NST June Challenge

thriftylass

Wellcome to the new contestants.

I got paid today and have now paid 42% off. Will go over the 50% mark in July, exciting.

• Minimum of 20 NSDs. (It’s a long month) Just realised that number was planned for May which was a long month, och well, love a challenge. I usually shop on a Tue and Sat so might manage
• All monetary outgoings are to be accounted for prior to the start of the month. Done
• Utilise any random food left in cupboards / freezers etc and get creative, think twice before going out for a food shop. Ordered Tesco for pick up today, should do us for a while and complements what we still have
• Batch cooking is encouraged In summer it means usually taking dinner leftovers for lunch rather than cooking a big beef stew
• Only supermarket own brands are encouraged Only buy branded cat food and coffee on offer, other things are own brand or Aldi/Lidl
• No non-essential beauty items are to be purchased. and Beauty purchases are to remain under £5 for the month if you are truly out of resources. Needed new shampoo, got a big 900 ml bottle for £2.50
• 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). Need to work harder on this
• Try and eat at least one frog this month, Will get in contact with the consulate this week to make appointment to change my name
• And last but not least: Combat overwhelmed-ness : started that, chores will be prioritised and left if not essential, but replaced with little things like half an hour in the garden, things I enjoy and get satisfaction/ a sense of achievement from, will make a list for the month and pick one small thing a day/ bigger thing a week

Buffythedebtslayer

thriftylass wrote: »

Back to basics with the rules

• This will commence at 00:01 on the 01/06/2016 and complete at 23:59 on the 31/06/2016.

• 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.

NSD are tough.....but ok. 20 it is

* Pay your debt first and budget with the rest.

500 to go off the debt tomorrow

• 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.
My payments are all set up and I am not planning on more than 3 nights out this month especially inc eI am in the boot!!

• 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

this is already under way with freezer surprise featuring in the meal planning had my last take away today!!

• Batch cooking is encouraged- meals that require individual or specialised ingredients are not unless you already have them.
hmm I am not a good cook!

• 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)
That should be doable, but I welcome new lunch ideas.......

• 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.

already a fairly decent fan of own brands...
• No non-essential beauty items are to be purchased. Use up everything you have in the house before ANY purchases.

yep. can do that.
• Beauty purchases are to remain under £5 for the month if you are truly out of resources. Challenge yourself - join https://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).

yep, that is ok. I don't need anything at the moment

• 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).

not a problem

• 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) – for me this will be making DH see the light. I might not make him a MSE convert but I would like him to be more sensible and understanding when it comes to money matters so we’re singing of the same hymn sheet as he is just so blase about it,
My second frog might be a trip (or the planning of it) to the German consulate to finally change my name (basically involves my whole family and about 2 dozen documents travelling to Edinbugh, mental)

Finish decluttering and organising my life!!

• 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. So my aim this month is to do just one little thing a day and one slightly bigger thing a week on top of everyday stuff without beating myself up about the other 132 things I could’ve/should’ve done too. I.e. pick sth up that belongs in another room but has been stranded in the kitchen since Christmas. Can’t find any matching socks, take the 5-10 min and go through your sock drawer and reunite them, bin holey ones etc. You get the idea.

And finally, blossom, enjoy life, there is too much negativity pumped into us through the media etc. Slow down. It’s nearly half way through the year and it just passed me by. Do sth everyday that makes you happy, even the smallest thing counts…..

Yep like the last two as well.

apple_muncher

I've also been wondering where stewby has got to. So if you are reading this, stewby, hope you are okay.

dizzyblnd

Can I join please thrifty? Loved the last few months challenges and need June to be just as good money-wise. I'll do my budget later. I would like to book some fun goings on for later in the year as I like to have something to look forward to.

thriftylass

All noted to post 35. Hope I didn't miss anyone!?

See you tomorrow.

Fmess

apple_muncher wrote: »

I've also been wondering where stewby has got to. So if you are reading this, stewby, hope you are okay.

I was wondering this just this morning! stewby are you lurking?

Eager_Elephant

Goals for June:


• 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.

* 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.

• 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!!

• 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!!

• 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.

• 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!

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Dizzy_Imp

OK, here are my June pledges

thriftylass wrote: »

• Minimum of 20 NSDs. Groan...I might fall at the first hurdle...
* Pay your debt first and budget with the rest. Of course!
• 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. All accounted for as of tonight...tick
• 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 I did a big shop today so shouldn't need much for a while.
• Batch cooking is encouraged- meals that require individual or specialised ingredients are not unless you already have them. I have no freezer ATM, so sadly can't do this, but I will use up leftovers in a creative fashion.
• No foods are to be purchased at work canteens / cafes etc. If you are having a family day out take packed lunches. I'm a SAHM, but I already pack lunches for those venturing out.
• Only supermarket own brands are encouraged. I rarely buy brands now, so this should be easy to do, with luck
• No non-essential beauty items are to be purchased.Deal
• Beauty purchases are to remain under £5 for the month if you are truly out of resources. Shouldn't need anything, so good here too.
• Reduce smoking in this month by half...(this is a rather personal challenge, so ignore if N/A). Don't smoke, so N/A
• Try and eat at least one frog this month, Gulp...I have a pond full of these...
• And last but not least: Combat overwhelmed-ness : I will certainly try

And finally, blossom, enjoy life...Do sth everyday that makes you happy, even the smallest thing counts…..

Absolutely!

sunshine&showers_2

Hi guys

Newbie here, just signed up today 😊 Decided 1st June is my starting point so can I join the challenge please?

Bobarella

Morning

The weather here is a bit better today thank goodness as I got soaked through yesterday.

I am following the Flylady thread at the moment to combat 'overwhelmedness' I have to say I am liking the concept of having a specific day to do things. It definately throws out jobs I wouldnt have thought of. Off to check todays tasks shortly.

Its day 3 of half term here, OH is WFH and has been helping with DS so far. Today we are letting him go to a local activity day which is costing £15. But he loves it there and they do loads with them. Lunch will be packed lunch from home.

I have already paid to my debts this month, & savings. Finances are tight this month so I may not pay off much more. Although I have watchers on my ebay item - a childrens Disney Toy Story outfit. So that might bring in a few quid..

I just wish I could get some sleep....DD is teething (has 2 partially through) & she is waking every 1.5 hours. We've been trying to stick to the bath/feed/bed routine into cot to try and keep things consistent. But she usually wakes again before 9pm. Then a lot through the night. I ended up wedged in her cot bed with her last night trying to feed her back to sleep but it was so uncomfortable I brought her in with us which is no good really as it just becomes an all night mummy buffet. Good job she is cute but so zzzzzz.

Right enough moaning. On with the day. Pinch Punch. White Rabbits and No returns!

Bob