NST Penny Pinching GoSober Stoptober

lcc86

Evening all,

Back from Iceland yesterday but too tired to post. Managed a NSD while I was out there which is a result :rotfl: had a good time, although it was blooming freezing! Only spent £70 in total (the benefits of self-catering!), although most stuff was pre-booked which helped. My food options weren't the healthiest though I must say, need to get back on the bandwagon now. I got OH a watch on the plane home for his birthday, it was £70 cheaper than the shops plus an extra 20% off so I figured it was a bargain. I just hope he likes it!

Work wise everything remains quiet. My DBS check for my new job and my references are done but the lady sorting out my recruitment is on leave so I can't arrange my start date until she gets back, which is frustrating.

iwanttobefree sorry to hear about your situation, I second all the advice you've already been given. It can be so hard when a close family member acts in such a way. I have a similar relationship with my mum sometimes where she can be incredibly hurtful, it's not nice to deal with. All the best.

thriftylass

Sorry for abandoning you just now. Holiday child care and internet issues. Will catch up and respond properly on Thursday when back at work.

Keep up the good work

WelshKitty85

NSD5 and still no takeaway . Heard somebody mention there was cake in the work kitchen but resisted temptation and didn't even look to see what was there :j.

mothernerd

Day 3 of no spending ticked off. Bought stuff for mum (bread, milk, spread for baking, 2 new baby cards and 20 for £1 birthday cards - from the w*rks if anyone needs any). Called into the washer shop about the machine (think it's fairly simple to fix). If we phone with the invoice number, they will come to fix it next day - going to pass that onto DS£ and Beloved (he's also agreed to haggle over the internet but needs details).


So took 2 bags of their washing to mum's, first lot nearly dry from hanging in the yard. Mum was struggling with the jigsaw puzzle (on Friday it was 'lovely', today it's 'horrible') so did some of that and read in between laundering and putting food together - only soup, sandwiches and toast.


Still feeling wiped out - this morning I was falling asleep in between the balls dropping on my computer game.


Today I am grateful for being able to walk as far as little Arseda (and the library) and then to this end of town (sitting down frequently), for getting the bins put out (mum asked me to cut back some rose stems and then to pull out a weed and I had to walk back along the fence to the clothes post and then get hold of her walker after bending down) and for lovely weather.

sashanut

Hi all :j


Challenge: Oops forgot this one yesterday! Don't smoke & rarely drink either, so it has to be giving up unhealthy snacks..Ok on the snack front today, but did have some Bakewell tart with GBBO. Appropriate as I shall be going to Bakewell this weekend (hopefully).

No Spend Challenge: Do like the sound of this but do my shopping on Tuesday, I could prep by shopping at the weekend but hate going then & never do if humanly possible to avoid....hmm will have to ponder. Will make an exception for Tuesday & try for a 6 day week..Exception day today with food shopping & dog girly to vets. He has signed her off the antibiotics so now we have to see if she keeps well.

[/COLOR]Organise. Start as you mean to go on. Know the contents of your fridge, freezer and cupboards. Plan your meals around them. Cook from scratch. Don't buy anything you can make unless cost /time taken dictates otherwise. If you are new to turtle challenges or still have full cupboards you could try living from the cupboards. Lunch from stores & HM burgers for supper. Didn't have ham so will make campfire stew with it tomorrow.

Regular budget items should be set by 1st October. If you don't know how much you are spending on food or petrol, now is the time to find out. Question every purchase - need or want? Purchases were food & a few bits stocking up as roads were closed all over the place coming back from the vets so a quick trip to HB in order.

No Spend Days. Aim for 20 (high target) or 15 (low). Am aiming for 15 but hoping for more. Still 5/15.


Improvise. Make do and mend with a creative twist. think of a substitute ingredient, how to make an old/broken piece of furniture last a little longer. Nothing today.

Exercise Four times a week at least (20 minutes minimum but can be done 10 minutes at a time). Get outside in daylight as often as possible. Lovely day again but no outside work done as CS work in the morning then vets in the afternoon. However, the painting done so far looks great, much better. Onwards & upwards..

Christmas Nothing today

Banned Will only be chippys normally with the odd takeaway planned for a celebration etc. No takeaways today.

Extra Income and Extra time No extra income but bargain books from CS. Not much time either.

Report in, daily if possible I'm here..


Go turtles !!

Saving_Glut

Yesterday’s updates in this font!

Challenge: I aim to lose 3lbs this month. It will be good to be accountable here! Didn’t have any sweet treats for the first time in a long time! Drank 2L of water.

Organise: Will take stock take of food in cupboards, fridge and freezer. This should help with my MFW challenge too. No progress yet.

Budget Items: I do know my expenditure for October, but do need to figure out those regular annual costs and fees which like to surprise me every year! No progress yet.

No Spend Days: I think I have had 6 so far this month if not, it must be close. 7/15.

Improvise: Would like to investigate I can blacken my faded in places, black suede ankle boots and make them last until spring. Discovered suede spray is available which is not expensive. Result!

Exercise: Aim to complete 5 cycling sportives in October, four of which must be free (won two in a competition) and one of which must be self-guided and in a new location. Have completed one - four to go.

Don't Be A Martyr For Christmas: Booked to celebrate Christmas at Mum’s the weekend before Christmas, savings on flights etc came to approximately £700! Have prepared list of Christmas gifts, will aim to purchase them this month.

Extra Income: Aim to advertise all saleable items this month. This will have the added benefit of decluttering? Yeh! Sold two items on FB today for £9. Total sales for Oct: £55.15.

Report Daily: Here I am!

Saving_Glut

greent wrote: »

I Want to be Free - massive hugs your way - and I echo the above advice about your mum having some legal advice about assets. Like mothernerd said, may 2019 be your year xx

Saving Glut - welcome!

Thank you greent! :beer:

f0xh0les

Yesterday was NSD7 and apart from hospital parking today will be NSD8 although DS3 will try and wrangle either lunch or cake while we are out. The answer is no! If he has a problem with that I shall send him round to thriftylass's and she can sort him out.:rotfl:

Massive amounts of cleaning and moving stuff going on in preparation for......

Guests Arrival -4

House already looking shiny and clean in parts, just need to bridge the gaps between 'the parts'.

All food from stores, stores still contain food.

GlendaSugarbean

6/15 NSDs so far

In MSE news, finally had a payout from pet insurance - they've also paid out on an old claim that's 80 quid :money:. EF has been replenished and topped up and most of the rest to savings pots. It's against a £120 vet bill but still! A little went to the grocery budget to cover extra birthday spends .

Have also submitted a delay repay claim for my cancelled train yesterday, only a half hour delay but that's a fiver so worth putting in a claim.

Nothing in the pots yet for Xmas so that's a job for next month.

9 days until payday (but it's then a five week month). Still have money in the grocery and fun money pots, need to keep focused...

laurenh1

Hi All -

Organise- written my shopping list for my next shop and a list of things I am taking camping next weekend.
Budget- I still have £121 pounds left and about 6 quid in my purse. waiting on £36 to be refunded from Gas & Electric (so I will take this as extra income) . Meaning there is about £150 left in the spend pot for the next two weeks, plus £100 for our camping trip. :T
NSD- today is 8. I thought I was going to have to fail at the challenge as the boy is in the local paper today (he was photographed while out with nursery) and of course, I couldn't not get a copy (somethings are priceless) however nursery gave me a copy of the pic and my hub said he will pay for another copy of the paper with his own personal spends ( he has very small personal spends every month from our joint budget and I only count it when I hand it over to him)
Extar Income- Gas and electric refund and free choc bars from WW last night. yay.
Exercise- going running tonight

Grateful for - the beautiful pics of my boy, my eldest calling our little one "babe" not sure where he has picked it up from but it is ADORABLE & for hub tidying up last night before I got home