NST - January. Bobs post bauble debt busting challenge

DawnW

I managed to use up a few bits today; a couple of giant HG parsnips, some cream that was chucked in the freezer over Christmas and had gone a bit grainy, a lettuce, some bought croutons (not even sure where they came from), half a lemon lurking in the fridge, a couple of apples, the last bit of a cucumber, some chicken from the freezer, some parmesan, streaky bacon bought for the turkey (frozen as there was some left over), and the last of the Christmas pud

This meant that I could avoid going to the shops to buy the few things on my list. I managed to make very nice meals without :T We had cream of parsnip soup for lunch, and chicken caesar salad for dinner, followed by Christmas pudding (for 2 of us) or an apple tart (made yesterday with scraps of leftover pastry) for OH, with cream

Now I wouldn't have wasted this food, but would have stuffed it, and newly bought stuff, into the fridge, larder and freezer :eek: I recognise that this tendency to stockpile is one of my problem areas to deal with I bought sooo much food before Christmas but haven't shopped once since :T

To be honest, I think I can make do again tomorrow, especially as I have small leftovers from yesterdays and today's meals which will do for lunch. Though I won't manage another NSD unfortunately as I have a hair appointment.

apple_muncher

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

Firstly I need to apologise as yesterday I did not declare a spend I had - I wanted to also explain why I would not counting these spends as spends.
I have quite a few animals including geese and a local baker rings occasionally and offers us the left over bread which the geese love. I have no control over when he will call and we have to take it when we can get it. I have a separate animal feed pot so spends come from there.
So just to clarify spends that DH makes and spends on animal feed will also not be counted as a spend for me - hope this is ok?

Hope everyone has had a good day.

Sounds perfectly fine! I don't count my dh's spends either, as he usually buys wine, beer and gluten-containing foods - none of which I will consume!

XSpender

My lovely NSD has been scuppered by DH who nipped out for some beers. I won't get one tomorrow either as DH needs some money to cover the team's gift he bought on NYE and to cover a football ticket bought by a friend. Maybe I shouldn't include his spends either;) Problem is all our money is in one account/one budget so it would be too difficult to track.

Not much done towards other goals today but should rack up a few NSDs next week when I am away with work.

I will also get 2 free breakfasts, 3 free lunches and 2 free dinners including a couple of items to take home. I could count this as my 'free' items but it would feel like cheating as I get this most weeks when I work away. Will see what else I can count instead.

Catwoman_2015

Belated Happy New Year turtles!!!

I must apologise as this is my first check-in/post of the year, but I have valid reasons for not doing so until now!

Instead of me donating £5 to a charity as this months' challenge suggests, I have done 2 shifts at the local homeless shelter this weekend. As well as having a much longer feel-good factor than giving a fiver, I felt more useful in myself which was a good confidence boost for this time of year when I typically have a bit of post-Christmas over-indulgence self-loathing going on.

I've managed 2 NSD's so far (I relented after one of my shifts at the shelter and instead of the 40min walk home in torrential rain I paid the £1.50 bus fare - was TOTALLY worth it to avoid being a grumpy drowned rat for the rest of the day).

I had a late Christmas meal and present exchange with relatives yesterday and did very well - I received perfume, posh toiletries for my very fussy eczema-prone skin (it makes me pretty miserable in the winter months) 2 healthy eating recipe books with lots of inspiration and an upcycled old Cath Kidston duvet cover to curtains (one of my relatives is super creative with sewing, I wish I'd gotten those genes!!!)

All in all a good start to the year. I work shifts with a strange pattern of when I have days off, so have 2 more days to myself to get on with some New Year deep cleaning of the house and meal planning/batch cooking before starting night shifts.

Haven't made any payment to the CC this year as living on a shoe-string until pay day this Friday - unexpected expense of emergency locksmith call out before Crimbo when I locked myself out of the house, has scuppered the budget by £94!!!

*Jellie*

Another NSD for me.
This week I'm hoping to do some analysis of my spending last year (I fell off the tracking wagon so will need to get the best picture I can from bank statements etc). I'm going to do some meal planning and batch cooking to try and make sure nothing bought for Christmas ends up binned. I'm also hoping to sort out my wardrobe for my next project 333 season (I 'shop my wardrobe' and select 33 items to wear for next 3 months). I'll keep a look out for items needing replacing or gaps and start to plan my next batch of sewing projects. I also need to start thinking about what I'll sell to make some cash for my stretch target.

Fmess

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

Firstly I need to apologise as yesterday I did not declare a spend I had - I wanted to also explain why I would not counting these spends as spends.
I have quite a few animals including geese and a local baker rings occasionally and offers us the left over bread which the geese love. I have no control over when he will call and we have to take it when we can get it. I have a separate animal feed pot so spends come from there.
So just to clarify spends that DH makes and spends on animal feed will also not be counted as a spend for me - hope this is ok?

Today was another NSD - we have been busy taking down the xmas decorations and I have been tidying the bedroom. I have hovered under the bed and also got rid of loads of towels and duvet sets to an animal rescue charity.

I have paid an extra £10 to my Halifax c/c - I found £10 on my desk an used that to pay for the bread we collected. Have just transferred the money out from the animal feed account and straight to the c/c - I don't want to include it on YNAB as I forget where it came from originally and its just tidier!!

Bring on tomorrow when all the DD's and SO's come out and I know whether I can pay more to the credit card tomorrow.

Hope everyone has had a good day.

I'd say that counts as a SFD. I have a dog walker who I pay once a week but as the amount varies, I can't set up a standing order but I still count it as a SFD if I buy nothing else.

Good day again today and long may they continue, although I'm back to work tomorrow. Had the usual back to work nightmares last night (any other teachers on here get them? Almost all my colleagues do) where the kids run riot or you lose your voice or done other calamity happens.

SFD number three today and I've ate less calories than burnt and moved more. Walked the dogs in the rain, cleaned the house and went for a swim so feeling like I've started well on the losing weight/being happy in my body.

Hope you all had a good day and there aren't too many back to work blues!

crazy_cat_lady

My school dreams always involve me getting caught by the Head doing something I shouldn't be doing :rotfl: usually leaving the classroom or swearing at/punching students.

themarsbargirl

Spend day here, but got some yummy reduced stuff at sainsbugs and an online simply cook box for £1....which I must remember to cancel next week!

Checked my noddle and I'm 5/5...which is good, but semi hilarious given I'm unemployed.

PurpleJay- I wouldn't worry about not having a fridge, I'd get a cool bag and ice blocks for taking lunches. As you can't reheat in your car, quiche, cold pasta, salads etc. Or invest in a wide necked thermos and then you can take stews, soups etc in with you to keep and eat in your car. Homemade flapjacks are easy to make and transport too.

Sallycat

Spend day today - cupboards stocked up. Have had 2 NSD's thus far.....will be back with goals etc....just need to have a read up......might be tomorrow if I fall asleep!

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

NSD here, bringing me to 2 so far.

Made an extra spend last night. We are going away for a short break in April. The hotel we want was priced at £135, but I found it for £65 last night so booked it before the price goes back up.

Had a lazy morning and didn't wake til 10.30 when DH brought me a coffee in bed. Had a clear out of my bedroom this afternoon. Binned lots and have listed 2 items for sale.

Made a big batch of bolognaise this afternoon. Bulked it out with onions, mushroom, grated carrot and some oats. DH pulled face when he saw what I was adding, but was well impressed with how much I made out of a small bag of mince. Got 2 lasagnes, plus a mini one for DH lunch in the week, and a large bolognaise. Had one of the lasagnes this evening and everyone loved it!

Have moved some money between accounts and transferred over £200 to savings. Not counting this as my stretch target though as it's not extra money, it was just sitting in a different account. Still aiming for an extra £100 to savings (which will all eventually be paid to cc).


Frozen drinks are great for putting in a lunch box to keep food chilled. I also second a flask for warm food. My little ones have food flasks for school when the weather is cold so they can have a warm meal. I borrowed one for a fair I did last month and was pleasantly surprised by how warm the food stayed.