NST: January 2021 – the Turtles do the Jitterbug

DawnW

Afternoon all

Just popping in to claim NSD 1.  Managed a decent walk with OH and the dog this morning, managed to dodge the most icy bits on the pavements.  Seems to be raining now.

Had a baking session this morning, made parmesan scones and fruit scones, plus a lemon drizzle cake to use up an elderly lurking lemon. Most of the scones have now been frozen. Most of the Christmas food is now gone - we didn't buy much in any case. I have some cheese left (which will be used, no waste here), and there is a turkey crown in the freezer which we didn't use, but is fine where it is, and will come in handy in the future.

Grateful for a nice walk this morning - glad we went when we did!

ldee2111

NSD: 1/15 and continuing with my personal goal of drinking 1500ml a day. I’ll also be aiming to get in those 3 exercise sessions a week. 

Being thrifty has never been more important to us now that we’re on one wage. Most of our budget is fixed expenses, but the areas we can still save on are groceries, transport, and fun money. 

With groceries, I will continue with our meal planning, making food go further by measuring out ingredients rather than pouring unconsciously (cereal, oil, etc), and controlling portion sizes. I’ll keep searching for best prices, and bulk buying discounted items - deodorant, shampoo, etc. Even though our weekly budget is £80, I’ll be trying to keep our weekly shop to £50 with £20 leftover for top ups. If I manage to underspend I’ll put those savings to mortgage overpayments.

I’m going to try out some extra thrifty ways this month - old school tricks that would make my gran proud - dilute the fruit juice, dilute the laundry detergent, cut the exact amount of baking parchment I need instead of tearing off a whole sheet for a sausage roll, that kind of thing. Some things may not be worth it but I’ll enjoy trying them out anyway. I’ll have a search online for more ideas. And maybe some NSTs have their own suggestions?

One of the thriftiest utensils I have in my kitchen that I would highly recommend to fellow NSTs is a jar scraper! It let’s me get every last scrape of spread from jars, every drop of sauce from pots, every sweet bit of cake mix from bowls, and every last spoonful from a tub of yoghurt. 

Today I picked up some groceries for our elderly neighbours who can’t get out the house due to the icy pavements. I also superglued the sole of my old trainers today to try and get a little more wear from them, although I do have a lovely shiny new pair I bought in the sales sitting in a box. 

Grateful for a relatively relaxed day today, thinking time, time with DS and OH.

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 2

Today's adventure was tidying out the larder to accommodate the baking ingredients which are arriving tomorrow. And it was an adventure I can tell you! I promptly cancelled all the items on the Tesco order that Himself told me we had run out of when we hadn't. I'm going to have to be very inventive with the meal planning to use up the amount of tins, jars, cereal, etc, etc, etc that I found. He has now been warned never, ever to tell me we need anything ever again. I'll start on the other cupboards tomorrow. God knows what he's got squirreled away in them.

I've avoided the alcohol and chocolate today. Pleased with myself about that.

Freezing here and very icy so I have only ventured as far as the bin and I had to defrost that to get the lid open. Even Mr Peanuts hasn't ventured down to get his food.

Does anyone else have a son who sleeps all day at weekends, never answers his phone and worries you half to death because you imagine something has happened to him? My fault for getting stressed, I suppose. Any tips on how not to get stressed would be appreciated.

grassgirl

NSD2 checking in.
have just finished my first go at Bendy Kate’s advanced stretching for 20-30 minutes.
Blissfully worn out now! Water water water! 

Partner is taking me out for a walk, I freaked out a bit earlier as a few too many people, but take 2 on the way after I’ve got my waterproof trainers on

facethemusic

Saturday- NSD 2/15. 
I have read through the "rules" for the month and have a summary of my plans. 
Thriftiness- January will be super thrifty- I aim to buy no clothes. Cleaning products and toiletries supplies are fine, so nothing new unless I start the last bottle on the shelf. I want to run down the freezer supplies so food buys should be slightly reduced as well. 
Time- spend time with DD- if we are home schooling I will make an effort to separate school time and home/fun time. 
Exercise- always manage lots of walking and my other main exercise is riding, but at this time of year that is very much reduced so I will aim to add in some exercise sessions at home. 
Budgets- all set, I have plans for any unspent money in the day to day budget so hopefully I can reduce what I buy to have some leftover money at the end of the month. 
Unburden- 1) declutter the house, 2) leave work stress at work! 
Gratitudes- I will think of things I am grateful for daily, even if I don't record them here. 
Good luck turtles. 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a morning walk with dd, for a crafternoon with big sis + friends, for practising with Teams in prep for the next few weeks, for munching plenty of veg, for de-tinselling the house.

DrCarrie

Turtles, how are we all? 
I am isolating, I don't think I have the virus, but I am  not well, and niether is my Darling GF, we were togther for christmas...but now we are both sick. No NSD's yet this month, lets hope for tomorrow. No actual reason why not, I got groceries from deliveroo....shocking isn't it. But I needed basics, and am not allowed to go out. So. That is what i did. 

 I need to write my assignemnt - well at least do some more on it. Due in on the 12th but what with working fultime, easier said than done. 

Grateful for 
- delivery people
- my new crockpot that I got for Christmas
- Flowers in the post from my DD. 

abundant1972

Good evening 🌟

First up here is my year plan:

Janus: Looking back - on last year, I think I took on too much and tried to be too many things to too many people. I was also too results-focused in my personal endeavours. Looking to 2021 - I am going to reign in my resources. Mum and Dad I want to have input into - but am drawing a very clear boundary between work and home-life. I won't be taking work home with me. I am also going to be setting very clear boundaries in work. Last year - unrealistic expectations resulted in me burning out. I will be more vocal. In my personal objectives - I will try and focus on the enjoying the journey/process, and trust results will follow. 

Ideas: I (like a few others on here) want to re-ignite my creative spark. I know it is in there somewhere. It has been swamped for too long by duty and work commitments. No more!!!

Thriftiness: A big one for me this year. I want to embrace once more the frugal mindset. Use up what I have in. Don't waste food. Don't buy anymore books until I have read the 20 or so I bought in 2020!!! 

Time: Spot on. This may be the last year I have with Mum whilst she remembers me so I am going to make the most of it, and enjoy being with my family. I am my first priority - I need to stay well. They will be my next priority, with work right down there. I am grateful for my job - but they will get exactly the hours they pay me for and no more, no less. 

Extras: I really hate when the gyms close because for me that is what gets me out there, and keeps me motivated. I have home work-out equipment but it's not the same. That said - I am aiming for 7.5K steps a day - and 2 days in and I'm on track (actually last week too!). I'll incorporate home work outs as best I can, but I think it needs to be fun. Maybe dancing is the way forward!!! 

Re-visit: My budgets are being re-examined, and I am still using YNAB to help me budget. I am putting aside money for future expenses (e.g. car repairs, subscriptions, dental care etc) as well as for an emergency fund - aiming for £1000 initially. I was saving for a holiday - but think I will re-invest that into debt busting. I'm very happy at home on my days/weeks off, and no desire to travel just yet. 

Be yourself: Who am I? This is one of my big asks this year. I have forgotten who I am. I know who I used to be as a kid... then somehow life became all work and family these last 3 years. Creativity is missing, and needs to be explored!!! 

Unburden: I am putting closure on last year, and on circumstances and people that are no good for me. I really must try and focus on the positive rather than be dragged down by the negative... 

Gratitude: I read it everywhere - this is the route to a happier life. So - I have bought a gratitude journal and will be doing it as part of my evening routine, when I review my day... and when I remember throughout the day. I have so much to be thankful for - I just need to really bring this into my awareness, and vocalise it. 

As for this month... Aiming for 15 NSDs, a daily walk, mindfulness session, daily gratitude's and 7-8 hours sleep.  

Night for now x

Lauralozzle

Today was a spend day, we went for a food shop, and I've ordered a menu planner to stick to the fridge and a new diary. I am really pleased with that I've achieved today though, managed 19,000 steps today, went for a 4 mile run, made a start on cleaning the bathroom. I'm grateful to DH for making dinner tonight.

greent

Productive day - all Xmas lights and decorations down and put away in garage loft. DH fitted new lights in dining room. Lovely dinner using things up.  Some paperwork sorted. 

Small spend by DH re new lights. 

Thankful for DH fitting  the lights, tasty food getting Xmas boxed back up, my robovac for getting rid of all the bits over the floors