NST February 2022: a month of fives

Thrifty_Taylor

Thank you all for your good wishes for DH.
Happy birthday @firsview!
Went for a 5 mile walk with DH after breakfast. Read some more of my book whilst eating my dinner. Don't think I'll have it finished by tomorrow, but 2/3 of the way through it. Have read 2 others this month, but nowhere near 5. Unpicked a tricky zip & inserted a new one. Ordered some things for DH's birthday next month (he & DS1 are 3 days apart!) Listed a couple of things on eboy, had sold one within a couple of hours. Washed the dishes, then had a bath, put on a facemask & read my book. Just watched the first episode of the Brummie programme where they wear flat caps.
Grateful for hearing a Skylark on our walk, seeing a Robin in our garden, planning future hikes (some on other islands local to us), good TV, selling something so quickly

DrCarrie

Hi Turtles, 

For some reason Feb has been a bit tough...all this going back out in the world after working at home in my basement flat - read dungeon. 
I have reworked my budget for March, with the £150 increase in 'essentials' with rent, electricity and gas. Also having a bash at the 333 project for spring, made a start on that yesterday. Have made good use of discounts over the weekend. 

Grateful for:
1. my lovely flat, even if it feels like a dungeon when I am working, the rest of the time I feel safe and sound in it
2. Tulips that DD bought me to come home to last week, still hanging on
3. a little wander in the Lanes on Saturday

f0xh0les

Budge up on that chaise longue  abundant and mothernerd, I'm coming in to land

Bought a total bargain  through Tbay clearance outlet, of a mattress we went and lay on in the shop yesterday (a saving of  over  £700) .  That should get me a seat on the naughty-chaise in itself - in my defence our old mattress is over 12 years old (possibly more) and DH was going to pay full price, so I took advantage of him having an afternoon nap, and used my google-fu to find a shop-marked new one.   Used a voucher and got free delivery as well. So bargain badness.  Then surprised him when he got up with my bargain hunting.  He just laughed at me.

Then today I decided to do the home insurance and as I am planning on getting stuff done in the house and eventually having nice things, like fluffy carpets. I bought a big fat shiny package with whistles and bells, and as it is through my bank, it still worked out cheaper than those Russian Meerkits' effort  by over £100, it is still £80 more than last year though, but still well under £400.  Martin did say it was going up, and it certainly is!!

So I have done all my big purchases early,  and transferred some money back from savings. 

Do I have to sit on the naughty chaise until midnight?

Plus they screwed up my pay again - I am about £200 short.  Grrr.  Still, at least I can look forward to that coming, as it is earmarked for the bed base - I am having a Super King to chase DH around this time.  I mean a turtle has to have some fun! even if it is playing hide and seek in an enormous bed. Will also start to research superking sized sheets. 

lcc86

@foxholes I've noticed insurances creeping up too, got my contents renewal and it's up by £25. Not a huge amount but I'll still shop around just in case I can find it cheaper. My phone bill has also gone up by 78p, rather odd amount but at least it's not more!

Sorted all my weekend spends out today. Donated £5 to the Red Cross Ukraine appeal. Wasn't much but it's what I had left in my account. Will try and donate more this week. I moved all my money around to my various saving/spending pots. Have increased my food spend pot slightly to account for inflation. Pretty sure train fares go up this month too so have budgeted for that as well. Just hoping I'm not expected to go into the office more for a while yet!

Quiet day work-wise, did some housework on my lunch break and have worked out and done some yoga. Ready for my tea now!

Kerry_Woman

apple - Thanks for running this month's challenge.
Managed 20 NSD's this month. Food shopping was under budget set.  One category was over, but brought forward a couple of things I was going to get next month, so hoping next month will be better in one way. 
Grateful for:
For what I achieved this month.
Finishing another library book.
Starting to read another library book.
Relaxing bath.
Watching Jessica Fletcher episode with an actor who I like.

DrCarrie

Hi Turtles, 

Can you believe a 6th of the year has already gone, and it's nearly spring? 

Planned ND today and that's me finished in 16 for Feb. 

Grateful for
- the walled garden being open in the park, with daffs and blossom to boot. 
- delish skirt steak, mash, and veg for dinner
- in my PJs after a long evening at work, it was a slow start and then it all came at once!

See you on the March for Movement. 

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

evening

Had a small spend today on food but should be ok for food for the rest of the week.  Decided not to pay for weekly exercise class as work is busy and it's £10 saved.  I have walked 12k steps today.
Gratitudes - being able to WfH today so i could have a walk with DD2 at lunchtime; making 2 meals today to save time tomorrow and better use of the oven; phone repair man fixing DD2's phone quickly (again!); that DD2 paid for her own phone repair (having dropped it); remembering I have another savings account for DD2's uni fund so we should be ok to the end of her masters
thanks apple for a great challenge and see you in March

love Deni x

Esmeralda2662

Got through February fairly well budgetwise although my food budget did increase a bit. Need to bring it back down in March. Did manage to eat  more fruit and veg but i still eat too much bread/stodge.

Managed 7NSD. Not quite the 15 i was aiming for but a start. Managed to read 1.5 books so need to read a bit faster during March!

Part of my new prescription ordered last Thursday hasn't arrived so need to chase that up tomorrow.

Gratitudes: A lovely sunny day  yesterday for a walk to see the snowdrops in the wood with my mum, niece and her toddler (Should have taken an hour but took 2 as he wanted to go the other way!); beautiful spring flowers; a delicious roast dinner and a look round the charity shop at our local tip.

Looking forward to March Movements with you all! X

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a colleague giving me a lift home, for a good day at work, for dc being all creative, for peace and quiet, for fresh bed linen.

Thank you for coming along for the ride in Feb. See you on the other side.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6337504/nst-march-2022-march-movement/p1

f0xh0les

I have no idea how many NSDs I managed, but it was more than 5

Haemorrhaged  money all over the place, but when people are ill and don't live on the same Island, then that is what happens. 

I end this month with a new mattress paid for, house insurance paid for, and a full tank of petrol.

Don't forget tomorrow is International Pancake Awareness Day (IPAD)