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

thriftylass

Seasidegal58 wrote: »

Thanks thrifty - having a decent job helped with the debt payments and continuing savings!


'Fraid I need the nail appointments - gel extensions - would never do it as well myself. Re. carpet it's only once a year and he does it so well with his lovely machine - comes up beautifully!!!


You should have seen the bill for my toiletries/make up during my debt days!:D

Do you need gel extensions? :rotfl: Sorry, I leave you now You did a great job clearing all this debt.

x_raphael_xx

I know I'm a day late, but I was so tired from work yesterday I was in bed and asleep by 8!
I am going to try for Military as much as possible, yesterday and today are NSDs so that helps towards this weeks target.

Military NSDs
Week 1 (1st -6th) 2/4
Week 2 (7th -13th) 0/5
Week 3 (14th -20th) 0/5
Week 4 (21st -27th) 0/5
Week 5 (28th -30st) 0/3
TOTAL 2/22

All monetary outgoings are to be accounted for prior to the start of the month. This includes anything from direct debits and standing orders to a basic amount for dinner dates that have already been planned.
It's my best friends birthday this month, and I have promised to pay for her entry to the zoo or in the event of a rainy day, we are going pottery painting, and I'll pay for her item. Plus my entry or item.
I'm also off to see my dad later in the month, we'll prob end up with at least one meal out.
It will be an expensive month for petrol, as I will need to drive to the zoo & to dads.

£35 - Friends birthday
£75 - Visit to dad
£60 - Petrol
= £170

If no-one comes to you with a suggestion of something to do / meet up etc before the commencement of NOvember giving you adequate planning time you are to politely decline. Make your pitch for a date with them now if needs be! Civilian option: If in doubt budget a small emergency entertainment spend for unforeseen eventualities that cannot be avoided without offending like tea with MIL or auntie.
My meet ups are few and budgeted!

Any food left in cupboards / freezers etc has to be eaten before ANY more food is purchased (get down to marmite and porridge and then go shopping). Allowances to the above are for “base” materials - milk or vegetables.
We tend to meal plan each week, so apart from the monthly butcher run, we only have what we need in the cupboards.

Food bill decided upon for NOvember has to be cut by 5% (Civilian) or 10% (Military). Mine stands at £300 for the month for a family of 4 – 10% is £270.
BF is once again paying for the bulk of the shopping. Last month I budget £60 and spent £30.38. I will reduce mine by 10% to £54, with a promise that anything under this will be paid into savings.

Batch cooking is encouraged- meals that require individual or specialised ingredients are not.
Lunch is last nights leftovers!

No foods are to be purchased at work canteens / cafes etc. If you are having a family day out packed lunches are the only lunches allowed.
I will stick to this, apart from my holiday to dads (I don't know what the meal arrangements will be)

Try and go for supermarket own brands only. Get it delivered to prevent impulse buys… the delivery charge will outweigh impulse buys and any green eyed monster issues you make incur. If you haven’t done so yet, try Aldi and Lidl.
Lidl & Aldi are our regular supermarket so all good there.

Set a petrol/travel allowance and stick to it. Drive carefully - acceleration and braking harshly wastes petrol.
Public transport only where necessary are permitted. But where you can WALK instead, do that. Get your winter coat on and leave earlier.
I have to drive to work, and have a few longish trips planned. My petrol budget will be £60

Ladies - No non-essential beauty items are to be purchased. Use up everything you have in the house before ANY purchases.

Gentlemen (ladies?) - Cut out your alcohol consumption completely. Tell your friends you are doing it for your health or something - let no-one buy you a soft drink as you will have to re-pay their kind offer with a more expensive beer purchase. Better still - stay at home!

Exercise aim for 3-5 sessions a week. Anything from going out for a walk to a spin class depending on your abilities.

THE C WORD: Well Xmas will be upon us sooner than you think, we started last month, so where have you gotten to? Is the list written, the stash checked, vouchers counted, extra earning possibilities considered. Both camps: Try not buy Christmas presents yet, this month is about saving money, tweaking that list and getting crafting.
I'm going to keep working on my brothers blanket. Hopefully by the end of the month it will be mostly completed.

Penniesinmyjar

So yesterday wasn't a NSD because I've just read above on Seasidegal's note that even if it's budgeted spends it doesn't count, so my 12.50 food shop blew it boooooo!
Nevermind, lesson learnt!!

Today is more productive and I managed a NSD today despite running out of loo roll!! I have put a box of face tissues in there instead to keep us going til tomorrow which is a spend day :rotfl:
And I've run out of washing up liquid so basically I am not doing the washing up tonight - have I taken this too far?! OH will be happy as I will be cooking so he normally would wash up!!

Been for a run, had leftovers for lunch and made banana bread with my well overdue bananas and it tastes delicious. Just found out that my new role at work will pay for my travel to my office in London which is a big win but even more exciting is that it started from yesterday so I will be able to expense my trip in tomorrow - woohoo! :T

Savvy_sewing

thriftylass wrote: »

Hello mooloo, would like a number?

Oh yes please
Perhaps it will help me to focus and be accountable
I managed to resist spending in the shops with my son and more importantly with my Mum.
But Mum did buy me some curtains that were for sale in the charity shop. So I can change my covers in the work room. So she is going to have one of the covers that's there now to turn into sewing bags.
Exchange and barter is allowed I presume?

Toni'sfriend

Had a really awful day today. C's sister's funeral. Thought I could hold it all together but have failed miserably. Tomorrow is another day..

apple_muncher

Sending you both lots and lots of hugs, toni'sfriend. Be gentle on yourself - funerals are very tough and holding it together is not a requirement.

Bobarella

Hugs Tonisfriend

I'm on the hunt for great birthday treat suggestions for an 8 year old boy and a few friends. If anyone has any suggestions that are as low spend as possible that would be great.

misstara

Sending hugs toni's friend x

A NSD for me and I went for a run after work - very proud of myself for this as can't mind the last time I did this. OH is out tonight so grabbed stuff out the freezer for tea.

Massa1982

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I'm making some Bliss Balls this morning, so i'll have some snacks when the munchies hit after dinner

They look delish may have to give them a go this weekend i think i even have the ingrediants in store.

Seasidegal58 wrote: »

bought Bourjois face powder at £8.99 a pop instead of my usual pricey Clinique!

I swear sometimes the only difference is the packaging, if you google beautyholicsanonymous it gives you a list of related cosmetic companies, i tend to find brands from the same group of companies react to my skin in the same manner.

Toni'sfriend wrote: »

Had a really awful day today. C's sister's funeral. Thought I could hold it all together but have failed miserably. Tomorrow is another day..

Take it easy and hope you are feeling better tomorrow, sometimes its good to have a good cry.

My First NSD of the month

Food 3.01/£285
Travel 33.50/£185
Xmas /200
Entertainment /100 (built into mini break & Xmas shopping, budgeted & Planned, hotel already paid for)
Toiletries /0
NSD 1/13

crazy_cat_lady

Hi all :wave:
Hope you're doing ok Tonisfriend
Applemuncher - hope that return to work is still ok - what a stressy job.
Real life might shovel me towards the military option after all this week. I've been too busy to spend money, put the heating on etc. I didn't get in until almost 9pm last night and 7pm tonight. Teaching is getting tougher all of the time and we get loads more to do, but nothing ever gets taken away from us. I have good days and bad days, and today is not a good day. Just wish teaching could be about teaching.
Food all home prepped :j or free :j (people bringing stuff in at work), exercise going well (I've joined an 11000+ steps a day challenge which is a doddle for me at work at the moment) and I barely spend a thing on toiletries at the best of times...