NST May 2019: May merriment

bizzie

Please can I join in for May.
Off to think about and prepare a plan of action for the month.

[Deleted User]

Good morning everyone.

Thank you for the thread, apple muncher, and please sign me up for this month.

Today I'm already grateful that the sunshine is streaming in through my bedroom window this morning, what a lovely start to the day

Have a good day all.

bln

hummingbird15

Hi please can I sign up for May?

Make a budget and stick to it. mat leave starts next week so budget for travel is low, £100 for petrol and a handful of bus tickets. Groceries is £50 per week. Got a fair bit in the cupboards so shouldn't need to buy anything other than fresh bits.

Enjoy the month. Do things that make you happy. Due on May 24th so we'll see how much I can enjoy and when baby makes an appearance! Do have two social engagements though, one this Friday and one the following Saturday. We never go out so will be nice to do those things before baby.

Read. have struggled to concentrate on books recently but will do my best to try that instead of vegging Infront of the tv

Reduce, reduce and reduce some more. have been decluttering for a good few months now and using a thread on Mumsnet for motivation, has been going very well and will continue with a little everyday. We've been making a concentrated effort to be mindful over single use plastics etc too.

Increase, increase and increase even more. fell off meal planning a while ago, will start again. In fact I'll do a weeks worth later today. We are recycling more, checking every single plastic item for the mark. Our council now take plastics in a new mixed Wheely bin which is amazing, we previously bagged up milk bottles to take to the tip but now it's right outside were trying extra hard to use it to the full


Move it! excercise unlikely to happen for me this month as I'm doing my best duck waddling now but I'm looking forward to getting back into the gym as soon as I'm able.

Post 3 gratitudes every day. I'm pre may thread grateful for the may thread, the decluttering thread on Mumsnet and that inbuilt nesting. Feeling positive!

No! ok!

Think of others. there's a food bank donation basket in Tesco, I'll add something into it each time I go

Toni'sfriend

Just back from a lovely holiday. Can I join again this month.

XSpender

Please may I join in again? I have lost the plot a bit in April.:o

Calling14

Fantastic quotes love them.


Can I join please? Apologies I have disappeared half way through challenges and hid in my shell.



I have 3 days away during May only need to pay for my train fare. Already paid for accomodation. Will take food with me and only eat out cheap and cheerfully.



Off to fiddle my budgets ready to get going tomorrow.

Toni'sfriend

Hello Everyone

We had a lovely holiday but it has somewhat depleted the holiday fund so a bit of a frugal month in May to top it up again.

Plans for this month:

Read I am an avid reader. Lots and lots of books in our household so I'll be doing plenty of that.

Reduce

Weight. I have a goal and a plan
Chocolate, snacks and alcohol (eliminate would be better).
Amount of food in freezers and stores. Must make another inventory. It's a bit higglety pigglety at the moment.
Time online and watching TV (most of which I've seen a million times)
Spending (obviously)

Increase

Definitely must meal plan.
More fruit and vegetables.
Walking. Did loads whilst we were away but tend to let it go when we come home.
Time spent looking after myself. Hair, nails, skin etc. Have all the products just need to find the motivation.

Must get myself organised so off to make some lists.

poppysmic

Hi, can I please sign up for May?

Long time lurker who desperately needs to get things under control, so hoping I can be held accountable! Off on holiday at the end of the month, but all's paid for (only food to sort out, but very do-able). Other than that, ready for a focused month.

greent

Make a budget and stick to it. Groceries: £500 Entertainment £150 Fuel (only mine, not OH's) £100 (will get part back on expenses - have some business mileage in May), Entertainment £150 (family wedding, half term, DS3's bday), Gifts £150 (m=sister's bday, mum's bday, family wedding x2 (another in June but wedding list opens in May))

Enjoy the month. Do things that make you happy. Don’t be shackled by other people’s demands, schedules and expectations. Looking forward to a week off next week before exam season begins (although invigilating internal exams and MFL GCSEs this week) and then half term

Read. Haven't done enough of this recently. Have some books still to read on bookshelf and if I get through all of them/ abandon them will visit library in half term

Reduce, reduce and reduce some more. Reduce what comes in. Reduce what you use. Reduce what you spend. Reduce what you need. Reduce how you ‘waste’ your time. Reduce screen time. Reduce electricity usage. Reduce gas usage. Reduce water usage. Reduce the amount of rubbish you throw away. Will aim to bring in less plastic - shopping at farmers market this weekend will be a start Also reading instead of mindless laptop time.

Increase, increase and increase even more. Increase meal planning. Increase recycling. Increase wombling . Increase walking. Increase being outdoors. Increase appreciating what you have. Increase the discovery of joy in your life. Increase your skills.ok

Move it! ok

Every day post 3 gratitudes ok

No! to wants, to treats, to coffee shops, to the work canteen, to vending machines, to takeaway establishments. You get the picture! Plan ahead, take food and drinks out with you ok

Think of others.Be kind. Smile. Talk to a neighbour. Donate to charity or the foodbank. ok

NSDs.....

Thanks, apple x

Lauralozzle

Here we go! Ready for May.


Make a budget and stick to it. This is the key to stopping overspending. If you don’t know how much to budget, then use this month to note down everything that you spend in a notebook, to analyse at the end. Take your notebook with you everywhere. Every day. Get receipts for every purchase and then note it down. Some use YNAB; others have spreadsheets; others use pen and paper. Find what works for you and stick to it. Every spend moves you nearer to or further away from your goal. May the odds be ever in your favour! - Budget sorted, spreadsheet updated. Groceries budget (includes cleaning products and alcohol) is £300.00. Was way under in April, but I like the flexibility of a larger budget!
Entertainment spend £50.00 for both of us.
Joint Savings have gone into savings account already as pay-day today and £900 in the joint account.
Personal savings - £100.00 in account
X-mass 2019 savings - £30 in account

Target this month: Do not dip into personal savings.

Enjoy the month. Do things that make you happy. Don’t be shackled by other people’s demands, schedules and expectations. Be free to be you. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose” Dr Seuss - Weather is warming up, will try and do more outdoor activities as I enjoy our weekend trips out. Plans for get-together will family on Saturday and BBQ end of the month with friends.

Read. “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax. All you need is a book” Dr Seuss. Take time to read for fun, for information. Read aloud, read in your head. - Will charge up the Kindle tonight!

Reduce, reduce and reduce some more. Reduce what comes in. Reduce what you use. Reduce what you spend. Reduce what you need. Reduce how you ‘waste’ your time. Reduce screen time. Reduce electricity usage. Reduce gas usage. Reduce water usage. Reduce the amount of rubbish you throw away. Got it?! - Big one for us, reduce food waste is a main priority. We're getting better but not perfect. Reduce weight, stick to healthy eating plan. Reduce, reduce, reduce!

Increase, increase and increase even more. Increase meal planning. Increase recycling. Increase wombling (think Uncle Bulgaria – making good use of the things that we find; things that the everyday folk leave behind). Increase walking. Increase being outdoors. Increase appreciating what you have. Increase the discovery of joy in your life. Increase your skills. - Will certainly increase meal planning! As I have about 10 tins of chickpeas.... need to use some of them up!

Move it! If you are exercising already, then up the ante. Go further, faster, heavier. If you cannot exercise then just keep moving as much as you can. For all of us, whatever your goal is, keep doing things that move you closer to it. - We have a 'steps' competition at work - 'Walk this May' - I will participate!

Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day. Let’s make May a month of being grateful for all that we have. Post 3 gratitudes every day. - Will do.

No! to wants, to treats, to coffee shops, to the work canteen, to vending machines, to takeaway establishments. You get the picture! Plan ahead, take food and drinks out with you to avoid the temptation of a ‘deal’. Especially with the half term break and little people wanting things. - Will avoid the vending machine at all costs!

Think of others.Be kind. Smile. Talk to a neighbour. Donate to charity or the foodbank. http://www.trusselltrust.org/ - Will donate to food bank.

The Rules:

16 NSD- I'm going to try my hardest to hit this!

Pay to your debt/savings FIRST and live off the rest. That is why you do a budget and note down every single spend in a notebook. - Done

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

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. - I will try to remember to post everyday!