In the Meantime

MovingForwards

You're sounding refreshed.
If the budget is for food you'll be able to stretch it and make interesting meals. Double check your cupboards before shopping, write a list and stick to it.

Seasidegal58

Your break sounded just the ticket. I don't think you're anti-social - I like being on my own and pottering around too. I don't think I could ever live with anyone on a permanent basis now!  I do like socialising but cherish my nice peaceful home. 

Leaving a meal for your hosts was so thoughtful. 

Good luck with your money this month. 

doingitanyway

mark55man said:

sounds lovely

It was 

beanielou said:

You can do it 

savingholmes said:

Great bargains. Hope you succeed in stretching your money 

jwil said:

Glad you had a nice time away   Great bargains.

Good luck with reaching your savings target.

Thanks all 
I will meet my savings target as I approach it like I did debt in that as soon as funds come in I pay it out immediately and live on what is left. It works but it is brutal. Hey ho. I count myself lucky as many are forced to do live on a tiny amount every month...

Skint_yet_Again said:

I’m glad you had a lovely break. So kind and thoughtful of you to leave a meal and a gift for your host too. 

Hope you can stretch your £150-200 over the next few weeks. What does it need to cover? Can you sell anything or do some surveys to help towards the survey costs? Good luck 🤞 

MovingForwards said:

You're sounding refreshed.
If the budget is for food you'll be able to stretch it and make interesting meals. Double check your cupboards before shopping, write a list and stick to it. 

Thank you both   You've made me think!

I need to get food for us both. I've been through the freezers and cupboards and there is quite a bit. Loads of rice too so I'm going to be making curries a fair bit. I will stick to lists after checking what I have indoors.

I can't sell stuff as anything to sell is in storage but that is a good thing to think of. I did a bit of that when I was becoming debt free and had forgotten that. 

doingitanyway

Seasidegal58 said:

Your break sounded just the ticket. I don't think you're anti-social - I like being on my own and pottering around too. I don't think I could ever live with anyone on a permanent basis now!  I do like socialising but cherish my nice peaceful home. 

Leaving a meal for your hosts was so thoughtful. 

Good luck with your money this month. 

Thanks for the positive vibes. 
Like you, I enjoy socialising, but I do crave alone time!

doingitanyway

The savings target for this month has been met. Living on what is leftover won't be easy but my spreadsheet tells me I am on track so that is what I am focusing on.

I had good news in that something I was concerned about last week appears to be ok. It took me ages to work it out, but it is ok, and will narrow the gap of my house shortfall. 

Another bit of good news is a bursary for a creative week away came through. That is another few hundred pounds I won't have to pay. I go away at the end of September and that whole week of NSDs will help with this month's minuscule budget. I have paid my travel costs already except for a small leg of the journey and that ticket will go on my CC

For whatever reason nerves have kicked in today. I didn't have coffee whilst away and had my first one today. Starting to think coffee isn't great for me when I already feel edgy so sticking to my green tea and rooibos for now.

I'm going to draw up a budget of what funds I have this month and what I need to do with it...

On that note, off to have a rooibos chai 

I hope everyone had a good start to the week.

jwil

Great news on the bursary and the concern, and well done for meeting the savings target.

Skint_yet_Again

Well done on meeting your savings target 🤗 Everything else seems to be working out too 🤞

Worse case scenario I hope you will be able to put the survey on your credit card. I paid my final survey on my credit card, but I did have the funds to pay it off in full when I received the cc statement 

savingholmes

Sounds like things are coming together. 

I will be joining you in being more frugal over the next few months. Let's hope we both meet our savings goals.

doingitanyway

jwil said:

Great news on the bursary and the concern, and well done for meeting the savings target.

savingholmes said:

Sounds like things are coming together. 

I will be joining you in being more frugal over the next few months. Let's hope we both meet our savings goals.

Thank you both 

Skint_yet_Again said:

Well done on meeting your savings target 🤗 Everything else seems to be working out too 🤞

Worse case scenario I hope you will be able to put the survey on your credit card. I paid my final survey on my credit card, but I did have the funds to pay it off in full when I received the cc statement 

Thank you  Yes, things do seem to be working out. If I use my cc I will pay it off in full when the statement arrives. I like keeping my cc completely paid off so I can use it for temporary shortfalls.

doingitanyway

Since being back, I've used a chicken from the freezer for a roast chicken with veggies. Yesterday I made a curry. I also spent £7 on snacks and salad veggies. Today I'm making a puttanesca sauce as I have lots of organic tinned tomatoes that were reduced from £1.25 to 35p a few weeks ago. I have anchovies in olive oil in the cupboard and brown rice pasta. I will roast the veggies at the bottom of the fridge and we have parmesan so that will be our no spend meal tonight.

I seem to have a a fair few frogs jumping around. Sometimes it is easier to think and make calls out of the house so I will be going to the coffee shop today. It will cost me a hot drink but I will get a walk in and tonight's supper doesn't need purchasing so that is ok. I will buy chocolate too. I need to be super frugal this month without feeling so deprived that my-woe-is-me behaviour kicks in, leading to a splurge or low mood.

I will be back later with my frog list activity.

I hope everyone has a good day