NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

FurryBeastOz

MrsHubbard YNAB is a computer app that budgets all of your money as it comes in/you spend it. Means I know where every penny goes!

And they went today. I decided to prepay for a course of me time (aka massage). Although it is an initial ouch, I have already budgetted for next month and savings so it's covered out of this pay check. It saves a lot of money in the long run.

It also means that in leaner months I don't sacrifice me. I feel a bit selfish saying that, but I'm earning it I suppose, and 2yrs ago I would have been drinking it and eating away at savings not earning it:mad:

Gratitude:

1) Being sober - feeling a bit emotional tonight as I went to a great AA meeting.
2) Forcing myself to the gym, and actually doing my leg program. (I will regret it when i try and stand first thing tomorrow :rotfl:
3) Hot chocolate and a warm bath. About to treat myself as I head to bed. DH still not home from work but if I wait up it could be 0300. I've had to train myself to just go to bed.

mothernerd glad the funeral was ok and that your Mum was able to go.

SkintTeacher

Well done furrybeastoz on staying sober

f0xh0les

Good job FurryBeast. Be proud of you.

NSDs all over the place, but mainly because the smalls are refusing to leave the house over half term .

Going stir crazy.

Today is not a NSD - first since Monday I think, when we went to the cinema.
All 4 are having a haircut today, £20 budgeted. This will not be pretty, they seem to think a haircut is akin to torture.

DH is abandoning ship to go to work for 3 hours in the middle of the day. Uni open day or some such. Will go dolphin hunting when he comes back and buy all the tat that goes into lunch boxes for next week.


Then next week it is on with the DIY!

Eager_Elephant

Yesterday was a NSD.

Still no bill for the car - it's been over a week now - do the garage not know I want to pay it!!

Today will probably be a spend day as DD has a friend coming over for a sleep over so will need to get some snacks in for them.

Have a fab weekend everyone - I am off up to the field to clear some brambles!!

Toni'sfriend

Yesterday's post seems to have been swallowed by a whale. I'll post properly later but just wanted to say a huge well done to FurryBeast. I'm trying to cut down on alcohol - on day 18 now and am filled with admiration.

Mothernerd - Glad your mother got to the funeral. Always a very trying time.

mothernerd

FurryBeastOz very well done.

SkintTeacher Yes some people have evry penny spoken for before it comes into the house - it's why we set budgets in advance and why some people are addicted to YNAB (can use on the phone and it reminds you how much is allocated/ has been spent in each category).

It is also why we say "Pay to your debts (or savings) first, live off the rest". If you have worked out your debt free date and divided the amount which needs repaying into months, then this amount is already set. Anything left after deducting all regular outgoings (Martin has a budget planner which helps work out what you are spending and work out where you can cut back) is for food.

Turtle rules are tough but after a while some become automatic (try following one or two at first) but we are always here to help. Remember 'No Turtle gets left behind'. We never 'fail' but we might not make all of our targets. We celebrate when when some succeeds and help/ commiserate when a turtle struggles. Being in the turtle gang definitely helps - months when any of us tried to go it alone are much harder. Each rule is a tool - the more you can use, the faster you reach your target.

If you have 'personal' spends would it help to put all impulse buys in that category and when it's gone, no more for the rest of the month. You could also jot down things you 'want' (very little is actually a 'need' ) and then decide which you can 'afford' to buy when your wage is paid.

It might help (this is all advice, I am not telling you off) if you write down how you are feeling. when you want to make the purchase. I sometimes eat when I am bored, tired, need something to do with my hands or had a bad day. Some people spend for the same reasons but any 'elation' from the purchase soon wears off.

I am going to stop there. Other people may have tips and advice too.

Thought the funeral hadn't affected me as much as usual (have felt totally wiped out by some) but started falling asleep (still holding the laptop) at 9pm and have slept soundly. Going to stay in bed for a while longer.

FurryBeastOz

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

Still no bill for the car - it's been over a week now - do the garage not know I want to pay it!!

Hey. It's aging your money on YNAB:D

Sorry.

Not sure what I'm doing today. Haven't made it off the sofa yet. My legs hurt. A lot.

Lots of flying to do - guests next weekend. Think I might have to brave Lidl and I need to fit in some exercise (mentally required to combat depression even if body protests - I do NOT want a repeat of last week.

Have a great Saturday whatever you are up to.

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :coffee:
Belated post for 'last night'. I was so thrilled to make it to half term that I actually got home and pretty much fell asleep on the sofa. Ah well.
Mothernerd - pleased the funeral went ok. Make sure that you make time to relax a bit - you're always so busy that I get tired just reading your posts. I hope the situation with your mum's partner is sorted out soon, I can't imagine how stressful that would be.
I'm in forced turtle mode for the week ahead as I'm still 10 days from payday and completely skint after paying vets bills and boiler repairs. All my 'put aside' money is gone. Still, I have survived worse times than this and I didn't have to get into debt to pay so I have made progress at least.
Yesterday's gratitudes:
The arrival of half term
An early night
Netflix

Lauralozzle

Hello shipmates!

Thank you all for your kind comments! I am so happy I have paid it off!

I've been quiet for past few days as I've been feeling pretty rough - migraines and such.

Wednesday and Friday were NSD to sigh as been updated. Now at 8/15 - if today ends up also being NSD I'll be at 9/15 so hopefully we'll manage that.

Thursday was a spendy day - spent £18 in Asda but most was on essential items and some dolphins. Will need a proper shop tomorrow for sandwich stuff next week.

Today I'm grateful for
1) feeling better
2) a lie in
3) the weekend - I've felt awful at work and haven't been leaving until quarter to six.

Bobarella

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

Morning all :coffee:
Belated post for 'last night'. I was so thrilled to make it to half term that I actually got home and pretty much fell asleep on the sofa. Ah well.
Mothernerd - pleased the funeral went ok. Make sure that you make time to relax a bit - you're always so busy that I get tired just reading your posts. I hope the situation with your mum's partner is sorted out soon, I can't imagine how stressful that would be.
I'm in forced turtle mode for the week ahead as I'm still 10 days from payday and completely skint after paying vets bills and boiler repairs. All my 'put aside' money is gone. Still, I have survived worse times than this and I didn't have to get into debt to pay so I have made progress at least.
Yesterday's gratitudes:
The arrival of half term
An early night
Netflix

Someone on another thread has coined the phrase 'deadzone' to describe this part of the month Cat. Have to say I quite like it.