NST April 2022: April opportunities

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dc's show being just fantastic, for dc's friend trusting me enough to come and sit and chat with me, for dh deciding what to have for dinner, for my home workout equipment, for pro bull riding.

ditty1234

Hi today I am grateful for finding diesel to buy, my town has run dry, for bringing ds2 home for the break and for an evening walk with a very dramatic sky this evening. 

Thrifty_Taylor

Went to a jumble sale this morning, the first since before the lockdowns began. Had a good rummage & found a few items of clothing for myself & 2 coats for my mum (would've been expensive when bought new). I found a nice body warmer, that I thought I could alter to make it smaller to fit me, but when I went to see mum at work, she was cold, so lent it to her & now she's keeping it!! Managed to get the missing items off yesterday's shopping list too (the shelves were empty). Had a nap, then took some items out to the shed. Completed a sewing job after tea, then just finished watching a film & knitting.

Grateful for bargains, eating healthier today (no sweet things until after tea, then had 5 rationed out chocs & 3 candy sticks), DS1&3 checked into their accommodation ok & are having fun in the granite city

Shrewbie

Wow thrifty, that view is lovely...
ooh turtles I do miss a boot/jumble sale. Not sure they exist here??. I’ll have to put one on the list of things to do when I’m back in UK in August.
yesterday went for a meal with two of bff’s friends who were visiting. Was a lovely meal and bff paid. I paid for some drinks after but was home by 11pm so happy with that. 

I budgeted for some clothes this month as everything I have is tatty. Spent almost €200 on some clothes online. Was aiming to get fewer items for higher quality but ended up buying from the usual place as I know the sizing. So let’s see if I keep all the items or not. I just need a pair of flat shoes for work which I’ll try to get next month and some tops which I’ll hunt the charity shops for. 

Grateful for a lie in and slow morning reading in bed, for meeting some lovely people and for sunshine. 

Kerry_Woman

Apply yourself to yourself. Looking at what I can do extra this month along with things I already do.. 

Avoid unnecessary spends. This I will have to do this month.

Pay to debt/savings first and live off the rest. No debt, but have savings.  Spendings will be looked at more carefully.

Plan ahead: Birthday spends already planned for 2 people. 

Prepare for next winter. Will look if I need anything extra to be got.  Already have double glazing, throws and hot water bottle.

Remember those who are struggling, who are worse off than you. Will look into if donation to a charity or food bank.

Report in every day. Will try and do better this month.

Identify the things you do well and celebrate them.  Look into this.

Invest in yourself, your family, your home - the things that really matter to you.  Will do.

Income vs outgoings. Will do.  Budget set for this month. Will keep a tab on the outgoings.

Lose one bad habit.  Spending less time on social media.

Live the sort of life you want to have. Look into this.

Will try and do 20 NSD’s this month.

apple_muncher

I'm hoping all turtles took meter readings on 31/3. Another thing to do is to look at where the increases are applied most. I did this a few weeks ago:

Standing charge for leccy up 75%, for gas 5%

Cost per unit for leccy up 35%, gas up 85%.

Therefore, reducing leccy usage won't impact the bill much, as the standing charge will be applied anyway. But reducing gas usage will have an impact.

I found it empowering to get this knowledge 😎.

firsview

Morning Turtles, right here goes!

Apply yourself to yourself.

I need to lose my last stone (still!) I also need to get on and use my kettlebell so will aim for this

Avoid unnecessary spends. 

Am getting much better at this

Pay to debt/savings first and live off the rest. 

Have put some money in savings and hope not to have to dip into it

Plan ahead: look first at April and at what you are expecting from the month and how it affects your budget. 

No birthdays this month and no one at school anymore but may need a few items of clothing to see me through

Prepare for next winter. 

Will have to have a think about this. Am being really careful with energy usage and am either not using the heating at all or limiting it to an hour a day atm

Remember those who are struggling, who are worse off than you. 

Will keep up the habit of putting something in the food bank and animal shelter boxes when I go to Mr T’s

Report in every day. The daily support from this thread will keep you on track

Am usually quite good about this

Identify the things you do well and celebrate them.

Like most of us I hate blowing my own trumpet!

Invest in yourself, your family, your home - the things that really matter to you.

Have a diy list as long as my arm, does that count!!

Income vs outgoings. Finances are why we are on this thread. Whatever our circumstances financially, there are always tweaks to be made. Budget every penny for the month ahead and write down every single spend to see how well you keep to your plan

Am doing this

Lose one bad habit.

I don’t suffer fools gladly and I need to be a bit more understanding. So I am going to be much nicer to everyone this month!

Live the sort of life you want to have. 

I am gradually realising that the children are older and so I have far more freedom now to do things I want to do so we are going on holiday by ourselves again this year.

NSD 3 today with only fuel spends so far

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi

Apply yourself to yourself. Look after YOU first. What do you need? I need more exercise and more regular sleep.  I am getting better at going to bed early and reading as a way of switching off.  I like exercise but i work lots of evenings which messes up my ability to do classes.  I will try to get out on my bike on a regular basis.  

Avoid unnecessary spends. I am pretty good at this so need to keep going with it, any unnecessary spend means taking longer to pay off my mortgage

Pay to debt/savings first and live off the rest. And keep track of what you are spending. No debt, tracking all spends.

Plan ahead: look first at April and at what you are expecting from the month and how it affects your budget. I have 4 birthdays this month, have already bought presents but no cards yet; have bought choccy treats for DDs for easter.  Have a trip to visit family, already paid for accommodation, will need over a tank of petrol

Prepare for next winter. Have taken photos of meters, submitted reading and increased DD.  Will continue not leaving devices on standby and heating is only swtiched on when DD2 is home.  Getting quote for new radiators for the bedrooms as our heating isn't very effective and upstairs rads are very old.  Will submit meter readings each month. 

Remember those who are struggling, who are worse off than you. already make regular donations to charities, will add items to the food bank collection when i go to the SM. 

Report in every day. will do

Identify the things you do well and celebrate them Ok! 

Invest in yourself, your family, your home - need to look after myself - eat better, exercise more regularly.  Seeing family later this month.  Need to tackle my house which has too much clutter, have reduced the stuff that comes into the house, now need to get rid of more stuff

Income vs outgoings. Writing down all spends. 

Lose one bad habit. Mindless scrolling on Fb can go!

Live the sort of life you want to have. I want less work and more leisure; to achieve that i need to get rid of my mortgage - overpaying my mortgage is my focus this year and it is short term pain (hopefully!) for longer term gain - i have 4 jobs, one is FT so i work lots of hours, but i can do it for this year.  I need to make sure i have one day off each week though so i will aim to take every Saturday off work this month and do something nice for myself.  i did that yesterday as DD2 and I went to see DD1 and we had a lovely walk.

Will try for 16 NSDs...

love to all Deni xx

greent

Thankful for collecting my new to me car and the petrol by the garage being cheaper than at home, for some ys items in todays shopping, that my gas and elec are on a fix until August, for watching a squirrel running around our garden and managing to get under (and back out of) the decking, for swans on the canal. - and for seeing 2 duck families with ducklings 🐥- so early! - and so cute!!

ldee2111

NSD 1/16

Took a few things to the recycling centre this morning. On the way back, popped into TCo and got DS underwear and some school wear using vouchers from MIL. Then took Mum’s car for a drive to make sure it’s wheels are still turning. Chatted to her briefly this morning and she’s been busy helping my uncle landscape his garden.  2 weeks until she’s home. ❤️

Sunday sweep £36.80 from transport into mortgage OP. No underspends in food or leisure this week. I’ve kept this week’s unspent ‘leisure’ budget to pay for a meal out later this week for OH’s birthday when DS is staying with his grandparents. 

Grateful today for chat with Mum, clearing out some stuff, and MIL’s generosity in giving us the vouchers.