NST February frugality and frolics

greent

Back after a couple of days away seeing the student children. Spendy-ish - took them both out to dinner (and eldest's OH, as it's not like we could leave him out) but to a relatively cheap place each time. Had to buy lunch for us (took snacks and breakfast for smalls and stumbled across hugely YS croissants the first night which we had for breakfast day 2) Bought DS1 more groceries (took a carrier bagful with us) - he had virtually nothing in and a very full week of lectures/ lab/ seminars this week but has been ill (bad cold) so not done shopping (20 min walk each way to smkt or rely on vastly overpriced shop 5 mins away) Smallest 2 spent in Leg0 shop (their own money) - we checked prices on Amaz0n whilst in there to check not paying over the odds and then joined their purchases up so we got several small freebies (and used loyalty card - now have £5 off on there) DS3 also bought a pre-owned N1ntend0 game (saving about £15 on new price) - he's getting MSE trained

*Did* buy a couple of items in Pr1mark for the smalls - tshirts @ £1.80 + flip flops @ 90p come under fast fashion, I know - but when they outgrow them rapidly are not to be sniffed at (they also both wear a lot of hand me downs and are currently happy to do so) and some oven cleaner for £1 from HB for DD (flat inspection today and that oven needed a clean!!)

Will need to go shopping today - only fresh f&v we have in were some going-over mushrooms (used them all for lunch), a part bag of YS from a week ago kale (bleurgh - it's for the gpigs) and a couple of rather sharp tasting small apples (will probably go to gpigs as they make you screw your eyes up when eating them) Also need some fresh yeast (used the last to make a loaf today) Both small boys are also fluffy of head and need a trip to the barbers - but that may now be tomorrow - not sure I've got the disposition for that today!

apple_muncher

mothernerd wrote: »

They say that living well is the best revenge, so I'm going to live.

Absolutely mothernerd! You go for it girl, whether you can still cancan or not .

Toni'sfriend

Mega spendy day. Opticians appointment and new glasses. Ouch!!. To be fair I haven't had new glasses for years and I was aware my eyesight was deteriorating so necessary really.

Whilst I was out bought some milk and veg which was needed.. Still eating from freezer so not too bad.

dolly84

Worked today so haven't spent any money yet but I do fancy a glass of wine and have none in. Went to the dentist yesterday and had to pay for my check up, also collected my boots from the cobblers and paid the £8 for those. Went into town later and bought an electrical socket thing for DS's room which was £25, also bought rollers and setting lotion for me, I slept in rollers last night and rocked a 30's do at work today.

Lovelifeloveliving

F Food Expenditure. Decide on your food expenditure for the month - do not exceed it.
£200 per month. £114.90/£200 No additional spending today.

E Excursions and entertainment should be planned before the month starts.
BF 50th birthday party 23/02/19
Concert - 2 night City break 24/02/19. Paid previously. Frugal efforts in February will provide spending money for the trip.

B Budgets should be set before the start of the month.
Spreadsheet updated with recent expenditure.

R Reduce your planned food expenditure in accordance with the table below. Will be tough, but will attempt it to keep as close to it as possible.
Reduced my food budget by £50 this month and will evulate at the end of February.

U Useful leftovers. If there is anything from last month or a previous challenge which you found useful, keep on doing it (tackling those frogs, ditching bad habits and replacing them with good ones). Small changes that last are preferable to dramatic ones that peter out.
One frog dealt with. Need to check stocks and see what I need.

Aim to take your lunch to work every day (unless you have a free
or heavily subsidised canteen. Similarly prepare for hospital appointments or days out by taking your own food and drink when possible.
6/12. Lunch brought to work today.

R Remind yourself of what you have and be grateful. This is a tough challenge but I am not asking anyone to live on a bowl of rice a day. You can choose to add your gratitudes on here or to record them privately.
I am grateful for a quiet day at work, dinner prepared, the longer evenings and a evening with no commitments.

Y You should pay to your debt or savings first and live on what is left. Ideally pay it on the first of the month/ payday. I appreciate that some of you have money coming in at different times and may need to accommodate existing standing orders/ direct debits.
Credit card payment made.

S Spend Free Days (SFDs).
Aiming for 18 SFDs.
12/18.

R Regular check ins are recommended, daily if possible.
I'm here.

I Indoors/outdoors. Regular exercise is important. Will try and go out for a walk each day.
Indoors - I mentioned being a hermit. I would like you to see this as a positive step. Spring may be around the corner but winter often has a sting in its tail. Nurture and protect yourself. Huddle by the fire, go to bed early, read, have hot drinks and comforting home made soup. Recharge your batteries. Rest and conserve your energy. Guard your mental health. Write down 10 things that help improve your mood and practice them regularly.
A relaxing evening planned and hope to fit in a
little reading.

V Vending machines, coffee shops, takeaways (everything from an Indian banquet to a pastie or a bag of chips) are forbidden (except for those who have them as part of a budgeted family evening).
None

A Advance planning.
Meal planning and making meals from scratch (no food waste) are your friends.
Need to make a freezer inventory.


Have a relaxing evening everyone. Xx

Kerry_Woman

NSD today - 14/20.
Walked through the park to/from train station. Went to 2nd session of the grief programme.
Used what I had in.
Dealt with a couple of frogs.
Chilling out for rest of evening.

Debtfreewannabme

Hello, had a good few frugal days. Grateful for lovely team, had a nice productive day. Managed to throw a leg of lamb in the slow cooker at 6 am and have just enjoyed a lamb stew. Hope you are all well. Bed for me in half hr, have been enjoying getting up early before DH and children and having some me time before work. Will check bk in tomorrow xx

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a chilled day, for getting a little knitting done, for lots of reading, for getting dd out - even if it was only to icyland where I bought 5 packs of veggies and some flying saucers -anyone remember them?, for not buying anything in the ch shops, for big sis arriving here ok, for sorting out arrangements for tomorrow, for a friendly and rather chubby robin.


Can't believe we are over 2/3 of the way through the month already!

Fmess

Epic post mothernerd it was just what I needed as had had a day of grumbling at myself for not doing more, even though I was busy all day. The perspective you provided was much needed!

Spendy day today. Paid for new carpet, curtains and blinds, all from renovation budget and then got a few bits from the supermarket. I need to get back for a swim tomorrow at the gym but didn’t go today as I went to cuddle my friend’s cats as she’s on holiday and they get lonely! Was a lovely job to do.

sashanut

Hi all:j

Uncle is 80 & Aunt not far behind in age so I 'think' birding may well only be birdwatching, also the outfit in the photos she sent bears this out. However, you never know:D


F Food Expenditure Aiming for £225 for the month, down from about £275.. already done a bit of spending so no NSDs as yet. Shopping already spent £139.56/225 . Made some purchases today/yesterday so need to add those on. Still to do. Several spendy days & tomorrow (dentist) and Friday (hair) will also be spendy...

E Excursions and entertainment should be planned. ...B&B & ferry booked & paid for - did use TCB so that helped a bit. Trips to dentist & hairdressers don't count as excursions - right?


B Budgets None set as yet - other than food - & all DDs already out.

U Useful leftovers Will also carry on with frogs. Need to make a list for DH also, there are plenty of things he can be doing. Dealt with small frogs today, now have to make list of jobs to do before we go away..

A Aim to take your lunch
Don't work outside the home other than volunteer at a CS but will aim to take snacks/lunch/etc when we go out. Didn't eat whilst out but waited till we got home, sandwich then. Will do.

R Remind yourself Reasonable heath & well-being which we don't always appreciate enough.


Y You should pay your debt or savings first Have no debt other than a cc paid off in full each month. However, savings needed for dental work & also for house renovations, so will take care of that. Paid back joint account for dental work again. Will make another payment after this post. Large payment due tomorrow for dental work though this 'should' be it now.

S Spend Free Days SFDs now 10/18

U Use it up Keep using up what we have, have done some shopping already but should only need fresh F&V & bread, plus animals food/litter. Disappointed today as caved into pressure & had lunchtime meal from takeaway, determined to have healthy supper, made ramen bowl for first time from recipe & it was rank, what a waste of ingredients. DH to the rescue with toasted crumpets

R Regular check ins Mostly here

V Cards only .. in the nut household. Well it should have been but a plant mysteriously appeared with the card!

I Indoors/outdoors My only regular exercise is gardening, which I try to do most days. Walked a lot when away need to have slightly better weather to do much around here. Outside for a short while with DH for him to make notes of what more to chop down in garden. Gave up after a while as it rained.

Indoors - being a hermit. Some more of the complex knitting stuff done, just realised I made an error in the pattern (colour). Will just knit the other side to match (design feature). Did a bit of reading of recipe books, sat in new car trying to make sense of all the dials etc. Then did some knitting.

V Vending machines etc Rarely use but do have the occasional takeaway as part of family meal. Maybe once a month, but no plans so far. Had family meal out yesterday, no plans for a takeaway AFAIK. None planned but had one today.

A Advance planning This is a problem for me, I don't plan in advance but decide what to have on an almost daily basis. Some planning needs to happen tomorrow, hopefully with better results.

Garden prep has been ongoing but have to think ahead & prioritise some things. Hope I can get some seeds in before hols, but they won't get watered whilst we're away so have to remember that.

Go Turtles!!!