NST - Stupendous Sextilis

apple_muncher

Calling - a red baywatch swimsuit, eh? Go girl!

Fmess - even more work! You never stop!

Today I am grateful or a fresh start with all you turtles for company, for getting to brighton today, for dd enjoying the toy museum, for time on the beach, for packed lunch food keeping costs right down, for plenty of steps, for my snuggly warm bed (there are so many people living on the streets in b), for mum's hosp appt only taking 20 mins, for dd having enough energy to then spend the evening running aroun outside, for an NSD.

Lauralozzle

Today has been a spendy day.

I've brought a pair of jeans - £10. So, at least I have one pair of jeans with no holes in the thigh. We also did a small top up shop after work, mainly sandwich stuff and fruit but a few other bits, ended up spending £16.

I cancelled my National Trust renewal yesterday- both me and the OH have been paying separately as adults which is stupid. We've both cancelled but we'll join as a couple when we next visit. I still have this month on my previous card so I'm hoping that hasn't been cancelled as well!

We need to do the same with English Heritage.

Gratitudes

I'm grateful that I didn't have to cook tonight
I'm grateful that I didn't get rained on this afternoon
I'm grateful to myself for doing the overtime and overpaying my credit card by £100 this month.

Florence_J

Yey, today was a NSD.

Need to post my targets.

Rules:

Allocate – set your budgets for the month – this needs to includes any money needed for holidays away, days out, maybe even school uniform/items. Make sure you have something allocated for treats.
Once you have done your budget you then need to pay any surplus to your debts or savings.

For me I don't really mind what I spend or how much on one category, as long as I don't get into debt. I only have about £50 spending money this month so will have to be careful. I have been spending too much money on too many things that could have been avoided. I am trying to go hardcore this month.

Use (Up) – we are going to try and use up as much as possible, whether that is clothes/food etc. Do you need new clothes for holidays or will your current clothes be suitable? Do you need those sparkly sandals when you have a similar pair in the wardrobe? Do the children need to replace all school items/clothes or can some from last year be reused?


Not buying clothese this year unless with vouchers, but am very mindful about food waste and i find all food waste upsetting, had to throw away two carrots at the weekend which could have been avoided for pre planning.

Gratitudes – each time you post I would like you to post at least 3 gratitudes.


Today I am grateful for seeing a train informally known as 'the flying banana' which is a big must see for train spotters (I'm not a train spotter but a childhood love of Thomas the Tank Engine means I am always pleased when I see an interesting train)

For listening to a podcast on the train home with the connection surviving going through a tunnel.

My boss saying something good about how I am working.

Upcoming (holidays) – what plans has everyone got for August? If you haven’t yet decided and are worried about keeping the kids entertained then now is the time to plan the month. Get yourself an A4 piece of paper and draw 31 squares and start filling in the days.
Free activities are preferred - can we all share some tips?
is there a friend or family member you haven’t seen for a while – plan a catch up with them.

I don't think I can really think about holidays after only recently returning to work following a sickness absence, but will try to maximise my weekends and use flexible working options at work.

Spends – we will have 15 NSD’s (unless you want to set a separate target).
Medical spends or days when the only purchase is reduced items do not count as spends.


I would be overjoyed with 15 NSDs. As I have never reached that target before that is what I will aim for.

Time (for yourself) – make time for yourself this month, I know its hectic for a lot of people so take time to have a coffee in peace, a bubble bath, indulge in a good book, do some colouring or something else that takes your fancy.

I will try to pop on here everyday as sometimes I find it hard to do that during the week. That will be my 'me time'

My desired debt free date is my 30th birthday. I am nearly 28.5. It will involve a hell of a lot of hard work.

x_raphael_xx

We also have Colouring Book day on 2nd August so if you don’t have colouring book and felt pens/crayons you can go out and buy them and we won’t count them as a spend!!!

I have a ninja turtle coloring book bought for me as an xmas present in my locker in work. It was for my quiet night shifts, but I only do days now.
I think I'll break it out and colour a page in tomorrow on my break

Allocate – set your budgets for the month – Budgets set. I have a week off booked with bf, it should be farely cheap as we're spending a few days with my mum. So mainly petrol. I have budgeted £100 for the week.

Use (Up) – I am trying to declutter & minimalise some of my stuff. I want to try and get to the end of the month without buying anything that isn't groceries or necessities.

Gratitudes – each time you post I would like you to post at least 3 gratitudes. I think I'm going to change this up a little and instead post a daily achievement I think I have accomplished. Today it was getting quickly through all my monthly tasks at work as well as my normal weekly stuff. Feels good to keep on top of it all.

Upcoming (holidays) – Off to see my mum for a few days, it's bfs birthday on the 22nd.

Spends – 1/22 NSDs - I reached my highest total last month. I'm going to try harder and attempt 22 NSDs this month. This leaves just 9 spend days. Today was NSD no.1

Time (for yourself) – I have a week off at my mums, which means I don't have to cook or clean, just lots of sitting around relaxing. Also want to trial bfs new bike and go for a nice ride together.

greent

Day 1 and NSD achieved. Spent 3+ hours at local playpark with some other mums and their offspring. Picnic lunch from home, so no spends incurred there Kids got to run around and use up some energy, and I got some mum-chat in Only downside is I ended up with sunburn on one arm. Came home and played cards with smalls, DD and my mum (who turned up as we were setting up) - my mum then took smalls out for a walk with her dogs. After dinner we played Frustration and then reading and bed. Was going to do some ironing and housework, but it's been very much a day with the smalls - which is fine by me!

Today I am thankful for:
* simple pleasures of card games and board games and family time
* meeting up with other mums and some friends of the smalls
* picnic lunches and shared flask of tea with friends
* my mum bringing around some clothes which she no longer wears (she is a shop-aholic) - more tops for me! (I quite often get given things with the tags still on.....)
* gorgeous weather
* line dried washing (inc some baby items for my sister - looked so cute on the line!)
* easy dinner (batch cooked last week)
* a bowl of plums from my mum's garden

Lots to be thankful for

Tomorrow I really need to do a bit of housework and some ironing - as well as spend some more time with the smalls. I need to return an item OH bought online, pick up his prescription (he has an exemption card, so no cost) and drop in confirmation of the g-pigs boarding for our Oct hols. DS3 is after a magazine as well (he will pay) but OH has a till spit with him from Tesc0 (spat out yesterday when buying lunch) for £1 off, so I may try and persuade him to wait one more day (OH will be back Thurs night) If I can stay away from the shops then I am forced to use up what is here!

Weather is predicted to be rainy tomorrow for most of the day, so I'm thinking a day of reading (DS3 has a reading challenge from school to complete), more games (Cluedo and Rummikub are apparently next on the list) and maybe some time on the x-trainer/ rower/ treadmill as a mini-comp and to use some energy up indoors..... They are pretty good at imaginative games totally by themselves, but a little encouragement that the exercise stuff can also be fun can't be a bad thing (only thinking of 5 min slots on each) - it's that or I get them doing Zumba with me to yootoob!

Eager_Elephant

Some really great targets from everyone this month.

I have given everyone numbers up to here.

I still need to do my targets, tonight has been manic as late home from work by 1 hour and that pushes the whole evening back.
I nearly had a heart attack on Sunday - my YNAB would not load - I thought I had lost the lot (again), didn't have time to sort it but when I logged in on Monday night it was all working fine - Phew!!

Today has been a NSD - barely had time to breathe, never mind to go to a shop.

Today I am grateful for:
1. My job which I love
2. Evening walks with the dogs
3. Leftover roast dinner

Catch you all tomorrow clutching your colouring books and pens!!!!

Fmess

Just realised I didn't explain my petrol spends (bet you were all on tenterhooks!). I have taken on a temping job at my old work (pre teaching) (apple I only lasted a week of the school holidays before I started going crazy and called up and asked for work! There is something wrong with me, I'm sure!) but it means driving into the city and that's a lot further than I had budgeted for. However, the extra income will make it worthwhile.

I'm declaring a SFD (number 1) as the only expense was a pet medical one (is that allowed, I don't have children ).

Apple what's Brighton like? I've always wanted to visit.

Hope you've all had a lovely day in this non-summer weather!

thriftylass

Yay, the pet insurance finally paid out and it's even more than expected (350 instead of 270). Will redo my numbers a bit tomorrow.

cuddlymarm

Yesterday was a lovely day. My treat spend for the month has nearly gone already so may need extending slightly as we treated my niece and her family to fish and chips. We had a lovely afternoon letting the kids get soaked and Sandy on the beach, then after a shower and change a ride on a tram and fish and chips out. Simple pleasures.
So I was grateful yesterday for
My lovely little nephews
For living close to the beach
For the tide and weather allowing us to play on the beach

Today is my first shift in the charity shop. I'm really looking forward to it.
I've paid my credit card off in full this morning so any spare money for the rest of the month will go towards the holiday fund.
Today won't be a NSD because my online shop arrives this afternoon but then I shouldn't need to buy anything for a few days.
Anyway better get on
Have a good day guys
Cuddles

Eager_Elephant

Welcome to Day 2.

Colouring Book Day is an American tradition but I thought we should encompass it in our challenge this month.

So if you have a colouring book or printed sheets and some pens/crayons we all need to find time to do some colouring!!

Now off to work but hoping to leave early so will do my colouring this afternoon.

Have a good Wednesday everyone!!