NST September: Sunshine Challenge

mothernerd

NSD is a NO Spend Day (aka SFD Spend Free Day). This is to stop all those 'just getting one or two things' shops where you come out having spent £20 - restricting how many times you go near the shops and sticking to buying only the things on your list helps reduce spending and encourages you to think of alternatives eg don't need to buy pasta to go with your meal if you could have rice from the cupboard instead.


I have had a spendy day but quite happy with it. Had to bite the bullet and go shoe shopping. Decided to go to our nearest big town rather than the city because they have the big stores I wanted to check out and a couple of 'good' shoe shops (ie Klarks rather than discount outlets) but in a much smaller area than the city. Partial success - I now have 3 pairs of pumps (gym shoes not kitten heels). One plain grey slip ons (to wear on the plane), one blue with daisies on them and one pair that actually match my dress but with a metallic finish.



One of the charity shops had something that would have been perfect but they were too small - pump shape but a proper shoe in a suede effect. Lots of bags in the charity shops but just too big for hand luggage. I did buy a handbag that's much more 'me' than the one I got in the cs last week. Basic black, 3 separate sections each of which zips up. Back section has an internal zipped pocket, front has two small pockets inside and there is a separate zipped compartment on the front.


Bought a flower to clip in my hair at one cs (not me but a bit better than a fascinator) but later saw a different decoration in Debnums and paid for it with my birthday gift voucher. Shape is a bit like the eyes on a peacock's tail, it's a bit glittery but it's sort of black on black so no-one can say I'm not trying but it's not too showy.


Talked to one of the make up ladies but did not lash out £30 on foundation (rarely wear any make-up and end up giving it away). She took pity on me and gave me a tiny bottle which has 7 days supply in it.



Doesn't sound like much but I was tired and hurting to start with and I went round several floors looking at clothes in the sale (had a short list in my head of things I saw whilst looking for the wedding/ holidays but wanted to see the quality before I bought.


Ate whilst I was out - sorry but for the next few days everything is time v money and I'll have to live with it. Later on I was searching for a bench with room to sit down - they have ripped up several of the outside ones and inside there are more juice bars etc and less seats. Collapsed onto one and swapped glasses to read the price list on the 'no waiting' beauty bar. Approached the assistant before I lost my nerve and have had my eyebrows and moustache threaded.



Finally went to MnS and bought lots of salad stuff (a few ys bargains) then trudged slowly back across town to the new bus interchange.


So glad to be home.


Today I am grateful for the things I found - not perfect but in a far better position than this morning, for the lovely veg I have been eating and for tackling some 'girly stuff'.

lcc86

Time for the first check in of the month:

Set your budgets now - budget for the month was set on payday, looks okay this month. All deals are as good as they can be. Sent an extra £10 to the gas/electricity bill as I've been off sick for 3 weeks and have used far more than we would normally.
Use up - need to be better at this. We've had some fish in the freezer for about a year that keeps getting overlooked I'm vegetarian so I don't want to touch it but must try and either use it up for OH or admit defeat and get rid.
NSDs - going for 19. Not sure why, it's the number I went for and achieved last month so figured I'd try the same again! :rotfl:
Spread some sunshine - will try as much as possible!
Healthy eating - I've found I've been eating more healthily and snacking less since I've been off sick. Will try and keep this up on my return to work.
Invest in yourself - I won't be trying anything new but now that I'm a bit more mobile I want to get back horse riding (slowly!).
No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for - may have failed on this one already! Got an unexpected ticket to a football match today so we bought lunch out before the game. Wasn't budgeted for but it's a very rare treat and I rarely go out to things like that. I've also got an evening out planned for 21st, and I'll need to pick up a takeaway on Thursday evening as I have to rush straight from work to a trustee meeting and don't have time to come home in between. Other than that I'll be good I promise!
Exercise - atm just rehabbing my injury so a 15/20 minute walk each day is my goal but better than nothing! Tomorrow I'm going to attempt a very lazy horse ride as I have an event coming up on holiday at the start of October so need to be back in the saddle by then. Eek.

candyflosscloud NSD means a no spend day, where you don't spend on anything other than say direct debits, essential or maybe reduced food, petrol, health items etc (everyone's rules for this are generally slightly different). Also and more importantly, happy birthday!! :bdaycake:

swimminginaseaofdebt

Evening everyone,

Goals for the month and progress as follows:

• Set your budgets now - budget set at £400 - £14.30 spent so far
• Use up - will do - used up a face mask and a kindle book
• NSDs - will go for 15
• Spread some sunshine - will try
• Healthy eating - will try to eat more fruit and veg
• Invest in yourself - will do - read a book today and pampered myself with a face mask
• No spending on takeaways - have two meals out planned and might take the little one on a couple of days out that could involve purchasing edibles (I always take a picnic but he prefers to eat out, what a diva :rotfl:)
• Exercise - will do weather permitting - took a walk today from the centre of town to the west end then wandered around the art gallery for a few hours (a.k.a. ran after my 2 year old for 2 hours!)

laurenh1

Hi all


I did a really long post but it was gobbled by technology. boo hiss. So a quick update it will have to be.



Budgets set. £177 , breaking it down into £50 per week. I have £27 left this week now after aldi. £250 in savings plus £100 in cash hidden from myself:)


One week til my Great North Run , after which I'll be going back to the diet (my runs were too long to be on diet meals I was running out of energy) .


Aiming for 15NSDs , need to improve on these.



Better post tomorrow have a good evening all x

gien

Hello, can I join you again this month - I went kind of AWOL last time I joined up after completing one month. Not anything bad but just so busy in real life and then school hoiidays arrived and....well, you know the rest.

Septemebris quite a calm month. My 2 older children go back off to uni/new job, so by next weekend the house will be much emptier. We are still support DS2 through his studies and we don't have a huge income as my DH is working one y intermittently. so, battening down the hatches.

Set your budgets now. all monthly budgets set but this week i need to change energy suppliers, look for a new mobile phone deal readjust food budgets because of 2 less mouths to feed
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. the freezer needs to be defrosted b the end of the week.
NSDs - there are 30 days in September so a minimum of 15 or 20 for a harder challenge. I'll go for 15 please
Spread some sunshine - I always try to find the joy in life - luckily my work lets me find lots of ways to be kind.
Healthy eating - up your fruit and veg intake, quit snacking between meals or choose healthier options. YES< YES, I need to lose a few summer kilos too before the winter ones arrive
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 - will have to decide what t hat is
No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for. Try to find free activities to do - YEs, this should be quite easy
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. I might do a lunchtime walk form work

sashanut

Hi all:j

Just a quick check in as had a very long day with 2 difficult train journeys, luckily they were not on strike on our service, but other people got on to our train trying to get to their destination, making for a lot of overcrowding..

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? Will be setting budget tomorrow as out all day today. Changed energy supplier yesterday, need to pay current supplier - and the one before that, who went bust. Have now had the final bill through, so need to get up to date.

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. Definitely on board with this one, have new freezer to assist in process of emptying other one..plus preserving all the soft fruit we have that is ripe. Have many toiletries but will need toothpaste/talc I think.

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. 15 please but will hope to do nearer 20. Not a NSD today though!
Spread some sunshine - be kind to others, help out friends, neighbours, colleagues and strangers. Share your tales of any random acts of kindness. Will do.
Healthy eating - up your fruit and veg intake, quit snacking between meals or choose healthier options. Also need to do this, have been trying on clothes in changing rooms today where they have 360 deg mirrors. :eek: Not a pretty sight tbh. Tend to snack late at night - now - when on computer. Must make sure snack is healthy, as I won't go back downstairs it comes down to what I bring up with me - not chocolate!!

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. Will definitely make time for things I enjoy as it is good for my MH. Have to think of something new if I can..

No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for. Did have a hot up meal tonight as too shattered to cook. Bad planning tbh. In my defence it was YSd from MnS & very cheap. 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. No bother with this one - the garden needs LOTS of attention..

go Turtles!!

thriftylass

Good morning turtles.

Off to a good start this morning. As we spend most of yesterday outside the house I'll put my food down and stay in to get stuff done.

Also found this app where you can track your habits and how strong they have become as it apparently takes 21 days to form a new one. I've been tracking my healthy eating, drinking, gym, me time etc.

Have a good day and see you later

dolly84

thriftylass wrote: »

Went past a farm shop and they had rabbits in. Bought 2 and got on free because it was bruised.

I read this twice before I realised you were going to eat the rabbits.


coxy - great news about the job. I have an interview Tuesday for a part time temping role but it is quite a long way from home and in the opposite direction to the kids school.

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all :coffee:
Decided to go to my school reunion last night after all, so I didn't get a nsd. I have both kids and my best friend with September birthdays so a couple of bigger spends coming up. But the budget is tight.
I had such a busy day yesterday (I was literally on the go from 10am until midnight) that I didn't have time for my grocery shop. I have inventoried the freezer, but will need a couple of essentials, which I'll get while I'm out tutoring today.
Struggling to get going this morning for some reason - can't wake myself up properly...

f0xh0les

bizzie wrote: »

Foxholes have you a link to your lentil/hotdog stew and biryani ?

https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/sweet_onions_with_lentil_01078
is a good base to start with for quantities - I ignore the whole sweet onion nonsense and add veggie hotdogs instead of pancetta - that is the first meal, then whatever is left over gets a mug or two of water added and blitzed for soup for a few days for my lunches.
As for the biryani - the eat well for less recipe is actually one of the best ones. I roughly double the quantity of spices as my boys like it like that

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/eat-well-for-less-chicken-biryani
I subsitute Linda McC frozen Shredded hoi-sin duck for the chicken, but it is a really nice easy recipe and 5mins frying and 20 mins steaming it is really quick and easy. I have flaked almonds and a massive sack of onions in the pantry, so I serve with toasted almonds and crispy onion rings on top.