NST April 2018: April Fool's Challenge

laurenh1

Lavender bee. My hub is back this week too. Thank goodness!!

DawnW

Thanks Miss Tara for this month's challenge
I don't post as often as I should, but read every post and stick to the rules as far as I can.

Overview of April is as follows:

Aim for at least 15 NSDs. - I personally don't count an NSD unless I don't spend anything at all, apart from Direct Debit bills or business expenses which I obviously account for elsewhere. I managed 12/15 using these criteria. I am reasonably happy with that
Pay to your debt or savings first and live off the rest. - no debts nowadays, but our savings have taken a hit over the last few months, so it would be good to start to put some of that back Sadly, new tyres x 4 and a car repair bill put paid to this, but at least being frugal in other areas meant that I could pay for these without resorting to credit
Report in every day - I am a bit rubbish at this, but will try Well, I am here now
Interests - I can't wait till the weather gets better and I can do more in the garden! Got a lot done, but my, hasn't the weather got cold again
Love yourself, do something to make yourself feel fab - I will think about this. I have an operation scheduled for the middle of the month so will be especially kind to myself after that :eek: I am not a 'pampering' type but do enjoy a bubble bath, perfume, moisturiser and lipsalve. That is about as far as it goes :rotfl:My surgery got cancelled, so I have a new date towards the end of May We will see!

Find time to get outside - I have had a painful hip problem which is slowly improving, so I want to get back to going for walks, and doing the garden. The lighter evenings should help with this, and it would be great if it would ever stop raining! My hip is much better now, so I can be more active :j:j Pity about the weather though!
Overpay - aim to pay 20% extra to your debt or savings - Car expenses prevented this unfortunately
Organise your month. Check your cupboards, make a meal plan and stick to your food budget. Plan any social events and budget for them, ideally come up with free alternatives. - Done quite well on this, grocery bill well down on usual spend
Lose one bad habit - Eating too much - need to get the weight down! :o:o:o:o
Sign off your daily post with a list of gratitudes.

And the figures for the budgets included in this challenge are:
Charity - £15.85 / £5
Groceries - £177.02 / £250.00 :T
Pet food - £12.07 / £18.00 (I am not starving him, honest! I bought a big bag of food for him, but he is tiny, so a big bag for him still isn't very big. And I bought treats as well
Diesel - £155.14 /£80 :eek:
Presents - £32.95 / £60 (family birthdays) Kept costs down by using vouchers from survey sites which I had been saving up
Toiletries and cleaning supplies - £45.93 / £30 - I had no idea I was so houseproud I think it was probably needing both washing capsules and dishwasher tablets in the same month :rotfl:

Grateful for:
My hip being better
Spring flowers and the beautiful blossom on my fruit trees
Having enough of everything

'See' you all in May

Kerry_Woman

Thanks misstara for this month's thread.
A - 19/15 NSD achieved today.
R - Done.
I - Did mindfulness colouring, wordsearch and read my book.
L - Put on coconut oil, also perfume. Had a relaxing bath. Lavender oil in burner this evening.
F - Did not walk outside.
O - Done.
O - Still ongoing.
L - Ok with social media today.
S - Grateful for:
Getting through the day at work.
Overtime in work.
Weather not bad as the forecast predicted.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a good and helpful talk with my head, for the pupils I teach, for lovely work colleaues, for my own planning-ahead meaning less stress when a deadline is brought forwards, for a good brolly in the rain, for dd doing her online maths hwk, for a good book, for dh making a yummy shepherd's pie, for a new start tomorrow.

Thank you misstara!

Puddleglum

Aim for at least 15 NSDs. 15/15 achieved today.

Pay to your debt or savings first Debt is going down and savings are starting to go up but I've committed to paying $455 per month over 16 months to retrain and I've handed in my notice from my paying work to go self employed from the end of August so this will really focus my mind on earning, paying down debt and saving.

Report in every day. hello again. Will do better in May.


Interests - Loads of interests. It feels as though there is so much I want to do and so little time.

Love yourself This has worked. I've tidied up and made certain routines inevitable rather than optional. Still a lot of work to do here though

Find time to get outside. Have done a lot more of this.

Overpay Still working on this.

Organise your month The spreadsheet is polished up ready to go for May.

Lose one bad habit. Trying!

Sign off your daily post with a list of gratitudes.
Grateful that the weather will change, for my family, for a job, health, options and resources, for debt free wannabe challenges.

bizzie

Got lost this month but have read every post.
Spending was very good this month, under budget on every category other than pets where I've stocked up on their wet food whilst it was on offer.
NSDs achieved 18/15 so another positive.
Off to sign up for next month.

misstara

NSDs - 18/15
Report - 30/30
Interests - no walk today
Love - skincare regime, perfume
Outside - watered the plants in the garden which meant I was outside for all of about 2 minutes :rotfl:
Organise - May's challenge, lunch prepped for tomorrow
Overpay - nothing today
Bad habit - no crisps
Gratitudes - a productive day at work, beans on toast for tea

Thanks to everyone for taking part in the challenge, see you over in May's challenge.

swimminginaseaofdebt

Evening everyone,

Ended the month with a NSD bringing my total to 12.

Got paid, shuffled my money about and I have now hit the £500 target for my holiday savings. Also added £6.32 to the full and final fund.

Thanks for running the thread misstara and no doubt I'll 'see' many of you in Mays challenge

greent

Late posting as I was out with work colleagues last night and then went straight to bed when I got home

Aim for at least 15 NSDs. Still 8/15
Pay to your debt or savings first and live off the rest. - ok (done)
Report in every day. ok
Interests -- -running total -3 walks, 1 gardening session, 6 books.
Love yourself - using up face creams etc (micellar water, serums) on a daily basis - hoping my skin will benefit -
Find time to get outside. - Nope, other than hanging out/ getting in washing
Overpay - aim to pay 20% extra to your debt or savings. - Definitely done! - paid off OH's car early (end was Oct/ Nov this year) Also paid off OH's 0% CC debt :T -Organise your month. - DS1's 18th birthday mid month. Have also ordered presents for DS3's birthday (late mid May) and bought some May cards
Lose one bad habit. - a certain game which I've spent waaay too much time on in March.... - ok
Sign off your daily post with a list of gratitudes. - yes
Today I am grateful for:
*lovely colleagues
* windy day - line dried washing (was cold, but very windy)
* small fleabay sale

Budgets:
Food 423.13/450
Travel 69.00/ £75
Gifts (inc cards etc) 84.03/£150
Toiletries 8.29/£10
Cleaning 11.89/ £10
Social 134.71/£150 - spent £10 whilst out last night
Clothing 132.60/ £75:o (OH 2 x boots, 1 x coat, DS1 Y13 Leavers Hoody)

Thanks, misstara
See you all on the next thread