NST: January 2017

abundant1972

Evening everyone!

Today I am grateful for:
I) A supportive team at work
ii) A lot of laughter and fun
iii) A £5 M&S voucher that came through the post!

Today = NSD number 18

A massive thank you to Misstara for getting us all off to a fantastic start to the year. I hope I can keep the momentum going through February and build on her solid foundations. Well done to everyone for January too!

Eager_Elephant

Thanks misstara for running the January thread.

Reporting in a NSD for Sunday and Monday taking me to 15 for the month.

I am grateful for:
1. The Ninja Saving Turtles being one big supportive family
2. That life is pretty good at the moment
3. The future is looking bright

Jan Targets:

Set a NSD target, aim for at least 15. – will try for 15 – 15 achieved

Donate to a charity – I will donate to an animal charity - £5 sent to animal charity

Pay to your debt or savings first – just about to do the money shuffle for Jan so will pay to my debt/savings – money shuffle done at start of month

Post as often as you can – hopefully every couple of days – or once a week!!

Look at your usual food budget and aim to spend 10% less. Do a stock take of everything in your freezer/fridge/cupboards – done the Jan monthly shop in with the Xmas shop so am pretty much stocked up. Budget is usually £350 so will go for £315 – Spent £250 in the end. The extra £100 in the food account paid for a food shop for DS at Uni.

Post 3 things that you are grateful for each time you post – will do - done

Post something that you would like to have achieved by the end of 2017 - think about how you will achieve this, break your goal down into small achievable steps. – I would like to have brought the house we live in under Right To Buy and I would also like to have cleared at least £3000 of debt. I also want to socialise more, DH and I only have a few friends and we never really see them properly. I also want to make a decent income from our smallholding. – Right To Buy application has taken some more steps this month.

Organise some cheap (free if possible) things to do with family or friends. January is a long and usually boring month, it's nice to have things to look forward to – DH and I won tickets to the theatre so will check what shows are on for Jan (or Feb) and book the show, I also have a spa day which my bestie got me last birthday, I paid to extend it and we want to use it in Jan. Also need to have more family time, need to find time for board games which DD loves. – theatre tickets can only be used from Feb but did go to spa day with bestie. Did not do any board games but we have watched some TV together (might not sound a lot but we never all watch the same programme)

apple_muncher

Thank you misstara for running January and helping us all start off the year right.

NSDs = 21; exercises = 18; gratitude done; 2017 goal - we are on the way, it is a slow process but week by week we are getting there; charity donations done + 4 rebags to the Sally Army.

The one big rule I broke was the 'pay to debt/savings first' one. Usually I'm really good at this, but since dad died and us managing mum's stuff plus travelling to be with her, I realised I need to keep a lot in reserve as we are on a pretty low income and when there's a bill to pay, then we need the cash available. Normal service will be resumed at some point in the distant future, I promise.

Moll

Well as im a born frugal person and save everything and anything wherever i can . I set myself 3 goals ( In a previous post ) first is to raise £46.50 ( By other (Legal) means) by feb 25th to buy a 12 week countdown at the slimming world group I go to. I used a BOGOF and a money off voucher today when I went for a meal , and total so far is £21.45. so not too shabby. I listed some things on a local bidding site, which didn't exactly go to plan ............listed 3 things, didnt get a bid on any ,but I ended up buying a pretty tiara ?????? ( I have a GD that thinks she was born a princess,,,,),,,,seriously ,she wears a tiara all the time,,,, , ive seen her go to bed in it ,,,,,,shes 4 .


today im thankfull for


DH taking the dog for a walk in horrible rainy weather tonight instead of me


Knowing Spring is coming


and for Princess Tiaras

Moll

I'm really good at this, but since dad died and us managing mum's stuff plus travelling to be with her, I realised I need to keep a lot in reserve as we are on a pretty low income and when there's a bill to pay, then we need the cash available.




Big Hugs Apple Muncher , I lost my Mum this year and weve been in the same boat with Dad

misstara

Thanks to everyone who took part in this months challenge . Am looking forward to seeing you all in next months challenge.

I ended the month on 14/18 NSDs so could have done better there. But spent less than £90 on groceries out of £135 budget, really pleased with that. Had a lot of leftover food from Christmas which we used up so imagine food spends in February will be higher. I managed 8/12 for my exercise target which again I'm really pleased with as I had a period of about 10 days where I was ill and did no exercise.

XSpender

Thanks for January's thread misstara.

Achieved 12/15 NSDS. My diet has improved and I have upped the exercise. Food budget was well over and this caused us to dip into savings which will have to be repaid. Had some free family fun and signed up to fundraise for DS rugby club.

Today I am grateful for:

1) receiving my annual bonus ( we never know we are getting it until I check the Internet banking on the morning of Jan pay day)
2) a good pt session at the gym
3) a friend offering to take DS to a half term club with her children

Fmess

Thanks for the fantastic thread misstara

Well done calling

Sounds sensible to me apple

SFD number 15 today. Budgets are mainly intact and not too many overspends. Glad it was payday last week and looking forward to the new thread.

Seasidegal58

Thanks for running this month's thread mistara. I've managed 16 NSDS - so one day above my target. So how did I do?:

Usual rules:
The challenge runs from January 1st to January 31st.
Set a NSD target, aim for at least 15.going for - 16 out of 15 - pass!
Donate to a charity - will do - £10 to Help the Aged - pass!
Pay to your debt or savings first - have done this already - pass!
Post as often as you can try for every day epic fail!

January's rules:
Look at your usual food budget and aim to spend 10% less. Do a stock take of everything in your freezer/fridge/cupboards - I seem to have heaps of food left over from Christmas despite thinking that I hadn't bought that much! - I'm away from home at the moment so will stock take when I get back. - fail!
Post 3 things that you are grateful for each time you post - as posted above - pass!
Post something that you would like to have achieved by the end of 2017 - think about how you will achieve this, break your goal down into small achievable steps. - as posted above - passed!
Organise some cheap (free if possible) things to do with family or friends. I'm away with DD and her OH and will be out for a nice long walk later and also each day till Tuesday! January is a long and usually boring month, it's nice to have things to look forward to - sort of passed!

See you on the other side!

ilovetea

Thanks for starting the thread Misstara.
Haven't posted nearly as much as I should.
Have had 24 NSD.Pleased with that and still have 25% of my budget left.
Haven't been feeling too good which has helped a sI haven't felt like going out or eating much.
Sold a lot of stuff on e-b*y so finished the month of well.
Off to join Abundants ship.

ilovetea xx