NST July - Own your choices

Florence_J

Really excited, I know the rules might be further finalised, but here are my thoughts so far (will update if needed )

1. This month I want you to have a good think about what your biggest financial failing is.

Mine is what i categorise as 'Non Essential Food'. This is buying food at train stations, canteen/work lunches, food outside of home when I'm not far from home, ready meals, treats outside of the usual food shopping list. going overboard on snacks and desserts. I can spend up to 100 quid a month on this. Sometimes more :eek: I am aiming for less than 21 pounds this month.

2. This month I want you to set your own NSD target, but would hope for most to say 5 or higher.

My record so far is 7. For July I'll aim for 10.

3. We are 6 months till the end of the year now. What decisions did you make back in January and how have you done with them so far? If you've gone off the rails, tell us now how you plan to sort it out. No more vague hopes for better futures the way to success is tight organised planning.

I've had to use my credit card this month for the first time all year due to having a reduced income. It would be unrealistic to say I won't use it as I may have to. But any purchases on the card have to be 9/10 in terms of usefulness/need/ability to save time or money

4. Most of us have an idea of what perfection looks like. Dont be scared to visualise what that is for you. Tell your fellow turtles what you want from the future and how amazing it will be!

I want to make my house a home. I want to get rid of everything unnecessary. I want to fix broken things. I want to keep it tidy. I want to take pride in my home.

5. Choose to get active. Can you leave the car at home completely and cycle or walk to work? A lot of our behaviour is habitual so challenge those negative reasons for not choosing a more active life. Worried you will be late? Set the alarm 30 mins earlier.

I used to have a rule that if somewhere was 45 minutes or less away by foot then it would always be walked, never ever get public transport for it. I seem to have forgotten this rule. I want to re introduce it.

6. Consider doing more for yourself. Do you need to pay £10 an hour for a cleaner when taking up a Flylady routine will mean your house is clean and you get a free work out. Or why not consider cutting your partner or kids hair with clippers & putting the saving to debt?

I am pretty independent already and due to lack of finances I do a lot of things for myself. But one thing I do usually try to outsource is my fitness regime, believing I can only get fit if i am a member if a gym, when there are loads of work out dvds and videos online. I want to keep going to my girls football club and pilates class, but i want to jog round the streets and do youtube fitness videos and use the exercise bike a minimum of 4 times a week.

7. Report in daily with your updates and tips for others. Cat hit gold with her frugal daily frugal tips idea so do keep those coming if you have them.

Will do :j

8. Choose kindness. There are many people out there who need our kindness. Find ways throughout the month to make those around you happier some how.

I have been feeling the need to do something on a bigger scale since the referendum so will look into this.

Bobarella

Thanks for starting us off Florence.

SpekySquarehead

Deal me in as usual. 3rd row in a month

TrushTush

Am determined to throw myself in to loads of challenged for July, will be tough as kid's summer holidays start in a week for one child and 3 weeks for the other 2 so will have more money going out on them, but will need a challenge like this even more to get me through the next couple of months!

In short (I do like to waffle, I'm sorry!) please may I join?

-Tush

helen-louise_2

Can I join please?

1. My major failing is spending at the local shop. Whether on snacks for the evening ahead or forgotten milk, I end up spending a few pounds or more each day. This has to stop. I need to plan my week more efficiently so I avoid going at all. I will start off by aiming for 2 trips per week or less.

2. I will aim for 10 NSD's this month.

3. I planned to lose weight, become more active and sort my house and finances out. None of those have happened in fact the opposite in some aspects. I will pull myself together, plan every aspect and get on with it. I will get my Fitbit charged and take advantage of Youtube fitness videos (Florence J 30 day shred is a real tough routine if you want a challenge I managed 1 day!) alongside tracking calories. I am being evicted so plan to get rid of as much unnecessary stuff before we move and not replace any. I'm going to put together a budget spreadsheet for the next 6 months and fill it in every day. And I WILL plan meals and shopping trips!

4. I want a beautiful home that is uncluttered and welcoming and I would like to buy a camper van so I can take my children away whenever and wherever we fancy without having to pinch and scrape every penny together to book a £20 pitch.

5. I need to do more. My Fitbit hasn't even been charged this year so far and I have become far too reliant on the car. I have recently got a bike so I will try to use that when possible, walk when I can't bike and get my yoga mat out. I also have a rowing machine that's been used twice in over 6 months, not sure whether to sell or keep though. Will have to think on that one.

6. I don't pay for anything like this. I can't afford it for one. My only 'extravagance' in this area is giving my son £6 every couple of months for a haircut as he is 14 and apparently too old for me to just shave it all off. I may have to get myself and daughter (17) on Youtube and learn how to do it properly!

7. Will check in daily.

8. I am looking into this. I plan on finding something I can do from home (childcare issues) and then once we have moved I will be able to devote more time.

Bobarella

SpekySquarehead wrote: »

Deal me in as usual. 3rd row in a month

Its addictive isnt it

Bobarella

TrushTush wrote: »

Am determined to throw myself in to loads of challenged for July, will be tough as kid's summer holidays start in a week for one child and 3 weeks for the other 2 so will have more money going out on them, but will need a challenge like this even more to get me through the next couple of months!

In short (I do like to waffle, I'm sorry!) please may I join?

-Tush

Of course welcome aboard. The summer holidays are a big issue for many. Tips and advice shared for fellow parents always welcome.

Bobarella

helen-louise wrote: »

Can I join please?

1. My major failing is spending at the local shop. Whether on snacks for the evening ahead or forgotten milk, I end up spending a few pounds or more each day. This has to stop. I need to plan my week more efficiently so I avoid going at all. I will start off by aiming for 2 trips per week or less.

2. I will aim for 10 NSD's this month.

3. I planned to lose weight, become more active and sort my house and finances out. None of those have happened in fact the opposite in some aspects. I will pull myself together, plan every aspect and get on with it. I will get my Fitbit charged and take advantage of Youtube fitness videos (Florence J 30 day shred is a real tough routine if you want a challenge I managed 1 day!) alongside tracking calories. I am being evicted so plan to get rid of as much unnecessary stuff before we move and not replace any. I'm going to put together a budget spreadsheet for the next 6 months and fill it in every day. And I WILL plan meals and shopping trips!

4. I want a beautiful home that is uncluttered and welcoming and I would like to buy a camper van so I can take my children away whenever and wherever we fancy without having to pinch and scrape every penny together to book a £20 pitch.

5. I need to do more. My Fitbit hasn't even been charged this year so far and I have become far too reliant on the car. I have recently got a bike so I will try to use that when possible, walk when I can't bike and get my yoga mat out. I also have a rowing machine that's been used twice in over 6 months, not sure whether to sell or keep though. Will have to think on that one.

6. I don't pay for anything like this. I can't afford it for one. My only 'extravagance' in this area is giving my son £6 every couple of months for a haircut as he is 14 and apparently too old for me to just shave it all off. I may have to get myself and daughter (17) on Youtube and learn how to do it properly!

7. Will check in daily.

8. I am looking into this. I plan on finding something I can do from home (childcare issues) and then once we have moved I will be able to devote more time.

Fantastic first post Helen. Welcome to the challenge

freshstartpie_2

Count me in please - starting afresh with a new name after people in RL started knowing too much!

doingitanyway

Here are my intentions for July

1. My biggest financial failing is overspending on food. I am improving. I used to shop most days but now I’ve gotten it down to shopping 3 times a week. During July I will keep track of my food spending and instead of my £170 plus, my budget is £120. I will only shop on Monday and Saturday

Another area, I am not doing great on is saving. I save £25 a month and I take it back out mid month. I want to get to the end of July with £25 saved

2. I will have a 10 NSDs in July

3. I’m doing well on priority areas set in January but I am falling down in some areas. HEALTH: I need to sign up with a new GP and get an eye test. HOUSE: By the end of July I want my upstairs water pipe fixed. NURTURING: I have to get my appearance in hand. By the end of July I want my belt on my jeans to feel comfortable on the third hole. (not doing the weighing thing) I am going back to IF plan between 11-7. FINANCE: I will draw up a new budget for July/August as my finances will change again. I will keep adding to my £2 and 50p coin jar

4. I want a clean, organised, home with flowers or greenery on my dining table. I want the things that give me joy to be prominent and the things that don’t give me joy to be released to give other people joy or fulfil a function.

I want the ground level windows to be clean and sparkly and a tub full of colourful flowers to be outside my front door

I want a green vegetable in my fridge at all times

5. I will do 31 hours of gardening or working on the outside of the house.
I will do 1 exercise class a week
I will exercise for at least 30 minutes every day (even if it is walking or gardening).

6. In July I’ll be getting my garden into shape. I had been looking for a gardener to get the difficult work done, but I bought a gardening saw so I can do those jobs myself.

7. I will do daily updates of my progress and if I have a frugal tip I will share it.

8. I will find ways throughout the month to be kind to others (but also to myself).

Bring it on July :T