NST Challenge - Spring is here!

Fmess

Well done on getting below £10k Littleskintdragon

I have decided that I will through everything at the debt until I am debt free and any emergencies have to go on my credit card. As you said those items are budgetable items so it seems sensible to put the money to one side for them. I am looking forward to being debt free and setting up saving pots for birthdays etc. At the moment I just deal with them as and when they arise.

Fmess

WelshKitty85 wrote: »

I didn't get the job. I am now panicking about how I am going to pay for everything on my part time hours.

Sorry to hear that, but everything always happens for a reason so I'm sure the perfect job is out there. Don't panic, make a new plan. Are there any other suitable vacancies you can apply for at the moment?

academiablues

Wow, everyone's really starting April with a bang on here!
Sorry to hear about the job Welshkitty85, hope something else suitable comes up for you soon.

So, this is my plan for April:

Set ALL your budgets at the beginning of the month
BUDGET:
Food: £160 (for me and OH) – me and OH put £20 a week into joint account and go shopping with that money on a Sunday. Then I usually make all the meals for the week on Sunday afternoon, and freeze them.
Petrol: £120 – might be under but I work a fair way from home, and started a new job recently, so am being realistic with myself.
OH’s birthday: £5 (getting him some things from Amazon which I’m hoping to pay for with a SB voucher I have pending, so just going to get a card and a bottle of beer from the local supermarket.
Social: £70 – I have a conference in London on the 16th and we’re down in the Big Smoke AGAIN on the 18th for a theatre trip (OH is paying as he wants to go!) – train tickets already paid for but food/drink will be costly if I’m not careful. I’ve also got a very belated Christmas party at the end of April for work (!!!)
Holiday already budgeted for – we’re going to Berlin from the 9th-13th April, but it’s already been paid for and we’ve got the spending money. Not taking a card with me so if we run out, tough!
Hen do: £50 – I have a hen do in September that is going to cost me a FORTUNE(!) and I have to go, so I’m saving for it now so that it doesn’t hurt as much later.
Broken things: £100 – our shower is broken, and I don’t know if it’s going to be a simple fix or a “you need a new shower!” issue, so I’m erring on the side of caution with my budget. OH has PROMISED to call someone when he’s off work (teacher, so gets Easter break to do all the house jobs, haha!) so we’ll have to wait and see.

Pay towards your debt first.
No debt, but £500 already put into savings from paycheck this month. Here's hoping it stays there!

£5 donation to a charity or food bank of your choice
This will be Wakefield Hospice

Look after yourself

1) Cancel gym membership – I never use it and it just makes me feel guilty, so instead of complaining about it I’m going to cancel it and find other ways to stay active!
2) Start taking yoga seriously – I’ve always wanted to do this, but never seem to find the time. I’m happy to lie in bed for an hour when I wake up though, not really doing anything but being lazy, so I’m going to try to get up at least twice a week to do this.
3) Finish the book that I’ve been reading for the last month!

Today is a NSD on account of being sent home from work with a stinking cold. Got volunteering tonight and don't want to go, so rather than moping around at home I've had a bath so that I feel more like leaving the house again!
Hope everyone's first day of April has gone well so far

liltdiddylilt

Oh WelshKitty I am so sorry to hear that. As Fmess says, everything happens for a reason, which sounds very trite but it is true. Something better is coming. In the meantime, you know that you have managed thus far and you are doing well so just keep going as you are and keep looking.

And get that expenses claim in!!!!!

academiablues we always start the month as we mean to go on, and tail off a bit towards the end hope you feel much better soon!! xx

The_Only_Girl

Hello fellow DFW welcome to April!

So here's my goals for this Spring NST journey:

1. Budget

Groceries and Household - £620
Fuel - £350
Allowances - £120
Clothes and shoes - £50
Hairdressing - £50
Holidays - £150
Contingency - £150
Dining out - £50
Car maintenance (big servicing coming up for both mine and DH's cars) - £1000
Garden project - £300


2. Debt repayment - £500

3. 12 Spend Free Days (SFDs) –

4. £50 donation to our church fund raising campaign to buy a new piano

5. Lunch to Work - 15 LTW's this month

6. Keep all spending to a minimum – avoid coffee shops, canteens, vending machines etc.

7. Spring clean home and garden - do more Flycleaning and decluttering.

8. Personal goals

a. Finish reading a book this month.
b. Eat more vegetables and fruits and stick to diet to lose 7lbs this month.
c. Include exercise in daily/weekly routine.
d. Holiday with kids on Easter break.

TiptoesDB

Hello!

Please sign me up - saving hard begins now!

will post goals etc when I have a moment later and will have a read of everyone else's.

The_Only_Girl

Hi stewby, I was going to pull the same stunt for April Fools but you beat me to it. And I nearly believed you too. Whatever happened to thinkers are doers, eh? What am I like?

Sorry to hear about your mum, traveller. I hope your mum will take it easy and recover soon. I also hope your siblings will take more responsibilities.

Welshkitty sorry to hear about the job. You will find something soon.

TiptoesDB

good challenge Fmess - thanks.

sorry to hear welshkitty about the job - fingers crossed for you that something turns up...

sorry to hear about your mum traveller and your sibling woes - I know what it feels like to do the most and yet never be the 'golden child'! it hurts sometimes..

So, the challenge... we aim to save as much as humanly possible this month as next month is a write off with holidays so spending money and cattery fees. We have seen an amazing eco housing development and are going to visit it on Friday to have a look, but it has really spurred our desire to get a deposit behind us for our own place. so much so we have even cancelled our DF celebration meal this Saturday in order to pocket the money instead! We'll just have some cheap fizz at home and a home cooked meal.


Achieve 15 Spend Free Days (SFDs) –wow – it’s been a while since I counted these. I hope it means I do it naturally now, but this will be a good test!



£5 donation to a charity or food bank of your choice – will do.



Take your lunch to work every day –always, and again a good reminder



Keep all spending to a minimum –a timely reminder! avoid tuck box at work when stressed. 65p a day adds up quickly....



Spring clean your home –long over-due! We must steam clean the carpets too – my mum’s steamer that we borrowed is still in the car boot from last month! Will do it this bank hol



Look after yourself – I will do some exercise every day. I will stop eating cr4p! – no chocolate when I feel stressed at work… I will make sure my posture is right at my desk! Extra one – I will start some mindfulness or mediation this month

ok, think that's it. And so inspired I am going to go and do a 30 day shred right now before dinner!

WelshKitty85

Thanks everyone. I'm absolutely gutted and keep crying. I've scoured the net and found 6 jobs I can apply for so will make a start on them tonight. DH is trying to talk me into applying for a masters degree, but I have no idea how I would fund it.

I have sent and email asking for feedback and asking about my expenses so will wait and see.

First shop of the month done. Was around £45 using ald! vouchers from last weeks paper but that included pressies to put away for DS. Used up some very brown bananas to make some cake.

Off to feel sorry for myself again...

Dizzy_Imp

Well I fell for the pregnancy joke - I stopped reading and went "Oh, how lovely"....

Sorry to hear several of you are feeling down today - hoping things get better for you soon x

Still working out my budgets but have already failed on SFD count. Found myself buying lunch for DS1 and SS1 after a Fire Station fun day, so as I'd already blown it, I picked up hair dye and a birthday present for DS1's friend.

Had a viewing on our house today which seemed to go well, but you never know do you? I think I've probably done all the spring cleaning for the April challenge for areas on show in preparation for that, so now it's into the closed cupboards and drawers...:eek: