NST December 2018 – Exterminate the debt!

apple_muncher

Any volunteers to run the Jan thread?


(I'm happy to cobble one together - it'll be a much simpler one than Dec if I do!)

crazy_cat_lady

Evening everyone :hello:
Apple - I would offer to run the January thread if I had the confidence to think I could do a good job. In fact, I do offer to run the January thread but I will definitely not be able to do it the same justice as the regulars who run the thread do... it will be a poor second best. However, if the folks on here can make do with a useless amateur then I am more than willing to give it a go before I get back to work and things get mental...
Today was a spend day for me - ds and I had a hairdressing appointment, which was budgeted for. I also managed to talk my hairdresser into looking at dd's hair for free. She's not happy with the person that did it for her just before Christmas so I figured I might as well ask. Other than that it's been another fairly quiet day, just more relaxing, and appreciating the small things I have around me.
Today I am grateful for:
Turning down a $ubway lunch in favour of leftovers - it all helps.
My lovely hairdresser who is always willing to help out.
The last episode of Poirot - althougn I had guessed.
My kids both eating roast gammon

laurenh1

Dolly sorry your feeling rubbish.



Today is a NSD but I have no idea what I'm on.
We went to town yesterday & bought lots of stuff for the freezer,did a bit of birthday shopping & picked up a few other bits, a lot of it was reduced, either YS or in the sales & I managed to keep my birthday gifts below budget. All my birthdays are in the first half of the year but I'm feeling fairly organised.

we have stocked up on potatoes while they're 28p :rotfl: We have about 7 bags but it will do us all of Jan. We had chip butties for lunch yesterday & DS1 had some left of corned beef hash. I want to get my head into my Jack Monroe books & other left over books again.
I have bought take away type foods for new years eve & we have left over apple juice(kids) & prosecco so all sorted there.
Off to Eureka! Tomorrow with the kids, we trippled up our Clubcard points to get in for free :j I have about £11 left but I'm hoping I can get this to 30 by this time next year.



Grateful for- a lie in, goodnight mister Tom on ITV 3 & for new beginnings

dolly84

Toni'sFriend - hope your OH's mood improves.


Not sure of the plans today, nothing special really. DH has gone to the gym, I would have cycled but it is very windy so I may run. I have a sore throat which I've had off and on for a few days, I think my immune system is battling with a virus and at the moment it is still winning so a run in the fresh air may be a good or bad thing.


Watched Bird Box on Netflix last night, it was very good, will watch another film tonight curled up on the sofa with a glass or two of wine.


We emptied our sealed money boxes a couple of days ago, we used to buy the tins but they are so wasteful and we had money boxes so I put tape on the bottom. We normally empty them on NYE but I wanted to pay the money into the bank, DD had £128 in hers which was impressive, DH & I had £238 which has been paid into our holiday fund and DS had 74p:eek:. In his defence he hadn't put his Christmas money in which DD had and he hasn't had his birthday money yet which DD has, he also has a significant amount of money in his bank account as he make YouTube videos and earns money each month from that.

chocolatelover93

Hello everyone!

So sorry I have neglected the forum over xmas, I hope you all had a lovely time and sending massive hugs to those that need them.

I have taken a good look at what I earnt/spent this year and I am disgusted in myself! No wonder my CC debts racked up and it was mainly carp.

3 times I have gone to go out to boxing day sales and have stopped myself, I have done the same online filling shopping baskets up, going to check out and stopping myself so I am getting there.

I have bought a diary, set budgets and I am going to be keeping track of my spending. I've also written myself notes in there when to start looking for insurance or when my gas/leccy deals finish so I am better prepare myself for the new year!

C xx

mothernerd

Thank you so much for offering to run January ccl. We all have to start somewhere. I took on the job of running the first month after Kat stopped - everyone thought I was brave but I thought that if it was a mess people would just think that it was in comparison to Kat. The first couple of times I copied an old one and then altered it, just to make sure I remembered all the rules. Read some old threads or do your own thing, it will be great. The advantage of having different people run the thread is that each of us brings something different - I sometimes feel I've shortchanged the serious exercisers but then we all have to start somewhere and it doesn't hurt to be reminded that 10 minutes a day that gets done is better than an hour in the gym if you never find time to go.


You are at an interesting point in your life so you are in a good place to talk about new beginnings, setting budgets in changed circumstances, letting go of what no longer serves, frugality with fun and embracing change (I've got myself as far as accepting change and trying to go with the flow but not yet embracing it).

I'm torn between wanting to get things done and just curling up, reading and napping. I have had my 'shower' so I'm ahead of yesterday. Priorities are getting things out of the house so rubbish (have added bathroom stuff to the bin bag from my room), bottles, cans and plastic recycling (collected this week) and library books plus some things for the charity bin. After that it will be tidying, making small improvements but with lots of resting, reading and the odd nap. Lots of end of year paperwork - making sure phone numbers I need are either in my phone or in my diary/ notebook and may have a go at the accounts.

Today I am grateful for rest, not needing to be anywhere, getting things sorted slowly and still having plenty of food. Need to go and eat now.

Saving_Glut

NSDs: Wish I’d kept track as think I could have reached target of 15. However, the important thing is that spending has been very limited and I even ignored the sales season (which I don’t object to) as my priority until 31/12 remains overpaying mortgage.

Extra Income for December: £90! 2 x £5 for simply adding my OH to my two AMX cards. That was easy! She will cut cards up when they arrive as no need or obligation to use them.

Sold one more item from FB this morning. Although it was an old post, it had over 50 views, so I never lost hope! Meanwhile the impromptu purchase I made on FB the day before Xmas Eve with the view to selling on at a profit has garnered 118 views and only one passing bite! Will split into two bundles to make it more affordable and hope for the best!

I caved in and submitted my earned points with YouG0v for a competition rather than completing all the questionnaires to earn £50 as I think the return is too low for the regular disruption. I have decided it is better to put my focus on other money-making or money-saving means instead.

4 Gratitudes:
Free park runs! What’s not to like (even if Marshall did send me the wrong way!)?!
Lovely SIL visit with her family. Was good to play board games with kids!
My sis and her family visiting today.
Plumber arriving within an hour to tend to leaky boiler. Glad we didn’t replace carpets before Xmas as planned as a small area is now sodden!

apple_muncher

:T:T:T Thank you ccl :T:T:T

crazy_cat_lady

OK people, January's thread is up and running here...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5943306/nst-join-in-january-2019-in-with-the-new

Go easy on me though

Maisie_M

CCL thank you for offering to run the next challenge its very kind of you:j


Well a spendy day today as did the shopping to tide us over to New Year, Not much needed just some fresh salad stuff and fresh rolls etc. Used up the £5 in stamps I had so that was handy.


Things I am thankful for:
another lovely day
a long lie in this morning as I was up in the middle of the night with the wind and rain so needed a longer lie in this morning
for left over roast potatoes to fry up with breakfast this morning - a real treat
for the supermarket being quiet so I didn't need to queue for long