NST September: Sunshine Challenge

cybertortoise

GlendaSugarbean wrote: »

Cyber tortoise hope things let up for you soon. When will you hear about the HB?

Thanks Glenda, if they actually read what I send them instead of asking me for the same evidence over and over, hopefully in the next week or so!


Set budgets - done! I think I can scrape by until the end of the month even paying extra to catch up the bounced direct debits. It'll be tight though.

Use up - I'm using up a stash of bathroom products - shower gels, etc. So won't need to buy any of those. I'm also trying to get through the random nonsense in the cupboards. Weird meals ahead! I don't tend to have overflowing food cupboards as my income is so low I can just about manage to buy for the week ahead.

NSD's - 3/15 - not today though as I had to buy school bags and some groceries for packed lunches.
Sunshine - I'll try my best to do this.
Healthy eating - haven't bought any chocolate this month, I'm weaning myself off the Zero sugar soda I know I'm addicted to because of the headaches I get without it! Also trying to cut out snacking and bored grazing of kitchen cupboards.
Invest - I am starting to read the compulsory texts for my university course which starts in October. Hopefully this will help me find me feet faster and get in the swing of things sooner. I really need to sort out my sleeping pattern over the next few weeks too.
No spending - no takeaways. I have a nice water bottle to take with me and will start taking snacks if I'll be out at lunch times. When I am back at uni I will take lunch everyday, and a travel mug and tea bags so any hot drinks will be free.
Exercise - my youngest child starts at nursery next week so I am going to dig the bike out of the shed and cycle to town at least twice a week. I'll need to buy a bike lock first though! I'm also going to dig the rowing machine out of the shed and aim for my 10k steps per day which I usually fail at because I'm driving everywhere. The dog will be exhausted as I'll use him to up my steps.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for my counsellor, for a good lot of walking, for dd absolutely buzzing about her first day back, for still having a few ripe rasps to pick, for locating some of my dad's paperwork from the 40s, for getting some knitting and sewing done (albeit Tilly Tidy style!), for finally getting myself to n'wide to sign dd's passbook, fer doing my kb workout first thing before my brain could object.

thriftylass

Had lovely roast rabbit for tea. While that was cooking and the kids were out on their bikes I cut the grass hopefully for the last time and sprayed some weeds.

Pretty knackered and will have an early night.

See you tomorrow

Kerry_Woman

Set your budgets now. Have done this. Also have opened another savings account due to been given money.
Use up. Done this today.
NSDs – Achieved today. 3/20
Spread some sunshine – Talked to a woman in the park with her dogs. Sadly one of the dogs has dementia.
Healthy eating – Need to be more mindful with what I am eating. No snacking today.
Invest in yourself. Did mindfulness colouring, wordsearch, reading, watched some programmes that I like.
No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for. Try to find free activities to do.
Exercise – Will be planning to do this each day. Walked my usual route around the park once this morning.

sashanut

Hi all:j

Stint in CS today although nearly turned tail & ran when I saw the amount of stuff to be sorted..still did my time & had a laugh with the other volunteers. Then inevitably popped to shops with DD, small shop & then back to make food & cake (damn the GBBO, we always have to eat some form of cake whilst watching!!).

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? Yes a small spend today although didn't get to preferred SM so will have to go tomorrow after dropping car off. Gas/elec switcheroo going through fast.

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. No chicken thighs available in SM so used up some CB from freezer. Needed a small veg curry to go with meal, so made one out of leftover veg from yesterdays dinner.

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. Still 2/15

Spread some sunshine - be kind to others, help out friends, neighbours, colleagues and strangers. Share your tales of any random acts of kindness. Tried to be kind & joke with a colleague who I don't normally speak to. Made for a better working environment.

Healthy eating - up your fruit and veg intake, quit snacking between meals or choose healthier options. Although food mostly HM, not especially healthy (or small) were the Danish pastries I made. Quickly put the spares in the freezer :eek:

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. Not much time today but do enjoy cooking, it's just the clearing up I don't like, especially since the DW went on the blink.

No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for. No takeaways today.

Try to find free activities to do. Will 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. Outdoors for a short time with animals, DH now excavating inside double garage, which is full and not of cars, although there is one in there somewhere...I see many trips to the tip in our near future..

go Turtles!!

f0xh0les

All within set budget still - meter readings this morning, lots and lots of lovely credit before DH gets his finger back on the +1hr button on the heating.

Going to soak some beans to use them up
NSD 2/20 in the bag

Spreading happiness on the playground - nice chat and passing on info about low cost clubs for kids near us

Healthy eating - not eating rubbish yet

Investing in myself - going to try and tart up a knackered wooden box to store my candles in for the lovely darkness that is coming.

No spending on takeaways - I promise

Exercise -none planned

Coxy11

Morning all,

f0xh0les - couldn't agree more about early mornings
laurenh1 - hope you feel better soon

Didn't post yesterday. Had a few housey bits to do plus get the tyre sorted on the car. Spent the afternoon watching TV - making the most of my last few days off!!

Set your budgets now - budget somewhat messed up due to £137 tyre costs!! Will need to wait until 21st September and my first weekly pay to see what I'll be bringing in.
Use up - Ran out of shower gel so have started on one of the boys Xmas gift set ones. Will do just fine.
NSDs - unfortunately still on 1/15. Today will be another spend day as I need work clothes for next week.
Spread some sunshine - spoke to a neighbour yesterday who has worried about her elderly parents. Have said we should go for coffee and a proper chat.
Healthy eating - DS2 and I made SW beef lasagne yesterday which we will have tonight. He is overweight and I'm trying to encourage him to take more interest in what he is eating (for the right reasons). Loads of veggies in it. Had a great lunch yesterday of celery, cherry toms, lettuce and fat free cottage cheese. No TV snacking last night despite GBB.
Invest in yourself - tried to book haircut but my stylist is away for three weeks! Need to get more sleep and have decided to only drink herbal teas after dinner. Last night 2 x peppermint - lovely.
No spending on takeaways, drinks out, etc unless prearranged and budgeted for - coffee out today with MIL - she may pay!!
Exercise - Managed just short of 10k steps on Monday (9962!). Failed yesterday - only 6.5k. Will pound the shopping mall today and make sure I nail the 10k.

Have a good day all,
Coxy

laurenh1

Good morning all

Just checking in.

Set Budgets- going shopping tonight, will need to put some money to one side for the weekend and then I will update budgets.
Use up- got some bread out of the freezer this morning that has been int here a little while.
NSD's- still on 2 as I am shopping tonight.
Spread some sunshine-baking my friend's birthday cake tonight.
Healthy Eating- on it
Invest in Yourself- trying to leave time in the diary when I have nothing to do, this week I am leaving Saturday free to relax before my run Sunday.
No takeaways- just one for Sunday but nothing other than that, we are not big take away eaters anyway.
Excersize- running again tomorrow.

greent

Will hopefully be NSD today - but may have to pay parking when I take DS1 to a job interview... (around 45 mins away, so I will wait for him)

Sunshine - gave a too-small school top to a friend for her child Gave a pile of lots of school clothes to school for second hand rail - hung them all up, along with other stuff left there and said I'd be in too sort and tidy it 'properly' next week Oooh - and passed on a tip to someone which has saved them a few hundred pounds :T

thriftylass

Good morning,

unfortunately a spend day today. Invested in about 8 storage containers for pasta, flour, cereal etc. to get the kitchen a bit tidier. But got them really cheap form the Range, didn't even know you can order online from there.

Otherwise the day should be a good one, gym, healthy eating, steps etc. Might finish cleaning the windows tonight or cut the hedge, not sure yet. Will also have a rake through the freezer (meal and shop plan for Friday onwards) and prepare tomorrow's dinner (curry) including some blackpudding (needs using up) pakora.