NST: November 2019

crazy_cat_lady

Link to December thread, which I will very much need...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6076490/nst-december-festive-fun
Much love to everyone - I've had a couple of days off being generally exhausted with work and home, and enjoying my first of two Christmas nights out - I went to see RuPaul's drag race on tour last night and it was absolutely amazing. I drove but I am way too old for a late night finish and full day of work the next day. Don't think I could have survived with a hangover as well.
Now looking forward to the weekend - hopefully low spend

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for the charities that are helping the homeless, for bumping into an acquaintance in the street, for getting 2 loads of washing done, for fresh bed linen, for my needefelting, for a good book, for a lovely email from dd's English teacher about her poem performance today.

nannygladys

Hi everyone
Been around the house today so not spent anything, so will end the month today for my sfd's. Tomorrow I have to get a few bits that I have run out of but that wont cost much.
So : grocery spend has gone very well this month and I have made use of the fridge/freezer and cupboards more, so some bits will need replacing but theres no hurry. I will have some of my grocery budget over but that will be transferred to my efund. Unexpected expense was the vets bill but that came out of savings, so that will gradually get put back and my Xmas present shopping is done bar the choccies and eatables that I will buy just before Xmas so I don't eat them lol!
Gratitudes:
1. Warm home
2. Being well
3. Being solvent
Keep warm and well everyone
Nannyg

XSpender

On the mend but sick of coughing, slept in another bedroom last night as I was coughing so much and didn’t want to disturb DH

Budget - all up to date in YNAB. Gone slightly over in food budget as DH bought lunch at work and beer on the way home.

Pay to Debts/Savings first Added a little extra to EF. All debt DDs have been paid

15 NSDS 3/15

Avoid Coffee Shops - bonfire night and coffee with friend were my 2 outings.

Lunch to Work - Aiming for 20 days for DH 13/20 It must be more than this but I've lost count

Remove 60 Items - 10/60 more will go this weekend as we get ready to put up the tree

Use up Toiletries and Condiments Have had to buy shampoo and maple syrup so adding rather than taking away

Daily Fresh Air Walked the dog

Donate £5 - poppy appeal and shoe box donations done. CIN donation. Food bank donation dropped off.

Daily Gratitude - 1) Feeling a bit better 2) getting an unexpected 20% Black Friday discount on the items I had already planned to buy and a £5 off another planned purchase 3) DS teacher for being so engaged with the children and taking the time to send comments about how DS is doing and for having good manners 4) DH deciding not to go into work tomorrow 5) YS GF items in M&S including apple pie (can never get GF pastry right) for Sunday lunch

Help others, Love People :heart2: texts from friend with an invite for tomorrow I’m too ill to accept but will meet up in 2 weeks as planned

New Habits

1) Eat 3 proper meals each day 20/30
2) Drink 2 glasses of plain water each day 19/30
3) Eat a minimum of 3 F&V each day 7/30
4) Complete 2 items off my to do list each day 13/30

greent

So we're nearlyat the end of November and I'm still on 6 NSD..... what can I say except that I haven't blown any budgets and that Xmas has played a very large part!

Avoid every chain coffee shop etc. Support local shops and traders.- nothing today

Remove 60 items from your house - nothing today 260/60

Use up your toiletries and household cleaners before buying any more. - yep going v well. All I've bought this month is a deodorant, a bottle of toilet cleaner and a bottle of thin bleach (which will last me ages but is a godsend when DS2 gets paint or whatever on his white school shirts.....)

Go on 2 outings - 2 done so far but 1 was free bar parking of 1.10

Donate £5 or time to charity - lots of 'things' donated to various places. Money donated to poppy appeal, CIN, Rotary organisation & Gloucester Cathedral. Foodbank donation done

Come on here every day and post 3 things you are grateful for. - getting yet more Xmas things sorted, DS2 being better than he was (still not right - but he had an inset day today and has another on Monday), OH's payday, a cracking BF deal on a fab present for bestie

Start 1 or 2 new habits this month, ones that are simple and will make you feel better - fewer cups of tea and min 4 f&v per day - just about ok for both

ditty1234

Today I am grateful for old friends who call you from other continent for almost 2 hours while dinner gets cold, grateful for that app that makes it possible and thanks for just thanks ... and its pay day and Friday.
Welcome to the weekend if you're a 9-5, 5 days a week a bit like me, other wise just welcome anyways.

facethemusic

I've not posted for 4 days, but 2 SDs and 2 NSDs takes me to 16/15 so ��. No toiletries bought so also ��. Have lost count of things out of the house but was on 50/60,the charity shop box is now full, and I cleared 2 drawers of my stuff at work into 1 and binned/shredded/recycled the rest so I'm claiming at least 60/60 to make it �� also.
My main gratitude for the day/month is that I braved posting here, and everyone was friendly! Also for posting here making me pause before clicking buy now, or just popping into the shop, budgets were never in danger of being blown when I felt accountable and had an aim. So thank you all.
Tomorrow will be a small spend day, and will include rowies to go to work (a saturday treat for us all), the stories of stocks in the freezer remind me of being at uni, and my parents bringing down dozens at a time! My flatmates had never had them before they lived with me, and they all acquired a taste for them ��.
I hope I can join in next month- and not spending in December will be a definite challenge!

mothernerd

Thanks for Yesvember apple. I know we still have another day but it's nearly that day now.


Budgets I went over on food, mainly for other people (and going out shopping because the things I had bought were eaten by other people). Travel and diy budgets intact. I haven't even had to top up my phone and it's been down to a couple of pounds the last couple of weeks. In contrast DS2 came round to collect his parcels and explained how (for only an extra £11 a month :eek:) he had upgraded his now failing phone, got 'free' spotify for several months and bagged himself a 'free' PS4 for Christmas. Told him my £10 top up lasted about 3 months. He's a happy bunny so live and let live.


Money in the bank is slowly increasing (pays the standing orders and any extra is my emergency fund) and have put several £2 coins into the toucan. Odd bits of previously squirreled away money have been found.


NSDs Lost count but think I reached the target. I was more conscious of spending and planning when to spend.


Avoid coffee shops etc I did succumb to an all day breakfast and a hot chocolate on a miserable extended shopping trip (one of mum's quests - this is what I want whether it actually exists in physical form in any shop known to man) where I got very wet and cold.


Lunch to work Bought soup and a roll from the infirmary cafe when I was chilled through and had just missed a bus. It was less than the bus fare I should have paid which the driver refused to take.


Remove 60 items Lots gone and more to go. Have decide to give away my kitchen stuff apart from things I can't bear to part with (T & G Green domino plates, stock pot, stainless steel utensils). I'm going to be spending more time at mum's and it's easier to cook there so will use Beloved's stuff when here and donate most of mine.


Toiletries and Cleaning stuff Used up 3 of each ends of toothpaste and antiseptic cream (1 here, 1 left at mum's and 1 taken on holiday), two moisturisers (thought it was the same one), 2 lipsalves, washing up liquid and washing tablets, bicarb, soda crystals, bits of shampoos and shower gels (have noted another that I don't think Beloved uses any more and its for sensitive skin so will use that up next).


Fresh air is a bit too fresh for me atm. Had to use the inhaler after crossing the car park. Lots of outside jobs done (and continuing) on days when it has been possible to be outside.


Donations lots to the foodbank and to the charity shops (and some budget buy Christmas gifts purchased). Spare change to several collection boxes.


Daily gratitudes always.


Help others, Love people. Parcels taken in, doors held, lots of chatting and compliments to strangers. Food and hugs shared.


New habits slow improvements but getting things right more often. Sleep pattern went off course for about a week (later and later getting to sleep culminating in one night of no sleep) but has now been corrected. Also have an A5 desk diary for next year to track sleeping, spending, eating, mood and daily gratitudes - I eat more when I am sad or bored. Keeping a record helps but I have only done it now and then. Aiming for more consistency. Using up several old notebooks and have plans for leftover craft bits.


I went to the evening film showing (still covered by the money mum gave me yesterday) and bought a raffle ticket with odd coins in my purse. Told them I never win anything and when the 3rd ticket was the number before mine thought it was a foregone conclusion I won the forth and final prize (chocolates and I'm eating them).



Have another film next week, in aid of the local food bank. Extra gratitude for resisting the BF hype. The t-shirts I missed last time were all £7 today. DS2 liked the 4 moles per litre one (he has a chemistry degree). Hardest to resist deal was definitely from hearing dogs for the deaf who offered a bogof on puppy adoptions - it was blacklab Friday.

f0xh0les

It is the last day of the month and I still have money = success! Also, stomped all over my frog-ephant, and found out that you will not fail an MOT with a key stuck in the ignition (who knew!?!). All good information. So, nothing to worry about, need to buy something on ebay and we are sorted. Will bore you more about it in December!

NSDs - I stopped counting at 15.

Good grief! The fog has just descended, it was totally clear not 15 minutes ago, but suddenly, boom. Fogmageddon out there now. Can't even see the end of the street.

Today the kids will continue on the tinselfest (they can tinsel the top floor where their bedrooms are - there is NO tinsel on the other 2 floors. I hates it. I am tinsel-intolerant....but the (cloth) advent calendars need to be up for tonight, so I plan on going into town for 'reindeer poo' ingredients.

Thank you apple for Yes-vember, off to sneak a peak at December's thread (hope there is no tinsel-quest - I would fail)

dolly84

Thanks for the November challenge apple, you were fab as you always are.


DH & I are dropping DD at work then heading straight off into town to get the rest of our birthday/Christmas shopping done. It is DD's birthday on Tuesday and she has requested takeaway pizza for tonight and we are having a trip out to Harrogate tomorrow.


I have an advent calendar that you fill yourself which I've had over 10 years now, I have bought DD a variety box of Pukka tea and will put one bag in each day along with a chocolate coin.


I bought some items last week from a small company in Scotland called Blushberry Botanicals, they make gorgeous zero waste products in small handmade batches, they came the other day and they are so lovely I thought I would mention them in case anyone was looking for that type of gift.