Nst; fearless february

apple_muncher

Just had my tea alongside dd, and realised that I have had 12 veggies today! Go me!!

[Deleted User]

Hi team turtles! It is so lovely to be back and I have held you in my heads as went about my day, avoiding all cafes etc! Had a NSD yesterday and almost, almost another today...just discovered no toothpaste am going to go and search through my cupboards but I think I will have to pop out for one and break the NSD...this am we used a tiny one I got on an airline and last night I cut open the tube to get the last out! Have sneaky feeling that there might be another individual airline tube down behind my airing cupboard! Mission extraction on now! Tomorrow is a spend day with haircut for DD so I'd much rather buy it then!
My fix it: er, there are so many. I fixed my workstation at work today (been bugging me, forever) but that doesnt really count! I think this week I will try really hard to finish a photo frame that has been half done for about 2 years! collage type one!

DD not feeling 100% so no sports club tonight (saving me £2!) Instead will be curling up making the most of last few weeks of amazon prime movies!

Thanks for the hellos Magic Cat! Its great to have you back too - another southwester! I am glad your building is done (almost), good luck with chasing up. So griefy that you had to do that!

Debtdrowninglondongirl

Thank you mothernerd excited for the new month!!

Aim for 15 SFD (Spend Free day or No Spend day) - I am going to try for 18 again this month.

Food budget is £60 (same as last month).

You will NOT use any of the following; takeaways, restaurants, cafes, work canteens, vending machines, Starbucks, Costa, Nero or any other chain cafe! - Ekk! I still have socialising in my budget so whilst I won't buy for the sake of it I may still meet a friend for a drink in the pub (just no massive Friday benders like I used to do).

Lunch to work everyday and plan for appointments and days out. - will do!

Travel budget – £40 but could go up if I get a new job in which I will need to buy a travel card.

Healthy eating – up your fruit and veg. I have started a massive food overhaul where I am not eating any processed food, having green smoothies and cooking a meal every evening with set meal plans. I am trying to eat healthily but on a budget.

Make a food bank donation (choose your own amount) - £10

Exercise 5 times a week, newbies and poorlies start with 10 minutes a day, get outdoors wherever possible. Will do!

Very excited to get started!!

Good luck everyone xx

Debtdrowninglondongirl

Oh also have done my food shop today £34 but got so much food I am struggling to close the cupboards! Have meal plans at the ready and spent £15 seeing a friend yesterday but that is my only outing for the week so making in count.

My 15 mins yesterday was yoga... I am trying to do it every morning and today was interview prep.

I am finally at the final stage for one job tomorrow so wish me luck. Hopefully I will be back in work soon. I am pretty bored of being at home everyday selling stuff on eBay. I may start on surveys if I don't start something soon.

Oh and the fix it for me was finally (after 3 months) washing all my jumpers!! Sounds crazy but I ran out of wool wash and have been thinking of a way of 'fixing' my jumpers on the cheap.....it's also really hard to find wool wash. So finally washed them yesterday! I have loads of scarfs and jumpers I haven't worn in ages!! It's the little things sometimes

shyspender

Just done my fix it! Had worn a hole in my only pair of jeans, that fit, and unfortunately it was right in the crotch.

I went to a charity shop on saturday and brought a similar colour pair of jeans and have just sewn in the patch. It's not really visible but could have been considered a little risque! The patch will last for a good while and if not, I have loads more material for more patches.

Bobarella

MagicCat wrote: »

Thanks mothernerd

Bobarella - it's lovely to hear from someone who's had the same sort of challenges and got through it! I can't even imagine what a nightmare it must have been while you were pregnant though - awful. Re: floor - if its any help we are no DIY experts but successfully laid a laminate floor in our dining room. I was given advice that if you go for better quality laminate it's easier to lay - we got a good deal buying a well reviewed brand online, and it wasn't bad.

Everyone on here is always so welcoming and supportive, it's lovely to be back, really feel I can do it this time!:money:

You are very welcome. I'm sure if we had a 'did your budget go to pot on a doer upper' thread we'd be in the majority. When you think about it you take a huge risk owning property. A survey only ever reveals so much. On my flat (which I still own and let out) we only discovered it was underpinned AFTER we bought it, moved in & the neighbour told us. We've been stuck paying for non standard buildings insurance ever since as no other insurer will touch you. We had the best survey you can do with a flat done then too. Your debt will come down now you are done with it all (pretty much)
Thanks for the encouragement re floor too. I also posted on the Housing section and have had some excellent advice there if you are ever in need again.

stewby

Evening... Sorry for the delay in writing on this thread.


We have been accepted for the account we wanted so that is starting on the 1st March. Really pleased as this means we are paying for everything equally.


Karma for buying a holiday is that our boiler broke yesterday. A complete failure and unfixable (until Thursday) so we are currently using a greenhouse heater (from the bongo) and a halogen heater (from my parents).


Paid OH the £130 I owed for the holiday (£100 due to the holiday pot and £30 extra). Have put £30 each into the Xmas pot so both pots are sorted for the month.
:j

Anyways... focussing on the challenge:

* 15 spend-free days (a bit tricky as I messed up my maths somewhere last month and found a tenner in the food budget purse so spent yesterday but didn't touch the Feb budgets).


* Food budget is £120.

* Definitely have one outing this month, possibly two. (my dad's birthday meal on Wednesday and mine later on).

* Travel budget = £40... although might be less as I have 10p off every litre from tescimos (my parents bought a heap of alcohol for the party but used my clubcard. Hooray!!!!)


* I will attempt healthy eating but doubt it will be successful in terms of fruit and veg stuff as I never normally eat them.
:eek:

* Food bank will be my standard £5 donation. However, my dad has taken a liking to this new tradition so he has started to donate as well.
:T

* Exercise. I will do my best with this as I really need to lose weight and become healthier.

The only one that may be an issue is the 15 minutes for myself thing as work is quite stressful and I am finding that any time I try to relax, I tend to start thinking about work and worrying.
I am trying hard to "fix it" but don't know how successful I will be. Apparently it is a learned trait... thanks dad.


Great to see some old faces back and, of course, welcome to our newbies.
Here's to another great debt-busting month.
Hugs.

thriftylass

Just a quick one tonight. Was off today. SFD and got loads of cleaning done will fix the holes in two of DS' jeans tonight. Saw this great ideas of making them into monster faces. Off tomorrow too and will declutter and get stuff for more eBay sorted.
Bye for now

CEW

Budgets all sorted. February is going to be a cheap month...I hope.

We still have lots of food in the fridge, freezer and cupboards and are determined to use this up before restocking. Just hope we haven't been too hard on ourselves.

Groceries - £12.85/£100

Pets - ££6.85/£50

Birthdays/Social- £0/£80

SFD - 1/15

I have a pair of black trousers that the hem has come down on so that will be my 'fix-it' for tomorrow. I will also check all my other clothes to see if anything else needs attention.

My 15 minutes me time today will be a nice warm bath with essential oils and a cup of herbal tea. This always allows me to relax and let my mind wonder.

Chez x

Dizzy_Imp

OK - have finally worked it all out

*DFD - would love to say by the end of the year, but realistically, July 2016
*Debt first and live on what’s left - OK but a little unsure about the actual budget at the moment - I need to have a look at all the bits and bobs.
*Set all budgets before the start of the month - again, I need to learn how this works this month and will hopefully be more accurate in March.
*15 minutes a day - this will be spent in the garden...green fingered I am not.
*15 SFD - I'll try but already had an epic fail as have been shopping both days already this month.
*Food budget - this stands at £350 - I'm feeding 4 children and 2 adults, PLUS a huge dog. However, the teenage stepson eats the most!
*No takeaways etc...agreed
*Lunch to work - I'm but do all kids and OHs lunch boxes
*Travel budget - £120 for the month
*Children's activities shouldn't be more than £15 this month
*Healthy eating – up for doing more of this!
*Make a food bank donation - one tin/packet etc. per week
*Exercise? Erm...Can I pass on this? Pleeeease?