NST March 2022: March movement

ldee2111

Finally back to doing my Sunday sweep where I sweep underspends from food, transport, and leisure into a mortgage op and saving up for our next holiday whenever and wherever that may be. My mortgage OP target for this year is very ambitious but if I keep to our budget every month (which currently includes an OP as a budget item) and if I have decent underspends, my goal is possible.  AND if I can keep it up every year, we would be MF in 5 years! There’s a lot of ‘ifs’ going on there. 😂

This morning I have reworked our monthly budget to deal with price rises and the ifs. Thankfully our energy deal is fixed until July but goodness knows what it’ll be by then. I’ve upped our budget in transport and food, and will save extra in emergency so that when the big energy rise comes for us I’ll be used to not having that money.  

It’s both DS and OH’s birthdays very soon so I need to get a move on with picking gifts. DS is easy to pick for, OH not especially when I’ve been picking them for so long that I’m out of ideas 😂

Grateful for the current dry sunny weather, for being at the football yesterday and team winning, and for dinner at OH’s parents’ last night. 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for footpaths, for sunshine, for forsythia, for recorded programmes, for the turtle gang.

Calling14

Hi turtles, sorry been missing been finding new job and gkids every weekend bit tiring. Think it is the learning bit at my age that's killing me - so exhausted when I get home. I must do exercise this week.

Good thing is I don't spend in the week, having free lunches and don't have time to go wandering around shops. Not sure how long this job is for was only temporary for 2 weeks but playing it by ear atm. Good thing hardly any travelling with petrol prices is good and I am only working 4 days this week. 

My NSD's amount to 7/16 think beginning of the month wasn't best start.

Have to confess I bought a new dress, handbag and some make up online this weekend. Where I am working everyone seems extremely smart and my work clothes are starting to look a bit tatty.  Always do for next job if this doesn't last. Happy to squash on chaise lounge with other naughty turtles, shall I bring popcorn?

Was bit shocked by food shop on Saturday so expensive and really didn't buy many main meal foods. Did stick almost to my list.

Grateful for getting kids out to different park to play in yesterday and trip to lovely coastal place today, I spent today we shared fish and chips and then ice creams. Neither of them wanted to go out, but then they didn't want to come home they having so much fun. Sunshine makes everything better.

I will make an effort to post more this week. Promise :-)

ldee2111

Today was a NSD but I have no idea the number. 

It’s been a good day. OH, DS and I were drawing cartoon characters with the help of YT videos this morning. We took DS to his swimming lesson, and then to the park where he was practicing pedalling his bike - he’s just learned to pedal forward not back, but he’s still to learn that Mum does not push you and carry you when you can’t be bothered. 😂

Also did loads of washing and pegged it out on the line. The weather was nice today so the washing is now dry and waiting to be put away. 

Grateful today for precious time with DS and OH, for DS finally pedalling forward, and for a dry sunny day.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Achieved another NSD today, didn't get up till 4pm as felt drained and cold and shivery.  Enjoyed being warm in bed with regularly topped up hot water bottles, my book and my laptop - finished a task for my self employment job.  
Made myself go for a walk in the sunshine then made a healthy tea, from supplies.  Been eating too many carbs and feel bloated but had lots of veg with my tea.
Off back to bed now
Nite 
love Deni xx

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#11

Get well soon @Deni_debt-free_dreamer. Like you, I've felt under the weather today too. Got up, had breakfast, then curled up on the bed next to the cat. Not sure if I actually slept or not, but was 12.45 when I got up again. Had dinner, then sewed the bunting I'm making for Mother's Day. Mum said the other day that she'd like some above her bed, don't think she'll be expecting it so soon! Read lots of my book, advertised some books & a jacket that DS1&3 have sorted out, on a local selling page & have sold the lot 😃 washed up after tea, waiting my turn in the bath. Will read more while I wait, just LOVE the story!

Grateful for a relaxing day, laying on my bed & listening to the birds, & that the bunting looks nice

Esmeralda2662

Hope you feel better soon Deni and Thrifty!

Thrifty - is it ok to ask what you're reading, please? I'm looking for a good book to get stuck into.

Just had a message from my boss to say 4 in our small section (of 6) are Covid+ and can I test myself before work tomorrow. Dreading going in now.

Took mum to a big carboot today and we had several happy hours pottering about looking for bargains. It was so nice when the sun was out but I could have done with hat and gloves in the wind!

Dropped a bag of hygiene/first aid items off at the village collection point for the Ukraine Appeal. They've had an amazing response which is heartening to know. They're also sending a lorry from work but hope everyone will chip in some money so they can use the power of bulk buying to get more items.

Trying to sort my craft items into some sort of order so I feel more like making things. Get put off if I can't find stuff as I have so many boxes to search through.

Gratitudes: a sunny day, fun at the car boot, some interesting items that didn't cost a fortune and a sliced my Bailey's cheesecake. Yum!  X

BadBookkeeper

Hi,

yesterday was NSD 10/16.  Cleaned the house and did not much else!!  I’m starting to begrudge doing it at weekends!!  When does everyone do theirs?

today was a spend day. Needed bread &  DS scored a goal at his footy match & I promised him £10 if he scored as it has been a while!  Money well spent in my opinion!!

DH bought DS some much needed trainers, gutted as saw some he liked in one shop on sale but didn’t have his size.

went out for tea with family lovely evening (although DH, DS & BIL kept disappearing to find out the score of tonight’s footy match) and parents paid the bill.

Squeezed in the ironing before coming to bed. 

grateful for:
DS scoring a goal and a draw against a team that usually thrash them

Tea out with family

Mammoth ironing pile conquered

Our team getting through to next round of fa cup.

I intend to review & update all March goals tomorrow.

love the idea of a Sunday Sweep Idee2111

ldee2111

Hope you feel better soon @Deni_debt-free_dreamer and @Thrifty_Taylor

@BadBookkeeper I work on a weekly budget even though we’re paid monthly, and there’s usually something left at the end of the week to Sunday sweep. A couple of other turtles do weekly sweeps too - good way to make sure you save a wee bit extra 🙂 

x

ditty1234

Hi hope all are well, barely hanging in there, but have managed about 11 NSD yesterday, am claiming today and yesterday even though yesterday I boutht panodil and today I did a small top up with diesel. Just 10 Litres. Keep hoping prices will go back down and I passed the cheapest pump in town anyways.

I feel busy and productive, dealt with two small cabinets of old kiddy stuff yesterday - so books and stuff ready to go to charity shop soon. REarranged my bedroom /office and am hoping it will just fele nicer, as need to do a lot of desk work in coming weeks.