NST January: Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived

arc2014

NSD #3 today!

Going to sort some piles for music magpie, eBay & charity later. Walk round to the post office to post a return parcel & will pop to my parents & grandparents to pass the afternoon.

Day 3 of healthy eating today, I've already lost 3lb since the start of the year! Hoping to be back to my pre Christmas weight by the end of the week! Onwards and downwards in that respect!

Chicken pie filling in the slow cooker and pastry defrosting.

Today I am grateful for Disney films, family and home cooked food!

thriftylass

Just went trough my numbers again and put another 200 towards the CC. Wanted to try s t r e t c h but thought if I wait if I have anything left after my budget it might not work. Will just have to do with a tighter budget.

Kerry_Woman

x_raphael_xx - Wishing you a Happy Birthday.

Saveforabetterlife

Hello all

Finally getting round to goals! I am very much on it with the money saving and am going to try to keep up with you all this year. Mothernerd what a weirdo!!!

Janus So this is a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? Plans for the house extension in place. House completely clear & clutter free. Fitter and weighing at least a stone less. 5 years - mortgage free or at least very little. Part time working 10 years? Retired - perhaps self employed tutoring instead of teaching.

Activity. This is a BOGOF one. Take up a new hobby or resurrect a new one. Try to read more. Managed 43 books last year - I used to read at least a couple a week. Exercise. More family time e.g. board games etc.

Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?) 1/18 today.
-your budgets are set by the start of the month and are fixed. Going to really try with this. Moving to cash rather than Credit card. We always pay off, but never any money left for savings and the credit card gives me a gung ho mentality about money!

-£5 to foodbank / charity always
-pay money to your debts FIRST - do not wait to see how much is left at the end - and live within your budget Credit card bill is HUGE for November/December. Paid most of it off. Just chronic overspend on all three kids' birthdays and Christmas food/presents/entertaining. Ridiculous. Could have overpaid so much on the mortgage. Not doing this next year! Starting the 1p challenge just ticking off what I have each day in change lying around.
-meal plan On it!
Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens... Making shopping list for tomorrow now, don't work outside the home but do a bit of voluntary work. On it!

Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. Always donate to charity shop - have a regift box. Reading!!!!

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can. So look after yourself - physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Determined to look after myself & pamper a little each week, have already had a face pack yesterday, need to do things for myself instead of being a in constant rush doing stuff for family.. Put on so much in November/December. Scales a horror story! Was thinking of rejoining SW but determined to not throw the money away but do it myself. Starting on Monday properly as I'm back to work, and this weekend going to Stratford to see a play at the RSC so will be eating out - but starting to reduce already. I'm a teacher and my job is stressful. Since September I've been very strict about scaling it back so going to continue with this.

I want to re-introduce Bob's s t r e t c h challenge for January: how much extra can you earn / save off your food shop / move / remove. Doing store cupboard challenge in January/February. I have MASSIVE stock of food. Only going to buy the basics!

Igamogam

Janus is the god who looks both backwards and forwards.
Certainly will not be looking back at 2017!
12 months - house in order and organised. I will be 10kg lighter
5 years - early retirement. Debt gone. I plan to do gardening and become a PT van dweller
10 years - hopefully still in the garden but still not reached the age to claim my state pension:mad:

Activity.
Going back to yoga - had a hit and miss year with it due to circumstances. More beach and mountain walks - both on doorstep
Picking up knitting again with a project in mind and possibly return to a cross stitch WIP.....we will see

Non-negotiables:
18 NSDs Easy! I only venture near a shop on a weekend. I dont count bills etc
Budgets Done - dropped to £60 per week for 2 sometime 3 adults and 2 cats and a doorstep milk delivery. Has been £70 for last 2 years so going to give this a try. I take the cash out and when its gone its gone! Any change goes into my change pots - see at end.
Charity Hmmm I have quite strong views on charity giving in that I rarely hand over cash! I donate all my decluttering that is saleable to one particular shop and they claim GA in return on anything that sells and I get N*ctar points. I also buy things from said charity shop - cards, chocolate and second hand books, clothes etc I donate to whichever animal charity is collecting foodstuff at the SM each week - tin of cat food etc. Stopped foodbank donations after being challenged by a Food bank volunteer asking why I was putting stuff in animal charity basket and not foodbank....non of her business but I explained I donated to each alternate weeks - not good enough for her so that was the end of me giving to food bank I am afraid. I also donate time - volunteering for the local branch of a national charity - I am the treasurer. So I think I have covered "charity"
Debts FIRST All on DD for more than the minimum and I often tidy up the bank account at the end of each day and sweep the pennies onto one of the CCs
meal plan Lapsed but back on it now - especially on reduced budget:eek:


Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). Is there any other way!!? Years ago I read on MSE somewhere to regard debt busting as a hobby so it doesnt become a chore. Going back to this idea as my ultimate goal is to be debt free:D


Always plan your meals; Yep. always take a shopping list; Yep. always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; Yep. avoid all coffee shops, Nope. I will avoid all chain coffee shops - not hard as I have never stepped inside one! However we are keen to support local independents and will continue to do so. Its not a daily or weekly basis but we do like a good proper coffee made by someone passionate about it an knows what they are doing!! vending machines, cant remember the last time I used one !work canteens... Dont have one.


Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read.
Demon recycler here - nothing gets past me and cant bare waste. Dramatically reduced our single use plastic consumption last year and will continue to do so - we all have stainless straws and water bottles now. Belong to a book group but need to read more that the chosen book - need to find time for this!

You are the key to reducing your debt, living modestly, keeping as fit and well as you can. So look after yourself - physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
I have refocused



I want to re-introduce Bob's s t r e t c h challenge for January: how much extra an you earn / save off your food shop / move / remove. Selling on Eb*y and Facebook will be my saviour this year. Also going to 'bank' the few pence that the till receipt claims I have 'saved' by shopping at that particular SM and at the end of each of month it will be paid of a CC - however small. Just a little task to keep that 'hobby' interesting:D I also have a number of change pots - 20p 5p and £2 - when they are full I take to a bank to pay off against a CC. I use to collect £1 with dragon on but all £1 are the same ATM - will have to wait to see if Royal Mint decide to add to the design.

Well I am glad I got all that down - now to act on it all and keep at it. I have a good feeling about this

lcc86

Was going to come and post a few of the positives and negatives I've had this week but have just had a quote for our roof and we're looking at about 30k... Split between 6 flats it's not so bad but it means we're going to have to borrow money yet again... I'm also really angry as they knew this roof needed doing 5 years ago but we're too cheap to do it, so when we bought the place we noticed a small leak and pushed for a survey and now it's going to cost a small fortune whereas before it wouldn't have done...

Toni'sfriend

NSD 3/18
Few extra jobs done today. Cleaned cooker (working up to the dreaded oven), tidied the cupboard under the sink and cleaned the fridge. Major triumph - C actually agreed to throw some things out (but not the brussel sprout, Abundant).
Still eating from freezer (made liver and bacon casserole which we are having with some frozen mashed turnip and carrot which have been there forever). Just about to go and make some soup for tomorrow's lunch using some carrots which are getting just a little soft and some of the frozen chicken mountain.
Another bit of decluttering. I think things are beginning to look better already.
I didn't manage to get to donate to the homeless mission today (waiting for a delivery for a neighbour) but the items are here so I'll add it to next week's.
Happy birthday, x_raphael_xx. Hope you had a lovely day.

Dottydaisy

Janus Look back at 2017. A mixed year for health, wealth and life well lived. Some good times some bad, but overall OK.
Looking forward in 12 months I hope to have 1 credit card £3900 paid off, but have committed to some things throughout the year so I don't know until I try if it is possible.
In 5 years all my debt paid off and able to live comfortably again.
In 10 years I will be 81, so I hope my health is ok and I am still in my bungalow with its lovely garden.


Activity I will complete the knitted cardigan I started and get my 6 undone jigsaws out, do them and pass on to the charity shop. Colouring books may get an airing as well


Non negotiable Can't promise 18 nsd but will try for as many as possible. Charity - sponsor guide dog on dd monthly, but will also put something in food bank. All debts on dd's throughout month Set my budgets as below and will meal plan.
Budgets Food £300, (working on lowering this), transport £70. Social £100, Xmas, Hols, car maintenance all new s.o's at £20 each per month, all bills £420.


Always will have a go at planning all meals, have a weekly grocery delivery after doing meal plan, coffee shops I use to socialise especially our local not for profit one - will cut out cakes!


I WILL reduce my weight this year, regift unwanted presents to charity shop, always recycle, recover my health and peace of mind by getting healthier and also saying no to things I don't want to do or is inconvenient. I always read - even the small print all the way through!! Will read my pre Christmas stash be and give to cs before my lovely Christmas gifts.


Bobs stretch will look into this, at the moment can only think of sharing a pizza instead of one each.


Am living in a bungalow with £190,000 equity and cc card debts from when we moved. I am obviously cash poor. I have been toying with the idea of equity release so I can be a bit richer but still leave inheritances. Has anyone any ideas re this.


Update NSD 2


Byee Dotty

greent

Janus a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? 12 months: debt free (exc BTL mtge - but target of 4K ops) A decent no of jobs completed from our 'to do' list for the house (some are small, some are big/ long term/ expensive) Fitter. Hopefully with 2 children at uni. Pensions sorted.
Today - £7.37 transferred to BTL mtge (to round off a sub account balance )

Activity. This is a BOGOF one. Take up a new hobby or resurrect an old one. ALSO, be active. Keep moving. - Currently at 7.5k steps for today, so should hit 10k target. No formal exercise, but short school run walk x2 + housework (inc hefting boxes of decs around)

Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?) (not fussed if I don't achieve this as long as budgets aren't blown) 1/18
-your budgets are set by the start of the month and are fixed.
Food - 23.15/£400
Fuel - £63/65 - filled my car up today - I was running on basically empty (range of < 5miles)
Toiletries - £10
Household - 3.72 /£20 -
Clothes - £60
Social - £100 (includes takeaway for DS2's bday)
Gifts - £50
-£5 to foodbank / charity - Direct debit to charity set up. Also got some babyfood free through a shopping app which I will donate to foodbank
-pay money to your debts/savings FIRST - day to day CCs paid off in full. Some money transferred to kitchen fund. My tax bill paid in full (£565)
-meal plan - I don't do this. OH hates meal planning. However, I am targeting stuff which needs using up first, even if only for me.

Always plan your meals; always take a shopping list; always take your lunch to work and drink + snacks when out and about; avoid all coffee shops, vending machines, work canteens... -ok
Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. ok! Nothing bought. 3 things added to CS pile today.

Stretch challenge - aim to get extra money of £50. £0.29/£50 (although have been doing surveys today so will ultimately see the benefit when at a level to cashout) Aim to declutter 50 items. 70/50
Have joined pay off all your debts by Xmas 2018, MFW 2018 (looking to OP £4k on BTL mtge), Declutter in 2018 (aiming for 2018 items!:eek:) Relisted 7 items on fleabay

something Joyful in Jan

Xmas tree taken down and boxed up today - and then all bits vacuumed up. Lots of ironing done - and put away (!) Lots of surveys done (earning me a pittance, but better than nothing )

thriftylass

Dottydaisy wrote: »

Am living in a bungalow with £190,000 equity and cc card debts from when we moved. I am obviously cash poor. I have been toying with the idea of equity release so I can be a bit richer but still leave inheritances. Has anyone any ideas re this.

To be honest with 190k equity (I guess that is a big portion of the value) and only 4k debt I would do it (although I have no idea how it works, what it costs or will do to your mortgage payments). But it'll leave plenty for inheritance, care plans or whatever could be needed. Also the debt is from moving costs and not frivolous spending which I think makes a difference. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who accumulated debt by living beyond their means etc