NST September: Sunshine Challenge

Hello fellow turtles :hello: and welcome to NST September - the Sunshine Challenge.

Set your budgets now. Pay to your debts/savings first and live off the rest. Make sure you're on the best deals for utilities, phones, broadband, etc. Are there any areas in your budget that you could cut down on?
Use up. Have a look through your cupboards and identify any food that's been lurking there for a while and incorporate it into a meal plan. Likewise toiletries, any half opened bottles - use before opening/buying more.
NSDs - there are 30 days in September so a minimum of 15 or 20 for a harder challenge. Usual exemptions for ys items, petrol and medical expenses.
Spread some sunshine :D - be kind to others, help out friends, neighbours, colleagues and strangers. Share your tales of any random acts of kindness :)
Healthy eating - up your fruit and veg intake, quit snacking between meals or choose healthier options. Crisps are my major downfall so I'm going to try and stop snacking on them this month.
Invest in yourself. Make sure you take the time to do things that you enjoy. Try something new that you've always wanted to do.
No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for. Try to find free activities to do.
Exercise - it won't be long before the darker nights start drawing in so make the most of it while you can. Get outdoors for walk/run/cycle even if only for 10 minutes.

Try to post every day if you can. The support from fellow turtles on this thread is invaluable and will spur you on to meet your goals :D

Who's up for the challenge?
Debt Dec 2022 - £2972.68. Current debt - £1769.68 (40.5% paid). Emergency fund - £986.50/£1000 (98.7% saved). Car fund - £751.48/£1000 (75.1% saved). Flat deposit - £5547.45/£15000 (37% saved).
«13456744

Replies

  • edited 3 September 2018 at 11:09PM
    misstaramisstara Forumite
    3.7K Posts
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    Forumite
    edited 3 September 2018 at 11:09PM
    Turtles
    1. misstara
    2. Kerry Woman
    3. Toni'sfriend
    4. apple muncher
    5. Coxy11
    6. cybertortoise
    7. GlendaSugarBean
    8. s1n25
    9. laurenh1
    10. Icc86
    11. x_raphael_xx
    12. crazy_cat_lady
    13. DawnW
    14. thriftylass
    15. motherboard
    16. sashanut
    17. f0xh0les
    18. candyflosscloud
    19. swimminginaseaofdebt
    20. dolly84
    21. truebluemummy
    22. bizzie
    23. indigowarrior
    24. Fmess
    25. Dottydaisy
    26. gien
    27. Justforme
    28. greent
    29. shabbychic12
    Debt Dec 2022 - £2972.68. Current debt - £1769.68 (40.5% paid). Emergency fund - £986.50/£1000 (98.7% saved). Car fund - £751.48/£1000 (75.1% saved). Flat deposit - £5547.45/£15000 (37% saved).
  • thriftylassthriftylass Forumite
    3.9K Posts
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Forumite
    Hello,

    I have been MIA for a while, had to sort some stuff out, get my head round things, plus holidays and this and that. Tried a few other fora/platforms for accountability and keeping track but I'm coming back to the fold. I just missed this community and it's support.

    Hence, please count me in for September with number 14 if possible?
    DEBT 03/23: CC 4637 4318 4100 Family 1380 0 , Extra money earnt £54, NSDs 1/20, sober 2/31
  • Kerry_WomanKerry_Woman Forumite
    3.1K Posts
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Can I please be included? Thanks.
    Frugal Living Challenge 2023 Mortgage free as of 1st August 2013
  • Toni'sfriendToni'sfriend Forumite
    3.7K Posts
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    Forumite
    Me too, please
    Have adventures. laugh a lot and always be kind.
  • apple_muncherapple_muncher Forumite
    14K Posts
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Forumite
    Count me in please. Love the sunshine idea!
    NST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!
  • Coxy11Coxy11 Forumite
    4.1K Posts
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Forumite
    Hello,
    Please could I join you? I've been reading along in August. I'm currently not working (although I have an interview tomorrow eek) so I need to be even more accountable for my pennies and time.
    Thank you
    Coxy
    Cross-stitch WIP: Durene Jones Haberdashery Shop 365 1p challenge member No.45 Reading: Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo - Read 23 books in 2023: 5/23
  • cybertortoisecybertortoise Forumite
    261 Posts
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Forumite
    Please can I join? I always fall off the wagon and fail to post, follow, hit targets etc. But I've just found out my income is dropping by £400 a month, so I need this more than ever.



    Good luck tomorrow Coxy!
    Restarted my journey toward financial stability on 1st September 2021 - I will succeed!Total debt - £38570.75 @ 31.08.21 Current debt - £29876.97 @ 13.11.2022Paid to date: £8693.78Aim to pay off: 12% - current 12.98%DFD: December 2029 May 2029 July 2029 April 2029 March 2029
  • Me please! August was a complete failure MSE wise, so the next three weeks until payday are going to be tough. I have money for debt repayment, food and bills but not much else! Aiming for at least 15 NSDs.
  • s1n25s1n25 Forumite
    113 Posts
    Can I join please. I really enjoyed last month, but as it got closer to the end of the month I struggled with motivation and lost my way a bit.
    Not going to happen in Sept! Feeling positive and love the 'Sunshine idea' all the things I wanted to work on throughout Sept.
    Debt Free Diary..."Start of a new chapter"
    Nov: Unsecured Debt : £2,900.. Bring your lunch to work 1/18..NSD challenge 5/20

  • laurenh1laurenh1 Forumite
    756 Posts
    Debt-free and Proud!
    me please lovely :)
This discussion has been closed.
Latest MSE News and Guides

British Gas prepay meter users...

...to pay less for gas from 1 April

MSE News

The 'odd Easter flavours' thread 2023

What bizarre food stuffs have you spied?

MSE Forum

Energy Price Guarantee calculator

How much you'll likely pay from April

MSE Tools