Can I join please. I really need to focus on NSD's as they are what is killing my budget despite meal planning. Doing the grocery challenge has just transferred the spend to hot chocolate and cake at Waitrose which is going straight on my hips.:eek:
Really happy about the fitness but - running a priority as I have a race on 2nd October and I have been very inconsistent.
Will work on budgets and ideas tomorrow - tad worse for wear today I must be only stupid person to not drink all weekend and make up for it the night before work:o
LBM 13039 1.1.13 Now £0 Finally Debt FreeMortgage free Oct 2019:)EFund/savings £25000 10/11/22
Can I join you please. I think it will really get me on track. Having a good think about goals for September and will post my plans at the beginning of the month if that's ok. Thanks in advance.
OK - Sept will be a bit weird - eldest goes off to uni for first time, so general spends will increase in run up with buying stuff for that. Theoretically food spends should decrease for the last 2 weeks of the month when she is away. Money coming in is also down - child benefit will reduce from now (DD) and tax credits appear to have overpaid me, even though I keep them up to date of changes, so they have stopped payments in the meantime. So I'm declaring Sept a skint month, with spending to be reined in. I have no birthdays in Sept to buy for (there is one, but present already purchased) but OH's is in Oct, so I may get ahead on that one. Social occasions - one night at pub with friends (usual spends for the evening £10-15 max) One work night out (budgeting £20 - 25) and we have a voucher to take afternoon tea out (was a present for my bday back in March) One takeaway allowed (major problem in this house - OH will happily have them twice a week) I do have my mot and service this month which I am hoping will not be too bad - and OH needs new tyres on his car, we think
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Rules:
Spends – aim for at least 14 NSD’s. - I'm dibbing out of the 14 NSD bit as long as I make my budgets. Eldest is off to Uni and I think there will be lots of little spends here and there in the run up. I'm going to have a personal aim of 7, with budgets for categories to be met.
Eating – menu plan for September. Can you start using up bits in the freezer ready to make room for Christmas food? Make sure you take lunch to work every day. - will use up as many bits as poss in freezer which are DD specific before she goes. Also have a lot of frozen fruit - crumbles and apple cakes are planned
Presents – make your Christmas lists. Who needs a present and who will just have a card? Can you reduce any of the people you ‘have’ to get presents for? Could you make any presents - we have plenty of time to prepare things? Do you need sellotape/wrapping paper/bows etc? What are you doing/where are you going for Xmas this year? Can you start buying food ready – remember a lot of meat goes up in price from the end of November so get it early while you can. (This might be controversial but anything you buy from your Xmas list this month will not count towards a spend day unless you buy other stuff as well – I want everyone to be well underway for Xmas by the end of September) - all paper etc purchased. Need to buy some 'individual' cards (from outlet shop). Spreadsheet always done in Sept for bdays Sept - Jan and Xmas presents, so that fits in nicely I always review under-bed stash when doing spreadsheet to see if there's anything in there which is suitable for anyone
Time – make time for yourself this month. Even if it’s only 10 minutes a day do something for yourself whether that is going for a walk, having a bath with loads of bubbles or sitting outside with a drink – we need to make the most of the evenings.
- plan on reading more and walking more Empty – pick a drawer or cupboard to empty and sort through. If it’s the junk drawer what can you do to stop it becoming a junk drawer? Keep on top of this drawer/cupboard all month so nothing that shouldn’t be there goes in.
- my wardrobe. Bathroom c-o-d Meet – meet up with a friend/family member who you have not seen for ages but keep meaning to. Ring/email/text them now and arrange something for this month.
- managed that 26/8 with a friend. Trying to see a family member asap - may end up being at family do later in Sept. Bed– either start bedding down the garden for winter or you will start making the bedroom suitable for the cooler weather.
In the garden, start sorting out the pots – do they need a wash before being stored for winter? Does the garden furniture need any oil/paint before it gets put away for winter? Do any flowers/bushes need cutting back yet?
In the bedroom, do you need to put the winter duvet on? Do any duvets need washing? Can you have a clear out – clean under the bed, wash down the bedside tables?
-will sort under my bed when checking stash for Xmas. Will cut back overhanging bushes, empty pots and sweep patio in back garden
Exercise – do as much exercise as possible, aim for every 2 days as a minimum. Can you make the most of these evenings before it gets dark at 5pm? For those like me who have dogs, can you walk them a different route or for longer?
- thinking of joining a Zumba class. Need to walk more. Reading – the first public lending library opened on 6th September 1852. If you have not yet joined your local library could you join it? Everyone will read a book during this month and report back with comments – hopefully it will encourage others to try new books. Books can be either fiction or non-fiction. - I do use our local library but this month I pledge to read min 2 books from my own unread stash (fitting in with 'me time' element of the challenge
Everyone is to budget their income for the month and remember to pay your debts first.
- we have a small amount from our holiday on a 0% cc which extra money (ebay, cashback etc) is going on as additional payments so that it is cleared asap.
To celebrate Michaelmas Day I would like you all to donate to a food bank or to host a share meal with friends/family. I used to love the Harvest Festivals when I was a child; everyone would bring in a tin of food to be donated to the local food bank and the local vicar would do a lovely service all about harvest. Could this tie in with the Meet part of our challenge?
- I am taking along to a shared meal, not hosting, in Sept. I also donate at Harvest festival time to the foodbank.
Were you a NST last year? - I wasn't part of this challenge last year but we had not long become MF this time last year. Still MF and have paid for house improvements and holiday (other than small amount mentioned above) over the past year without using savings, which was the plan. OH has not had a job contract since the end of Jan - am hoping he gets something in the run up to Xmas!
That's me done
xx
ETA - apologies for the formatting - will try and sort it later
I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul
OK - Sept will be a bit weird - eldest goes off to uni for first time, so general spends will increase in run up with buying stuff for that. Theoretically food spends should decrease for the last 2 weeks of the month when she is away.
My DS is also off to Uni in September - will be interesting as he is quite a distance away but I expect lots of texts and calls in the first few weeks.
He is working the summer to raise enough to cover food for the year - he does not get full loans as we earn too much.
Replies
I am going to be so skint this month!
XX
Sign me up please EE. I'm back to work on the 1st so NSDs should be easier.
Jue
MBNA £5500
Really happy about the fitness but - running a priority as I have a race on 2nd October and I have been very inconsistent.
Will work on budgets and ideas tomorrow - tad worse for wear today I must be only stupid person to not drink all weekend and make up for it the night before work:o
SIZE][/FONT]
Eating – menu plan for September. Can you start using up bits in the freezer ready to make room for Christmas food? Make sure you take lunch to work every day. - will use up as many bits as poss in freezer which are DD specific before she goes. Also have a lot of frozen fruit - crumbles and apple cakes are planned
Presents – make your Christmas lists. Who needs a present and who will just have a card? Can you reduce any of the people you ‘have’ to get presents for? Could you make any presents - we have plenty of time to prepare things? Do you need sellotape/wrapping paper/bows etc? What are you doing/where are you going for Xmas this year? Can you start buying food ready – remember a lot of meat goes up in price from the end of November so get it early while you can. (This might be controversial but anything you buy from your Xmas list this month will not count towards a spend day unless you buy other stuff as well – I want everyone to be well underway for Xmas by the end of September) - all paper etc purchased. Need to buy some 'individual' cards (from outlet shop). Spreadsheet always done in Sept for bdays Sept - Jan and Xmas presents, so that fits in nicely
Time – make time for yourself this month. Even if it’s only 10 minutes a day do something for yourself whether that is going for a walk, having a bath with loads of bubbles or sitting outside with a drink – we need to make the most of the evenings.
- plan on reading more and walking more
Empty – pick a drawer or cupboard to empty and sort through. If it’s the junk drawer what can you do to stop it becoming a junk drawer? Keep on top of this drawer/cupboard all month so nothing that shouldn’t be there goes in.
- my wardrobe. Bathroom c-o-d
Meet – meet up with a friend/family member who you have not seen for ages but keep meaning to. Ring/email/text them now and arrange something for this month.
- managed that 26/8 with a friend. Trying to see a family member asap - may end up being at family do later in Sept.
Bed– either start bedding down the garden for winter or you will start making the bedroom suitable for the cooler weather.
In the garden, start sorting out the pots – do they need a wash before being stored for winter? Does the garden furniture need any oil/paint before it gets put away for winter? Do any flowers/bushes need cutting back yet?
In the bedroom, do you need to put the winter duvet on? Do any duvets need washing? Can you have a clear out – clean under the bed, wash down the bedside tables?
-will sort under my bed when checking stash for Xmas. Will cut back overhanging bushes, empty pots and sweep patio in back garden
Exercise – do as much exercise as possible, aim for every 2 days as a minimum. Can you make the most of these evenings before it gets dark at 5pm? For those like me who have dogs, can you walk them a different route or for longer?
- thinking of joining a Zumba class. Need to walk more.
Reading – the first public lending library opened on 6th September 1852. If you have not yet joined your local library could you join it? Everyone will read a book during this month and report back with comments – hopefully it will encourage others to try new books. Books can be either fiction or non-fiction. - I do use our local library but this month I pledge to read min 2 books from my own unread stash (fitting in with 'me time' element of the challenge
- Everyone is to budget their income for the month and remember to pay your debts first.
- we have a small amount from our holiday on a 0% cc which extra money (ebay, cashback etc) is going on as additional payments so that it is cleared asap.- To celebrate Michaelmas Day I would like you all to donate to a food bank or to host a share meal with friends/family. I used to love the Harvest Festivals when I was a child; everyone would bring in a tin of food to be donated to the local food bank and the local vicar would do a lovely service all about harvest. Could this tie in with the Meet part of our challenge?
- I am taking along to a shared meal, not hosting, in Sept. I also donate at Harvest festival time to the foodbank.That's me done
xx
ETA - apologies for the formatting - will try and sort it later
My DS is also off to Uni in September - will be interesting as he is quite a distance away but I expect lots of texts and calls in the first few weeks.
He is working the summer to raise enough to cover food for the year - he does not get full loans as we earn too much.