NST March 2019: WINS against the debt

f0xh0les

Statement of intent for March - not legally binding, no refunds nor returns.

Waste management: if I did not eat leftovers I would starve! or possibly drown under the end slices of bread. Any binable food will be put in a planter for under the compost for my peas and beans (it does not need to be rotted and the extra heat of decomposition makes for happy plantlets)- I always plan my meals, not nec by day, so I can change things around depending on which day I have more time. Plastics are being used as plant pots - yog pots, veg trays etc along with loo roll innards. I will not buy plastic pots.

Utilities – I turn the central heating off in April every year - if we are cold we can manually stick it on to come on for an hour, but we have to be cold first, I turn it back on to the timer in October. I do allow people to put the heating on though. It just makes them think can I be bothered to go all the way into the kitchen to turn it on, or is it not really that bad.We have hot water bottles, fluffy throws and blankets on the arms of the sofas. I got up late at 6.20 this morning, and it was light already, so no bulbs needed. The dryer is also only used in the case of rain, or emergency uniform dilemmas, otherwise it is on the line from this month, so electricity reducing should begin to be seen.
- Money – still keeping an eye on the bargains, ys on the way back from the school run, a weekly womble around Her0n and the 'very cold shop', and assorted sundry cheap shops on my circuit of school runs and charity shops.

Invest in yourself - I am rubbish at this. I have just given up my gym membership - I have not been for 6 months. I will use the park.

I will clear a little bit more clutter every day, I will push back the boxed sorted clutter toward the back of the house. I am saving for building work.
I have a small fabric mountain (fabric peak? cloth hill? material hugel?) that needs to be turned into cushion covers and other sundry bits and things. This will be started this month. This comes under 'Learn a new skill or re-start an old one' and I spent £4 in Liddler last week on seeds, which comes under 'can you grow any food this year?' And if I break apart the pallet and build a little window box style planter, then that is another project done. All materials model's own


- Learn to distinguish between what you truly need and what you want to have now - I want new sofas (12 yrs old) a new mattress and bed base (9 yrs old), a bathroom, carpets etc. I need a damp proof course, a shower installation, and woodworm treatment. These are the priority jobs. These are what I am saving like mad for.
- Appreciate what you have and enjoy it. I am so lucky to have found a house we could afford, that is big enough for nobody to have to share a bedroom (except me and DH, but you know the sacrifices you make when you have kids:rotfl:). DS3 got into the same school as his 2 older brothers this morning:T - total relief!! It is not the best school in the area, but also not the worst. It comes under the county, rather than the city (where we live and all his catchment schools were), so all the kids will have the same holiday dates (phew!). :T Which leads nicely into......
Simplicity
- Put routines in place that keep your life running smoothly and make things automatic. - keeping all 4 kids in county schools, after school clubs two days a week for smalls, keep using the diary/calendar system. Only keep the monthly budget in my main bank account -
- Simplify your stuff.... a work in progress.....

Gave the man next door 3 fishing rods I had saved from landfill, I should have sold them, but any contact with fishermen made me convinced that under a bridge on a riverbank was the best place for them. After much being mucked about, it was best just to give t hem away and class it as recycling. Donated a bag of clothes outgrown by DS4 to charity shop. Will ask mums at school with smaller kids if they want smallest's old shorts etc.

- Make space for yourself. - I want somewhere to sit in my sunny little yard with its whitewashed walls and plant pots all around. I do not want to buy plastic seating/table.

- Cut out the extra noise in your life. I have tinnitus, I love background noise. Allow yourself peace and quiet to simply be. This is my idea of hell. I will put the radio on or read a book. I am rubbish at simply being.
- Be frugal in your needs. Will look in charity shops before any purchase in a 'proper' shop.
Non-negotiables
[FONT=&quot]15 NSDs[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Will endeavour to manage at least 15
[/FONT]DFD/MFD I have no debt I have my mortgage which is being overpaid every month. The bank says I will be mortgage free in Oct 2042, but with remortgaging and overpaying, my revised MFD is conservatively December 2034 but more realistically 2029.
Have a budget. I have my budget, it is £100 a week, all other money above this is shunted into another account at the start of the month- it can be borrowed back - but it focuses my mind on what I am spending each week.
NO spending in coffee shops, the kids' 5% regular savers mature this month, so I am going to request they take me out and buy me a coffee and a cake to thank me for managing their money for another year, netting them £35 odd quid each in interest. Between the 4 of them it will work out at about £1 each, but still, it is the principle.... and because I am worth it.

And there it is.

ponypal

Day 1 fail 1 as I bought a coffee this morning which I definitely did not need. Back on the horse tomorrow.

Waste management:
- Food waste – Need to start a meal planning mission this month, really struggling with food and keeping it interesting, I usually allow my partner to cook though I am the more adventurous cook and as such we are in a rut! Will try and cook tea for us 2 x per week for a start instead of making him feel like he has to do it.
- Plastics – keeping at it – might send off some plastic bags back to the supermarket which you can do by giving to the driver if you get it delivered, I always opt out of bags now.
- Utilities – will try and think of more things I could be doing. Better weather makes a big difference though.
- Money – I have a budget and need to ensure I stick to it.


Invest in yourself
I have been writing down 3 positive things about each day and it is going well, also attending a free mindfulness course at work which is nice so far, will keep going.
I want to try and do a bit of drawing/painting this month, and do some writing. All need not cost a penny as I have the supplies I just need to get on and do them.


Needs not wants
Been doing so well with this in the past couple of months but history tells me Spring is where I start to lose focus on my budgeting so I hope to check in here as often as I can.


Simplicity
Donated some stuff today, one less bag in the house! Honestly I have decluttered so much in the past year that there is very little I don’t love now which is a super feeling.
Trying to build up more of a routine to my running but I am now on week 8 of couch to 5k which is 28 minute runs! Can’t believe I am back into this, trying to keep it up.
On a stationery ban all year (my vice) and this month I am on a health and beauty/clothing/everything else ban now.
I have been doing Project 333 and absolutely loving it, such a great project if you are into trying to cut down on clothes spending! It has really improved my laundry management, can’t recommend it enough.
I really want to quit the gym but I think I am locked in, looking into this needs to be one of my frogs in March!

Toni'sfriend

First day of the month and nice to see everyone old and new.

NSD 1/15

Waste management
Food
Lunch and dinner from freezer. HM soup for lunch and curry for dinner.

Utillities
Switched all the radiators off apart from the "feeder" in the hall and turned off everything that is on standby. Not having a lot of luck getting Himself to turn some of the living room lights off but he does have terrible eyesight.

Money
Found a big tin of coins in the Boy's ex bedroom. Lots of coppers which I know he won't use as he pays everything by card or Apple Pay (whatever that is!). I will use them, though. There are also a lot of Swedish coins. Anyone know what I can do with them? Is there a charity that collects foreign coins?

Invest in yourself
Started a new book. We have lots still unread.

Found some packets of chives and parsley seeds in a drawer. Don't know how long they've been there so they might not germinate but I'll have a go. Got enough compost and soil for those at the moment, Thanks for the tip about Lidl, Apple.

Needs not wants
I really will try with this one. haven't been naughty today.

Simplicity
Started the very small beginnings of a cleaning routine today. Hoping to add a few things day by day and week by week.

Off to watch yet another Midsommer Murder which I will no doubt have seen a million times before but it passes a relaxing hour and a half.

Have a good weekend.

misstara

March targets

- Food waste – eat leftovers, don’t bin food (unless it could be used for a science experiment), buy only what you need – plan your meals before going shopping. - Meal plan done for next week, bought a few things today but will do a proper shop on Sunday as no point in buying salad things for work lunches until then. Absolutely hate throwing out food and will quite happily eat things days past their use by date
- Plastics – reduce what comes in to your house and recycle as much as you can. - me and OH have been trying to cut down on plastic use this year, try to buy loose fruit and veg where we can.
- Utilities –cut back on how much gas, leccy and water you use. hopefully will be easy as coming in to the warmer months, however, we live in the north of Scotland so :rotfl:
- Money – just don’t fritter it away. Be wise. Would stockpiling work for you and mean better food management? I buy things we need and stock up if I see them on special offer.

- Do something every single day that makes you happy. - will do.
- Do something else every single day that takes you a little bit nearer to your long-term goals (and now is a good time to set some, if you don’t have any…) - am trying to pay a little bit to the debt every day.
- Learn a new skill or re-start an old one. - will have a think about this.
- Can you grow any food this year? - grew tatties, onions, garlic and lettuce last year and plan to do the same this year.

- Put routines in place that keep your life running smoothly and make things automatic. - getting into the habit of prepping a proper lunch and picking out clothes the night before, menu plan is on fridge door so I can check if anything needs defrosted.
- Simplify your stuff. Just get rid of the unnecessary stuff. Donate it to a charity shop. Freecycle it. Give it to friends and neighbours. - plan to do a big declutter.

Non-negotiables:
[FONT=&quot]15 NSDs[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. Any spend on any item will class as a spend day. You have 16 days for spending - use them wisely. An NSD will not be spoiled by purchasing yellow sticker products only or medication, fuel or paying for regular activities (when planned in advance and the monies put aside in an envelope – eg children’s activities or random payments). This month you will also keep an NSD if you only buy items for the food bank or donate to charity.[/FONT] - will aim for 15
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
DFD/MFD How much do you owe in debt or on your mortgage. When do you plan to have it paid off? Can you bring that date forward? You must pay to this debt (or into savings) first and then live off the rest. - paid to the debt already and aim to pay a little each day to bring it forward.

Have a budget. If it’s not in the budget, don’t buy it. Note down every single spend for the month and at the end, track it for each category. - all recorded in ynab.

NO spending in coffee shops, work canteens, vending machines, corner shops unless it is cheaper than you could make yourself, or is part of a planned outing (and therefore has its own budget). Take your lunch to work every day that you are there. Take pack ups and drinks when you go out. Plan ahead so that you are not caught short. - will do.

greent

Waste management:
- Food waste – eat leftovers, don’t bin food - Have sliced the last bit of the HM loaf for the freezer, so as not to waste it - will eat it as toast Only things in food waste bin today are teabags and the top crust from a slice of toast
- Plastics – reduce what comes in to your house and recycle as much as you can. -Everyone has a reusable drinks bottle - and uses it In the recycling today have gone 2 empty plastic bottles from s'poo & toilet bleach. Did pick up a couple of pieces of recycling in the street (not mine) from yesterday's bin day and put them in my recycling bin
- Utilities –cut back on how much gas, leccy and water you use. - Didn't have the heating on at all yesterday evening :T Will see how tonight goes - set to come on at 8.00 for an hour
- Money – just don’t fritter it away. I *did* go to smkt today - but did think about everything I bought


Invest in yourself
- Do something every single day that makes you happy. - today's was buying a tray of pretty flowers for my new (free!) pots
- Do something else every single day that takes you a little bit nearer to your long-term goals Small OP made to mtge. 2 Pr0lif1c surveys done (ultimately for hol fund). Tracked food on mfp. Will look to achieve 10K steps by bedtime. Things donated/ posted. Deep cleaned boys' bathroom
- Learn a new skill or re-start an old one. - hmmm.... the job interview I had yesterday highlighted some gaps I could self train on
- Can you grow any food this year? - need to get some tomato seeds!


Needs not wants
- We all know Martin’s mantra. . Learn to distinguish between what you truly need and what you want to have now - OK - I did not need the flowers I bought - but they bring me joy! And I can take the cost of tehm (and the compost) from any bday money I get
- Appreciate what you have and enjoy it. - Flowers will help me to appreciate my home and garden. Had a good time on way home with DS3 being beatboxes.....


Simplicity
- Put routines in place that keep your life running smoothly and make things automatic. - housework - sort-of following TOMM.
- Simplify your stuff. Just get rid of the unnecessary stuff. - DOnated 5 non fiction books to school for the library. Posted a small flebay sale. Put 3 things which I had listed on t'bay in CS pile
- Make space for yourself.
- Cut out the extra noise in your life. This might be computer games, the Interweb, tv, radio, certain people. Allow yourself peace and quiet to simply be. - hmmm... a certain game on my PC has crept in again, although I don't wish to get rid of it entirely. However, I must make an effort to read more
- Be frugal in your needs.


NO spending in coffee shops etcwe have 2 planned nights out with friends - one for my bday weekend and 1 at month end with old school friends. One lunch out for my bday. I do have a £10 st*rbucks giftcard to use if I get desperate and also 02 app usually gets me a free hot drink midweek if I'm in town

XSpender

Waste

Food - Defrosted some odds and ends of berries to add to some kale from the freezer, almost past it strawberries and a sulky banana for breakfast smoothies tomorrow.
Plastics - remembered my bags for the shop, bought a plastic pot of yogurt but like to reuse these as freezer containers
Money - Spent on food and dentist from budget, dentist £10 less than budgeted for
Utilities - meter readings taken yesterday so will monitor this months usage. Haven't put heating on while WFH this week. No TV on last night and sat wrapped in a throw. Have 3 radiators I think we can turn off. Turned down 2 radiators today. Didn't cook lunch.

Invest in Yourself

Happy - a new pile of library books waiting to be read makes me happy
Steps Forward - walked DS to and from school today (4 miles!), put £10 saved at dentist towards £100 savings goal
New Skill - not started yoga practice yet 0/20

Needs not Wants

Gratitudes - 1) quick and pain free dental treatment at a NHS dentist 2) DS having a reasonable amount of homework when we have a busy weekend planned 3) DH being successful at and loving his job after all the problems he had last year

Planned Expenditure - All spends within budget

Simplicity

Routines - Giving 45 minutes a day blasts on a weekday a go rather than a fixed routine. Worked well yesterday and off to do today's when I get off here.
Simplify your Stuff - nothing has left the building as yet
Make Space - cleared main dresser shelf
Cut out noise - last night I sat and read my book while DH did some work in the dining room. It was so quiet he kept asking if I had fallen asleep!:)

NSDs - 0/12
DFD - Feb 2022, aiming for Dec 2021
Budget - done in YNAB and updated today

greent

Toni'sfriend wrote: »

There are also a lot of Swedish coins. Anyone know what I can do with them? Is there a charity that collects foreign coins?
.

Sometimes schools/ banks/ post offices have collections boxes for old/ foreign coins for charity

dolly84

f0xh0les - big relief about the school, I'm glad I don't need to go through all that again.


Got the dog a different food this time and it was £6 cheaper (tried to talk DH out of this as we usually regret it), DH promptly spent £5 of that in Tesco on the way home from the school run. One car is now full of fuel using a 5p off per litre, 2 library books returned, just another dog walk to do now.

crazy_cat_lady

Hello :hello:
Great news on the school place f0xh0les. I have all of this stress and joy to come next year trying to get ds into the same school as his sister. From the teaching point of view, it looks as though our next year 7 is going to be completely full... for the first time since I started teaching.
So, 1st of March has been mostly uneventful, which I like. All of my dd's and stuff have gone out, I've had a full day of teaching at school, and I am very, VERY tired. Nothing new to report... I've juggled and jiggled my money about and made some big (ish) savings on interest on my debt. I just hope I've done the right thing.
As far as self care is concerned, I need to make that my priority. I turn 42 this month, I'm still waiting to sort the house and child maintenance out. I'm trying to juggle the ever increasing debt with one income and two children, a full time job and 2 part time jobs. My sleeping pattern is awful and I'm constantly tired so I need to urgently try and deal with that. It would be lovely to get a solid 5 or 6 hours of sleep rather than the 2 or3 hour stints I get at the moment.
January and February have been very frugal and taught me a lot about planning and reducing waste so I will continue that as far as I can. I'm the same as foxgloves in that I'm working through a massive stash of wool so don't need to buy any more at all.
I'm lucky in that I have a lot of what I need and want. A job, a home, my kids and cats. I need to keep balancing the books, pay off my debt and hopefully get ex out of my financial life permanently. I'm not high maintenance thankfully - just need to keep an eye on takeaway spends when I'm so tired.

Kerry_Woman

f0xh0les - Great news about the school.
Was quite a spend day. Did a big food shop, so hoping to just do food top ups when needed. Paid off the balance for the retreat and sorted out my spending money for my holiday. Got face cream and a scrub from lu$h which were needed. Also tv mag and oyster top up. I have worked out what is left in the different categories so that I can keep a very close eye on spending. Gave a donation to a charity that I usually give to each month. My nephew is walking 10000 steps each day in March for a charity and made a donation to that as well. I can chill out for the rest of the evening. Going to have a relaxing bath.