NST June Challenge

apple_muncher

Thank you thrifty for running the challenge. I enjoy the different flavour each month.

Eager_Elephant

Fmess wrote: »

I love big dogs, although I'm not very tall so if I got my dream dog (Great Dane) it's almost be taller than me.

:rotfl:


I love Great Dane's but not sure my house or bed is big enough!!

Eager_Elephant

Thanks thrifty for a great challenge in June - I think we have all done ok and carried on to the end of the month. We are all Turtle Troopers!!!

Quick round up:

• Minimum of 20 NSDs. (It’s a long month) This challenge does NOT include rent / mortgage/ DD payments/preplanned regular spending like afterschool club or medicine. – It’s going to be tough but I need to get a grip again. Managed 15 this month.

* Pay your debt first and budget with the rest. – Have my debts on minimum payments DD’s or standing order. Debt to son is finished this month so £100 more to chuck at another debt. Extra £100 will go towards DH as owe him £550 still so that will be clear by September.

• All monetary outgoings are to be accounted for prior to the start of the month. This includes anything from direct debits and standing orders to a basic amount for dinner dates that have already been planned. – Just done my YNAB and have accounted for every penny!! All good, over in some categories but took back from others.

• Utilise any random food left in cupboards / freezers etc and get creative, think twice before going out for a food shop. Only need milk and bread, stick to that. Make a list for a bigger shop and don’t go shopping hungry – Was only saying to DH last week that we need to run the cupboards and freezers down. I emptied Freezer 2 into Freezer 3 and have defrosted it as the hinges on the lid broke and the ice formed round the lid so it wouldn’t close. Need to buy hinges on next spend day and then buy bread/milk on next shopping day. I have a pack of blueberries which have been in my freezer for about 3 years – I will use them up this month!! Hinges only ordered yesterday, I have emptied the freezer in the house and defrosted everything that hadn’t been used in 2 years!!! Blueberries went to chickens (4 years in freezer!!), lamb liver went into a pate (4 years in freezer), fish cakes cooked up and given to dogs (think 2 years in freezer). Will in future inly buy things we will use and eat.

• Batch cooking is encouraged- meals that require individual or specialised ingredients are not unless you already have them. – Usually do enough for main evening meal and 1 lunch. Definitely need to make granola this month, luckily I got maple syrup when it was reduced to £1 a bottle. Granola made and eaten within a few day- should have made more!

• No foods are to be purchased at work canteens / cafes etc. If you are having a family day out take packed lunches. (this will be hard with a non-MSE DH like mine) – no canteen at work but am right in town and the temptation is huge! I think I resisted temptation except on 1 occasion which is not too bad!

• Only supermarket own brands are encouraged unless there is really sth you despise like the coffee and can’t live without the brand (like my DH). Get it delivered to prevent impulse buys… the delivery charge will outweigh impulse buys and any green-eyed monster issues you make incur. Use Aldi and LIDL, if you haven’t tried them yet you might be positively surprised. – Did have Lidl voucher to use this weekend but realised no freezer space so did not use it, should be another one in the paper before end of month and can then stock up freezer 2. Odd bits of shopping done so could use up bits and pieces from cupboards etc. My prediction was right, I have 2 Lidl vouchers to use!

• No non-essential beauty items are to be purchased. Use up everything you have in the house before ANY purchases• Beauty purchases are to remain under £5 for the month if you are truly out of resources. Challenge yourself - join www.bzzagent.co.uk and see what you can get for free. (Tesco/Lidl/Aldi sell shampoo and conditioner for 75p or less each by the way). - .- need mascara and eye liner, will go to Superdrug as they are cheapest. Got my mascara and eye liner – think it cost £8.

• Reduce smoking in this month by half. I know this is a difficult one so I can’t be too harsh as I’m stuck myself on quitting the last two a day (this is a rather personal challenge, so ignore if N/A). – luckily I don’t smoke.

• Try and eat at least one frog this month, a giant one (for the uninitiated it means dealing with sth that you have been putting of for ages for various reasons) – I need to get my bedroom sorted, it is still a dumping ground although I am clearing it slowly. One frog I did at the weekend was to sort all the coats, everything has been washed and I have found homes for unloved coats so the coat/shoe cupboard looks great. Did most of bedroom on week off and it’s looking better but still a mess. More tidying to be done.

• And last but not least: Combat overwhelmed-ness : There just aren’t enough hours in the day, right? I’m guilty myself of easily being overwhelmed. I write endless lists of things that need doing but realistically are unachievable. – I am guilty of wanting to do so much when in reality after work I just want to veg out. I am trying to get the family sorting as we go and putting things away. Hopefully it will sink in. I am going with the flow, if I am home early I try to do some bits and pieces but if I am home after 6.30pm I don’t bother doing too much and I feel a lot better for it. The rest of the household are mainly picking up behind themselves.

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

Wow, can't believe we are at the end of another month. Thank you thrifty for running the challenge this month. Sorry I have been completely hopeless, failed with checking in and failed with keeping track of NSDs. One things for sure though - things would have been a lot worse it it wasn't for these challenges.

See you in July!

dizzyblnd

Thanks thrifty for running June and I'm looking forward to Bob's July.

mothernerd

Thank you for the thread thrifty. The combating over-whelmedness has been especially helpful as I have often stopped the panic and thought about my priorities before proceeding. Some things fell by the wayside at times but always better to be 'in' and do your best, most of it works most of the time.

Spent money today (should have spent more, I intended going to the SM as nothing in for breakfast, out of bananas, yoghurts, cheese spread and wanted healthy food and a tin stock up - a bookface thread says the SM are selling tin toms and beans (pulse ones) at 5 for a £1 so definite stock up time).

Local history day - we completed reading someone's dissertation on the development of our local hospitals up to Nationalisation. A bit heavy going (we like books with old photographs in) but very interesting as a background. Went back later for free Indian head Massage (got rid of all those painting induced kinks in my neck, back and shoulders).

Tried to do some paperwork but failed to get an insurance quote as I don't fall into their employment categories - may try again when I feel stronger, see if I can squeeze myself into something anonymous.

Today I am grateful for mostly dodging the rain, for awesome Indian head massage and for interesting friends (we oddballs have to stick together).

Fmess

Thanks for the challenge thrifty. I have really found the not being overwhelmed helpful as have caught myself being overwhelmed and getting a bit anxious several times and by recognising it, I've managed to talk myself out of it. Thank you

Spendy day today as 'needed' chocolate yoghurts for my sore throat.