NST - January. Bobs post bauble debt busting challenge

misstara

NSD 14 yesterday, today should also be one. I'm with ccl in the way I count NSDs.

Payday yesterday so I'm now up to over 70% of the debt paid off :j :j :j Almost made my stretch target for the month as well and will be able to put a bit more towards it next Friday

dolly84

Calling - hope you feel better soon.

We had a movie night last night, we watched Everest which I rented from the library for £2 (it was £4.45 or something on Sky), it was very good and we all enjoyed it. We had hm pizza for tea and then pretzels and matchmakers from our christmas raffle prize box whilst we watched the movie.

We have decided as a family that we are not spending any money outside of our budgets this weekend. We need to fill my car up which will be within budget and also get some cream to fill a cake we are baking but apart from that we ain't spending owt. I think it's good for the kids (and me) to do this.

Calling14

Thanks Dolly84.

I count all my spends,food, Fuel, going out. Don't count any cc payments or mass of regular dd which hit bank act.

Still feverish and shaking. Had the weirdest dreams last night.

Need to pop out for milk and eggs maybe later.

Paid off another £100 to cc.

Looks as if I should get £30 from MSE energy club this week,happy dance not a can can however.

Have a good day folks x

Eager_Elephant

Yesterday was a NSD taking me up to 12 (I think).


Today may be a spend day as I am off to a jumble sale shortly to see if I can get the dog some cuddly toys.


Re - the NSD discussion - this is my first month of being a Ninja Saving Turtle and I am loving the challenge.
I started off with everything I spend (except DD's/SO's/bill payments) would be counted as a spend day and then a few days in I changed it so that money spent on bread for my animals would not count as I cannot control when the bakery would ring me to collect.
I am also not counting car parking/bus fares as I set aside £20pm - usually I would not use it but DH was off work last week ill and I had to pay to park all week so that would have lost me 5 spend days but if I didn't park I wouldn't be able to work.


I expect as the challenge goes on I might think differently but I am happy with my own rules I have made for myself.


I do look on some others who have loads of NSD's and feel a pang of envy but then I know their lifestyle is different to mine and actually this challenge is for myself and not against others.


Prior to starting this challenge I would spend every day - at work in the week I would pop in to the shop and get some lunch or bits of food shopping and at weekends we would get a bigger shop.


In December I decided to move back to a monthly food delivery and fruit/veg purchased on one day of the week and this challenge has really helped. (Feb will be a lot better as we were using up bits from the cupboards from Dec spends for Jan)


By starting this challenge it has really made me think about my spends and planning to spend on things I need all on one day - I am loving the challenge and hope to join for many more months.


Hope you all have a great weekend - the sun is shining here in Suffolk!!!

Bobarella

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

Spend day today as planned - got my friend her gift (great bargain in Debenhams, handbag reduced from £95 to £28.50) plus got some crisps ready for work next week.


Hoping tomorrow will be a NSD.

Great bargain!

Bobarella

jeanangeo wrote: »

Hi to everyone, late post for me again. NSD for me today. I think that makes 19. However, I think I am going to change the way I count them because the majority of people are not counting designated spend days as far as I can tell...? I'd rather stick with common convention than not... Does anyone have any thoughts on this...?

A lot of us seem to be suffering towards the end of the month so I just wanted to say a few words.

You are all amazing. Never forget it, no matter how hard things seem.

While the rest of the world is easing their pain spending, you are toughing it out, doing the best you can to try and turn your finances around.

That isn't easy even when things are going well. When a person is miserable, stressed and struggling, it's almost impossible.

You are all amazing for still being here on this thread. You have survived the dark, wet and cold and are still standing.

The force is strong in you.

Hang on, wrong film.... But you get the gist I hope...

Fab post. Really motivational

Bobarella

So I thought I would just see who may fancy hosting the thread for Fab uary :)the next fabulous month on our NST list. Anyone anyone Bueller??

Flee_2

Count me in for February.
What a great thread.

Good luck to you all this month.

chocolatelover93

Hi everyone
Not been keeping track sorry feel like I've definitely let things go a bit this month!!
Although did do rather well bagging (couldn't resist) a free bag at work today they were giving them away to customers for free because they are Christmas themed. It's a really nice one you can put chilled and frozen bits in so quite pleased with that

mothernerd

I feel guilty that I haven't volunteered for a while. I would prefer to do March - things might be on a more even keel by then and I think I did February last year, don't want to just do a re-run. Will do March if someone has a good idea for a theme for February but I can do February at a push. I think I can, I know I can.

I have spent today. I bought some curtains for mum and they had re-stocked with the shelf supports I need so bought those as well. I haven't been reporting diy spends because I had a £50 budget for last month and didn't use it. Now I think I may be slightly over budget - this is the second lot of shelf supports and yesterday I bought a small tin of hammerite to freshen up the 30 year old brackets as they have been languishing in the shed at the other house for the past 8 years. Still not bad as I think originally we spent £50 for each shelf run (2 alcoves and one short wall, first went up when DS1 was six months old and he's 31 in March) and this spread (under the stairs) is twice as wide. I want a short set in the kitchen as well but the under stairs ones are easier, just need to get on with it.

I have had a fairly lazy day today, ankle was throbbing enough to put a support bandage on (too much standing/ walking around yesterday). The big bungalow move is happening on Monday. Yes I talked everyone out of this last week as the improvements (neither mum or her partner can get in a bath and that is all the bungalow has) and safety measures are not in place. However when I went yesterday the kitchen was mostly boxed up and a van has been booked for Monday.

I did get them to adopt my star system - I had bought coloured stars and we worked out a code, green for items going to the bungalow, red for disposal (hopefully to someone who needs it/ charity), purple for broken items, yellow being sold and orange going to another family member. I have now seen the bungalow (bedrooms are too small) and I checked the toilet placement. I mentioned other things on my checklist and hope they will get done (photographing the meters in case of a dispute but the previous owner had taken the meter cupboard key and the padlock that was supposed to keep the garden safe and stop mum's partner wandering off). However I can't control all the lunatics in the asylum (mum's partner's children) so Monday is shaping up to be a fun day. Mum's partner is also being released from hospital on Monday.

Mum may come in a taxi tomorrow to look at some wardrobes I have looked at and described today. They could be delivered or possibly picked up on Monday (no idea how big the van is or whether more than one trip is being done). I am out of the loop which upset me very much yesterday but I'm calmer today. Mum is so nasty to me at times. I have got most of the contents of mum's button box which was one of the few things I care about.

Sorry for the moan.

So I had a relaxing morning and have found an old black and white film to watch (thanks to those who had film nights yesterday for the idea). Still enough food in the freezer to get through the week, but could do with adding more veg for variety. Will see how the week pans out. I still have some things on my to do list but will have to see if I have any energy left/ can move at all after the move. Will try not to be in the same room as the son who was insisting the wardrobe they have 'could fit' in the new bedroom (if it's taken apart and rebuilt and they have the bedroom door permanently open, maybe). Always keep hold of your sense of humour, turtles, it's a great survival tool.

Today I am grateful for shops having what I needed (even though I was trying not to spend), for DS3 taking over on parcel watch duty when I was desperate for a nap and for clothes that fit and don't embarrass me in public (need a clothes cull, some things I love but they are worn to death and it's time for an honest appraisal). Hopefully by weekend the extra money I have been waiting for will become available and I will be a little more relaxed (so long since I have had money for anything other than essentials and some of those have been rationed).