I like the sound of the roundedness of this challenge - really helpful to me. Anyone on here who's seen my mfw diary (or a few other threads ) knows that I've just retired, which means life changes a *lot* - in my case, the finances are extremely tricky, because I've retired for health reasons, so everything I have has to work really hard. I've copied and pasted the first post on here, and I'll chip in properly tomorrow, when I've worked it through.
Great to be here
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Downsized and paid off mortgage 2010 Retired August 2016 Paid off French mortgage September 2018 New kitchen fully installed June 2019 Not counting this! 2020 Garden fencing completed, woohoo 2021.......... October 2021: aiming for £5,000 new money for premium bonds or a car.
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.
I always find it hard to make lunch. I hate it. Can definitely use up stuff from the freezer, here's to eating like a 7 year old!
Presents – I am following the Grand holiday plan this year
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.
I am intending to do yoga each day.
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.
I am going to clear the garden of all the rubbish and get the gardener to sort out the plants and stuff. Make it nice for the spring (I only really like Autumn and Spring!) and keep it that way.
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.
have to be honest here, first month back at work, I won't see a soul!
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?
See above
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?
I am hoping to decorate my room so will start the moving out and clearing this month.
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?
Yep, will start walking the dogs in the evening, must get into a "winter (spits) routine"
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.
I shall try this. never really have the time but I do belong to the library at least!
My DS is also off to Uni in September - will be interesting as he is quite a distance away but I expect lots of texts and calls in the first few weeks.
He is working the summer to raise enough to cover food for the year - he does not get full loans as we earn too much.
DD will only be just over an hour away, so not bad (one of her choices was 5.5hrs drive away) She has been working most of the summer for money towards living expenses, but her contract is only 8hrs/ week - some weeks she gets 25 hours, others 10. She has still managed a decent sum and we have bought stuff for her to get her started with (including a starter kit of basic cleaning products, teatowels, etc) and she knows that she will have to get a job whilst she's there and we will end up giving her a monthly sum. It will be strange not having her around - and it leaves me the only female in a house with 4 males (the 3 female g-pigs don't count!! )
x
I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul
buffythedebtslayer taking lunches to work doesn't mean eating like 7 year old. I despise packed lunches with soggy sandwiches. Havung to take lunch either inspires me to cook a more interesting dinner for left overs or i make a yummy salad (called rabbit food by OH) that is filling and tasty. Is it just the fact that you have to make it or that you dont find the choices appealing. What do you usually take?
DEBT 03/23: CC 46374318 4100 Family 1380 0 , Extra money earnt £54, NSDs 1/20, sober 2/31
buffythedebtslayer taking lunches to work doesn't mean eating like 7 year old. I despise packed lunches with soggy sandwiches. Havung to take lunch either inspires me to cook a more interesting dinner for left overs or i make a yummy salad (called rabbit food by OH) that is filling and tasty. Is it just the fact that you have to make it or that you dont find the choices appealing. What do you usually take?
lol, I meant the eating from the freezer (currently it seems full of fish cakes and chips! with random yorkshire puddings)
I have tried sandwiches, shop sandwiches, leftovers, meal replacements, canteen food, I think I might try cooked chicken and cold pasta...and use up left overs. I forgot it is soup season too...
lol, I meant the eating from the freezer (currently it seems full of fish cakes and chips! with random yorkshire puddings)
I have tried sandwiches, shop sandwiches, leftovers, meal replacements, canteen food, I think I might try cooked chicken and cold pasta...and use up left overs. I forgot it is soup season too...
Oh, ok :rotfl::rotfl:that makes more sense.
During summer I usually make salads as I don't get much of a chance at home (kids like cucumber, peppers etc. but no-one likes sweetcorn, beetroot, anchovies etc) and in winter I'm a soup girl too
DEBT 03/23: CC 46374318 4100 Family 1380 0 , Extra money earnt £54, NSDs 1/20, sober 2/31
1) 14 NSD might be a bit difficult as I don't do a big weekly/monthly shop but tend to food shop daily. I am also visiting partner's sister in hospital 2/3 times a week so have to factor in train fares but I'll try my best.
2) Will menu plan dinner and lunches for week using food from freezer and store cupboard (they are chock a block full) as much as possible and only buy meat/chicken/fish if I can find it reduced in price.
3) Don't really have a lot of presents to buy (bought some already) and only partner and I for Christmas Dinner but still spend far too much. Try to cut this down and have a stress free Christmas Day (Is this asking too much?)
4) Don't spend enough time on myself at the moment so doing something every day that makes me feel better/happier is an excellent idea
5) Started decluttering and tidying but not easy then you live with two serial hoarders. Still, organisation is the key. Drawer or cupboard a day and it will soon be done.
6) Don't know about meeting up. A bit difficult at moment but will email, phone, write to various people that I don't have contact with on a regular basis. It's not that I dislike them just that life has got in the way. So easy to wait for someone else to make contact so this month I'll be that person. Once things are a bit more settled for us I'll arrange visits/meet ups etc.
7) Don't have a garden but will sort out all the pots on my verandah and organize a bit of greenery for the winter. Dreading looking under the bed but has to be done.
8) At my advanced age gym not really an option (if I'm honest never was) but how about an hour's walk, at least, every day
9) Am a member of the library but haven't visited much lately because we have so many books at home. I am really interested in local history though (actually history of any sort) so will look at what they have. I think they run a local history group so will look at joining that.
10) I love your idea of donating to food bank for Michaelmas Day. Although I don't attend church I used to love Harvest Sunday when I was small. My neighbour's son has set up food banks for his church so I'm going to buy something every time I shop to make up a little hamper that might make a difference to somebody at harvest time. I think it's about time I started counting my blessings and think about those less fortunate.
Don't know where I want to be in 12 month's time but I'm going to have a long, hard think about it.
1) Spends – at least 14 NSD’s. The only discretionary money, and nearly all of it goes on the train or bus tickets to see my sister, once a week as it will now be.
2) Eating – menu plan for September. Can you start using up bits in the freezer ready to make room for Christmas food?
Likewise, not such a big issue for me, retired and living alone. As far as Christmas is concerned, I'll be away for 3 weeks, so my freezer won't be involved!
3) 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?
My sister, who also just retired, has done the hard work for me already – she informed everyone that they won't be getting the previous level of presents, as she's retired now. Me too, is all I need to say, but I do want to buy presents for close family, and one or two friends. Need to check on current supplies.
4) 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.
Not a problem, given my new circumstances and I've always gone for a short walk during the day anyway.
5) 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?
This is huge for me! The whole house is in uproar, so the problem will be choosing which particular tornado to tame.
6) 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.
Already scheduled, though not by me. Seeing Norfolk rellies, meeting up with my brother, and going back to my mum's house – I've not been well enough to do that journey for nearly two years.
7) Bed– either start bedding down the garden for winter or you will start making the bedroom suitable for the cooler weather.
Bedding the garden down for winter is an excellent idea. In spite of the fact that I've tried as hard as I can, the brambles have nearly got away from me, and I need a Man That Can to cut back the laurels. Bedroom currently not too bad, the dust had got so awful that I already had a clean underneath the bed.
8) 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?
Gardening is good, walking is good, even house work can help.
9) 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.
I've been a member of the library since the age of 6 or so not going to change now. My current local library started to lend ebooks, which was a lifesaver, as the walk there was too much for me last year. I'm currently reading a Stella Rimington thriller.
10) Everyone is to budget their income for the month and remember to pay your debts first.
Now I'm living entirely from savings, a budget has meaning for me again, so I've set one up. No debts (except for French mortage, for which I send over £2-3k a year) so the most important bill is the Council Tax, sadly.
11) To celebrate Michaelmas Day I would like you all to donate to a food bank or to host a share meal with friends/family.
Energy levels extremely tricky right now, so I'm going to count a meal prepared by me in our Norfolk holiday cottage towards this, sorry, I can't go any further out on a limb.
Save Save
Downsized and paid off mortgage 2010 Retired August 2016 Paid off French mortgage September 2018 New kitchen fully installed June 2019 Not counting this! 2020 Garden fencing completed, woohoo 2021.......... October 2021: aiming for £5,000 new money for premium bonds or a car.
I wasn't part of this challenge a year ago, no, I'm just joining for the first time. But a year ago, I was starting to announce to my clients that I was retiring in a year's time, which I've just done! In August, I was finding the work increasingly difficult, I needed to do one day on, one day off. In a year's time, I expect:
to be much more well, physically speaking, cos of nutrition, sleep, exercise and disappearing stress.
to have got my writing career up and running. As of now, it's just one book, which I haven't properly promoted since it was published.
to have started cat sitting – I'm aiming for £1000 a year for doing this.
to have had done a few projects at the house: wooden shed dismantled, laurel cut down, brick shed renovated, garden gate renovated, counselling room reclaimed.
to have made some links in the local community – walks run by the Forest Rangers, the WI, the Twin Town Association, the Horticultural Society, I don't care, I just need links.
to get out and about with my sister – locally and to London. This will not be hard to fulfil
Downsized and paid off mortgage 2010 Retired August 2016 Paid off French mortgage September 2018 New kitchen fully installed June 2019 Not counting this! 2020 Garden fencing completed, woohoo 2021.......... October 2021: aiming for £5,000 new money for premium bonds or a car.
Replies
I like the sound of the roundedness of this challenge - really helpful to me. Anyone on here who's seen my mfw diary (or a few other threads
Great to be here
Retired August 2016
Paid off French mortgage September 2018
New kitchen fully installed June 2019
Not counting this! 2020
Garden fencing completed, woohoo 2021..........
October 2021: aiming for £5,000 new money for premium bonds or a car.
Spends – aim for at least 14 NSD’s.
I can do that.
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.
I always find it hard to make lunch. I hate it. Can definitely use up stuff from the freezer, here's to eating like a 7 year old!
Presents – I am following the Grand holiday plan this year
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.
I am intending to do yoga each day.
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.
I am going to clear the garden of all the rubbish and get the gardener to sort out the plants and stuff. Make it nice for the spring (I only really like Autumn and Spring!) and keep it that way.
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.
have to be honest here, first month back at work, I won't see a soul!
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?
See above
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?
I am hoping to decorate my room so will start the moving out and clearing this month.
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?
Yep, will start walking the dogs in the evening, must get into a "winter (spits) routine"
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.
I shall try this. never really have the time but I do belong to the library at least!
DD will only be just over an hour away, so not bad (one of her choices was 5.5hrs drive away) She has been working most of the summer for money towards living expenses, but her contract is only 8hrs/ week - some weeks she gets 25 hours, others 10. She has still managed a decent sum and we have bought stuff for her to get her started with (including a starter kit of basic cleaning products, teatowels, etc) and she knows that she will have to get a job whilst she's there and we will end up giving her a monthly sum. It will be strange not having her around
x
lol, I meant the eating from the freezer (currently it seems full of fish cakes and chips! with random yorkshire puddings)
I have tried sandwiches, shop sandwiches, leftovers, meal replacements, canteen food, I think I might try cooked chicken and cold pasta...and use up left overs. I forgot it is soup season too...
Oh, ok :rotfl::rotfl:that makes more sense.
During summer I usually make salads as I don't get much of a chance at home (kids like cucumber, peppers etc. but no-one likes sweetcorn, beetroot, anchovies etc) and in winter I'm a soup girl too
OK. This is my plan for September
1) 14 NSD might be a bit difficult as I don't do a big weekly/monthly shop but tend to food shop daily. I am also visiting partner's sister in hospital 2/3 times a week so have to factor in train fares but I'll try my best.
2) Will menu plan dinner and lunches for week using food from freezer and store cupboard (they are chock a block full) as much as possible and only buy meat/chicken/fish if I can find it reduced in price.
3) Don't really have a lot of presents to buy (bought some already) and only partner and I for Christmas Dinner but still spend far too much. Try to cut this down and have a stress free Christmas Day (Is this asking too much?)
4) Don't spend enough time on myself at the moment so doing something every day that makes me feel better/happier is an excellent idea
5) Started decluttering and tidying but not easy then you live with two serial hoarders. Still, organisation is the key. Drawer or cupboard a day and it will soon be done.
6) Don't know about meeting up. A bit difficult at moment but will email, phone, write to various people that I don't have contact with on a regular basis. It's not that I dislike them just that life has got in the way. So easy to wait for someone else to make contact so this month I'll be that person. Once things are a bit more settled for us I'll arrange visits/meet ups etc.
7) Don't have a garden but will sort out all the pots on my verandah and organize a bit of greenery for the winter. Dreading looking under the bed but has to be done.
8) At my advanced age gym not really an option (if I'm honest never was) but how about an hour's walk, at least, every day
9) Am a member of the library but haven't visited much lately because we have so many books at home. I am really interested in local history though (actually history of any sort) so will look at what they have. I think they run a local history group so will look at joining that.
10) I love your idea of donating to food bank for Michaelmas Day. Although I don't attend church I used to love Harvest Sunday when I was small. My neighbour's son has set up food banks for his church so I'm going to buy something every time I shop to make up a little hamper that might make a difference to somebody at harvest time. I think it's about time I started counting my blessings and think about those less fortunate.
Don't know where I want to be in 12 month's time but I'm going to have a long, hard think about it.
Wish me luck.
Have a good day.
2) Eating – menu plan for September. Can you start using up bits in the freezer ready to make room for Christmas food?
Likewise, not such a big issue for me, retired and living alone. As far as Christmas is concerned, I'll be away for 3 weeks, so my freezer won't be involved!
3) 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?
My sister, who also just retired, has done the hard work for me already – she informed everyone that they won't be getting the previous level of presents, as she's retired now. Me too, is all I need to say, but I do want to buy presents for close family, and one or two friends. Need to check on current supplies.
4) 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.
Not a problem, given my new circumstances
5) 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?
This is huge for me! The whole house is in uproar, so the problem will be choosing which particular tornado to tame.
6) 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.
Already scheduled, though not by me. Seeing Norfolk rellies, meeting up with my brother, and going back to my mum's house – I've not been well enough to do that journey for nearly two years.
7) Bed– either start bedding down the garden for winter or you will start making the bedroom suitable for the cooler weather.
Bedding the garden down for winter is an excellent idea. In spite of the fact that I've tried as hard as I can, the brambles have nearly got away from me, and I need a Man That Can to cut back the laurels. Bedroom currently not too bad, the dust had got so awful that I already had a clean underneath the bed.
8) 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?
Gardening is good, walking is good, even house work can help.
9) 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.
I've been a member of the library since the age of 6 or so
10) Everyone is to budget their income for the month and remember to pay your debts first.
Now I'm living entirely from savings, a budget has meaning for me again, so I've set one up. No debts (except for French mortage, for which I send over £2-3k a year) so the most important bill is the Council Tax, sadly.
11) To celebrate Michaelmas Day I would like you all to donate to a food bank or to host a share meal with friends/family.
Energy levels extremely tricky right now, so I'm going to count a meal prepared by me in our Norfolk holiday cottage towards this, sorry, I can't go any further out on a limb.
Save
Retired August 2016
Paid off French mortgage September 2018
New kitchen fully installed June 2019
Not counting this! 2020
Garden fencing completed, woohoo 2021..........
October 2021: aiming for £5,000 new money for premium bonds or a car.
I wasn't part of this challenge a year ago, no, I'm just joining for the first time. But a year ago, I was starting to announce to my clients that I was retiring in a year's time, which I've just done! In August, I was finding the work increasingly difficult, I needed to do one day on, one day off. In a year's time, I expect:
Retired August 2016
Paid off French mortgage September 2018
New kitchen fully installed June 2019
Not counting this! 2020
Garden fencing completed, woohoo 2021..........
October 2021: aiming for £5,000 new money for premium bonds or a car.