NST Penny Pinching GoSober Stoptober

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. Not so good today, meal out with friend at lunchtime & pudding tonight...

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 was eaten out (planned birthday treat for friend who's been very ill), supper was sausages & mash with veg, followed by HM gingerbread (and custard) yikes. No wonder I am gaining a pound a week instead of losing it..

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? A few purchases as a spend day. Groceries in the co-op, few eBay bits for house maintenance.

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


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. Handyman came round to see if he could fix fence - good news is it is the posts that have gone & he can reuse the panels as they are OK.

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. Only outside for a bit walking to caf! from car park then back. Also walked round the garden with handyman..

Christmas More knitting

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


Extra Income and Extra time Not found doll clothes yet, but did find some teddy bear bedding sets stashed last year, so no need to buy any more new ones.


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


Go turtles !!

laurenh1

Good morning turtles:)


Organise- today's main task is to get on top of washing!
Regular budget-not a penny left :eek:but budgets set for November & December. Also cancelled my Weight Watchers membership, so I'm £21 a month better off as they cancelled my meeting I ended up buying a load of reduced price stuff from there last night as I am going to start doing it myself. I have the LOs party etc coming up & guests this weekend but starting Monday I want to keep a food plan & run again.
NSDs- 16 due to the reduced price WW product's yesterday which could sort of by YS items but Im not sure.



Might pay another 100 off the car this month if all goes well. Need to pay 400 a month off come new year so anything I can do sooner will help the pressure next year! :money:


Grateful for-- little one now being fully potty trained at night:T Saves on pull ups at night too & littlest one starting to train, he is really getting it much easier than my 3 year old ever did. For free cake & for my lovely husband who willingly accepts that we never have any spare cash or anything not budgeted for as it all goes into savings for our home or off the car

f0xh0les

Morning All!

Yesterday was spendy as DS1 outgrew his blazer over half term, S&M gave me a free candle as a bribe too. So picked both of those up - it was £1 parking instead of paying £3.50 delivery.

As it was a spend day, did the rest of the grocery shopping and have made a huge hole in the laundry mountain.

Today should be a NSD, DH is AWOL tonight with a works thing so I am alone after the afterschool club pick up - suggested to DS1 he catch a bus home now he is 16 rather than me picking him up, he looked horrified and said 'but there won't be any conversation!' - I think I need to cut that particular cord. Lazy swine.

Chandelier.

Morning,

As stated, yesterday was a spend day. I ended up nipping to the supermarket to buy some windscreen wash and a couple of other things. I think I ended up paying more for ready to use screen wash as I was in such a mad dash and it was desperately needed. I have only put half of it in so will top up with water to dilute it down. I will keep what is leftover in the boot for when it is next needed.

I think I am going to put together a small winter car kit with things such as de-icer and what not, now the cold weather is coming. I like to be prepared! I get very impatient, waiting for the car to defrost on its own.

I have also decided that tomorrow, I am going to take my car to the car wash and get it hoovered out. Technically I know I could do it at home myself but for now, I haven't the energy to. It will only cost £12 for a mini valet. I will clean the interior properly myself.

I emptied all the rubbish from my car this morning. I just have a few bits left in the boot which I need to find a home for. On emptying my boot, I found my trainers which I thought I had lost as I couldn't find them, so that is a relief and one less expense for me to buy when I return to the gym again.

I have put a wash load on this morning, to keep on top of everything. I need to go through our coats/jackets and get rid of ones that aren't needed or worn anymore. They can go to charity. I have three coats that I wear and rotate every so often, so I don't need to buy a new one this year.

Today I am working so it should be a NSD, bringing my total to 10/15 NSDs. I really don't think I will hit target by the end of the month but even if I reach 12, I will be happy with that. It will be easier with a fresh start at the beginning of next month. It doesn't help that it is half term next week for us.

I need to write down all my work shifts and upcoming appointments etc on a calender so it is easy for us all to see what is going on. I was tempted to buy a new calender the other day for next year, but I will hold off for a while.

I need to request some days off from work for the upcoming months, I will write a letter to my manager and post it under her door. I won't get to see her this week.

The boy enjoyed his extra curricular activity last night. It is a football skills club. He doesn't currently play for a team but enjoys participating. I wasn't sure about it at first but he seems keen to want to carry it on so I will find room in the budget to cover that. The boy is so busy just lately and has something going on every night, sometimes I can't keep up.

My life is settling down now my set shifts are in place. I know where I am each week and can plan things around this. I am still feeling a little low but I am trying to drag myself out of the dark place. I can't go through anymore medication changes- I am due to see my consultant tomorrow so I will discuss with him how I am feeling and what is going on. I am not quite sure what I need at the moment in relation to this, maybe just time.

Posting on here gives me something to do each day and I feel accountable for my actions. At least I have full control over my finances and can do as I please. My debt shall be increasing at the beginning of next month so once I know final figures, I can then create a plan of how I will tackle it. At least then I shall get some peace of mind. I will most likely set up a direct debit and overpay where I can.

lcc86

Forgot to post last night, had a manic day at work at court, had a boy sent to custody which was not unexpected at all but still sad.

Went to a gym class last night which was tough but fun. Absolutely knackered afterwards. I paid for parking and lunch but it was all work expenses so I can claim back so I'm claiming a NSD :rotfl:

Today isn't a NSD, had to buy some meds at the vet and needed a new bottle for my water/breakfast shakes as I've lost two in the last fortnight! Also going to get some bananas at lunchtime.

dolly84

ccl - what a pain about your freezer, the last thing you needed.


lauren - my hubbie is the same, he works very hard and never complains.


foxholes - at least your son wants to chat with you.


Having a very hectic day today running other people about all over. Kids finish school tomorrow so I have taken Friday off as holiday plus my normal wed/thurs off, I can't wait for Friday morning.

apple_muncher

Chandelier - do you think that the shorter days have an impact on you?

crazy_cat_lady

Hey! :hello:
I'm shattered today - mildly hungover unfortunately. But as I never go out I won't be too hard on myself. Went out last night with a couple of friends from work - just locally, and even though I only had 4 drinks I felt a bit worse for wear this morning.
However, I have a shiny new, fully functional fridge freezer in the kitchen which is lovely.
I've been shopping with dd this morning - got some Christmas bits for ds while we were out, but she was definitely the one doing the spending. Now just a bit worried because one of the cats hasn't been home all day - and she's always hungry so usually lurking around for food. It's not like her not to be around. Still, I'll only properly worry if she hasn't come back by tomorrow morning.

Shrewbie

Hello all

Challenge - Had a difficult conversation with someone in Spanish and sort-of managed it.

Banned - No booze since Saturday. And no takeaways.

NSD - 16/20 today

Budget - Doing well but need a pair of casual flat ankle boots and a pair of trainers, these will need to come out of my 'fun' money. Also my sister is coming to Madrid for the bank hol next week from Cordoba where she's studying, so will need to budget for that.

Exercise - Have walked home from work twice this week.

Today I am grateful for a 2 day long headache finally lifting this morning, i felt like a new woman. haha

Have a great evening turtles

Kerry_Woman

clc - Hope the cat turns up.
NSD achieved - 19/20
Walked around the park on my usual lap.
Chased up the decorator/painter to see when he can start work on the flat. Hopefully he can start in 4 weeks time.
Did a couple of surveys today.
Had another chilled out day. Did a few household chores. Also some self-care.