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NST October Finding Your Inner ferret

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  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 95,599 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Popping in to join.
    Can I please go for 8 nsd's?
    May add in other challenges as I go.
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.

    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.
    ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • Seasidegal58
    Seasidegal58 Posts: 6,017 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Please can you add me to the list? Will be updating more fully later but am going to dive in and try for 12 NSDs!
    Finally Debt Free! - July 2016 🌟
    Finished Emergency Fund- £10,000 April 2017
    🌟
    RETIRED: MAY 2021!!!!😀🎆
    My diary: “Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!”
  • WelshKitty85
    WelshKitty85 Posts: 1,439 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hi everyone!

    Sorry I've been utterly useless at posting this month! Things have got on top of me again and I'm struggling at the moment.

    DH failed his test for a second time and it's near another £400 to take it again. He feels absolutely awful about it and I don't feel at all annoyed at him, just frustrated at how much it is costing. The cc balance is now worse than it has been in a long time. Fingers crossed it is third time lucky for him so that he can hopefully start working and his income will help pay off the cc, then save for a house deposit.

    We have a holiday booked at the end of this week (all paid for, money already exchanged before the referendum, and it's all inclusive) so it would be lovely to have good news before we go and something to look forward to when we get back.

    Off to read back now and catch up on what you have all been up to.
  • x_raphael_xx
    x_raphael_xx Posts: 4,411 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Me and BF completed a 10k this morning, we're both hobbling around the flat like old folks now. I managed to cook us some lunch, and BF was on tea duty, but he claims he's too sore, so we have succumbed to a takeaway :o at least he's paying so it won't affect my NSD.

    I also tried my first mystery shop today, via an app that should have netted me £5. But I didn't realise I had to report in at the scene on the app at the time. I took photos and tried to upload them when I got home, but was unsuccessful. I know for next time however.
    I have made 20p on some clicks today (my first time doing that too). So I have been experimenting with new ways to earn cash. The ad click app also does occasional surveys, while cooking lunch I started one that would have netted me 43p. It asked me to answer truthfully, which I did. Unfortunately when it asked if anyone in the household works as a supplier or in deliverys and I answered 'Yes' as that's BF's job, I was suddenly ineligible for the survey.
    That will teach me to be truthful :D


    NSDs - No.6 achieved today.
    Extra cashWas hoping for £5, achieved 20p. At least it's a start!
    No cafes/Takeaways - Failure today, takeaway bought.
    Healthy eatingThe kebab had a slice of tomato and some shredded lettuce in it :o
    Exercise - 10k race completed:p
    Debt Free as of 17/01/2009 Turtle Power!!

    EF Challenger #3 £1543.72 / £5000
    MFW 2024 #100 £1300.00 / £10,000

    MFiT #40 Jan 2025 Target - £99,999.00
    Mortgage at 30/09/22 £113,694.11 | Mortgage at 24/01/23 £110,707.87
    Mortgage at 21/04/23 £107,701.01 | Mortgage at 20/07/23 £106,979.65
    Mortgage at 04/10/23 £106,253.77 | Mortgage at 10/01/24 £105,324.57
    Mortgage at 01/04/24 £104,424.73 | Mortgage at 01/10/24 £103,594.98
  • XSpender
    XSpender Posts: 3,811 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I haven't checked in for a few days but have been reading and keeping track.

    Get Outside Everyday 8/30 – walked the dog most days and watched DS play rugby this morning and went for a run
    Food Budget £500 (£400 stretch)/£189.80 – Pulled this back a bit this week and I am away from Tuesday to Friday so as long as DH stays away from the sandwich van we will be back on track
    Half Term and Entertainment Budget £100/£5.50 on lunch and drinks at rugby today
    Miscellaneous Budget £100/£82.97 craft items for DS school project, cream for DH eczema (as he kept forgetting to order repeat prescription) and a nose trimmer!:eek:
    Learn something new – Missed a couple of days press up practice
    Lunch to work 5/18 – Stocked up on RMs for DH and will make his lunch Mon and Tues while I am at home
    SFD 2/15 – LSD today and should pick up 1 or 2 next week as away with work
    5 a day F &V 1/30 – Should hit 5 again today. I have been watching what I eat this week and the scales are smiling
    Exercise 5/week 8/20 – This is going well. Exercised almost every day this month either a PT session, run or dog walk.
    Make some money £250/£83.74 Stuck on this amount at the min

    I am still working on week 1’s mini challenge having bought some paras and vitamins for DS. Loo roll is stocked up and I have a box in a bedroom that is full of toiletries and medicines that needs to be sorted out. I think a lot of the medicines will be heading for the bin.

    My diet really needs sorting out and I am debating signing up for The Body Coach plan. I have the money available in my personal spending money which has been building up as I haven’t spent any for ages.

    As my job is changing and I don’t know what my work schedule will be yet I am going to try doing the plan myself from the books for the next week or 2. First task is to stop buying rubbish. My budget will thank me for it and DH is on board too.

    I think I may have done something towards this week’s mini challenge already. DH is in charge of gardening but DS and I took the dog out yesterday and picked up some leaves, sticks and pine cones etc. to make the model for his school project. It’s about survival and the people he has 3 l3g0 figures in it who are lost in the wilderness who he says are Bear Grylls, Bear Grylls friend James (?) and Barak Obama!

    We have also collected some pine cones for a Christmas display in our home.
    Save £10,500 - £2673.77 - 25.5%
    Pay off £7000 - £1743 - 19.4%
    Make £2021 extra income - £99.75
  • Toni'sfriend
    Toni'sfriend Posts: 4,056 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    9 October

    Hello

    Went shopping and bought fruit and veg from Aldi. Had my three portions of fruit and haven't had any snacks or alcohol. Made vegetable soup for dinner. C has a terrible cough/cold (think it might be a chest infection) and will have to go to doctor tomorrow. He's lost his appetite so menu planning has been abandoned. I'm just going to get something from freezer for myself and have it with veg till he feels better.

    Walked to the shops so at least I got out a bit even if it wasn't very far.

    Have spent the day looking for recipes to try out. Curried parsnip soup sounds nice.

    Tried to do some surveys but they still don't seem to like me. Oh well, just have to persevere.

    Love this week's mini challenge. Need to buy some bulbs and get going.

    Hope you're all doing well.
    Have adventures. laugh a lot and always be kind.
  • Seasidegal58
    Seasidegal58 Posts: 6,017 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hi there - here’s my list for October:

    Savings – all savings allocated and YNABd for rest of month;
    Budgets – these have been categorised in YNAB as well; i.e Birthdays/Gifts, etc. One new item has been categorised which is the newspaper I buy every working day. It used to just come out of spends category but as it’s something purchased regularly it has its own place now and won’t be included as a “spend”!
    • As just jumped in will be aiming for 12 spends;
    Extra Cash – will have a think on this one!
    Learn something new – will try some new recipes – also have some online tests I have to complete in work to generate my “Continuous Professional Development!” (what a mouthful!).
    Food – will aim for at least a small surplus at end of month!
    • Eating out/coffees/takeaways etc – have not got much on socially this month but can envisage meeting friends a couple of times for coffee.
    Packed lunches will be taken to work. Also have concert at end of month (ticket already paid for) so maybe a drink at theatre?
    Travel –don’t have car and commute on public transport for work. Only other outlay could be taxis but I will only take these from station if I am very late home from work or have heavy shopping.
    Healthy eating – after shock on scales this morning post-holiday I will be back on 5:2 diet as from tomorrow and will be upping fruit and veg intake!
    Food bank – none nearby but there is always something going on in work charity wise that I will contribute to.
    Exercise – I walk to and from station during work week – 15 mins there and slightly more back as have to climb big hill! Also ten minute walk there and back at other end to get to office. Will do something weekends.
    • Will make effort to check in each day!
    And………….. will work on my Victory Dance (which will be a sight for sore eyes – perhaps a ferrety Pasa Doble a la Strictly!):D

    Today was a NSD! :j Had to top up on (budgeted) shopping at Aldi. Walked there and back – 20 mins each way (weighty work out carrying shopping on return!) and went through park. It was a lovely day today so channelled my inner child during my foray in park! Ate apples, satsumas and banana today and peppers and onions included in my omelette tonight! Have no garden and plants hide from me so will be getting out the various candles I have stashed away which will perfect now that autumn is here and nights are drawing in!
    Finally Debt Free! - July 2016 🌟
    Finished Emergency Fund- £10,000 April 2017
    🌟
    RETIRED: MAY 2021!!!!😀🎆
    My diary: “Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!”
  • apple_muncher
    apple_muncher Posts: 15,240 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Toni'sfriend - curried parsnip soup is scrummy! Fry an onion + garlic, add curry powder (I use 2 tsp cumin), add diced (peeled) parsnip, cook for a few mins, add stock cube + water. Simmer for a bit, then zap it. i like mine really thick so thespoon almost stands up in it!
    NST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!
  • mothernerd
    mothernerd Posts: 4,858 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Debt-free and Proud!
    Hugs Fmess.

    clippy_girl
    digging into the pumkin will count as this week's challenge.

    dolly84 sounds like a good day.

    Lauralozzle lots of 'fitting in' to do with a new job.

    Welcome Beanie. It's an honour to have you join us.

    Hello Seasidegal58. You have a number if you want to add it to your signature.

    WelshKitty commiserations on DH's test. just do what you can, as my counsellor keeps telling me "You can only work with what is in your basket."
    My mission in life is not only to survive,but to thrive and to do so with some Passion, some Compassion, some Humour and some Style.
    NST SEP No 1 No Debt No mortgage
  • mothernerd
    mothernerd Posts: 4,858 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Debt-free and Proud!
    x_raphael_xx well done on the run. Very gentle ferret dance.

    XSpender doing well all round. Love the l3go and leaves, 2 of my favourite things.

    Toni's friend excellent progress.

    Seasidegal58 wonderful plan.

    Apple thanks for the recipe.

    I am definitely ill today. Slept long and heavily. Wasn't hungry but thought I should have something to go with my pills. Went down to get a knife to cuup two apples and the stairs were so difficult that I put something in the oven (checked that DS3 would come and collect it for me when it was done) and brought soft cheese and oatcakes back up with me. Had yoghurt and mint dip and cucumber sticks with lunch.

    Had a bath. Hair is a mess (dry and sticking up) but not even attempting to wash it. Read for a bit then slept again (missed DS1's visit) and have eaten my apples and cheese and oatcakes. Discovered cough medicine is not suitable for diabetics so will have to ration that.

    Today am grateful for the flu jab (think I would be much worse without it), for finding some missing pills and for relaxing into being ill (decided I am allowed a day or two of slothing and will probably recover sooner than if I struggle to stand up and achieve nothing). Will burrow under the covers and do a very sedate sitting down ferret victory dance (didn't spend ant money, made 'meals' from stores, had a lovely bath).
    My mission in life is not only to survive,but to thrive and to do so with some Passion, some Compassion, some Humour and some Style.
    NST SEP No 1 No Debt No mortgage
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