NST July - Own your choices

Bobarella

fmess it sounds like you have put a lot of thought into your purchase, & that is half the battle here isnt it. Mindful spending vs mind less. So bravo for that!

Clippy I dont know if your local library has a DVD rental scheme but ours does where you get 1 free dvd hire per 6 books you read and get reciepts for. Might be worth looking into for a cheap option next time?

Florence well done on your shoptize funds hope the BBQ goes well. Love BBQs

doingitanyway

I shop on Saturdays for food/household. Today I spent £13. No bargains (rare for me) just some toiletries. I could have purchased very reduced free range meat but I have enough so I left it for someone else.

I bought dark miso paste. It cost £4 but it enables me to make cheap vegan/veggie meals that ultimately save me money.

I got a free coffee and a free weekend paper from Waitr***

I have menu planned and will be okay for the week now

I was kind to a colleague. I offered to print out her letters because she was having tech issues

I didn’t exercise, not even walking, as I was late for work and had to use transport all the way to get there on time

MY TIP is to buy reduced items in Waitr***. Choose a very posh area. The free range and organic stock is very evident and the reductions are fantastic. No one is pushing or shoving. Very few people pick up reduced items as they are all well-off. For example, I left smoked venison on the shelf reduced from £10.99 to £2 as I’m not a fan of venison

I hope my fellow turtles are having a good evening
DIA

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

Here's my plan for the month:

1. My biggest financial failing is giving up when something doesn't go to plan. For example, when we had problems with our tenant a few months ago, I decided that there was no way we could stick to budget and instead of attempting to minimise the damage I went off the rails and spent over £200 in one day "since the budget was blown anyway". My plan to overcome this is firstly to build up a slush fund in the rent/mortgage account so that if we have tenant problems there is money to cover it. Secondly, I need to plan better and scrutinise the diary so that all upcoming events are planned for and don't unexpectedly creep up on me and ruin my budget plan. Thirdly, I will add some spends to my budget to cover a few days out and treats so that we don't feel totally deprived and don't feel the need to have a complete blow out later in the month.

2. I'm aiming for 18 NSDs.

3. My main plan for this year was to pay off my debt. I won't pay it off as soon as I hoped but am still on track to clear it by Christmas.

4. My goal is to be debt free, build savings and live in a house that we own. Ideally I would like to keep our rental property so that we have something for retirement/for the children when they are older.

5. Unfortunately, children go to school in a different town to where we live and I work in a different town again so walking is not an option. However, I try to park at the far end of the car park, take the stairs etc to get more active.

6. I already cut DH & DSs hair when they need it. I have occasionally paid to have my car cleaned so will make an effort to do this myself.

7. I will try my best to report in daily, although I have been completely rubbish at this recently.

8. I will actively look for opportunities to be kind.

Bobarella

Hi Turtles

Just checking in. I have had quite a good day. Walked to the post office first thing with baby bob in the pushchair, to post an ebay sale. That was a good 20 minutes either way plus the lift was broken in the post office so I had to leave the buggy on the ground floor and carry DD up 2 flights of stairs. They said its been like that 4 days now. I really feel for all the old people or disabled people who must not be able to use the post office closest to their homes right now. No good for benefits/pensions colections.

So thats another £7 earned on ebay. Which I have just rounded up to £10 & made a PAD with.

Got home to OH chatting to MIL on the phone, she is a lot more comfortable now on her pain meds, although still another 2 weeks to go till lasers. FIL is suffering a bit though with pain probably from his kidneys he says, & sitting on the sofa is hard so he has to buy a higher seat for more comfort.

Packed lunches for all of us to take out to son's dance class which is always over lunch. Probably saving us £15. Caught the bus into town where DS traded 3 computer games at CEX for £20.

We didnt have crisps to go with lunch so I went to Mr T where I found a 6 pack of the W crisps that had a broken outer shell so they had marked it down 35p! How silly as all the individual packs where sealed still.
I also had them add on some wombled reciepts whilst there.

On our way home I also visited Mr S where I bought 2 packs of YS cherry tomatoes for 11p each, & had them add on a 33 pointer.

Finally, have made dinner for everyone, we had a £3.50 chicken roasted served with oven chips & home made coleslaw (50p mayo, 40p whole pack of carrots, only used 1, & 40p cabbage) with salt pepper and cumin it was delicious, made tonnes & cost a fraction of 1 tiny shop bought tub. There is still quite a lot of chicken left and will make stock with the bones.

Have just listed another 3 ebay items before I clock off the moneysaving for today :T

I realised I didnt answer the challenge questions myself but one important component for me is moving towards minimalist living. I have done several rounds of Minsgame over the last 2 years which is a great motivational tool & fun too. I still live by that & try to never leave the house without removing an item or two for either charity shop (I keep a sack in the porch to constantly throw items into till its full) the recyling bin, bin or to pass on to others.
Everytime I make an ebay sale I move closer to that goal & Im not sure if that makes me more happy than the money

One of my favourite financial matters bloggers is Kathy Wolk-Stanley the Non Consumer Advocate. Her motto which I have adopted is ' Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without'
& that was a super long post!

Have a great saturday night all.

Bob

apple_muncher

I have bagged my first Nsd of the month.

The sch fair was pitiful as regards people buying my stuff. That has happened twice there, so I shall probably not bother doing their summer fair again. I didn't even make enough to cover the cost of the table, it was that bad. However, I can start on Christmassy things now!

juliejim

Evening All

Well I have been out today (a 13 hour day) with 700 Beavers although only 11 were mine. I'm sure that must qualify for making people happy as the Beavers had a great time. I'm just looking forward to my bed now!

NSD no 2 which I'm pleased about as although I had a look in the Scout camp shop I didn't buy anything.

Jue

Fmess

I hope you've all had a good day

1. This month I want you to have a good think about what your biggest financial failing is.


I think my biggest issue is being realistic. I want to be debt free and to live a lifestyle that keeps me out of debt however I also want to attend lots of social events, eat out etc. I feel like I fail every month because I have set unrealistic budgets. This will change from next month as I have already set this month's unrealistic budgets

2. This month I want you to set your own NSD target, but would hope for most to say 5 or higher.


16 for me

3. We are 6 months till the end of the year now. What decisions did you make back in January and how have you done with them so far? If you've gone off the rails, tell us now how you plan to sort it out. No more vague hopes for better futures the way to success is tight organised planning.


I said I would be debt free and I am currently 53.7% of the way there so quite pleased and on track.

4. Most of us have an idea of what perfection looks like. Dont be scared to visualise what that is for you. Tell your fellow turtles what you want from the future and how amazing it will be!


I would like to be debt free (except my mortgage and student loan).

5. Choose to get active. Can you leave the car at home completely and cycle or walk to work? A lot of our behaviour is habitual so challenge those negative reasons for not choosing a more active life.


I have started an exercise class once a week and will continue with this. I also walk the dogs every day or sometimes twice a day.

6. Consider doing more for yourself.


The only major thing I pay for is a dog walker but I only do this on the days I work as I am out for 8+ hours.

7. Report in daily with your updates and tips for others. Cat hit gold with her frugal daily frugal tips idea so do keep those coming if you have them.


Will do. Today's tip is to shop around and look for alternatives to much wanted items.

8. Choose kindness. There are many people out there who need our kindness. Find ways throughout the month to make those around you happier some how.



Will do.

Eager_Elephant

Thanks everyone for your good wishes - I feel ok today but am thinking of emailing Sains on Monday when I get to work (where I have left the other half of the food in it's packing so will have codes) to report what has happened just in case there is an issue with one of the products.


Would like to thank Florence J for her tip yesterday about the Shopitize app - I had a look at it today; after I had been shopping and realised that I had purchased 2 of the items so I followed the step by step guide and have earned 90p!!


Not read it fully so not sure when you cash out and probably not yet but all the small bits will add up so that's another little money earner.


Today has been a spend day - popped to the supermarket for food for charity event and got myself some bits and pieces including enough soya milk to last 3 weeks.
Also went out to charity event which we host (this is last one hosting) and although we spent £10 DS won £10 back on a bingo game so evens on that.


I think that might qualify as making people happy as we get lots of older people who come along to bingo and they are also so grateful for us running it and have a great time (although tonight they were a bit sad as will be the last one (for a while or maybe forever))

Calling14

Quick post for me as just managed to rub biofreeze into my eyes, after putting it on leg. Stupid idiot I am.

Yesterday a sfd. 1/20

Today had a catch up with friend cheap wethers tea out. :cool:

Disaster of day, mate came over to put curtain poles and I had bought wrong length. Luckily only opened one which I can reuse in my hall. Will take the other one back tomorrow but have to buy another one. Managed to get landing curtain rail up, had it since last October so result be snug in winter with curtains.

Shattered seem to have run up and downstairs all day, lots of jobs done. Think had enough exercise for today.

Bad luck Applemuncher with school fair, are xmas ones better?

Claimed £10 voucher with surveys and claimed a refund with talk talk, only 3.50 but hey ho better in my pocket.

Bobarella

Doingitanyway thanks for the great tips on W8rose. There are several on here who rave about them as a store. I dont have one that near by but there is one near my sons dance class so we do pop in sometimes. I find their essentials range no more expensive than basics in Mr S..I guess I have never been there at the right time for bargains though. Its interesting you feel the better off dont buy YS items though. could it more be the case that those who deliberately ignore bargains are in denial & likely to be focusing on image over common sense?

EE Glad you like the Shoptize App. Often they have competitions like win £100 amazon card if you upload your reciepts. They also give you a token 1p which is good if you grab a handful at the till doing that is good anyway then you can check if any of the items on offer have been bought & scan them too. Ive made a few £ that way before.

Apple sorry your fair didnt go well.

XSpender get better soon. Was really interesting reading all your aims for the year

Calling sounds like you need a bit of chill out time today.