Spend Free Twenty Twenty Three!

x_raphael_xx

Yesterday was an authorised spend day, £14.95 on pet food. I've bought enough crickets and locusts to hopefully cover the xmas period. I also have my dubia roach feeder colony to fall back on. I'm planning on eventually weening most animals onto dubias, (with the occasional cricket/locust still for variety) as this should keep costs down.
I have a healthy colony with a variety of sizes from adults to teeny babies, so there should be a suitable size for most things.

Claude the chameleon doesn't like to be fed from tongs, he's very much a hands off pet, he prefers I just throw food in and let him be, and I don't really want to leave roaches loose in his enclosure as they will just bury under the substrate.
I did trial placing 3 in a deep plastic cup inside his enclosure (they can't climb plastic) and while I didn't see him eat them, they disappeared, so I think that will be the solution.
It will also stop the locusts eating his plants!

x_raphael_xx

Dec NSDs #15 and #16 yesterday and today.

Yesterday was a normal working day, and today I've just been catching up online with my bestie.
I'm glad I'm not working over xmas, it can get very crazy, and as I'm on salary I lose out on the xmas day shift bonuses. Looking forward to this all being over tbh. I'm ready to get my teeth stuck into my 2023 goals.

x_raphael_xx

Merry Christmas all!

Popping in briefly before I slip into a food coma to announce Dec NSD #17.
Hope everyone had a lovely day.

x_raphael_xx

Boxing day makes Dec NSD #18

Productive day today, water changed the axolotl tank, Mr Noodle came out for a bit of exercise, everyone fed, downstairs vaccuumed. And I even found time for some saxophone practice.
Last of xmas leftovers eaten, we just have a little cauliflower cheese left, which will probably go with a little chicken or something tomorrow.

becky170

Hi x_raphael_xx, congratulations on your first overpayment and good luck for 2023  really enjoyed reading your diary and hearing all about your zoo! Loved the photos too! 

she_always_has_a_plan

Loved reading your diary, super impressed with the number of your NSDs, I live walking distance to a shopping park but planning to start NSDs too in 2023. Well done on overpayments and good luck with your journey in 2023, looking forward to read more!

x_raphael_xx

Dec NSD #19

becky170 said:

Hi x_raphael_xx, congratulations on your first overpayment and good luck for 2023  really enjoyed reading your diary and hearing all about your zoo! Loved the photos too! 

I love sharing my animals, (the residents as I like to call them) so there will definately be more photos incoming

Just for you here is pics of Mr Noodle, my Childrens python, and his future girfriend (shes just a baby atm) Soba Noodle.

she_always_has_a_plan said:

Loved reading your diary, super impressed with the number of your NSDs, I live walking distance to a shopping park but planning to start NSDs too in 2023. Well done on overpayments and good luck with your journey in 2023, looking forward to read more!

My issue isn't really the number of days I spend. Day-to-day its generally in control.
My issue is when I spend, it's usually a big chunk on a new animal or something, as that tends to require a new set up - enclosure, heating, lights etc.
I've just found out there is a company that sells jellyfish and set ups in the UK, so that is now playing on my mind and I WANT a tank!

This diary is to keep my mind on the main goal, and if I can get through this year without succumbing to the lure, I'm going to be so proud of myself.
I can't even request anything for my birthday, as it's the beginning of Jan & I've already had an expensive tarantula from the bf as my gift

x_raphael_xx

Dec NSD #20

It was a close thing today though. I've been thinking about adding some enrichment to Mr Noodles activity centre (he comes out and climbs through trellis and up the poles etc) I had the great idea of adding some pipes, like hamster tunnels, for him to slither through.
I found some on fb market place going for £5, but collection is a 15 mins drive away and the lady was short and standoffish in the messages.
I don't expect to find a new friend, but I'd appreciate more than single word answers
So that kinda put me off, and saved me from a spend day. I'm now on the hunt for the freecycle sites for the tubes.

x_raphael_xx

Spend day today.

Bf finally chose the trainers I said I'd get him for his birthday in August, so that comes out the gift fund. £39.92

I've also decided to culture my own fruit flies for the Zoo Room. A tub of flightless fruit flies is £3.95, I've just spent £21.69 on tubs, food powder & wood wool, which will work out so much cheaper per tub and save me money in the long run.
I will need to buy one last tub of flies to get me started, and I also need some water balls for the roaches (like orbeez, stops them drowning in a water dish). So tomorrow will be a spend day too.

x_raphael_xx

Happy New Year all!

Catching up on the last few days.
30th Spend day.
Pet food (allowed spend) and takeaway. Was a 'voucher' for my bfs advent calendar, so out of the gift fund. We were going to have it on NYE, but forgot to get something out the freezer for tea, so had it early lol.
Bf also finally decided on a pair of trainers I promised him for his birthday in August, I've been waiting for him to choose a pair. Out of the gift fund.

31st Spend day.
Bought a video game from birthday money from my mum.

Now the challenge begins properly!

Jan NSD #1

Not spent today, hit the gym and practiced my saxophone. So far I'm suceeding in my goals