NST February A FOREST ADVENTURE

laurenh1

Good morning all - wishing you all the best of luck for Febs challenge

Budgets set- this is when things get tighter for us but we are as prepped as can be! £700 in our holiday spends pot & £1000 in emergency fund. £150 to live off for the month , but I do get paid in 3 weeks! & my cupboards are full. Fuel money put to oneside as per usual .

I will be making an effort to go YS shopping & live off what we have in.

I will be taking my own lunch into work, this is the norm for me now. It is possible I can come in under budget but I cannot do it if I get things like takeaways. My downfall will be the 20 pounds here and there that we spend on silly things. I will be making an effort to only by necessary items

"if nothing change, nothing changes" love this, My change will be excersize, I would love to lose a st and a half by the time we go away. I did 2 mile last night and I will do the same again tonight. My other change will be salad, we eat a lot of furit & veg but once per week I am going to have a salad for dinner or tea. Hub loves salad so he will be chuffed.

Valentines who - we like the M&s meal deal & I have a 5 pound M&S voucher so I will be getting one of those for us for Valentines. I will get the kids to make a card

NDS - will really make an effort this month - today is NSD #1.

Use what we have- you have inspired me to make a car out of an old box

Frogs- i need to apply for my EHIC card & sort my document folder out. I will aim to do these by next weekend.

Good luck lovely people

f0xh0les

I'm in! Feb is going to be tricky as DH may be on strike for half of it. I need a focus.


Always pay to debts or savings first,all credit cards cleared, money to kids savings gone out this morning,

First of February until the 28th, inclusive. All turtles commit to following the rules.

Organise your budgets and stick to them. no choice now, the money has gone.

Reserve charity dd's paid.

Environment Be aware of your surroundings and use all your senses. Be alert to danger but also to beauty. Will do this during half term

Stock take I do this weekly, it helps with incorporating the YS bargains

Takeaways are forbiddenOoops, DS3 is 10 tomorrow and his birthday meal request is a chinese takeaway - I cook the rice at home though, so it is only the main courses we buy, it is cheaper than a meal out, and as we so rarely have them it is a big thing and 'special' - will be under £30 for the 6 of us. No other meals out/ celebrations/ planned and I have a Tassimo so no longer frequent coffee shops.

Always take snacks and drinks for outings Always do, it saves a flippin' fortune

Do something different.I am banishing the chaos, and am arranging playdates for the kids at my house. Kids do not care if I have a pile of books on the end table, or if I have not finished decorating or if I need a new carpet in the living room. The boys need to know they can have their friends round, so some are coming on Saturday

Valentine Who?
Totally agree, crazy commercialised tat fest. I do not consent

Exercise 5 times a week please. Will endeavour to

NSDs are staying at 18 this month. Just filled up with petrol and will food shop after inventorising pantry

Throw it away. Donated 2 rolls of wallpaper to Foundation stage at school - they draw on the back of it, and 2 glove puppets went in this morning. Could not bear to give them to charity, this way I know they will be used and loved. Plans for more shelves in living room alcove this month, so all remaining books, dvds and board games will be stored neatly and another piece of furniture (tv storage unit thing) will be released back into the wild (freecycle)

Use what you have.I am using up the paint I have already bought and am painting all the woodwork . some idiot painted all the skirting boards and door frames and window sills dark brown and it makes everything look awful. Good free and immediately different .
Also stripping wallpaper costs nothing.

Will hunt down some Frogs and Elephants.

WelshKitty85

Can I please sneak back in? Life's got in the way since I was last here - new baby has arrived, we purchased a house (after months of land disputes), house needed £1000s of unexpected work, hubby got a job, lost a job, got a new job, but not guaranteed hours. So, our debt has multiplied and living off my maternity pay and DHs zero hour contract means we have to watch every penny. Having said that, we are expecting to need more work doing in the house and have a preplanned night away this month (hotel already paid for so just need to pay for a meal - will look for vouchers). I'll be back to set budgets.

mothernerd

F0xh0les go back and read the Takeaway rule to the end - there is a birthday choice exemption.

So glad you are taking a more relaxed attitude to your sons downtime. My house was always a mess but it was always filled with everyone else's children - even had them coming round for Christmas dinner when things were fraught at home. One of our neighbour's sons, now in his mid thrities, said recently that we had the best parties - I couldn't afford to take them to McD's so did everything myself including making the party bags and hats from newspaper one year.

To paraphrase superwoman (Shirley Conran) said "Your children will not remember that you ironed their pajamas, they will remember the time you spent having fun."

Welcome back Welsh Kitty and a warm welcome to all new and returning turtles.

ilovetea

Here goes.
Always pay debts savings first. No debts.D/D set up for money going to savings.
Follow the rules. Will try.
Organise budgets. Will do. Realised that my main shop is on line so gets paid for by card.Greengrocers is paid by card s well. Just really need to work out any personal spends.
Reserve money for charity. Done by D/D.
Beware of envirnment. Will do.
Stock take cupboards. Must do and organise.
Takeaways. Don't do them.
Always take lunch to work. Only do voluntary work part time so don't need leunch. They provide cuppas.
Do something different. Thinking about this.
Valentine. Don't do.
Exercise. Should do alot more .
NSD Aiming for 20.
Throw it away. Recycle,donate,sell if I can.
Use what you have Fix something Will look.
Refuel.Joinedd Slimming World so doing healthy eating.Get plenty of sleep.
Elephants and frogs. I'll try and make a list of frogs and a plan for getting rid of the elephant. Known as the cupboard of doom Full of craft stuff that I'm going to use .....one day.

Happy February every one.

ilovetea xx

shabbychic12

Well it's time to put my actions into play so here goes
: savings no dept - want to retire 2018 at 54 was going to be 55 but lost DH when l was 50 and now l need to live my life before it's too late.
: Bugets organised
: reserve - TBA
: stock take - on going
: do something different - that is a challenge but will try
: valentines waste of money you don't need a special day to tell someone you love them
: exercise - ongoing
: NSD will attempt 18
: throw it way - all ready on this
: use - where ever possible l will do this
: refuel - plan to spend more time on me
: elephants and frogs will be dealt with as and when

Calling14

Haven't been about much last few months but now work has calmed down would like to rejoin my fellow forest creatures. Thanks Mothernerd.

Always pay debts - Won't do as good as Jan but going to try. Did so well as didn't spend on my cc all month.
Organise budgets. Sorted, freezer full so just veg/fruit/bread needed.
Reserve money for charity. Will do
Beware of environment. Been thinking of using soap rather than handwash and shower gel - would cut back on plastics a bit.
Stock take cupboards. oh dear, door needs fixing so dont stay in there too long:rotfl:
Takeaways. Don't go for them but may meet up with friend who is visiting area Sat, suggested lunch and seeing she's inbetween operations - can't say no. Will come out of food budget.
Always take lunch to work. Always do soup dragon I am
Do something different. Well bf won't go anywhere so planning some trips this year away by myself. May need to change bf:D
Valentine. It's St Dwynen's day which was last month here in Wales. Had a lovely bottle of pink gin bought for me. He had left over juggling balls from xmas which he loved.
Exercise. Try to walk most days this week bit cold so stayed in. Will do more and wrap up warm .
NSD 18 .
Elephants - Car needs a service, brakes - will do once paid for new blinds which I ordered last month. In hand.

Omg Welsh Kitty Congratulations on new baby. Girl or boy? :T

WelshKitty85

Calling14 wrote: »

Omg Welsh Kitty Congratulations on new baby. Girl or boy? :T

Thank you! Baby boy. He's good as good at night and sleeps through til 7am so I can't grumble, but he doesn't like being put down in the day so I'm finding it hard to get jobs done.

laurenh1

WelshKitty Congrats on your new bundle, little boys are so loving . Tesco clubcard vouchers are due to arrive on the 3rd, if you could boost them for your meal

indigowarrior

Please sign me up. I am aiming for 18 NSDS
Always pay to debts or savings first, live on what is left. Currently saving up for a rental deposit. All spare money goes in there.

First of February until the 28th, inclusive. All turtles commit to following the rules.

Organise your budgets before the start of the month and stick to them. Done

Reserve a small portion of your budget (cash or goods) for the food bank or charity of your choice. Oh good one will have to have a look and see what charity to donate to.

Environment Be aware of your surroundings and use all your senses. Be alert to danger but also to beauty.

Stock take your cupboards, fridge and freezer. Base your meal plan upon them and your shopping list on what is needed. Stick to your list. Already done.

Takeaways are forbidden (unless as part of family entertainment night/ birthday choice). Coffee shops, vending machines, works canteens etc are also banned (pastoral exceptions). I meet an elderly friend once a fortnight. I am not really willing to stop that as due to my mental health I am not getting out of the house much.

Always take your lunch to work and snacks and drinks for outings or appointments (may excuse one trip with children or allow ice creams etc if part of the experience). Will do.

Do something different. If nothing changes, nothing changes. We want to see small positive changes which become habits and then just part of who you are. Pick 2 or 3 things you want to change. Start with one small change and after five successful days, add another. I will need to think about this.

Valentine Who? We will not be celebrating commercialism or bad taste. Do your own thing. Practice kindness to all and don't forget yourself. Treat yourself kindly, like a friend or someone you love and care about. Smile, hug, say hello (I understand these things are culturally unacceptable in London and some southern regions - try to change it but don't get arrested or committed). Small gestures of kindness may make someone else's day. I am happily single.

Exercise 5 times a week please. It should be commensurate with your abilities and current state of health (be careful after flu/ viruses). Getting outside helps with mental health too. Will try to do this, within existing constraints. Sometimes just doing the housework will have to do!

NSDs are staying at 18 this month. that is still 10 days available for necessary shopping. There would be far fewer opportunities in the forest. Exceptions for medical care, petrol (should be within budget), bus fares, ys bargains and milk for greent. This should be easy enough. I am doing a £1 a day per person food and drink challenge for the whole month.

Throw it away. We should all be aware that there is no such place as 'away' and recycle or donate appropriately but we all have too much stuff and even if you are ill, getting the rubbish and recycling helps slow the descent into chaos. Will continue with this

Use what you have. Fix something (for free if possible). Make something from a cardboard box (ideas for half term). If you have time, it may be useful to go round your house making a list of things that need fixing. Some may need to wait for better weather but when you are repaying debt and the focus is on that, you may find your house looking rather shabby. If you have a list of things that can be fixed or improved at little or no cost, it can give you a lift and a sense of progress

Refuel properly. You ask a lot of your body, give it the fuel that it needs - healthy food, water, a reasonable amount of sleep. Refuel your mind and spirit by taking time to relax and rewind. I will try to improve my sleep.

Elephants and Frogs. We all have them. For newer turtles who have never visited Flylady, a frog is any task you have been putting off - eg a difficult phone call. Over time the small task has become a giant obstacle. Tackle the frog and the rest of your day will be a breeze.
An elephant is such a huge task that you just do not know where to start. How does one eat an elephant? One bite at a time. elephants need to be broken down into small manageable pieces. i want to hear about lots of frogs being eaten and the odd elephant being cut down to size. (That will leave us with more time to hide from the polar bears). Plenty of these beasts going on at the moment

Along the way we will have daily inspiration. This challenge is intended to be hard (several turtles were already anticipating a difficult month) so this month's quotes are going to be gentle and nurturing.

They are not a get out of jail free card, but when you are having a difficult day, just focus on the quote of the day, take comfort from it.