NST October The Turtles Go Outward Bound

greent

 O -  2 NSDs so far. That's actual complete NSDs, not taking any exemptions into account for once! Working for a couple of weeks, so that'll keep me out of the shops. Need to hit smkt today for some regular shopping and DH also has plans for a takeaway tonight (well, it *is* payday weekend..... )
U - I don't have any particularly elderly relatives around now - my mum is 70, but active and fully capable. I do need to be supporting my student children at the mo - DD is really stressed about her dissertation (due in late mid month) so am just making sure she is fed, watered and taken out for a walk occasionally and not asked to do anything around the house/ with smaller siblings unless she volunteers for the next couple of weeks - her stress related tachycardia and chest pain is back, so I am mindful to just let her be. Occasionally she appears for a chat or joins in with tv watching music channels on an evening - I'm just letting her do her thing as much as poss and just getting her out when the weather allows. DS1 is in a lockdown area in S Wales and has been studying for his GAMSAT test (requirement for his application to study medicine post grad) which was yesterday in London - very long day and he and DH got home from it at 1am. I shall be sending him back on Sunday with more food/ cleaning stuff etc - hopefully minimising the need for him to go out as much as poss   My healthy eating has been rubbish this week so I need to get back on track - want min 5lbs off in Oct. Have done no exercise this week due to suspected peroneal tendonitis in a foot, which isn't helping me...
T - I do tend to think about most purchases - most of my impulse buys are probably food related Spends in Oct will be on servicing the central heating/ boiler. booking installation of a new gas fire (ours has been condemned), and hopefully some other trades spends on some work which NEEDS doing on the house (we're talking dodgy electrics, holes in kitchen ceiling and a leaky bathroom which has caused some damp patches in living room and dining room....) Other expected purchases are a couple of small things for DH bday (like some ink for his new pen and a cake) and some presents for Dec and Jan bdays and Xmas. Oh - and the house insurance is due at month end. Renewal quote is £450 ish, so I will be looking to see what else is out there (but I do like a 'name' and we also ramp up cover with things like accidental damage and other stuff)
W - I have blankets in my car, along with details of breakdown cover, jump leads and a hi-vis vest DH has the same. Boiler is being serviced next week. We have a stock of paracetamol (adult and kid stuff), ibuprofen and throat spray and lozenges. Sent DS1 back to uni a few weeks ago with a supply (and instructions not to give it all away - an occasional few tablets to a housemate is one thing - but he is super generous and tends to leave himself short and never gets offered it back - he needs to learn some balance) There are blankets on the sofas I have some multivits in but will get some more to give everyone a boost at this time of year
R - we've adapted back to the school routine - and then already had that upset by DS2 being home for 2 weeks due to c0vid cases in his year- thankfully he is back now. I suspect it's sadly going to be a feature of education this year, though.... his school did a brill job of home-learning this time around, though   My goals are exercise 4x/ week, average of 10k steps/ day, lose min 5lbs over the month
D - only debt is BTL mtge which will be fully repaid in next few months, as we've agreed a sale, so aren't overpaying it now. Savings are growing nicely but most after the EF are assigned to house projects or a future holiday - but it is nice to have them building up for these things so we won't need any debt to do them. CCs are paid in full each month (DH's is large this month due to car stuff - but we have a 'pot' for that where we save monthly)
B - budgets - most bills are either paid monthly or money set aside monthly to pay for them annually (eg; house insurance) Food spends have grown massively this year - partly because I shop around less (takes so long nowadays!) and partly because prices have risen quite a lot, I've found - and also because we are having some 'nicer' items (eg: I probably buy 3 or 4 packs of tenderstem broccoli a week - I'm not fussed on 'regular' broccoli but will happily eat this stuff most days ) - gotta be better for us than consuming more sweet treats and alcohol, though
U - gratitudes - health, money to get some necessary works done (if we can find someone willing and able!), a house with space for us all, choices of food in the cupboards/ fridge/ freezer (not an option when I was little - we literally had enough to last from Friday to Friday (payday) and if something ran out you went without)
N - I have a large bag of items to go to school for second hand shop and 3 bags to go to CS this month - so far. Also some items for foodbank and animal shelter. I've also got some things to try selling which the kids will get the money for. Any unsold things will get donated to an applicable place.
D-  will update my spreadsheet this weekend and do some more prep this month. 

abundant1972

Good morning!

I am definitely enjoying this Autumn weather and my walks in the evening. Yesterday was not an NSD, and today won't be either as doing my main shop. Hope to clock another one up tomorrow. 

Re-organised a few courses (shelved them) and feel tonnes better for doing that... More focussed and in control again, and less overwhelmed. I have made a start on tackling some of the work stuff that has been stressing me out and that felt good also. 

Have a great day everyone x

lcc86

Morning Turtles

One NSD here so far, today may be another. My friend is working nearby and says she wants to meet for coffee but she says this a lot and then cancels last minute so I'm not too fussed about what happens. 

Today will mostly be chores around the house, I'd like to do some reading and maybe watch a film. I'll probably go for a walk in the rain at some point as I weirdly enjoy it  and I need to batch cook some lentil and coconut soup which I'll probably start now. Absolutely love the smell of it so feeling hungry already!

mothernerd

October inspiration
    You're one human, trying your very best, through one of life's many challenges
     Stop thinking ten steps ahead because there are still 9 opportunities for things to get better on the way there
     Remember that all feelings and situations pass in time
     Choose one non-negotiable act of self-care every day

Toni'sfriend

Managed a NSD yesterday. That’s probably one more than I was expecting to achieve for the whole month.

Had a long FaceTime chat with the Boy. I worry about him not being able to see anyone but he seems fine. Keeping in touch with his friends online.

Halfway through my new book. Really enjoying it.

I’ve been to the butcher and bought a huge chicken for tomorrow’s dinner and probably enough leftovers to make food for the rest of the week. Weather is shocking so think I’ll be staying in for the rest of the day.

f0xh0les

Rain has stopped my planned outing to steal apples.  It rained heavily and loudly all night, all morning, and still has not stopped once.

So I am trawling the threads (is that being unfaithful mothernerd?) looking for inspiration and money saving ideas, and drinking tea and being glad I do not have to be outside.  Imagine being a postman on days like this! 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for the weather not being as awful as the forecast, for my 2 mins of fame on my sch virtual open day going well, for dd enjoying dance again, for the f+v people, for a colleague giving a great suggestion for finding jamas for mum, for tennis in the background.

DrCarrie

Just checking in with a spend day; to make an office in my hall. Desk and lamp.
However, budgets done, pots all fed, and £1060 (5%) off debt paid. 

facethemusic

Saturday- still NSD 2/15, working all weekend so been soaked numerous times. The amount of rain we have had today is crazy and it's still on. Have dismantled another piece of furniture and packed another box in between work trips so all going to plan so far. 

Kerry_Woman

NSD achieved today. Have managed to use up 2 items.  Also threw out 2 things from the kitchen that will need replacing this month. Will try and get the replacements in the next few weeks.
Grateful for:
Starting to read another book - already on my bookshelf.
Seeing the planet documentary at cinema this evening. Ticket was prebooked on 1st October.  Brought my own refreshments.  
Missing item of my order was delivered.
Doing tiny bit of cross stitch kit.
Chilled out for most of the day.