NST October ORGANISE OCTOBER

greent

Organise/ Cook from Scratch/ Use things up - All food from stores. Had leftovers for my lunch and I will be having (different) leftovers for my dinner later

Pay debts/ savings - £5.07 op to BTL mtge from c/ac 'save the change' tidies

Budgets
* Food - 28.44/ 325 (stretch 290)
* Fuel 0/60
* Clothes 0/75
* Gifts 5.50/150
* Toiletries 0/10
* Social 0/200 (stretch 150)

NSD - 2/12 - 2nd one achieved today. I *do* need diesel tomorrow/Thurs at latest, but can't remember if that is an ok spend/ NSD if budgeted for.

Improvise - have run out of kitchen bin bags. Have some binbags from the caravan (waaaay too big for the caravan but were left in there by previous owners) They are about half the size of kitchen bin, but they will do. Have had to fill other side of bin with the lid (it's in a large drawer/ cupboard) so people don't throw rubbish in that bit.
Am also using couch roll as kitchen paper - I cut the roll in half with a bread knife

Exercise
* Week 1 - 1/4 Nothing today

Jan Goals - "By the end of the year I want to have halved the (non mtge) debt we have and have lost 20lbs - and also get fitter along the way" Have halved non mtge debt which we had at start of year - although new fridge freezer and shower have gone on 0% CC last month. Weight and fitness have definitely been abandoned - so I need to re-weigh myself

Extra income - 50 youg0v points from survey

Christmas -

Get Ready Checklist
1 - Health - vitamins taken today so 3/31
4 - Maintenance - need to contact plasterer & electrician by 10/10. (Have mentioned it to electrician's wife - mum at school - but need to do it properly) OH has messaged plumber we used for bathrooms before - fingers crossed he still has the same email.....
Have messaged plasterer (03/10) - no reply as yet and I phoned plumber (03/10)- no longer trading so now need to find a plumber....

Gratitudes:
* a warm day
* the look on DS2's face when I collected him from school (early finish due to Open Eve)
* DD enjoying the start of Y2 at uni
* a massive pile of sweet & chilli peppers from my mum's garden

DebtFreeDuo

Day 3 check in (Turtle 25)

NSDs: 2/15 - Counting today, have budgeted for 10 car parking days so if this is the only money spent then I will declare it as a NSD.
Exercise: - Cycled 1/12 (Have upped this to only allow for 10 car parking days, should motivate me to stay out of the car).
- 10k steps 2/22 I'm counting today as I'm getting on the treadmill shortly to get the 3k I need and didn't want to have to come back to update.
Extra Income: £50/£150 - none that I am counting today, I have been on swagbucks and hit my daily goal and also have enough on another survey site to cashout but I won't count this until I've actually cashed out.
Food budget: £4.22/£100 not touched today

Today I used up some leftovers from the freezer for dinner instead of buying more food, tomorrow I will have to buy some as I have other children here Wednesdays and they won't eat any of the food I typically have in which means a special trip to the shops. I could have bought this yesterday whilst I was already buying food, bit of forward planning needed I think in order to meet that NSD target.

fruitloop04

I don't know what is wrong with me today. I feel quite tearful and my eczema on my hands has really flared up which usually happens when I am really stressed I'm not very good at telling when I am stressed - my body usually tells me with flare ups! I guess I am worried about my sister and her new born (born on Saturday) as they both have an infection and high temps and still in hospital. My sister is in a lot of pain and I really don't like seeing her like that. Well, I have opened the flood gates now...Work is mega stressful at the moment and incredibly frustrating which hasn't helped. I applied for a couple of jobs before I went on holiday (yup only been back at work a couple of weeks and feel like this!) and got an e-mail today inviting me to interview. I think it is for the next level up that I applied for too as the recruitment consultant said they would consider applications for a more senior role that had come available as part of the shortlisting process, but need to speak to the recruitment consultant tomorrow to see. I know I should be really happy I have got an interview but I just feel really guilty. I really like my boss, he has a heart of gold but he (and the company) also drives me insane. I just feel all over the place and exhausted.

Anyway, sorry for the out pour, I really need to get that out and feel better for writing it down.

NSD 2/20 today.
Determined not to have any alcohol tonight. This would be how I usually relax when I am feeling like this but it will just make me feel worse tomorrow and won't fix the problem.
Going to do my exercise now. Need to force myself. It will make me feel better afterwards I know.

Sorry for dreary post, will hopefully perk up tomorrow.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all. :wave: Number 20 checking in and already rule breaking
It's been an eventful and rather spendy start to October. I've just had new windows and doors fitted. I'm thrilled because after 13 years of living in a draughty house I finally have double glazing. However, I've paid in cash, so it's been mega spendy, and almost heartbreaking to hand over my hard earned savings. But on the plus side I haven't gotten into debt to pay for it.
Anyway, I bagged a nsd on the 1st but yesterday we got takeaway as the house was filthy and I was busy, and then obviously today has been a major spend.
For Stoptober I'm going to continue my attempts to cut right back on sugar. The diabetes spectre is looming large in the background and stressing me out.
I'm hoping that the double glazing counts as preparing for winter, and will be money saving longer term. My remaining October goals are to start to put back to my savings and crochet hard for Christmas gifts...
Hope that you feel better soon fruitloop. Remember it's ok to have bad days - just ride them through. I really hope that your sister and the baby are on the up soon as well.

Kerry_Woman

Day 3
fruitloop04 - Sending you hugs. Hope your sister and baby health improve.
crazy_cat_lady I had double glazing installed 2 years ago in the flat and my Mum and I have felt the benefit.
Another NSD achieved 3/20.
Did 20 minutes walking and took lunch into work today.
Used food etc already in the flat.
Had some chill out time before work in the staff room and read some of book.
Grateful for:
Having a reasonable night sleep.
Managing to cope with work.
Catching up with 2 episodes of Murder She Wrote with my Mum this evening.
Managed to sort out for my Mum's glasses to be delivered to home and fitted when it is half term.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for easy buses and trains, for another mild day, for another really good session with my counsellor, for getting some bunny limbs stuffed, for going to the theatre with dd's class, for not being home too late from the trip, for dd enjoying brownies, for dh getting on with some housey jobs.

apple_muncher

Fruitloop - take care of yourself. Hope stuff improves for you.

Ccl - enjoy the double glazing! Now you can snuggle down on your not-quite-so-new sofa and crochet to your heart's delight.

DawnW

Day 3 / 31:
((Hugs)) Fruitloop04 - hope things look up for you and yours soon
CCL, you saved up for your new windows, it is a sensible thing to spend your money on, will save money on energy, and increase the value of your house, so there is really no need to feel guilty

Spend day for me today - I have done so well during September eating down the freezer contents that there isn't much in there except homegrown fruit and veg - so bought the 3 for £10 meat offer in Waitrose, plus a couple of reduced items and a few boring items that I forgot the other day . Household / grocery spends recorded in signature. Aim is to do some batch cooking tomorrow
Also treated myself to a new frying pan from the cheap shop in town, £5.99, some compost to top up my garden pots, £6. All spends recorded in my little black book!
Exercise - not much, walked dog to library to return books this morning, and to park this afternoon. Didn't feel like much else as I was awake for most of the night with a headache
Using up - enough leftovers for lunch for both OH and I, and we finished off some grapes we bought back from holiday afterwards

mothernerd

Big turtle hugs for everyone. I think I am going to scrap the comments from yesterday and just concentrate on the people I think need it most atm. Everyone seems to be making good progress in at least some of the target areas and no major misbehaving.

FBO glad you are feeling more positive.

Scrimps another baby turtle on the way. We love baby turtles.

Sashanut I hope you got a good night's sleep.

Baileys Babe, laurenh1 and moneysavingfamilycomp welcome to the turtle gang. If I have missed anyone , please let me know.

fruitloop04 When you are juggling too many things, you tend to suppress some of them. The excema is them pushing their heads up to let you know they aren't going away. Hopefully your sister and the baby will be well and at home in a few days.

Your work situation sounds dire. Nothing is worth it, if it makes you miserable. You spend so much time at work that you need to be in a pleasant environment where you can thrive. Too many companies treat employees as a adisposable resource, work them to the limit and do nothing to ease the situation. You need to think about your needs and go for the jobs (remember change, even good change, is always scary).

Well done on resisting alcohol and going for exercise.

DebtFreeDuo My solution is the same as apple's. Estimate how many times you will need to pay for parking and set this aside at the beginning of the month in the same way as paying for kids clubs. You won't lose your SFD for parking unless you spend all the money in that 'envelope'. Hope this is seen as a fair solution - I don't want to start giving blanket exemptions on too many categories.

ccl the double glazing will pay for itself over time and the takeaway is understandable so don't stress.

Scrimps

Hi all, hope youre well. Sending positive thoughts your way FruitLoop,hope your sis and the baby get well soon.

-Organise:Continued with the baby room decoration today. Contacted electrician and building repair man to start the next part of house repairs
-Regular: £115/200. As previous post, this looks very bad but for me this should be pretty much all I need (inc milk - bought lots of UHT& toiletries and cleaning supplies), the rest will be veggie/vegan type meals for DH, we have enough of that to last a while also
-Get ready for winter: Getting ready for winter for me is having this done and a very stocked cupboard (food, cat food, toiletries and cleaning) prepped for when the baby arrives. Also need new wipers on the car. - see above massive shop and prepping house. The externalwall insulation is done and making a huge difference, the thick winter curtains were put up a few week ago.
-Always be kind think this was good today. Did get a bit grumpy (can I blame pregnancy hormones?) but managed to not take it out on anyone.
NSD: 0/20 - had to pay the scaffolder today - only spend. Cancelled my hair appt so could continue with decorating, think i'll just cut my fringe again myself for now and get it cut properly just before the baby is due.
Improvise: nothing yet
Stoptober: Managed to not compulsively look at YNAB/mortgage overpayment calculator etc. Just used YNAB to put in scaffolder payment.
Exercise: Went to my yoga class
Christmas: As previous, priority is mums birthday, managed to have a pleasant conversation today and find out what she wants...there is actually something this time!
Banned: stuck to this today
Extra Income. not done - Forgot to check onepoll.