NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

abundant1972

Calling14 – Great idea about volunteering for the NT. Your giving something, and hopefully doing something you enjoy and that nourishes you too. As you say it’ll help keep you active, and that in itself will no doubt help with the slimming without you even trying. Little steps… something is better than nothing always. Why not do a dog walking service! That could be a business venture! Those who dare to dream… Enjoy your concert. You’ve done well not going out – and I think we have to give ourselves some ‘rewards’ along the way – or life can feel like debt busting drudgery and that’s no life at all. Of course there has to be balance… small treats – not huge ones that will drop you massively back into debt. Well done on running the cupboards down. Now take off the door, add salt and pepper, and turn it into a cheap and tasty snack! Argh I see the ‘Chippy Siren’ called you into her den haha! She of the fried cod and chips is hard to resist indeed!

Smallholdingsister – You had snow? Lovely! We had none <cries> I hope this month is going well and that you’re staying on track.

ShySpender – I still haven’t checked out YNAB but you just reminded me too. <bookmarked to look at after I have done this post>. I would like a magic cleaning Friday please. Can you send the cleaning fairy over this way! I don’t often employ tradesmen… but when my landlord does – I always make them a cup of tea and chat to them <especially if they are hunky haha!> I’m such a bad tenant! Your space under the stairs sounds great. A tidy house is a tidy mind. Feeling less cluttered and more clear can only be a good thing.

Crazy_cat_lady– I’m really glad Naughty Tortie got on ok at the vets and is feeling better? It was nice reading your post – some of the nicest ways to spend our time don’t have to cost a lot… family time can be the best medicine… I know this last week did me the world of good (plus they buy everything haha!). Hugs on your manic week. When big things like a boiler go – it can be a huge hit. Though your wallet seems empty – focus on the things you do have like you are doing in your daily gratitude. I find it helps me feel less ‘empty’ and more positive. That then leaves me feeling that life is fuller even if my bank balance is trying to tell me otherwise.

Greent – Way to go with the Nectar haulage! That’s impressive!!! Thanks for the useful information to about the classes by the way. Both my parents are getting on and I think something like that would be perfect for them. Thank you for the mid-month review. It is nice to see how things are progressing. You even confessed to your tea towel buy haha! Now go and swab the deck with them haharrr! You’re actually doing really well and ticking all the boxes. Well done! Congrats to DD too on her exam results! Awesome job. Damn. Now I am thinking about Nandos!!! Impressive self-control in IKEA! Lists are the way forward for sure!

LauraLozlle – CONGRATS on clearing your credit card! That is brilliant news! What an amazing feeling that must be. Your £1000 EF is coming along nicely too. Life is sweet!

AppleMuncher – I loved that something small like a daffodil amongst the crocci brightens your day too. Nature can be so amazing and beautiful. Great progress with the NSDs and your running.

X_Raphael_XX– I am really impressed with your clothes clearance – you’ve inspired me to go through again and haul out anything I’m not using. Assembling flat pack furniture is a legitimate way to relax if you enjoy it (I’d have no hair left haha!), and your BF sounds AWESOME. Totally get the gaming thing – I have OCD when it comes to my inventory slots haha… 3 hours later… Right! Let’s go adventure!!! I’ve heard good things about Skyrim… I might need to invest in it. Cheers for the advice re. running shoes. I’ll check them out.

Lozzie81 – How’s your month going so far? I totally still want your fruit pot tips hehe.

Misstara – You are doing really well this month. Signature is looking good – all on target. Just noticed your debt repayment!!! You’re almost there! That is brilliant.

Dia Pita– Thanks again for the food recipes and guides. I’m so impressed with your dedication to your no refined sugar food plan. Your body will be loving you! I think my diet needs an overhaul – or at least maybe some allergy testing. I’m not sure how I go about doing it though? GP?

ChasingSunshine – That’s a good point about ‘changing attitude’ – I know if I am not in the zone I go at things half-heartedly. When I check in every day it keeps me focussed and because it’s at the forefront of my mind, I too am less likely to slip. Great to know you’re still aboard though. You do that too? I have been guilty of taking my gym bag then just driving straight home because I felt too tired. In the end I decided to just gym at weekends/days off. I find I’m more focussed and can psyche myself up to it. I batch cook on those days too and I feel my time off has been really productive. I use my evenings after work to chill. Everyone is different though.

Short_Bird– Awesome job going through your subscriptions, and looking at cutting out the land line. I only have mine because I use the internet for gaming. It really feels like you have made your shipa lot more sea-worthy this month plumbing all these financial leaks. I like that you support friends and the artists you admire. That feels like a purposeful spend and is celebrating the talent you appreciate. LOL regarding your ‘Idiot Tax’. I reckon we all do that now and again.

WelshKitty85 – I hope your month is going ok and you’re on track.

F0xh0les – Love your ‘Cupboard of Wonders!’ Sounds like something out of Harry Potter. What did you watch at the cinema? It’s good to plan in advance and not fall foul of the popcorn (as amazing as it smells!). I laughed so much when you said about your son finding out he was a Capricorn. I love astrology – so I really get it. Capricorn is a magical beast – a goat with a fishes tail, that is at home both on land and sea (I guess it must transform like a mermaid). It can climb the highest slopes with ease and out of all the signs – has the best business sense – great at achieving goals. They make good Bosses! Congratulations on reaching 15/15 NSDs this month!

TheOnlyGirl – That was heartening to know that you and hubby are really secure in your relationship. Money well saved! Great progress on the EF too – it’s really coming on. How do you work it with your Saver? You drip cash into it or from it..? IKEA do great food – I think given the choice I’d have done the same. You’d have wasted time and fuel sat in traffic for ages – and as you say – was within budget. Love the quotes too – very true!

ILoveTea – Pesky computer… Great when they work… pain in the !!! when they don’t. I hope your hospital appointment went ok.

Fmess – How’s the cold coming along? That’s a great philosophy of NSK’s too… I started my charity bag before I went away, and it’s still there – need to get it in and in use asap. Well done on the charity haul. That’s brilliant. I am going to go to town this week and drop some stuff in. I’ve been lax. Is that even a real word?

SkintTeacher – You are doing great with running each morning. What a star! How do you motivate yourself on days when you maybe feel like you don’t want to do it… What gets you out the door? I liked your notion of kindness. I bought a plaque the other day for my wall, saying ‘happiness comes not from what you have, but from how much you give’ which kind of resonated for me. Sure I appreciate what I have and ‘things’ can make me happy – but in giving (time, support, kindness) I feel a sense of contentment. Regarding the first week post pay day – all my debt repayments go out first, and my ISA/Savings, then I do my budget with what’s left. I guess my first food shop of the month is bigger – I haven’t quite mastered living week to week yet. I tried the envelope scheme but struggled. Mothernerd’s advice is sound.

Moll – Well done on clearing the credit card this month. With all the debt being thrown overboard this month – the ship has picked up speed and we are making excellent progress! I’m glad Hubby is ok too. Life happens and can knock us off balance – but you’re here, back on track. Go girl!

EagerElephant – Haha! I laughed when I read your DD was ‘starving’ – I remember saying that to my Mum when I was at home. So dramatic lol! I like how you think about your car fund. That was really helpful. I put away enough for car repairs, but I think I need to increase that amount so it starts building up to cover the cost of a new(ish) one like you are doing. Thank you! I love this board! Sorry to hear about your PC – and I would feel exactly the same. I use it every day. See it as an investment. It will enable you to stay in touch with forums and MSE – which in turn will keep you on track financially. Where did you get yours from? Mine is getting on and I could do with pricing them up.

Crazy_Lady2009 – No sign of on the horizon. Search parties sent. Reported sighting of her eloping with Merman.

Bizzie – It’s great you have implemented budgeting this month and that it is proving to be useful. You’re doing great on your NSDs too! Keep up the good work.

Ladykernow Massa1982– Alas – I fear the sea has claimed a few more contenders. I hope you are staying afloat this month.

FlorenceJ – I hope you are feeling better and the month is going well for you.

MrsHubbard – Beans on Naans huh? Sounds like one of my combos! Hope your car doesn’t prove too expensive to fix. That happened to me… I now sport a nice gash along one side – but it’s staying there! The car gets me from A to B and will no doubt get a few more before it expires! That sounded like a perfect night in. Made me hungry reading it haha. I don’t know I realised you were pregnant either! When are you due??? Congratulations on the unexpected money. It feels like you have something to get your teeth into. Love having a project. Well done on the resisted spend and having coffee and gingerbread at home. It’s these small acts of saving that build up and help us reach our goals.

SaveForABetterLife – and what time do you call this shipmate? Get ye swabbing the decks and yer on cooking duty for the rest o’ the voyage! Thank you for posting your goals etc. I am a food hoarder too – it takes discipline to resist an offer! Thing is they do cycle back in – and next month there’s usually something else on offer that you’ll also feel you absolutely need. And so it continues. Any tips folks?

Dizzyblnd – Thanks for dropping in to say hi. There’s always next month. Why not for the next week – get your head in gear… think about budgets for next month, and maybe a goal you want to achieve. Then you’ll be all set to go come March! You got baby to plan for too – so maybe think about a baby fund in there too!

Abundant1972– My report this month would read ‘could do better’! It has been a funny month. After getting off to a great start – my family trip 10 days in really threw me off course. My momentum vanished that week not being able to keep in touch, and whilst I didn’t go mad… I really missed being here. My budgets are maxed out so the next week will have to be using up stocks – of which I have plenty still. That said – if I am honest – I could do a lot better at using stocks up. I somehow feel insecure when I see my cupboards looking empty. It’s silly really. I will try and see it as a cleansing thing… Making way for new and exciting things next month.

abundant1972

Ahoy Swabbies!

It's been lovely to hear how ye all spent yer time whilst I was away, and what ye got up to on the Isle of Aphrodite. It's good to relax and take time out, and take stock of where ye're at.

Mothernerd gave us some excellent ideas on goal setting and I think it's really valuable to maybe write yer month's objectives out and have them visible to ye, near yer computer. That's what I'll be doing next month - perhaps with the structure set out in the SMART goals idea. Focus and intent are key to staying on track. Being away - really taught me that lesson. Even with my lucky charm - which reminded me at times to stay true... It was hard.

Another theme I see emerging is when folk have good days and bad days emotionally - and how that can impact on your progress and goals. Last month I talked about doing a box where you could maybe put some treats and things to remind you of happy times... I didn't put it into practice <slap> but might be worth revisiting? Sort of a lifeboat. Again, Mothernerd asked us to track our feelings when we do get washed overboard and spend - and I think that's key in becoming more aware of when you might be in danger of slipping. Then if you recognise it before you slide - you can try and avert disaster. It's all a learning curve. I know for me, exercise - going for a walk in nature - has been a great medicine, but not always possible, say if you're at work or it's awful weather.

Have a think everyone, and see if we can come up with something to help folk struggling with this one.

Thank you all for giving this month your all. We are on the home leg now... Less than 1 week - yes - just 6 days left now and we have made it home and dry. So - re-visit your goals at the start of the thread... dig deep and find that determination you had back then... and batten down the hatches.

Remember the Kraken. A few badly timed spends now could still sink our ship. With groceries, ask yourselves do I just want this or do I really need it. Only buy if it's the latter. If you have money left in your spend budget, great... could you chip a few more quid off a debt? The Kraken comes when we feel at our lowest ebb; when we feel like we have just enough energy to limp through... when the temptation to spend to cheer ourselves up is at its strongest. Fight that urge. Find your courage. Take one day at a time.

f0xh0les

greent wrote: »

Talking of brightening someone's day - Has the henna toned down now? - maybe they were pointing the bright hair out if not...? ;):)

It is still very Maureen O'Hara.

short_bird

rather tough 48 hours where I lost the plot: went to see the new John Wick film starring Keanu Reeves as I needed something big to look at and not to have to think about too hard. So yeah, there goes the NSD. tch.

Grateful for:
Big blockbuster eye candy movies with nicely tailored suits and fast cars!
Distant Friends.
Not having to go to the physio

Abundant I didn't get rid of the landline, there was an option to have outgoing calls for an extra monthly fee. So I decided to do without.

Toni'sfriend

Afternoon Shipmates

Welcome back, Captain Abundant. Nice to have you back on board. Hope you enjoyed your shore leave. And thank you to First Mate Mothernerd for her motivation and keeping us all on the straight and narrow in your absence.

Weigh in day today and just over another pound gone (I love these scales). It’s going in the right direction and I love updating it on my signature. I think that, at the moment, I am concentrating on eliminating my bad habits rather than counting every calorie but I think for me it’s the way to go. No massive weight loss but I haven’t had any sugary snacks, cakes or chocolate this month and only the one lapse with the alcohol (and that won’t happen again!). I have drastically cut my sugar intake and the taste for it is going and I did have a very sweet tooth. I’m thinking next month I might try cutting down on the fat.

Joiner (and electrician) came today and did the next part of the repair. Just the painter to come and finish it off and then the radiator to be put back on. And all because of one little drip that had been going on for ages behind the wall. Anyway, didn’t manage a walk as by the time they left it was quite late and it was freezing, windy and wet. Did walk to the shops but that’s only about a mile there and back so can’t really count it in my total. Just needed to get fruit, vegetables and milk so not a big spend.

Now I’m sitting having my afternoon pot of tea (no biscuits!) and then I’ll make dinner for C and I. Coming from freezer, of course. Cabin Boy (yes he is a star, Captain) will be in about 6.30pm and is having a pizza whilst he games with his online friends.

Today I’m grateful for;

Polite and efficient workmen.
Not having to pay for the repair
The pound that I no longer have

ChasingSunshine

Evening all,

Another fail at the gym today, just so cold and tired when I leave work. Going to just go on Friday now I think (my weekend). On the plus side being so wrecked after work has meant I have accumulated a few more NSD. Have lost track of how many I have but definitely more conscious of the little spendy leaks this month, still happening but not to the same extent as previously. Not sure of spend total but still under budget, will check online banking tomorrow as expected to be paid then and can start working out totals for the month. How is February nearly over already!!!
Heading for a few drinks tomorrow which will use my social budget for the month. Was feeling a bit meah about it but think it's good to get out. Expect it will be the early night though as I am on the only one off on Friday.

Getting ready to enjoy the last leg home, hopefully will be smooth sailing to the end of the month

Lauralozzle

I love your posts Abundant

So, today has been a spendy day - £.15 on some coconut macaroons. I'm okay with that - used my personal budget

Today I'm grateful for: nearly clearing the mountain of paperwork at work, leftover pasta sauce which made lunch super easy, the mysterious person on my street who has returned my recycling bin. I was about to order another one from the council!

mothernerd

Walked to crafts and back, embroidery delivered, did some work on my mum's card in between cutting out doors and windows for fairy houses made from old books (chimneys next week - because I am good at chimneys). The blind girl was making a card for a friend (also blind. She will type the greetings in braille on her computer but wanted as much texture on the card as possible - cue ribbon bows, metal stud butterflies and lots and lots of glitter.

Tired so will have an early night, plan to blitz the kitchen over the next few days as Beloved is visiting her parents (DS3 is on chinchilla daddy duty). Someone has had an accident with a bag of sugar, noticed some on the floor the other day, but it obviously hit the shelf first - lumps and grains on and between various items.

Today I am grateful for being able to resist carrot cake (I sat will a pillar blocking my view of it), for only eatng 'good' bits of the leftover buffet (2 wholemeal 1/4 sandwiches and salad) and for pleasant company - wanted a quiet afternoon but gentle chat and a heated debate on rugby ended amicably (although did suggest to leader that the 2 people might need to sit at opposite ends of the table in future).

greent

NSD today - smallest chose not to go to Beavers as they were trying out lots of foreign foods and he's really fussy and gets in a state if encouraged to try too much stuff at one go - he would have got upset. Saved me spending out on something Chinese for him to take for 2 dozen Beavers to try (the choice he was given)

Today I am grateful for:
* yummy dinner from freezer
* the paperwork/ pensions task I had to do not being as bad as I thought it was going to be!
* getting the ironing done in front of an old Law and Order this afternoon
x

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for time for crafting, for my Icyland shop being £15.50, therefore qualifying me for a free £5 soon (and the bargains I got were all the better for being unexpected), for dh and dd's progress on the carriage they are making, for having enough money to be able pay for things up front and then claim it back, for my wonderful dh who will call my mum for a quick chat when he knows she is struggling. And I am also grateful that there seem to be 3 bidders interested in the pile of bricks we want to sell.