NST - January. Bobs post bauble debt busting challenge

Dottydaisy

I am back from my visit to my daughters family together with my youngest daughter and mother. Mum and I stayed in a hotel booked in November, they were still decorating our room for the renovations going on and three rooms later all were half complete. No lift, 92 year old mum oh dear. Well they upgraded us to disabled room with wet room and charged two nights instead of three and a free tot as well. Last night mum went to bed early so I decided on whisky and ginger, night porter opened bar, poured a double, couldn't find the ginger so charged for a single! So I have started the month with lots of free things.
Over the weekend I spent £75 on hotel and £10 on share of petrol (I drove) and I bought New Years Eve coffees in the park caf! for 5 of us £12.90 and that is all I spent from Wed to Sat.
Spent £11.90 out of food budget at motorway supermarket for milk, bread, fruit, and a ready meal each, so food is £11.90/
£350.
NSD 1/21
Checked Experian free with credit card and was pleased to find I had a really high score.
Tomorrow will be a spend day as I have to replenish the fridge.
Am going to reset ynab and note every spend to try and keep on track.
A bit late but Happy New Year Turtles, and I hope we can all achieve our dreams whatever they may be this year, and that 2016 will be kind to us all.
Dottydaisy

dolly84

traveller - your daughters foot complaint sounds awful, hopefully it won't come back again.

I have started a spending diary for the first time ever, at the end of each month I will tot it all up and see how many of those spends could have been avoided.

I need to do some ironing today and hopefully get out cycling or running other than that I'm not sure what the day will bring but I am fairly sure it will bring rain.

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all
Today WILL be my first nsd of the year - I'm determined...
I am visiting my parents today after I've done my tutoring (separately, as they have been divorced for 20 years), but will definitely get a free feed at my mams house, and it's very rare that I don't get a freebie of some sort when I visit.
I've been up and about for a while so lots done already. Need to make sure I enjoy the last day of my hols before I'm back to work in the morning.

Bobarella

Justforme- how interesting and brave of you to say that after my judgemental comments! I had a look into it myself last night and it looks above board. As you say there is a trust to protect the investment..

Themarsbargirl & Jeanangeo -- well done on the NSDs.

Helga birthday money counts as free money. I remember asking the same thing myself when it was mine.

Calling - you have done so well on your PADs. Well done! I hope your daughter will have a wonderful time in Aus.

Jellie - thanks for posting your objectives. A store cupboard challenge sounds really useful for clearing through food.

Traveller - sorry to hear about your daughter. Hope she will be better soon. What is your job?

Chez - thanks for your introduction. It must be nice to have that time with your OH to relax for a bit off the treadmill. Really hope you can stay off as long as possible.

TOG - hope your OH gets well soon. And that you don't catch it.

Apple - well done on your roadkill.

Dotty daisy - sounds like a lovely stay especially all the freebies you wangled. I hope your Mum enjoyed it.

Cat - have a good day tutoring..and enjoy your free lunch

Dolly - a spend diary sounds very useful.

Stewby - happy new year to you too.

Bobarella

Good morning all

My aims for today are to have a low spend day. I will take a list with me to the supermarket and get the items I missed off before. I don't want to go back go the supermarket for several days.

Will also plan evening meals for the week ahead. Including 2 meat free ones.

I'm aiming for free exercise from walking & will be working through some more holiday homework with my son so we are heading towards an organised start to his new term.

I forgot to say yesterday but I have listed 6 of OH'S comics/graphic novels on ebay. We have a lot to sell. We are now hoping this will go towards a holiday this year but of course debt repayment is the priority.

I want to plan 1 nice thing to do per month with OH at some point today so we have something to look forward to all year. Not expensive things but things we don't do ordinarily.

Need to rope OH into a bit of house work too. The upstairs has been hoovered and both beds changed. Plus kitchen cleaned but we need to hoover through. It's tricky with a baby as you start things then she needs something and they get forgotten.

Right I'm off to start off. Have a happy Sunday everyone.

Bob

XSpender

Planning a quiet NSD today, getting ready for work and school tomorrow finishing the laundry and a general tidy up and hoover.

We will be going out on our bikes for a 7 mile trip today and have started our healthy diet kick start this morning. Will also take the dog out to up my steps I need to lose the pounds I out on in December or none of my work clothes will fit! Veggie pasta for me and DH tonight.

We have agreed to cancel our holiday next year and will move it to 2017. This will cost us £150 but will not lose us the £300 deposit. We can't afford to do both the holiday and the house purchase so the holiday will be deferred.

Fmess

Morning all,

traveller hope your daughter is feeling better now and glad to have spurred you on!

calling sending you positive and productive vibes

Today will be another SFD. I only intend to leave the house to walk the dogs and maybe use my last day of gym membership. So far I have cleaned, hoovered and mopped the kitchen and I'm off now to hoover under the bed (I'm avoiding doing back to school work)

Did anyone else watch the Katie Hopkins Fat programme last night? It was the follow on from her one last year where she gained and last 4 stone to prove you just need to eat less and move more to not be overweight. I'm not keen on her, but It kind of struck a cord with me - it really is that simple - eat less, move more. So I'm going to move as much as possible and reduce portion sizes, even 1 biscuit instead of 2 counts :)m
See you in a bit

traveller

Thanks everyone regarding my daughter, she's a lot better now and will be off to uni halls again in half an hour.I will miss her a lot but so glad she's on the mend Bob, i'll send you a PM Fmess, as much as you've spurred me on, I clearly don't have the energy to go with it I have come to terms with the fact this year I need to replace my cooker-very lucky the other one has lasted till now, a fridge-the one I have now , we need more space, but the freezer door does not stay closed now so has to be secured with duck tape and a TV for the front room as it takes a while to switch on. But the tv is the least important. Well take care everyone and enjoy your sunday

Calling14

Bounced out of bed At 7am, house sparkling, Santa's grotto put away feel I am now ready to take on 2016 and all the challenges it may bring. Thanks Fmess your positive vibes worked.

Have watched Katie Hopkins diet before she does make some valid points. However my fridge is full of leftovers from yesterday dinner, turkey roast for me next two days. Will cut back from 11th January.

Bob you do need to have some me time with your Dh. Made a pact with a friend we are going to have a dress up event once a month,as tend to live in joggers when at home and go different places walking.

Might have a wee brew then walk as dry now. No payments for me today, will see how bank balance is tomorrow.

x_raphael_xx

1. We are aiming for maximum no spend days this month. Aiming for 21, today is my first NSD!

2. Pay to your [STRIKE]debt[/STRIKE] savings as soon as priority spends are complete. I get paid weekly, and there are 5 fridays this month, so I'm aiming to put an entire paycheck into savings.

3. [STRIKE]State your intentions[/STRIKE]. My overall goal is to have a 6 month emergency fund and to pay off my imminent mortgage as early as possible (still waiting on paperwork to go thru). I'm starting with baby steps of a 3 month EF, and a £1000 mortgage overpayment in my first year.

4. Check in every day. So far...so good

5. You will donate £5 to a good cause of your choice. I will probably donate to Childs Play. They get toys, books and games to children in hospitals. You can pick a certain hospital's wish list on Amazon and buy them something direct.

6. Plan your diary. My social life is usually visiting friends for cups of tea and a chat, so all good there. It is my birthday tomorrow so we're off to see Starwars at last. But it will be my only social cost all month.

7. Plan your grocery spends carefully. This month will be a 'suck it and see' to find out how much we spend on food, and to use it to more accurately set a challenge budget. We're planning on a healthier diet so we'll be cutting out a lot of snacks.

8. Get something for free! - Do birthday presents count?

9. [STRIKE]Earn extra[/STRIKE] - Working on Xmas and New Years means I get double pay

10. [STRIKE]Check your credit report[/STRIKE]- I'm clean

making my post long enough to post!