NST September: Sunshine Challenge

Dottydaisy

Please can I be numbered this month. It is going to be an expensive one. Two birthdays plus mine. Car MOT and service. Pay garden guys who have transformed my garden at low cost.
Need to plan food menus. Have received my 7lbs certificate at SW. So I am officially certified!. Clearing of clutter has begun. Will come back to analyse Sunshine for me xx

Coxy11

Hello all - happy September! No. 5 checking in

Eventful 24 hours - was successful in getting a new job, temping for minimum 3 months starting on 10th (which also happens to be my birthday, bit of a bummer but I have had 6 weeks off). Had to take DDs friend to urgent care at 3.30am - on a sleepover at ours and she tripped in the bathroom, dropped a glass and fell on it - 7 stitches in her knee and plenty of entinox.

In regards to the challenge:

Set your budgets now - done although my pay will be weekly in arrears so depending on what I receive on 21 and 28 Sept will affect what I pay to credit card. We normally pay it off in full but may have to leave a balance this month, or wipe out our savings... I do need to sort out my phone contract - I'm out of contract and will look for a better deal.

Use up - have meal planned for the week and not much to buy. DH and two DS's received smellies for Christmas, so we are in the process of using those up.

NSDs - Will go for 15. Today I need to buy a birthday card and wrapping paper. NSDs will be easier once I'm back at work.

Spread some sunshine - I think being Florence Nightingale last night could fall into this category.

Healthy eating - following SW so I'm already eating plenty of fruit and veg. Need to stop the TV munchies post-9pm.

Invest in yourself - need to think of something for this.

No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for - detest spending on takeaways and coffees! Will be trying some SW fakeaway recipes instead.

Exercise - will be trying for 10k steps everyday. Nearly always manage this but will try for everyday.

Good luck all,
Coxy

bizzie

First monthly update:

Set budgets – I will have the skeleton in place later today and will flesh it out on Monday once the DDs and SOs have gone from account.

Use up – I still have a cupboard heaving under tins and packets but have made room in the fridge and freezer. Foxholes have you a link to your lentil/hotdog stew and biryani recipes?

NSDs - aiming for 15 this month as still have back-to-school/off-to-uni purchases to complete.

Spread some sunshine – already booked in to feed neighbour’s cat when they have a weekend away later this month. Have agreed to cover some shifts at work to help colleague out.

Healthy eating – focus on overhauling my diet, and sleep pattern, to improve overall health.

Invest in yourself – start doing something I enjoy / want to do rather than fitting in with the rest of the household. Have a few ideas will see how many I get to do / start this month.

No spending on takeaways or drinks out – will be meeting up with an ex colleague this month, who I’ve not seen for years, so have budgeted for this.

Exercise – will aim to get outside for at least 10 minutes a day even if only to walk around the block or tidy the garden.

apple_muncher

Congratulations on getting the job Coxy! And yikes to your A&E visit. hope she recovers quickly.

bizzie

Coxy11 congratulations on the job front and hope the next 24 hours at home is less eventful and your DD's friend recovers quickly.

Kerry_Woman

Coxy11 - Great news about your job. Hope your DD's friend recovers soon.
Set your budgets now. Have done this. Also donated to two charities today.
Use up. Will be doing this. Did a big food shop today. Only need to do top ups if and when. Had to get hairspray today. No need to buy any other toiletries for the rest of the month.
NSDs – Planning for 20 this month.
Spread some sunshine – Will be doing this.
Healthy eating – Need to be more mindful with what I am eating. Did buy some treats today.
Invest in yourself. Will be doing this.
No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for. Try to find free activities to do. Will try and not spend on takeaways and will look for free activities to do either local or in London.
Exercise – Will be planning to do this each day. Today I had to do various things which included walking and taking shopping trolley on and off bus. Going to be doing some charity walks and a walk for nature this month.

thriftylass

coxy, great news about the job.

Started the month with a spend day. Took the kids swimming. Went past a farm shop and they had rabbits in. Bought 2 and got on free because it was bruised. Also went to a local food festival and bought some treats there. Might need to spend again tomorrow as we didn't have time to go shopping for a bin and some other bits.

From Monday I should get at least 4 in a row if I remember to bug milk tomorrow.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dd having a great playdate, for my kb workout, for having mastered the snatch, for a good chat with a friend (his daughter has had a lucky escape, finding out the truth of her ex-fiance's plans for their married life), for lidl shopping, for a money talk with dh, for dd eating well, for the sunshine, for a successful first attempt at keto 'bread'.

Toni'sfriend

Congratulations. Coxy

F0xh0les - I have lots of jars of chutney as well and I mean lots. This is due to Himself's former obsession with buying jars. I've weaned him off it now but if you have any suggestions for using it up they will be most gratefully received.

I changed my gas and electricity to a better deal a short while ago and Virgin gave me £25,00 a month off my package when I complained about the change in channels a couple of weeks ago. We haven't been using our full food budget because I'm trying to use up what we have and buying YS as far as possible so that might be something to look at.

We had to post a letter which needed to be weighed today. The nearest Post Office is now a three mile round trip away so that's my walk for today. Bought some died herbs in Tesco that I can't get in Aldi or Lidl. Also bought some fruit and veg in Aldi. Lunch and dinner have come from the freezer and store cupboards.

I am having one problem after another with things technical. Broadband running slow (think the Boy's fixed that one) now the mouse isn't working. Lightbulbs have decided to give up the ghost one after another. I think they should really last longer but Himself has lights on constantly (terrible eyesight) so maybe not.

Off to bed shortly with a cup of tea and my book. Have a nice evening.

candyflosscloud

Can anyone explain to me what NSD is please?

Also eating more fruit and veg as starting yesterday at keast one protion with every meal however as its my birthday today have drcided to ignore that rule untik tomorrow ha ha.

Have made sure we are all on the correct and cheapest deaks for us and until November we are.

Have paid the Very account need to pay rent and am unsure if I pag the fridge freezer early if it will still come out at the end of the month??