with us till the end of the month. When we feel warm,we will imagine the sun's rays.When we see a patch of blue sky,we will imagine a whole sky of that colour. The feel of our towel as we dry ourselves will remind us of the beach. Every flower we see raising it's little head defiantly will awaken our own courage, a tiny crocus can push it's way up through the frozen ground, we will fight our way through the debt mountain. ignore the grey, focus on the colour, in nature, in people's clothing,even the signs on shops (soft focus them so that they become mere shapes and colours not triggers to spend). Spring is coming, warmth will return and we will celebrate every little bit of joy coming our way.

Any more fun for free activities turtles.

I have been for a long walk today, well only around bits of the town centre but nearly an hour and a half. I have told the library delivery service I am returning to using the library so now have three mini challenges for myself - I want to be able to take the books I have back to the library by next Thursday, I want to walk to mum's next Friday and the following week I want to walk to the hospital for my foot appointment (if I am supple enough to get my own shoes and socks on that would be a bonus). Reserve the right to use the bus coming back and no consequences if I fail,but I have those targets in mind.

Getting rid of clutter has recommenced. Ten ring binders and similar left the house (many items left in the pile, but those ten were 1/2 the bulk) this evening. The hospice shop takes small electrical items so those are packed and a load of drinking glasses and a few bits are going to mum's tomorrow (various recipients). Also used a number of ancient padded envelopes to wrap them as DS3 wants to keep the bubble wrap. Another bag will go on Saturday or next week.

I have spent money. Bought a large SM own brand diet decaff coke for me and some own brand 'nutty bars' (fake m*r*thon bars) as a treat for DS3. He did some artwork overnight and made £95 which he has paid off his student overdraft (interest free until June). I was hoping to get everything tomorrow as I have to pay bus fare but thought that would be too much so I lose a SFD (and too much to and fro'ing as I need to take the cs stuff then return to the house and load up again before going for the bus).

Today I am grateful for cs with polite staff (was going to ask in a shop last week but the staff were all busy),for SM own brands and for the library home delivery service - excellent in every way.