NST Penny Pinching GoSober Stoptober

Chandelier.

I am here, reporting back for duty ..

Today has been a bit of a weird one. I had a counselling appointment this morning through occupational health, which went well. I am supposed to have only received four sessions but the lovely lady has booked me in for a fifth. I think they have wiggle room to push it to six, so I only can see. I think it is doing me some good as I am able to get things off my chest and I gain a different perspective on things in life and also confirm what I already know through talking to her.

I then had a meeting with my CPN which was a mixed bag of emotions. I am currently fluctuating through moods at the moment so it is hard to pinpoint how I am actually feeling. With all recent events and upcoming ones, it has been hard to settle back into a routine. Hopefully after my sisters wedding this weekend, things should calm down and I will be able to plan my time better and get more things done. I want to allocate some more me time somewhere and start going back to the gym and eating healthily again.

Routine and structure is really important to me, mostly for my mental health. I have bipolar disorder and ADHD, so life is colourful at times. I am still learning to manage this and I am under a care team who are wonderful and supportive but there are gaps in care. I am due to see my consultant in two weeks so I will see where we go from there.

I try to plan my days in advance and do all the important things within a set time frame so I have more time for myself. I have two set days at work which makes things a lot easier now and one other shift which I can work around. The set days are proving to be effective and much better for me as I can organise childcare as appropriate. It also means I am only working three days a week, leaving me four days off to do other things. I am more happy and settled at work now after having a period of sickness off. We have also discussed plans in order to move forwards in terms of personal development. I am undertaking a mentoring course so I can have my own students and I will also be specialising in certain areas which will be good for me and broaden my knowledge. I was getting quite bored with the mundane routine at work but I have these challenges to look forward to now. I enjoy a challenge and I know I am good at my job. It is not going to be a forever job and I will fly the nest from there at some point.. for now its a stop gap.

Anyway, enough rambling! Here is a quick glance from my day.

Organise: I have had a quick glance into our cupboards/fridge and have organised it better so I can now see what we have. I am not doing a big shop this week as we are away at the weekend so I have wrote up a list of what we need which will mainly be essentials. The food shop is the first thing on my list to do tomorrow morning after dropping the boy off at school.

Regular budget: I have checked my online banking and all is up to date. I might do a quick review/move around of funds tomorrow. As mentioned, all debt/saving payments are up to date, I just have some leftover money in a seperate account which I use for anything else that hasn't been budgeted for. I applied for another bank account the other month but have yet to set it up properly to take full advantage of what it offers. I will add it to my to do list and hopefully tackle this next week.

No Spend Days: As mentioned previously, I am aiming for 15 NSDs this month. Today has been a NSD meaning I have accumulated 4/15 NSDs so far.

Improvise: In regards to improvising this is mostly aimed towards days out over the next few weeks and for half term. I only have to worry about childcare for one day so will organise this as soon as possible and plan my days around this.

Exercise: I didn't get to the gym today and doubt I will this week. I am planning on getting back into this starting from next week, once things have calmed down.

Christmas: This is another thing I am going to start preparing for after next week. I have decided that for the boys side of family (his dad/grandparents etc), I will get them either a photo printed of him or put together a collection of photos or something along those lines. I am undecided yet on what to do but I have set a budget for each of them. The costs will most likely be for a nice picture frame and the cost of printing.

Banned Items: I have had quite a poor day diet wise and found myself binge eating through boredom. I have decided that I am no longer buying too many snacks as I just eat them myself instead of preparing a proper meal. I will only buy what is needed for the week ahead, mostly for the boys packed lunch. I need to also start taking food to work with me- I tend to not eat throughout the day and eat/snack when I get home. I need to get out of this as it is no good for my health.

Extra Income/Extra time: I am just going to count extra income as funds that I have not used.This includes those times where I think about buying a coffee whilst out but decide not to- I will transfer the money into a seperate account. At the end of each month I will just bank what I have saved through not spending.

So that is pretty much it. I will try to post where possible and will be keeping track of my NSDs. The next few days will fly by so I am just going to enjoy myself as much as possible.

Goodnight fellow MSEs.

Saving_Glut

Challenge: I aim to lose 3lbs this month. It will be good to be accountable here! [I]Was very good until 8pm! but at least there are no more crisps left in the house! Drank 2L of water.[/I]

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: 8/15

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. Inspired by this challenge, I walked 20 minutes in the warm sunshine.

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? Completed three YouGuv polls.[/I]

mothernerd

Well I flunked the 7 day no spending challenge and broke the healthy eating rules. The cough is back, the chest wheeze is back, the severe dizzness is back, my ankles and various other bits hurt. Confined to bed for most of the day as even getting to the bathroom meant holding on to various bits of furniture.


Not going to the doctor as although the antibiotics cleared my chest infection it's only really given me a week's relief. Had to ask DS3 to take some things in for the craft session and gave him money to buy sandwiches, pasties and a can of coke for me to eat. Later on I gave him the change and sent him for large bottle of diet cloke and choc biscuits.


Have read a lot, done some tidying (went back to the bed as soon as I could feel myself swaying - must avoid falling and really damaging myself), plotting a lot more.


Have been signed up to house sit for Ds2 on Friday (re-arranged freezer delivery) before going to mum's.


Baby brother visited, years since he has been here. He has just got a laptop and the child controls keep turning themselves on - Ds3 had already sorted it before he told me his uncle was here and apparently he has been back since. Lovely dog came with him and ate all the packet of ood ham (I gave it to him, he doesn't steal food, just looks hopeful and investigates to see where you might have food).


Feel okay apart from being totally useless. Planning, plodding and pacing myself but also get so frustrated. Sleep has done me good, hoping for more progress tomorrow - might even get as far as the end of the backs to bring the bin back.


Today I am grateful for help from DS3 when needed, a visit from baby brother and sleep.

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..Snacks all OK today, mainly fruit/yog with just a couple of those tasty low fat ginger biscs..

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.. Spending freeze today.

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. Made some felafels from store cupboard, all eaten for lunch with other items we had in. Supper was meant to be campfire stew but DF came round & stayed late, so it was a pasta dish with chicken for speed..aforesaid stew will be on the menu 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? No purchases today.

No Spend Days. Aim for 20 (high target) or 15 (low). Am aiming for 15 but hoping for more. Now 6/15.


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. Creative mind on supper today as not much time.

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. No time outside today although another warm & sunny day. Visit from friend this afternoon, she stayed a long while, was able to give her a camel coat of mine, I have so much stuff that I will not miss it & she was so pleased.

Christmas Sneakily got friend to look at wool purchases today (not that she is a knitter) & she was very complimentary about the beautiful colour & softness of the skein of wool I showed her. Good job as I intend to make something for her with it - now it has her seal of approval..

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 survey for me to do. Not much extra time either, nor will be tomorrow as another friend coming round.

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


Go turtles !!

laurenh1

Good morning Turtles

Organise- Last night I looked at our budgets until the end of the year, planned for our final few xmas bits, MOT. car insurance (which I will pay annually).
Regular Budget - I have £101 in the pot to last me 2 weeks, now I know what you're thinking, I had £150 yesterday but I have moved £50 into savings, I might add it to the money I am taking away next week and treat us all with it. :T having extra money (albeit a small amount) is just through watching my NSDs and only spending on essential items.
NSDS- today is number 9 :T
Improvise- not sure if this really counts as improvising but I have been eyeing up nice coats for a while and I was trying to get one without spending a fortune and yesterday I remembered my good friend can get good discounts at a store I saw a coat in. I haven't got it yet but that will be £30 instead of £75. yay.
Christmas- emailed my brother and told him the book he wants is £30 brand new or £5 nearly new, he is happy with the nearly new one
Banned- no take aways - nope
Extra income- my swimming lessons were cheaper than expected as it is a shorter term AND hub spent less filling his car up than he thought he would, I have rolled all this over to the fuel budget for next month, same with the excess money for swimming. We don't need it this month.
Report in- here

f0xh0les

Today is NSD9
Physio for DS2 cancelled while I was taking other 3 to school, had to race back and grab and take him in too.
Rescheduled for today. Going to try and wangle free parking in Mr M's carpark and run up the road to hospital instead. It looks really close - been here 3 yrs and never been near a hospital! Only just realised they have an A&E. Let's keep it that way.

All food from stores (chili, wraps, salad, hummus, rice etc) lunchbox tat ready for tomorrow.

Just getting on with stuff today. Little annoying jobs, putting on new loo seats and spin closures on airing cupboard door. Cleaning and tidying and hoovering.

Ran this morning (only 1km but it is still a start)

f0xh0les

Ooops, take my NSD back. Vegan magnums (Classic and Almond flavours) are half price - £2 for 3, and T0sc0 have a £1 off voucher in the front of their magazine. So 3 for £1. instead of 3 for £3.98. I may have bought a few........

I am on NSD 8 apart from that

Kerry_Woman

Challenge – Do more self-care. Still doing my 365 days of self care journal and 365 tiny love challenges. Having a rather chilled out day.
Organise. This I must to. Used what I had in. Still on track with using things already in.
No Spend Days NSD achieved today. 10/20.
Exercise Walked my usual lap around the park.
Christmas This is already sorted. Have put money into a savings account each month for the year. Immediate family all get money. Christmas will be a difficult time for me so I will concentrate on self-care. Will decide after 2nd December - my Mum's first anniversary of her death.
Banned - Was alright today.
Extra Income Did one survey today.
Report - Reporting in.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening everyone :hello:
Lots of love to you mothernerd - hope that you're feeling better soon.
I've had a better day today than I have all week. Managed a lunch break and left work by 4. Still have loads to do but I really needed to have a bit of a rest.
This is my day 7 of not spending. I did my shopping last Friday and have managed a spend free week. I'm going to shop again tomorrow so I know it hasn't been the strict same 7 days but it's good enough for me

Shrewbie

wow crazy cat that's amazing
This should have been my NSD no 7 but boyf has just messaged asking me to pick up bog roll on the way over to his, well you can't get more essential than that to break the spending freeze :rotfl: if he reimburses me, I'll still count it as an NSD.
More of a challenge will be not drinking tonight as it's a bank holiday here :beer: I am going to resist!! have a great evening turtles