NST December: Frugal festivities

short_bird

November was... interesting. I really need to pay more attention to my habits as I lost a day of my holiday through illness.

My regular payment to Medicins Sans Frontieres went out today.

£30 earmarked for bus fares to work. If the bus fare is the only thing I spend, I'm marking that as an NSD as it's "fuel"

£17 shrapnel due to be converted to pound coins; that will then go toward the Christmas meal with ex-colleagues, presents already purchased.
First NSD today; tomorrow will involve buying some of that reflective stuff to go behind radiators
December 2015 and January 2016 are quiet months for me: February and March 2016 aren't due to anniversaries and meetings of the various clans of friends. As this involves hotels and travelling, have taken advantage of cheap deals now to stretch the pound in my pocket.

I'm grateful for: friends, a good flat where I feel at home and the curry cooking in the oven :rotfl:

Bobarella

Hi all

Here we are on day 1. I made a PAD of £10 to the debt which takes my stretch target down to £479.

NSD 1/15

I was paid some commision today from work done a while back. So have split that between 4 pots and used to buy groceries.

OH had his crown fitted today at the dentist which was painful apparently but the fact he escaped a root canal was good. Total cost £230 however we can claim half of that back via Denplan which he gets as a work benefit..

Son came home with the wrong book bag so we have no homework or book to read tonight. I've already told OH I'm planning to go and spend the evening in bed with eastenders and holby. Think as he's still in pain from the dental work he is happy with that too. Should have more energy tommorow!

Bob

littleskintdragon

Paid £2 to charity today, but thats it, can i still have a nsd??

Did some decluttering today, sorted the airing cupboard, and tidied dd's bedroom, which is always interesting!!

Dd had a carol service this evening which was lovely, and made me feel all christmasey

Hope everyone else has had a good first day.

misstara

Shortie wrote: »

Hello all, is it too late to join for this month?

Dottydaisy wrote: »

May I be counted in this month please

The more the merrier your names have been added.

LSD I would still count that as a NSD

Bob fab news on the commission being paid. Hope OH's tooth isn't too painful. I have the dentist on Thursday so fingers crossed I won't need much work done.

short_bird I do the same if I get bus to work, no sense in ruining a NSD just for that.

apple thanks again for last month's challenge and good luck with your December numbers

GSRcat I hadn't heard of Headspace either but have had a wee look and think I'll download it and give it a go

Hope everyone has had a good start to December. Today I've been food shopping so stocked up on coffee, toilet rolls etc. I've set my grocery budget at £150 this month which is £20 more than usual but means that me and OH can have a few treats over christmas.

Today I'm grateful for a lovely lady at work who gave me a bus ticket to get home, fab offers on coffee and the christmas lights in the centre of town.

luckystarr

Hello everyone

I can't believe we are now in December where has the year gone ?

Thank you Apple for a fantastic November thread and Thank you Mistara for doing December.

I have scanned the thread but I will read it properly tomorrow and comment on posts

Today was a spend day but I am planning on tomorrow being SFD want to try and get in as many as I can before visiting family next weekend in the Midlands.

I have set budgets but I am going to re-evaluate as I will not get paid for two weeks this month as I am a supply TA so want to make sure we have some type of back up plan.

I suffer from anxiety and depression so thank you for the head space recommendation I will look that up.

My goals for the next year (there are a few)

1. Start to save a decent deposit to buy our first home
2. lose weight (restarting WW after Xmas)
3. Try not to sweat the small stuff
4. come off my medication for anxiety and depression

and to finish off my three things I am grateful for

1. managing to recover all of my college work from my USB stick
2. Having a good day at work even though I was anxious about going
3. having reasonable health

Here's to a good month everyone ..... HAPPY DECEMBER XXX

Night
Lucky xx

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all
Checking in on day 1. Budgets are all set - £120 fuel, £300 food (to include Christmas) and £50 for after school childcare. Other than that I have sent various bits of money off to various savings pots for holidays, Christmas next year and cat fund. Took my lunch to work, using up leftovers.
Can't claim a nsd though - 2 of the cats were booked in at the vets for annual jabs and naughty tortie needed medication. I'd budgeted £100 and it came in at £107.46 so need to jiggle things round a bit to cover it.
With regards to my mental health, this week I need to focus on getting enough quality sleep. I can be very irrational when I'm tired, and I'm getting very tired indeed. So that will be my focus.
My goal for next year is to remain debt free. I need to do this by staying frugal and within budget, and put pots of cash away for the house, the cats, holidays etc so I can get some savings behind me. This learning curve is almost as steep as when I went into my DMP...
Thanks again to applemuncher for a fab November thread, and misstara for this thread :T
Today I am grateful for having money left in the bank the day after payday, having finished my Christmas shopping, and for organising some family time and activities for the Christmas hols.

Shortie

Oh gawd, I just pressed backspace and lost all my post :-(

Let's try again...

Thanks for lettin me join in xx

1) Budgets done. Most are static, it's been burning spare cash that has caused me issue recently.. I get Pid mid-month but will work the budgetting to suit the thread easily enough. Do I have to post my budgets up?
2) I have jiggled money around today. Some has gone back into savings, some is to pay DS2's tutor and some is for the cash bit for DS1's tutor. I forgot to take the cash out today but will do so tomorrow instead
3) 1/15 NSD so far
4) Breakfast, lunch and snack taken to work. Also make my tea instead of buying it in while at work
5) I already pay £10 a month to my chosen charity
6) Today I am greatful for my kids and hubby, a roof over my head and food in my tummy
7) for my mental health this week I am building 'down time' in to evenigs
8) A goal for 2016 - lose some weight

misstara

Shortie wrote: »

Do I have to post my budgets up?

It's up to you - some posters do, some don't. As long as you have made a budget and are trying to stick to it, that is the main thing

Shortie

Thanks Misstara xx

kaspadoc

Hello All :j

Didn't get a chance to post yesterday as went to bed super early!!

Haven't quite figured everything out for the month yet but I'm getting there - just need my Rota for the end of the month and I am done!!

Yesterday wasn't a NSD as I started my Christmas shopping, that's 23 days earlier than usual for me!!

One of the biggest things for me will be LTW as I need to resist the temptation of the shop across the road!

My goal for next year is to decrease my weight and increase my fitness.

I'll post my three things for yesterday that I am grateful for:

:cool: my wonderful OH
:cool: giving my cat her advent calendar treat ( think I probably enjoyed it as much as she did!!)
:cool: the freedom to travel.

Hope everyone has a good day

Kaspadoc