NST: October Turtle Triathlon

PheoniX

hi gang :wave:

Just had breakfast after a 13 hour marathon sleep! Had an awful sleep the night before where I was still awake at 6.30 in the morning then was up at 10! Thats shift work for you :undecided

Was a bad turtle yesterday and pre paid my share of a one night stay for my big bday next month. I dont begrudge it really as Ive only had 1 night away in an el cheapo hotel this year and havent had a proper holiday in yeeaars. I also paid for a Xmas polar bear jumper with snow bobbles on and a baby bear with a bobble on its a$$

I got 3 quotes yesterday for a new exhaust back box which were 'about' £80, £85 and £250! :eek: I went for the £85 one in the end purely because of its convenient location and could be fixed there and then. On driving away I found that it was blowing slightly and rattling underneath! :mad: I spoke to the garage straight away who asked me to bring it in tomorrow so he will sort it.

I need to go Te$c later to pick up a few stickered loaves to freeze and get a few bits for my juicer. Its costing a bit this juicing malarkey but its one sure way of getting at least 5 a day in one hit.

As per triathlon guidelines I am going to properly dream about my future this week and think of where I want to see myself in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years from now.. Ive drifted day by day without giving it much thought but we all need a bit of direction in our lives. All I know is that I want a simple, healthy and happy life and none of this big house, big debt, all show, no money business

Hope you all have a lovely sunday, bye for now :wave:

apple_muncher

While dd is playing out front on her BOUNCY HOPPER :j and generally running around with the other kids, I have made coleslaw (thanks to mothernerd for her references to this a few months ago, as it has been a staple of my work lunches ever since! Onion, carrot, red cabbage, cauliflower, oodles of evoo and a few sultanas. Top it with 2 hb eggs and that'll keep me full!

I also made my own Nakd bars: 50g cashew, 35g sultana, 30g date, 10g cocoa powder + a few drops of mint essence (should've used real leaves!). Zap it then pack into pots. Yummy!


Having read most of Mr Money Mustache's blog recently, I have turned to Early Retirement Extreme. What do others think? The challenges we do here - thanks to kat - are pretty hardcore as they combine a high number of NSDs with a grocery challenge, a tight pre-set budget, a decluttering element, and always aiming to give to those who need it. I may have missed some bits too!

speakingofart

I think he has some good ideas, but I must admit that I find him quite intolerant, in the sense that the position seems to be if you aren't willing to abandon your life, give up your car etc you aren't trying hard enough - I always want to point out that spending 20 years doing nothing but saving for an early retirement that you don't know will come is a little pointless. However, I do think there are a lot of similarities and he does make a good point about the amount of wasted money/ "stuff" that seems to be needed nowadays.

liltdiddylilt

Hello guys!

Traveller we must be on the same cloud at the moment! I too woke with a decluttering bug, and have disinfected and listed for sale a dozen or so old toys of Jellytot's, AND have thrown away tonnes more that are no use to anyone! I had to have a look in the mirror too. Which was when I realised I am still in my pyjamas and look like a scarecrow! :rotfl:

I have been thinking about my future too as per triathlon dreaming guidelines. For the future, I would like to move to a house with a garden eventually. But my BIG dream is to buy a house and make sure that I have something to pass on to Jellytot no matter how small. I don't have any giant wishes for a house. But I know that living in the garden of England, I either need to move home or win the lottery to manage my pipe dream. So I guess 5-10 years from now, barring a lottery win (which is kind of hard when you don't play!) I would like to be debating a move back home. I have been doing a bit of dreaming about this today but it is £400. Maybe next year... if I can figure out a way to sell enough stuff to purchase it! Perfect for Jelly's small bedroom and something to grow into.

SFD #9 here :T although I haven't updated my grocery budget from yesterday. I may have gone overbudget. off to confess all to YNAB although I have added £20 to the budget on there.

On the subject of Christmas once I had Jellytot we decided and told all family that Christmas is for kids, and we are not packing her up and shipping her from one place to the next over what should be the best week of her year. Nor are we falling into a trap of doing one set of parents one year and the other parents the following year. So we stay at home as our little threesome. We don't have turkey as is traditional in both families. We have our favourite roast lamb instead, a big leg. And we have brand new Christmas Eve pyjamas, get up early in the morning to open presents, have a fried breakfast afterwards and watch films and play games, then I cook the dinner, for late afternoon it is lovely. We facetime the grandparents, send them lots of pics and videos. So they get to replay the moments over and over.

Sorry for the ramble guys!! xx

Habibiboo

Just lost mega long update!

Will be back when I have finished sulking!

Habibiboo

:wave:

Third time lucky with this update, am going to post half way through then edit so I don't lose it again! :mad:

* S - Stick to lists / budgets: no deviation yet.
* W - Waste nothing[/ Menu plan revised to reflect latest growth / gluts in garden, so nowt will be wasted there and lots of free / fresh veg. This week's featured veg are leeks, kale, spinach and broccoli tops.
* I - Pilates DVD 12 times over October (approx 3 x per week) Ok, epic fail here! Smaller, skinny dog basically doesn't get the principles of Pilates and thinks that anyone getting down a mat is fair game for, well a game really. So I've polished up my pedometer and am going to take this quest in that direction as I know he will participate properly in walking for exercise!
* M - Home made spa sessions on Thursdays:Going well so far and is also helping with toiletry use up campaign. This Thursday am aiming to give myself a pedicure.
* B - Grocery budget: £65 / £90 so far.
* I - Improve money saving: I've revived old account to use for Xmas money so that I can keep the debit card in my purse and if I see an unexpected present bargain I can use the money which is put by rather than having to draw on mortgage or household account.
* K - Kick debt: ongoing
* E - Tracking spends: envelopes, £1 into Xmas sealed pot for each NSD and Mr. Hbbb's dressing table kill into Xmas sealed pot system is working well.
* R - £5 food donation personal variation: jar of homemade jam and Xmas scented candle (for extra sensory pleasure, not eating) added to hamper!
* U - Toiletry use up: travel sized shampoo, conditioner and body scrub used up, old perfume finished, and face moisturiser finished up = 11 / 31 so far.
* N - NSD: NSDs going well, still trying to stick with 5 a week, total currently 8 / 16 so far.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend! x


x

PheoniX

Yo :wave:

Apple Muncher I love those nakd bars but theyre quite expensive, must try making my own! Have you tried making other flavours?

Re early retirement have you seen this thread? Its quite an interesting one
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2840632

Toodlepip :wave:

moohound

I like Mr Money Moustache ( see signature ) but I think a lot of it is geared towards middle-class Americans and their life styles, we went to Florida in July and all the cars are stupidly big, our hire car did 17 to the gallon, you hardly see city cars, we even saw a Winebago towing a Hummer.

The ads for cars on TV and radio are relentless, and all state monthly payments, the full amount is never mentioned, I think you are expected to upgrade for ever more.

So I feel no shame in buying a tank of fuel once every 6 weeks, and getting to work at the hospital in my car when I'm on call, before a patient bleeds to death does not make me a 'clown'

Half the posters on the forum on MMM seem to own a light aircraft anyway!

But for me, it makes me think about what I buy and consider more carefully if there is another way.

N.B. We don't normally go to places like Disney and it cost about £8500 including spending money, but we went with some money my Dad left me when he passed away. To be honest I would have been just as happy in my caravan for £200 for 2 weeks, but the short man had a good time

Calling14

Well managed a SFD will update totals tomorrow spreadsheet in work.

Did a day tidying back garden, and trying to resolve patio/water problem. Covered in mud, put loads sand, membrane underneath. Give up! Will do for now. Showered and as if by magic daughter arrived and whisked me off out for late lunch. Beef dinner and sticky toffee pudding, she paid as it's my birthday next Sunday. Happy me as too knackered to cook by then.

Dolly84 glad I am not the only one with a titanic fascination. Been to Titanic exhibition in Orlando twice- daughter worse than me. Saw the landing stage in NYC and really want to go Belfast next.

Well first evening sat in my kermie onesie it must be getting cold. Heating staying off need to save somehow.

Habibboo how annoying is that. Happens all the time on my tablet.

Caeraugirl

Just a quick check in - not a SFD but topped up on everything I should need for rest of month except milk, bread and brown rice (they only had white!) in L!dl, saving £5 thanks to Lilt's voucher - thanks Lilt.

Sig updated, off to spend a little time with rest of family now as have spend most of afternoon / evening getting rid of the ironing Everest that magically appeared since the last pile was done last week........! Managed to do most of it in front of "free" movies from Amazon Prime so entertained at least.