NST February 15 for February

mothernerd · 27 January 2021 at 1:21AM

NST February

Fifteen for February
February is the tail end of winter but it can wrap its icy fingers around your heart and squeeze. Cold seeps into you bones, energy levels and resilience are on the wane and spirits are at a low ebb. The uncertainty and restrictions of the pandemic rule our lives. So what do we do?
The Ninja Savings Turtles gather together each month to reduce personal debt, save for a house deposit, paying off the mortgage or to follow our dreams (sometimes wearing capes and masks, some brave souls wear lycra and wave pompoms).
We believe in a holistic approach. We live within our means take care of our physical and mental health, celebrate our successes, commiserate when a turtle is struggling or when life hands them a double or triple whammy. As apple put it last month our goal is "Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived". So who wants to join us for the February challenge

FIFTEEN FOR FEBRUARY
Finances
1) FIX your budgets before the start of the month
2) FIND out your debt free date, if you don't already know it. Use this to calculate how much you should be paying off your debts/ saving towards your goals. Ideally this amount should be paid before anything else and you should live off the remainder (not always possible).
3) FIFTEEN NSDs (no spend days, when you don't buy anything in shops or online). Medical costs, putting petrol in your car/ topping up a travel card (using your travel budget) or purchases of ys goods only (yellow sticker) from the reduced shelves will not lose you a NSD. Greent has a milk exemption.

Food and Drink
4) FRESH vegetables are good for you, frozen is fine, tins are handy. Fill up with five a day or more. Check that you know what a portion is. Take a multivitamin supplement to support your immune system if you find this impossible.
5) FREE drinks are available from the faucet (posh word for tap) in your kitchen. Drink it as it comes, add bubbles, boil it and dunk things in it.
6) FAKEAWAYS not takeaways. Cooking from scratch can knock pounds off your budget (more for savings/ debt payments) and you know what you are putting into your body. Having a meal plan helps stop unnecessary spending and saves time. Bulk cooking saves time and energy. Shrove Tuesday (pancake day) is on the 16th. This is traditionally a time to use up all the rich ingredients before beginning the Lenten fast. It's mid month so have a good look in your cupboards and freezer and see how many meals you can make with what you already have. S-t-r-e-t-t-t-c-h your budget.

Fit For Life
7) FIFTEEN minutes of exercise a day. Make it fun. Something you can do, something that stretches you a bit. Make it suitable for your current level of fitness (chair based exercise or lying on the bed if you need to), 3 x 5 minutes if that is all you can manage. If you are already very active add activity in 15 minute increments (but build in the odd rest day). Keeping or improving your current level of mobility, flexibility and quality of life should be your only goals (I'll let apple be an honorary gladiator if that's what she wants).
8) FEELINGS matter. Mental health is as important as physical health (possibly more atm as the pandemic is taking its toll). There are lots of things you can do to support your mental health. GRATITUDE is one. Even the worst of days has some good moments and if we recall these at the end of the day it helps us focus on the positives. You can also reframe negative situations/ thoughts with positive ones. Positive aspects of the pandemic - I spent most of last year wearing clothes with holes in them (I did mend one dress when the biggest hole was showing an indecent amount of buttock). I can wear things out (some have gone to the shed for painting/ mucky jobs) and save my pennies for new clothes when I achieve some of my weight goals.
9) FOCUS on things that really matter. Family and friends. the joys of nature. Simple everyday things we take for granted - hot water, heating at the touch of a button, enough - that would seem like unimaginable luxury in many parts of the world.

Future Plans
10) FLIGHT OF FANCY. Imagine for a moment that there are no limits. What do you like and dislike about your current life? What do you really want? What is important to you? What are your deepest desires (no need to share them if you would rather keep them private)? NOW ask the What, Where, When, Why and How. What needs to change (probably you, it's always easiest to change yourself). What are you already doing to make these dreams a reality? What are you prepared to do? What sacrifice does it entail? Are you prepared to put the work in? Or do you hope it will turn up one day all wrapped up in a bow? Either fight and work towards your dreams or forget about them. If they are only idle dreams, let them go. Don't miss out on the joys of a simple 'ordinary' life wishing for something different. Don't be ashamed of not having grand plans or wanting great adventures - being content with what you have can be wonderful.
11) FUN and FIZZ (non-alcoholic). Forget the grand plans, for the moment. What can you do to improve your life, right now. Plan some fun activities (I can find a calendar of daft days) . Put on some music and dance (alone, with a partner, with Henry the hoover or your dog). Splash in puddles. Be silly. Work out a plan to get basic household tasks out of the way quickly, find ways of making them 'fun', do things differently, do them as a meditation. Do something for you every day.
12) FOOD BANKS and many other charities are struggling as demands increase and funds decrease. Do what you can. Give time, goods or money if you have it. Help individuals, help strangers, campaign for change. Doing things for others is good for your mental health (and takes your mind off your own problems

Filling in the Gaps
13) FIRST of February to the 28th. The challenge lasts throughout February. Check in daily, whenever possible and especially if you're struggling. No Turtle Gets Left Behind.
14) FREE yourself from the burden of too much stuff. Sell it, give it away, bin it if there's no alternative. Old ideas which no longer have a place in your life can be let go. Ditch toxic people (or reduce contact to a minimal level if they are just tiresome but need someone).
15) FIND the best price for everything but beware of false economies - fast fashion harms the planet and the people who produce the goods. Protect the planet and its people.

I have four mini challenges but as always participation is optional. I will post them weekly.

mothernerd · 27 January 2021 at 1:27AM

Reserved for Contenders
1 mothernerd
2 Buffythedebtslayer
3 Kerry_Woman
4 apple_muncher
5 shabbychic12
6 f0xh0les
7 BadBookkeeper
8 Toni'sfriend
9 Shrewbie
10 Thrifty_Taylor
11 greent
12 Idee2111
13 DrCarrie
14 ditty1234
15 Icc86
16 abundant
17 Calling14
18 facethemusic
19 misstara
20 Dorisd
21 DawnW
22 Porridgecat
23 Deni_debt_free_dreamer
24 Lauralozzle
25 mummyto3boys