NST April - SPRING INTO ACTION

dizzyblnd

Calling14 wrote: »

End of week 1 scores

SFD 5/7 Anyone manage 7?
Food 29.11/100
Fuel 25/45
Going out 23.50/50
Weight loss- Happy dance 2 lbs off :cool:
Exercise 5/7 could have done better

Fruit/veg yesterday 2 bananas thats all, unless count cranberry juice.

The only Mary Berry energy bars were cranberry ones. Are these the ones?

Yes, they have dried cranberries and coconut in them. They are really nice, although I'm not convinced they are healthy with butter and golden syrup in them. Hope this helps. Think they are called cranberry and coconut protein bars.

dizzyblnd

Calling14 wrote: »

Now we all can see properly, a picture of health with glowing radiant skin, fluffy feet and oh so fit, we are ready for a tough weekly challenge.

Week 2 challenge – Audit time

Being a geek I added up very roughly that between us turtles we have 106 years experience on this site, having approximately total debt 56k outstanding and looks like 15 of us are debt free. Haven’t included mortgages in these figures and can only go by information given in your signatures.

This week audit your finances and your lifestyle.

Finances

Make sure for get the best value for everything we buy.

Check energy deals, read meter make sure not overpaying/ underpaying
Dry washing outside, avoid tumble driers, use heating sparingly, extra layers, jumpers. Showers timed. Batch cook save gas/electric.
Can we buy food anywhere cheaper, switch to own brands
Petrol – check out online prices before buying in your local area. Check tyre pressures, drive economically as possible. Avoid short journeys WALK.
Look at every outgoing you have, any contracts near the end?
Are you setting money aside for house maint, car repairs, dentist....
Do you need to spend at all?
Cancel and cut up any old credit cards


Lifestyle

Our behaviour/ focus on what’s important in our life, changes over the years.

Personally I don’t need expensive holidays, lots of nights out, flash cars, keep up with the Jones’s – not sure made me really happy anyway. Holidays did for the 2 weeks until I got home and credit card bill arrived.

Decide what is important to you.

Can you clear your debts/mortgage quickly and still have a life?

Are you just sat at home counting every penny afraid to live a little?


“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters.” ― Audrey Hepburn


Ninja turtles have to emerge from their sewers, still staying off the pizza and live life to the max on a tight budget.

List 2 things a day (within reason;)) that made your day happier and more fun.

Great start gang, I can't believe what a fit bunch we have here and special mention to Crazy Cat lady for going way beyond random act of kindness.:T

This is such a great ideA. I completely agree with you that life is about living. If people can pay off debts/mortgages etc while still enjoying life- even better. U only live once so make the most of it.

apple_muncher

Hello chica! You are April's lycra-clad cheerleader!

Thank you for the audit calling - very useful. It helped me to make the decision not to put the heating on to dry the washing .

Dd and I also opted to leave the car behind and walk to and from the shops. The return was harder work, as I was carrying some rather heavy shopping, but the chattering + nattering was excellentt.

Today I am grateful for the robin who potters around in our back garden oblivious to the rain, for lovely chats with dd, for my workout, for fresh bed linen, for dd being such fun to spend time with.

Bobarella

An audit is a great idea Calling also hope whatever happens with DGS school that you still see him lots.

Mothernerd Pleased for you that you were not as heavy as you'd thought.

Managed a £10 PAD today. Which reduced my required total payments to hit target by another £1 per month & put me at 46% repaid for this year's total.
I found 2p roadkill and stuck to my meal plan..we had stuffed peppers with bacon and onion with salads.
Walked my 2 hours today.
Forgot to mention that I made a citrus cake with the oranges and tangerines I'd frozen. It is lovely. Glad I didn't waste them.

Checked my banking. All as expected.

I think I've mentioned before enjoying the Frugalwoods blog. I was delighted to read the latest post that they've bought their homestead. Such an inspiration!

Night all.

Bob

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all :wave:
Calling - I am honoured to get a special mention.
I have managed as I would have expected being off work. 3 nsd's and my eating and activity have increased somewhat. I have to say, the Fitbit has really brought out my competitive nature (against myself) and I want to be in the fat burning zone with a minimum number of steps every day etc.
Mothernerd - you really never seem to stop. I wish I had a tenth of your energy and motivation.
Clippygirl - enjoy that holiday. :j
I think an audit could be just what I need for the week ahead. I have a couple of naughty habits sneaking in. It's mainly using the heating and tumble dryer I sometimes just do it for convenience and balance. It's like you say, there has to be a life in there somewhere, and I am incredibly time poor, so I admit to sometimes buying frozen veggies, and using the tumble dryer etc. I don't think I'm high maintenance - things that make me happy are being with my family, having friends I can talk to, access to t'internet and the cats of course. I don't need holidays, fancy cars, expensive clothes etc. Just to be appreciated and live with my integrity intact.

SpekySquarehead

Good evening all,

As always, special thanks to Calling for inspiring us all to be better people.

I'll being doing my audit tomorrow, although I done much of this at the start of the month when I started YNAB.

Well done to all who have achieved so much in the last 7 days.

mothernerd

Bobarella wrote: »

An audit is a great idea Calling also hope whatever happens with DGS school that you still see him lots.

Mothernerd Pleased for you that you were not as heavy as you'd thought.


Bob

No Bob I have lost 4 lb this week due to all the effort I am putting in to doing longer walks and eating properly. Don't discourage me:rotfl:

Well I went to the big city.Think it was the comment about sitting at home too scared to get a life. Took my book to read on the bus. Went last year once when I was still on crutches so a long time (3 years?) since I could wander around.

So lots of walking done but only spent on food which I will be taking out of my 'pamper' allowance (in extras) - if anyone wants to argue I will mash up one of the bananas and put it on my face. Saw some clothes but nothing I would buy yet - maybe in the sale.

Also looked at trainers but they were very expensive for me (about a 1/4 of what DS2 pays, I usually find some £10 ones). The colours I like (turquoise) are very fashionable. Would probably have been worth buying to see the boys faces. I'll put them on the wish list with the emerald Dr M's (my version of that poem "When I am old I shall wear purple").

Took a pen and some paper but never really sat down. Sometimes it's easier to sort things out in my head away from the house (too many things saying sort me out). If I still feel stuck at weekend I might go and sit in one of the bird hides on the country park (quiet enough to think and okay if it rains).

Went on the last remaining 'normal' bus which meant I didn't know where to find the new ones when coming home. Saw one of them (not the one I really wanted) on the far side of the square but then it disappeared from view, so I hopped on one to the town 8 miles away. Have done this a lot in the past as our buses were once an hour and these are every 10 mins. The routes intersect so it can be an easier way home. Picked the wrong bus and it took forever - in and out of the biggest estate I've ever seen - did start to wonder if we were heading back to Mc as the houses were so similar. When we reached the bus station I only had to wait a few minutes and had lots more reading time.

Today I am grateful for
:j Finding the notebook I use as a diary (been missing all last month)
:j losing weight (yes I am, yes I am)
:j just wandering around and smiling at strangers

Things that made me happy
found 6 pence roadkill. Had to pick them out of a puddle but at least it was better than the the penny I found last month next to puddle of food (told myself it had been dropped not regurgitated)
swathes of daffodils in pockets of grass by roadsides (and one lot of white tulips just for a change).

:money:On the audit. A tip from another thread (via another thread) on drying washing outside. If it has been raining and/ or damp and you are wondering whether to put washing out IF your path is dry or drying then the washing will dry too.

I always put the washing outside when the children were small (although doors are useful for drying sheets if everyone has been sick and you are running out). I had six lines and I could see what to prioritise and bring in first. Boys school uniforms first, towels and sheets usually had plenty so could stay out until they got dry (if it rains it's just extra rinsing).

ChicaBonita

apple_muncher wrote: »

Hello chica! You are April's lycra-clad cheerleader!

.

Well I do like me some lycra :dance::j

Go team Go!

misstara

Morning turtles, didn't get a chance to post yesterday but it was a NSD and I went to the gym.

Managed 4 NSDs in week 1 and went to the gym 3 times plus walked to and from work every day so happy with that - just need to keep it up I've got a day off tomorrow so will do the week 2 audit then.

I got paid today from 2nd job so have made a £12.74 payment to the loan. I currently have 4 months left to pay on the loan but hoping to pay it off in 2/3 months so every little overpayment counts

My emergency fund is unfortunately going to take a hit as an elderly relative of mine has died and the funeral is far away needing an overnight stay. However, that's what it is there for and I'm very grateful that I have some savings. My parents have arranged the accommodation so will need to find out how much I owe them and will need to arrange transport.

Not a huge amount planned for today, I start work at 11am so suppose I better get myself in the shower fairly soon. Me and OH thought we might go to the cinema tonight, however, can't quite agree on what we want to see.

Hope everyone has a good day, the sun is shining here so it will be a lovely walk to work

SpekySquarehead

Good morning one and all. Happy Friday and good luck with the week ahead.

My 2 things that will make my day happier;
- Seeing distant family
- My dogs, wagging their tail when I walk into the kitchen in the morning. Lovely feeling.

Have a good day/weekend and keep the good work!