NST July - Bobs Bucket & Spade Boogie to the beach!

Bobarella

Hi All

So this is the 7th Ninja Saving Turtles challenge of 2015, where has the time gone?

For many July is a month where things slow down just a teeny bit. School runs are history for the long summer holidays, horray! And people may even be escaping on summer breaks (you lucky things!) But before you strip off & run for the surf a quick reminder that here at NST towers we dont slack off just cos its time to break out the bucket & spade, oh no! We dig in even harder, we recommit to our choices to become debt free, pay off the mortgage, or move closer to a simpler financial life.

With that in mind what are this months challenge rules?

1) This challenge runs from midnight on 1st July to midnight on 31st July.

2) You will aim for 20 No Spend Days - No spend days can be defined by you. Some people choose to include days their Direct Debits go out, some dont. Items you dont have to lose a NSD for include prescription meds, essential travel bills, & anything else that is essential to your well being. And YS food as well (which means marked down items purchased in the yellow sticker section or whatever your supermarket equivelant is)

3) You will post your main financial aim on the thread as in 'Hi my names Bob, & I am aiming to hit £4,500 this month as my debt target'
As a new twist we will all be posting our stretch target too, so if you think there is a way you can pay off an extra £100, state it in your intro, whats the worst that can happen?

4) You will nominate a Turtle who turtlally inspires you, and post your reasons why on the thread! Take your time on this, it may take you a while to decide if you are new.

5) You will plan at least 1 outdoor day where you either spend the whole day in a park, doing the garden, walking in the countryside, on the beach, whatever, but this is really good for well being & with the light being best & weather looking good, July is a great month to do it. If you manage to make this a NSD as well, then high five you! There will be a bonus to the Turtle who nabs the most outdoor days this month.

6) You will brand drop 1 level on your food shopping, unless you are already a total pro & feel your food budget is on the floor & cannot be cut!

7) As this is a bucket & spade boogie challenge, you are allowed a fun budget of £25 for the month, (if its available to you) to spend on fish & chips on the front, ice creams for the kids, grandkids, me rides on the donkeys & anything else seaside inspired.

8) Pick a good cause close to your heart & donate £5 of your money, or £5 worth at least of your time to that cause this month. A lot of people like to buy a few extra cans & drop them in the food bank box, or cats charity food box next time they are at the supermarket, but equally if you will be running the school fair stall for a local good cause I'd say that counts too.

9) You must check in on the thread daily, or as often as is possible if you are at work etc.

Right I think thats it!

Turtles are you ready???????????

Bob

Calling14

I am here, feeling motivated, bring it on.

Bobarella

July NST Contenders & Totals paid for the month.

1. Calling - £220 paid off CCs
2. Bobarella £417.12 paid back in July. Plus £260 saved into EF. Total £677.12
3. Abundant £250 into savings
4. TimeTrade
5. 323B
6. Apple Muncher -£1298 paid off the mortgage.
7. Nanny G
8. Mountaingirl
9. Stewby - £340 paid to CC
10.Cybertortoise
11.Wishus
12.Samizel
13. AcademiaBlues - £490 paid off
14. Westie
15. WelshKitty
16. Fmess £823.08 repaid in July
17. The Only Girl - £975 (£200 was transferred to our cash ISA's (£50 each for me, OH, DS1 and DS2). Emergency Fund now up to £530)
18. MissTara - repaid £335.85 to CCs & £70.90 to Emergency fund. Grand total = £406.75
19.ThriftyLass
20. Optimistic Kate
21. Miss Debt
22. Mothernerd £583.20 repaid in July
23. Dolly84
24. Synonomous -£1325
25. Mr Cobes
26. ClareeX

Total ££s paid off/saved in July = £7,088

Volunteers to host this thread

August - AcademiaBlues
September - Apple Muncher
October - Abundant

abundant1972

Hi again... Sign my name on the dotted line please...

timetrade

I'd like to join this month - looking forward to a productive July.

32b3in2013

Hi

Could I join please?

32b3

Bobarella

Numbers up to 5 assigned

apple_muncher

Count me in! Am off to the beach with dd in the latter part of the month - can't wait!

nannygladys

Count me in as well, I'm finishing work this month and going on a seaside holiday to see my very ill stepfather with my dd3 so I need to be extra careful to make ends meet. The holiday is budgeted for and as I have no mortgage or debt I know I can manage on the state pension, but I still have to be careful to enable me to do things I want to in my budget.

Nannyg

Mountaingirl

Can I join you this month please? I remember when Kat was running the challenge before she went traveling but I've drifted away from MSE for a while.
I will be travelling from the 18th (seeing family and friends) so it's an incentive to watch the pennies in all the service stations and shops.

stewby

Me please... was a complete disaster in june. Going to get back on track for July.

Will need an increased food budget as we are going gluten free for the month to see if I can sort out some health problems.