NSK;The Tortoise and The Mad MARCH Hare!!!
NinjaSavingKat
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:T:T:T NSK; The Tortoise and The Mad March Hare. :T:T:T
Slow and Steady Wins This Race.
Once upon a time there was a hare who, boasting how he could run faster than anyone else, was forever teasing tortoise for its slowness. Then one day, the irate tortoise answered back: “Who do you think you are? There’s no denying you’re swift, but even you can be beaten!”
The hare squealed with laughter.“Beaten in a race? By whom? Not you, surely! I bet there’s nobody in the world that can win against me, I’m so speedy. Now, why don’t you try?”
Annoyed by such bragging, the tortoise accepted the challenge. A course was planned, and the next day at dawn they stood at the starting line. The hare yawned sleepily as the meek tortoise trudged slowly off. When the hare saw how painfully slow his rival was, he decided, half asleep on his feet, to have a quick nap. “Take your time!” he said. “I’ll have forty winks and catch up with you in a minute.”
The hare squealed with laughter.“Beaten in a race? By whom? Not you, surely! I bet there’s nobody in the world that can win against me, I’m so speedy. Now, why don’t you try?”
Annoyed by such bragging, the tortoise accepted the challenge. A course was planned, and the next day at dawn they stood at the starting line. The hare yawned sleepily as the meek tortoise trudged slowly off. When the hare saw how painfully slow his rival was, he decided, half asleep on his feet, to have a quick nap. “Take your time!” he said. “I’ll have forty winks and catch up with you in a minute.”
The hare woke with a start from a fitful sleep and gazed round, looking for the tortoise. But the creature was only a short distance away, having barely covered a third of the course. Breathing a sigh of relief, the hare decided he might as well have breakfast too, and off he went to munch some cabbages he had noticed in a nearby field. But the heavy meal and the hot sun made his eyelids droop. With a careless glance at the tortoise, now halfway along the course, he decided to have another snooze before flashing past the winning post. And smiling at the thought of the look on the tortoise’s face when it saw the hare speed by, he fell fast asleep and was soon snoring happily. The sun started to sink, below the horizon, and the tortoise, who had been plodding towards the winning post since morning, was scarcely a yard from the finish. At that very point, the hare woke with a jolt. He could see the tortoise a speck in the distance and away he dashed. He leapt and bounded at a great rate, his tongue lolling, and gasping for breath. Just a little more and he’d be first at the finish. But the hare’s last leap was just too late, for the tortoise had beaten him to the winning post. Poor hare! Tired and in disgrace, he slumped down beside the tortoise who was silently smiling at him.
“Slowly does it every time!” he said.
I am not willing you to racing each other by the way. We are in the race of life. To change our circumstances for the better, imagine where we want to be and then put into action the little things that will take us to the end. I am aware that there has been a lot of effort on “hard and fast” debt busting from me over the months. This can be hard, draining and effectively counter-productive when Contenders believe they have “failed”. Wherever you are in your race for a clean life, you are not, and never will be a failure!
There is change afoot dear reader. I am re-thinking our plan of attack this month and embracing the slow and steady form of Mr Tortoise and his consistant and focused determination.
This is what I want from you as well. Slow, steady and long-lasting. The worst thing would be to burn out after clearing debt, and then fall by the wayside and “treat” yourself to something materialistic and defeating the purpose of our all-time goal. To get debt free and to stay debt free!!!
So Contenders (old and new) read the rules, although a little different this month, a little testing perhaps, but always fun. Get your names down, your lists made and your determination caps on.
Let’s do this!
The Rules
- This Challenge commences on the 1st March 2014 at 00:00 and ends on the 31st March 2014 at 23:59.
- You will set your OWN SFD target. Be prudent to take in every eventuality and be realistic. Take it slow if you are new. 1 SFD is better than none.
- The most important point is this; choose how much you are paying towards your debt and do it on the 1st of this month. Live on what’s left!!!
- Set your “outgoing” totals now. Choose envelopes for each activity i.e. food, outings etc. Re-jig that spreadsheet or notebook and write EVERYTHING down!
- Food budget will be £20 less this month than last month. Supermarket basics are the staple of your diet, you will meal-plan and you will make your own food. No convenience foods please.
- De-clutter that kitchen. This includes appliances you don’t need and food that needs to be chucked out. Again you MUST use up what’s in there before buying more. Get to the bare bones and be experimental!
- No take-outs of any kind. Thisincluding the use of them as rewards for an OH being good or kind. Find something else that costs nothing to amuse him/her.
- Summer holiday prep must begin now. Where are you going to go (if at all) and how much will it cost you? Can you start putting pennies away?
- Please donate £3 worth of toiletries this month to your food bank. Think of the items people wouldn’t usually buy, get them from the 99p store or less and stick them in the food bank box at your local supermarket..(toothpaste, toilet roll, deodorant, tampons, soap, face cloth etc). Get your kids involved they might enjoy this little activity for a “poor” child. See if they will help in donating a toy as well and help you in your de-clutter.
- De-clutter that house. We are concentrating on selling or giving away items this month instead of exercise. I want 30 items sold or donated please. Don’t care how small. If you don’t have 30 items to donate, convince a friend or relative to instead and help them do it. Get involved.
- Find a neighbour / friend / family member that needs a favour. However small but no money donations are to be made. Ask for nothing in return but ask them to “pass it on”.
- You must carry your lunch everyday. No food to be bought in restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, vending machines etc. It’s hard, it’s too easy sometimes but this is where you have to plan ahead and be prepared!
Okay - that’s it! Now lets have your name...
Please do not re-post / quote this entire opening message of rules. If you sign up you are basically saying that you are giving everything a go. Re-posting makes this thread longer than it has to be!
:):) Thank you! :):)
:):) Thank you! :):)
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent".
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Food £16.55/£200, Fuel £0/£250, Ents £17.47/£180, General £4/£100, SFD 8/15, LTW 11/16
Debt Free Date Friday 29th March 2014 :j
I can see what I have to do, book days off for challenge release days, lol
I've now read the challenge, still in!
Food £16.55/£200, Fuel £0/£250, Ents £17.47/£180, General £4/£100, SFD 8/15, LTW 11/16
Debt Free Date Friday 29th March 2014 :j
quick to catch on this month!!!!
xx
On a mission to save money whilst renovating our new forever home