NST - January. Bobs post bauble debt busting challenge

jeanangeo

Wow, I've been so busy with work I haven't checked in for daaaaaaaaays.

I'm still on track but dropped an NSD today because I didn't stick to a shopping list. It's my birthday tomorrow and I had pre-selected the customary office goodies. However, in store I got a few extra bits because they looked yummy. No NSD for me today!

I've been super good the rest of the time though so I'm happy enough. Counting down the days to payday and my next mortgage OP. Thanks to this forum it will be a nice one.

Hope everyone is doing OK. I've finished work for the evening and so I will be doing some catch up.

Have a good night turtles!

themarsbargirl

Bobarella wrote: »

Themarsbargirl do you find it rewarding the voluntary work that you do?

Interesting question Bob. I used to, and once I'd got confident enough to not take dad with me the routine and getting me out of the house was a godsend. But recently it's been feeling more and more of a chore, and I don't know if that's because I'm getting bored of it or because my mental health has been seriously downgrading for the last month or so to the point that you could say you were talking me to one of the American diners for pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and I'd be more likely to go meh and hide back under my duvet than squee and get excited about it.
Wow, I think I'm more depressed than I realise.

Bobarella

themarsbargirl wrote: »

Interesting question Bob. I used to, and once I'd got confident enough to not take dad with me the routine and getting me out of the house was a godsend. But recently it's been feeling more and more of a chore, and I don't know if that's because I'm getting bored of it or because my mental health has been seriously downgrading for the last month or so to the point that you could say you were talking me to one of the American diners for pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and I'd be more likely to go meh and hide back under my duvet than squee and get excited about it.
Wow, I think I'm more depressed than I realise.

I'm sorry to hear that. I really hope you feel better soon. This time of year is so hard. The cold and early darkness. Less opportunities to be outside. Even if you do give it up you've probably helped so many people anyway.

Bobarella

TOG - that is a brilliant story. Thank you for sharing. It is awful being so broke you don't know how you'll get to work. Or not break down on the motor way.

WelshKitty - I didn't realise they did overnight stays for young children. I'd be the same as you. My son is 7 now and I haven't let him stay over anywhere on his own except once he did at his grandparents and was home sick. I home yours will come home full of stories those curries sound marvellous.

Jeanangeo - it's great that you can pinpoint that not using a shopping list lost you a NSD. How is the temptation for takeaway food going now?

Hope everyone is ok this morning. We actually had a decent night and I don't feel too tired. Onwards!

The_Only_Girl

Bobarella wrote: »

TOG - that is a brilliant story. Thank you for sharing. It is awful being so broke you don't know how you'll get to work. Or not break down on the motor way.

WelshKitty - I didn't realise they did overnight stays for young children. I'd be the same as you. My son is 7 now and I haven't let him stay over anywhere on his own except once he did at his grandparents and was home sick. I home yours will come home full of stories those curries sound marvellous.

Jeanangeo - it's great that you can pinpoint that not using a shopping list lost you a NSD. How is the temptation for takeaway food going now?

Hope everyone is ok this morning. We actually had a decent night and I don't feel too tired. Onwards!

Hi Bob, indeed it was horrible. Hopefully it's a thing of the last now.

Welshkitty, I can't help but drool over the thought of your curry and homemade naan bread Sounds delish.

The_Only_Girl

Hi all, hope you all had a good night. I'm heading off to work but I thought I'd share with you an article that I shared in my local DFW group in FB:

A company's job is to make money. It is NOT there to help you; it is NOT your friend. Companies spend billions on advertising, marketing and teaching their staff to sell; all to make you PART WITH YOUR CASH, even when you shouldn't.

Here are some classical examples of how supermarkets in particular make you part with your hard earned cash:

1. STORE LAYOUT - The items that you normally buy - bread and milk - tend to be sprinkled around the store, so you have to pass (and be lured) by many other tempting goodies to complete your shopping.

2. FOOD SMELLS - Delicious food smells regularly waft through the store (freshly baked bread, roast chicken). Of course, when you're hungry, you buy more food. Try not go shopping when you're hungry.

3. DON'T LOOK AT EYE LEVEL. The most profitable stock (famous brands or premium items) is placed at eye-level (or children's eye-level if it's targeted at them); yet profitable good FOR THE STORES tend not to be the best deals for shoppers, so the adage "look high and low for items" really does apply here.

4. NOT ALL SALES ARE SUPPER! While grapes and other attractive products may be placed near the front of the stores to entice you in with a genuine bargain, the same signage and displays will be used elsewhere to promote deals, yet mightn't be competitive. Bright colours and the word "discount" or "sale" makes us feel good, yet the reduction may be pennies, and cheaper equivalent products may still be hidden on the shelf.

5. SPOT THE SWEETS AND MAGAZINES by the till. These are impulse buys, so putting them near the till gives the stores one last attempt to grabs our cash. Kids can nag their parents for goodies too. It works it's magic especially when the queue to the till is long.

Everything about the store - everything you can smell, see and hear - geared towards making you spend. Over the years they've honed it to get your money. This is where you're up against, everywhere you spend! Be aware of it and you automatically start to lessen the impact.

Ask yourself, "Do I really want it or am I just a victim of their marketing schemes and spending money I'd be better keeping?"

- Martin Lewis

Save those NSD's!

dolly84

TOG - thanks for sharing that story.

Bob - I will make sure the bike purchase will not affect our DFD, we will just have to work harder.

It is really foggy here today so I will by cycling indoors but dog walking outdoors later. We will be grocery shopping today but should still be well within budget. Other than that there isn't much going on here, kids are out at clubs tonight but that is budgeted for, DS wants a school lunch tomorrow (special one) so I will load the money on parentpay today but it will come from the grocery budget.

I changed my mobile to sim only this week which has saved me £2/month, I'm not interested in phones as toys, I only want to be able to text and call so I've no interest in upgrading plus we have a couple of spare phones hanging about if I need one.

Bobarella

I want to switch to sim only too at the end of my contract. Only thing is finding a nice handset. Suppose I could do an eBay purchase couldn't I.

x_raphael_xx

Bobarella wrote: »

Must be great for saving! Plus nights are better paid I understand?

It's only about 35p more an hour, but a lot quieter, so I pretty much get paid for reading. Only downside is my bf finishes work at 4, which is when I start my shift, so for 3 days I don't see him apart from a sleepy 5 minute conversation when I get home at midnight.

NSD no. 13 for me today, last day of nights then a day off tomorrow. I plan on staying firmly in my PJs and gaming with my friend over the internet.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a good chat with a colleague, for a lunchtime walk, for talking finance stuff with dh, for a lovely friend having dd, for my knitting.