NST: January 2017

Bobarella

Wow busy thread!

Just about managing my day 1 check in, busy schedule of watching the EastEnders special on catch up, and Sherlock...#lifegoals

Three things I am grateful for
1. Whoever invented TV on demand, seriously it's another world
2. Being able to cook. Made a delicious chilli tonight using up lots of leftovers and stretching the ingredients for max return.
3. The downtime I am enjoying before life gets busy again.

Things I'd like to achieve this year. To carry on running my business, growing it as much as I think I can. To take a holiday for the first time in 5 years, I owe my family this one. To keep enjoying looking after my daughter , it's such precious time.

Have paid £60 to my debt today & although my official balance is £700, with money I can count on it is adjusted to £324 which is an amazing place to start Jan.

Bob

mothernerd

Just missed reporting in for day 1. First NSD (going for 20 again).

Budgets Food allowing £80, will aim to be under £60. Travel £30 - put it up again because of my heavy dependence on buses and taxis last month. Extras £30 - film club cost is going up to £20 for annual membership + £2 per month on the night. I was considering dropping it as I have missed several films by being so ill/ tired that I have fallen asleep or forgotten all about it (stress). However I am as much of a recluse as Abundant so will sign up again. I have enjoyed the films I have seen, haven't really made friends as most people go in couples or with friends (2016 was my first year of going there). if I went to a cinema I would be on my own, it would just be less obvious there.

Stock take - I have 1/2 leg of lamb, chops, bacon, sausages and mince, each of which should make several meals (although someone used 1/2 my mince today, smelled gorgeous and there was nothing in the pan when I went down) plus a variety of tinned beans (butter/ canellini/ kidney etc), lots of frozen veg and some fresh veg (some slightly wilting so that's a priority for using up).

I always do the 3 things to be grateful for so in addition I am going to welcome the day in a positive manner (am a way off leaping from bed and seizing the day by the scruff of the neck but waking slowly, calm and contentedly will do.

I am still formulating my goals for the year but have read up on setting, implementing and achieving goals. Need some baselines - spent yesterday counting money. I had some money at home (some to pay for a house repair and some taken out after my bank had a wobbly one weekend). I have been using cash to pay for things and more is going into the bank than goes out to pay direct debits. I have been breaking down £20 notes so I counted money in my purse, wallet and bottom of my bag, change on the drawers, fallen down behind the drawers etc. Also emptied out my £2 highland cow, counted it and put it all back (£88 in there). Need to find out my current weight, good or bad (possibly too shameful to disclose).

Will formulate and post full set of goals later but for this week exercise is to try for 5 circuits of the car park (walking) each day building up to 10, when I can start going further afield. Healthy eating means having raw veg sticks (celery today, carrot tomorrow probably) in the fridge for snacks.

Today I am grateful for having clean sheets on the bed, for my 'Snowman and the Snowdog' embroidery (really absorbing) and for water (I have a choice of tap or fizzy).

cybertortoise

Not a NSD for me today. I have done an inventory of the pantry just need to do freezer tomorrow, I'll do the fridge too but it's 80% condiments so it won't be a helpful list

I'm grateful for my health, my children and my car today as it was so rainy!

bizzie

Could I join in as well please.

January
NSD #1/15
Charity monthly DD setup

Will be back later to add more.

clippy_girl

Good morning turtles

Yesterday as NSD today I def need milk though as guest drank more than usual so out already and only bought on Thursday!

Hopefully selling old slow cooker today for £5

Going to gym at lunch time for a health mot. Dreading it but prob be a wake up call so hopefully will help motivate me. Then I'm going back tonight to body pump class.

Other than that it's a day of cleaning the house and doing laundry. Going to batch cook turkey curry and parsnip soup. Ran out of takeaway containers so need to try and find something suitable to put them in (will use sandwich bags if get desperate!)

abundant1972

Morning everyone!

Today I am grateful for:

i) An extra day off to get myself in gear
ii) People that stand by me despite my 'issues' making it very hard at times
iii) The space and privacy where I live to just 'be'

Am off to a good start to the year... I decided to make a commitment to myself and signed up i) to the gym for a year (works out cheaper too!) and ii) am going to renew my subscription to my 'Headspace' app. It's not a plug but for anyone into mindfulness - check it out... It has helped me loads.

It was a big financial commitment (the gym) - £350 - but I'd budgeted for the outgoing. I've been a member on and off for 3 or 4 years and it's been a bit of a rock through some difficult times. It gives me structure and a sense of achievement and keeps me fit - even if I dread it at times lol.

I could be teaching people how to suck eggs here - but one of the best things I did was an annual budget... I wrote down each month any extra outgoings (car tax/mot, insurance, birthdays, professional fees, subscriptions etc)... Add them all up and divide by 12. I pay that amount each month into an account and I know I'll always have money for these things. That way I can pay things in one go which usually works out cheaper (like insurance) rather than monthly. Might take a bit of juggling if say you're biggest outgoing is in Jan... but it's well worth it. Any questions feel free to ask! I'm a budget whizz these days! (even if i do occasionally go over from time to time )

So, yesterday = NSD number 1

I hit the gym and did 10 minutes of mindfulness practice.

Mothernerd - I read yesterday about being mindful as we go about our day. Rather than rushing and missing out on the experience - you take your time and really connect and feel your actions... appreciate being in the 'now'. It occurred to me, that I know some days you feel really slowed up, and this could maybe turn that frustration into a positive exercise for you...? I've heard it can yield amazing results (calm, inner peace)Here's a link to the article:

https://lonerwolf.com/mindfulness-practices/

So - without further a do, I'm going to get up and meet the day. I'll do my food cupboard inventory and some batch cooking today, and go from there...

Enjoy your day people!

Eager_Elephant

My Jan goals:

Set a NSD target, aim for at least 15. – will try for 15

Donate to a charity – I will donate to an animal charity

Pay to your debt or savings first – just about to do the money shuffle for Jan so will pay to my debt/savings

Post as often as you can – hopefully every couple of days

Look at your usual food budget and aim to spend 10% less. Do a stock take of everything in your freezer/fridge/cupboards – done the Jan monthly shop in with the Xmas shop so am pretty much stocked up. Budget is usually £350 so will go for £315

Post 3 things that you are grateful for each time you post – will do

Post something that you would like to have achieved by the end of 2017 - think about how you will achieve this, break your goal down into small achievable steps. – I would like to have brought the house we live in under Right To Buy and I would also like to have cleared at least £3000 of debt. I also want to socialise more, DH and I only have a few friends and we never really see them properly. I also want to make a decent income from our smallholding.

Organise some cheap (free if possible) things to do with family or friends. January is a long and usually boring month, it's nice to have things to look forward to – DH and I won tickets to the theatre so will check what shows are on for Jan (or Feb) and book the show, I also have a spa day which my bestie got me last birthday, I paid to extend it and we want to use it in Jan. Also need to have more family time, need to find time for board games which DD loves.

Eager_Elephant

Yesterday was not a NSD - it was DD's birthday and her meal choice was Chinese. I love our local Chinese and although we spend a lot it does 3 meals for 3 of us.


I am grateful for living in a lovely village with loads of countryside so my dogs can have a good run about; I am so happy with the bedroom declutter I am currently doing and the bedroom is looking and feeling lighter, and I am very pleased with all the chunky men who like to chuck/lift heavy things all in the name of Strongman!!!


Today may also be a spend as we are going to town to change some of DD's xmas clothes that don't fit.

Saveforabetterlife

Forgot to post yesterday that I give all my decluttering (lots, as I have three kids and very generous parents who buy them lots of toys) to charity shop. They always email the amount they have raised and when I added up last year's it came to over £250 so that's brilliant.
My son needs new trainers so not a NSD for me unfortunately. Will buy milk at the same time to try to have a NSD tomorrow!! It's also piano lessons but I'm going to get out all the money I need for various kids' lessons and activities on one day. Otherwise I'd never have a NSD!
Going to try and have a quick look at my budget today. We overpay by £400 on our mortgage already and also have an offset account with savings. However we waste lots of money. We have Amazon Prime and I buy pretty much anything I want on there as it's so easy �� so I could stop that. I also over buy on food regularly so aiming to not to that. Hoping to overpay by a little more on mortgage. We want to pay it by 2023 which is when oldest child may be going to university.
Grateful for feeling a little better (I've had the flu and recovering for four weeks), my children (always) and having lots of food in stock.

Seasidegal58

Good morning Turtles!

So yesterday was a NSD as I'm still away at the moment - all inclusive in the middle of nowhere so nothing to buy! Today will be the same as well!:j

Today I'm grateful for:

Delicious breakfast with good company and lots of laughs!
Spying an otter by the loch;
A comfy chair by a roaring fire!

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