NST - Achievable August

Eager_Elephant

Everyone has been given a number up to here.

Thanks again for everyone joining in and embracing the challenge - I will be back tomorrow with my goals. It is coincidence that the poppy represents love/marriage etc as I recently split from my husband and actually I need to get a better grip of my situation, its almost like fate that this was for August.

Reporting in my 1st NSD - didn't have time to go anywhere near a shop too be honest.

Catch you all tomorrow.

Fmess

Hi Apple, how is your holiday? I heard Spain is very hot at the moment? Yes, I am temping again and started today with 3 hours They have also given me a laptop and permission to work from home when I want to as a lot of what needs doing is data entry so I will probably be able to clock up plenty of hours around gym visits and seeing friends

SFD number 1 today £37.50 earnt, I am going to split my extra wages in 3 - 1/3 for socialising, 1/3 savings and 1/3 for debt repayment

I will post a full plan tomorrow.

sashanut

Hi all :j

Just checking in whilst still on hols. Hi from rainy & cool Ireland :hello: - but we are apparently expecting a heatwave this weekend - 24deg!!!!

Today's progress .....


Aim for 15 NSDS - 1/15

Update no spends by me today

Get prepared (for Xmas) - have bought gift for DH - just need to remember where in the house I stashed it, also whilst clearing the house found several other items that will do.

Utilise (free activities in your area) - on hols so no progress

Share (money saving tips) - a tip I use is to always try using half the recommended washing powder & breaking my DW tabs in half .. No difference in cleaning that I can see. In fact, sometimes it's gone on without even a half tablet as I've found it on the floor in the morning!!

Treat (yourself) - am being treated whilst on hols but will continue when I get home

mothernerd

I will concentrate on strength - fitness, willpower, doggedness.


Aiming for 15 NSDs



All DDs are basic (council Tax, water, energy, broadband)
BUDGETS
Food - increased to £200. think DS3 and Beloved are struggling, the last freezer order disappeared in no time (better than them having takeaway). Spent £30+ on a shop bought last week and bits today.
Travel £15 exceeded in last 2 months but no more weekly appointments. I have 2 appointments and 2 things that will need a day ticket so far.
Ent/ DIY £30

Imponderables? Weird, possibly unique month. Need to buy euros for DS1's wedding (September 6th Sorrento). Currently no shoes or bag (don't think walking boots or wellies will do). Present required - want to be generous but wary of overspending if DS3 only has games in development. Mum's birthday on the 29th (have already given her her present - toiletries - but planning to make bunting and an anchor/ lifebelt for her shed - have the main materials). May buy us a Chinese takeaway - it's always BH weekend.

Other imponderables - may need help with tidying my eyebrows + taming other facial hair. Should I buy a 2nd hand kindle instead of lugging books to Italy? When am I going to replace the washing machine - taking it to mum's suits me fine for the moment.


Christmas - don't really do much. Beloved usually goes to her parents, DS3 stays to look after the chinchillas and hides in his room/ behind the laptop. I spent last year with mum. Present list is mum and DS3 (so far I have been bannned from buying for gfs - see Big Bang theory and Sheldon's 'a gift is an obligation') and make a list for what I want/ need to buy with the money mum gives me (she pays for my brother's tv license so have a rough idea of the amount). DS1 doesn't really 'do' Christmas or birthdays and the washing machine that has just died was the last expensive present I bought for DS2.


Utilise free activities. Want to see the exhibition at the library. There is a local history talk on the 10th with the £3 fee going towards the new archive centre (that may be my luxury - the beauty stuff is desperation/ torture). Film club is at the end of the month and bought my ticket for the evening film last Friday as it's been widely advertised and they are expecting a big turnout.


Mum has an appointment in Eccles next week and we are going to Barton aerodrome afterwards as the driver's 2 yo is mad about helicopters. I also plan a day out to look round the airport so it's not a th complete culture shock (never flown before). There are a couple of museums in Manchester that I've been meaning to visit and may be able to combine that with airport trip.


I have also been invited to another meal at DS1 and his fiancee's house. Need to ask if mum wants to come too. Need to think about wedding presents and work out whether wedding sampler and new house sampler (Cuthulhu) can be completed in time (need frames) as that is the easiest time to take them. Have a non-specific present for fiancee - cyberman jug bought in Portmeirion.


Money saving tips. CHRISTMAS
Involve everyone - ask all the family to write a list of top 10 must have foods. If they don't do it, they lose the right to complain if it does not apppear on the table.


Wrapping paper - I used to limit the amount of Christmas wrap I bought. About half would be plain or a simple pattern (polka dots. stripe) to complement the Christmas wrap. This could then be used all year for birthday gifts and no huge stash of paper to save for 12 months.


In a crisis you need to know what is really important. As exDH was self-employed (and gambling all our money away 300 miles from home) we have had a few crises. We had to have a careful talk with the children (not to ruin the mgic as they were very young) to find out what 'made Christmas' (so I could work out what could be made etc). It turned out that chocolate coins were really important to them - we could easily have missed them out, trying to save a few pennies. DS3 still gets (white chocolate) coins.


To be continued.


Did not sleep last night, feeling fragile today. Had a slight panic early on then forced myself just to think about today and decided that I only needed to get throught he crafts session. Crafts was good, peaceful and quiet. Have nodded off a couple of times and now have a sore neck (sleeping sitting up). All will be well by morning.


Today I am grateful for taxis, helpful staff at the centre and pleasant company.

GlendaSugarbean

Morning all!

Nice to see you indigowarrior - how are you settling in to the new place?

Waves to s1n25

Not an NSD yesterday but not bad - weekly grocery and pet food shop done for under budget, then had a trip out with youngest - only spend was refreshments from some spare cash in my purse. Aiming for 1st NSD today.

Focus: need to have a chat with DH about various things. Some firmness needed.

Aim: aiming for 2 NSDs this week. Three would be great.

Update: budgets on track so far. Must not be tempted to start shifting money around.

Get ready: remember why I need to be firm this month as savings for holidays and birthdays are really needed from next pay day.

Use: we found a 'new' spot in the woods yesterday, we are so lucky to have beautiful public spaces in walking distance.

Share: no inspiration so far!

Treat: have been using my new cleanser and shower gel and it's lovely

laurenh1

Hi all


Flowers - At work today so no real opportunities to work on anything.


Aim- had to retract a NSD as my hubs work declared they needed £14 for social gatherings he has never been to. :T Compulsory so I couldn't argue. However I took the opportunity to go shopping & got snacks and "shotz" juice for the airport tomorrow so I don't need to spend. Yay. I'll just fill up using tap water once I get through security.



Update -budget now at £141 for the month but I've got 100 coming in 3 weeks. This is our last month of being absolutely skint as our childcare bill goes own next month.


Get prepared- Xmas is all in hand. I did a budget for the rest if the year last night included Xmas, over payments on the car, our weekend away, MOT,annual car insurance, kids birthdays etc. The only thing not included is winter clothing , I will need new shoes, new work trousers and a few new tops, kids will need jumpers & coats, any extra cash will go away for these.



Utilise- off to Italy this weekend with my son to see my brother. I have already discussed eating at his home, going to the beach etc. Planning to keep if cheap I should maybe mention that I do have euros additional to my usual. budget.



Share if you leave things in your shopping basket websites might send you a code


Treat I will keep my eyes peeled in Italy:)

indigowarrior

GlendaSugarbean wrote: »

Morning all!

Nice to see you indigowarrior - how are you settling in to the new place?

I really love it. I feel thankful that I have been given this little flat .
Yesterday was a Spend day I had a low moment and sat in a park with my Godfather and ate a kebab. Today I am aiming for a no spend day. Lets see how it pans out.
Today I am going to talk to all my debt collection agencies and get minimum payments all set up for the end of the month. Time to get tackling those debts.

DawnW

indigowarrior wrote: »

I really love it. I feel thankful that I have been given this little flat .
Yesterday was a Spend day I had a low moment and sat in a park with my Godfather and ate a kebab. Today I am aiming for a no spend day. Lets see how it pans out.
Today I am going to talk to all my debt collection agencies and get minimum payments all set up for the end of the month. Time to get tackling those debts.

I am so pleased that you now have your own flat
Have you thought about speaking to a debt charity such as Stepchange about your debts, and what the best way of tackling them might be? You could have a look at their web site first if you are apprehensive - https://www.stepchange.org/


They have helped a lot of people on these boards, they don't judge and may suggest things that might not have occurred to you. They can take away the worry of dealing with debt collectors as they can do it, if appropriate, on your behalf

Tropically

I am thinking about flowers. My husband is travelling for work this week and I really needed a hug from him. The shower curtain rod has pulled down, two people have tried to scam me on gumtree (or one person twice, which is more likely) and a number of people have not turned up to collect some free items!

I was giving away a piece of sports equipment for free, and planning at 3 pm for someone to come at 5:30 pm. No one turned up and then at 7 I got a text saying, "This is X's partner. We can't come tonight because she is in A&E. But we can come collect it tomorrow.' I guess the problem is not too serious if they are planning to do sports the next day while sitting in the A&E waiting room! Anyway those people can stuff it and I might just put it outside with a note that says free.

Then, when I got on the train, I stumbled and accidentally punched someone's phone across the train carriage. I was so embarrassed and went to pick it up and then fell down again. He was really nice about it but it so far has been an awful morning.

Aim – for 15 NSD’s this month. I got one yesterday and I wanted a coffee so desperately after my bad morning, but I resisted.

Update (Budgets) – I am trying out YNAB, it is working okay so far.

Get (prepared for Xmas) – No change!

Utilise (free activities in your area) - No change!

Share (money saving tips) – My moneysaving tip of the week is to use the Olio app to identify people that are giving away free food in your area. At the end of the month, I will be putting everything in my cupboard on Olio and there are many other people doing the same. You don't have to be broke or needy to use it. Just be kind and show up when you tell someone you will. Secondly, look for Foodcycle events near your area. They give you a free meal using food that would otherwise go to waste. It also helps with social isolation. You can also volunteer and then you get free food that way as well.

Treat (yourself) – Will do! I will save this for later though. I don't need it on day 2, either.

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :wave:
Bagged my first nsd yesterday - very precious with the busy month ahead.
Didn't do much at all yesterday in the end. Think I'm starting to miss adult company a bit - this past fortnight has been all about looking after kids and very little else.
I had a solicitors appointment yesterday, which left me very upset (and angry) - like EE I have separated from my husband and yesterday I signed the final divorce paperwork. Although it was my decision, it was still sad just signing 16 years away like that. It's the financial side of things that is making me angry but I will rant about that on my diary. I'm trying to be kind to myself and just go with the flow as much as I can.
indigowarrior - pleased that you're enjoying your new place.
Tropically - sounds like you're having 'one of those' - hope things pick up very soon x