NST January: Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived

sashanut

Hi all turtles :j

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. Slow progress but small steps.. 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. Not much progress still not keen on sock. Will gift to DD or DH, the lucky people!!


ALSO, be active. Keep moving. Not all that much moving unless you call running around like a BAF trying to sort 'no hot water' at DDs house. Finally she realised she'd turned 2 somethings on the boiler instead on of 1, flatmate sorted. She'll still need the boiler sorting, but she's not keen to spend..


Non-negotiables:
-18 NSDs (if not, why not?) an NSD today so 15/18

-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. Filling in book with receipts, found most of them. Kept receipts from shopping, will fill in book later. Still to do.....epic fail


-£5 to foodbank / charity Finally managed to do this!

-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. Will be prepping to start selling some of this stuff ASAP. Tomorrow I will sort at least a few things, tomorrow...

meal plan changed although prep done. Lunch was ys avocado on toast & cheese on toast for DH. Supper was Chicken dinner mostly prepped yesterday, DH HM bakewell/cream I had yog banana & a crumbled over piece of rocky road.

Unabashed, unambiguous, unconditional, undaunted, undivided, unerring, unshakeable devotion to your goal(s). [more on this later] Do not exercise as was - like many people - put off at school. And I was also rubbish! Put off swimming by being pushed into the deep end (by the swimming teacher!) which instead of having the desired effect of getting me swimming, actually nearly drowned 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... 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. Recycling out, high wind had blown off door outside so had to pick it up off garden, few broken slats so will have to repair..

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 Me time was visit from friend & sit & chat with cup of tea.

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.NO sign yet of said shoe but will keep identifying items to sell. Have realised that we have a ton of food still to eat, that's before we start on the 2 chest freezers (& little one inside fridge). There's only 2 of us (but often 3)..Eating up stuff from freezers but still a very long way to go. February could be a very low spend month, well that's what I'm aiming for..

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..

apple_muncher

Fmess - am I right in thinking that it is only recently that you have moved up to taking on the onerous responsibility tasks? Your job has always sounded rather manic and full-on, even before. However, going part-time is a major change, esp in salary. But worth it so long as it doesn't bring money-associated worries with it. Could you survive, pay debts and save on 20% or even 40% less money? Or could you give yourself a deadline to pay off the roof costs in order to be able drop a day or two?

It's not an easy decision to make. Take care.

dolly84

I am still continuing with the decluttering, I went through some of my clothes yesterday and have a very large bag for donation. All good stuff so someone will benefit.

I had to buy DD some new bras, I managed to get 2 brand new ones on ebay, they are still available on the M&S website at £16 for the pair, I paid £8 and am really happy with that. So even though they are new it is within my rules of not buying new but also technically exempt as they are underwear.

Did the last grocery shop of January last night but I forgot to buy tinned tomatoes so will need to nip out for those today as I need them for tea. We are well within budget so the excess will be transferred into my EF.

Plan for today is cleaning, dog walking, cycling and some paid work.

Igamogam

Fmess wrote: »

Any advice or thoughts on working part time? I’m considering it.

apple_muncher wrote: »

It's not an easy decision to make. Take care.

What Apple Muncher says............do the maths and if you can then go for it if it gives you the quality of life you want. As a teacher I guess you can work supply days too if you need extra cash. I would have loved to have worked PT but came to realise that a bit too late really. I am on a final salary pension so PT now would affect that and I havent worked this long and hard to not have a happy and long retirement ( teacher too! ) My plan is to have a phased early retirement starting in about 4 years...debt repayment pending;)

Kerry_Woman

My brother phoned me to inform me that my Dad passed away today. Did not have much dealings with my Dad. So I think I will helping my brother and sister to sort things out. They are the executor's of his will. Have already texted my brother the funeral director's details who did my Mum's funeral.
Was a spend day today. Paid a joining fee for a social club that my friend works in which is a nice place to go. There is also a annual membership fee which I will have to pay after I have been interviewed by the club's committee.
Grateful for:
Receiving the signed book by my favourite author.
Doing a few bits in the flat, which included some decluttering.

apple_muncher

Oh Kerry Woman, that is so tough for you. Sending you lots of hugs, and keeping you in my prayers x

apple_muncher

What is your dream goal?

Yep, this question has been asked before. But it is worthy of reiteration.

Do something on a daily basis that takes you nearer to your goal.

Set routines that enable you to head in the right direction when things get fuzzy, or complicated or overwhelming. Something simple like having the same thing for breakfast = fewer decisons/choices to sort through for that day, freeing up space in your head.

Or read a book (trashy vampire one are totally acceptable) for 30mins at x o'clock every night before bed.

Nicky_Noo_Na

Sorry I haven't posted much - various health problems have had me in a lot pain this week. Finally on the mend and up to 14 NSDs. Spending has been at a minimum and payday for me tomorrow so will be able to add something to savings.

Fmess

Hugs Kerry woman I’m sorry for your loss

Fmess

Yes Apple, I’ve been head of my subject for 18 months and currently also covering a maternity leave for head of another subject at the same time for a year (although not being properly paid for it). I’d love to step down from my TLR and be a teacher but it’s unlikely that’ll happen. I’m also worried that I’m potentially being lined up to be the head of faculty and I don’t want that.

I’ll do my sums but I know I’ve coped on way lower wages for years. I guess the sensible thing would be to wait until the roof and car are paid off but I think I might go crazy before that!