NST June – Just Keep Jousting!

Synonymous

Hey everyone,
Sorry I've not posted much this month - I've been reading along (although it's very quiet) but been feeling a bit low so haven't been keeping proper track of the challenge - will try and work it all out from my receipts and online banking tomorrow.

Spent hours today sorting and filing financial paperwork, probably about a year's worth :eek: and chucking out old papers. On the plus side noticed about £500 of student loan deductions from two years ago never made it from HMRC to the SLC, so will call them tomorrow. Also need to ring council who haven't refunded me £500 of overpayments after a phone call two weeks ago.

This week I discovered grocery cashback apps! Thought it was too much faff before but have got about £4 on there already from every day purchases. Also used Asda price guarantee for first time and got my mum and dad £4 in vouchers (thanks Bob I learned this from you!). My little shop yesterday came in cheapest but I always buy own brand or what's on offer so doubt it would help me - parents are much more spendy!

Seriously considering going part time on my course for a few months to get myself together - really low and totally out of love with my PhD - think I need some time to reset over summer but I don't know what the rules are.

Hope everyone's ok - hugs to you all, whether you need them or not

Bobarella

Synonymous wrote: »

Hey everyone,
Sorry I've not posted much this month - I've been reading along (although it's very quiet) but been feeling a bit low so haven't been keeping proper track of the challenge - will try and work it all out from my receipts and online banking tomorrow.

Spent hours today sorting and filing financial paperwork, probably about a year's worth :eek: and chucking out old papers. On the plus side noticed about £500 of student loan deductions from two years ago never made it from HMRC to the SLC, so will call them tomorrow. Also need to ring council who haven't refunded me £500 of overpayments after a phone call two weeks ago.

This week I discovered grocery cashback apps! Thought it was too much faff before but have got about £4 on there already from every day purchases. Also used Asda price guarantee for first time and got my mum and dad £4 in vouchers (thanks Bob I learned this from you!). My little shop yesterday came in cheapest but I always buy own brand or what's on offer so doubt it would help me - parents are much more spendy!

Seriously considering going part time on my course for a few months to get myself together - really low and totally out of love with my PhD - think I need some time to reset over summer but I don't know what the rules are.

Hope everyone's ok - hugs to you all, whether you need them or not

pleased to be of service. And sorry you haven't been feeling good. It sounds like your PHD is really weighing on you right now. Do you have a supervisor you can discuss it all with?

abundant1972

Massive hugs to everyone going through a tough time...

The end of June is just around the corner... Just one week (including today)... so hang in there and stay frugal. I'm always amazed at the amount of strength and spirit people find in here... trying to stay focused when times are tough... saying no and breaking old habits... overcoming physical limitations and believing in a better tomorrow...

... And it will be. I was glancing at some signatures as I read on... and have seen how much people have achieved so far. Some of you are heading into your last couple of thousand...

Take some deep breaths - draw up some energy and feel yourself being renewed. Get out in nature and soak up a few rays - and then take another step... and another... Each one, no matter how small - is a step away from your debt and troubles... and a step nearer your goals.

Claiming a SFD for Monday and yesterday...
SFD total = 13 so far

:T

Calling14

C'mon turtles one more week just keep swimming we can do it.:money:

Good news.:T
A SFD for me today yeah 14/20
Managed to list 1 dress on ebay this morning, darn this work being so busy.
Feeling much better.

Confession time
Yesterday collected Grandson from school and it was their summer fair. Had to spend a few pounds on rides, recovered majority of it from daughter. Treated myself to a cake and a glass of wine. Seeing there was a band on and sunny. School fairs posher that what I remember chocolate fountain complete with strawberries and marshmallows!! I also gave in to some homemade jam.

Last night watched 50 Shades of Grey film, having not read the books no interest in them at all, was bored to death, nothing was resolved and no doubt another cheesy sequel on the way. Seriously made me realize that I prefer my cuddly body than seeing a rib cage.

Syn- keep going at your PHD if you can go part time to take the pressure of you do it, be worth it in the end.

Bob - glad to hear your are so busy, bet your are shattered with the warm weather as well.

Look after yourself turtles I am trying to eat healthier today - its a start, not promising lots of walking even at 7am pollen was making my throat itch and eyes run this morning, wind didn't help.

Half way through the week :T:T:T

The_Only_Girl

Hello turtlets. Good afternoon. The sun had its hat on this morning but I had our church pastor for a home visit which lasted longer than I anticipated (we are both good talkers, go figure). By the time he's gone, Mr Sun decided to hide again. I was planning to finish off what hubby and I started in the garden yesterday but it looks like it will be shelved again. Hoping that Mr. Sun will come out from hiding again soon. Even for only a few hours. Not too much to ask isn't it?

Yesterday was NSD number 16 and I am not anticipating any spend today either. We have food to cook for tonight's dinner but will probably need to go grocery shopping tomorrow. I got paid today and the reality hit big time. It was just basic pay as my enhanced payment for out of hours (nights and weekends etc) will be paid next month, but I didn't expect it to be that low. It is considerably lower than what I used to get for my locuming job. One month basic pay in the NHS is only equivalent to 2 weeks as a locum. Oh my! I really need to be switched on and focused in July if I want to stay in the black. Wish me luck. Having said that, we managed to survive June on only my hubby's salary and any left overs from previous months and still have £177 in the cash envelopes so I might be just a bit paranoid. With the support and encouragement from everybody here on MSE and the willingness and cooperation of the hungry hippos, we will be fine (she says with fingers and legs crossed).

My hubby will get paid tomorrow so will officially know what we will be dealing with in July.

Nine items listed on eBay at the moment (3 went live last night, all of them have had views and 1 has 1 watcher). The rest will go live tonight so here's wishing. I am decluttering slowly but surely. Some go on eBay (as mentioned) some go on the car boot pile (hoping to go to the car boot sales on the 5th of July), some go on the cash for clothes pile and some will go to charity shops. I would have liked to apply the gazelle intensity in the decluttering process but as i rarely go on holiday at the same time as hubby when we are not away somewhere, we like to incorporate relaxation and chilling out with the ticking of the to-do-list. It's funny because hubby says he feels like a retired man. A few jobs here and there and chillaxing every now and then. To which I replied, "all the more reason to work hard, save hard and pay off mortgage as soon as we can so we can retire early and enjoy!" I can't wait to be debt free so we can start working on the mortgage free journey.

As usual I am yapping too much. I will catch up with you later. I'd better see what the hungry hippos are going to eat when they get home from school. Laters turtles!

The_Only_Girl

Abundant and calling thanks for cheering us on. I needed that today due to my poor pay (as explained in precious post!).

Have a good day!

shyspender

Hiya Turtles

Just recovering from what turned out to be quite a major shop at tescimos. OH and SD are coming for the weekend and I am planning a bbq at some point. I have probably, as usual, gone overboard. I always do when hosting. OH will probably tell me off.

Now all I have to do is find somewhere to put all the food!

SD has just turned vegetarian so I wanted to make sure that she was catered for. I have some bbq marinated pork steaks and chicken in the freezer for the OH. Am planning on making some vegetable kebabs and some halloumi kebabs. Got some bean burgers too, which SD and I can eat and I have quorn sausages. That's one of the few things I miss from giving up attempting to eat meat, british hot dogs. OH and SD are american so they are used to 'real' hotdogs.

I am planning on doing some prep each night after work (day off today due to having to work Sunday just gone) and hopefully I won't have to be stuck in the kitchen all day Saturday.

So, Battle Turtles, who has used their £20 treat money? Am I the only one? Don't forget, it is there to take a little pressure off the battle. It is there to help out and spur you on, reward you, thank somebody else. So, who has?

apple_muncher

Read this today and thought I'd share it.

“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.” – Epictetus

xx

Synonymous

Thanks for everyone's comments and support - not going to jack it in, but also not doing anything on it!

Have roughly done the month's spends based on receipts and online banking - petrol is to be claimed back from work, but I've blown my food budget whilst not actually doing a proper shop - lots of coke and chocolate says it all about my state of mind. Overall budget isn't blown though as I've hardly been out. Now to last a week on food supplies then do a proper shop for July and start again.

Just rang Student Loans and need to send them my P60 to get my missing deductions taken of my loan. Forgot about council tax and lines are closed now. Think I'll have a bath, dye my hair and put clean sheets on the bed tonight to perk myself up a bit! Oooh and watch Hannibal Season 3, although it started off a bit dull

The_Only_Girl

apple_muncher wrote: »

Read this today and thought I'd share it.

“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.” – Epictetus

xx

Thanks for the nice quote apple.