NST December 2018 – Exterminate the debt!

mothernerd

Not claiming a SFD but not listing what has been spent either. Most if not all was for mum but then I forgot to deduct it from the money from the cash machine. Also discovered that I have forgotten to charge her for another small shop and for one of the throws I bought last week.



Spent about an hour in the kitchen, washing up, moving dried washing from the radiator and airer in the front room and loading more into the machine and onto the radiators, bit of recycling and the occasional stab at the mattress (found springs under the layer of foam so dismembering has started).


Decided it was warm enough to manage in my cardigan so washed my winter coat as well. Still more to do but the end is in sight. Went to mum's, we had both realised she has an appointment tomorrow (not on the calendar).


I have written my Christmas cards, put stamps on the posting ones except for the Australia one, made my own podiatrist appointment (March), did a tiny bit of jigsaw, written multiple things down as mum remembered them.



Last week I finished buying the throws to cover her chairs and couch. Did not want it to be too purple so bought a muted gold bedspread to cover the couch (very muted, might be called beige with an attitude - punk beige?). She has now decided that this one is so lovely that I have to see if there is another one to cut in 2 for the chairs, or 2 if they have an appropriate size. Then when that is sorted I need to buy cushion covers (probably purple) to cover the existing cushions (embroidered by my approx 28 years ago). Hoping to look at their website tonight as I have to be at the infirmary very early tomorrow for mum's appointment.


DS1 had sent a message yesterday (only saw it this morning) asking to borrow money until the 21st - work have put his holiday down as sick pay so his wage was miniscule. They have promised to rectify it next pay day but he has no spare cash until then.


Whilst I was on my bank site I wrote down the current standard orders and then worked out my budget. If I stick to the figures I am using (no extras - clothes, presents etc) I have about £20 per month to save. Later I realised that I had not put down DS3's contribution so I have a good potential savings pot. It also means that I could survive (extremely frugal) on what I get in WTC and Carer's Allowance with any earnings from self-employment as a bonus. Very happy with that, can make a definite plan for next year.


Today I am grateful for peace and quiet (saw DS3 briefly this morning, but they were both asleep in the new bed before I left the house and still there when I got home). I can't explain how much help this is. If they both stick to a regular sleeping pattern and I can work in the front room or kitchen in peace and quiet I will be happy and get so much more done. Grateful for getting the cards ready to go (2 more to write - will have to use the 2 snowy yorkshire ones I bought last year, not buying more cards). Grateful for feeling that I have got through a lot today and very grateful that I am solvent as long as I stay frugal (suits me anyway) and I can have proper savings.

pinkypig

Hello :wave:

May I join please? I read along with last month's and found the whole thing really positive and focussed. I'm really trying to drive down my mortgage to achieve some freedom to reduce my working hours and to retire early and it's a long game so I'm always on the look out for inspiration and things to keep me motivated:)




Debt-free date / Mortgage-free date / Savings target date. What’s yours? What is your plan to get there? You don’t set off on a journey without knowing your destination and time-frame of travel. Apply the same to your money.

I want to be mortgage free by January 2021 - there I've said it out loud :rotfl:

Organise your outgoings. Budget for the month. For e v e r y t h i n g. Write it down. And stick to it. Plan your meals – avoid waste. Batch cook. This is the most difficult month to plan for as everyone is feeding a different amount of people, budgeting differently and living in different areas with differing prices to deal with. You are an adult but this is about being honest and at least you will know you are not in this by yourself.

Budgets done, meal plan done for the next two weeks


Count up to 15. Fifteen No Spend Days. That’s only every other day. Exempt from this are reduced sticker items, travel expenses, fuel, medicines, children’s activities/ window cleaners that are paid in cash randomly, and milk (greent).

2/15

“There is no such thing as an ordinary human.” So says The Doctor. You are unique and amazing. Treat yourself well. “900 years of time and space and I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important.”

One thousand days. More on this later as it’s a meaty one. Or a vegan sausage-y one. But definitely gluten and dairy free.


Trying to prioritise and to create some indulgence time.

Refrain from browsing your phone when nothing else is going on for the duration of the challenge. Waiting in line? Commercial break? At a red light? Be present in the moment. Be okay with “boredom.” Okay, okay: do try it for a week at least.


Terrible for this . I'll try!

What kind of month do you want for yourself? Take a moment and really ask. What activities do I want to enjoy? What seasonal foods do I want to take advantage of? What do I want to have the energy to take on? Where can I build more leisure into my week? How can I be outside as much as possible?


I want to be active despite time pressures. I want to eat well and to run twice a week and do at least one additional classes. RAn yesterday and spinning booked for Thursday.


Here’s a space to make up your own rule for the month. Please share it!

Stop eating in between meals when I'm not really hungry. It's just a bad habit.

Outings. Drop one. Decide which one, inform those who need to know and enjoy the time and money you have just given yourself.

Night out on Saturday. Meeting up with friends during the day but coming home as it's just not my thing and at the moment sleep is more important.


Slow living this month. In a month of manicness, make a clear intention to keep your schedule and pace in check. Because, really, does anyone want a hectic December?

I'll try but works nuts

Omm. Take care of your mental health. Do something every day this month that makes you feel good: gym, reading, time with family, favourite tv programme, meditation, building a snowman. NOT spending, of course!! Write down 4 gratitudes each day.

Getting up a bit earlier and reading for 20 minutes before work and the same before bed with the addition of a not chocolate:)

No entry to any sales. Unless you have a planned budget and have been saving for a specific item PLEASE do not go to the Boxing Day Sales. Or any sales. Anywhere. It’s temptation you can’t handle to buy tat you really don’t need. STAY AT HOME! Likewise, no takeaways, canteen meals (unless free), coffee shop or corner shop visits.

Took lunch and breakfast to work and dinner was no

“I am and always will be the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes, the dreamer of improbable dreams.” So says the Doctor. Be a dreamer. Be an optimist.

See MFW date - that's optimistic:rotfl:

Candles - Switch to candles and firelight after dark (or the high-tech adjustable hue bulb equivalents). Plus, everyone likes a good fire. (But not so much that the fire brigade come to see you…) And switch off your tech an hour before going to bed please.

I post before bed but will have half an hours reading after that.

“Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It’s not the time that matters. It’s the person.” “We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one.”

Chase down more awe and joy. Go after it with a purpose. Go and enjoy the sparkly lights. Take a tour of your neighbourhood to look at other people’s outdoor decorations – and be smug about how you are not wasting your money like that. Go and seek Santa’s sleigh in the sky on Christmas Eve.

Will do

Read fiction before bed. Reading fiction gets you into the right state of mind for dreamland.

No problem - love it

Exercise. Get 10,000 steps a day (or set your own target). Move a little more. Embrace the outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.

Walked at lunch time and did a,walk and a run over the weekend

“What’s the point of being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes.” Go play. Go have fun. Laugh. Smile while you eat. Just because.

“Don’t give up. Not ever. Not for one single day. Be safe if you can be. But always be amazing.” Pop on here every day and tell us what you’re up to. Not just the good stuff, but also the bad and the ugly too.

Refuse to get sucked into guilt spending. Reject the mindset that needs to constantly acquire more (Now that is true Ferenghi, a whole other alien race)

Have cut out all unnecessary spend since I started my mfw quest.

Identify activities and people who drain you. Give yourself permission to take a break from them for 21 days (or as many days as possible) if you can. Just maybe this is a gift you should’ve given yourself a long time ago…?

Yes please

Visit your local area. Find new footpaths, see where a road or path takes you. Explore new horizons. Boldly go where no one has gone before. Oops, mixing my sci-fi….!

Will do. Need new running routes

Exterminate (see, we can learn from the DALEKS…) one bad habit from your life for the first 10 days. This is NOT about food. I shall be renouncing a particular game I play on my tablet that just sucks me in and takes hours of my time. And I have recently moved up a level, so it’s even harder to put down…!routes

Will think of one

Remember that you are blessed. Count your blessings daily. Be grateful for what you have. And remember those that have less – donate money, food, non-perishables, blankets to a charity that you want to support. Relish life, one day at a time.

Took a bag of books, clothes and dvds to CS last week and will sort out fb donation .

P P xx

plumduff55

COUNT UP TO 12 - Spent today but no spending Saturday or Sunday so that's me on 2/12

ORGANISE YOUR OUTGOINGS - I bought my American dollars today paid from my holiday savings account. I then split it into my daily spending amounts.

TREAT YOURSELF WELL - I bought a Stollen for Christmas today and although I won't be eating it for a while, I'm so happy I've bought it.

REFRAIN FROM BROWSING YOUR PHONE - Improving with this one.

OWN RULE - Forget the past, live for the moment and look forward to the future.

SLOW LIVING MONTH - Will give this some thought.

GRATITUDES - Will record these on the OS Pleasures thread.

NO TAKEAWAYS AND COFFEE SHOPS - None today.

BE AN OPTOMIST - Hopefully, some of my family are very negative and sometime they do pull me down.

CANDLES - May not achieve this. I like candles but after a while they really irritate me.

SWITCH OFF TECH AN HOUR BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP - Yes

READ FICTION - Reading a good book by David Baldacci.

EXERCISE - I exercised to Rosemary Connelly dvd this morning.

WHAT'S THE POINT OF BEING GROWN UP - Love this one.

OUTINGS - I only have one Christmas lunch booked and a couple of meets for coffee - can't really cancel any of these. Oh and I'm going to New York on Saturday till Thursday - definitely not cancelling this

EXTERMINATE, ONE BAD HABIT FROM YOUR LIFE - Still thinking on this one.

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE BLESSED - I have a large bag of clothing etc to take to cs - I was going to drop this off today and forgot to take it with me.

Goodnight xx

sashanut

Hi all :j

Just popping in to say I'm here - same problem today with no time and had no sleep either, horrid combination.

Still 1/15 NSDs so far

DH off to jury service tomorrow - is on a case now that will take more than a week. Hopefully will get into the rhythm of it now. Not such an early start tomorrow, but I do have my CS shift.

Lots to do before family party Sunday but should be OK, as plenty of time - at the moment...done quite a bit, but would have been more had not been so tired.

Go Turtles!!

misstara

My goals for this month

[FONT=&quot]D[/FONT]ebt-free date / Mortgage-free date / Savings target date. What’s yours? Currently August 2021 but hope to bring this forward quite a bit.

[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT][FONT=&quot]rganise your outgoings. Budget for the month. For e v e r y t h i n g. Write it down. And stick to it. Plan your meals – avoid waste.[/FONT] YNAB updated with budget for the month. Meal plan completed for this week.

[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT][FONT=&quot]ount up to 15. Fifteen No Spend Days.[/FONT] Currently on 2/15.

[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT]efrain from browsing your phone when nothing else is going on for the duration of the challenge. Be present in the moment. Be okay with “boredom.” Shall do my best. Achieved today while waiting for someone - people watched rather than looking at my phone.

[FONT=&quot]W[/FONT]hat kind of month do you want for yourself? Take a moment and really ask. What activities do I want to enjoy? What seasonal foods do I want to take advantage of? What do I want to have the energy to take on? Where can I build more leisure into my week? How can I be outside as much as possible? Need to have a good think about this one.

[FONT=&quot]H[/FONT]ere’s a space to make up your own rule for the month. Please share it! Home - make the most of the time I spend at home instead of just slumping on the sofa.

[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT]utings. Drop one. Decide which one, inform those who need to know and enjoy the time and money you have just given yourself. Decided to drop my work's Christmas do and feel very relieved for doing so .

[FONT=&quot]S[/FONT]low living this month. In a month of manicness, make a clear intention to keep your schedule and pace in check. Because, really, does anyone want a hectic December? Always struggle with this but will try.

[FONT=&quot]O[/FONT]mm. Take care of your mental health. Do something every day this month that makes you feel good: gym, reading, time with family, favourite tv programme, meditation, building a snowman. NOT spending, of course!! Write down 4 gratitudes each day. Sausage and mash for tea, David Attenborough programs, my slow cooker and a cosy flat .

[FONT=&quot]N[/FONT]o entry to any sales. Unless you have a planned budget and have been saving for a specific item PLEASE do not go to the Boxing Day Sales. Or any sales. Anywhere. It’s temptation you can’t handle to buy tat you really don’t need. STAY AT HOME! Likewise, no takeaways, canteen meals (unless free), coffee shop or corner shop visits. Ok.

[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT]andles - Switch to candles and firelight after dark (or the high-tech adjustable hue bulb equivalents). Love this rule and have a huge supply of candles to use up.

[FONT=&quot]C[/FONT]hase down more awe and joy. Go after it with a purpose. Go and enjoy the sparkly lights. Take a tour of your neighbourhood to look at other people’s outdoor decorations – and be smug about how you are not wasting your money like that. Go and seek Santa’s sleigh in the sky on Christmas Eve. Will do.

[FONT=&quot]E[/FONT]xercise. Get 10,000 steps a day (or set your own target). Move a little more. Embrace the outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. Aiming for 16 days exercise this month, currently on 2/16 .

[FONT=&quot]“D[/FONT]on’t give up. Not ever. Not for one single day. Be safe if you can be. But always be amazing.” Pop on here every day and tell us what you’re up to. Not just the good stuff, but also the bad and the ugly too. Will do my best.

[FONT=&quot]I[/FONT]dentify activities and people who drain you. Give yourself permission to take a break from them for 21 days (or as many days as possible) if you can. Just maybe this is a gift you should’ve given yourself a long time ago…? Unfortunately I can't quit my job just to get a break from people who drain me :rotfl: but will continue to avoid as much as possible.

[FONT=&quot]V[/FONT]isit your local area. Find new footpaths, see where a road or path takes you. Explore new horizons. Boldly go where no one has gone before. Oops, mixing my sci-fi….! Will do.

[FONT=&quot]E[/FONT]xterminate (see, we can learn from the DALEKS…) one bad habit from your life for the first 10 days. This is NOT about food. I shall be renouncing a particular game I play on my tablet that just sucks me in and takes hours of my time. And I have recently moved up a level, so it’s even harder to put down…! I shall not play a particular game on my tablet, not played for 3 days.

[FONT=&quot]R[/FONT]emember that you are blessed. Count your blessings daily. Be grateful for what you have. And remember those that have less – donate money, food, non-perishables, blankets to a charity that you want to support. Relish life, one day at a time. Had a conversation with my dad over the weekend about various charities and have one in mind that I want to look into donating to.

bizzie

apple muncher I won't spoil it for you.

Counting today as a NSD even though I had to pay for school related items. School has gone cash free and I coordinate payments when the credit card I use just for online purchases has "spare" ( credit limit kept low ).

Shrewbie

Debt-free date / Mortgage-free date / Savings target date. Savings target of €10K by September 2019. It’s A LOT…but the extra work means I can do it. made up of €2k holiday fund, €2k Emergency fund/student loan repayment and 6k for whatever else I want (haven’t decided exactly)

Organise your outgoings. Budget for the month. For e v e r y t h i n g. Write it down. And stick to it. Plan your meals – avoid waste. Batch cook.

xmas budget €200 (€15-20 limit per person)
food budget €120
fun budget €120
christmas events budget €100
dentist €420

Count up to 15. Fifteen No Spend Days. Will do! Failed yesterday (needed coffee from the machine at work, but today should be good)

One thousand days.Excited for this

Refrain from browsing your phone when nothing else is going on for the duration of the challenge. ill try!!

What kind of month do you want for yourself?

I want to spend lots of days walking the dog with my mum at home in UK, pub lunches (but not too many) seeing friends and reading lots and spending time with fam.

Here’s a space to make up your own rule for the month. Please share it! I am going to spend EVERY spare minute I have learning Spanish.

Outings. Drop one. Decide which one, inform those who need to know and enjoy the time and money you have just given yourself. Dropped my work Xmas party, no body i know is going at it starts so late on a school night (10pm)

Slow living this month. In a month of manicness, make a clear intention to keep your schedule and pace in check. Because, really, does anyone want a hectic December?

Yes. yes, yes! My only engagement is a dinner on the 20th December before i fly home the next day, then a night out in London.

Omm. Take care of your mental health. Do something every day this month that makes you feel good: gym, reading, time with family, favourite tv programme, meditation, building a snowman. NOT spending, of course!! Write down 4 gratitudes each day.

Meditation, exercise and reading for me. Today I’m grateful for my housemate cooking up a storm while I was at work, for my commute being amazingly short, for students who make me laugh and for it nearly being Christmas.

No entry to any sales. Unless you have a planned budget and have been saving for a specific item PLEASE do not go to the Boxing Day Sales. Or any sales. Anywhere. It’s temptation you can’t handle to buy tat you really don’t need. STAY AT HOME! Likewise, no takeaways, canteen meals (unless free), coffee shop or corner shop visits.

Hell no. You don’t need to tell me twice… i HATE shopping unless it’s in a charity shop usually.

“I am and always will be the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes, the dreamer of improbable dreams.” So says the Doctor. Be a dreamer. Be an optimist. Will do!

Candles - Switch to candles and firelight after dark (or the high-tech adjustable hue bulb equivalents). Plus, everyone likes a good fire. (But not so much that the fire brigade come to see you…) And switch off your tech an hour before going to bed please. haha

“Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It’s not the time that matters. It’s the person.” “We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one.”

Chase down more awe and joy. Go after it with a purpose. Go and enjoy the sparkly lights. Take a tour of your neighbourhood to look at other people’s outdoor decorations – and be smug about how you are not wasting your money like that. Go and seek Santa’s sleigh in the sky on Christmas Eve.

Can't wait to do this in London town

Read fiction before bed. Reading fiction gets you into the right state of mind for dreamland.

Need to do more of this

Exercise. Get 10,000 steps a day (or set your own target). Move a little more. Embrace the outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.
Dog walks a-coming

“What’s the point of being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes.” Go play. Go have fun. Laugh. Smile while you eat. Just because.

“Don’t give up. Not ever. Not for one single day. Be safe if you can be. But always be amazing.” Pop on here every day and tell us what you’re up to. Not just the good stuff, but also the bad and the ugly too.
Haha ok

Refuse to get sucked into guilt spending. Reject the mindset that needs to constantly acquire more (Now that is true Ferenghi, a whole other alien race)

Yes!

Identify activities and people who drain you. Give yourself permission to take a break from them for 21 days (or as many days as possible) if you can. Just maybe this is a gift you should’ve given yourself a long time ago…?

I don’t really have anyone like this!!! I should be grateful!!

Visit your local area. Find new footpaths, see where a road or path takes you. Explore new horizons. Boldly go where no one has gone before. Oops, mixing my sci-fi….!
Should do this. Going on a day trip on Thursday as it’s a bank holiday here.

Exterminate (see, we can learn from the DALEKS…) one bad habit from your life for the first 10 days. This is NOT about food. I shall be renouncing a particular game I play on my tablet that just sucks me in and takes hours of my time. And I have recently moved up a level, so it’s even harder to put down…!

I am going to stop my students talking during class. Take control.

Remember that you are blessed. Count your blessings daily. Be grateful for what you have. And remember those that have less – donate money, food, non-perishables, blankets to a charity that you want to support. Relish life, one day at a time.

So true!!

apple_muncher

Mothernerd - great news, realising that you could survive on a small income. Good onyou for looking at the outgoings and working it all out.


pinkypig - welcome! You certainly have a goal for the mortgage!

f0xh0les

Still on NSD2

Had to buy a few niggly essentials - less than £5

Booked car in for service/mot on 12th.
I will be safe and keep my vehicle running too.

Did lots of book wrapping yesterday. Getting a pile already!
All second hand. Very MSE.

LavenderBee

No NSD yesterday, paid the milkman (for last month's milk but I'm not going to start itemising which items have been consumed in each month, it's come out of December money) anddddd something on eBay I bid for for DD a week ago that I didn't think I'd get at that price. I haven't really broken my exterminate as it wasn't a rule at the time, and my rule is clothes, and this isn't clothes I like baby bee to have toys made from recycled plastic (also not made with Chinese slave labour) ideally. They are jolly expensive, so either second hand (recycled recycled plastic!) or just keeping an eye out for deals is always at the back of my mind. Picked up something I wanted for her anyway for £2 so I'm happy with that.

I'm going to call that exterminate 3/10

Gratitudes for yesterday:
1) DH saying I looked nice yesterday evening when he got home (I am functioning on 2 X 1 hour blocks of sleep per night at the moment, still getting over sinusitis and was wearing a £1 dress from my favourite charity shop. Perhaps he realised he ought to tread carefully... :O)
2) starting Christmas theme at DD's music group. This definitely counts as being childish as I've been dancing round jingling bells like a loon as a result
3) for getting dinner made at lunchtime to save time later in the day, and for sticking to the meal plan
4) for finding more during a freezer audit than expected
5) (well, why not...) For ticking NINE family admin items off my to do list yesterday. I was on administrative fire

Today's plan is to get out in the fresh air and explore with a friend, aiming for a NSD as we're going somewhere with free parking. Also counts as exercise and slow living as we're just going to wander and see what we can see