NST May 2018: May the odds be ever in your favour!

apple_muncher · 28 April 2018 at 3:41PM

[FONT=&quot]NST May 2018: May the odds be ever in your favour![/FONT]

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However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. Stephen Hawking.

MMM says: If you are one of the 99% of people who is forced to live with only a finite amount of money, you should probably give some thought to how that money is spent. You can buy [/FONT][FONT=&quot]things, [/FONT][FONT=&quot]like cars and mobile phone plans for your kids, or you can buy [/FONT][FONT=&quot]freedom[/FONT][FONT=&quot], in the form of paying off your debts, saving most of what you earn, and soon being able to choose your own work schedule or even retire early.

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[FONT=&quot]Motivation[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] what is your personal motivation for joining in with the turtles? To get out of debt? Too stay out of debt? To build up savings / an Emergency Fund? FIRE? What is your personal timeline for reaching your goal? If it seems too far away, break it down.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Money[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]know your income and outgoings. To the penny. Know when every single DD goes out, when the annual payments are required. If you cannot cope with cash in your pocket, only use a card; if, like me, you work better with cash, then use that. Note down EVERY single spend and eliminate the unnecessary ones.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Me[/FONT][FONT=&quot] time:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] look after yourself. Get enough sleep; eat well; move; do things you enjoy. Last month we were encouraged to take up a new hobby / revive an old one. Such a good thing to do!

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Move[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: being active benefits your body and your mind. You know that. Now do it. Find your level of activity and crank it up a notch (I’ve recently upped some of my kettlebell exercises from 8K to 12K). Get outside. Play!

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Activation[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: what spurs you on to keep on the path? Does following other threads or blogs inspire you? Dedicate some time each week to expanding your reading and finding ideas that you can use – and please tell us about them.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Arm[/FONT][FONT=&quot] yourself [/FONT][FONT=&quot]: you have chosen to follow a path that many mock and despise - that of ridding yourself of debt and financial constrictions in order to be free; free to choose what to do with your money and time, not enslaved to repaying or to other people. Whether you opt to work more or to spend less in order to achieve your goal, stand firm against the naysayers. Stand strong in your personal quest against consumerism and the futility of always acquiring more.

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[FONT=&quot]Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Ralph Waldo Emerson[/FONT]

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[/FONT][FONT=&quot]You[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. Are you happy in yourself? Know what brings you joy, what cheers your heart, what makes you pause and wonder. Don’t just stop and smell the coffee in the morning; practise stopping and looking around throughout the day. Appreciate what you have. Be grateful.

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The Rules:

We start on May 1st and continue to the very end of the 31st.

19 NSD: you have 12 days to spend, so use them wisely, especially with the Bank Holidays and half term this month. Petrol, medications and emergency travel needs are exempt. As are reduced items if that is all you buy.

Foodbank/ charity donation of £5.

Pay to your debt/savings FIRST and live off the rest.

Plan the month: every single day: what you are doing, what you are eating, especially with the Bank Holidays and half term, birthdays, anniversaries.

Check in every day. Short posts, long posts, ups and downs. Turtles are gregarious and friendly, they look after each other and encourage each other out of their shells.

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[FONT=&quot]Who will join me on a quest to fight consumerism and the Ferenghi prerogative of 'acquisition, acquisition, acquisition'? Sign up below for a month of debt-fighting, money saving and general turtle fun.

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greent · 28 April 2018 at 4:29PM

I'm in, please, apple

Thank you!

xx

apple_muncher · 28 April 2018 at 4:32PM

reserved for contenders:

1 apple muncher
2 greent
3 misstara
4 DawnW
5 Puddleglum
6 swimminginaseaofdebt
7 laurenh1
8 f0xh0les
9 Robi90
10 Fmess
11 Kerry Woman
12 x_raphael_xx
13 mothernerd
14 LavenderBee
15 sashanut
16 indigowarrior
17 dolly84
18 SunAddict
19 thriftylass
20 Dorisd
21 maitlah
22 bizzie
23 shabbychic12
24 bestfootforward
25 Dottydaisy
26 Debtfreewannabme
27 Littleskintdragon84
28 crazy_cat_lady