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

dolly84

Fmess - hope you are feeling better today.

Bob - I'm afraid I haven't kept a total of what I have paid off this month so can't give a figure.

Today is spendy, I need to fill the car up with diesel using the Tesco CC money off and call in at Tesco to recycle some coat hangers and get some other bits and bobs.

Bobarella

Dolly - it's totally fine not to give a figure. But if you want to try you could just check your bank statement to see where it shows payments? Completely your call.

So I'm up having a breakfast of coffee and bacon sandwiches before I head off to the other cafe for the first shift of the weekend. It will be a NSD as I will get coffee and lunch for free there and we already have our dinner planned for tonight. If I get tips today I may pop into Mr T on the way home and look for YS items for the freezer. But other than that no need.

Editing to say - if you don't already have Checkoutsmart they are giving away bread and milk this weekend. If you buy 1 pint of milk in Mr T they will fully reimburse you. And the same for loaves of Kingsmill bread. I am definately going to take advantage of the milk offer as we use 1 pinters instead of bigger as none of us really likes it apart from in tea.

Bob

abundant1972

Morning everyone!!!

Let me get up to speed and claim yesterday as SFD number 14...

Ok. Like many others - pay day arrived yesterday. I've been looking at my budgets and what I should pay where. Initially I was scooping everything into savings and I've decided to moderate that so I can save for a holiday maybe, have a bit of a life, and save for a deposit (which I accept will take longer the less I plough into it).

However - when Bob said to tally up what you have saved... I suddenly thought - Ok... I put aside £250.00 - and glancing over my budget there was a MASSIVE shortfall... so where did the rest go???

I have just spent 2 hours trawling through my accounts, tracking my spending and it is a sobering realisation, that whilst I have remained debt free and saved some, my spending got seriously out of control...

These were my planned outgoings vs actually spent:

Food & Spends: £200.00 ~ Spent £269.95 on food alone
Night out: £70.00 - unplanned!!!
Meal out: £45.00 - unplanned!!!
Music/Video/Gaming: £57.01 - unplanned!!!
Unaccounted for: £70.22 - unplanned!!!

:eek: So my planned £200 for food AND spends turned into £512.18 :eek:

Yes I have more disposable income than I have ever had - BUT - I can't fall into bad habits like this. I have eaten very healthily and I knew that would prove costly - but I didn't keep the receipts to see how much went on what...

Plan for August:

1) Still put grocery shopping on Credit Card and pay off at the end of the month but keep receipts, and have a single account with a set amount in for food. When it's gone it's gone.
2) Use up groceries I have in = LOTS.
2) Have a seperate budget for spends and draw out in envelopes. Will try this method, but just draw out week by week. Keep a record of spends and receipts.

DO ACCOUNTS AS I GO, DAY BY DAY.

I'm not proud of my spending behaviour - but I am glad I am here - being accountable to this group for my actions, as it really helps me to see how I can improve and fine tune my actions.

:T

On a positive note - things I was pleased about:

1) Stuck to my fuel budget
2) Have rejoined the gym and am getting back on track
3) Took in a packed lunch everyday to work
4) Have been super healthy diet-wise
5) Have set up a Direct Debit for charity and my ISA
6) Saved £250.00 and had money left at the end of the month

:T

academiablues

Hi all! Fmess, it's the one on BBC Good Food (if you type "butternut squash and spinach lasagne" into Google it's the first one that comes up). I don't use nutmeg - I basically make up a lasagne base (mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, passata) and then add in butternut squash (cubed) and spinach, and maybe a bit of sweetcorn. Then layer it like a meat lasagne, with bechamel on the top. It's really yummy! Bob, hope the shift goes well today, got my fingers crossed for tips
Halfway through my kitchen madness day - veg chilli and nasi goreng and lasagnes made, chicken gumbo almost done, chicken pie mix and pasties to go! Cherry pie sitting on side, ready for oven tonight having my lunch before I fall over, and as I'm not planning on leaving my kitchen today, it's a SFD as well
Hope all turtles are having a good Saturday!

apple_muncher

Abundant - thank you for 'fessing up as regards your spending. It helps me to know that other people don't always keep to their budgets either!

Hugs to you nannygladys. Glad you haven't disappeared after such a tough time.

I've had no more NSDs since coming away last Saturday, but have noted down EVERY SINGLE SPEND, and am within the vague 'budget' I set myself. Payday is the 28th for me, but I always work from the 1st and - like Fmess - scooop any residue over into the mortgage. There will be substantially less residue this month, after paying nearly £140 just for travelling, but a week away with dd is so worth it!

Having set myself (and dh is along for the ride so long as I'm in charge...!) a MFW date that requires extra payments, I'm enjoying totting up the savings. Not sure I like the sound of interest rate rises on the horizon though...!

WIll do a tot up next week Bob and let you know the total.

Calling14

Well lost my post Aww.

Here anyway sorry been missing bad back and a very ill dog combination. Update back better, dog still not 100%but slight improvement.

Total update and my confession coming on Monday following brave Abundant's lead. Will see what paid off cc then as well.

Spendy day milk, veg and bday pressie daughter. Expensive teapot it is gorgeous though, hope she likes it, can change it. She has hinted for ages she wanted one.

Catch up later, few tasks to do whilst the sun is out x

Bobarella

Hi All

Apple -Glad you are back on the wire as it were

Calling - Sorry to hear you've had traumas. Sending healing thoughts to your poor pooch.

Abundant - You have still saved money this month and it's good you've realised where you can do better next time.

AcademiaBlues - Hope you have had a great day cooking away. All done yet?

Extra shift one complete. Earned £6.50 in tips. And had coffee and lunch worth another £12 at face value on top of that. Also found 2p roadkill.

Went to Mr T on my way home. Used £6 to buy goodies. Bought 1 pint of milk which I've uploaded the reciept for on Checkoutsmart so that is free 50p effectively. Plus 1p for loading a reciept.

So a good day plus 19th NSD.

Just sitting down with the family now to watch The Grinch

Bob

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

I haven't added up my totals yet but I expect I will be in a similar situation to abundant. I'm pretty sure I have overspent on groceries and fuel, with extra spends on top for graduation dress, celebratory meal, and a take away.

I think part of my problem is setting my budgets too tightly at the beginning of the month. What happens is, if I have an unexpected spend early on then I get in the mindset of 'I've blown the budget now anyway' and fail to keep track properly for the rest of the month. So next month, I need to be more realist with budgets initially, plan much better, and try my best to stick to the plan.

Started off the day well with the porridge I prepped - and it was disgusting! So most went in the bin! On the plus side, the chilli and jacket I took to work for lunch was really nice and was filling.

Off now to try and meal plan for the next few weeks to make best use of my haul from the butchers.

Fmess

Thanks all for the love, it is much appreciated. My sister stayed over last night after our takeaway and it was lovely to have some company.

Thanks for the tip re. checkoutsmart Bob, I've never heard of it before but will be using it from now on. will go get my free milk tomorrow and pop it in the freezer until I can use it.

Well done on tracing your spends Abundant, good luck for your August plan.

Thanks academia, I'm going to try it as would like to eat more veg and love lasagne Hope the batch cooking went well. I only do one dish at a time so I'm very impressed with his many you are doing in one day! Tonight is Spanish chicken

Welcome back Apple, how was your holiday?

Hugs to you and the doggy Calling

Well done on your extra work and tips Bob

Today I'm feeling very smug with declaring my SFD as I went clothes shopping didn't spend anything :j I did try on some items and have decided that I can have one of the dresses that I liked when I get down to 10st 7lbs so let's see if that motivates me (I weighed in at 10st 10lbs last week) so estimating it will be about 3 weeks if I stick to my new way of eating, and I've set the money aside.

I've also been productive and got lots of chores done, many of them outside, in preparation for the next few days being rainy.

I've also made a none MSE decision about the broadband/tv package. I'm going to keep it for the following reasons 1.) the broadband speed is great for when I'm marking 2.) I don't go out much and I love the range of tv channels 3.) I have the ability to record programmes and a freeview box that records would cost at least £100 4.) I have two tvs with two boxes, one of which is upstairs where there is no cable from the aerial, so I'd need to get that installed if I gave up the package. So this will be my treat to myself this year!

nannygladys

Thanks everyone for the thoughts, it's nice to know you I'm not forgotten.

So yesterday was a sfd for me, but in a minute I will be nipping down to a@di to get some milk, bread and chocolate (it's been one of those days), tomorrow I have dgd1 for the day and night, dd1 still in the throws of moving, (I still have her dog)so doing my bit!!

I dare not add up my money this month, but I know I'm still in the black but not by as much as I like so from now on for the next couple of months I will be trying to get my balance back to where I like it, mind you I have two big birthdays in August (daughters 1 & 3, bad timing!!) But I will be sensible how much I spend and I think a joint bbq here will be done, as long as the weather's OK, it's cheaper than taking them for a meal and then their friends can come as well.

Well better get to the shop otherwise I can't have my cup of coffee.
Nannyg