NST Super September Scrimping challenge

Eager_Elephant

cybertortoise wrote: »

Thrifty & Eager Elephant - If you want the older version of YNAB which doesn't have to be connected to your bank account (I have the older version and didn't know this was even possible), go to the YNAB website, scroll all the way to the bottom and there's a link which says older versions. They should still be good to go.
.

I am old school and use the old YNAB, I brought it via Steam so I don't get any annoying emails about upgrading to the new version.
I have seen comments that the new is not as good as the old so will stick with what I have as it does the job perfectly.

Managed 2 more NSD's which were Weds and Thurs.

Yesterday was a spend day as collected our chicks which we are rearing on for meat.

Today will also be a spend day as the freezer is bare except for 2 lots of milk and some pork (from our own pigs)

DawnW

Morning all - didn't manage to check in yesterday so have lost count

Still only 1/18 SFDs - OH bought fuel for the car yesterday and this morning I found bargainous gammon joints and unused clothing items that were on my 'needs' list, less than £15 for a dress, a pair of boots, a top and 3 gammon joints - love car boot sales Sadly the diesel for the car was a lot more

Added gammon joints spend (£10) to my total food spend in my signature, all spends recorded in my little black book. I have spent just over half of my food / toiletry / pet food etc budget, so must take care for the rest of the month. I shan't need to do another big shop though.

Using up - I made a huge vat of courgette, pea and pesto soup from stores / garden produce yesterday, which will do for lunches for most of the week Also rinsing out almost empty shower gel containers left behind in the spare room ensuite by DS. The rinsings do very well instead of bath foam for nice bubbly baths

Used some wine we already had as a present, and a card from my stash for a friend's birthday

No eating or coffee out :A

Exercise - well the dog got a move on this morning for a change :rotfl:
No heating

f0xh0les

redofromstart wrote: »

Hi threepennybit

NSD here, hurrah. really low on milk though, the boys are eating so much cereal. Not a bad thing in itself, but the milk usage is enormous.

I am on the third litre of the day, and it isn't even lunchtime.

SFDs - 7 NSDs already!!

Extra monies - none, but did get £4 H&B vouchers that I used for 3 big packs of pretzels and two big bags of dried fruit and peel for the Xmas cake - cost 0p - bogohp and YS too, and used a loyalty card for a free gelato.

Food - enough in the house to do the week, even if DH took every single snack bar in the house as he fears vegans die in Holland from malnution. He is there for 4 days. Drama queen.

Eating up/ using up stuff- sad looking plums and pears in an 'orchard crumble' in the oven now, smells divine, as the oven was on, I made half a dozen scones. Lunch is from stores - tomato and red pepper soup with doughballs. Supper will probably be pizza. Cupcakes made for lunchboxes tomorrow and I made a very small seedcake cos my boys are p*rv*ts and like carraway.:rotfl: Also found a half full coffee jar of corn for popping, so will make a start on that with films this afternoon.

Lunches -kids all have packed lunch, I have whatever is left over, too small for a family meal, stuff they have deemed too 'ski-dusting' to be termed 'food':(

Social life - none for the foreseeable

Exercise - none at all due to waiting in for workmen and repairmen - I am going back to sit ups on the living room floor at this rate.

Beauty - £0.00 - still have one mudpack, have told the kids to use the bars of soap that old people keep giving me - it seems people give old people bars of soap as gifts. The old people in question are bemused by this, but prefer bottled soap, so I must get given 20 bars a year. Some go in drawers to scent clothes/ deter moths and then migrate toward the bathroom cupboard.

Time for self - reading (laundry does NOT count!!!) films, plenty of alone time as DH is not coming back until Sunday night and half the kids are in bed at 7 and the other half at 9, but they are staring at computers/in their own rooms so it is like being alone anyway.

No heating on over here, and I broke the news to the kids that the heating went off in April. They had not noticed -probably why they keep putting things over the radiators to dry, and I keep taking them off and putting them in the airing cupboard. :T

mothernerd

When I went in the bathroom this morning the towel rail was hot, so I immediately went downstairs and turned the heating off again - best I can do other than sit beside it 24 hours per day and chase DS3 and Beloved if they come near it.

I have been working on the kitchen and when I need to rest I am still taming the paper piles of card-making materials (two trays full gone through this morning) with short breaks in between - allowing myself to read one chapter of my book. Last one was only 5 pages long so had not even picked my drink up.

I know I am getting old but I've just been turned into history. At yesterday's event, I bought a copy of the local archives newsletter (Apr- Jul edition). I only buy it every so often if there is something interesting on the cover. When I turned to the contents page there was an artcle on a local community paper that my ex and I were both involved with.

It's written by someone who was there in the early years (from 1973) with much less about the later period (up to 1983) so we aren't named though I know most of those who are (from other groups and organisations I have been involved with). However one of the cartoon characters mentioned (featured in all the later episodes) was based on my husband.

The majority of the articles are based on archive material from the 1880s (one from 1670 and one from 1909) so feeling rather ancient atm - should I be wrapped in newspaper and put away in the attic?

vintagebrighton

Check in 10/30 and NSD number 5

Have no free airbnb nights left in September as all the cancelled nights have been rebooked. Started getting bookings for November and the first one for January 2018! That's a level of organisation I don't have :rotfl:

Have been doing my budgets based on our irregular income (knowing there's freelance work till April for hubby). I've also assumed 15 airbnb booked nights a month which I don't think is over ambitious.

I think we should be able to save about 2.5k The other 2.5k I want to save will have to come from eBay sales, surveys, crafting, MB and any other way I can find to make money at home.

I have restrictions on what I can do but I love a plan!

Me time - netflix and crochet

Heating - pft, no chance

Budgets - all sorted

Using up stores - hubby's the cook but we're having a frugal shopping month so stores duly getting used

Enjoy what's left of your weekend scrimpers

VB x

Kerry_Woman

Day 10
Today was a spend day. Was only a small amount-£2. Brought 2 charity wristbands(different colours) at the charity walk I attended. Money spent entered into notebook.
Did walk the 9.5k in 1 hour and 48 minutes. Was nice walking in London and seeing the sights.
Had the sandwich that was brought yesterday.
Going to chill out this evening and going to read some of my book.
Breakfast and dinner from food already in.

foxgloves

Hi Scrimpers,
Check-in 10/30
And oh, my sainted trousers! A SFD. 1/18. Might even get a couple more this week!
A bit of useful scrimpy behaviour - have put washer on timer to do a big laundry load overnight on cheap tariff, managed to get today's load almost dry outside on the line. Baked bread, picked up more windfall pears, mr f dug up enough potatoes for this week. Re-used hot bath water to soak cat's blanket. Most useful job has been synchronising our diaries, doing lots of planning inc getting my budget dates on the calendar & writing some challenging but achievable job lists for the week ahead. Oh...& I re-listed some stuff on ebay.
Exercise - won't hit my 7000 step goal today though won't be too far off.
Ok, must get my needles clicking if I'm to get this stuff knitted for craft stall.
Am enjoying reading how everyone's doing.
F x

clippy_girl

Evening all

Yesterday was def not a NSD! £55 spent on massage and waxing. Normally only get back, neck and shoulder but treated myself to a full body. Back and neck not as tense as usual so I guess it it posture at desk/stress of work causing it (only been at work 6 days since last one). However my calfs were really tight and actually cried out when she did those (even though I can put up with her using her elbows and thumbs in my back) :eek: need to revisit the training on setting up my desk properly (stupid hot desking :mad:)

Then I spent £100 on new winter boots as mine have fallen apart and feel they are already needed due to rain hopefully last two winters.

Then went to John Lewis to test out the simba mattress as I get back pain in bed and want to replace mine. Felt great and as there is a 100 night guarantee I decided to go for it. So £599 later :eek: I bought it direct from simba though and got £20 cash back.

Then £10 in wilco on vitamins, spotlight lightbulb and dishwasher cleaner.

It was pouring so I didn't want to walk home in rain then back in again to meet friends later but luckily one friend was also in the city so we went to wetherspoons. I drank water though :T

Then went for meal and was v nice. Did have g&t though and ice cream that's my only event planned until the last weekend of the month unless I go to cinema with a £5 vouch.

Today has been a NSD :T I have made pots of squash and spinach red curry, Jamie's yellow chicken curry, leek and potato soup and beef, apricot and prune stew. Also put everything back in the cupboard so fingers crossed weevils are gone

Bought my home insurance today and managed to get £40 cash back as well as save £165 :j

FurryBeastOz

Not a NSD as planned. Diving was binned so we did our 2nd bouldering session (anniversary present to ourselves) and we are going out to dinner tonight. Fingers and toes crossed that the hospital doesn't call DH in.

Went through the urge number of clothes I bought on Friday. About 1/2 is going back (including the 2 most expensive items). I am wearing skinny black jeans (I have legs:eek:) and a gorgeous fuzzy cardigan. Careful make-up, and I FEEL GREAT:D

Exercise - Bouldering! I took Friday off as a needed rest day but otherwise I've done at least one session a day so far this month.

Budgets - well within food budget. Massive cook-fest this weekend. Soups, cake, Breakfast bake, Turkey Casserole. Freezer now full. Managed to dissuade DH from buying steak to cook for our anniversary tomorrow night by unearthing a YS pack from freezer. Last time he cooked, he went out and bought EVERY ingredient. I could have cried. I just took the recipes off him today and pointed out substitutions etc and we have everything already.:rotfl:

Me time - has been us time. Very rare and to be valued above hens teeth.

Have a great Sunday evening people.

ChasingSunshine

Evening all,

Today has been a NSD for me. Hoping to make up for some of the budget lapses earlier in the weekend. Will get there.

I am like you clippy_girl and think my posture is suffering from how I sit at the desk at work but have just remembered have a voucher for a free full body massage so will book that in as a treat this week.