NST August: Cut the chaff

crazy_cat_lady

Happy August everyone. Hope it's a good one for all of us!

SpekySquarehead

Deal me in, please! 4 month in a row.

I fell short in July but I'm feeling good about August, although I do have a few special occasions to watch out for.

… on food: not by deprivation but by replacing one ‘baddie’ with a ‘goodie’.
This month I’m back on Herbalife, so my breakfast and lunch are sorted. Snacks will be nuts or fruit and dinners will be healthy. No fizzy juice!
… on wants v needs: each time you don’t buy a ‘want’ keep a tally of money not spent and add it all up at the end.
This is a fun idea. It’ll be interesting to see my number at the end of the month.
… on exercise: make a plan and carry it out. Focus and make it count.
This is a biggy for me. Plenty of exercise for the month to couple the healthy eating.
… on screen time: just 1 hour per day for leisure.
I’m not a big TV watcher but I’ll use this to watch Game of Thrones with the Mrs.
… in relationships: reduce time you have to spend with toxic people, those that drain you; nourish the good relationships and put time and effort in to them.
This is a mantra I hear a lot of in successful people. One I need more practise in.
… on spending: this links to wants v needs. 15 NSD please.
That’s the number I was going to aim for, so lets do it.
… in health: we all have niggles (the older we are, the more we have!) Be proactive about them.
Funnily enough I’ve a dentist appointment on Saturday that’ll tick this box.
... in possessions: we usually have far too much stuff that clutters up our physical asurrounding and our mental state. Look at this objectively: if you do not love the item and find joy in it, then let it go!
I’ll try and get things on eBay and have a clear out.

I'd like to say for any newbies, I found this challenge hard to begin with. My thinking was, "well it's only £3.00 on a sandwich", but lots of those little spends add up! Now I'm reluctant to pay for anything when I had anticipated a NSD. Just keep with it, it becomes addictive.

Effyb4

Hi I'd really like to give this challenge a go. I have been trying to debt bust since December and I'm hitting a bit of a sticky patch. I was also only paid 70% of my wages this month, although I hope to get the rest of the money by the end of this week.


Cut the chaff
… on food: not by deprivation but by replacing one ‘baddie’ with a ‘goodie’.
My food baddie is too many crisps and sweets. I will aim to replace them with fruit.


… on wants v needs: each time you don’t buy a ‘want’ keep a tally of money not spent and add it all up at the end.
I am buying too much wine at the moment. Every time I resist the urge to buy it, I will make a note. It should up to a fair bit by the end of the month.


… on exercise: make a plan and carry it out. Focus and make it count.
I exercise fairly regularly anyway, but I will aim to cycle to work at least twice a week. This will save me money as well.


… on screen time: just 1 hour per day for leisure.
This I will find extremely difficult. I spend a large amount of time on the internet or watching telly (or both a lot of the time). I will start off by only spending an hour on the internet a day.


… in relationships: reduce time you have to spend with toxic people, those that drain you; nourish the good relationships and put time and effort in to them.
I am very lucky that I don't really have any toxic people in my life.


… on spending: this links to wants v needs. 15 NSD please. This will also be very difficult, with boys being at home for the holidays, bread and milk need replacing daily (6 pints of milk and a loaf of bread a day). I could try and buy enough for 2 days though.


… in health: we all have niggles (the older we are, the more we have!) Be proactive about them.
This links with the exercise. I had a heart attack 3 years ago and find that regular exercise makes me feel better and will hopefully help my heart.


... in possessions: we usually have far too much stuff that clutters up our physical surrounding and our mental state. Look at this objectively: if you do not love the item and find joy in it, then let it go!
Our house is very cluttered and I am not very motivated in doing anything about it. I will aim to spend 10 minutes decluttering a day. Baby steps are the way to go I think with this part of the challenge.


I will try and post daily, but may not be able to while we are away for a week. I hope this is the right way to go about the challenge.

thriftylass

apple_muncher wrote: »

NST August Challenge 2016

Cut the chaff

Cut the chaff
… on food: not by deprivation but by replacing one ‘baddie’ with a ‘goodie’. more tea, less coffee for me
… on wants v needs: each time you don’t buy a ‘want’ keep a tally of money not spent and add it all up at the end.
… on exercise: make a plan and carry it out. Focus and make it count. just cancelled my triathlon as I wasn't ready, will now focus on the duathlon in 6 weeks
… on screen time: just 1 hour per day for leisure. should be easyish
… in relationships: reduce time you have to spend with toxic people, those that drain you; nourish the good relationships and put time and effort in to them.
… on spending: this links to wants v needs. 15 NSD please. pledge 18
… in health: we all have niggles (the older we are, the more we have!) Be proactive about them. had this lingering cold for months now and will see my GP about it soon
... in possessions: we usually have far too much stuff that clutters up our physical asurrounding and our mental state. Look at this objectively: if you do not love the item and find joy in it, then let it go! will definitely start doing that again

Make each day count towards the goals that are important to you. Do something every day that takes you one step closer to one of them, and tell us about it.

Who is with me?
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Hello,

can I join again please. My motivation kind of fizzled out at the end of last month but I will try again, and again, and again......

smallholdingsister

I'm in thanks Apple. Back with details when I can get on the 'puter.

Yvieblue

Urgh! Out of habit, I spent some time browsing the threads with my morning coffee, and perusing the news sites and before I knew it, my hour was up! Not a great start I knew though that I would find this part hard as I tend to lose myself online a bit when I'm hiding away from the world! Will finish this post, then that's it for the day. How does everyone else manage their internet leisure time? Do you confine it to a set time each day? I suppose not working doesn't help me, but I should be doing other productive things.
I need Bananas and yoghurts but may decide to do without as I really wanted to chalk up my first NSD today!
I've already decided against buying a new mop that I didn't need, so that's £14 I've saved myself:)
I'm tweaking my exercise plan a little - instead of couch to 5k, I'm going to start a walking program; this evening I'll take myself off for an hours walk; I did this a few years back, doing an hour 5 evenings a week, and had a steady weight loss, plus it helped lift my mood.
Oh, I've signed up for a free online course as a step towards either returning to work or setting up a business.
So some positives for me so far today:)

apple_muncher

Yvieblue wrote: »

Urgh! Out of habit, I spent some time browsing the threads with my morning coffee, and perusing the news sites and before I knew it, my hour was up! Not a great start I knew though that I would find this part hard as I tend to lose myself online a bit when I'm hiding away from the world! Will finish this post, then that's it for the day. How does everyone else manage their internet leisure time? Do you confine it to a set time each day? I suppose not working doesn't help me, but I should be doing other productive things.
I need Bananas and yoghurts but may decide to do without as I really wanted to chalk up my first NSD today!
I've already decided against buying a new mop that I didn't need, so that's £14 I've saved myself:)
I'm tweaking my exercise plan a little - instead of couch to 5k, I'm going to start a walking program; this evening I'll take myself off for an hours walk; I did this a few years back, doing an hour 5 evenings a week, and had a steady weight loss, plus it helped lift my mood.
Oh, I've signed up for a free online course as a step towards either returning to work or setting up a business.
So some positives for me so far today:)

It is soooo easily done! Maybe you could initially halve the time you spend online?

Good luck with the job hunting/ setting up a business.

smallholdingsister

on food: not by deprivation but by replacing one ‘baddie’ with a ‘goodie’. ice cream with fruit
… on wants v needs: each time you don’t buy a ‘want’ keep a tally of money not spent and add it all up at the end. will do.
… on exercise: make a plan and carry it out. Focus and make it count. 15 Plops promenading days
… on screen time: just 1 hour per day for leisure. OOf!
… in relationships: reduce time you have to spend with toxic people, those that drain you; nourish the good relationships and put time and effort in to them. I have cut out toxic people but I will have the olds over for lunch
… on spending: this links to wants v needs. 15 NSD please. Usually easy, much harder in the hols
… in health: we all have niggles (the older we are, the more we have!) Be proactive about them. Seeing the quack tomorrow about my not-so-great hearing
... in possessions: we usually have far too much stuff that clutters up our physical asurrounding and our mental state. Look at this objectively: if you do not love the item and find joy in it, then let it go!
Decluttering one drawer or cupboard per day
Make each day count towards the goals that are important to you. Do something every day that takes you one step closer to one of them, and tell us about it. Will do.
Budget for every day’s activities. Look ahead. Plan what is going on. Set realistic limits. The "b" word. Scared to do this as the plans are very spendy.

I hope I don't crash and burn!

greent

My pledges

apple_muncher wrote: »

Cut the chaff
… on food: not by deprivation but by replacing one ‘baddie’ with a ‘goodie’. - less biscuits, choc, cake and more fruit
… on wants v needs: each time you don’t buy a ‘want’ keep a tally of money not spent and add it all up at the end. - am not a major impulse spender but will do this
… on exercise: make a plan and carry it out. Focus and make it count. - whilst on holiday this is covered by increased steps/ walking or activity at water parks/ in the house pool. At home I will aim for a walk of min 30 mins min 3x per week and investigate the Zumba class my friends go to. And just getting out with the kids will help.
… on screen time: just 1 hour per day for leisure. - with tv and laptop combined will be hard. Lots of screen time needed for work-type stuff (eg: reports for accountant etc)
… in relationships: reduce time you have to spend with toxic people, those that drain you; nourish the good relationships and put time and effort in to them. - far fewer toxic ppl in my life nowadays. But do need to spend more time with some friends I tend to neglect - inc my bestie who has her birthday this month
… on spending: this links to wants v needs. 15 NSD please. - - eek - I struggle with NSD targets normally, let alone in the hols!
… in health: we all have niggles (the older we are, the more we have!) Be proactive about them. - need to book dentist appt. Need to go to drs about manky toe.
... in possessions: we usually have far too much stuff that clutters up our physical asurrounding and our mental state. Look at this objectively: if you do not love the item and find joy in it, then let it go! - decluttering will continue once home (although I am leaving 2 books in the villa's bookcase and some items of clothing will not be returning and I brought lots of travel sized toiletries away with me)

Make each day count towards the goals that are important to you. Do something every day that takes you one step closer to one of them, and tell us about it.

Budget for every day’s activities. Look ahead. Plan what is going on. Set realistic limits. - I have membership to the local wildlife and wetland trust which I will take the small ones to. I also have free tickets for cattle country (large outdoor play area) to use up in the hols. Couple of meet ups with friends in parks should also keep costs down (but ice creams may get purchased) There will hopefully be a couple of celebrations (A level and GCSE results for DD and DS1) and I will need to buy school uniforms and shoes (major money) for the 3 boys. No doubt DD will need some things for her uni accom after results are known. Bestie's birthday will need some spends and it's also our anniversary. Ouch! Oooh - I also think that I have one - maybe two - afternoon tea vouchers to use this month too - so treats for free (presents)Yum

Check in every day for maximum benefit, and let us know how you are getting on, your victories (however big or small they may seem to you, we celebrate them all), your pitfalls. - ok

Who is with me?
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apple_muncher

greent - the 1 hour screen time is for leisure use. Anything related to work / businesss-type of things is ok. Good luck with the NSDs...

And have a lovely last few days away.