NST June 2018 A JUNE ODESSEY (Staycation)

swimminginaseaofdebt

Evening everyone,

Today was the little one’s 2nd birthday. I took him to his usual bookbug session then to the park with my niece and sister. Spent £9 something at Greggs for picnic stuff.

Have decided tomorrow will be a NSD so have transferred the money leftover from my budget to my EF along with money leftover from my holiday and extra that I got in my wages (think this was a backdated pay rise). A total of £470.39 added today, monthly total added is now up to £544.25.

Have done an online shop from Sainsbury which will be delivered on Sun. I had a voucher for £8 off a shop of £40 or more plus I managed to grab the last £1 delivery slot so feeling pretty pleased. Money for this shop will be coming from July’s budget (still to be drawn up).

Picked up two books from the library and started reading one already.

mothernerd

Back from a lovely holiday. Bits of me are brown, lots of interesting shades of pink despite smothring myself in factor 30 at least twice a day, only two bites.


Weather has been unbelievable. We were at Portmadog on Wednesday at 3pm which made the news as being the hottest place that day at 31degrees. Luckily we weren't there on Thursday when it outdid itself by getting to 33 degrees.


Went to Portmerion, somewhere I've always wanted to go and had a lovely boat trip yesterday to look at otters, puffins and lots of other birds. Mum paid for most things (all the entry fees were paid by the tour operator) but I've given her back about a third of her money back, so a lot cheaper than last December's holiday, mainly because I spotted a S p a r a few doors down from the hotel and went there for big bottles of water and diet coke and sandwich/ picnic things to take out withus for our lunch. Only one lunch out at a cafe nearly directly opposite our hotel which has been featured on Hairy Bikers and other programmes.


Have to have my bath now, back soon.

thriftylass

Hello,

Soooo, we had an Asd@ order today to pick up and it's the first time it went so wrong. First there was stuff we didn't order and we handed that back. Then we had 2 deals like 3 for 2. For one of them they only had two item and one was the wrong one (a soy and almond milk instead of three almond) but the refunded us one item from the other deal which was more expensive (only per email so far). To top it off my £65 shop is atm listed as £13.70 in my online bank statement :eek:. Will wait till after the weekend and see if it changes.

Have a nice weekend and see you Monday

sashanut

Hi all :j

A Ask yourself 'Is this necessary?' Before purchasing anything. Small spends today in PO & SM, so not a nsd. When you make a 'to do' list (is it realistic or even possible); Discussed this with friend this afternoon. Could call it a might do list, Probably need to make a big list, even if just to cross off stuff that is getting done, as motivation LOL. Look forward to the discipline of actually doing this...woooo Great list mothernerd, will certainly study this if I ever get a moment, Still feeling ropey but it's hopefully just a summer cold, can't remember the last one I had tbf.

J June challenge runs from 1st June to 30th. Aiming for tough target. Still 15/20, won't make 20 but will do my best


U Use the food you have in the cupboards, fridge and freezer to base your meals on. Meal plan (for the month or for a few days at a time, whichever suits). Cook from scratch (short cuts permitted if you are feeling stressed) Some weird combos today to use up food, lunch was wrap pizzas from stuff in fridge, worked well, then chicken, potato salad, sweetcorn etc all already in or made from stores, long may it continue..

N No takeaways, coffee, chip or pie shop purchases. Nope.

E Eating well is a form of self respect. Not too bad today..although lots of throat sweets may have been consumed..

O Offer help and encouragement to other turtles and people you meet. Be kind to everyone, especially yourself. Waves pompoms wildly encouragingly!! Had to be kind to poor DD today, her fancy hire car was scratched on her first trip out in it...luckily she won't have to pay but still; then she had a phone call to say the damage to her car underneath was so extensive it looks like it will be a write-off...poor kid she was upset, that was her first car & she was so proud of it. The woman who hit her must have been going some, as I think she wrote off her own car as well fgs…


D Debt or savings payments should be made first - live on what is left No debt other than cc I use for all purchases to get rewards - which is paid off in full every month. Will need to get the cc bill down during the month with payments made daily (PAD thread) to avoid large bill at end of month. Concerned about this one tbh...not been taken yet so will have to see..


E Exercise according to your programme or your ability. Minimum of 3 times a week. Try to get outside every day. Outside with dogs for a few mins as so hot, then later when it cooled - then out watering again tonight. Going to be ongoing this one..


S Set all your budgets before the start of the month. Food, travel, social, diy, other. Have filled in a lot of the spreadsheet but it is still a wip, will add rest. More to add tomorrow, then need to take stock as cannot possibly need any more food. Now gonna do it for July, more difficult as on hols for last week & first 2 weeks of August but will persevere.

.S Someone, somewhere is worse off than you. Donate to the local food bank or other charity of your choice. Clear some of your clutter and donate the goods to charity. Will be amassing stuff to take to CS as I clear the clutter; also intend to sell better items to pay for hols booked for August. Ironed some stuff ready for photos & charged up tablet for photos. Soon, I promise...will be this weekend otherwise it will be too late..

E Every day check in is recommended, especially when things go wrong. 29/30 here I am..

You are the most important person in your life. You are your own longest term investment. You matter. Read this and the daily quotes, take on anything you find relevant and helpful, ditch the rest. Reading, learning & inwardly digesting. Help and support on here is the best..progress slow but steady..keep on keeping on. Getting on with the clearing, hopefully it is looking bad before it looks better! Finally did bathroom & had hair done, now challenge is to make sure it doesn't end up a dumping ground again..so far so good..its only been 24 hours though..


Glad you had a lovely holiday mothernerd!!

Go turtles

mothernerd

Holiday part two (+ confession time)


Hotel was lovely, we only had to walk out of the back across the courtyard and cross the road to get to the pier, staff were wonderful (mostly young but they seem to keep staff a long time - think they draft in younger brothers and sisters to help when they have a lot of guests), food was good and generous - bit mean on veg (so not super healthy) but heavy on the meat, lamb was 3 slices each more than a quarter inch thick and on roast beef night I had to give up and leave some (2 pieces bigger than your average steak). Service was slow but our party was significantly bigger than any they had had in recent weeks plus they served food in the bistro and to people using the tables in the courtyard and some people were coming in to request any spare tables in the restaurant.



Made friends on the first night with the people at our table, on good terms with most people on the coach, some of the other guests and have had lots of chats with visitors and locals everywhere we have been. The hotel was dog friendly - the notice by reception said they had never had a dog who smoked in bed and set fire to the room, stolen their towels, had a bust up with someone sharing their room or become drunk and offensive - so dogs were welcome and if your dog vouched for you, you were welcome too. Lots of dogs everywhere including a black labrador puppy who just loved the beach and the sea and bounced around in the surf. Lots of walking, lots of slopes, lots of lugging the walker around when steps were unavoidable.



Think tomorrow will be a quiet restful day (waiting to see how many and which bits still hurt).


However I have spent money (quite a lot). I have been looking round town (especially charity shops) and on-line at clothes. Getting once more to the point where I need to buy something or spend several days a week indoors whilst things dry. My current clothes aren't working in this hot spell (and will not be suitable for Sorrento when I go for my son's wedding).


I have seen some things I like (mainly long/ loose/ linen) but nothing that I absolutely love (sadly I am prepared to settle for comfortable, clean and nothing spilled on it atm).



From our first stop on the way to Anglesey I have seen loads of items that fit the bill (and better still, they fit me). Whilst reaffirming my determination to lose weight I have acquired a number of items, some to wear now, others that match items I already have and love (basis for future capsule wardrobe). Plus new socks.
I also bought a jug with a cyberman on it for my whovian future d-i-l and a wellbeing selection of teas for Beloved's birthday next month. And maybe a small tardis for me (will take it out of my Christmas money) and some ethical chocolate sold in aid of Ape Action Africa (lovely exhibition with lots of photographs/ paintings and other artworks in aid of species conserveration (mainly primates but rhinos and others - a lot of focus on 'bushmeat'). Would have loved a black and white lithograph but couldn't sneak it past mum who was still going on about the clothes (this is the woman whose extra clothes are stored in the 4 floor to ceiling cupboards in the 'dining' room, the woman who had already packed for the holiday when she 'discovered' a bed drawer (1/4 of a large double bed) full of t-shirts and other summer clothing she didn't know she had.


Then I was very bad and bought more clothes. Which were quite expensive, all fairtrade/ hand blocked/ supporting small communities etc etc. I thought long and hard. Considered where I could buy similar items

closer to home or if it would be possible to revisit if I did not buy and then regretted the decision. Then bought them (includes Indian style trousers I could wear with a dress/ tunic in either of the main colours for DS1's wedding).



As I was now considered a 'shopoholic' (mum and I ate our picnic first so I was the last person to go in the shop and was back to our bench before teveryone else came back) I then had to justify my purchases to at least ten other coach-fellows. However they all approved of the items (ohh'd and ahhed over the fabric) and agreed with my logic on the 'wedding' trousers (and a similar skirt).


So not sure about anything except I really need to lose weight and probably won't be satisfied until the mirror shows the person I am in my head (and weight is consistent enough to plan ahead).


Today I am grateful for a lovely holiday, time spent with mum, finding lovely things for other people (and some for me), lots of new experiences, meeting lots of friendly and amicable people, for taking care of myself (sun cream as moisturiser) and mum, for seals and puffins and puppies and babies and funny toddlers, for the sea air lessening my hayfever symptoms.

laurenh1

Good morning Turtles

Yesterday got off to a disaster when I over paid nursery by £126 By the time the payment clears with tax free childcare & in turn with the nursery & they refund it it will be nearly month end. I told them to keep it until next month.


Luckily I was going to make a car overpayment for £300 so I have lowered this to £200 & the money I'll save next month I'll put towards the car &it will all balance out . I'm still cross at myself about it. Although as hub pointed out car payments are flexible & the plan has always been to try & pay as much as we can but not to worry if we can't. & we never even dreamed we could pay any off til September.



Off to Alnwick today so most certainly a spend day. I have budgeted ,£150 for everything including tea. Picnic for lunch.



That leaves about ,£220 in the budget plus £130 fuel. I've already done a massive shop .



Have a lovely weekend Turtles

f0xh0les

Yesterday was a NSD, today will not be so still on 17

Fakebook selling page popped up a victorian cast iron fireplace and surround for £75 which is the twin to the one I just put back into my living room. Picking it up this afternoon. Did not even haggle as it is the exact thing to pull the look of the 2 downstairs reception rooms together. On payday too!

£50 U-g0v payment went in, so tilly tidied all accounts and ended up sending just over £70 to mortgage overpayments.

Your holiday sounds lovely mothernerd

Again this year I will be doing the Irish relations. 'This will be the last year ' I say every year, and end up taking the kids over again and again. Will keep cheerful. It is a fortnight out of my life. Not a disaster. Get it over with.

Did well this month. I am happy with 17NSDs. Plus money left over for another sneaky mortgage payment.

Two weeks left of term now.

Goodbye June, hello July - Did someone post a link yet?

GlendaSugarbean

Last day of June and it's going to be a spendy one. Got snacks and wine for evening with friends last night, today is school shorts for eldest (he's grown again), trainers for youngest (ditto) and bookshop (ok not strictly necessary but eldest is finally reading of his own accord and I don't want to jinx it!).

I have however brought water and snacks to cut down on random spends, plus I'm going to cash out the giant pot of pennies to help with the clothes shopping.

Have a lovely day all, and here's to July! 4/5 NSD this month. Not bad...

greent

July's thread is up: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5862380/nst-07-2018-survive-july


Apologies for the delay, I had not taken into account how tired I would be this month and have only just written it this morning x

Eager_Elephant

Managed a NSD yesterday taking me to 18.

I don't think today will be a NSD as DD's school have a mini festival on and although entry is free I do feel like I should buy drinks and go on the tombola as these are raising money for PTA.