NST October ORGANISE OCTOBER

mothernerd

DawnW your family secret santa sounds great. Over the years I have persuaded my mother to do no present deals with most of her friends and she gives us money. However she still produces a pile of tat for a random selection of people including my brother's ex-wife and the lodger.

determined new ms What a lovely relaxed day you planned. An impressive list of goals and well done on those you have achieved.

clippy-girl Congratulations on cancelling the shiny new tv.

Welcome fruitloop04 and Dottydaisy.

Toni'sfriend and Sun Addict enjoy your breaks.

Jellybean88 thanks for the reminder about half term Please all share your ideas for free fun.

Eager Elephant Don't Panic. I will allow a few days for any latecomers.

greent amazing and imaginative use of leftover ingredients. I din't have enough foil so used one of DS3's foil takeaway containers as a protective 'hat' for the gammon (not because the gammon was paranoid).

FBO is bouldering as tough as it sounds (imagining some sort of scrambling/ climbing)? There is a heritage beach on Angelsey with a terrific mix of rocks. Technically it is a pebble beach - with 3' square pebbles. Remember to find ways of treating yourself, other than food. Don't beat yourself up.

Shelbi Good luck and good wishes with the giving up.

Purplebonnie well doen on tackling your paperwork. I have mine, mum's and businees paperwork plus embroidery stuff and general craft stuff (mostly in my room).

DebtFreeDuo Treat yourself kindly when that is what you need.

ilovetea I am also guilty of self-sabotage on the healthy eating and losing weight. Doing okay today.

Lauralozzle Your cooking sounds scrummy.

f0xh0les love Maketober.

misstara welcome to junk eaters anonymous. I hate it when I start looking for something because I can't even remember eating it.

I have had a relaxing day but have done some tidying and cooking. The roast beef is in the freezer, sliced and portioned up; the chicken has been used in a wrap and more sliced up in the fridge with another bag to be curried or casseroled; had sausages for tea with hm mash from the freezer and a tin of beans and the gammon has been used to make 'bacon' soup.

Today I am grateful for a quiet day (recharging), for lovely hm food (warm and comforting too) and for having time to read some of my book.

bizzie

Check in #1/31
Back tomorrow to post figures when the month gets underway properly.

mothernerd

Hugs sashanut. One of the sites I have been looking at has an embroidery that says 'I love you more today than I did yesterday - yesterday you were a real as

---

.'

Congrstulations on all you have achieved. Sleep well.

(there is another embroidery that says 'Never go to sleep on an argument - lie awake and plot revenge. However we will be kind - well done on keeping calm..

fruitloop04

These are my commitments:

mothernerd wrote: »

Ninja Savings Turtles ORGANISE OCTOBER

Several people have indicted that circumstances dictate the continuation of September's Super Scrimpers regime and the tough line instituted by Ninja Savings Kat in her challenges (see NSK).

Austerity October? Austerity with a twist because although the turtle way is difficult we always aim to have some fun along the way, provide the odd inspirational quote, offer help and advice, sympathise when things go wrong and celebrate our successes. Remember No Turtle Gets Left Behind.

Commit to the challenge, follow the rules to the best of your ability. The rules are all tools that will help you on your debt free journey, the more tools you utilise, the more you will save but if you are new, it can take a while to get up to speed with them all. Don't worry.

The Truth is out There
Question Everything
Be Stronger Than Your Excuses

Organise. Start as you mean to go on. Know the contents of your fridge, freezer and cupboards. Plan your meals around them. Cook from scratch. Don't buy anything you can make unless cost /time taken dictates otherwise. If you are new to turtle challenges or still have full cupboards you could try living from the cupboards.
This is something I have started on I have ran down all cupboards and the freezer and now the freezer is full of homemade stews, soups and cottage pie amongst other things! This is something I am going to continue - batch cooking and freezeing!

Regular budget items should be set by 3rd October at the latest (extra time allowed because this is being posted later than usual). If you don't know how much you are spending on food or petrol, now is the time to find out. Question every purchase - need or want? Can you make a percentage cut to one of your budget items - 3% to 10% you decide. Most importantly, Pay To Your Debt Or savings First, Live off What Is Left.
I have been using the 'piggy bank' method for the last couple of months and this really helps me budget (although I have 'borrowed' from some of these accounts when needed which I am not going to do this anymore. As everything is allocated in these piggy banks, I am going to give myself a budge of £100 for this month personal spending. This seems a lot but I am going out for dinner 3 times this month (I can't get out of any of these but I am hoping my OH's parents will pay for one of them!!).


Get Ready for Winter. Checklist in separate post. You decide how and when to implement it.

ALWAYS Be Kind

No Spend Days. Aim for 20 (high target) or 15 (low). You will not lose an NSD for petrol included in petrol budget, medical expenses (you don't choose when to be ill but stocking up would be cheaper), yellow sticker purchases only (no additional full price items). For regular activites where fees are paid weekly (children's clubs, window cleaner) you can set aside the money for the month on a spend day and avoid losing a spend day each week.


Special exemption for the turtle who's family drink milk by the bucketload. Any requests for special exemptions will be considered (some turtles manage their money in other ways) I am going to go the whole hog and go for 20 NSDs purely on personal items. I go to a club once a week so good idea about putting that money aside on 1 day to save on NSDs!

IMPROVISE. Make do and mend with a creative twist. think of a substitute ingredient, how to make an old/broken piece of furniture last a little longer. Looking forward to reading your stories on this one (not if they invlove sending OH to work in your pants). Finger's crossed nothing will break but will look at repairing/doing without if needed!

STOPTOBER Are you participating? Have you any bad habits to curb or a good one to implement or re-instate. I don't smoke but do drink regularly. I do like having a drink but will limit this to twice a week max (at the moment it is every day!!!

EXERCISE Four times a week at least (20 minutes minimum but can be done 10 minutes at a time). Get outside in daylight as often as possible. This fits in very well with my health kick in the last week -
this will help me stay accountable.

ONE MORE TIME It is never too late for a second chance. Some of us set goals in January. last month thrifty asked us to look at where we wanted to be, why we weren't there and what was going wrong. Now you need to put in the small steps that will lead to your goal. If you have fallen off the path, start again - just because you can't do it all, doesn't mean you can't do any. New starters may like to set some goals for the next 3 months. My main goal is to clear CC2 by the end of January (it will be tough!) and then clear it each month as it is a reward card. My LBM was about 6 weeks ago and I haven't looked back and feel I have come a long way since. I am determined to live within my means.

CHRISTMAS Sorry we do have to talk about it. If you love it and have been planning and saving all year, enjoy yourself.
But let us think about cutting back.
You still have time to have the 'no present pact' talk (token presents/ children only) or talk your work colleagues or other groups into only giving one card to the whole group with savings possibly going to charity. I have some money in my 'gifts' account for Christmas but I do need to add more in to it. We already do secret santa with my friends which saves and I have agreed with my sisters to buy for the kids only this year. I have told my OH that we aren't going mad this year. We don't need anything so I have said we buy each other one meaningful gift although we haven't set a limit I have said don't spend too much.

You still have time to make presents but may need to buy materials (may be more time for edible gifts). Involve children in making gifts particularly for grand-parents and teachers. Encourage them to have a toy clear out and pass on any that are no longer wanted to younger family memebrs or charity (or sell to make a few pennies).

Finally Don't Be A Martyr For Christmas
If the works annual do is a chore (and an expensive one) opt out. Say you aren't going.
Some people have lovely families and love to gather together. Most of us have the odd awkward relative and some would try the patience of a saint. Don't let others take you for granted and don't feel obliged to welcome all and sundry.
If Christmas is a difficult time for you, take time out if you need it, treat yourself kindly . My work paid for us last year so hopefully will be the same this year. We also do a friends Christmas where we go out for a meal but I love this and we never go anywhere expensive.


THE Challenge will run from 00.00 on 1st October until 00.00 on 31st October.

ODD - This month's inspiration is going to be slightly off the wall. Looking forward to how many of you can follow where others boldly go

BANNED Takeaways, coffee shops, chippys, pie shops, vending machines, sandwich bars etc. exemption for turtls who budget for this from personal/ social spending or who have nowhere else to meet a friend. Dispensation for support for sick friends. This definitely fits in to my health kick!! I am running the take your own lunch to work thread and this has kept me focused.

EXTRA INCOME Overtime, surveys, second jobs, craftsales at Christmas fairs (Bunny tales - and tails - always welcome).
[/COLOR Unfortunately I don't paid overtime (salaried and have to take the time back) but I am going to register for survey sites and have got a few things on fleabay with more to be put on. I also need to put a claim in for mileage - I never do it - stupid I know!]
REPORT in, daily if possible (I know some people have access problems). Sometimes people slink off if they have strayed but you will not feel better until you tell your fellow turtles about it. BE STRONGER THAN YOUR EXCUSES.

Sun_Addict

As I'm off work I've got time to list my pledges:

Organise list of freezer items made, will use up stocks from here and store cupboard first.

Budgets: money in bank to cover all bills, credit card paid off. Food budget for the month is £250, other spending £400. Will look at shaving 10% off somewhere.

Get ready for winter need to book in flu jabs for Mr SA and I. He had a stem cell transplant 4 years ago so we both have to have one. Should've done this last month but forgot all about it. Also need to sort out heating programme as it's a brand new system and I've not got used to it yet.

Always be kind I'll try

No spend days aiming for 15

Improvise still got ongoing home improvements which ideally I'd like finished by Christmas. Some new items will need to be bought but if I can make do by up cycling some things I will.

Stoptober aiming to only drink wine at weekends. Need to reinstate counting my WW points as am 4lb over goal at the moment.

Exercise aiming to do 20k steps a day plus 3 times a week in the gym once I'm back at work.

One more time get back into WeightWatchers properly, I'm a Gold member who has lapsed a bit. Also aiming to stick to budgets, which I always say I'm going to do but fall off the wagon.

Christmas not that many presents to buy, just DS and GF, DD, DGD and DGS plus Mr SA. Already got the money in my VSP which I've been saving all year. Going to two work Christmas meals, one of which I've paid in full for and the other £10 deposit.

Banned this will have to start when I get back from holiday although have got a lunch with friends planned for when I get back which will still be going ahead.

Extra income just started doing surveys again, TCB should be payable soon, often get shopping vouchers from work. Will keep a running total.

Report will try to check in daily with progress except for when I'm on holiday.

Good luck everyone :T

mothernerd

WE are all stories in the end
Just make it a good one

thriftylass

Good morning,

check in 2/31 and here are my goals.

Organise : checked my cupboards, freezer and fridge. Will be fine till next weekend and might even be able to prep some food for when we go away the week after.

Regular: Budgets set and debt is paid. My budgets are groceries+HH+other = 480 and I spend already 204. Bought some bedside table lamps and a floor lamp (only £17 together in Tesco plus bulbs). Also bought some scented candles for the bathroom for me time and some things for my mum's birthday parcel. £103 spend so far on groceries and we have plenty.

Winter : shovel and salt at the ready (not needed it really for a few years). Car is sorted to, water, paper towels, sick bags, first aid kits, blanket. Hopefully the house will be warmer as we can shut the doors now (cat passed away). Hopefully get a new front door soon too. Made sure every child had the flu jab and FIL will get his soon too.

I'll aim for a minimum of 17 SFDs. Not sure how well I do the second week when we're away.

Improvise : would like to finish our bedroom for free (need mirror and picture)

Stoptober and exercise: Race on Sunday so will have to be good anyway. Would like to stop getting myself down about what I haven't achieved and acknowledge things a I have achieved.

My goals are still on target (debt free by 40 in Feb 18)

Christmas: I have ordered books for all the kids we give to. Last year I started making hats for them, might finish them this year and bake cookies, make sweets. The adult will mainly get HM limoncello and HM fudge. All will be wrapped in paper from the stash or HM crafty wrapping (got the stuff all last year but got delivered after Christmas. So got plenty this year.

Earn: will try to earn a few pennies from surveys and NOT spend them before Christmas. Will also check my Tesco vouchers.







A neighbour gave me a bag of cooking apples. What is the best way of storing them (will use them mainly for crumble and pie). Chop and freeze or chop/stew and freeze?

Ta

greent

thrifty - just chop & freeze will be fine. I chop them into a freezer bag where I've squeezed some lemon juice to stop them going brown, toss them around and then bung them in the freezer

Tea&Kittens

Ninja Savings Turtles ORGANISE OCTOBER
Austerity Turtle #23 Reporting in!

Know the contents of your fridge, freezer and cupboards
Cupboards and freezer inventoried and meals planned for the week,
including in-stock items. Budget of £40 for the week, came in at £43 but did buy large quantity of tea bags, and we were out of black pepper to grind, which put the price up a bit, but are also not needed on a weekly basis.
Bolognese (x3 dinners) cooked yesterday.
Honey roast veg risotto will cover 2 more meals during the week.
"Fridge pasta surprise" (hoovering up any remaining fridge items) will cover the rest!Don't buy anything you can make unless cost /time taken dictates otherwise.
Hoping I've selected easy enough meals to carry this through. Should be OK provided I don't have a really fatiguey day.

Regular budget items should be set by 3rd October at the latest
Budget is planned for the month. Wages have gone in, paid some off credit cards and have been filtered into different accounts - monthly bills, monthly spends (shopping, fuel etc), house/car saving and presents saving.



Get Ready for Winter. Checklist in separate post. You decide how and when to implement it.

No Spend Days. Aim for 20 (high target) or 15 (low).
Aiming for 17 NSDs this month (up from 7 achieved in September for the 3 weeks I became a DFW.

IMPROVISE. Make do and mend with a creative twist. think of a substitute ingredient, how to make an old/broken piece of furniture last a little longer. Looking forward to reading your stories on this one (not if they invlove sending OH to work in your pants).
I shall certainly be having a think about this one throughout the month and will update if I come up with anything good!

STOPTOBER Are you participating? Have you any bad habits to curb or a good one to implement or re-instate.
I've put myself on a Kickstarter ban, and instigating an uber ban. A night in playing boardgames at a friends is a cheap night, until factoring in a taxi home. So, drive to games night and back will be cheaper

EXERCISE Four times a week at least (20 minutes minimum but can be done 10 minutes at a time). Get outside in daylight as often as possible.
Hoping to get to 3 dance classes (possibly 4) per week. Getting out for a walk in the woods maybe on Friday or the weekend.

CHRISTMAS Sorry we do have to talk about it. If you love it and have been planning and saving all year, enjoy yourself.
But let us think about cutting back.
You still have time to have the 'no present pact' talk (token presents/ children only) or talk your work colleagues or other groups into only giving one card to the whole group with savings possibly going to charity.
Friends and I already have a no presents pact. Brother and I are similarly financially situated, so we can easily do a no presents christmas. There's only 3 children among me and brothers, cousins, so that should be manageable. We tend to keep a limit on amount spent. Kitty wants to go on holiday with a friend in the summer, so she will have contributions for that from me and grandparents etc.


THE Challenge will run from 00.00 on 1st October until 00.00 on 31st October.

ODD - This month's inspiration is going to be slightly off the wall. Looking forward to how many of you can follow where others boldly go
Will think on this one ....

BANNED Takeaways, coffee shops, chippys, pie shops, vending machines, sandwich bars etc. exemption for turtls who budget for this from personal/ social spending or who have nowhere else to meet a friend. Dispensation for support for sick friends.
One of my oldest friends is visiting next weekend. Not seen her in ages, so I've budgeted a little extra in "meals out" and "entertainment" categories, though I don't need to go too silly as she's very understanding and will be happy to not do expensive things Also accounted for likelihood of meeting a friend who's currently off work for moral support at some point during the month

REPORT in, daily if possible (I know some people have access problems). Sometimes people slink off if they have strayed but you will not feel better until you tell your fellow turtles about it. BE STRONGER THAN YOUR EXCUSES.

I think you're doing a grand job of support! Lovely to actually be open about all this with you all. Thankyou all for being there!

ChasingSunshine

Mothernerd can I join in as well please. Bit late joining as only back from wedding at some ridiculous hour last night.
Am shattered and wrote a lovely long post which is now lost :mad: Summary below.

Budgets set, it will be a tight month esp as not sure of final costs of moving yet. Working on clearing the cupboards, more batch cooking planned if I can stay awake tonight.
Declaring 1/15 NSDs but need to keep track of exercise as well as this has fallen by wayside.

Few social outings planned but should be covered in the budgets.
Don't really spend much on Christmas in our house. Well get good bit of food in but no one is that bothered about presents thankfully. Main expense is my flights which I will book as soon as I can get my leave confirmed. Then hoping to do a concert in Jan as the combined Christmas dinner / presents among my group of friends. £30 for ticket and likely one of us will drive so much less of an expense than other years plus something to look forward to in gloomy Jan.