NST Muddy March Marathon

Eager_Elephant

Claiming another NSD - did spend on hospital parking and buying a newspaper for ill relative but counting that as medical.

Am hoping the next 2 days will be NSD as well.

Today I am grateful for:
1. Walking back to my car through the park, now its open later it's a hive of activity with people milling about.
2. The NHS (again)
3. Not cooking on week day evenings

mothernerd

Speky was missing your morning updates, then remembered you were away - well done on the NSDs.

Hugs to ccl, Calling, Apple and anyone who needs one.

Not 100% today - ear and jaw aching and a headache that's been hanging around for 3 days. Went to crafts (spent on the £1 bus hop) had a pleasant time but people knew I wasn't well (and the rowdiness was at the far end of the table). Just woke in a panic, then realised it was still only evening, not Thursday morning.

Think whatever it is has been coming on for a few days (noticed spots around my mouth and have that free form anxiety - vague feeling I have forgotten something but can't work out what it is). Going to sleep some more and hope that sorts things out.

Today I am grateful for people being supportive and concerned at crafts, for the £1 bus hop (seems ridiculous to take the bus for such a short distance but the £1 makes it a wise option - was going dizzy too) and for a new lot of flower bulbs in the church yard, croci are done but daffodils and much more out now.

Fmess

Thanks mothernerd, sorry to hear you are not feeling great.

Spendy day but only on SW magazine so not too bad. Off to sleep, night all

SpekySquarehead

mothernerd - Sorry to hear you're not feeling too great. I hope you're on the mend soon.

No NSD yesterday as I had football. Used that as an opportunity to also fill up on petrol and put air in my tyres.

Unfortunately today won't be a NSD either as again, I've got football. This time with people from work. Tomorrow should be a NSD which will give me a new record for the month! Woohoo!

Calling14

Hope your feeling better today Mothernerd.

Day off today but couldn't sleep last night so shattered. Lunch out today so more money going out.

Had fun last night and minimal spend on drinks but minstrels bought oops.

Hope weather brightens up a bit, have a nice folks x

abundant1972

Afternoon All...

Today I am grateful for:

• The Sun shining - I'm of for a walk after this
• To all those people who harvest and collect our food in all weathers, often for very little
• Likewise - for the people who make our clothes

Yesterday ended up not being an NSD as went to see a friend and bought her some bits on the way. Today, however, will be so my count stays the same.

Get well soon Mothernerd. Thank you for a fantastic challenge this month too. One day left... I best get my skates on and get ready for the next Challenge - and you can have a well deserved rest!!!

greent

Because I am lurgified and don't want to do anything such as housework, I thought I'd do my month end summary a day early

U Use it or Lose it . - - 7 books read - 1 from work library and 6 from bookcase. 7 passed on - the 6 read + 1 other I had tried to read a few times. New book being started today.
Unused items - quite a few things sold on ebay and 1 large item (bike trailer) sold on facebook. Couple of small items donated.
Odds and ends from freezer and pantry items used up.
D Debt Free Date Do you know yours? Ours is 09/18 and will be achieved then if we make standard payments. As we are making extra payments this should move forward. Hopefully by the end of the year we will be down to just one debt and will be throwing all that we can at it


D Debt or Savings First - always. Extra money (eg: cashback, fleabay etc saved in separate account to make extra payment once a month. Standard payments are £745. Additional payment made today of £300. - Further additional payment made of £1700. Also looking to fully repay remaining balance on Sainz loan within next couple of days.


Y You will set all your BUDGETS before the start of the month. You are in control of your money, the money (or spending is not in control of you). Food, travel (petrol, public transport, maintenance), any kids clubs (this can be put into a separate 'purse' or 'envelope' at the start of the month and will then not affect your NSDs. All regular outgoings including 'personal' spending money.
Food - £400. I was going to reduce it by last months £30 overspend but this month is slightly longer, DD is home from uni for a weekend (so there will be treat purchases/ baking and some food bought to send back with her) and my birthday and Mothering Sunday. Plus I think I'll be spending a bit more because of BC plan. - surprisingly decently inside budget. Small shop tomorrow due - planned spends c £35, which will still be in the budget, so am pleased.
Toiletries/ cleaning - £20 - less than this spent (<£15)
Travel - £120 - a full tank of fuel & money saved towards tax and mot (separate acct) - £59.02 on fuel and £60 in savings acct
School and kids activities - £50 - overbudget :eek::eek: - £100 on army cadet camps (1 @ 35, 1 @ 65) + £75 on school trips
Birthdays & other occasions with gifts etc - £50 (a heavy month) - spent £30. Don't know what OH spent on me, but much less than normal!
Zumba - £26 - less than this spent as 2 classes missed this week (illness)
Clothes and haircuts - £50 (1 x boy haircut and new school trousers x2 boys ) - £11 on 1 haircut. Mended 2 x trousers for DS1. Found 4 x next size trousers for DS2 in loft - wundawebbed them to take them up slightly :o
House/ DIY/ Garden - £100 (have some jobs planned) - approx £80 spent on repairs. No other jobs undertaken - ran out of time due to the repairs cropping up

M Monitor Your Goals. Misstara encouraged us to set goals at the beginning of the year and Captain abundant asked us to check them last month. As we enter a new month, we should do so again. - Debt reduction going well - will slow down later in year but making the most of it at the moment Lose weight/ get fitter - now I have a starting point! BC plan joined and hopefully this should make some progress on both parts - 8lb lost as at yesterday. Decent amount of exercise undertaken - lots of Zumba (classes and yootoob), HIITs (yootoob), small amount of Xtrainer, small amount of c25K.

A Avoid takeaways, canteens (unless bargainaceous subsidised ones), vending machines, costalot coffee and all their ilk. Take your lunch to work (from home) every day and where possible take your own food or snacks for hospital appointments (if travelling or out at meal times), cinema visits, days out. My birthday and DD home for a weekend means there will likely be a meal out and a takeaway this month. Lunches always taken to work - unless work are providing them at no charge 1 free lunch from work (well, it cost me 5p) - rest of time food taken (and free tea whilst at work) Had takeaway for my bday rather than meal out - money saved. Takeaway when DD home. And also another takeaway one week when OH came home (but claimed part of it as business expenses.... )


R Remember those in Need. Donate to your local food bank or charity of your choice. Money, goods or time. - Monthly DD to WWT. Bought a scratchcard for RND today. Volunteer time every week. Usually have a bag (or several) to drop at CS during the month - Spent £5 on noses and wristbands for RND. OH and I each donated £20 to RND. Spent £3 on 'donations' for non uniform for RND. Volunteered every week at local charity. Made one drop off to CS.


C Cupboard audit (+ fridge and freezer), Meal Planning and Cooking from Scratch are all great aids to saving money. What do you have in, what can you make with it, what do you need to buy. [SIZE] - I know what's in my stores and have been using up random/ odd items - using up continued - and still continuing.

A Avoid temptation. Retailers want your money. You do not have to give it to them. They have all sorts of tricks to get you to spend. Be wary. Product xyz will not transform your life. Focus on what you want to achieve. What is a need and what is a 'want'? Who or what is driving that 'want'. Check your mood (applies to eating things you shouldn't as well). Are you sad, fed up, angry, bored. Think about that feeling (all feelings are valid). Will that purchase (or comestible) solve the problem? How else can you deal with it or make yourself feel better? - will try to make all purchases be 'mindful' ones this month (inc food shopping)
B] - all my purchases this month have been fitness related (and all from amaz0n vouchers bought with cashback monies) OH did spend over £200 on 2 ceiling lights for the lounge :eek::eek: - they were hideous, so I sent them back :D

R Repairs Every little helps. . Fix something in your house or wardrobe this month and feel good about it. The days are getting longer. Make a list of small household jobs and repairs that need doing (even tidying 'that' drawer which never gets sorted). Start with the things you can do yourself for little or no cost. - we have a spreadsheet of small and large jobs which need doing around the house. Some will be attempted this month
- had some post storm repairs. Repaired some trousers (x2) of DS1. OH mended leaking loo. Couple of other small repairs made around house.

A Attend regularly. Daily posting is recommended. . - I'm usually pretty good at this - haven't managed posting every day, but most

H Health. Another important facet of the turtle gang. I promised you a marathon, we will be getting down and dirty with lots of sweaty lycra (optional) exercise. Lots of turtles have weight loss as a goal and for that we need to look at food intake and getting moving. Healthy eating I am going to be boring and say eat your veg. Very few of us are getting enough. Healthy exercise check your existing target and step it up 5 days a week. Do a bit more (extra class/ add to the length of your walk or run/ do more at home). Mental Health lots of us are suffering setbacks, low moods and stress. I will not be setting weekly mini-challenges this month but I have seen a 21 day wellness exercise which I might quote and I also have the book of mindfulness exercises. I will be continuing the daily gratitudes, you decide if you want to. - I pledge to exercise 4/5 x time a week. And to eat lots of veggies and lean protein - exercise achieved until this week (no breath to do any cardio) Lots of veggies and lean protein consumed. Some sweet treats, but far fewer than usual.

O Outside. Lovely place. Get out there as often as possible, soak up any available daylight (it is really sunlight, I promise, even if it doesn't feel like it). Enjoy those invigorating breezes (imagine you are on a tropical island, it's all a question of degree). Helps to boost your immune system. - I need to do some work in the garden (assuming the weather is on my side!) - only brief bits done in garden in passing. Am hoping Easter break weather will be kind

Mixed bag of success, but progress has been made, so all is good :T

Apologies for length of post and lousy formatting

mothernerd

Sorry, I'm struggling today and still have to go for blood tests (other sample done at 6am) and then to mum's plus call in at doctor's surgery.

Day 30
Use It or Lose It
Not much on the list - random jottings are
Ornaments
Soft Toys - knew someone who would play those claw machines and had a foot deep layer of small soft toys on the back window of their car. Why? Probably dangerous and what a waste of money.
'Hobby' Items - 3 whole model railway layouts anyone and back issues of every model railway magazine available to buy monthly?
Fake gifts - I have been guilty of this in the past. All those 'boy toys' (I only have boys). Couldn't buy DS1 a wolf (and he didn't tell me in time when he couldn't find a new flat that would let him keep his dog) so bought a phone case with a wolf on (which didn't fit his phone). Saw a set of 'flash cards' for nurses the other day. Might be mildly amusing the first time you see the "I got through my shift without being covered in someone else's bodily fluids". Depends what sort of day you have had but what happens next - they lie idle in a drawer for years. What a waste of resources. Sorry if I sound 'narky' but I am a member of several carft forums that are supposed to support and help self-employed craft workers - some gorgeous genuine craft items but also a lot of 'thrown together tat'.

Will try to come up with some bedtime inspiration, have to put together a sewing bag as mum wants her curtains shortening (and the yardstick didn't make the move so I am taking a spare - hope the infirmary don't have problems with it).

ilovetea

I haven't a clue where this month has gone.
Keep meaning to post,but keep saying "I'll do it later" and never do.
one of the problems is that I don't do anything worth writing about. That sounds sad as i'm quite happy with my life.
Compared to some I'm in good health,no problems,no debts.Just want to get a little nest egg together.
Can't seem to finish anything. Every month I'm full of good intentions but they disappear.
Still within my budget and have managed lots of NSD.
Will try and do better in future.

ilovetea xx

crazy_cat_lady

Hope you feel better soon Mothernerd.