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

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  • wishus
    wishus Posts: 1,275 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Happy July!

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

    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 equivalent is)

    I will try... and this month I may have a better chance of hitting it. 15 might be more achievable, so I shall aim for between the two.

    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?

    This month, my aim is to keep my head above water. OH goes back to work on half pay from 15th for a month. I shall aim to not exceed my £130 grocery budget and to try to earn an additional £300 from my second income.

    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.

    I would like to nominate Thriftylass for positivity! Also I like the sound of stuffed wine leaves! :)

    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.

    I've been asked out on Saturday, otherwise I'd head to a free re-enactment or a food fair (mm.... will see what I can do, maybe combine both!) There are also some free open gardens nearby this weekend. I will do Parkrun, of course!

    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!

    I'm pretty pro - might do a bit more foraging and home brew (hic!)

    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.

    That'll either be at the fair or at an event the weekend after, then :)

    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.

    Deaf children's charity donation made.

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

    Okay...
    Keep reading books!
    August grocery challenge budget £150, £90.14 spent in total - £59.86 remaining.
  • wishus
    wishus Posts: 1,275 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    ... and just to add, from a budgety-buckety point of view, I could not refuse 2 free and lovely cooling ice lollies offered at work today. Not many calories, but they do make Weight Watchers points, and as I had switched to Filling and Healthy to try to give my post-holiday slim-down a boost, that was eating into my much depleted treat points. That, and coupled with the idea that I could make today an SFD if I utilized stuff in my cupboard, I switched back to pointing. I'd hardly used any - that's how it flipping works! But I wuld feel silly popping to the shops on the hunt for brown rice when there's plenty non-brown stuff in the cupboards! :A
    Keep reading books!
    August grocery challenge budget £150, £90.14 spent in total - £59.86 remaining.
  • academiablues
    academiablues Posts: 170 Forumite
    Bake Off Boss!
    So, first real post of the month - hi everyone!

    Definitely aiming for 20 NSDs - I missed this by one last month, determined this won't happen again!

    My main financial aim this month is to save £400 - I'll try to stretch this to £450 if possible! £300 of this goes out automatically at the beginning of the month into various pots, and what's left is quite a small amount, so hoping I can do this!

    I'll take my time on the turtle nomination - there are so many inspiring stories on here :-)

    There's a nature reserve close to home that I've never even been to before, so think that might have to be my day out.

    Not a pro on the food shopping but do tend to buy own brand stuff unless I really can't compromise - bought some @sda's SP peanut butter last month and REALLY regretted it!

    I volunteer for Rape Crisis every month (10+ hrs of my time) but I'll buy some extra things this weekend and put them in the food bank box too :-)


    Today is the first NSD of the month, woop! Everything has gone out of my account into various places (savings accounts, joint account, bills etc) so I know how much I have to play with this month - hoping I don't spend all of it! Got a £25 voucher from Sw@gbucks, so just waiting for it to clear so I can buy my dad's birthday present with it - I've been doing this since March and haven't paid for any birthday presents this year with my own money yet, it's fab! But I might have a bit too much time on my hands :D It's been oppressively hot here today but cloudy as well, has meant no time in the sunshine - hope everyone else is coping with the heat.
    Bought my first house in 2014 - now, to be mortgage free! :D

    New York, New York: 3150/4000 (79%)
    Emergency fund £1000/1000
    Survey earnings 2016: £40
  • stewby
    stewby Posts: 1,206 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Debt-free and Proud!
    Hey AppleMuncher.
    It's me that is attempting gluten free. I spoke with a colleague at work who has caeliac's disease and she says every symptom I am having (even the stuff I have blamed on anxiety) can be related to an intolerance.
    My blood test was elevated but not enough to be classed as positive on the NHS system.

    Plan is to try it for a month and see if there is a difference. Giving my body a week to get rid of any traces of gluten from my system then seeing if there is an improvement.
    :undecided

    I have a very limited range of foods so no problem with checking ingredients.
    Was very disappointed to see that even rolos had trace of wheat in them. Was pretty sure they would have been clear as they are just caramel and chocolate.
    :(

    I have tried to buy my usual foods... I have coco pops and krave (gluten free versions). Also have gluten free pasta, chicken nuggets, sausages.
    I have bought self raising flour to see if I can make cupcakes. Do I need baking powder as well, cause the recipe I have found says yes but it's self raising flour.
    :huh:

    Any recommendations and suggestions would be brilliant. We have so far learned that we can keep using our same gravy (bisto best) which is great.
    :)

    Hugs to you all.
    Mortgage: £0/£80,329.91
    Savings: £0/£6400
    :love:
  • cybertortoise
    cybertortoise Posts: 288 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Today has been a small spend day as I needed a few essentials that couldn't wait until my usual shop tomorrow. Friday will be my first NSD of the month and I am aiming for another two over the weekend as although we have a birthday party to go to I have already bought cards and presents for it.

    I have revamped my weekly budget so as long as I stick to it all will be well. I am listing a few bits on eb@y this weekend and any extra money made will go towards paying off a debt.

    I have set up a monthly donation via mobile phone to Save the Children and I will be buying some cans each week for the food bank.
  • shyspender
    shyspender Posts: 352 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Debt-free and Proud!
    Hey Bob and fellow Turtles,

    I'm going to be the No1 Cheerleader this month.

    The weekend has really knocked me for six and I need to take a step back from lots of stuff. I have already subscribed so I will be reading and cheering on here and there.

    Good luck to everyone and thanks for all your help with June!

    Shy
    Feb NST #4
    Food £16.55/£200, Fuel £0/£250, Ents £17.47/£180, General £4/£100, SFD 8/15, LTW 11/16
    Debt Free Date Friday 29th March 2014 :j
  • apple_muncher
    apple_muncher Posts: 15,241 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Stewby - that pesky caramel, eh? That must be the 'barley malt extract'. Mars bars are out but snickers are in - although I still check each purchase. Curly wurlys are also in! And chomp.

    Some sausages are g-f, but that's rare! Anything labelled g-f usually comes at a premium, so finding foods you like that are g-f anyway is a bonus.

    Cakes may or may not rise, as it's gluten thatgives them the elasticity. Mostbaking powders are g-f,but I'd say justgive it a go with the sr flour and see what happens! Flat cakes are still tasty, as I know so well.

    shy - glad you are cheerleading and not disappeared. Is it lycra and pompoms?


    Today I am grateful for our paddling pool, fornot (quite) throwing myself off my bike into the oncoming traffic,for dd being one happy girl, forthe tennis, for dh cooking tea.
    NST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!
  • nannygladys
    nannygladys Posts: 3,235 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    First sfd, not sure if I will hit 20 as I'm away for a week with dd3 and grandkids and its self catering, so for the 3 weeks I'm at home I will aim for 15.

    I also did an inventory of my pantry (or understairs cupboard) and I'm quite ashamed of it, well really ashamed of it really, why would a single person need 12 tins of tomatoes, or 13 tins of fruit not to mention the tins of pulses, veggies, fish and baked beans!!! Anyway I must try to use as much as I can before buying any more. I haven't done the kitchen cupboards or freezer yet and its already getting me down. And breathe....

    So I will be spending as little as possible whilst I'm here and only aim for about five or six pounds a week grocery shopping (I darent mention the fridge just yet!)

    The holiday is being treated separately as I have already budgeted for that. So onwards and upwards.

    Lunch was cheese toastie and dinner was lo rice and courgette bake with broccoli.

    Nannyg
    Sfd 0/15
    £1 a day 2025: £90.00/365 Xmas fund
  • Bobarella
    Bobarella Posts: 10,824 Forumite
    Savvy Shopper! I've been Money Tipped!
    Hi All

    NSD 1 here for me. I also had a personal high note in that I have now completed my £1,000 Emergency Fund today. I feel very positive about that. £1,000 is also the amount I have to bring into our household every month for the budget to function at optimumn levels so I feel good to have 1 months income stashed.

    Its great seeing how motivated everyone is with their goals for the month.

    Apple Muncher - I am so impressed with your MFW drive. You are smashing it. Good luck hitting the extra £250 as well.

    Abundant - One idea I have not used myself but have read about on the Old Style sections is the 2nd purse. This system allows people to have extra funds waiting for just the opportunities you mention. If you know something will ultimately save you money but smash your monthly budget this could be the way forward? Also, you do not have to nominate an inspirational Turtle, just a fun extra. No boot camps here :)

    Misstara/Stewby- GF can be an expensive diet. One of my former workmates was a commited GFer, & she perfected the loaf she liked the most, much cheaper than buying those expensive loaves. Good advice from Apple on this too in her post.

    Miss Debt - You are signed up (no 21) good luck with your goals. These challenges normally allow for a little fun money, or we'd all probably go mad?? Because mine is stupidly named bucket and spade boogie, I have put down some fun seaside themed ideas to spend your prized £25 on, however, it is really just what YOU consider a lovely treat. If you want to buy coffee every day up to the value of £25 for example, that is fine too. But track it :)

    TimeTrade - Do you think online shopping would work better for you to beat the 'just one thing' habit?

    Thrifty - Im like you, I micromanage my 'boys' and what is brought into the house food wise. I make sure certain items are always here or I dread how much they would spend at the shops buying that and 50 million other items.

    The Only Girl - Good luck getting your household under £1k debt, & how lovely to know there are people like you who budget for such a generous charitable donation every month. Very commendable.

    Wishus - Your foraging resonates with my womble heart. Our neighbour from 2 doors down has been bringing us lettuce every few days as he has too much. With the crunchy stuff at £1 a bag, we are loving the neighbour :)

    Academia - Good luck with your savings target, thats a good one. Also, good for you on the volunteering, what a worthwhile, serious issue to be involved in.

    Cybertortoise - Good luck with your ebay sales.

    ShySpender - Thanks again for running last month, I hope you enjoy the break, will miss your quotes.

    NannyG - Sounds like you have some stock cupboard challenges ahead of you this month. Tinned toms are pretty useful though so dont beat yourself up too much.

    Bob
    " Your vibe attracts your tribe":D

    Debt neutral :) 27/03/17 from £40k:eek: in the hole 2012.
    Roadkill 17 £56.58 2016-£62.28 2015- £84.20)
    RYSAW17 £1900 2016 £2,535.16 2015 £1027.20
  • apple_muncher
    apple_muncher Posts: 15,241 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    A quote I have just read:


    Happy July 1st. You could as easily change your life today as on New Years…"New opportunity is matter of choice not calendar." – Dan Kennedy … Never stop believing in yourself. Stay focused. Stick to your plan. Take action. Believe in yourself. Be with winners. Lead others. Have courage. Be persistent. Never quit. No excuses. TODAY is the first day of the rest of your life…… So don't dwell on past mistakes because that will get you nowhere. Focus on what you can and WILL do today, tomorrow, and the rest of your life, and all of the great things that will happen because of your actions.

    Go turtles!
    NST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!
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