NST: January 2021 – the Turtles do the Jitterbug

f0xh0les

Monthly roundup! Last day of January - so how did it go?

Janus was the god of doors, so I fixed my sticking bathroom door after far too long of it banging and scraping. Literally a 5 minute fix.

Ideas. Be creative with what you have. Making soda bread every couple of days is working well and the bread budget has dropped dramatically.

Thriftiness I darned a pair of socks - properly made a new warp and weft  and wove in the gap.  Bought nothing in the sales and nothing online that did not use a free money voucher.

Time with those you love  Soooooooo much time.

Extras.  3 proper exercise sessions a week. Total failure at this one

Re-visit your budget, ended with a surplus, saved lots more than last month.

Be yourself. Eaten well, soups for lunch is brilliant and cheap. Started reading again.

Unburden yourself. Can't get away from homeschooling.  Must accept it. It chafes.

Gratitudes. For the fab Turtles, for warmth, stability,  for having more than enough.

So ending January 2021, The month that never really started, with 23 NSDs, money in the savings pot, mortgage overpaid, breakdown insurance for the cars, stayed within budgets, which were tight, but I managed it.  Small victories.

Thank you @apple_muncher for running January, see you over in February!

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 26. That will be it for this month as the Tesco delivery is arriving shortly.

Himself's younger brother has tested positive. To be honest, I'm not surprised. He works in a care home and travels to and from work by public transport so there was always a real danger that it might happen. Luckily it seems to be quite mild but thoroughly unpleasant. So both he and his older brother are now self isolating.

In the spirit of not procrastinating I'm starting my little personal mini challenge today. No excuses. I've got a list as long as your arm so better get on.

Thanks for running January, Apple.

Thrifty_Taylor

Morning All, pleased with how this month has gone. 20 NSD, saved £103 on the food budget & have transferred over to a cheaper mobile provider. Made all birthday cards needed for this month & a couple of presents for next month too. Currently have a longer lunch break, so have been walking most days with a colleague. 
Grateful for the lighter mornings & early evenings, that hubby is on board with limiting spending & our family being healthy.
Thank you for this month's thread Apple, looking forward to joining you all in February, thanks Mothernerd for setting it up 😁

ditty1234

Hm I managed a measly 9 NSD this week, I am suspecting that shopping is my only outings and time out! So will try to be better and more planned in February.

Shrewbie

A quiet but nice weekend. Went to a language exchange on Friday which was limited to 4 people per table and we all kept our masks on except when sipping. Was nice to chat to new people. 

On Saturday I accompanied bf to the hospital for an MRI for his knee but sat outside in a cafe waiting for him and reading my book. We then went to a takeaway bagel place for lunch which was lovely. I had a lazy evening watching films and then bf came home drunk just after 10pm which is the curfew. So pretty tame.  I did drink but literally only a couple of glasses of wine on Saturday and a few small glasses of cream liquor yesterday. so very happy with myself. 

Very happy also with the amount reading and exercising I have done this month, and for drinking no alcohol for 3 weeks and then managing moderation, and for batch cooking and experimenting with new dishes. 

Could do a bit better with budgeting and NSDs, keeping in touch with fam and meditating. 

Grateful for my headphones still working after being accidentally put through the washing machine!, for Apple running the challenge and to all the lovely turtles… see you on the other side x

DawnW

Looking out of the window at large wet lumps of snow falling. Far too wet underfoot for it to lay, but really not a nice afternoon!  I have managed 16 NSDs this month, not bad in a month with 3 family birthdays. I have paid the deposit for the renovations on our conservatory, but other than that, spends were quite low and well within budget. February and March will also need to be frugal, as the rest of the conservatory money will need to be found, and there will be lots more family birthdays during these months. Thanks to Apple for running the challenge, and I will 'see' everyone in February. Does anyone else think that the time is rushing past at the moment, odd when you think how our activities are so curtailed!

ditty1234

Shrewbie said:

A quiet but nice weekend. Went to a language exchange on Friday which was limited to 4 people per table and we all kept our masks on except when sipping. Was nice to chat to new people. 

On Saturday I accompanied bf to the hospital for an MRI for his knee but sat outside in a cafe waiting for him and reading my book. We then went to a takeaway bagel place for lunch which was lovely. I had a lazy evening watching films and then bf came home drunk just after 10pm which is the curfew. So pretty tame.  I did drink but literally only a couple of glasses of wine on Saturday and a few small glasses of cream liquor yesterday. so very happy with myself. 

Very happy also with the amount reading and exercising I have done this month, and for drinking no alcohol for 3 weeks and then managing moderation, and for batch cooking and experimenting with new dishes. 

Could do a bit better with budgeting and NSDs, keeping in touch with fam and meditating. 

Grateful for my headphones still working after being accidentally put through the washing machine!, for Apple running the challenge and to all the lovely turtles… see you on the other side x

I can't wait till I can sit in a cafe and drink coffee again, hope knee was ok? Probably not since scan required. 

greent

End of month:

Janus - got a couple of small house jobs ticked off, got a tiny bit of decluttering done and did some financial admin that has been hanging around for a long time   

Ideas.  Sorted inside freezer -have been using some bits up from there and pantry and tried some new recipes. Haven't worn any different clothes - nowhere to go!  

Thriftiness - continued CS pile is growing. Couple of sales via flebay. Some things given away. Paid for an electrician to do some work, but nothing else. DS3 needed new joggers - got 3 too-small pairs from DS2's wardrobe and they're now in DS2's   Nothing else bought except presents for DS2's bday. Managed a good amount of savings this month, too Have also decided we appear to have too many cleaning products and toiletries so purchases going forward will be very minimal. Have made use of 0li0 (both ways) in Jan.

Time - hmmm.... somehow January passed both so slowly and so quickly - and not much was done! Obviously homelearning for youngest 2 - and uni son. Some walks done - but not enough.  

Extras. Have not done 3x exercise a week - probably averaged 2, though. Plus walks.

Re-visit your budgets for the month. - have decided we're kinda going with the flow - harder to plan when things change.

Be yourself. All work cancelled for Jan (4 weeks worth) except 4 hours.... sigh... good job we don;t *need* the money. Did not do well at better eating in Jan - actually out a few lb back on   

Unburden yourself. Lots of unsubscribing done. Things gone. Faceb00k pages and people unfollowed.  

Gratitude. always

Generosity. Unable to volunteer due to lockdown, but have donations ready for CS. Have given things away via 0lio and faceb00k. Donated to fbank. 

Gratitudes - the snow not being too bad when out for a walk, for tea and biscuits upon return, for a cosy fire, for a lazy weekend

Shrewbie

Thank you Ditty yes he has had 2-3 ops on his knee, a long list of issues form old sport injuries and this scan was to check things are not worse since op 2 years ago. He still has pain but it's manageable. I hope you will all be able to visit a cafe soon! I feel kind of guilty that we can but I imagine that may change in the near future x 

facethemusic

Sunday- still on 18 NSDs and that's how the month will end. Today "should" have been a NSD but I've been looking at a picture on etsy for my bedroom all month, and as there is money left in almost all my budgets I have gone crazy and spent the £18.95 (with free delivery). If I love it as much as I think I will it will be money well spent. 
Going to transfer the remaining "surplus" over to savings. 
As February is a short month with no Council Tax payment, i can surely minimise spends and have extra left at the end of the month. I have started thinking about new windows so have an extra savings target.  There is  a meal plan for the week and the cupboards are full so no reason to spend any money. 
Grateful today for plenty of time in the fresh air (cold but dry and the sun was out), bumping into a friend also out dog walking and having a brief face to face chat (so much better than a phone call), have managed to bake again this weekend so treats for DDs packed lunches sorted! 
Thanks apple for running this month, see all of you turtles in February.