NST September: Sunshine Challenge

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a warm but breezy day, for chatting with a lovely lady at the bus stop, for the cashier in sainz giving me the lego packets that the lady in front of me hadn't wanted, for being able to sit down for most of the day, for finding some rugby union on the box, for a relaxing hot epsom salts bath, for making scrummy bacon poppers, for a surprise call from my sister.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all :hello:
Bagged another nsd today, but another larger household expense is looming. Bathroom tiles have started falling off the wall where the shower is. I'm absolutely devastated. First the divorce wiped out my emergency fund, then I booked a holiday abroad in the rebellion of the separation, then loads of stuff decided to go wrong in the house, starting with the bathroom floor caving in. Every time I think I'm getting a grip on the finances something comes along and knocks me off my feet again. God knows how much it will be to redo the tiles but I know it isn't going to be cheap. I can feel myself getting really stressed out about money again. Wish the divorce was over and done so at least I know exactly where I am with my new finances and the debt situation.
Work is still busy but I've managed to do some exam related stuff that will bag me a few extra pounds, and every little bit helps. Nothing much else to report - still settling back into work to be honest.

mothernerd

More money spent. All day bus ticket to Morries (got the change by re-buying one of the 3 books I bought to take on holiday - left it on the plane and I'm half way through). Spent a lot (some is for mum, so big sums to do). Two heavy bagfuls, lots of grab and go salad, ys sandwich fillings and cottage cheese, trying something new - bought spinach wraps and beetroot ones.


Bus all the way back to the infirmary. Got prescription, ordered an item for mum, got paperwork to go with sample and booked both our flu jabs. Could have caught the last bus of the day but phoned for a taxi instead - this left me with enough energy to do a rubbish round up, put the bins out and take two letters to the postbox for mum.


Will try to walk to mum's tomorrow with her loaf and cheese (+ chunk of watermelon for a treat) otherwise will catch a taxi and go from mum's to crafts.


Today I am grateful for getting my 5 a day (prob 7 or 9) - onions (red and white), pepppers, cabbage (ed and white), carrot, sweetcorn, cucumber, tomatoes, plus lots of seeds and grains and a bean or two, for making (slow) progress, for finding my place in the book and having time on buses and in queues to read.

lcc86

Bit of a naughty day today. Planned to buy a hotel stay on Groupon for OH birthday so I did that, £95 spent for a pretty good deal plus dinner and breakfast. But I also bought a gym membership. It was on offer for students, £120 for 9 months, which works out at £13 a month. I even postponed the start date to next month to give my ankle time to recover. However I used the credit card, which is bad! I can easily budget £13 a month to repay it but perhaps I should take at least some of it out of my emergency fund instead...

Other than that a pretty quiet day. Traffic was horrendous so the commute was bad but work itself was good. It's been so quiet the last few months and it's slowly picking up so I'm grateful for that.

sashanut

Hi all:j

Quick whizz round SM this morning before doing my stint in the CS. Manager frazzled in the extreme as all the volunteers apart from me were new. It was OK though am looking forward to my pal being back next week. Am worried about dog who seems to be back to being poorly again, she is up & down although we thought she was on the mend. May have to visit vets again to see what the problem might be.

Set your budgets now. Pay to your debts/savings first and live off the rest. Make sure you're on the best deals for utilities, phones, broadband, etc. Are there any areas in your budget that you could cut down on? Gift finally arrived for my uncles birthday - so late that I couldn't give it him on Saturday. Was very annoyed as they had stated delivery on Friday or Saturday. Sadly by Saturday it had only travelled as far as Leeds - from Harrogate - when it was ordered last Tuesday. Not happy..

Use up. Have a look through your cupboards and identify any food that's been lurking there for a while and incorporate it into a meal plan. Likewise toiletries, any half opened bottles - use before opening/buying more. Lunch was amazingly made by DD, and very nice it was too, using up some eggs but with additions that she bought. DH had the infamous pate again. I made a Chinese meal using the prawns I got out of the freezer the other day to make a special fried rice & also a chicken in black bean sauce (used up a packet sauce). Portion left for a snack/lunch, intended for DD but she just messaged to say she is working till 2am so perhaps not.

NSDs - there are 30 days in September so a minimum of 15 or 20 for a harder challenge. Usual exemptions for ys items, petrol and medical expenses. Still 5/15 as shopping today.

Spread some sunshine - be kind to others, help out friends, neighbours, colleagues and strangers. Share your tales of any random acts of kindness. Let person go in front of us at SM.

Healthy eating - up your fruit and veg intake, quit snacking between meals or choose healthier options. Started off well but didn't maintain the healthy eating.

Invest in yourself. Make sure you take the time to do things that you enjoy. Try something new that you've always wanted to do. Finished knitting gift for Christmas, has turned out well & was easy. May do another for friend. Did get outside, which is my pleasure but can't say cutting the grass is.

No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for. No takeaways today.

Try to find free activities to do. Will do.

Exercise - it won't be long before the darker nights start drawing in so make the most of it while you can. Get outdoors for walk/run/cycle even if only for 10 minutes. Outside this afternoon & brushed poorly dog as she is really moulting, still loads to go but hopefully will get it all out. Cut grass which is quite a workout, also took some more branches into rear garden ready for burning..
go Turtles!!

laurenh1

Good morning all

Set Budgets- Still have £60 int he bank, plus about £12 in my purse I forgot all about! Hurrah.
Use up- Still trying to get through the bread, and made a soup with bits in the bottom of the fridge.
NSD's- Today is number 5 , tomorrow will be a spend day as we need a few bits but hoping for 7 by the end of the week.
Spread some sunshine - gave someone a sock drier, I had 4 for some reason!
Healthy Eating - on it today
Invest in yourself- Yoga tonight, helps my back.
No take aways - none planned now for the rest of the month.
Excersize- gentle jog planned tonight.

greent

Was meant to be a spend day today - IKEA trip with DS1, but he awoke with a bad headache (day 2) so postponed. Should mean I manage a NSD! (will need fuel for my car when I go to collect DD from train station)

Set your budgets now. budgets are: (posted for accountability):
Food: 197.25/ £450
Back to uni: 30.88/ £90 (re DD)
New uni 79.82/200 (DS1)
Fuel (just me): £65
Clothing: 83.89/ £150 ( pair of school rugby shorts, 3 school shirts, 3 x jeans, socks (2 x pk of 3), 2 x pjs, 1 x camo trousers, 1 x top for me)
Toiletries: 6.8/ £10
Cleaning stuff: 0.39/ £10
DIY/ House; 35.04/£100
SOcial: 35.83/£150
Car: 220.07/ £650 - 2 x MOT + 2 x Winter service
need to pluck up courage to negotiate with V1rg1n re broadband/tv)
Use up- all foods from home. Yesterday I used some of my RM survey stamps on posting 2 things
NSDs - - will monitor - currently 2.
Spread some sunshine
[/COLOR]Healthy eating - up your fruit and veg intake, quit snacking between meals or choose healthier options. - veggies for lunch
Invest in yourself. - Given myself permission to take some 'time out' today after Ikea trip rearranged - am not sleeping well and very tired
No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for. Try to find free activities to do. - Have a social budget
Exercise [/COLOR] Nope

Grateful for:
- A dry day! - washing should be basically dry by later, may just need airing :T
- a flebay sale overnight = a small OP to mtge
- getting my cloud storage sorted (I think!)

Shrewbie

Hi everyone!

I would love to join if it's not too late! This challenge is just what I need.

Set budget - I have spent the last week living very frugally and planning because I am a freelance teacher who didn't work over the summer so my next pay will be October 17. Current budget is €60 only for food and €10 (I live in Spain) on travel for the rest of September. I will get a deposit refund during that time from leaving my current apartment so will readjust when that arrives.

Use up - leaving my current apartment so have been very MSE-like using up everything in the cupboards (including some wholemeal flour which made some healthy pizzas - bit of an oxymoron there I think as they didn't go down too well!)

NSDs - only 2 for Sept so far. Hoping to pull my finger out next week as I’ll be back to work, so no time to spend!
I'm going to go for 10 more.

Spread some sunshine, I helped a friend with her CV today

Healthy Eating - Not doing too badly, apart from a pack of cookies yesterday desperately needed as I had a bad day, I have been batch cooking Dahl, shakshuka (poached eggs in spicy sauce) and the pizzas. probably won’t recreate those in a hurry though! Have also stopped drinking in my usual quantities.

Invest in yourself - I have been making new friends in Spain by going to meet ups and language exchanges. I’ve been here a year and hadn’t managed to do this so far, so I feel really happy and motivated.

No spending on takeaways etc My downfall is takeaway pizza and indian food. I spent a shameful €100 (at least) on this last month. Time to stop. I haven’t had a takeaway this week and I intend to continue. Also haven’t been out for any drinks in the last week as I’m trying to have a “damp” September!

Exercise - I lost my transport card while abroad last month, so since I got back home i’ve been walking everywhere and it feels great. I live in a very walkable city so I’m grateful for that. If I need a metro ticket I’ve been using the loose change I find around the house to pay for those

Shrewbie

Coxy11

Hi all,

Welcome and good luck to Shrewbie

New job still slow but I got some good feedback today which made my day.

Set your budgets now - have decided to pay whole of B'card bill instead of incurring interest. Usually pay it all off but this month was looking tight. It's still looking tight but I'm going to risk it.
Use up - had hm SW lasagna from the freezer for lunch. Delicious.
NSDs - still on 3/15. Needed milk today.
Spread some sunshine - contacted my former Minister to say hello!
Healthy eating - Good lunch and plenty of fruit too. Have drunk 1.5 litres of water at work today too.
Invest in yourself - enjoying one of the 4 books I received for my birthday.
No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for - none.
Exercise - nailed my 10k steps as I got to the station tonight, then fitbit died on me! Never seems to last more than 5 days. Is this normal?!

Have a good evening all,
Coxy

f0xh0les

Set your budgets - still have £6.95 left til Friday

Use up - Puff pastry squares with the ends of pesto jar, a pepper, 4 spicy sausages, tomato puree end of a tube, bits of 'mousetrap' too small for a sandwich and turned them into pastry pizza things with wedges from sad, sad potatoes. Fridge much clearer now. Other fridge bottom veg turned into a stew for tomorrow - Xcountry starts back tomorrow so will be late home with the kids. Will make dumplings from pantry bits. 10 minute supper because I am prepared.
NSDs -5/20
Spread some sunshine- reported a nutter for dangerous driving. If they cause an accident then it will be easier to prove their negligence.

Healthy eating - too manic after dangerous driving incident to eat until suppertime.
Invest in yourself - finished another book, started another book - yay!
No spending on takeaways, - done
Exercise - not happened.