NST 07/2018 - Survive July!

Toni'sfriend

Just checking in. NSD No 9
Did the Boy's washing this morning and hung it out on the line. Guess what? Rain. Hasn't rained for weeks and just after I hang the washing out down it comes. Never mind. Feeling a lot fresher now.
Himself enjoyed the football final whilst I watched Versaille upstairs so everyone is happy. Chicken roasting for dinner,
Tomorrow is the start a a new week. Lots to do. Have a nice evening.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for lovely friends, for getting in a lot of walking recently, for my mum being on top form when I saw her, for the tennis and the Tour, for making my own ginger biscuits, for dd's teacher next year being our 1st choice, for booking our flights and accommodation for a holiday in 2 weeks, for a lovely email, for chilled water.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all :hello:
No rain here today - it's 28 degrees out there and the hottest day yet up here. I had a rotten sleep and am feeling all hot and bothered.
Did another 2 loads of washing and dried them, and inspired by the talk on here, I got my Actifry out - a gift from my mam that I've never used. I made chips in 30 minutes and the kids absolutely loved them. Definitely will be doing that again. It was nice to have time to make stuff without fretting about exam papers to mark because it's all done.
NSD apart from petrol - but Sunday is my fuel day. The car is desperate for a wash but it feels like a waste of water (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it).
I've enjoyed a day of relaxing indoors with a box set. Bit lazy but free entertainment.

sashanut

Hi all :j

Foxh0les I think you are going north from Dublin then as we are going down South. We do the ferry crossing from Liverpool on a regular basis...it can be 'interesting'..

Will try for 13 NSDs & hope to get nearer to 20....now 9/13

Set your budgets not yet done
Use Most definitely want to do this; have a mountain of food & stuff to clear. Done hardly anything but washing, drying, ironing & then listing..

Revisit Targets were like other peoples I think, to lose weight (not really); to declutter - some progress; to stop wasting money - also some progress there..will list any weight losses/stuff leaving the house/money gained by selling...when it happens.. Still £44.26 so far..plus £5 voucher for doing a survey; £49.26 Another £3 voucher today: still £52.26. Have more to add, just need to total up. Still £134.12, less postage. Sold 7 items so totals will be more healthy...6 have paid I think, will update when they do.

Vacation Have already booked to go to Ireland for 3 weeks from July; aim to sell some stuff to pay for spends over there. Will also be planning some days out & at least another visit to the Old Country later in the year, probably 2. need to get a move as all this selling etc is not getting the house ready or indeed clean..

Value Always do try to use cashback sites where possible, and find value for money in shopping. Also have a card which gives me vouchers; and do some work which pays in vouchers too. Use cheaper supermarkets & have HB & Fultons here as well, which are both good for some stuff. Made do with leftovers for tea, plus made some individual cheesecakes for afters. Also picked more raspberries as the dogs were eating them & making the rest hairy - ugh.

Every Checking in 14/31

Gratitudes: Time to myself in the garden this morning before it got too hot; DD off on her hols for a few days so a little peace; listing some stuff & it selling immediately..

Jump No jumping here either but in the garden every day when possible. Do try to drink water but struggle with this. Drinking more water as having cold infuse bags which encourage me to drink more..out this morning before it got too hot.

Unless budgeted, no takeaways, coffee shops, lunches out etc. Nope.


Perhaps keep track on here of items/ lbs lost and £s made:
So far have put on a pound in weight & made £134.12 - more to come. Lost the pound I put on last week..more sales will update when I know the total..around another £100 I think.

Yearly we are halfway through 2018. Good idea, will have a big list of outside jobs that need doing/big/small & in between. List needs updating as some jobs done..


Go turtles!

GlendaSugarbean

It's been a spendy few days for me - the money was there but I still feel a bit guilty! Time to get back on track for the rest of the month.

Set Budgets have been adjusted for the extra cash that came in - some for spending pots but most went to the CC which now has less than 50% to go :j. NSD 7/13

Use Lunch options looked a bit scarce, but brought some bits in to avoid buying.

Revisit Targets on track so far, but need to adjust for the summer

Value Found some discount vouchers for one of our summer activities, will sort this week.

Inspire Have been talking with friend about planning cheap days out this summer

Vacation Need to sort budget on payday and stick to it!

Every Will check in daily for the rest of the month

Jump Too hot! Am trying to keep walking but oof

Unless There has been spending on meals out. This will stop!

Lose Stepped on the scales this week. Blimey. Stepped off again quick. Maybe cut down on the cheese and snacks

You I find this the trickiest. Still learning how to look after myself over others without being selfish and obnoxious.

Today I'm grateful for: nice cheese (while I can still eat it), getting to the end of the washing, being the last week of term :j

laurenh1

Good morning all



Today is NSD #7. £35 in the budget still.



Quite a long walk yesterday- hub dropped me off in town & I walked back :jGoing to go for a run again later but taking it easy because of my back.feeling better for getting moving. Comfortably in a size 14 now but I'd like a little more (11Lb more ) off.



Hub was given a voucher for weatherspoons from work. Finally decided we would use it to go for breakfast on Saturday or Sunday- we don't really go out for tea & I'm aware I could end up spending money I wouldn't usually spend & quite a lot of it just to redeem a voucher. Anyway I think a breakfast out would be nice & I won't need to put much to it.



Off to play group this morning with the boys! Really grateful for it as the kids love it & it gets us out the house. Hoping to get time later to practice my knitting & reading.



Have a good week all

greent

GlendaSugarbean - sounds like a nice PPI claim bonus! - well done for being sensible with the vast majority of it. Hopefully you've also managed to find yourself a lovely skein (or two! )

cuddlymarm - Congratulations on the job! Hope your first day today goes well!

EarlyRetirement - wow! :j Another fantastic carboot result! :j

laurenh1 - well done on doing pretty mudder - hope the back is holding up x

sashanut - sounds like a great load of sales progress there! :T


Teachers presents - I've done this a bit in primary school - it used to be smellies when I made and sold soaps, bath bombs, bath melts etc - I'd just pull items out of my stock! Since then I've done HM jams and chutneys, hm fruit liqueurs, occasional bottles of wine/ prosecco (we get more than we drink as gifts, quite often, so I pass them on!) Sometimes we do a class collection (so it means we put in about £2/ teacher) and get a big collective gift - we've bought afternoon tea vouchers, massage tokens etc - means less mugs and chocs for the teachers, but they get something nice (hopefully) and usually non-clutter-y as a result.

I've never done it for secondary school (eldest 2 are now 20 and 18 - DD and her friends clubbed together when leaving Y13 for their tutors - I remember doing something similar when I was 18 - but the relationship you have in the VIth form is different) until this year. DS2 goes to a grammar in the next town and lots of the parents are rather different to me/ my views. I've joined in for Y7 (so DS2 isn't 'different') but it's been a collection, so not masses on an individual basis. I have, however, said I won't be doing it again for Y8 onwards - frankly, it gets ridiculous (the organiser ended up getting presents for all subject teachers, the form tutor, the H0Y, the office staff, the outdoor staff....)


And on that note - to all turtle teachers (and turtles working elsewhere in schools - whether TAs, office, cleaning, catering etc) - hang on in there! - it's almost done! x

greent

• NSDs - 3
• Remember others - DD to charity gone out. Another item added to CS bag. £5 donation to a Teenage MH charity at DS2's school for non-u and activities. Small donation of items to foodbank.
• Pay to your debts or savings first - DONE - + £400 (total) OP to BTL

• Set budgets. Food 240.88/475 . Fuel 0/65 Gifts 15/30 Toiletries 2/10 Cleaning 6.38/10 DD uni stuff 36.68/50 Clothes 5/100 Social 57.50/75
  
• Use things up Still ongoing. However, had so much space appearing in freezer and cupboards that had to get a decent shop in! Toiletries use up going well
  )
• Revisit targets you set back in January. - Done.
• Vacation time No idea whether we're going on hol in Oct (not booking until after A level results) and no real plans made for summer hols with the kids - must get thinking cap on!
• Inspire others -
• Value for money -Used extra points coupon. Cashed in some cashback as TEsc0 vouchers to get bonus %age.
  
• Every day - here Thankful for: Being able to have a lie in today until 6.45, as only one child still at school
  
• Jump - None
  
• Unless budgeted, no takeaways, coffee shops, lunches out etc. -.
• Lose the excess. Took excess jams from cupboard to foodbank drop off (only small jars, but better than nothing!) Have gone through some paperwork and shredded/ recycled a good pile. More to do.
  
• Yearly plans -we are halfway through 2018. If you haven't planned on how to finance Christmas/ birthdays in the second half of the year/ DIY things which need doing / any holiday plans you may have - NOW is the time - will make a list of people with bdays and those I need to get Xmas presents for and make a start, even if it is putting money aside. Have started a list of things I'd like as presents (so far = new bottle of fave perfume and fave 'posh-ish' toiletries )

Oooh - and have just checked my tax credits renewal - we are going to get some this year, after all! - will pay half of it to mtge as OP and keep half in savings, as we nearly always have to pay some back!

Toni'sfriend

Afternoon Turtles,
Thank you all for your advice on the airfryer. Lucky boy wish someone would offer to buy me one.
So today was NSD no 10. Had a little walk, made chicken stock and soup.
The Boy cleared a wardrobe in his ex room yesterday. We now have a massive amount of good, hardly worn clothes for the charity shop. A whole washing green of shirts drying at the moment. They weren't dirty but I don't want to hand them in unless they are fresh and ironed. I've moved some of my clothes into the vacant space now and the enormity of how long it's going to take to sort this clutter our has really hit home. But it's a start and a little at a time will get there. Taking some suits, trousers and jackets (worn probably a couple of times each) to the Salvation Army tomorrow. If they can't sell them for funds I'm sure they can find them a good home.
Managing to avoid the sugar (that is a real challenge) and using what is in the freezer for dinner. Had some cold meat, half a small baguette and tomatoes for lunch and a small pork fillet with lots of vegetables tonight.
Have a good evening.

indigowarrior

*Pokes head back in and sheepishly waves hello!*
Hi everyone, I have well and truly lost control of the wagon. However, now I have some positive news I have a focus to gain control and take charge.
I have been offered a housing association flat and all being well I could moving in 4-5 weeks. So i need to save as much money as possible.
I am not going to hit 20 NSDs like I hoped but, I am going to aim for 15. I hope this is okay.

On the plus side today has been NSD 5.