NST - Stupendous Sextilis

LD_13

Just catching up on the last few days posts now. No more NSDs to report so I think I achieved 7. Not on target but pretty good for me. I came in just under my food budget but went over my ents budget by about £20 (not as bad as I'd thought). Off to read up on the Sept challenge.

Thanks for running this months challenge EE!

Eager_Elephant

to all Turtles who joined me for August's challenge - see you all over on Septembers challenge.

Eager_Elephant

Reporting in 2 more NSD's for yesterday and today taking me to 16 for the month - I am so pleased as I have never surpassed a target before!!

FurryBeastOz

I'm just drawing a veil under August. It was a nightmare emotionally and financially. Actually, to give me some credit. I kept within nearly all my budgets, other than FAT food.

So, no debts, and I finish up the month on a very even keel, but I feel crap.

Here's to September, my favourite month of the year.

crazy_cat_lady

Thanks for running the August thread EE - it's been brilliant.
This month I have been grateful for:
time off work
Visiting friends
Having enough money for a few days away
Generally good weather

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dd having a great playdate, for buses, for a good book, for getting some niggly work done, for stewed apple + rasp + plum = free pudding, for seeing a double rainbow.

swimminginaseaofdebt

Evening everyone,

Checking in with an end of month update. Didn’t meet all of my targets but won’t worry too much about that :

• Allocate – ended the month on £318.08/£280.
• Use (up) – didn’t do particularly well on this.
• Upcoming (holidays) – wasn’t a particular problem for me as keeping a 13 month old amused was pretty easy.
• Spends – 13 NSDS in total, 2 off my target. Hopefully smash this next month.
• Time (for yourself) – I kept up with my reading though I didn’t catch up on my Goodreads challenge.
• Take lunch to work 13 out of the 14 days I’ll be there – took lunch to work 12 out of the 14 days I was there.
• Take part in the make up to £10 a day challenge and aim for £124 – ended the month on £143.70.
• De-clutter a minimum of 31 items from my flat (one a day shouldn’t be too hard right?!) - only got rid of 17 things.

Thanks for running the thread Eager_Elephant.

thriftylass

Thanks Eager Elephant for this month's challenge. I lost track a bit but it kicked my into gear and motivated me to do better. See you in September

bizzie

Posting end of month review.
Allocate - overspend in some categories balanced by underspend in others result overall was within total monthly budget.
Use up - not a success so making a priority next month.
Gratitudes - family, friends,
Upcoming holidays - have enjoyed the school holidays & children are happy having had the time to do various activities
Spends- achieved 20 NSDs very happy with that.
Time for me - managed to meet up with friends and family. Will aim to arrange regular get togethers in the future.

Thank you for running the challenge EE.

mothernerd

Thanks for the challenge EE. Think I am with FBO. Sorry for the lack of check-ins recently - last week I had one no sleep night and two 2 hours nights, binge slept at weekend, ate what I could, where I could, when I could (because of lack of sleep and resulting lack of focus and concentration). Doing better this week but had trouble sleeping last night - spent the time between 2am and 4.30 am downstairs very productively (rubbish/ recycling/ washing pots, pans and roasting trays, cleaned the fridge drawer and microwave, could see the worktops).

This week has been fun in parts but still a bit slow. Mum's birthday was Tuesday. Monday the granddaughter with the 4 girls (8yo, 5yo, 4 month old twins) visited, bringing cake - had to use one of the night lights as a candle so they could sing happy birthday.

Tuesday I had arranged a food delivery but went round doing a mini shop (strawberries, a sandwich each and a toffee cheesecake) at the same time as picking up all the birthday cards to the end of the year for mum. So we had a mini picnic/ party lunch. My dead brother's former gf and her grand-daughter came in the afternoon with cards, big purple box of chocolates and other gifts.

We went to see the practice nurse - birthday must flash up on their screens so they were all wishing her Happy Birthday - to check results of latest blood tests etc. Thankfully her oxygen (in the blood?) level is now up to 62 - before starting the new anti-biotics it was 30, half what it should be. Mentioned that mum is having problems with her good eye - practice nurse has sneaked me in to see the doctor before but the good doctor was already fully booked, so made an appointment for today.

When we got back to mum's she had a doze so I ordered Chinese on- line (not simple, four were closed, some were off-line, had to use ones I'd never used before, discarded a couple on the grounds that everything on the menu seemed to be deep fried. Long wait but well worth it as mum really enjoyed it (suggested we have it again this Saturday).

My brother, his daughter and the dog visited in the evening - he meant to come in the morning but his ancient camper had broken down in wales the night before and he had to be towed home. Ink wasn't allowed in the break-down van so sat magestically in the camper van on top of the break down van.

Crafts was good but had 5 people all needing different sorts of help in the first 15 minutes, then it went quiet. Very enjoyable after that, well attended but not so many that it's overwhelming. I had taken three shallow boxes of mag cuttings (items suitable for card- making - also 'inspiration' boards, message boards, notebooks, photo frames) hoping to leave them there and go in (possibly Friday) and work on them quietly and put a bit of order back into the craft drawers - no luck, Friday will be Macmillan tea party so brought them back with me. Decided to do an hour or two which ended up as 5.

More 'quick' shopping this morning (4 shops visited before I could get a book of stamps - they have all sold them at some point), made lunch for me and mum, spent the afternoon phoning people about short coach breaks later in the year and a couple of tourist information offices for information on accessibe buildings and a couple of places that hire out wheelchairs. Plus the Carer's Allowance unit - apparently my case has been to the decision maker and they have decided that they want accounts for 2015- 2016 in addition to the 2016-2017 ones I've already sent, letter sent on the 29th so should arrive soon.

Doctor's visit successful - problem with iron levels does not yet require treatment but needs monitoring as it is worsening. The eye problem - doctor could not see signs of infection but because of all the problems she had with the left one (now lost the sight in it) he has done an emergency referral back to the eye specialists - if I don't hear from them by 1pm Monday, I have to ring him back and he will rattle their cage. Mum is afraid of having to do the 16 mile round trip to Wigan (did it 3 times a week for part of last year plus extra visits to Liverpool (39 miles away) but the doctor agreed with me that if anything is going wrong, it is important to get it treated (and ultimately saved) as soon as possible.

I have a day off tomorrow as the twins (the mummy ones, not the baby ones) plus 5 little ones are taking her for a picnic for her birthday treat - they wanted to take her for a meal but I had suggested a picnic (or the Chinese meal brought to the house) instead as having lost her depth of field vision, mum sometimes misses her mouth with the food, so is self-concious about eating in public It may have to be an indoor picnic.

I am back there on saturday as the 2 people who normally visit (more sometimes) are both on holiday

I have been making a note of things to be grateful for - lovely geraniums newly planted outside the library, swift action on mum's eye problem, all the lovely little treats we have have had this week (only had 3 chocolates), fun visitors, starting to get things done again, some progress on benefits and availability of information, wonderful reading books to read when I can't sleep, seeing part of 'Baby's Day out' on the Bank Holiday. see you all in September - just glanced at the timer on the laptop and we're already there.