MINDFUL MAY NSD/CSD THREAD

[3catslady]

A few months back Honeylioness had an impassioned plea to get us back to the focus of our thread. The fundamentals. The basics. Plus the friendship. Did y'all know we've successfully planned vacations together? Life keeps on going with new babies, relationships, homes, challenges, jobs and financial hurdles but we stick to it. So, get sticky! Here are some way to get your goals to stick: #1. Post your numbers - just put it at the top of a post in bold and let us know how you're doin' and what you need help with #2. Track your numbers - technically this should be #1 but you know it. If you need ideas for tracking post and ask the veterans for guidance #3. Share your life but please keep it somewhat financially related - we know that everything influences finances especially when we're stressed, tired, excited and busy. BUT this is a financial accountability group, not a therapy session If you want to go off topic consider starting a fresh thread and posting a link so those who are interested can support you there. For the new people there are no real set rules here, you set your own. The basic goal most if not all of us have are to keep track of the days we don't spend and hopefully by that work on saving money. Some are looking to put it into savings others to pay down debt. For some they only count the day as a no spend day if they spend nothing at all. Others will count it if they keep their total under $5. Some count all spending others only count a certain part of their budget. For example MittenKitten personally take $400 out of the the bank in cash for everything that is not related to vehicle expenses (like gas, oil changes, insurance etc) or the house (mortgage, utilities, HOA) If I spend out of the $400 I count it as a spend day (although if it is less then $5 I usually count it as a no spend day.) You set your own rules. Any questions feel free to ask. You can post your no spend days daily or whenever you want, just put it in bold at the top with the first number being the number you want me to record. If you are doing daily then: Today (or yesterday) $0 Spend day

More then one day at a time: 4/31 days $0 Spend Which translates into 4 out of 31 days in July have been no spend so far. Some use the bigger number as their goal number so do 4/15 No spend Days which means they have a goal of 15 no spend days this month. Here's a handy guide to some of our terminology: NSD: No Spend Day CSD: Controlled Spend Day BFF: Best Friend Forever DH/DS/DD/DSS: Dear Husband, Dear Son Dear Daughter, fiance, boy friend, Dear Step-Son DIL, MIL, BIL, SIL: Daughter in law, Mother In Law, Brother in Law, Sister In Law NKCW: No Killing Co-Worker Day (could also be no kill DH NKDH etc) NS or NSD: No Spend or No Spend Day NEO: No eating out HTH: Hope This Helps KWIM: Know What I mean FWIW: For What It's Worth IMHO or IMO: In my Humble Opinion or In My Opinion Having a Startsmart Day is referring to when you have 20+ things on your must get done in a day and you accomplish them. Single Mom-KY aka Smokey; MittenKitten aka MK; Pt_In_NY aka Pointy; The Boy is Sheila in Cali's son. Blue is Red_Wagon's DH TBear is MizBear's older niece. ZBear is MizBear's younger niece.

[3catslady]

Okay what did I do wrong?  It looks like everything is in paragraph form and that is not how I copied it.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Ah, I wouldn't worry about it, 3cats, I think we all know what it says. 

[ses]

I found spell check! Down next to the "Post Quick Reply" button! 

[Jaguar]

May 1, 2013 21:04:54 GMT -5 ses said:

I found spell check! Down next to the "Post Quick Reply" button! 

That is a plugin written by none other than ProBoards owner Patrick Clinger. Enjoy

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Sadly, no CSD to start the month off. But I thInk tomorrow will be. I want to do as well as I can in the early part of the month, because a BFF and her hubby will be visiting at the end of the month. So excited!

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Well, now I can start my tracking for the month.

Rocky Mtn. Saver:  0 NSD/1 CSD

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 3 NSDs

I am in again but I am not sure as to how active I will be this month.

It is the final month of school and things are beginning to get really busy. I have managed to get all of my exams made and ready to give later this month. I only have a few more assignments to grade and then the exam to give and the school year is over. I have begun to start packing away items that I know will not be used again this year. I will also start bringing the plants home a little at a time. I got the first one home this week since it was looking a little in need of TLC. The others will be making the trip home a little at a time. I think I have either six or seven more to bring home. All of them are in need of repotting and fresh soil. The summer outdoors will also be a nice change of pace for them.

My classroom will be used over the summer for another activity so it has been recommended that all personal items should be remover and/or secured. My decorative items will disappear a little at a time from the classroom. By removing the items in such a systematic manner the room will not look so bare all at once and it will be easier to find places to secure them in a another location on campus. I really hope that I won’t have to store things at home this year. Most of the larger items have already been broken down and secured at school. I think that a lot of the smaller items will fit into a storage box that I can secure in a locked area.

I hope to try some new beading patterns this summer. My goal is to do one new pattern per week. I might be able to do more but I am trying to set realistic goals. I have already tried several new patterns the last few weeks and have enjoyed the challenge. I have not done some of the stitches in several years so that is one of the reasons I would like to refresh my skills plus I would like expand my inventory for the fall craft shows. I also have at least one workshop to attend for school and I would like to take a small vacation this summer.

I also hope to go through the house and to find several more items to donate. I am sure that I have enough to fill several more boxes to join the ones already packed. I would like to get at least one to two more boxes filled before I call for a pickup. I think I already have three boxes ready to go. Also think that I can empty at least one drawer of a file cabinet if not more. I have slowly been going through this process and hope to spend a little more effort on it this break.

As I look over this list I have a lot of things I would like to do. But for me summer is one of the times that I have more time to spend with friends and family so that will always win out over anything else. Maintaining good relationships with friends and family is paramount in my life.

Didn't realize how long this was.  Sorry to bore you.

[3catslady]

I could edit the opening and put in hard returns if anybody wants it done.
update:2 eating out days, 1 CSD.
I am just going to get as many NSD's as I can.  DS is pulling his yearly stunt of paying the rent late and I am getting *isse*.  He always pays it up to date but I still get irritated.  I haven't gotten gorceries or my mop yet.  They are on the list for this month because there are 5 paydays in it. 

[3catslady]

update:  4 eating out days, 1 CSD.
I haven't gotten groceries yet because I was called in to work early yesterday.  I didn't have anything to pack for lunch so I had to buy at work.  I spent $10 for a piece of cheesecake, soda, and 2 slices of pizza.  Then today I went to do laundry and spent $10 to do laundry, stopped and got soda and water for the week, $8, and supper after the laundry was done, $9.  I have to stop this because I almost had $750 saved for my ef.  At one time, I had $1350 saved but due to hours being cut at work, I used most of that up.  I guess I will be posting daily to keep it under control.

[redwagon]

Yesterday was a NS day because we didn't go anywhere. DH was finishing up the drywall in the kitchen and I was madly editing a freelance project while watching the kids. Saturday I did go to Target and got some sun hats for the babies and sandals for me.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Good morning ladies!  I hope everyone had a good weekend!

Rocky Mtn. Saver:  1 NSD/1 CSD

My weekend was okay, NSD-wise, but not super-great.  I bought a few pieces of clothing I desperately needed (been putting it off until everything is wearing out at the same time  ) on Friday, and went to the movies (Iron Man is my guy! ) with friends on Saturday.  My friends paid for the movie, but I bought my own dinner.  Sunday was pretty low-key, though.  I spent the afternoon trying to put together a piece of furniture for my mom.  Argh!  Why do furniture makers do this to us 

[3catslady]

update: 5 eating out days, 1 CSD.
I think I'm just getting tired of microwave and pizza and sandwiches.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 1 NSD/2 CSD

I am planning a themed girls' night, and I have a particular recipe that includes lamb.  Does anyone know of something similar but cheaper that could be substituted for the lamb?  I never buy lamb, but I'm presuming that it's not going to be a frugal meat to buy.

[3catslady]

update:  5 eating out days, 1 CSD, 1 NSD.
I finally made a NSD because I stayed home yesterday.  Today I am going to do the laundry and hopefully getgroceris because all I have in the house to eat is cream of asparagas soup, some rice and a can of potato soup.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 1 NSD/3 CSD

Well, three evenings later, I finally got my mom's piece of furniture put together.  Argh!  Now, of course, I have to do the matching piece for the other side. 

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 7NSD and 1 CSDs

Just a quick pop-in visit to update numbers and to say hello.  School is getting to the end and that means so much to do there before then.  I have begun the process of packing up the classroom.  It will take me several more days before I am finally able to complete that task.  A lot of the framed items are packed up and secured as of today.  Still have several other items to secure but I still have several weeks and I don't want to make the classroom totally bare before the end.  Exams still have to be done but I am ready for them.  Trying to finish up all of the last projects turned in so far. 

I definitely will have to weed through the closet this summer.  So many of my work clothes are getting to the point of no return and will need to be replaced sometime soon.  I do plan to spend both time and money this summer replacing some key pieces in time for the beginning of the next school year.

Will check in when I can.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Moneysquirrel, I'm with you on the clothing needs.  It seems like all my shoes and tops are wearing out at the same time!  I had to replace a dying purse and broken summer sandals last week, and I also found some second-hand tops to replace a few that are goners.  I've been putting off buying any clothes for so long that it's no longer my choice any more.   I still need to replace several pairs of shoes.  Sigh. 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 1 NSD/4 CSD

I spent some $ yesterday.  But between coupons and the dollar store, I got lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, and a card for my friend, and still kept it under $5.  I'm good! 

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 10 NSD and 2 CSDs

Managed to stop at the grocery and get gas between the heavy thunderstorms we have been having this weekend.  All I want to do is crawl back into the bed on those type of days but I didn't.  Managed to get at least four loads of laundry finished plus caught up on all of the grading of anything turned in as of yet.  Today looks a little better and will be spending some time this afternoon with DSS and family.  The next two weekends are filled with graduation ceremonies that I have to attend so as usual I am not sure how active I will be on the thread.  Will pop in when I can. 

[3catslady]

update:  6 eating out days, 3 CSD, 3 NSD.  I've curbed my eating out time.  I had to buy a new battery for my car and I paid another bill.
It feels like winter has come again so I turned the heat on again.  It is to rain for the next week or so.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Before I forget this morning, time to make my weekend update. 

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 2 NSD/6 CSD

Unlike 3cats, we are supposed to have beautiful weather all week!  (Sorry, 3cats, its ours!)  Woo-hoo!  After our late winter in April/early May, I was beginning to wonder... 

[3catslady]

Rocky:  We had freeze warnings this morning and tomorrow morning.  So cold I turned the heat back on and put my winter pj's on.
update:  6 eating out days, 3 CSD, 4 NSD.  Now I feel better getting the NSD. 

[3catslady]

update:  6 eating out days, 4 CSD, 5 NSD. 
From a hard freeze to thunderstorms to 77* sunny day was the last 2 days.  Between arthiritis to allergies to sinus problems, I am a mess.  I will be glad when Mother Nature settles down.  The medicine producers are getting a lot of my spare change and I am calling the spend a CSD because I need it to breath and work.

[mizbear]

Replacing clothes:

Trying to hold off on replacing clothes until I absolutely have to. So far this is working.

Budget is working in new place when DM sticks to it and I am not putting out extra money.

[3catslady]

any body else have a problem with the whole screen being upside down?  I thought I was loosing my mind and I have very little left to lose.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Wow, 3cats, that's a new one on me! 

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 2 NSD/9 CSD 

[ses]

My new floors are beautiful!  I have managed to deep clean only four rooms in the past two weeks and dug out enough dust for several garden beds and my sister gleefully tells me I will still be finding excessive dust for the next year.  Oh, joy!

I also have learned that Leo has allergies.  He is very good about letting me wipe his nose and eyes whenever I hold a tissue and say "wipe."  Like a lot of little boys he doesn't always clean up real well after a visit to the bathroom.  Calleigh is pretty good at digging around after him to clean things up, muttering and growling all the time.  I'll worry when she digs through to the basement.

I've got to shut down, the tornado siren just went off.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Ses, glad to hear you're so happy with your new floors!  That's so exciting!  I hope the tornado sirens were just a precaution. 

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 3 NSD/11 CSD

I did go out with friends on Sunday, but since I helped them with some accounting stuff last month, they picked up the tab this weekend.  So it was an NSD for me!!  Yay! 

[3catslady]

update:  7 eating out days, 5 CSD, 8 NSD.
We went out for our monthly lunchen and we went to Applebee's.  I didn't like the food that much because it was too salty.  I had better food at other places we ate.  I got home and found out that the cat peed on my bed and pillow.  Then this morning I got up and she had hairball "stuff" on my blanket.  Now I have 2 loads to go to the laundromat and a load of my clothes in the car so I will be at the laundromat longer than usual and I hate it.  It looks like rain and I want to be home.
I bought a covered clothes rack, a closet for me, that I can put my winter clothes in.  Now I can empty a tub or two.  I just need to get the other dresser from my GF's home and I should be set with my clothes.