NST Sweet May 2023 - Pick 'N' Mix Challenge

ldee2111

I have a sweet tooth. Please count me in @Shrewbie

facethemusic

I'm in if you'll have me,  and if you're discarding the fried eggs throw them over here please! 

Shrewbie

facethemusic said:

I'm in if you'll have me,  and if you're discarding the fried eggs throw them over here please! 

Done!!!!!

Shrewbie

Hi turtles, here is my plan for May. 

Budgets are set. I will take money out of the cashpoint for Seville spending money.

Magic and awe -  I will explore one new place a week in May and try to read an enjoyable book for 30 mins every day at least (books are magic to me!)

Meal plan and everything plan- I will cook one new recipe a week and make an effort to batch cook at the weekends. Will continue to try to reduce the food shop cost.

Make/maintain connections -  I will phone at least one friend and one family member back home in UK and make plans to catch up with people face to face in Madrid at least every other week (I realise I need a lot more alone time the older I get but I can end up isolating myself if I’m not careful). I am going to enquire about a writing workshop and possibly offer to help at the local allotment. I will try to do at least one RAK per week. 

Munch those Frogs and Elephants - I have daily work frogs that I should be doing, but tend to shy away from. They usually involve picking up the phone and speaking to people. I will try my hardest to do better with this in May! My elephants are: preparing for a Spanish exam and finishing a writing project. 

Shrewbie

thriftylass said:

Just reading the rules again. We have Magic and Awe in our household in the form of silly face day (Sat) and silly noise day (Wed), or any other day really. Nothing is too embarrassing. Just be a child. 

Love it! 

Starlight_at_Sea

This is brilliant Shrewbie, please count me in, and I will ponder what to choose  

One of my early jobs was as a Saturday girl in Woolies. My cousin got me the job - she was in charge of restocking stationary and music and I thought she was so cool. I was only thinking about that job the other day when I was reading about all the unclaimed pensions out there. 

Toni'sfriend

Morning , everyone. My goals for May.

Budget all done. Last month was very spendy with one thing and another so my aim this month is to spend less and build up savings. Just one birthday which only requires a card from the supply I already have. Although it is Himself's birthday at the beginning of July so I'll get some "stocking fillers". Chocolate, etc. I suspect that most of this month will be taken up with hospital appointments/treatment so it's difficult to make any other plans until I find out how often and which hospital. Therefore, most of my pans will be homebased. Taking a leaf out of Shrewie's book I shall:

• Try one new recipe every week using what the ingredients we already have as far as possible and adapting if need be.
• I have identified a series of seven books that I fancy reading. Either I bought them for Himself or he bought them for me. Can't quite remember. I'd like to read as many of them as I can
• I will email my brother in Canada every week and contact some other friends and relatives that I have been neglecting on a weekly basis (at least).
• Really try to get this house in order by tidying one drawer or cupboard every day and being really ruthless with the tat that has accumulated.
• Keep on top of the housework.
• Add a little something to the foodbank whenever we shop.

I'm sure there's more but that'll do to be going on with. xxx

beanielou

I am continuing with the deluttering which also benefits the cat sanctury.
So win win.

Thrifty_Taylor

Count me in please @Shrewbie. I haven't read the rules yet, I'm saving them until tomorrow 😃 If you're giving people numbers, could I be 18 please?

ldee2111

Love the sweet theme of this month’s challenge... although I’ll be trying to limit the sweet treats and get out of the comfort eating season which should have ended by now Ms LDee!

Here are my picks of the mix:

Money - April was too expensive for my liking and May has a number of events too that’ll cost us a few pennies but I’m going to try for at least 10 NSDs. 

Monitor savings and budgets - still managing to pay to savings but not as much as I’d like to. I’m going to start tracking spending to see if there are any leaks I can plug. Had a couple of silly spends in April that annoyed me (like forgetting lunch for the office). Finally regained access to V!ntd account so I’ve started listing there again. 

Meal plans and everything plans - May includes  a chiropodist appointment, hair appointments for DS, OH and I, a quiz night, a classmate’s birthday party, a school trip, and a wedding for which OH and DS will also be hiring kilts. Lots to enjoy but lots to pay for! Budgets set aside for these activities, and the school trip, wedding gift and classmate’s birthday present were all bought and paid for in April.

The aim of the game for me is to resist unnecessary spending and reduce spending where I can. This means meal planning, buying only what’s needed, sticking to budgets, and trying to make a few extra pounds from decluttering unused items. And losing these extra pounds I’ve gained by doing some daily exercise and cutting down on the portion sizes and the sweet treats!

Good luck in your challenges this month, turtles xx