NST September 2021

ldee2111

OH is home from working away and living my frugal fantasy is no more. I had £2.17 left in the food budget to cover a tub of sour cream. 'Can you also pick up some eggs, a baguette, and a carton of the carrot and coriander soup' says OH as I was walking out the door. Budget blown. 

Thanks for another great challenge @mothernerd. 

x

 

greent

End of the month and I have no idea on NSDs. However, I am a very teeny tiny bit lighter than I was at the start of the month! Step total not achieved - but for a full 7 days I was full of a cold and mostly sleeping/ lying on sofa when not at work, so it's not surprising.

Some prep for Dec has happened (only a tiny bit, but all progress is good)

Thank you for running the challenge, mothernerd

CEW

Ended the month on 22NSD’s, very pleased with that. Of my 8 spend days only half of these were of any significance in monetary terms which tells me I can do better with a bit of forward planning and if I ignore my desire for Pain au Chocolat for breakfast unless it’s on a spend day.

Not too sure how well I’ve done on the rest of the challenge but as it’s my first one in over 6 years I’m not going to stress over it.

What I will say is working on NSDs has certainly helped my budget and savings pot was very grateful.

Have to go now as I need to log back on to work to clear a few more bits tonight. The joys of month end in finance.

Today I’m grateful for a very supportive manager, dinner prepared and cooked yesterday so only needed to be reheated today, microwave to heat the many cups of coffee left to go cold during meetings.

Thank you for the challenge Mothernerd and all of the lovely quotes etc. During the month. See you all in October.

mothernerd

Thursday 30th September 2021

(The Doors playing softly in the background)

Thanks to everyone for your contributions and participation this month (and a wave for the lurkers - come on in, the water's lovely). You were going to have more quotes but the laptop is on slow and stop today. I spent most of the afternoon reading through the thread from 2014 apple. Wasn't fit for much else. Couple of short spells propped up in an armchair. Did have plans to walk to Morries using mum's walker as she is getting low on cash. I was hoping the fresh air would perk me up but heavy rain made the idea a washout.

Bought an 'offer' price stir fry in last week's shop (veggies, noodles and sauce) and thought I could manage 5 minutes standing up. Couldn't find the sauce so threw in a dollop each of oyster sauce and dark soy sauce and a slightly overgenerous slosh of cider vinegar. Added half a tin of butter beans and a squirt of garlic puree part way through and liked it a lot (some left for tomorrow but will add more fresh crunchy veg). Have reached shopping saturation point (was going to do a food delivery for one of the cheaper weekend slots - usually mid-afternoon on Sunday but last week's was a Saturday, perhaps people were watching sport on tv). 

I know I have enough tinned soup to get mum through the next month or two (and a good variety). Not sure about rice pudding and fruit levels - we have some but it's all in little spaces so not sure of total amount. Really don't want to think about food at all (don't feel like eating much, need a simple plan to get lots of veg in me and may need a vitamin supplement as well) so may go with using what we have in and if something runs out or is unavailable (leg of lamb did not come in this week's order) then tough, we will have something else. Lots in the fridge but a lot is tiny bits so not easy to see what we have (keep pulling half a shelf out and going through it - very good fridge-freezer but it starts beeping if you leave the door open for too long).

Will spend the evening reading and putting together a plan for next month and the rest of the year. I did manage to get through to the chemist and order my repeat prescription (most urgent of 4 phone/ admin bits that need doing).

Grateful for resting, getting through to the chemist, stir fry. Turtles

lcc86

Evening turtles. We made it through another month  big challenge for me as I was so badly underpaid but I got through it and October is looking much better already. 

Spend day on train tickets (contactless cheaper), bought a ticket to a vintage clothing fair (£2 a ticket then £15 per kilo of clothing you find) and then just bought a drink as I was accidentally way too early for my train to see my parents. 

See you all in October!

f0xh0les

And another gratitude: DS1 is making a surprise visit tomorrow night!  He is coming up for DH's birthday on Saturday, and probably to get some decent cake at less than £4 a slice.   Food is so much cheaper when you don't have to pay for it yourself.....

Kerry_Woman

mothernerd - Thanks for running this month's thread.
Achieved 23 NSD this month. Was under budget for the food shopping.  Did have some unexpected spends this month, so went over one of the categories.  Used up some toiletries this month.  Did manage to resist buying a few books this month.  Going to try my best to be more careful about spending for the rest of the year.  Did achieve in doing some life admin bits which I am happy about. 

apple_muncher

f0xh0les, how much cake could he buy for the price of a train ticket?!?!

Today I am grateful for colleagues enabling me to teach from home to pupils in the classroom, for still getting yummy rasps, for dh not yet putting the heating on, for utube entertainment, for turtle power!

f0xh0les

Coach ticket £8 return Tube £2.50 one way.  So 2 slices of cake = a trip from London to LeShire return @apple_muncher

Thrifty_Taylor

Think I managed #13 NSD
The day didn't start well, received an email telling me that the first of the trains I've booked is no longer stopping at Edinburgh, so can't catch the next train from there unless I catch a later train. Feeling agitated as I've booked assistance to help mum on & off, all the way down to Robin Hood country. Decided to try not to think about it until after Saturday's out the way. Not a great morning at work, thankful I work in a class in the afternoon & not 1:1, so easier going. Had arranged with friends to go to bingo tomorrow night in a community centre, but discovered you could book a table (didn't state that!) So now it's fully booked.
A great day all round eh?! I'm shattered, so glad in a way not to be going out tomorrow night. Will do my big shop instead, then I can relax on Sunday.
Grateful for being in a class this afternoon, the few supportive colleagues at work, & you lot.
Thanks for this month's thread @mothernerd