NST Muddy March Marathon

misstara

Haven't had time to properly think about my March goals but will do it over the weekend when I'm off work.

Yesterday was a NSD, today I bought bus tickets for the month and we need milk. Yesterday's gratitudes - a busy day at work, chicken fajitas for tea and for it being the start of a new month. Today's - sleeping right through last night, waking up to a message from a friend I haven't seen for a while and earning some extra cash with 2nd job.

mothernerd

Day two
Use it or lose it An old one but still valid. Food cupboards. Some of us still have plenty to work through. I rarely have anything ood but even I have a couple of things I bought specifically for a recipe and never used - oat 'bran' (very fine) to make oatcakes and ras- al- hanout (think that is right, though there may be a circumflex in there.

If you have not used something, ask yourself why? Were you planning to rival Mary Berry? Tired of doing the same things over and over but didn't quite translate the thought into action? Are you going to use it ? (Is it you or a 'fantasy' you).

If it's ood and you are worried, can you think of an alternative use. When my father died he had some ancient herbs and spices - I put them in a fine cotton cloth and used them to scent my bath (spices would work inpot pourri). Flour could be used for playdough or papier-mache (circumflex again). Do you have a friend who would use it?

Otherwise it is a waste of good shelf space, like books that you 'always meant to read'. Realised a couple of years ago that some books just aren't for me and not worth giving my time (it was a whodunnit full of such obnoxious people that I didn't care 'whodunnit' just wanted them to do it quicker - gave up at page 13).

Well-being challenge
Think of ten things you are grateful for (it is optional).

See you later turtles.

indigowarrior

Day 2
Use it or lose it: I have done a meal plan based on what food I currently have in the cupboards and freezer. I am going away next tuesday so I would ideally like to not get a load in.

Planning: I only have food budget this week. Based on my meal plan above and the extras I have spent £18.06.

Excercise: We walked to the supermarket and back. My three year old insisted on walking the alternative route which was longer.

thriftylass

mothernerd wrote: »

Day two
Use it or lose it An old one but still valid. Food cupboards. Some of us still have plenty to work through. I rarely have anything ood but even I have a couple of things I bought specifically for a recipe and never used - oat 'bran' (very fine) to make oatcakes and ras- al- hanout (think that is right, though there may be a circumflex in there.

.

Just made a nice roast with chicken pieces, sweet potato etc using raw-al-hanout yesterday. Goes well with lamb or goat too or any north african/middle eastern inspired dishes/tagines/rice/couscous salads etc. It's very versatile.

That reminds me, meat eaters out there. Have you tried goat. Not as strong as lamb if you don't like that but more flavoursome than beef and usually cheaper. Our local halal shop sells it.

I only throw spice out when the lost their particular smell or smell stale/fusty. As spices are used for preserving they keep way longer than their use-by-date.

mrshubbard

Mantra - live in the spirit of the season March is when the financial season changes for us. It definitely comes in like a lion - 3 family birthdays & our wedding anniversary all over the next week as well as car mot & service then mothers day and van mot & service at the end of the month. By then end of the month though all the big spends are out of the way. 1 birthday between now & October. All insurances shopped around for cheaper deals already. April is a huge sigh of relief for us - if we can make it through March sticking to our budgets we can make it through anything. Usually it's a get the cc out month but not this month.

Use it or lose it I have started picking out books and cds and pricing them on Ziffit. Need to keep on till I get to that minimum amount. I also need to sort through little man's old toys to see what to keep for the next one & what to sell/charity shop. By next Friday we will hopefully know what we're having and will decide what clothes to keep hold of.

Debt free date Snowball calculator says March 2021 :eek: No way! We've got extra money to throw at the debt once our car's paid in May and then little man will get free nursery hours next year so hoping to be debt free in December 2019 but we'll review that every 3 months or so and just keep chucking the spare money at those ccs.

Debt/savings first All our dds now come from 1 account and we both know how much to put in to cover everything with a little extra to build an EF up. 2 of the cc's have a dd and the other gets whatever is left out of our personal spend budgets put on it. This month I need to wait till the car's been in to see what is left and to decide what my personal spend budget will be this month.

Your budget Our food budget is £200 which is already in the joint account. My petrol will get put in on payday tomorrow. I will draw out £15 to cover thongs for little man (toddler group/ activity groups only £2 or £3 each) I may not allocate myself a personal spend budget this month. Will wait to see if I get birthday money and use that instead.

Monitor your goals My goals are to have money spare for extra on the cc this month. To stick to my food budget. To not go over my personal spend budget if I have one. I do a little mini budget each week to see what needs adjusting to keep on track.

Avoid takeaways We will be having a combined family birthday meal at some point but will stick to one course and maybe a shared dessert. No plans for any takeaways but I will at some point spend £1.60 on amazing soup & barm for work lunch if I'm having a bad day.

Remember those in need I volunteer with a local fundraising group who will be getting stuff for their tombola when I start decluttering. We also regularly donate & buy kids stuff from Barnados and put an item in the foodbank each weekly shop.

Cupboard audit Did this last month so not too full at the moment but keeping an eye on them & my fridge and sticking to my meal plans means everythings getting used. Need to start checking dates on my baking stuff again

Help Will definitely ask if any is needed and happy to give it where I can.

Mistakes I do have a habit of thinking oh well the budget's blown, what's a few quid more matter so I am trying to be more aware of this and curb it.

Avoid temptation We have been going for a mooch round the shops less as it leads to buying things for little man he doesn't need and a brew and treat while we're out.

Repairs We are currently doing our garden up and have been improving my make do and mend skills, with the help of my extremely handy hubby to make garden fences from old broken ones. Using stinedug up from our garden for walls. Digging our own trenches instead of getting workmen in. I really want to improve my sewing skills so have been looking for classes but no luck yet.

Attend regularly I will be here daily

Try your best That's all anyone can do & I intend to.

Health I need to get back to filling my water bottle each morningand making sure it's empty by the end of the day. Also taking advantage of ys items and our market for daily smoothies to up our veg intake. I also want to find some prenatal exercise to do. Will look on youtube for free videos today.

Outside We are outside often anyway walking our dog and taking little man to the park, even on the coldest, wettest days. Our dog does NOT thank us for this! We also have a camping weekend at the end of this month. Our usually fairly expensive 3 day vw show plus week camping after is not happening this year as our new addition would be maybe a month old if that. So that part of our holiday budget is partly going on this - £40 for the weekend and the rest on doing our garden up so we can enjoy more time outside at home. Currently not usable at all for a toddler.

No spend days I will say 15 but am hoping for more.

thriftylass

mrshubbard wrote: »

....I also need to sort through little man's old toys to see what to keep for the next one & what to sell/charity shop. By next Friday we will hopefully know what we're having and will decide what clothes to keep hold of

DD was taken for a boy the first few months and even now at nearly 3 she still wears her brothers hand-me-downs. She likes the occasional dress but that is always beaten by a super hero costume. I'm neither encouraging the tomboy-ness nor the girly ness. Just whatever she likes but I enjoy the money it saves us (won't last much longer) that I didn't expect when I had the girl after boy (I guess other way round would be more tricky).

abundant1972

Evening!

Today I am grateful for:

• My morning routine going to plan
• The laughs we had at work
• My new library book on loan

Today = NSD number 1

A manic day and glad to be home as always. Last night I made sure I was in bed earlier and read a little - I am going to aim for a chapter a night of my well-being book from here on. Home now - and thinking I'm meant to do some exercise <groan> when all I want to do is sleep for an hour!!! Maybe I'll have a power nap and then do some time on my stepper.

The only thing I have in my cupboards that I haven't used was some Nori I was going to make Sushi with. That never happened! However - when I remember I cut up bits in my salads.

21 Day Challenge : Gratitude. Another 7 gratitudes for today: for shelter in this cold weather, for the food stocks in my cupboards and freezer, for hot and cold running water, electricity at the flick of a switch... for my computer and the window on the World it gives me, my mobile - for keeping in touch with people I care about, and for a regular income and a job I enjoy.

Toni'sfriend

Afternoon Turtles

Lovely morning here but it’s now pouring with rain and it’s freezing cold. Went for a long walk as I probably won’t manage one tomorrow. Waiting for deliveries for my son and no idea when they will arrive.

Went to Lidl to buy a red pepper and spent £13.75 on YS items. All things that we use a lot of and I reckon I can get at least 7 meals from them. Also stacked up on veg from Aldi Super 6. Got meals planned for all of next week with what we have in stock. Only thing is something for Sunday dinner when I like to make something for the three of us and a bit restricted by what my son will eat.

Changed all the bedding and it’s all washed dried and ironed. Started giving the bedroom a good clean and repaired a broken drawer. Wanted to start clearing out cupboards but didn’t manage that. Since I’ll be in all day tomorrow I’ve got it pencilled in for then. I can be fairly ruthless at getting rid of things I no longer want or need but the other two are awful. Keep everything (even if broken). Will give as much to the charity shop as I can.

Our food cupboards are full of unopened jars going back years when we used to buy things because they looked interesting with no idea of how we were going use them. Will make for some interesting meals when I get round to opening them.

Think I’ll save my luxurious bath until I’m here on my own and then I can enjoy it. Thinking about 10 things I’m grateful for. Will let you know later.

Today I’m grateful for;

Support from C and my son. Had some more bad news about my brother and became quite tearful.

Calling14

Thanks Mothernerd had a lovely relaxing bath last night.

Yesterday besides sugar I went out for bought some lovely little jar candles in HB, about 59p didn't break the bank. Cleared all my old tatty ones out.

Today naughty step alert looking at fbook early this am, bought a hifi system ok showing my age, really can't be bothered putting all my cds onto iTunes, not sure my mini iPad would cope. Happy anyway as my other had given up the ghost , bargain at £30. Have looked about £140 that type. Will probably follow Mrshubbard example and start listing cds don't play on Zifit.

Day 2 challenge left over cauliflower cheese just need to find something protein in my freezer to go with it. Followed by blackberry crumble no wonder my weight is moving in the wrong direction.Leftover soup for lunch. So glad it's gone really couldn't face it tomorrow.

Grateful for
cleaning all afternoon, unblocked sink and mended Hoover- saddo but hey the weekend will be mine!
Dentist tomorrow Yeah my tongue is cut to bits on a sharp broken tooth .

Lauralozzle

Today has not been a NSD but never mind. Still at 1/15.

Use it or lose it - I have some bulgar wheat thats in the cupboard. It's been in here for ages because I dont know what to do with it! GitHub look up some recipes and see if I can use it up.

I'm grateful for work being understanding. They let me leave early today as I was exhausted. I'll have to make up the time at some point though so I reckon some long days next week are on the cards!