NST January: Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived

mummylewis

Evening turtles!

NSD #4 today.

Had a tough day at work, made a mistake, dodged a pretty big bullet. All is well now though.

Added the Xmas money to the bank, emergency fund now sat at £1262. Close to £1500 target.

Not much else to report today, looking forward to bed!

Hoping for NSD #5 tomorrow
Night!

f0xh0les

I have to take back my NSD

I went a bit crazy and rang an electrician about a small job, and arranged it for next week, and then he rang back half an hour later and asked if he could do it today instead. So I took out £40 and the job is done. But I blew my NSD. It does mean that I can get on with wallpapering my bedroom though!

Packed all the decorations away into the cupboard of convenience. It really is a magic place. Moved, cleared, cleaned and sorted a million things, was on my feet for 8 hours bending, stretching, putting stuff away, hoovering, and now I have sat down my back is killing me. Boo!


Bob's s-t-r-e-t-c-h challenge -
£5 Amaz0n voucher for football survey,
£4 love-2-sh0p credit for postal survey,

Igamogam

Youngest DD left teendom today So we had Birthday breakfast in our favourite place - set us up for the day! Trip to do a bit of birthday shopping and then dropped her off at her student house in The Town. Having a party with all her school friends and a few uni friends who have returned early - handy to live so close to uni . Tonight OH and I are finishing off the Christmas cheese and biscuits...and maybe a gin! We will have a family Sunday roast to finish off Christmas break, birthdays, NY, and return to work blues.......

Things I am grateful for today:
A well grounded DD
Plenty of food in the cupboards
Living in such a beautiful place....take it for granted sometimes everyone lives with what we have on our doorstep:o

mothernerd

Fell asleep at the screen and lost a long post. I have been very busy for the past two days and neither was a NSD. Ended up going to mum's at 9pm last night (order including freezer food and we didn't have enough space for all of ours. Stayed overnight but could not sleep. Completed the shopping with a walk to Morries first thing this morning. Bought and wrote all the January and part of February birthdays for mum, 2 gone off in the post box, one to grandma of the recipient.

CBT was interesting but left me with a big problem. We looked at a worry tree, talked through workplace stress (some really rotten managers out there) and finished with sleeping patterns. Apart from the night shift worker, I had the worst sleep pattern. Moreover work, laptops, eating, crafting should not be happening in the bedroom if I want it to improve.

Need to do a reshuffle on my priorities.

I have done quite a lot of tidying (not that anyone would notice) over the past few days and found my 'plans for 2018' written in December. I confess I had misread part of the December challenge and thought we were supposed to come up with 5 resolutions. These are not fully formulated but my jottings are

Health Eating, exercise, mental, financial, environmental

Be in control Be ahead, not running to catch up (elements of both the December and January challenges are to be themes of 2018)

SIMPLIFY set up routines. DECLUTTER and organise

Modest Earnings from self-employment. Want to do more for/with my business. I am never going to make a fortune and I would not want it to become another source of stress but would like to steer it more, explore new directions (enjoyed making a needle/ scissor case and a felt applique cushion in December - some embroidery involved but a lot less hours needed to complete and enjoyed 'designing' it from scratch/ adapting when snags arose). I have been following so many rules, it just feels like ticking boxes to 'fit' rather than going anywhere.

Go to DS3's wedding and enjoy it sounds simple but I have quite a few minor hurdles to overcome (+ one major fear).

Have fun Going with Maya Angelou's 'aim not only to survive, but to thrive and to do it with passion, some compassion, some humour and some style'.

Think POSITIVE Develop a positive mindset.

By the end of the year/ In 12 MOnths time wedding will be behind us, hope to have been away with mum at least a couple of times, keeping her in her current state of health (long term conditions needing permanent medication, no immunw system and very low energy levels) but enjoying a range of activities (I have tried to get her interested in U3A - think the name put her off).

I aim to be much lighter and fitter and have my life running smoothly (enough to cope with whatever disasters strike next).

My emergency fund will be increasing (won't have doubled but may be nearly back to what I had before the work (new bathroom/ dpc/ repairs and upgrades to various parts of the house) I had done 18 months ago.

Possibly have some social life away from mum but we may be trying to put a pint in a gill glass (a gill is a quarter of a pint, I believe).

IN 5 YEARS will hopefully be one year away from retirement (provided the goalposts don't move again). May have grandchild or grandchildren and be involved in looking after them.

In 3.5 - 4 years time I plan to have a new kitchen with any adaptations I might need going forward incorporated. I want to continue to grow some fruit and veg and will work over the next five years raising beds and making things as accessible as possible (using cheapo diy fixes and recycled materials).

I have some ideas/ plans of how my bedroom / study/ craft room will look then (will need a new bed at some point, have had the current one for 12 years and my brother had it for 12 years before he died, so it doesn't owe us anything). Need some sort of fix for now to make the space work as a dual function (multiple function) room. I also need to reclaim some space downstairs. If I want to improve my sleep pattern this needs tackling urgently.

Possibly/ Probably will still have DS3 and Beloved living with me, hopefully both of them earning enough to survive, living modestly but happily. Still delightfully quirky, hopefully a bit more house trained (like living with a dulux dog and a red setter).

DS1 and wife will be more established (both now in jobs where advancement is possible) with a dog/wolf and possibly a child/children (entirely their decision).

DS2 is the one I will always worry about. He now has a fairly secure job with prospects, has many friends, is becoming a little less reckless (ie decided tos it out the end of the rugby union season after his third concussion).

All three of them seem to have developed/ recently been diagnosed with rare conditions with some genetic markers - don't know the long term implications of any of them.

In 10 Years Time Should be retired so comparatively well off (for me). Hope to continue fit and well but obviously some long term conditions will be present. Want to remain active and the adaptations I am putting in place should help me to maintain my independence.

Would like to live modestly but happily and contentedly for along time, especially if I get to bug people (I like the quote about not wanting to be seen as a sweet little old lady, rather that people say "Oh xxxx what's she up to now"). The odds are against me as I have been firmly pushed into the 'Sunday school teacher' mould since I was 8yo (Underestimate me. That'll be fun).

Today I am grateful that I managed to stay on my feet as long as I did (with no sleep), that at least some parts of my brain are still good at coming up with creative solutions (I have designs on a piece of furniture I own but the boys hate, which may make an excellent desk/ work surface without overpowering the bedroom) and for mostly nice weather afte yesterday's downpour (I have seen better weather in Blackpool when the waves have beeen coming over the sea wall).

Igamogam

apple_muncher wrote: »

How does playing sport (or going for a walk) make you feel? What do you enjoy about it?

Dont play sports as such - dabbled with badminton,tennis and squash until I realised I quite like watching racket sports...not playing them! I think my overall experience of 'sport' is that I dont really like competition and prefer to be solitary but I do like to be active and when impeded I do feel low.

Always been a swimmer and competed as a youngster - can do the distance now but not the speed. Happily plough up and down the lanes for hours - its my go to activity for relaxation - thinking of taking up "wild" open water swimming - lots of opportunity around here:)

Have done my share of extreme sports too - but lost my nerve once children came along strangely - still get into the mountains, some of the best mountain climbs and walks just out the back door, but walking only - bad knees is my excuse:D Love the long walks on the beaches here too. DDs and OH fly the flag of extreme sport in this household now........:eek:

About 7 years ago I 'discovered' yoga and fell in love. I had done a lot of dancing until I went to university and I missed having a flexible body - thought I had lost it but it came right back with yoga Last year circumstances conspired against me and yoga fell by the wayside - back on it now and will going back to a class next week.

misstara

NSD 4/18 today

Did a shift for 2nd job today, should get around £40 next Friday so a good start on my extra income for the month

Also paid £3 bank account interest to debt yesterday and another £2 today

sashanut

Hi all turtles :j

Still improving with mobility thank goodness, get so mad when I can't get on with things. Note to self - I suppose if everything was done/decluttered/tidy etc , then it wouldn't be such a concern...doh!

Janus So this is a time to look forwards - where do you want to be in 12 months from now? I would like to have the house much clearer. 5 years? House completely clear & clutter free, DD settled in her own home. 10 years? Spending half the year in Ireland, half here

Activity. This is a BOGOF one. Take up a new hobby or resurrect a new one. Done some of the knitting today but out most of the morning for shopping/hair appt

ALSO, be active. Keep moving. Moving a little better today!

Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?) 2/18 NSD today. Still on 2, hair appt then a small amount of shopping. Did take something back, so a refund there.

-your budgets are set by the start of the month and are fixed. Nearly - think I will say £250 for us & all animals, should not need near this amount so all saved will go to another project. More little bits of shopping but definitely getting more mindful...sometimes I even put things back! Also started making list of items to use up...


-£5 to foodbank / charity Will do this week. Tried to purchase something from charity, held up by website, will investigate. Still ongoing

-pay money to your debts FIRST - do not wait to see how much is left at the end - and live within your budget Do not have debt but have a cc paid off in full each month, which gives vouchers I use at Christmas. Has been a v spendy month, will cut down as much as possible. Still a WIP

-meal plan Lunch was leftover calzone & wrap pasties made earlier in the week, with turkey, ham & leek. In use up mode finally cooked the YS 4 bird roast - no room in freezer - so we had another almost full festive dinner..

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). [more on this later]

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. Deviated a bit from shopping list, but not much, took fruit to work & get free brews..Don't drink coffee & never go in coffee shops..will try & take snacks, drink when out & about..


Reduce, re-use, repair, re-gift, recycle, recover, refuse! And read. Got more books from CS to add to the stash but will return once read. Only read when in bed so takes awhile to get through

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..Had hair done, so pampered in that regard. Also, DH pampered me by applying the heating up cream to my back. Very kind, but I wish he'd warmed his hands first:eek:


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. Plan to eBay lots of stuff, watch this space Nothing done yet

Would joining the 1% thread help you? Or the MFW for 2018? Or the pay off all your debts by xmas18? Does reading mrmoneymustache or frugalwoods inspire you? Have joined Frugalwoods challenge already & will be interested to see how it pans out. Have been on MMM & introduced his philosophy to DH, applied the principles so we are now MF - wish we had done it years ago, wasted so much time/money etc. in the past..

Eager_Elephant

Sorry didnt get on last night as went out for late Xmas work do - obviously was a spend day - and didnt get back til after 10pm.

dolly84 wrote: »

E_E - your poor DH that sounds awful, hope he gets to the bottom of it.

Thanks Dolly, when I got in last night DH had received a letter from Public Health England to confirm that he has Whooping Cough:mad:
He has been ill for over 6 weeks and our own GP kept saying it was the winter cough that everyone has but we went to another surgery for a 2nd opinion and it was that GP who suggested Whooping Cough and took bloods (1st lot got lost:mad:).
Even this week our normal GP was still saying its the winter cough:mad:

I have the same cough as him (but no fainting or nose bleeds) so I assume I also have it, I did ring the GP last week and was told I have the winter cough, I mentioned suspected whooping cough and was told it was not that but if DH comes back as that then they will test me:mad:

Unfortunately nothing they can do but at least we know that the horrendous cough will last 3mths:eek:

Fmess

There’s a lot of whooping cough about at the moment EE, several children and teachers have had it at school.

Yesterday was another SFD so I’m up to 4 now Today won’t be as I’m using some Christmas money to get a hot stone massage I should also be getting a new to me sofa today My best friend has had it in storage for two years as it doesn’t fit in her new house. I’m so excited. Just hoping it fits in the cars we are hoping to use to transport it! It’s a small corner sofa that split into two so hopefully it will. Then I’m off for dinner with my dad and family for his birthday, so should be a lovely day

DancingDragons

Morning all! Hope those of you with birthday cake in the house are enjoying every bite!

NSD4/18

Dolly84, Foxholes, Greent Do your 8+ You Tube watchers develop whiny noises when what ever it is they need/can't find/taxi doesn't spring into action too?
But they can see when I am busy or knackered, tbh, they just don't care. This was a primary drive for me to get myself organised and stepping up to NST Challenge. I was teaching them so many bad habbits. Throwing money at problems I can resolve myself. I'm gradually not doing things they take for granted. My go to answer is "You know where that is." ( Sink, Laundry Basket)

But more importantly - TURN OFF THEIR NET! (Warning this triggers instant growlyness) Check out your router,(website addresses are usually on a sticker on their base) most now have the ability to set up a guest account, and they have simple howtos on their site so you can do it remotely from your phone/laptop.


Like saving money, I'm setting little goals for them when I pop out. If its not done, no internet when I get back.
Weekends I operate an hour on, hour off. Its a fight, but theres a mental, and physical advantage to this too. Both girls are developing... hobbies:eek: more socially aware and less crunched up. My DD1 constantly remarks after such stints that she's amazed how much she can get done in an hour - and how much better her back feels. :mad:


Sorry if I'm telling you what you already know.:o


So pleased to be able to say I managed to keep my NSD yesterday. Despite MOTing the car early (passed no problems:j) and getting the squeak resolved, (just a lodged stone:j). Mum told me she'd pay because I'd ferried her about everywhere and covered all her Christmas needs. I don't like using Bank of Mum and Dad - and it turned out to be a bit of a argument at the garage.:rotfl:

She's asked me to pick up a birthday present for dad today, its a Spend Day anyway. Need to find shoes that A: fit, B: meet social acceptable requirements of a 7 year old. C: offer some level of support to her feet.
Not asking too much am I? After Brantano closed I struggle to find stockists of Startrite, and Clarks have really let me down, so I've a trek to the big city. Pack lunches at the ready! With a flask of hot choc to ward off the chill!
Activity Again had to cancel Yoga due to not being able to get there for the kids. Haven't made the gym this year, yet.

Whoops everyone suddenly up... report back later.