NST August: Cut the chaff

greent

Results for August: (must try harder.....)

Cut the chaff
… on food: not by deprivation but by replacing one ‘baddie’ with a ‘goodie’. - less biscuits, choc, cake and more fruit - mixed results here. Overall probably just about in favour of the goodies.
… on wants v needs: each time you don’t buy a ‘want’ keep a tally of money not spent and add it all up at the end. - am not a major impulse spender but will do this - didn't keep a tally. But didn't spend on unwanted items of 'stuff' when on hols (children had a few things but it was things like Lego, Harry Potter items, rather than lots of bits of random tat) Most other spending has been on school uniform and shoes! I don't think I bought anything for myself (clothes, toiletries etc) and the only house purchase I can remember was a purple palate knife (still unused.....:o)
… on exercise: make a plan and carry it out. Focus and make it count. - whilst on holiday this is covered by increased steps/ walking or activity at water parks/ in the house pool. At home I will aim for a walk of min 30 mins min 3x per week and investigate the Zumba class my friends go to. And just getting out with the kids will help. - total fail here once back from hols. And I stopped wearing my fitbit when I couldn't find the charger (found yesterday)
… on screen time: just 1 hour per day for leisure. - with tv and laptop combined will be hard. Lots of screen time needed for work-type stuff (eg: reports for accountant etc) - fail. started out ok then lapsed.
… in relationships: reduce time you have to spend with toxic people, those that drain you; nourish the good relationships and put time and effort in to them. - far fewer toxic ppl in my life nowadays. But do need to spend more time with some friends I tend to neglect - inc my bestie who has her birthday this month - spent nice day with bestie and am seeing her again in Sept. Family issues meant falling out with a couple of family members but their views were toxic and I was accused of doing something for money when I was getting no gain, just most of my costs covered, so they can stay out of my life if they feel like that
… on spending: this links to wants v needs. 15 NSD please. - - eek - I struggle with NSD targets normally, let alone in the hols! - achieved not many, but didn't keep a record
… in health: we all have niggles (the older we are, the more we have!) Be proactive about them. - need to book dentist appt. Need to go to drs about manky toe. - dentist apt booked (for mid Oct) Toe hasn't been hurting much so have ignored that for the mo as trying to get a non-urgent appt is really hassle-y
... in possessions: we usually have far too much stuff that clutters up our physical asurrounding and our mental state. Look at this objectively: if you do not love the item and find joy in it, then let it go! - decluttering will continue once home (although I am leaving 2 books in the villa's bookcase and some items of clothing will not be returning and I brought lots of travel sized toiletries away with me) - some things released. Always an ongoing project.

Make each day count towards the goals that are important to you. Do something every day that takes you one step closer to one of them, and tell us about it.

Budget for every day’s activities. Look ahead. Plan what is going on. Set realistic limits. - I have membership to the local wildlife and wetland trust which I will take the small ones to. I also have free tickets for cattle country (large outdoor play area) to use up in the hols. Couple of meet ups with friends in parks should also keep costs down (but ice creams may get purchased) There will hopefully be a couple of celebrations (A level and GCSE results for DD and DS1) and I will need to buy school uniforms and shoes (major money) for the 3 boys. No doubt DD will need some things for her uni accom after results are known. Bestie's birthday will need some spends and it's also our anniversary. Ouch! Oooh - I also think that I have one - maybe two - afternoon tea vouchers to use this month too - so treats for free (presents)Yum - holiday activities with the boys were reasonably cheap/ free (other than one cinema trip) and my mum paid to take them to cattle country. Meal out for DD's results cost about £90 for 6 of us. Takeaway for DS1's results (his choice) about £20 for 3 of us. BEstie's bday cost me £30 + lunch out for the 2 of us. (Don't begrudge that in any way - she buys presents for all of my children and she has none, so there is a serious imbalance!) Anniversary present cost me £69 (Gr00pon deal for helicopter flight) - usually just get a token but splashed out more (I really want to go in a helicopter!!:D:D) Managed one afternoon tea out (yummy) - will use other one in Sept. Husband's anniversary present to me was tickets to a gig tonight. No idea of cost.

Spending was too high in Aug - but it always is with holidays, activities and expensive school purchases. Now bring on scrimping Sept!

thriftylass

Results for August... not worth mentioning but luckily finances are rescuable (if that is a word). But fully motivated for September. Thanks Applemuncher for the thread and thanks Eager_Elephant for the new one

Productive afternoon again last night. OH chopped up the second last batch of hedge cutting for the dump. I cut down the tomatoes and put the last few green ones in a bag with a banana, we'll see what happens. Also cleaned out the snack/sweetie cupboard and painted a bit of wall in the kitchen.

Might start cleaning the conservatory tonight (dumping ground and green house). Was looking at wellie stands for the conservatory as they just end up in a dirty muddy pile in the corner but not willing to spend £30. Remenbered I had one of those wooden foldable wine racks, might be able to reuse/recycle that one.

Got paid today so will shuffle money into pots and finalise my September numbers. Will be a bit tighter this month as I was £100 into my overdraft.

Bobarella

Elephant thanks for that bit of info. I agree that the variability keeps NST fun.

Apple August has been a tough month financially due to having to carry the can for my business too, trying to sort a remortgage that took weeks longer than it should, etc etc. I am very glad to see the back of it. And as always you and the others have kept me sane. Thanks for the challenge.

Fmess

Hi all,

I'm only posting on my phone today so can't do a detailed summary of the month but in general..

Food - not good but decided I have other priorities at the moment (although tonogjt I will finish batch cooking enough meals for the whole of September )

Money - not great due to the holidays, next year I'm going to budget for being off work as I always end up overspending

Exercise - success! I have attended two exercise classes a week (as long as they've been running!) plus always walk the dogs everyday

Relationships - good and feeling positive, although I need to see my grandad more

Decluttering - small amounts done but I'm pretty much out of clutter!

I think I'm on 10SFDs, which is pretty poor for me but will be back and focusing on these from tomorrow

Florence_J

My Month Summary

Cut the chaff
… on food:
Failed within a few hours on my give up coffee for ten days challenged, but have kept to my 'eat my five a day every day' perfectly.

… on wants v needs:
Saved a minimum of 23 quid, but I think I actually saved more but just didn't record it

… on exercise:
Went to every girls football training session-even the one with terrible rain, had to take a break from running, then became ill. Not perfect so will improve.

… on screen time:
Failed at this, as going on here takes more than an hour each day, but i did come on here less and I did notice I really did mostly work on my laptop

… in relationships:
Didn't work too much on this but am pleased that on the social activities I did I didn't get anxious. Did contact a friend I may not have treated perfectly last year and we are meeting up.

… on spending:
Achieved 8, 9 if today is one. Beaten by second best total but not last months.

… in health:
Wasn't as good at this. I did take a much needed week of recovery from an injury but I had that injury for over two weeks before I listened to peoples advice.

... in possessions:
Did get rid of an awful lot and became more aware of the possessions that do 'spark joy'

It wasn't a perfect month but I feel I know what to do to get better.

dolly84

Thanks for running the thread this month apple. August is never a disciplined month for me due to the kids being off school but I budget for it and we all enjoy ourselves which is the whole point of summer to me.

Me and the kids have had a little jaunt to one of our favourite teeny towns today. The secondhand market was on, DD got bargains in there and DS found £2. DS got an xbox 360 steering wheel, foot pedals and headset in a CS for £5 and announced that it was the best day of his life:rotfl:. I got 4 paperback books by the same author that I have been scouting the CS's for for a while, I got them in the market and in CS all used and totalling £5 for all of them. We had lunch out then dragged our loot back on the train.

I used some paypal money from recent ebay sales to buy a pair of jodphurs for DD on ebay today, she is in desperate need of a bigger pair. Sainsburys are delivering my groceries this afternoon but all within my new grocery budget. I also listed some more things on ebay last night and posted a couple of wants on Freecycle, I've given plenty so lets see if I get a response - I am after a greenhouse mainly.

misstara

August has pretty much been a write off for me especially the 2nd half, however, hoping September will be better

Eager_Elephant

Cut the chaff
… on food: not by deprivation but by replacing one ‘baddie’ with a ‘goodie’. I don’t believe in bad and good food, I tend to eat what I want when I want rather than restrict myself. Today I wanted chocolate which I had in my drawer at work and I was so busy I didn’t get to eat it – this would have been unheard of a few years ago.
If I am allowed to change this to drink then I need to make sure I drink enough at work, I often do home visits and get so carried away with work that I forget to drink and then I get a dehydration headache across my left eyebrow which lasts 2 days no matter what tablets I take or how much more I drink. I need to put myself first rather than my work. I have been making an extra effort to drink as much as possible at work and only had a dehydration headache once this month.

… on wants v needs: each time you don’t buy a ‘want’ keep a tally of money not spent and add it all up at the end. Oohh, at the moment there is nothing I want apart from a pair of shoes for work so fingers crossed I manage this. Oh dear, I ended up buying work shoes. Went to an outlet store that had some gorgeous Clarkes shoes reduced from £45 to £31 but at the till they went through at £25 – bargain!! Apart from these which I do need for autumn/winter I didn’t want anything else all month.

… on exercise: make a plan and carry it out. Focus and make it count. No time for extra exercise, I do at least an hour a day of walking/lifting water for animals etc Just did my usual walking the dogs and sorting the smallholding.

… on screen time: just 1 hour per day for leisure. Computer time is my downfall; I can lose hours on here!! TV I am fine with, I watch about an hour a week as don’t seem to have the time. I have manly kept to this and it has been great, I have got loads done in the evenings. I have been doing all the little odd jobs that get left until the weekend meaning I don’t get a rest at weekends. On one day we watched 2 hours of Restoration Man but I’m sure over the month it averaged to about an hour of screen time a day.

… in relationships: reduce time you have to spend with toxic people, those that drain you; nourish the good relationships and put time and effort in to them. Having a family BBQ this weekend which will be lovely as not seen all my brothers and sister together since our nan’s funeral in June 2015. Once a year meeting is fine by me!! Had a great family BBQ, it was brilliant, some extended family also came. Good food and good atmosphere – what more do people want?
Need to make time for DS who is off to Uni next month and also for DD who is 13 going on 23 and growing up way too fast.Not had any time with DS as he is working 4 days a week and each weekend he is either at his GF’s or she is here. Spent time with DD, we went to a theme park!!

… on spending: this links to wants v needs. 15 NSD please. I will do this!! I have managed 16 this month!!!:T

… in health: we all have niggles (the older we are, the more we have!) Be proactive about them. Months ago I said I would go to the GP about some gynae issues and I still haven’t been. I need to get a grip this month – I have a week’s leave so will sort it then. Oh no, did not sort this – DH was off with me and he does not know about my issue. Must do this.

... in possessions: we usually have far too much stuff that clutters up our physical asurrounding and our mental state. Look at this objectively: if you do not love the item and find joy in it, then let it go! I need to keep on decluttering, I had been following KonMari but only got as far as clothes. I do get rid of other bits but not in the order she says and I keep coming back to clothes as my drawers are always overflowing and I need to keep reassessing my joyful clothes. More sorting out done, more to charity. Even DD had a sort out and so have repurposed some clothes and donated the others.

Make each day count towards the goals that are important to you. Do something every day that takes you one step closer to one of them, and tell us about it. I need to finish my treasurer stuff for the committee which I am leaving in September, the goal was to find more time for things I want to do and this committee is not conducive to that. Nearly finished my role, last day is next week. Nearly have the accounts done ready for AGM. Am so looking forward to all the spare time I will have.

Budget for every day’s activities. Look ahead. Plan what is going on. Set realistic limits. The plan is no spending until w/c 22/8 when I have a week off. Need to plan some outings with DD. Everything budgeted for in Aug, DD has been out and about with friends which has been spendy for her but better than being stuck in house.

Eager_Elephant

Meant to say also - Thanks to apple for starting the thread and to everyone who has chipped in all month:j

mothernerd

Thank you for this month's thread apple. Hugs to you and any other turtles who have struggled this month and congratulations to those who have triumphed over adversity.

I have overspent on food and on the party, counting the cost of all those 'little spends'. My appetite and sleep pattern have both been extremely erratic which has led to eating 'odd' food at odd times but mostly healthy. Once I went into crisis mode I just concentrated on getting myself into a 'happy place' and staying there, refusing to give the bad thoughts and sad feelings any attention. I am getting enough sleep now but it is randomly distributed around the clock.

I need to get my money/ exercise and healthy eating under control again in September. I have now ploughed through all four library books on 'depression' and the fourth is most useful. I found it off putting at first - I think it is aimed at men (male deprssion is under-reported and although more women attempt suicide, more men succeed) but is very clear and will help with developing SMART goals.

On the positive side my money situation is where I wanted to be - better than I expected. Skip was less than I had budgetted for and reduced travel has compensated for overspends. I have also acheived several big things that I wanted to do.

Screen time restrictions have mostly been adhered to although on one or two 'hopeless' days I indulged in my love of old films. Exercise has gone well, reflected in the reduced (halved) transport costs and I did get over that bridge pushing the dolly with six garden chairs (3 metal framed, 3 plastic).

Last week I had a skip and lots of junk (average 10 years, oldest piece 20 years) left th premises. I can walk round my kitchen (swept the floor). Not as much satisfaction as expected yet but clearing the kitchen table (mostly assorted diy bits, tools and decorating equipment with a fair sprinkling of everything else) gave deep joy.

The surprise 81st/ belated 80th birthday party for my mum was a great success. She had no inkling of what I was doing. I had told her that I was booking her time from noon until 5pm and not to arrange to go for lunch or tea with anyone else - I turned up in time to make sure the house was clean, remove excess clutter from several surfaces and put out the food I had prepared and set out on 'trays' (lids from several stram baskets).

I had asked over 50 people in the expectation that a lot of them would not be able to get there (I wanted enough to make a party but it's a very small bungalow and having it elsewhere would have meant her partner putting his coat on once he had eaten and sulking until he was taken 'home').

As mum said "All the right people came." My favourite cousins, her favourite cousins and 9 people from the Mother's Union/ church plus my brother (a social phobic). Mum got to chat all afternoon and I made endless cups of tea and coffee but then sat out in the sunshine with my cousins. They share my concerns and were very sympathetic and supportive so I feel less isolated (my brother has lots of health issues of his own, my other brother died and trditionally I am the one who sorts everyone else's problems out, I've been looking after my brothers since I was 2 and been 'mother's helper and support' since I was 3).

Mum's partner has dementia, he no longer recognises anyone other than my mother (we are all "that lady", men and some women are "the driver"). He has now regressed into being a large elderly toddler (including the nappies). My mother's health has deteriorated rapidly over the past year. A pre-existing condition has wiped out her immune system so when she had the shingles jab last year, she got shingles. She has had operations on both eyes earlier this year and nearly lost the sight in one eye due to complications (the shingles attacked the eye). She is now much frailer than her partner but he would have to be in a home if she were not there.

As far as his 5 children are concerned, the best thing is for him to stay with her. I think he is too much for her to cope with and feel that she is sacrificing her own health to keep him going. I also worry that she has ceded so much control of her life to his children (everything revolves around her partner).

Support workers are now coming in four times a day (up from 2) for 15 minutes and mum is going to get some money to cover her needs (from a meeting earlier in the month that I included myself in). It has also been arranged for him to start going to day care ('the family' vetoed him staying overnight, mum said it wasn't her decision and I said it is if she is the one doing the caring). May delete this later, feeling better for getting it off my chest.

However the party has given me tons of brownie points, I was even thanked properly yesterday and my mother did say how hard I must have worked. On Sunday and yesterday I managed to slip a couple of ideas in - I let things percolate and then usually she quotes them back to me attributed to someone else.

The son who actally does most for his father had said how aggravated he was by one of his sister's - the one that irritates me the most. Even mum is realising that although she is the most opinionated she doesn't do anything useful, only ever talks about herself and has least idea about how her father is - she only ever calls early in the afternoon, which is when he is at his best.

Anyway turtles onwards and upwards.