NST March 2024: The Magic Roundabout

apple_muncher

NST March 2024: The Magic Roundabout

The Magic Roundabout takes me back to my childhood and also gives me happy memories from my uni days. Here’s a link to an early programme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3DcChXNyYQ

Its colourful characters include Dougal the dog, Brian the snail, Dylan the rabbit, Ermintrude the cow, Florence, a polite little girl, and Zebedee, a talking jack-in-a-box, who ends every episode by announcing 'Time for Bed'. It was originally French,  Zebedee (Zébulon), Brian (Ambroise), Ermintrude (Azalée), Dougal (Pollux) and Dylan (Flappy). You can choose your character for the month!

Florence is a well-mannered, inquisitive and kind-hearted young girl who always spends her time meeting with her friends, especially Dougal, at the Magic Roundabout or in the gardens.

(This is most definitely not a challenge about the other one - The Magic Roundabout in Swindon, which is a ring junction constructed in 1972 consisting of five mini-roundabouts arranged in a circle. That would just be too confusing! Turtles don’t like going around and around in circles plus they don’t drive.)

Just in case the above is not your thing: March. The month of daffodils and the arrival of Spring. The equinox and altering the clocks. Preparation for Easter. St David’s and St Patrick’s days. Pi day. Spring cleaning. Well, maybe not that last one…

 

Turtle power: the Ninja Saving Turtles are a group set up when NinjaSavingKat stopped her challenges because she had reached her goals and was off travelling. We have monthly holistic challenges and everyone is welcome to join us on this month’s magic roundabout.
Hiphop, reggae, rock, pop, punk, classical…Whatever your taste in music, play some songs you love every day and sing along.
Emergency fund – this is usually referred to in a financial context. This month, extend the concept to ‘what would I do if…’ scenarios. If I was carless; if I was hospitalised; if I was burgled; if I had rats…

Me, myself and I. Be your own best friend and look after yourself. Do three things every day that make you happy. Speak to yourself positively and kindly. Stop when you need to and chew a flower like Ermintrude. Channel Zebedee’s words, and go to bed at a good time to ensure you get enough sleep.
Avoid those things that drain you –  financially, emotionally, mentally, physically. Impulse shopping; always running around after other people; negative relationships…
Gratitudes – check in every day and share three things that you are grateful for.
Inquisitiveness – be more Florence. Keep learning.
Commit to simplifying your life, bit by bit. You may feel you are slow like Brian, but it all counts.

Remember those who are worse off than you – donate to the foodbank/shelter/charity
Offload your excess baggage – stuff, emotions, people (!) If it makes you sigh or drains you of your energy, then it doesn’t belong in your life.
Use it up, wear it out, make do and mend or do without. Use what you have before replenishing eg toiletries, cleaning products, crafting items, books. Use up your freezer and cupboard stocks and stash. Not going to use it? Then give it away. Plan your meals. Take your lunch to work every single day you are there.
NSD count = 16 please (not lost if you need medication, travel, regular activities that need paying weekly or if you only buy reduced items)
Decisiveness. Make a decision this month that will make future you very happy.
Active lifestyle – be it archery, zorbing or anything in between, your body loves to move. Plan it into your schedule so that you don’t forget to do it! You can be a bouncing Zebedee or a zooming Dougal. And take time to be like Dylan too, and sit back and relax.
Budget – Frugality brings joy. Look at your budget and select one area to reduce this month.
Opportunities are all around. Are you unhappy in an area of your life? Then look to change it.
Understand your finances: what’s coming in and going out; what you owe and any repayment schedules; have a budget for the month. Be honest. What is your pension plan looking like?
The magic roundabout needed maintenance so have a good look around your house. What needs doing? Anything you should prioritise? Anything to make your surroundings work better for you?

 

We’re riding the magic roundabout for the whole month of March. Who will join me?

apple_muncher

Magic Roundabout riders:

1 apple_muncher

2 grandmanerd

3 laura_lau

4 ladybird1106

5 short_bird - not sure if you're joining, but have a number anyway!

6 lcc86

7 Chrystal

8 ditty1234

9 leftatthetrafficlights

10 Frugal aspirations

11 beanielou

12 weenancyinamerica

13 sweetbriarrose

14 Esmeralda2662

15 DawnW

16 FlyingBy

17 ldee2111

18 ThriftyTaylor

19 Rowan9

20 Startlight_at_Sea

55 f0xh0les

grandmanerd

Yes please apple

laura_lau

Please count me in @apple_muncher!

I watched the entire video, loved it, I didn't know about this programme!
Love the goals and I can already see how some of them are really going to resonate with me. 

ladybird1106

Will be more present this month 
Love 🐞

short_bird

That's Emma Thompson's dad doing the voices. 

f0xh0les

Bagsy being Buxton the Blue Cat!  If I am allowed to join  in with March's Magic

lcc86

Can I join? I won't post every day but will check in when I can and try to get on track!!

Chrystal

Please count me in too @apple_muncher , I'm looking forward to some March Magic

lcc86

I am setting out my stall nice and early while I have a spare few minutes.

Me, myself and I - I have some leave to use up at the end of the month and have a spa trip planned and a visit to parents as well. Definitely looking forward to some down time!
Avoid those things that drain you –  easier said than done sometimes but I will try my best!
Gratitudes – I'm going to go against the grain and not pressure myself to log in every day but will check in when I can and will consider my gratitudes.
Inquisitiveness – I'm due to start a doctorate in September so am saving all my learning to then!
Commit to simplifying your life - trying to simplify home life where I can as work life is always a bit of a mess!

Remember those who are worse off than you – direct debits set up and I will also make a one off payment as well.
Offload your excess baggage – will do!
Use it up, wear it out, make do and mend or do without - am quite good at this anyway but will be more mindful. I do have a lunch date planned with a colleague but apart from that I always bring lunch in anyway!
NSD count = 16 please - am being ambitious and aiming for 21!!
Decisiveness - I need to decide this month whether to take the plunge on a new (to me) car. Mine is low and uncomfortable and any long journey has me in agony as I have arthritis. I don't want to spend the money as my current car fulfils all my other needs, but long journeys are a thing for work so I'm a bit stuck.
Active lifestyle – gym membership up and running, I also walk regularly and horse ride so will carry on with those.
Budget - going to try and reduce the food budget, maybe not by much considering price rises etc, but will see what I can do. I'm also aiming to make a payment a week to my Very account (0% laptop purchased, £245 outstanding); and a payment a week to my study fees pot. I will be applying for a student loan but want to pay half the fees myself so that I don't take on too much debt.
Opportunities are all around - will have a think about this one.
Understand your finances - I have my budget spreadsheet and am pretty on top of things.
The magic roundabout needed maintenance so have a good look around your house - there are always little jobs that need doing!

ditty1234

Hi please sign me up, I need March to work it's magic and hopefully help me to get back on my feet.