NST September 2020: the turtles do the Hokey Cokey

abundant1972

Hi all...

So sorry I have been MIA again. I feel like I let you all down as well as myself. Had a busy stressful month and a bit of a blip mental-health wise, and just felt exhausted. A lot of 'good intentions' have fallen by the wayside - and I haven't cleared out my cupboards, or kept my mindfulness up (ironically when I probably needed it the most!)... and my morning/evening routines went West!

On the plus - I kept up with my 7K+ steps per day, and gym 3/week and tracking my food - and now lost just over 4lb. So I will try and celebrate my wins and learn from my mistakes. I think I tried taking on too much and then got overwhelmed... I already have a new job to adjust to... Plus I took on a 6 month fitness course (which I am very committed to)... but then in a fit of motivation - signed up to a 'Re-invent your life' course and a 'Conquer Anxiety' course. I'm sure all are amazing in their own right - but now I am struggling to keep up and feeling like I am failing. 

Solution? I have lifelong access to the last 2 courses I think, so I am going to put my energy into getting back on track with a good daily routine... and my mindfulness. Then I am going to get a bit more established in my job role (as that is stressful) and THEN I will look at my time and energy... I think New Year might be a nice time to reflect and re-invent, and I can dip in and out of the anxiety course.  

Needless to say - my finances took a bit of a hit - but I did manage to pay some debt off. I used to be so good at this when I had a goal (to clear debt to get a mortgage). Now I have my security - it's like my drive to become debt free isn't so strong. I need a kick up my jacksy please to get my frugal head on again. 

I hope you have all had an amazing month. October will be my attempt to turn a corner with my spending habits, and try and dig deep and regain some of that 'Hunger Games' mentality that Kat used to use on us to survive debt and thrive in beating it. May the odds forever be in your favour... 

Hugs all. 

f0xh0les

Abundant, you have filled your EF, you have filled your money pot, you have got your mortgage, but what is your next goal? You have £8080.30.00 according to your signatures (is that a  typo or a StarTrek date?) so set yourself a target for the month (even if it is to get to £8080.00.00) and there are 94 days left of this year, so set yourself a year's end goal and make a realistic plan to get there.   It is brilliant you have got so far, but if you give yourself a date to aim for to get rid of the debt, then after that you can start to play around with the mortgage numbers and that is really fun for a numbers nerd.   How much  is the daily interest?  can you knock 5p off a  month on that by an o/p, can you own another 1% of your home by Easter,  do you 'own' the bathroom yet? When will you 'own' the roof and the bathroom, and then a bedroom....  you work really well toward a goal, but sometimes you need to simplify those goal and not try and sort the mental as well as the fitness as well as the caring roles, as well as a new job, as well as a new house -  and let's face it, you are attracted to the 'new' and 'shiny' plans.  All the short term stuff is great, but I think you might need something a little longer term, a little bit more sustainable for a longer time - even if it is a £1 coin jar.  Things take time, there is no quick fix.

And make some soup (just thought I would throw that in there as a Hunger Games/shopping from the cupboards / Old Skool Turtle idea)  We are probably going to end up in either a voluntary or imposed lockdown of some sort or other, so easy zero shopping meals are a good (and healthy) idea.

Feel free to ignore everything I have just said.  No offence intended, or taken.

Shrewbie

Afternoon turtles!!

Round up for this month

Health - exercise - run and cycle 25 min today and yesterday after an exceedingly inactive weekend of sofa days and pigging out. Have definitely seen a difference in how I feel mentally and physically since last month from exercising and eating better and just generally being back in a routine. 

Have enjoyed experimenting with some new meals this month. Will do more of that in October and I’m sure some more cost savings can be made on the shop.

Wealth

This year has taught me that what makes me happy is having a couple of beers and food out in the barrio or generally being out and about…  so I am not going to begrudge myself this. I hardly ever buy clothes or make up etc apart from once a year in the sales - food and drink is just what I spend my money on! However i have realised that this doesn’t need to break the bank and I am being more mindful of the fact that I usually only “need” one or two drinks anyway!! 

On NSD 12/15. Will try to do better in October.

Yesterday was semi-productive and hoping to replicate today although I have so far been procrastinating waiting for a call from work. Lots of cleaning, job hunting prep and admin done. 

Helped a friend out with some paperwork yesterday and spoke to my best friend in New zealand today for her birthday. 

Grateful for the warm sun, for playful dogs running around making me laugh, for work which will allow me to cover my costs at least (I hope!), no luxuries. but no debt either. 

I'm off to catch up on the thread, thank  you @apple for running it and see you all in October 

abundant1972

Hey! 

Aww thank you F0xh0les. That is really kind and helpful. You are absolutely spot on - I need to do a bit of goal re-framing and get on it. PS - MY EF is £100/£1000 haha - you missed a nought! LOL

mothernerd

Didn't feel great yesterday. Tried to sit up in the front room but couldn't sew, follow the plot of a film (I had seen it before) or work on the laptop (or even play games) so took myself back to bed, read and dozed for most of the afternoon and had a proper sleep late afternoon. Sat up for a while, ate two bowls of turkey stew and did a little bit of sewing. Had no problems falling asleep and most of the back and shoulder pains abated - knees still very creaky. Far too much to do and would rather just sit here quietly reading my book for a while, will see how things go.

Thankful for a bed, prescription and otc medication, turkey stew.

Toni'sfriend

Just  quick round up of the month and a big thank you to Apple for running it.

Well, I must admit I found September really very stressful and I spent way too much on food that we really didn’t need. I am hoping our break here for most of October will be relaxing and help me get things back into perspective. Wet and very windy here today but we’re cosy in our little cottage. Having a day in. Chilli made for dinner tonight. Must go have another look at the October challenge.

f0xh0les

I am doing  quite well already, baked 3 pastries for lunchboxes at 6am, then contrary child #4 decided he wanted one too , at 7.15. So baked another one (grrrr!). Got DS2 to have a bath before school, and still managed to get everyone to school on time (minor miracle) in correct kit (major miracle) with nothing left behind (worried they have been replaced by pod people).

Payday!!  Paid cc bill, left a message for plumber about our leaking loo, rang original roofers (I have a quote from 2 years ago) to come, applied for DS4s secondary school place, baked a 9 portion spanakopita and made a huge pan of soup.  All before 10.30.   The kitchen smells gorgeous. 

All bills go out tomorrow, so I will know a bit more then about how much I have left for the month.   Not spending anything else today, just arranging for things to be sorted in October.   I seem to have haemorrhaged  money all over the place this month, with the back to school stuff and shoes and £160 for eyetests and 4 pairs of glasses.  Hopefully this is the end of it (still need a cooker but can get away with a £200 spend to do us for as long as it takes to get a kitchen extension built) and things will return to normal frugality soon.  The pantry is well stocked with tins and pulses and soup mixes. 

What a crazy month.  Thank you for the challenge @apple_muncher , and see you on the October thread.

Calling14

Can't believe September is over, we go into lockdown tomorrow night. Boo hiss but will be good and stick to the rules, if I can ever understand them.

Today feeling dizzy again and cheesed off, spent and bought cake at lunchtime. yellow stickered but also bought some treats for the weekend. Yesterday I was so good did a fast beach walk at lunchtime.

Glad I have booked a day off tomorrow, last day of freedom, planned a walk in Anglesey with a friend. Be good to clear my head.

End of the month figures NSD 10/15

Food - £71 plus todays Sainsbobs delivery £17 rest on voucher for taking car ins out woo hoo. Under budget.

Petrol -over budget as taken days off and gone touring around here.

Going out £60/£100

House £2060/ £50 oops got a shiny new patio though.

Car £65/£50 basic service and new bulbs.

Seeing its a spendy day, bought a rucksack, not really a hiker with a handbag.

Exercise 10k a day - most days

Thanks apple for the challenge, apologies, I haven't been the best student. Must try harder. Thanks again.

Grateful for

You lovely people on here

Being dry at lunchtime

Savings still looking decent at end of the month.

facethemusic

Wednesday- NSD 17/15, food shopping has been reduced and the cupboards/freezer are MUCH emptier so thats all good! 
Today I managed to ride before the rain came on, but got soggy on the dog walk. 
Gratitudes- DD and her friend enjoying simple fun- they may be growing up but they are definitely still kids, a bit more packing, only a few more hours before I can say "I'm moving this month"

apple_muncher

Calling that is defo one humungous overspend on 'house' !!!