NST: Sailing into September

Eager_Elephant

Welcome to September’s Ninja Saving Turtles challenge – it is the start of Autumn on 22nd September when we have the Autumn Equinox and on 29th September we have Michaelmas Day to celebrate the end of harvest.

Also on 29th September Horatio Nelson was born – Wikipedia says this about him ‘He was noted for his inspirational leadership, superb grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics, all of which resulted in a number of decisive naval victories.’.
I believe that all us Turtles are Nelson, we are inspirational and we are taking the lead in our own households, we are very good at strategy – just look at our challenges each month and most of all we may be seen by others as unconventional but really we are making the most of what we have and planning for our futures with victories along the way.
Everyone needs to be more like Nelson!!!

Rules:

Spends – aim for at least 14 NSD’s.

Eating – menu plan for September. Can you start using up bits in the freezer ready to make room for Christmas food? Make sure you take lunch to work every day.

Presents – make your Christmas lists. Who needs a present and who will just have a card? Can you reduce any of the people you ‘have’ to get presents for? Could you make any presents - we have plenty of time to prepare things? Do you need sellotape/wrapping paper/bows etc? What are you doing/where are you going for Xmas this year? Can you start buying food ready – remember a lot of meat goes up in price from the end of November so get it early while you can. (This might be controversial but anything you buy from your Xmas list this month will not count towards a spend day unless you buy other stuff as well – I want everyone to be well underway for Xmas by the end of September)

Time – make time for yourself this month. Even if it’s only 10 minutes a day do something for yourself whether that is going for a walk, having a bath with loads of bubbles or sitting outside with a drink – we need to make the most of the evenings.

Empty – pick a drawer or cupboard to empty and sort through. If it’s the junk drawer what can you do to stop it becoming a junk drawer? Keep on top of this drawer/cupboard all month so nothing that shouldn’t be there goes in.

Meet – meet up with a friend/family member who you have not seen for ages but keep meaning to. Ring/email/text them now and arrange something for this month.

Bed– either start bedding down the garden for winter or you will start making the bedroom suitable for the cooler weather.
In the garden, start sorting out the pots – do they need a wash before being stored for winter? Does the garden furniture need any oil/paint before it gets put away for winter? Do any flowers/bushes need cutting back yet?
In the bedroom, do you need to put the winter duvet on? Do any duvets need washing? Can you have a clear out – clean under the bed, wash down the bedside tables?

Exercise – do as much exercise as possible, aim for every 2 days as a minimum. Can you make the most of these evenings before it gets dark at 5pm? For those like me who have dogs, can you walk them a different route or for longer?

Reading – the first public lending library opened on 6th September 1852. If you have not yet joined your local library could you join it? Everyone will read a book during this month and report back with comments – hopefully it will encourage others to try new books. Books can be either fiction or non-fiction.

• The challenge will run from 1st September 00:01 until 30th September 00:00.

• Everyone is to budget their income for the month and remember to pay your debts first.

• To celebrate Michaelmas Day I would like you all to donate to a food bank or to host a share meal with friends/family. I used to love the Harvest Festivals when I was a child; everyone would bring in a tin of food to be donated to the local food bank and the local vicar would do a lovely service all about harvest. Could this tie in with the Meet part of our challenge?

• Were you a NST last year? 12 months ago applemuncher asked:
  12 months from now, you will be one year older.
  But will you be one year better?
  If you want to change where you are in your life, it is up to YOU and you alone.
  Where do you want to be in 12 months’ time?
  Plan for your future.
  So what did you want to happen in 12 months -has it happened?
  
  Here is a link to Sept 2014 – find your post and report back:
  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5314988

So who would like to join me for September?

Eager_Elephant

Reserved for Turtles....


1. Eager_Elephant
2. thriftylass
3. Bobarella
4. Pepperoni
5. Fmess
6. dolly84
7. mothernerd
8. apple muncher
9. Lauralozzle
10. clippy_girl
11. Determined2Save
12. smallholdingsister
13. swimminginaseaofdebt
14. misstara
15. Florence J
16. crazy_cat_lady
17. Geldsparerin
18. greent
19. Buffythedebtslayer
20. luckystarr
21. juliejim
22. FurryBeastOz
23. Calling14
24. SpekySquarehead
25. Toni'sfriend
26. Karmacat
27. lego mum
28. dizzyblnd
29. XSpender
30. nannygladys
31. evkizzy
32. The Only Girl
33. WelshKitty85
34. 364ab
35. SpekySquarehead

thriftylass

Thank you fro the new challenge. Third month I said now I'll stick around properly till the end of the month. Let's hope it's 3rd time lucky. Will print out the rules and comment on Thursday.

Bobarella

Yes please EE sign me up

Pepperoni

Hi,

Could I join in this month too please

Thank you

Fmess

Count me in please Love you challenge ideas

dolly84

Thanks for the new thread EE, I'm in.

mothernerd

Count me in please EE. Will try harder to keep up this month (setting myself SMART goals on a few things).

apple_muncher

Loving the challenge - count me in please!

Lauralozzle

Oh, count me in!!

clippy_girl

Count me in!

I'm obviously psychic as yesterday I gave my room a really good clean and got rid of everything under my bed.

This afternoon I chopped back my butterfly bush and text a friend to arrange meeting next weekend

I will def be working on my 'junk drawer'!

I am going to research some Christmas present ideas. Traditionally I've only bought for family but I now have a new group of friends who buy for each other and whilst they don't expect anything back it would be nice to give a homemade gift I think.

I'm planning on flavoured gin or vodka and some editable treats. Have any of you tried nigella's chocolate cookies (think they are Xmas ones, they have 100's &1000's on). I am planning on some of those