NST Super September Scrimping challenge

foxgloves

Hi Scrimpers,
Check-in 23/30.
Well, I shan't hit the target for SFDs, but I am not too worried about that as I don't mind spending every day as long as all of that spending is within what I have budgeted. Being part of this challenge has definitely helped to re-focus me, though. Grocery spend had been creeping above budget recently, but today we did the final shop of September's grocery budget & we have come in at 37p under budget for the month. We've eaten really well so I'm pleased with that.
No additional beauty spends to report.
Have hit my steps target for the day.
Had a nice bath & some time pottering in the greenhouse for my 'me-time'.
Other useful activity: Harvested apples, squash, beans, blackberries, chillies, peppers & sage from our garden. Will be knitting for my sales basket later.
Night all,
F x

thriftylass

Hello everybody.

Not sure if i missed it but did someone volunteer for October yet ?

Spendy day here. Surprised DH by taking the family for dinner in the hotel we got married in and they loved it. For next year we'll save up and stay the night.

Also ordered myself i super organizer /planner as my phone calendar doesn't do the trick. I need paper to keep the constant thoughts/to do lists/jobs etc under control rather than have them constantly swamping my brain. Need to find a method to be able to banish them to be able to switch off.

Also did another shop for meat, went to the library and picked up my new passport in my married name.

Btw managed to book the 3 year wedding anniversary dinner in my maiden name! Only realised after they couldn't find our booking :doh:

bizzie

Check in #23/30
NSD @ 13/18 must get some more before the end of the month.

Will update figures tomorrow when I plan out next week.

Caught up with friend and had a relaxing walk in between refreshment stops. Grateful for weather staying dry although did spot a rainbow on my travels.

mothernerd

Spendy day as expected. Not much bought but was out of the house for nearly 2 and a 1/2 hours so that will count as exercise. Remembered to come home past the little charity shop, popped in to ask if they could use a shopping bag on wheels (from mum's, wouldn't leave it outside a cs and it has been hanging around at mine for weeks, fed up of falling over it) and 3 packs of laminate flooring. Yes to both so went back out and delivered them with the help of dolly truck. They had a gorgeous young assistant in the back who had been going to help me but I had disappeared before they brought him out.

More bits to help get jobs done were bought - sealant to repair the flaking bits round mum's meter cupboards (outside ones) and wood filler so I can attempt to repair my big farmhouse table - may be a while as I probably need some assistance from DS3 - he and DS1 struggled bringing it in when we moved. My brother asked why I bought such heavy things and DS1 told him I bought things to last.

Met best buddy at the library. He failed to make our last meeting but is now volunteering in the gallery above the library on Saturdays and on Thursday mornings. Agreed to meet him there next Saturday as I want to see the new exhibition. Also picked up a couple of leaflets about exhibitions in Manchester.

Best buddy has now set up his charity. I can't even remember what it was he wanted me to do but I said no last time. I must keep saying no. I am swamped with volutary projects (should have said no to one of the ones I already have and another has spiralled out of control). Too many ideas, too little time ( and too much time lost wandering through pinterest).

Today I am grateful for being out and about, for finding the products I need to do diy jobs and for seeing best buddy - he has lots of good points and is fun and nothing to do with the rest of my life.

Fmess

Morning all,

mothernerd i managed both a swim and a bath yesterday, it was lovely

Spendy day yesterday as paid for lunch and dinner out and the prices are ridiculous here but it was all lovely. Today might be a SFD. We have breakfast in our villas and then an afternoon at the spa. I'm planning on eating lots of toast with breakfast and hoping it'll be more of a brunch so I don't need to pay for anymore food.

Tonight I've already left sausages defrosting in the fridge since I left on Friday so I can have them with roast potatoes and veg when I get home.

Looking forward to seeing my dog later, although the other two are in kennels until tomorrow evening

Sun_Addict

Have been AWOL a few days and haven't done well challenge-wise but am climbing back on board for the final week. Every day has been a spending day since last Sunday so am still only on 8/18. However this is better than normal for me and will add a few more starting with today. Feeling determined

greent

SFDs - still 11/18 - am not going to make the target of 18 but budgets are all ok so I am not bothered by that bit

Extra monies/ debt repayment - None.

Food - running total £304.26/ £450

Eating up/ using up stuff - yep. Took DD back to uni yesterday with loads of food supplies from here too - inc about 3.5kg of hm roasted potatoes, a loaf of hm bread and a load of sausage-y stuffing balls to make life easier

Lunches taken - n/a

Social life - None. Was my sister's baby shower (afternoon tea in a hotel) but I was taking DD back to uni - so saved the cost of the baby shower afternoon tea

Exercise - 3/3

Beauty - £4.73/ £10

Time for self - not really yesterday - and only going to get worse this week - manic, crazy week - am looking forward to October so I know I've survived next week!

Heating off - yep. Gorgeous sunny day yesterday. Have started lighting some candles on an evening though - look so pretty (and have loads to use up)

Gratitudes:
* the trip back to uni not taking too long with regards to traffic
* yummy food last night
* sunny weather meaning washing dried on line
* someone else having finished clearing the shared garden at DD's - can now sit out on patio and also use the washing line without getting attacked by brambles/ bindweed/ nettles

Woke up this morning to a dishwasher that hasn't worked overnight. Can't see what it might be from g00gle, so will wait for OH to get up and see if he can diagnose. Suspect I will be calling repairshop tomorrow though. In the meantime, I have a dishwasher to empty and a load of stuff to handwash

Today's other jobs include the supermarket (need bread flour, milk and a couple of other bits), making rolls for the week, clearing the massive ironing pile, getting DS2 to do his homework, collecting DS1 from the next town when he gets back from army camp and doing spellings & reading with DS3. I was planning on doing some stuff in the garden (looks like a nice day) but the other stuff will take priority. OH's jobs are mowing the lawn (on high - last cut of teh season but I want the guinea pigs still to have some grass to much!), looking at the dishwasher and changing our non-working shower for the new one. That means no water on for as long as that takes (maybe 4 hours?) so will need some pans & the kettle filled. Will look to use water from the water butts to flush the loo as necessary (will see if we can keep it to just the downstairs loo being used, then I can just leave a watering can in there)

Suppose I'd better make start on the dishwasher..... sigh....

ChasingSunshine

Sorry disappeared for a few days. Life got in the way and just wasn't on the computer.

Didn't manage any NSDs but have all been very low spends so happy enough with that. Have been trying to get quotes for moving things to new flat as no way will be able to manage some of the furniture even if I rented a van it is just too awkward so that is a priority for this week. Looks like am going to be under budget for moving expenses which is great as have a few pots that could really use a top up.

Managed to go for a swim in the pool at the local Uni. Lovely and quiet and apparently am eligible for free access for an hour on Saturdays so thrilled. Only problem is its been so long since I swam properly that I am all over the place with technique. But going to try go more often and hopefully it will all come back.

Ok going to get started on sorting out the wardrobes as no matter how many attempts I make at decluttering there is always more that can be culled. Moving is definitely a good excuse as do not want to have to pack up stuff that really should go the charity shop.

Lauralozzle

I've totalled up all food spends and we are just over target. The butchers has a lot to do with that, but we have enough meat to last a while so not too bothered as next month we hopefully won't need to spend as much.

Today will be another NSD so I'm at 13/18. I am trying to use up everything we have in the fridge - it's looking quite empty at the moment and we only have half a bag of new potatoes so it looks like rice will be on the menu several times this week as we have plenty of that! Tonight we are trying a new curry dish (we got one of those packs from Aldi which have all the spices and such).

I've spent a good two hours in the garden - mowed the lawn but it was quite wet so dare not rake up all the grass as I'm known to pull it out at the best of times. It's been raining pretty consistently but today it has been dry so had to get that done whilst I could. Also deweeded the garden path which was hard work. Looks much neater now though. Tom deweeded the driveway as it was looking very unsightly- looks much better now. We must try and do a better job of keeping on top of it, that or get a better weed killer!

thriftylass

Hello, managed SFD today.

Will need to phone the washing machine engineer tomorrow . It's been really noisy the last week when spinning and sounds like the bearings are going. Only bought it in April this year!!!!!! So should be under warranty.

Will catch up properly with posts tomorrow. Last week ahead.