NST: December 2016: A pared back Christmas

cybertortoise

Can I join please? I've been AWOL for months and fallen off the wagon. I'm determined to change my ways before January, and this will be the perfect start.

I'll aim for 15 NSD's as I'd like to get down to only spending on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

My food target is £500 so I'll bring that down to £480, and for gifts I need to spend £450 but that will not be happening! I'd like that under £400. And it is to include 4 birthdays this month as well.

We only have one family get together and that's already included in the budget.

I'll figure out our charity.

FurryBeastOz

Thanks for volunteering dolly. Going for 15 NSD's.

Bringing my grocery budget down to £200 after smashing that in November, And leaving a £50 'things I forgot to budget for' buffer. NOT to be used for lazy/fat food:D

I have a couple of Xmas get togethers so will allow a £100 budget for all of that.

I've done all the gift shopping I need to other than DH. Anyone got any ideas for the guy who has everything on a budget of £200? I haven't been able to afford anything for a couple of years and would like to get something with my 2nd pay check. It's silly, but he'll really be paying for it as I won't be paying bills until January, but I want something for him to unwrap:o

stoplurking

Hi Turtles

I just wanted to wish you all good luck for a great month under the watchful eye of Dolly. You are a great bunch for keeping each other motivated and giving ideas for cutting back in all areas and racking up spend-free days.

I got an email from MSE the other day to say I'd been given my 4 year badge. so, 4 years ago I found this site (annoyingly, I can't remember how) and came upon NSK's Just Say NOvember thread. To say this changed my life is an understatement. Kat and her chickadees really inspired me to get on and clear the debts that were dragging me down.

Every month I joined or followed Kat's threads and the people on there (looking at you Abundant)were fantastic at supporting each other through really hard times and motivating each other to reach the goals set by our dear leader.

Long story short,I did get, and stay, debt-free and now SFDs are second nature. I often carry not a bean in my purse and it doesn't bother me, I've lost the shopping gene! Still not great at saving but am so happy all the bills get paid every month, if there is something I want/need I can save for it and no longer have the worry of not being able to pay off the horrendous credit card debts.

It's been great to follow the Turtles after NSK went off on her travels and now she's back among you with her moggy to cuddle and a shiny new job. That girl worked wonders on me and many others and now you all are keeping up the fight and doing brilliantly. Hope you all have a wonderful December, keep safe and well but most of all keep those wallets shut if you can!
Onwards and upwards. x

SpekySquarehead

stoplurking - What a lovely post to kick off December with and hopefully it'll help provide that extra bit of motivation that you experienced.

Good luck everyone - we can do this!

indigowarrior

Hi Everyone,
1st December is here and I have got the ball rolling. I have set up a realistic budget. Decided that I am going to donate to the Kicks Count charity.

clippy_girl

Morning all!

I would like to join in please, November has been a write off!

Main problem is that I've been getting a large amount of work done on the house and as I got a local person to do it rather than homebase I have had to pay them in cash rather than cc. So I've putting everything on my 0% cc that I normally budget for and have lost control of my spending! It's easy to just swipe it for something wanted but not needed for £30!

My work should be finished today so that will be mainly the end of the spending. I had a new kitchen, new boiler (moved to the bathroom so lots of pipe work) and then decided to get the bathroom done at the same time as the sink and radiator were being moved anyway.

I've ended up with about £6k on the cc and owe mum £2k as well as spending the money I had saved. Cat has been really ill as well so shortly need to put an insurance claim in for about £800 which is currently on the cc :eek: will be paid off within about 1 year. Will sort exact figure and end of month. Plan is to put my money back in my annual expenses fund then focus on mum. Will start using cash again for purchases to keep within budgets.

So I am aiming for 18 NSD this month!

Grocery budget is normally £140 which is for just me but also includes breakfast items for my Airbnb guests and toilet roll and toiletries for them to use. This month I am also cooking an early Xmas dinner for some friends. So will reduce this to £120. I am going to keep a log of Airbnb spends to ensure budget is accurate.

Have a few events planned, friends bday meal on Sunday, Christmas party next week and work Xmas do week after. Turned down two nights out and don't want to commit to anything else. Have prob saved at least £30 just on one of the nights out

Xmas is nearly done, just need choc oranges for brother but will only buy when they are £1

thriftylass

Happy 1st of December.

stoplurking lovely post to start December.

Ok I will go for a conservative 12 NSDs. Too many variables. I've been summoned for jury duty from the 13th, have a few night outs/ins that I'll list below etc. Actually don't mind the jury duty, makes me feel included in the Scottish society being German etc. Just hope it is short as we're on holiday from the 28th to 9th and it doesn't say how long it'll be. Also couldn't apply to be exempt as you "only have to be available" on the day of the summons. Just a bit confusing and don't like the uncertainty but otherwise looking forward to it.

My spend budget is quite high but here are the details.

DH's work dinner 35 (dinner and drink)
my work night out 6 (ticket)
my work night out 20 (drinks and taxi)
girl's night in 20 (drinks and nibble on the 10th)
girl's night out 50 (contingency, nothing arranged yet and might not happen)
groceries 300 (hopefully less)
HH 50 (looroll etc)
spending other i.e. gifts 100 (still need a few ingredients for HM gifts etc.)
TOTAL 580

Had a spend day already as I bought my ticket for the staff party, a wee snack and need milk later. I also bought seeds yesterday but counted them from the grocery budget as we hopefully eat the proceed next year. Unfortunately, made a mistake and it didn't track trough TCB, grrrr.

cybertortoise

Just checking in with a grocery spend of £80.59, a bit higher than my budgeted amount as we have run out of things like washing liquid. I used my £4 club card voucher towards it too so it should have been more. I've arranged to collect it so I can't be tempted and I don't have to pay for delivery.

Also need to spend £40 ish on birthday gifts for my son so will update this later with exact figures.

Have a great day everyone x

dolly84

We are off!!

clippy_girl - I've given you a number.

stoplurking - thanks for the lovely post, a nice way to get us started.

I wanted this months challenge to be a little laid back to reflect the season, nothing too challenging, I didn't want people to get bogged down with it all at this busy time and then feel like they had failed. I hope I've got the balance right.

I am having a very busy day so I will pop back on at lunchtime and post my budgets for the month.

BeLikeMonica

Good morning everyone!
I have started off by paying all my debts for the month.
I am aiming for 19 NSD's. Today isn't one of them as I'm out for dinner with some good friends. I have two over events planned for this month and that's it.
I have allowed £200 for groceries this month. I'm usually very good at keeping to this target.

Got to dash as it's a manically busy day, but my last at work for three days as I move house this weekend! Very excited!

Good luck everyone. xx