NST: May the odds be ever in your favour!

apple_muncher

May I please remind all of you lovely turtles that you really and truly are making a difference to your lives that your future selves will thank you for.

Every extra penny you pay off means less interest to the nasty banks.

Every time you buy flowers for others, you enrich their life and yours.

Every time you chose to do without, you are building good habits.

Every time you get your step count up, or go out on the bike, or have a relaxing bath, then you are nurturing yourself and becoming stronger.


Whether you feel like a ninja turtle or one drifting along on the current, day by day you ARE taking steps towards your goals. Go team turtles!

mothernerd

Thank you apple muncher.

Fmess

Thanks apple muncher

The_Only_Girl

Hi turtles, just came out of hibernation. About to get ready for night shift number 4. I am so exhausted. Can't wait to get this over with. I'm off work the rest of this week and the whole of next week.

Today would have been a NSD but because of my hibernation for the last few days, didn't realise we have ran out of milk and eggs. I really need to get more organised. It's nice to have a corner shop two doors down the road for emergency purchases like this, but everything adds up as they cost a tad more than aldee. naughty steps here I come. I think we have established I am not going to make it to NSD target but still, I need to keep the spending in check. In my defence though, with only less than 2 weeks left of this month, the budget is still looking good. I reckon we will have some left over again. (Last month we had £360 left over from the envelope monies, and £375 the month before. This month I lowered the budget for food and petrol and looks like we will still meet the budget).

Yesterday I went to pick up some lever arch files from somebody in freecycle. My kids homework need to be filed systematically and free lever arch files are so much better than the value own brands, and cheaper too. The lady gave me 20 and she said I could still have some if I wanted to. Their office have been deck uttering and she didn't want them to go to the tip. She also gave me some books, because she works in a charity organisation that distributes books. So yup I had a good day yesterday, came home with 20 files and some novels for nowt.

My son's shoes gave up the ghost and he needed a new pair. We set a budget of not more than £30. We went to TK Maxx. He found the pair that he loves for less than our budget but they were a tad tight, his favourite though was way over budget. Mao what did we do? A few years ago, we would have bought anything that we fancied, no budget in mind, plus a few more bits we didn't plan to buy. Yesterday, we walked away from the shop empty handed.We were so proud of ourselves for our discipline and determination. Some might think it's a wasted journey and a waste of petrol. But we were out on freecycle pick up anyway and we saved loads of money on that trip any way. So a pat on the back is probably in order. Woohoo.

It's my birthday in a couple of days but i honestly don't know what I want to do. I have a big family (2 brothers and their families plus my bff and her family) and they would want us have a celebration together. the easiest way would be to eat out, (to go to this Italian restaurant that does a 3-course meal for £4.95 a head) but it will be an expense I don't want to have. The cheaper option would be to cook and eat in, but having just done 4 night shifts, my house looks like a tip, my ironing pile is as tall as me and it would take all my energy to get my house up to entertaining standards and there's the thought of cooking too. I just wish I could check MYSELF in a hotel and disappear for a day. I am sure I'll figure something out.

WelshKitty85

Samiszel so sorry to read such sad news.

Hi everyone!

Sorry for the long absence. I am pleased to say I handed in my final assignment yesterday and I have completed my degree! I should get my individual marks next week and my classification will be confirmed mid June.

I'm really excited at the thought of having time to spare and have already made a start in some decluttering and have listed and sold an item on Facebook already. Have managed to stick to budgets ok so far this month but am looking forward to really taking control of them again.

Bobarella

The Only Girl - sorry to hear you are so exhausted by your work. I am glad to hear you have a nice long stretch off to look forward to.

Welsh kitty - hello! & congratulations on finishing your course. That's brilliant.

wishus

The Only Girl - Happy imminent birthday! :bdaycake:

What to do... if the weather is good, maybe you could suggest a family picnic? Or you could hint strongly to a sibling that maybe they could shoulder the at-home celebrations this year, and you'll take charge next time?

Or, if you did have people round and tackle the ironing, you could theme it - maybe as a Eurovision party? - and then ask everyone to bring round a Euro dish and Euro drink of their own choosing for sharing? (By the way, I have some awesome Eurovision drinkie games, if anyone's interested? ) That way, you just have to tidy, and don't have to think about prepping more than a couple of bits of food.

Calling14

Quick one spent for food stuff today. Felt so lousy bought some fruit juice, yogurts, choccy biccies, bread. Grandson's play this morning was awesome popped out of work to see him be a fox. Needed prompting a bit but only 3yrs old, so funny singing and dancing.

Can't wait for this week to be over, hard work to shift this cold off my chest now feel so worn out. Well off to run out with dog, collect small child and collapse in a heap later. Must be more to life than this.

Sorry for moaning murtle post. x

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

Calling hope you are feeling brighter soon. Thought of you when I was last in work. I think you live fairly close to me. Do you have one of the residents cards that gives discounted entry to attractions etc? Thought it might be handy for you and grandson.

Day off for me today and I don't know what to do with myself! Not used to this free time! Have started on my decluttering mission, made a start on packing for holiday and updated my budget spreadsheet. As things stand budget is looking tight. I have £1000 in savings now but don't want to have to dip into it unnecessarily. So, meal planning and shopping lists are going to be more important than ever, and hopefully I will be able to sell some more of the items I declutter.

Just having 10 mins to myself with a panad before going to pick up my little angels.

wishus

So, yesterday I just had a tiny 71p spend. The Bread Monster did strike in the bread bin last night after I had gone to bed (leaving a few, scant slices...), but I have found some free chicken rolls, cakes and fruit sticks going spare from the meeting buffet that he can have for lunch tomorrow, so he won't emit his unearthly wail when I make sandwiches for work tomorrow and there's none left :eek:. Much nicer than anything he'd cobble together for himself, so I think he'll be happy with that!


OH, though, does have some expectations from me, and he wants a holiday this autumn - one over some kind of sea, and warm, even though I'm a pale person who is happiest in a cardie. Not terribly debt-busting, so I need to find something for us that won't slow progress down too much. I still have work travel, hotels and expenses to fund for job 2 on top of the day-to-day (some of which I can claim back, but only if I have adequate receipts).

Some life lessons to be learned en route:

1. We don't have to get our - wad out! To have a good time - no, no.:dance: OH is currently watching a lot of Great Scary Outdoors TV, like River Monsters, Bear Grylls and *shudder* Naked and Afraid. :eek: Well, shelter-building and eating abandoned dead animals is not for me, but I'm happy enough to put up a tent, and hey, we have all the gear! I am going to challenge my dear to a weekend of true survivalism - spending just petrol money to get to a campsite for the weekend - one of the basic ones where we can stay for £20 the whole weekend - then just us our boots, our tent, and whatever we have with us. The challenge is: a moneyless weekend. We can do this just before he has to go back to work. The hills, the sea, nature... bliss!
2. Debt-busting really should come first. However, OH is not as on-board with this as I'd like him to be, and of course, he's not in a great place mentally and emotionally, so we must get where we need to go with contingencies for such matters in mind. So, let's say I've not given up on a holiday plan, either. Challenge on. I know I've not been a brilliant NST, but my aim is to show him we CAN do this and still have a good time. He will have to be flexible, though, I'm still a cheapskate. Also, I need to redouble my earning and saving efforts because I don't want to be sticking to minimum payments. We are debt-busting!
3. This means I will have to set a good example and stay firm, and not spend in trickles where it doesn't matter. I WILL be strong.
4. OH is probably going to have his pay cut... we don't really know how this is going to affect us. I may actually have to say no to the holiday, which will break my heart and make him so sad. But there will be something... and time together. It's a wait and see scenario. I'm just wishing, aren't I? No harm in that so long as I'm not dreaming as well. Best things in life are free, people.