Nst; fearless february

LoveaDove

Good evening, Turtles!

A late check-in as usual from me

Thank you for setting up the new challenge mothernerd!

Welcome back to crazy_lady and abundant! :j

I have just been registering my free Tastecard- (2 month free trial)- Thank you MSE email- :money: and have also downloaded the YNAB free trial via Steam- love it already! However, can anyone who has trialled the software then bought it tell me whether there are any more features with the purchased version? I have also downloaded it to my mobile as well :T

No exercise for me today as out of nowhere, whilst chatting to OH's Mum, I fainted. Not really sure what that was all about- may be the last month has caught up with me, so I have taken it very easy today!

Best lay out the budgets and targets for the month:

1/15 SFD's - Acquired a SFD after staying in after my little episode.
£125 Grocery Budget
£25 Birthdays
£20 Social
£80 Fuel
£3 Foodbank
LTW every work day
5 pieces of fruits and veg a day- Really need to be more conscious of how much of the good stuff I am eating each day.
Exercise - I have a very active job, so I am on the go all day 5 days a week. Will try and reduce some of my shorter car journeys with walks this month.
15 minutes a day- Thinking about and planning for my next move. (eek)

Off to bed with a book now (wooooo nearly an hour before midnight- progress for me!) :T

Night night x

mothernerd

Week One Mini Challenge

FIX IT

Remember on one of Kat's challenges the random rule for the month was to fix something that was broken, preferably using things we already had. Well this is a bit like that, but much simpler.

A wise person on another thread said she devoted one month a year to fixing things that never got done - could be a simple as sewing a button back on a favourite piece of clothing or dealing with an everyday snag - a drawer that sticks, a door handle with a loose screw. Just fix it - return the piece of clothing to your wardrobe instead of the floordrobe or mending pile, fix the drawer before you have to pull so hard that it falls on the floor or the screw rips your nail off. If you are not good at practical things, have a go or perhaps find something to tidy - the place (every house has one) where all the odd buttons and hair clips gather.

Here's one we could all fix. A genuine example from another thread. One contributor was astounded by her friend who was bewailing the fact that her 6 year old needed new trainers despite having had a new pair for Christmas. Why? One of the laces had snapped:eek:/:rotfl:

Dizzy_Imp

Can I join please? I'm not entirely sure I understand all the rules, but I'll follow everyone's lead until it clicks!

Catlin

mothernerd - you can check your Nectar points online at nectar.com

mothernerd

Welcome Dizzy Imp.

speakingofart

Morning everyone. Hope Feb got off to a good start yesterday... didn't quite manage a SFD but am hoping for today to be my first. Stocked up freezer and did some batch cooking over the weekend, so that's now sorted for the next few weeks - need to clean my flat this weekend but a whole week to get through first with lots of studying!

Groceries to 15th Feb: 6.14/ £20
Groceries 15th Feb - 15th March £0/£100
Fuel 15th feb - 15th March £0/£60
Spending money for whole month £0/£30
Lunch to work 0/20
Lunchtime exercise 0/20
SFDs 0/15

blubella

Oooops...just realised I posted in the January thread...so here goes again!!

Good Morning Turtles, a warm welcome back to Turtles returning and newbies, it is great to have you join us on the Feb challenge.

I have set my targets for the month of Feb.

DFD is so far in the distance that I am breaking down my debt into chunks so that I don’t get too disheartened. My goal for 2015 is to pay off £2000 (hopefully more). £452/2000 so far this year

£120 Grocery Budget. To included all dog food, toiletries, toilet roll etc.
£45 Social/Yoga classes
£50 Fuel
Always make my own lunch
7 pieces of fruit/veg a day- Will try my hardest to eat more fruit, i’m sure I reach my veg targets.
Exercise – Booked in for yoga for the week so should reach target, other than that dog gets a walk.
15 minutes a day- Mindfulness. Clutter busting. Creativity.

1/15 SFD to log, I think today will be a spendy one though. \just completed 20 min walk.

I had a great day yesterday, went through a cupboard full of clothes I don't wear and was really brutal. Ironed and photographed items and managed to list 25 items on Eb@y!! I already have a bid of £20. Thriftylass I think by the end of the month there will be something to add to my £400 pot!! (Although likely it will go immediately to debt and not in a pot or I would be tempted!).

I already have a Fix it item!! Came across a vintage T-shirt with a hole in seam so I will mend that today!

I created a meal/excercise plan for week which I found less daunting than a months worth of meals, hopefully will cut down on sm spends. I spent Saturday morning cooking food for the week, so don't need much from the sm..so will put it to the test!

Feeling +ve and motivated after a down few days. Going to post more items on Eb@y today as I have 75 free listings to use up!!

cupcake-queen

Good morning!


I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend, I put mine to good use with a mixture of planning for the month and doing nothing. I still have another 5 days off work 2 of which are child free so I have plenty of time this week.


Set your DFD (Debt Free Day)
31st December 2015




Set all budgets before the start of the month, think ahead for any birthdays, outings etc.


It's half term this month so I am setting aside £50. I plan to look out for free activities, maybe a trip to the library. Last October half term a shopping centre held a short craft activity free so going to keep an eye out but I am going to treat my boys to a lunch out.


Mum's birthday, my gift will be the cake. I still have a stack of Malteasers left over from Christmas and they are her favourite so I can set her cake at a low budget of £6. Valentines Day, I don't usually go overboard (leave that to him!) so going to set it at £15 to allow for any extra nice food.






Random Rule for February 15 minutes a day

During January I attacked the clutter at full force and made over £100 on eBay, Gumtree, FB. Housework and decluttering at least 15 minutes a day.

Aim for 15 SFD (Spend Free day or No Spend day)


Food budget should be set realistically (ideally at same level as last month or lower unless you have extra mouths to feed).


January's was £100 but I over spent to £130 as this was my first month I'm now setting it at £130


You will NOT use any of the following; takeaways, restaurants, cafes, work canteens, vending machines, Starbucks, Costa, Nero or any other chain cafe!


Not a problem but I am allowing myself one lunch out over half-term with my 2 boys. We also plan to go out for a Chinese this week but I won a voucher so we will only need to pay for the 2 boys (DH can do that as it's his payday!)


Lunch to work everyday and plan for appointments and days out.


have been making far too many excuses on this one and I'm actually only at work 4 and a half days this month so I have no excuse. Shop was done yesterday so added a few things that can sit in my locker which I will take into work when I return on Saturday. Tea is my biggest weakness. a cuppa is 29p or 5p (to cover milk and sugar) if you bring your own teabag so I'm going to raid the house and stash my locker with 5ps so hopefully I can rack up some SFDs easier this month.


Travel budget – petrol or public transport for work, leisure, hospital appointments. Can you walk/cycle? Can you combine journeys – shopping/ work/ gym?


I don't drive and just get the bus to work and it's too cold to stray too far


Any other regular budgets – children's activities etc.


DS1 street dance paid for already just afterschool childcare of £14 to worry about.


Healthy eating – up your fruit and veg. If you are already getting your 5 a day (if not why not?) go for 7.


The house is always full of fruit for the boys as they love it, I have no excuse really. Bringing lunch to work will help me eat better


Make a food bank donation (choose your own amount)


Our convenience store has a collection point. I'll drop something in


Exercise 5 times a week


I walk the school run at least 3 times a week if not more. It's about a mile each run.


In summary


Groceries: £73/£130
SFD: 1/15
Travel: £0/£33.60
Childcare: £0/£14
Half Term: £0/£50

Calling14

Welcome back crazylady and abundant. Hiya to all the newbies glad your all onboard.:j

Sorry Mothernerd, didn't post yesterday. Just easier in work as tablet is useless.

My Budgets
Food 56/120.00 Will food donation bank out of this.includes critter food.
Petrol 0/35.00
Social 0/30.00
Shaming myself by posting Weight 12st 10lbs - aim for 7lbs off by 1.03.15:eek: Healthy eating will commence.

Exercise - dreadful at moment, hate the cold, just run out with the dog and home in about 20mins - must increase.

Mothernerd try Aveeno cream it is brilliant and get the oil to wash in as well. Pinched by grandsons prescription so good. Expensive to buy.

15 minute a day - pamper me session - yesterday pedicure for my tootsies needed it badly.

Need to get organised better just shown up for cervical smear test a day earlier - groan Muppet alert!:o

Fix it challenge done - sewn my buttons on my navy coat and de fluffed it over the weekend. Smug face.:p

SFD today 1/15, yesterday lost to sainsbobs monthly delivery.
Hopefully don't need to spend in Dentist this afternoon.

I see from Facebook Kat left Cambodia, need to get my debts paid off before her return.

Have a wicked Monday folks catch up all your posts later, thread has moved so fast,

luckystarr

Morning all

Hope you are all well.
Thank you for a great thread Mothernerd :T:T

I am officially back on the wagon... my wayward spending days have not helped and now is the time to give myself a kick up the bum.

This year is going to be an exciting but stressful one as my OH is in the process of applying to move to another police force, If successful could result in a quick move so need to save as much as we can !!!. I am keeping everything crossed as we have been waiting for this for over 3 years. I am so nervous !!! :eek::eek:

Anyway enough rambling on !!
I managed a SFD yesterday and got up to go to a circuits class at 06:45 !!! i must be mad. :eek:

I am off today so going to spend my 15 minutes sorting some very old paperwork. I might even have some me time !!!

In regards to fixing things my OH has ripped the side of his hoodie .. I can't sew never been taught ,:o are Youtube the best place for tutorials ??

Have an awesome day everyone !!!!

Will check in later xx