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NST: May the NST force be with you

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  • Fmess
    Fmess Posts: 2,920 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Morning all, happy 1st of May :)

    Today is a SFD. I've got to pop out and pick up a couple of prepaid for items and going to dinner at my family's but nothing spendy. Already mowed both lawns, descaled the kettle and started on the cleaning and tidying.

    Hope you all have a lovely day.
    LBM = 07/09/13 Debt = £13339 (100% cleared)
    New roof and car £8557/£19003 New kitchen £396/£5039 Credit card Paid Student loan Paid
  • clippy_girl
    clippy_girl Posts: 2,283 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Debt-free and Proud!
    Morning all,

    Happy new challenge day!

    I've got a free social event as my friend is having a bbq so I just bought some tonic, limes and crisps during my weekly shop (have plenty of gin). Hope the weather holds out as its a lovely day :)

    Had a lazy morning with long bath and just given myself a gel manicure (I have the kit).

    Should be a NSD today so good start to the challenge :)

    Hope everyone has a lovely day x
    :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j
  • crazy_cat_lady
    crazy_cat_lady Posts: 7,063 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Good afternoon turtles :hello:
    Apologies again for the silence towards the end of April. Real life sometimes has a habit of getting in the way generally, and I've been poorly, run down and stressed out. Time to renew my focus and get back on track.


    •You will aim for 16 NSDs
    Not starting with a nsd because I've been topping up with petrol etc.
    •Budget the month ahead and pay your debts off at the beginning of the month. Live off what is left.
    Budget is done, and tight this month after April's overspends
    •Plan your social activities. As there are two bank holidays this month I suggest a maximum of 3 activities.
    I'm another one with no social life - however I do have 3 May birthdays to budget for.
    •Take your lunch to work every single day
    •Donate time or money to the charity of your choice
    •Try and make an extra £50 over the month, either by decluttering and selling, crafting or wombling
    Tutoring will help me do this fairly easily.

    •Every day post one thing that has made you happy today.
    Today I am happy that the weather has stayed mostly dry

    •Post one kind thing that you have done for someone else.
    Reassured my tutee about his concerns over physics

    •Post one frugal/moneysaving tip; budget recipe or bargain to share with the other turtles
    Today I am using stuffing from old pillows to stuff toys that I've crocheted. Brilliant tip from another person on this forum.


    Did we want an additional weekly challenge as well? If so then let me know and I shall get my thinking cap on.
  • SpekySquarehead
    SpekySquarehead Posts: 3,019 Forumite
    Photogenic Debt-free and Proud!
    Crazy Cat Lady - I think you've laid down a good challenge already and I don't think the extra workload for yourself is needed. You’ve already got me driven!

    Today is a NSD, great start to the month. I want to try and get as many NSD's in a row to set a bar for me to continually aim for.

    Good luck everyone with the May challenge! We're all in this together as they say in High School Musical.
  • Bobarella
    Bobarella Posts: 10,824 Forumite
    Savvy Shopper! I've been Money Tipped!
    edited 1 May 2016 at 5:35PM
    Hi All

    Cat with all you've had on it is an amazing thing to me that you are here AND running our challenge this month. You're like super woman. So no more apologies!

    It's been super sunny in London today and actually too hot at times. Amazing after the week we've just had.

    Not a NSD but a LSD. £3.80 on groceries and £4 on ice creams. I don't know if it counts as a kind thing but there is a new ice cream shop in our neighbourhood. It's a tiny place and I am worried as to how they will break even. We decided to support them today by buying 3 cones in various flavours. The ice cream was good so if it stays open it will hopefully be some where we can walk for the odd treat.

    My tip for the day, I cooked our spag bol meal tonight using a 500g pack of minced pork for £1.26 YS. Pork mince is nearly always cheaper than beef mince so if you don't mind a slightly different flavour in your lasagne, shepards pie , chilli etc then try switching to pork for some of your meals. And if you can get it YS then jobs a good un.
    " Your vibe attracts your tribe":D

    Debt neutral :) 27/03/17 from £40k:eek: in the hole 2012.
    Roadkill 17 £56.58 2016-£62.28 2015- £84.20)
    RYSAW17 £1900 2016 £2,535.16 2015 £1027.20
  • mothernerd
    mothernerd Posts: 4,858 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Debt-free and Proud!
    A NSD for me.

    Being kind to others - only seen DS3 all day, does it count that I let him sleep. Also did not complain when he said I couldn't have one of his chips.

    Frugal - have been eating from the fridge all day, using up odds and ends. I have been having ham wraps with cucumber (lettuce has run out) and 3 cherry tomatoes halved. Ham and cucumber have now run out so have used a scraping of tuna with a lot of celery - chopped 2 heads into celery sticks and left the ends (to mix with apple). An older head of celery is going to be diced finely and put in a cooked dish, possibly butter bean casserole as the carrots are also gone.

    Yesterday and today I have had half a takeaway meal (DS3 bought it on Thursday, I think, didn't want spare ribs and wanted something to add to his order to get free delivery - I suggested noodles but he bought this instead) but have added a whole pepper (bought ys of course) to the 1/2 meal to bulk it out and make it healthier.

    I have done 2 loads of washing and tackled a load of washing up. many trips to the bins with recycling of various types (wet and miserable out there). Not sure if it is frugal or slobby, but have worn a cardigan over my nightie all day (with wellies added for outside) as the rest of my clothes are in the wash.

    Several hours of paid (currently unpaid - self-employed) work done. Trying to get some birth samplers completed to display and then names and details can be added to customers requirements. Added two elephants to Noah's Ark and relieved to be done - using very pale blue material and white, pale blue and silvery grey threads are only usable in good daylight. Stormy weather cut down on usable hours - colour matching is best done in natural light.

    Today I am grateful for peace and quiet, I like DS3's visitors but glad when they go home too
    clear worktops - had to keep going back to do another batch of pots and then found more (mainly knives and other tools) as I moved round
    I am enjoying seeing this design coming together - must move on to some more original work but there is satisfaction in using up.
    My mission in life is not only to survive,but to thrive and to do so with some Passion, some Compassion, some Humour and some Style.
    NST SEP No 1 No Debt No mortgage
  • 32b3in2013
    32b3in2013 Posts: 2,470 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Good evening

    I'm looking forward to this challenge this month. I need something to focus on. It wasn't a NSD, as I forgot to buy a hair dye yesterday, but I am hopeful for tomorrow :D


    one thing that has made you happy today
    .

    My niece, she is really funny, she called in on her way home from work to pay me some money she owed me and she really makes me laugh. We are a close family, but sometimes life gets in the way, so I will make an effort this month to talk to all of my nieces and nephews.

    one kind thing that you have done for someone else
    .

    I drove my niece to her house, and then to her friends house to save her money on her Oyster card. I got rewarded at my sisters house with some chocolate and banana cake which had just come of of the oven :j

    one frugal/moneysaving tip; budget recipe or bargain to share with the other turtles

    Bacon and egg cups

    Line a muffin tin with bacon, mix some cottage cheese, grated cheese and a couple of eggs together, season and pour into the bacon lined muffin tins. Cook for about 15-20 mins (or until the smoke alarm goes off in my case :eek: ). Lovely either hot or cold and they keep for a few days in the fridge in a box.
    SPC9 #125 - £816.85
    SPC10 #125 - £851.81
    SPC 11 #7 - £968.46
    SPC 12 #7 - £2682.90
    SPC 13 #7 - £4829.85
    SPC 17 #7 - £7313.63
  • greent
    greent Posts: 10,798 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks for the challenge, ccl :)


    I haven't updated the April one yet, but here goes for May!

    NST: May Rules




    • You will aim for 16 NSDs - hopefully achievable....
    • Budget the month ahead and pay your debts off at the beginning of the month. Live off what is left.
    • Plan your social activities. As there are two bank holidays this month I suggest a maximum of 3 activities. Try not to be impulsive. - waaaah! No need to be impulsive - I already have 3 close family birthdays (mum, sister's 40th and DS3's 7th), Bestie's husband's birthday, monthly pub night with friends (cheap, though - usually about £10 for the 2 of us) and an afternoon tea (although we have a prepaid voucher - but apparently need to pay for top ups of tea at this venue)
    • Take your lunch to work every single day - on the days when I'm working a longer shift I will take food in :)
    • Donate time or money to the charity of your choice - I have a monthly DD to one and volunteer several hours a week (min) to another
    • Try and make an extra £50 over the month, either by decluttering and selling, crafting or wombling - will try and sell things to achieve this

    • Every day post one thing that has made you happy today.
    • Post one kind thing that you have done for someone else.
    • Post one frugal/moneysaving tip; budget recipe or bargain to share with the other turtles


    Something which has made me happy today - burning confidential waste in the chiminea tonight :D
    I donated a whole bin of 2yo compost to my mum - OH filled up tubs for her with it - to save her buying some
    Frugal tip - Make your own compost from garden waste, food waste (fruit peel, potato peelings, tea leaves etc) - good for the garden and saves buying some. No need to buy accelerator to get it off to a start, either - get someone to wee in the bin! :)
    I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul
    Repaid mtge early (orig 11/25) 01/09 £124616 01/11 £89873 01/13 £52546 01/15 £12133 07/15 £NIL
    Net sales 2024: £20
  • apple_muncher
    apple_muncher Posts: 15,247 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    A new month and a fresh start. Got an exercise session in first thing (had to be a Hands Free one as I have injured my right wrist), and it was my first NSD.

    Today I am grateful for dd + neighbour enjoying being together, for my bunting ideas actually working, for money chats with dh, for the snooker, for good coffee.

    I chatted with a friend at church about her Littlr son, who seems to be coeliac - explaining the endoscopy scenario and what they look for.

    Got the washing dried outside and ate leftovers for tea.
    NST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!
  • dizzyblnd
    dizzyblnd Posts: 584 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Nsd#1 today. I went swimming n ate all meals from stores.
    Helping someone else: I helped my sister take some garden waste to the local tip.

    I can't believe it's May! 5 months of this year has flown.
    Mortgage free wannabee 2022 #82
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