NST March 2019: WINS against the debt

apple_muncher

F0xh0les - yay to ds3 getting the same school as 1+2. I used to live in the city (S. Wigston) and worked in the county, so I understand what you mean about the dates. We are still (currently 19.53) waiting to hear from our council. They said 'after 5pm' and although dd has a place at the nearby posh school, we would like to know where the council gave her.

Ponyplops - buying a coffee isn't a fail; merely a hiccup.

Toni'sfriend -am pretty sure that most charities will take foreign coins.

apple_muncher

I've started the month with an NSD - always a good feeling!

My fruity plant bundle arrived a few days ago, and needs planting up. I've done the strawbs and was digging holes for the goosegogs this morning. Still got rasp canes and blueberry bushes to home. And the seeds to plant.

However, my hands and wrists/lower arms are getting really painful again. I thought it was due to overdoing the knitting (a scary thought...) but I've really cut back and it's not much better. It might not be helped by the damp. Or when I consume sugar. Or dig over part of the garden...!


My dentist gave me the all clear today, which was very nice. It's not my favourite place...


I'll 'fess up to binning 4 - yes, 4 - lots of food today. They were all worthy of becoming science experiments (like the cup Lister had on Red Dwarf especially because it annoyed Rimmer, and that Kryton cleaned up) and were furry or fizzy or slimy. So, I'm the first to go on the naughty step, am I? Can I go and sit on f0xh0les' (imaginary, so far?) garden furniture instead, with one of ccl's crocheted blankets over me?


Today I am grateful for the phlox starting to grow, for my hyacinths all being blue ones, for writing a couple of much-needing-to-be-sent-today emails, for a 'nice' time at the dentist, for dh getting on with his stuff, for dd starting her Barefoot for the month challenge - even cycling barefoot, for our library.

JoJo77

Apple Muncher- thanks for the tip about compost!
Dolly84 - how do you freeze pizza dough? Would be really useful as LO loves decorating pizza on Saturday movie night (and popping some corn)
F0xh0les - congrats on the school place! We are waiting to see if LO will go to our first choice. Little village school but oversubscribed

Day 1 and I decided to give myself a day off. I’ve already done my hours for work, and whilst I could do more and earn a bit extra I am completely exhausted after driving 200 miles to a client on Wednesday and an emergency (and therefore stressful) meeting with a different client yesterday. I’ve also not been feeling myself. I do feel guilty though:(

Used up the last bits from a roast chicken in DHs sandwich at lunchtime together with some ys Camembert. Our neighbour brought round some sausages for the dog which were leftover from her work so no waste for them, and a very happy dog:D

I’ve reused a plastic bread bag as my kitchen bin liner today. Did notice in Morris’s Son that you can recycle plastic food bags in there. I sometimes go in for a top-up shop so I will start saving them for when I go in rather than throwing them in the bin (DH will love this as he already complains about the recycling):rotfl:

Lovely hot shower after swimming. Much hotter and far better pressure than in the caravan. Felt like a treat after not having one this morning

Finished tracking my budget for February and there was £500 leftover to go towards the house! Admittedly £200 was the saving for council tax as they don’t collect in February but the rest was being conscious with spending. Very happy about that:j

I’ve done my stomach exercises, walked the dog and had a swim (albeit brief as LO doesn’t wear armbands any more and I don’t like to be too far away from him). Also sold an item on Bay of E and posted it to that’s one less thing cluttering up my space and some pounds in the bank. Hooray!

1 of 15 NSDs in the bag

Positive turtle vibes to all turtles for day 2

mothernerd

Set the alarm for 7am to get to my 9.30am exercise class, ended up walking there (without any sit downs) as a few glitches made me late. Today's topic was food labels, then did exercises (I was 13 - 15 on the BORG scale - had to explain 7 of 9 to people who don't have children last time) which is basically working hard (sweaty and at the end 15 breathing hard and giving monosyllabic replies) but not straying into the red zone (> 15 with 20 being call the ambulance). Have lost a tiny amount of weight since last time (must try harder).

Afterwards I went upstairs to check on my podiatrist appointment, cancel mum's (clashes with revised holiday dates), couldn't give mum mine as different dept books mine. Read for a while as I'd just missed the little bus, rode as far as the bus station and did about an hour and a half in town.

Quite spendy. I have used my diy allowance from last month and nibbled into my entertainment allowance. Food budget will have to cough up the rest. A small amount of food was purchased. Main spends were bath seal, cup hooks (used all mine at mum's), 8' garden canes, medical stuff inc another support bandage and vit D tablets and cleaning stuff 'ingredients' - boxes of bicarb, soda crystals etc. All useful (needed) but budget for the rest of the month is a lot tighter than it was first thing.

A lot of time was spent looking for hanging basket liners - mum wants the sort of pressed cardboard ones and only found coir ones. Hobbled home for a rest before going to mum's.

Have successfully made her a new podiatrist appointment, pulled everything out of the cupboard of doom to find her neurologist appointment (date I thought it was), put a pile of stuff into paper recycling and put the rest back in the cupboard.

Less successful at making my sleep clinic appointment. Phone lines were 'experiencing high volumes', so tried the website (with a detour to check out buses that will get me there), passed all the security checks only to be told they had NO appointments. Didn't want to try another clinic (this one's 8 miles away but at least I know some of the layout due to mum's visits there) so had to leave a note and wait for the hospital to get in touch with me.

All appointments entered in my diary and on the calendar and the neurologist letter has gone into mum's handbag. We both ate stuff I took with me or left earlier in the week (lots of using up) and I've brought the rest home. All my muscles are aching, had to lever myself out of the taxi.

Plan to read, sleep and then start on the puddles of space tomorrow.

Today I am grateful for receptionists who tried to help, for mum being tired (first thing she said was 'no plans to do anything today' which left me to get on with working through what needed to be done quietly and efficiently) and all the benches I've sat down on today (infirmary, bus station, Wilco's and the town centre as well as the walker).

laurenh1

Hi all,


So sorry I was rubbish last month, my MH wasn't great & I needed to just check out of being an adult & be antisocial for a while. pleased to say hub getting home & lots of sunshine & being out in the garden & I feel a lot better.


Waste management- made Victoria sponge yesterday & a banana bread to use some bits up. My darling children both opened bananas took one bite & then left them on the side so into a loaf they went!
Utilities- I've really been trying on this, we stopped using the drier a year ago & we have seen a real improvement on our bill as a result but we have only in the last 4 months got a smart meter. My first couple of bills were 100 pound plus but they are now around 80 pounds & my DD is being lowered all the time.


Invest in yourself- todays activity to make me/us happy was meeting up with friends & their children, we all got lunch (naughty) but the cost was minimal & we had a laugh.
Dp something to get us closer to the goal- over paid on my car by 120 pounds, woohoo. I have a crazy plan to get it paid off by August.
Needs not wants- cancelled some books on order & decided to read something I have instead.
Simplicity- I have a vague & simple daily routine & a small note book that keeps me in line:D


NSDs- will do 15:D
DFD- hopefully August (I owe £5180 for my car , which makes my head spin a bit :rotfl:) I do have £12500 in savings though for my house deposit :cool: I have weighed up paying it off but I gain more leaving my savings alone, in fact, I earn more anually in interest than what I'll pay back on the loan as its so low interest & also my house deposit is in a help 2 buy so I'll get 25% added from the government

Have a budget- always :A I have £205 for the month, eek. Meal plan done also.



Good Luck for March Lovelies, bring it on

BigDreams

Hi everyone first time here so here goes

Food - eating from the freezer and doing something with limp veggies in the fridge before another shopping is done.
Plastics - always recycle but will try to bring less into the house
Money - skint. Going on holiday of a lifetime in Easter and it just keeps costing in visas, clothes for kids, insurance etc etc. Got luggage down to go through hubby and i’s summer clothes and we have one less case than i thought we had. Going to see if i can borrow from friends (have already borrowed an American sat nav).
Utilities - will be try to keep heating off as much as possible

Invest in Yourself
Daily happiness - the fact i just made an ummm noise suggests this needs more thought
New Skill - need to make curtains with the material i bought two months ago.

Needs not Wants - will need to keep repeating this to myself over the coming weeks.

Gratitudes - have a wee notebook for this that suffers from famine and feast style entries. In general I think I would get so much more done if I could manage to be consistent in the things I need to do! Very very grateful for upcoming holiday and family.

Planned Expenditure - 1 family birthday but 3/4gift sorted, 1 kids birthday present already bought and a 2nd invite received so need to get another present. Joinery work budgeted for as well as work in garden, budgeted for and all money that's needed is available. 1night out for me but I'll be driving and 1 night of having friends round for dinner and drinks and 1 lunch out as well as a day out ten pin bowling with kids planned. Holiday kicks in right before the end of the month. Sheesh it's going to be tight!

Simplicity

Routines - I want to get an exercise routine in place as well as house work.
Simplify your Stuff - dd1 just delivered some toys to her friend's wee brother
Make Space - need to clear out my work desk
Cut out noise - going to aim for an earlier bedtime with no screens an hour before bed

NSDs - currently 1/15
saving for an emergency fund currently 3341/5000 already moved this month's savings across to the account
Budget - done

Lovelifeloveliving

Hi all:j

Waste management
- Food waste - I will continue with meal planning. Use or freeze leftovers. Aiming for zero food waste.
- Plastics – I will be mindful of purchases. Reuse plastics where possible. Use margarine containers for freezer containers.
- Utilities – Switch off and unplug all appliances when not in use. Switch off all lights when not in the room. Batch cook. Line dry clothes where possible.
- Money – Buy items on offer. Continue to complete budget spreadsheet.

Invest in yourself
- Do something every single day that makes you happy.
I will.
- 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…)
Goals- lose 7lbs this month.
Continue with 3 gym sessions per week.
Aim for 10000 steps a day.
- Learn a new skill or re-start an old one.
I will have to give a little thought to this.
- Can you grow any food this year?
I will try and start with some herbs.

Needs not wants
- We all know Martin’s mantra. Be consistent in applying it. Learn to distinguish between what you truly need and what you want to have now and simply cannot ever live without…
I will make a huge effort to focus on this mantra.
- Appreciate what you have and enjoy it.
I will continue with recording gratitudes.

Simplicity
- Put routines in place that keep your life running smoothly and make things automatic.
I need to develop a cleaning routine, a pamper/beauty routine and exercise routine.
- Simplify your stuff. Just get rid of the unnecessary stuff. Donate it to a charity shop. Freecycle it. Give it to friends and neighbours.
I will take a room by room approach.
- Make space for yourself.
I will look at the space I have and make the best use of same.
- 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.
I will schedule 15 minutes per day to be still.
- Be frugal in your needs.
No spend challenge regarding cleaning products, toiletries and clothes.
Aim for 15 NSDs.
I will continue to take my lunch to work. 12 days part time.
No vending machines purchases.
Savings £300 this month.
CC debt £1100, plan to have it paid off by December 2019. No interest CC. No other debts.

Good luck turtles:)

sashanut

Hi all:j

Will join in the challenge as much as I can this month but slightly hampered by going away tomorrow for 10 days. However, I will be mindful of the rules, and check in whenever I can. Welcome to all the new faces!!

- 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. Pretty good at using all food that can be made into something else...yesterday made chicken leek & ham pies from a chicken carcase, one bendy leek & some leftover ham. However did clear out the fridge today & had to bin a couple of things. Clearing out the fridge at least once a week will make me aware of what's in there & what needs to be used up first. The family just open the fridge & shove 'whatever it is' onto the top shelf regardless....

- Plastics – reduce what comes in to your house and recycle as much as you can. Always take my own bags to smarket & try to reuse & recycle as much as I can. All kitchen/food waste goes into dogs, providing it's suitable for them - or failing that compost.


- Utilities –cut back on how much gas, leccy and water you use. Our energy bills are pretty big living in a house that is large & not energy efficient, but we do not have the central heating on unless it's really cold (or visitors coming round). We have a portable gas fire that we have on if it gets really chilly, plus open fire that burns coal & wood. We cook on an 1957 Aga which runs all the time & provides a small amount of background heating & hot water. Water is metered now & costs about a third of what it used to.

- Money – just don’t fritter it away. Be wise. Would stockpiling work for you and mean better food management? We already have a large stockpile & I need to work on using that up & stopping trips to the shops. Helps that DD is looking at her finances now & cutting back in order to afford other things, so I can use that as an excuse not to go.


Invest in yourself
- Do something every single day that makes you happy.
Generally being outside in the garden does that.

- 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…) Need to set some goals.

- Learn a new skill or re-start an old one. Will think about this one.

- Can you grow any food this year? Definitely can and will.


Needs not wants
- We all know Martin’s mantra. Be consistent in applying it. Learn to distinguish between what you truly need and what you want to have now and simply cannot ever live without…
- Appreciate what you have and enjoy it. Definitely do not need anything & will have a ban on clothing & bags especially.


Simplicity
- Put routines in place that keep your life running smoothly and make things automatic. Need to do this re the housework & gardening.

- Simplify your stuff. Just get rid of the unnecessary stuff. Donate it to a charity shop. Freecycle it. Give it to friends and neighbours. Big need to do this, we moved here with nothing at all, not even furniture & now the place is stuffed full.

- 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.

No interest in computer games, have never played one. Do need to keep off the computer & quit browsing the bay of E. I can always find something I want...hah. Only watch TV in the evening, prefer quiet really but both DH & DD need constant noise. I have quiet rooms where I go when I don't want the constant racket.

- Be frugal in your needs. I think I am.


15 NSDs. NSD today so 1/15. However, hols tomorrow so may not have any more for a while.

DFD/MFD How much do you owe in debt or on your mortgage. When do you plan to have it paid off? Have no debt or mortgage any more but could do with saving. Will look into this as it's too easy to buy 'stuff'.

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. Will do this, am guilty of never budgeting.


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) Rarely do but will make an effort.

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.

Go Turtles!!

Fmess

Morning all,

Spendy day yestetday and was on a treat for myself! Got my nails done for a big charity event today, all in budget and it is my biggest night out of the year so happy to pay. Need to get cash out for tonight. Meal and entry are prepaid but donation and drinking money are needed in cash.

Need to do a small top up shop as have quite full cupboards and go for a swim so will combine those to save petrol. Also need to walk the boys twice and do some marking, in case I’m too tired/have a hangover tomorrow!

Made two small PADs yesterday. I love doing this so will continue as much as possible

cuddlymarm

Good morning guys
It’s a bit miserable here weather wise, grey and rain and high winds expected so I won’t be going far.
First NSD under my belt but today I need salad so I might as well get a couple of bits I’m going to need soon as well so save breaking into another NSD.
Not much done yesterday as it was my SILs 60th birthday and I was feeling a bit wooly headed so I just had a lovely nap and ate out of the freezer.
The heating is still off but I may need to put the dehumidifier on for a couple of hours later. The problem with a very small flat is that if you need to keep the moisture level under control to guard against mould.
I’ve loads of bits in the fridge coming up to their use by dates so I’m going to jiggle the menu plan today to make sure nothing is wasted.
The only bill I had this week was the credit card so I’ve paid off as much as I can afford. The fridge is quite full and the freezer very so I’m going to try make do for a couple of weeks.
Apart from that I plan to get on with my blanket I’m crocheting. It’s been sat in a corner neglected since Xmas and since it’s the weekend OH will have sport on the tv and I’m back at work tomorrow so that’s my aim.
Anyway better go
Have a good day guys
Cuddles