NST: October: Letting go of the love of stuff. 28 September 2015 at 9:22AM edited 28 September 2015 at 9:37AM in Debt-free wannabe challenges 512 replies 32.8K views

dolly84

NST: October : Letting go of the love of stuff.

[FONT=&quot]We live in a world of excess. I’m not a minimalist and never will be but I came across this quote recently and it really resonated with me:

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‘Owning less is great, but wanting less is even better’

[FONT=&quot]Constantly checking out what other people have and comparing it to what you have can only lead to discontent. Human beings have very few needs – food, water, shelter, basic clothing and for most of us the company of others
.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]You only have to look on Youtube and watch some haul videos. They are an eye opener, people with huge amounts of stuff already are buying huge amounts more and others are watching the videos and coveting those things and that lifestyle. It is all rather obscene.

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]The next paragraph is from applemuncher’s challenge last month, it struck a chord with me and it ties in nicely with this month’s challenge so I have left it in just as a reminder to us all.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

Reduce, reduce and reduce some more. Reduce what comes in. Reduce what you use. Reduce what you spend. Reduce what you need. Reduce how you ‘waste’ your time. Reduce screen time. Reduce electricity usage. Reduce gas usage. Reduce water usage. Reduce the amount of rubbish you throw away.

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]For those of you concerned with gift buying obligations for the upcoming festivities – DON’T BE. Do not feel uncomfortable about broaching the subject with people, grab the bull by the horns and tell those people you won’t be buying a gift this year and are not expecting to receive one back, you don’t have to tell them it’s a financial thing, it could be about getting back to the real meaning of Christmas, less stress, or just don’t give a reason. It would be a lovely idea to add that you would like to arrange a get together (if you do actually want to), obviously this would be a free activity.

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]It would also be great if people would share their LBM story, it is inspirational to read these and see how far people have come and also to remind ourselves where we once were and why we don’t want to go back.

[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]When I started following NSK’s challenges last year I had great success and one of the reasons why was because she was such a hard taskmaster. She expected you to justify the decisions you had made, follow the rules (not bend them) and always be thinking of ways to be debt free. I will be taking a similar stance this month. Don’t take it personally, as much as I want to be debt free myself I want you to be too, I know how hard you work and don’t want you to let yourselves down. We do need to have a life at the same time, just within our means.

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[FONT=&quot]The regular rules:[/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]The challenge runs from October 1st to October 31st.[/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Set your own NSD target of 12 or more. (I have taken into account people may be picking up Christmas gifts now)[/FONT]
3. [FONT=&quot]Give £5 to a charity close to your heart… or an equivalent value of your time if that is not possible.[/FONT]
4. [FONT=&quot]Pay to your debt/savings first[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]October’s rules:[/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]Do not buy anything for yourself/household this month that you do not really need, really need. Let us know about near purchase incidents though. (NPI’s)[/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Have one meat free day per week, if you are already doing this or are Vegetarian, please cut out something else – caffeine, alcohol, chocolate etc.[/FONT]
3. [FONT=&quot]Spend responsibly, think about small local businesses, charitable/ethical organisations etc rather than lining the pockets of big organisations who care about no-one.[/FONT]
4. [FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Pay in ca[FONT=&quot]sh w[FONT=&quot]hen[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]e[/FONT]ver possib[FONT=&quot]le and use the envelope system for [FONT=&quot]budgeting your spends.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
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5. [FONT=&quot]Have one tech free day per week, this is all technology outside of work requirements, so no surfing the web on your phone on the bus, no television, games consoles etc. Try to get partners/family on board and do something together.
   [/FONT]
6. [FONT=&quot]Do not use the car for short journeys when you can easily walk. It is obviously much better for the environment but also for you and your car.[/FONT]
7. [FONT=&quot]Try to post as often as you can (obviously excluding tech free day), sometimes just reading what someone else has achieved in their day motivates me and I’m sure others must feel this way too.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Who’s up for this??[/FONT]

Calling14

Perhaps I should have read this before buying fridge/freezer this morning.

Sticking like glue to the rules this month. Count me in and I will get 20 SFD this time.

misstara

Thanks for the new challenge dolly. Count me in, think I'll aim for 20 NSDs again. As well as doing one meat free day a week, I am also going to challenge myself to give up chocolate for the month. I've noticed since going gf (so no longer eating biscuits or cakes), my chocolate bar consumption has rocketed. I have chocolate every day (quite often more than one bar ) and its not good for me, my teeth or my budget. I will also continue trying to reduce food waste as it worked really well in September.

dolly84

Calling14 wrote: »

Perhaps I should have read this before buying fridge/freezer this morning.

Sticking like glue to the rules this month. Count me in and I will get 20 SFD this time.

Still September so you are OK.;)

dolly84

NST - Letting go of the love of stuff:

1. Dolly84
2. Calling14
3. misstara
4. Thriftylass
5. Bobarella
6. applemuncher
7. Mrs Toast
8. academiablues
9. traveller
10. WelshKitty85
11. Fmess
12. crazy_cat_lady
13. Synonymous
14. stewby
15. The Only Girl
16. Carviscocker
17. Samiszel
18. Luckystarr
19. cybertortoise
20. nannygladys
21. andrar
22. Dizzyblnd
23. littleskintdragon
24. JennyG84
25. Welshgirl78
26. nellis10

thriftylass

Thank you very much for stepping in Dolly84.

I'm in. New month, new effort.

Bobarella

Yes please!!

apple_muncher

Me please!

Bobarella

Dolly - I love this challenge, its very cool. I do consider myself a minimalist, & try very hard to adhere to the principles I believe in. I am definately not a stuff person or a things person.

On the 1 tech free day thing, I may struggle there I think as I use tech for my business, & couldnt go a day without checking my online banking either, plus checking in on the challenge etc.

But other than that, Im game for the lot. Put me down for 15 NSDs if you are tracking, otherwise will do so myelf.

I was really hoping to get under £3,000 this month, but as usual life crops up. My OH has some dentist work that is going to cost around £200, although he'll get some money back from Denplan (about half) & we still have to shell out for our half of the works to the gutters at the flat which is going to be around £150.
So I dont know how much stretching I'll get done, but Im getting there slowly but surely

Looking forward to another month of NSTing

Bob

Mrs_Toast

Hi. Could I please join? I used to do these challenges before NSK went on her travels and loved it. We've had a bad patch the last few months so back on the thrifty wagon I go. Can I have a target of 15NSDs and 4 in a row please

academiablues

Count me in