NST - Achievable August

greent

Aim Still on 3 NSDs - some more grocery shopping in Sainz (had £9 off £60 and then a £2 mfctr coupon to use on something which was already on offer :T) and also picked up DS2 a new backpack for school whilst in there - found 1 last week for £20, but wanted to use it against this week's spend for the MOV - and in the intervening few days it had been reduced to £15 :T:T Have also got a couple of small items in my 'shopping basket' on flebay for stocking fillers - will actually buy them later

Update (Budgets) done. Have also today updated my s/sht for the mtge to take account of the int rate rise wef 01/09, so standard payment and rounding up OP Sto both updated on there

Get (prepared for Xmas) Have written list of bdays between now and end of Jan and Xmas list. and come up with a few ideas of what I'd like from people (eg: my mum) (So far ideas for me include 2 new bread tins (found the exact ones I want), Sanctuareeee smellies and a bottle of perfume to replace the one I'm running low on) - as above, couple of small items being purchased form flebay

Utilise

Share (money saving tips)

Treat (yourself) still need to book my eyebrows...… - have phoned salon and left a message - there is quite often only 1 member of staff in midweek, so I expect they were with someone

Listed a few items on flebay today (well, they're currently in drafts, as I need to take pics, but DS3 has my phone) - will be a few more £ for OP-ing if any sell Have also claimed a small amount from TCB as a TEsc0 voucher, so have sent a rounded up equivalent to mtge as an OP also :T

Today I am grateful for DS1's help with some housework, for getting some laundry sorted, for sunshine this afternoon, for vouchers to use in shopping, for some HG apples form my mum and for finding the backpack is now reduced!
x

Toni'sfriend

Afternoon Turtles.

Goodness update time already

Work on - I have been really good at trying to smarten myself up. The Boy even noticed yesterday and he doesn't notice anything. Himself and I are going for lunch once a week to spend some time together outwith the house and have a right good chat. On the downside I have still been really bad at contacting the rest of the family.

Aim 12/15 Another one today. This is due to trying to use up what we already have.

Update (Budgets) - Phoned Virgin and got a reduction on the package.

Get (prepared for Xmas) - Haven't bought anything yet but have ideas for most gifts (not that there are that many).

Utilise (free activities in your area) - Failed miserably

Share (money saving tips) - I've tried. But I must say that some of those provided by other Turtles have been really helpful. Thanks, everyone.

Treat (yourself) - Must book the manicure

So today Himself was out with his friend (who hasn't been too well). He's back now but I've done loads whilst he was out including defrosting and tidying both freezers. I now know exactly what's in there. We could be living on chicken till Christmas!

bizzie

Mid month update:

Aiming for 15 currently on 13 due mainly to having spent the last two weeks visiting friends and family and being spoilt. We return the spoiling when they visit us.
Updated all budgets and on schedule with everything.
Get prepared for Christmas is on the back burner until Back 2 School and Off 2 Uni is underway ( results tomorrow.....).
Utilised the beaches and parks on our travels, the library on our return and looking for more to do.
Share a tip if cooking a casserole/pasta bake type dinner put away portion(s) for another meal before dishing up as I find everyone is more generous with their servings if there looks to be plenty there.
Treat still undecided on what this will be.

apple_muncher

I'm not on as many nsds as in a 'normal' month - only 7 so far - but there is an outside chance I might make 15...

I've updated some SO/DDs and cancelled some. I can now set up one to the Sally Army. Thank you for the push to do this. I've also opened a savings acc for dd

Am getting there for Cmas prep. We always have a super quiet one. This year we'll prob be going north between cmas and new year as my friend in Spain will be at her mam's in the NE then. My present-receiver's list is on my phone and a couple of people have an item allocated to them already.

Dd gets free swimming in school hols so we've used that a few times. I have to pay for me, but it's worth it. We have a couple of playdates planned, tickets for a seaworldy-place (thank you tesc0), and another trip to bham for a few nights.

I think that a useful saving tip for me is to ensure that I am comparing like with like. That block of cheese might be cheaper, but is it for the same weight?

My treat so far is a pair of 12mm knitting needles. Off to the pound shop with my remaining 2 quid on Friday!


Today I am grateful for strength to tidy up the back gdn, and to mow the front, for no noisy/nosy neighbours anywhere, for rasp + nectarine bake, for good communication with the solicitor, for an email from big sis, for internet banking, for watching both dvds of the Deathly Hallows with dd, for sainz having their gf/df cornettos on offer for £2 per pack - I bought 5!!

crazy_cat_lady

Hi everyone :wave:
I'm afraid I've gotten a bit lost with nsd's while I've been away, preparing to go away and budgeting etc. The good news is that 2 of my 3 breaks are done, with just one more to go (last week of the hols) and I'm still hanging onto my budget (just). Not so good news is that I've had to rejig to cover overspending while I've been away. It's not the end of the world but I'm annoyed that I didn't keep better control while we were away. At least we all had a good time and made happy memories.

swimminginaseaofdebt

Evening everyone :hello:

Didn’t manage to get on yesterday but it was a NSD taking my total to 6.

Today I spent £1.60 taking my budget to £173.88.

I’ve sent £2.89 to the EF, total sent this month so far is £15.36.

Also got some survey money bringing my extra income for the month to £32.97/£50.

On my 4th book of the month, getting into a reading groove

Kerry_Woman

lcc86 Wishing you better. Take care.
Half way update.
Going to pick strength. Trying my best of looking after health and doing exercise.
Aim -12/20. NSD today. Seem to be doing ok with this at the moment.
Update (Budgets) -All of my DD's are fine.
Get (prepared for Xmas) Sorted.
Utilise (free activities in your area) - Found some free activities in local area. Attended a few already. Also 2 free plays in an open air theatre in London. It is first come first served for seating.
Share (money saving tips)- Done 1.
Treat (yourself) - Still need to do this. I know what to get. Will wait until I have a spend day.

mothernerd

Yesterday and today were both spendy. Went to Icelandy yesterday and spent over £100. DS3 had requested a couple of specific items and I'm happy to buy them for him if it keeps him off the dreaded takeaways. Some of it was stockpiling (want to get in front with things non-perishables), bought some large bottles of cordial for DS3 (probably enough for the next 2- 3 months) and water for me (feels so much better not humping it from the corner shop myself) and I thought the legs of lamb were a good price (£15 each) so that's Christmas lunch, my birthday and possibly next Easter sorted.


Money saving tips. I expect many of you follow the old 'buy one thing a week' to put away for Christmas. I always found it useful to start with toilet rolls and cat food - the boys didn't use more toilet roll just because it was there and the cats never learnt to use the can opener. When the boys got to the stage where they would rummage through the cupboards (and my wardrobe and underwear drawer) trying to find goodies (chocolate, biscuits or presents) I started wrapping things as soon as they came in the house (only in very cheap paper). I used a different for each boy but didn't put names on (I knew the colour code) so they didn't know what they were or who they were for.


Good hiding places to hide things from boys

once hid three bikes under the stairs for 2 weeks - pulled everything out, squeezed the bikes in side by side and then replaced all the odd bits of wood/ polythene sheets etc.so it looked the same as normal.

put a large tablecloth on the kitchen table (used a sheet under it so it touched the ground), set it all ready for Christmas day then whizzed all the presents underneath it whilst they watched a film. Made things much simpler when we got back from midnight mass as I could set things up without waiting to make sure they had gone to sleep
washing machine is a good place to hide small things (they never look in there). Beware - cats also find it a good place to hide. We all had a shock the day I set off the machine with a small cat asleep on top of the washing. Stopped it straight away but she mewed pitifully as I tried to reassure her for the 3 minute wait before I could unlock the door. After that I checked every time I used it.


I sent my shopping home yesterday then took a taxi with the things I had bought for mum as she wanted me to go and put her bins out + the lady from across the road who's away for a few days. Went back today after crafts to bring them back in.


Crafts was very quiet (some people had already said they had appointments), only 2 of us so we started on decorating heart shaped lavender bags for Christmas/ fundraising. Therapeutic and fun and using up lots of bits (ribbon/ buttons/ felt scraps/ taffeta scraps).


Delivered 2 birthday cards this morning, handed over copies of DS1's address and collected details of other people's addresses (know exactly where they live but always walk round there so didn't have the postcode) for DS1's christmas card/ post wedding barbeque invites. Also arranged for mum's cousin to visit her on one of the days when I am in Italy, to help break the week up and make sure she is okay.


Have an extra day off tomorrow so will get on with the house and list of jobs but will not have much time on Friday as I'm going to a funeral. Will have to buy an all day bus ticket so may combine with an afternoon out (still have a gift card from my birthday and still no footwear or bag to use. 2 possible museums to visit and want to go to the airport to familiarise myself with the layout.


Today I am grateful for the chance to craft peacefully and companionably, for making 'something out of nothing' and for free sandwiches and salad (leftover buffet).

sashanut

Hi all :j

The flowers for August are the Gladioli and the Poppy which represents beauty, strength, love, marriage and family

Finally back in the UK & back on the laptop so fancy effects now possible..all is reasonably well here although I have been away for nearly 3 weeks. House messy as expected but all animals - and amazingly, most of the plants - are still alive.:D

Now need to take stock, we have tons of food - brought lots back - will need to buy fresh stuff but determined to eat from 2 freezers & 2 fridges that a rammed full. Sadly quite a few things weren't used whilst I was away...didn't see any salad they said - in the salad drawer - doh! Now mouldy yuk..
Lost all of my raspberries as they are finished now, but tons of other fruit so I am going to be busy with that as well. Apples are hanging down to the ground & blackberries are huge & ripe, plus some currants still left. DH proudly told me that he watered stuff - ' and there are some berry things in that cage thing'. Blimey wonders will never cease he saw actual fruit, there is hope for him yet..

Aim – for 15 NSD’s now 4/15


Update (Budgets) – still to do, should be minimal this month now



Get (prepared for Xmas) – Feels like Christmas here already as said friend whose daughter is a beauty journalist brought round carrier bag full of free things. Given that she has already taken what she wanted, her younger sister likewise & then my friend had her pick, there was a load of stuff left, all high end labels so I get to treat myself for free. Usually DD gets involved but luckily today she was away for yet another holiday, so I got first dibs:j


Utilise (free activities in your area) - none today

Share (money saving tips) – following on from the tip from Bizzie, I always portion out dinner for 4 (there are 3 of us). The 'spare one' goes in the fridge in a plastic container to be used as a work lunch, or if not, frozen. Then if anyone wants 'seconds' - and they often do - they can only have what's left. Before I did this, I used to find that they'd take loads of seconds & often only leave a tiny bit, which was pretty useless. Doing it this way, they don't get the chance..

Treat (yourself) – I would like everyone to budget £3 for a luxury item, I think this will be some Twinings, but will decide later

The challenge will run from 1st August 00:01 until 31st August 00:00.

Go turtles!!!!!!

DawnW

Mid month update:

I didn't get round to doing an introductory post but am keeping the faith.

NSDs 5 so far
Groceries / cleaning supplies and toiletries £127.45 so far.
Donation to food bank for month done


Going away for few days next week, but will keep this low cost.