“Just Say NOvember; Batten Down the Hatches 2016”.

NinjaSavingKat

Good Morning one and all!

I am in Northern Ireland right now and have just managed a 2.5 mile walk before lunch. Thank you for the "Welcomes" - much obliged.

I am lucky to be living back with Mumsy and Pa right now and enjoying home life after being away for so long (2 while travelling and 12 years in London). I have been home for 3 weeks and would love to have a job - I did however plan for a few months to simply enjoy the good life before getting back to the grind. But don't worry - I am being put to work in the garden to earn my keep...:rotfl:

My last job in Australia was intensely boring, everything I earned was almost halved when changing currencies and whilst in that job I spent nothing and went nowhere for my last 4-5 months as it was all about earning and raising a "re-entry fund". That was hard but I like a challenge (;)) but I went to the gym a lot to get in gear for my "must lose this layer of fat" challenge and that was a lot of fun.

Now that I have not stepped inside a gym for over a month I am feeling restless. So fitness will be a big part of my monthly goals along with staying away from the shops. I have 19kg to lose!!!

I need to think about work obviously, despite the lack of jobs and careers in my home town, which may mean considering a 2 hour trip away to another town and living there to earn. So that needs careful thought, I have never worked in my own country so it will be an interesting experiment. :rotfl: I would also mean being away from the family home, and right now I like being here to annoy them!:o

I have touched base with an old school friend - its one of those friendships where I am always absent but our relationship just slips back to what it was before I was away - who has a wee business she runs from home, if I get involved it may produce a very small income for rainy-day money. We shall see.

I have many plans for more travel - but I need money unfortunately. Mission work a broad is a possibility, the Trans- Siberian is being planned again, but I can't get ahead of myself just yet...

For those of you debt busting... keep at it, it's all worth it, this time 4 years ago I started NOvember and managed to spend on the absolute minimum and got hooked on debt busting.....

The possibilities are endless! (Sorry for the essay!)

WantToBeSE

Hi NSK Sounds like you've been having fun Globetrotting! How are you finding it back home?

So, I've printed out a blank November calendar and filled it in with everything to keep me on track for NOvember.

Sun, Tues and Thurs will be my NSDs, C25K days and the days that i do a budget a meal plan every week.

I've already realised that i've not allocated any money for Bonfire night on Saturday. We are going into town to a big fireworks display and bonfire.
So i need to take flasks of coffee with us...except that i dont have any flasks. In that case i am just going to take bottles of water for all of us, or maybe take £10 out of the food budget money, since it'll just be spent on coffee and parking. What does everyone think?Or do i need to find a way of not spending anything since it's not been budgeted for?

thriftylass

Well, it seems to be that most are off to a good start.

Good to have you back NSK, hope you didn't mind me doing a 2016 version of your original thread. I just remembered that this was my first one I took part in and thought we need to get back to basics.

NinjaSavingKat

thriftylass wrote: »

Good to have you back NSK, hope you didn't mind me doing a 2016 version of your original thread.........

I absolutely love it!!!

thriftylass

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I've already realised that i've not allocated any money for Bonfire night on Saturday. We are going into town to a big fireworks display and bonfire.
So i need to take flasks of coffee with us...except that i dont have any flasks. In that case i am just going to take bottles of water for all of us, or maybe take £10 out of the food budget money, since it'll just be spent on coffee and parking. What does everyone think?Or do i need to find a way of not spending anything since it's not been budgeted for?

MMmhhhh, not sure. If I'd be strict and follow the rules to the letter (military) you'd have to go without (take water, food). However, if your doing Civilian you could maybe take it from the emergency budget in rule number 3 "If in doubt budget a small emergency entertainment spend for unforeseen eventualities that cannot be avoided without offending like tea with MIL or auntie.". Is it a spend day anyway? Ideally, try and go without this month, it's NOvember :cool:

WantToBeSE

thriftylass wrote: »

MMmhhhh, not sure. If I'd be strict and follow the rules to the letter (military) you'd have to go without (take water, food). However, if your doing Civilian you could maybe take it from the emergency budget in rule number 3 "If in doubt budget a small emergency entertainment spend for unforeseen eventualities that cannot be avoided without offending like tea with MIL or auntie.". Is it a spend day anyway? Ideally, try and go without this month, it's NOvember :cool:

Yes i think you are right. I'm doing civilian, However i've just remembered that a friend owes my £90 that i lent to her a few months ago. I'll make a deal with myself that if she gives me that money before bonfire night, i'll take £10 out of it for coffee/parking, and if not then I'll just take water with us

thriftylass

giggleyay wrote: »

... in my Bullet Journal, ....

OOhh, I love notebooks, diaries, lists etc. Just had a look at the Bullet journal idea/concept and will give that a go too. Found a bright pink (hate the colour but heyho) that DS got from papa (????). So will use that.

Might actually do the same and keep a spending log of food. Although the first £80 are untractable as the receipt is already in the bin.

Poppy3008

Well, my plan so far....
NSD - cannot see why I cannot make 3 a week, though not started yet!
Food bill - £250 hopefully will come unless but mum and friend coming to stay so want to be covered for this
Supermaraket own - already started, had to get water filters so got Asda ownand dishwasher salt too
Petrol allowance - trip away so no ore than £60
No beauty products should be needed this month
Booze - will drink on nights out , so that's about twice! And money accounted for.
Exercise - dog waking and running should cover this
Food - clearing out the freezer and cupboards for next week which should suffice. Will need the odd veg shop.
C word - cakes made and nothing else to do so that's covered!
I think I can manage this Challange this ok thanks, unlike last months where I failed miserably. I just need to not spend on wants!

FurryBeastOz

Ok. No spend on coffee as she couldn't get away. Managed to resist buying anything to eat in town. (left my shake in the car) Thankfully found a squashed Quest bar in my handbag. Must remember to replace.

Paid for my poppy, but that was really spent yesterday I just didn't have change so the girl at the gym let me take it and pay today, so I'm not counting it.

Wow thrifty were you an army sergeant in another life? Felt like saluting (automatic response - spent a bit of time in green myself:D)

Yes it was budgeted - I have allowed an amount for coffee with friends. As I live so remotely it tends to be an ad hoc - if we happen to be in the same place at the same time type of thing. Was in town for a work course today so it made more sense than making a special trip tomorrow. So I saved a bus fare for tomorrow either way:T

thriftylass

FurryBeastOz wrote: »

Wow thrifty were you an army sergeant in another life? Felt like saluting (automatic response - spent a bit of time in green myself:D)

No, but I'm German :rotfl:. Been told I can be direct :eek:.

Please, take my comments (orders!) with a pinch of salt. They are not meant to be too serious but still serve as reminders to think twice before spending or deviating from financial plans. I'm not telling you what to do and not, but I liked the directness of NSK in the original thread that was much stricter and kept us in check