NST Jolly Joyful July

mothernerd

Thanks to everyone who participated in this challenge and those who follow us and read along. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster but as always, being in the turtle gang makes everything easier than going it alone.

I've ended up with trashed budgets due to new tv aerial (and removal of old ones plus knowing the exact status of the 3 tvs in the house (broken one outside) and purchase of a replacement tv - both down to mum. Excluding those, I'm within all my planned budget expenditures. 

When I went to town on Thursday I got a bank balance statement and it's quite good (lots better than I expected). I'm at 4/5 of my mini target (was worrying that lots of little spends had reduced it to 1/5 - this is above and beyond my baseline/ must stay in the account at all costs amount). Some is due to DS3 paying yet another month's contribution (to September, I think) but happy that it's in the bank account and that he's earning enough to pay me and prioritising paying me when money comes in. He's self-employed so it's sporadic - he might be working very hard on four different games but if he can't get any of them on sale, he doesn't get a return that particular month and the platforms he uses pay the following month and choose the exchange rate that suits them.

I may spend today because I've checked available food delivery dates (SM has returned to different delivery charges for more/ less popular delivery times) and there are some 3.00 ones tomorrow afternoon (some 2.50 ones but later in the evening so may not be convenient - there's a limit to the amount of hassle I'll put up with to save 50p, bad turtle mothernerd). I found 2.61 in odd coins whilst tidying my room so I can splurge an extra 50p on delivery.

Grateful for bed, CPAP machine and being awake and just enjoying 'being'. 

apple_muncher

Thank you for July, mothernerd. As ever, you've given us a good challenge and some fantastic quotes to ponder.

We're off for a week away and will prob only have dc at nighttime, so it's almost a week of freeeeedom for dh and I.

Grateful today for being able to go away, for tech, for the Olympics being so varied and entertaining ( ie not all mainstream male sport), for good coffee, for a fresh month that's squeaky clean and full of possibilities starting tomorrow.

f0xh0les

Well I did not make it anywhere near double figures for my NSDs, but this month .....

I did manage a holiday - our first night outside the house in over 20 months, and even if the accommodation was cheap, £100+ on food a day was not, but that is what the budget is for, and I was within my permitted spending allowance.

I have 2 x new mattresses, bedroom furniture moved around a bit, the house has been improved.

I am ending the month with £40 ish left in the budget.

Books have been read and rehomed.

Kids are happy. 

I saw a PUFFIN!!! well, lots of puffins really.

I am full of ideas and motivation for August.

So thank you for July @mothernerd

GeorgianaCavendish

Thank you @mothernerd for this month's thread, I have loved being part of it  

So end of the month round up ... 

WHAT WENT WELL 

- Sticking to budget : had a good month. I was under budget in some categories (combination of being a bit more frugal than usual, and having savings in some areas due to holidays) and could sweep this over to driving lessons pot. Also had some additional money in from premium bonds win, surveys and cashback. 

- NSDs : found that I really enjoyed it and looking forward to continuing next month

- Food audit : started strong and got derailed a bit during the heatwave. Need to get back on this in August! 

- Use it or lose it : doing well with using up excess of toiletries and beauty products, got a lot left to keep me going through August. Read a number of books that had been gathering dust and have a lot left for next month. Sorted out a lot of clothes to donate, I've got a bad full to list on ebay etc but didn't get round to this yet. 

- Movement : gym is going really well 

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER 

- Movement : gym went well but I could have been better in the smaller things, will admit I was derailed during the heatwave too 

- 6-month goals - assignments : way behind where I wanted to be on these. Had a busy time at work as two colleagues were off with covid so I was covering for them, which also affected the time I had available to the new project at work

- Theory revision : bit behind here, need to do a bit more here 



Looking forward to continuing in August  

Kerry_Woman

 mothernerd - Thanks for this month's challenge.
Just slightly overspent of the food budget.  Within budget for all of the other categories that I have. Did have to throw away a couple of food items.  Used up 3 items of toiletries. 
Grateful for last two days:
Speaking to my brother on phone. 
Went to my Mum's grave.
Finishing reading a book.
Reasonable night's sleep.
Having a relaxing bath.

apple_muncher

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6286531/nst-august-2021-lights-camera-action/p1

In case you missed it.

ditty1234

Så not caught up on reading, but the boy is 'waking up' he is communicating, trying to sit up, read a cartoon with his dad today and laughed! Great small positive signs. 
And everybody is getting into a bit more of a routine, so so much better than last week, which was the worst week in my life, so thanks for supporting and sharing, treatment, determination and miracles - in equal doses will get us off this muddy track and on to firmer ground - eventually.
Grateful for structure and for ds2 doing his things and finding good support in his work colleagues and sports friends. And for hopefully getting help from the local crisis team, as my world have been turned upside down and it will take a while to sort everything back out. 
I was in a biggish quake once and everything got thrown everywhere, houses, books, food, roads, cars in one big mess - I feel it is a challenge at that scale. Rebuilding the infrastructure of a country, not just a tiny little provincial intersection. 

ldee2111

Thanks for the challenge @mothernerd. I also enjoy the quotes.

See you in August fellow turtles. 

Thrifty_Taylor

@mothernerd

Quite pleased that I've finished on 18NSD, most I've managed for a while.
I've enjoyed going for more walks with hubby this month & being more active in the garden. Had quite a few sewing jobs & made lots for selling.
So overall a good month, we've eaten out a couple of times, so the food budget is slightly over, but haven't stressed over it, as I've earned extra with selling a few items & first month of no mortgage to pay.

Grateful for the support of you lot, completing two hikes up very steep slopes to high summits, good friends, time off work

greent

@ditty1234 - glad to hear that things with DS1 have positive signs - fingers well and truly crossed for more progress in August xx

@mothernerd - thank you for the challenge this month!


Have been in London for a few days, so not been reading much and definitely not posting on my phone! Spends every day - but hotel was a bargain @ £88 for 3 nights per room (DD and her boyf paid for their own room, so we just had 2 to pay for) and the lovely manager only charged us for 3 breakfasts/ day, as opposed to 5 (kids eat free)

Rounding up July:

JUST do it - submitted my tax return (nothing to pay!), chased info for DH's, arranged a cleaner and window cleaner as a result of gaining a job, chased a couple of trades (still no response, but I did chase them!) and made a good start on sorting DS2's room - plan to finish that this week
OVERVIEW of the month - afternoon tea achieved, short break in London achieved, saw friends a couple of times
LOVE body - eating was rather rubbish whilst away, but much walking was done!
USE it or lose it - old mattress to tip. sold some things on flebay and fbook and books to Z1ff1t, lots to CS, lots of old schoolwork recycled (DS2) - definitely less in the house after July
GRATITUDES - good break away - first time away since Oct 2019. Spends weren't too bad. Weather was ok. Lots of interesting things seen. 2 loads of washing already done and drying on the line