NST April 2022: April opportunities

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello Can I sign up please XX 

BadBookkeeper

I’d like to join please 😊

DrCarrie

Hi Apple, incoming with determination. Had a very weird month. Please can you add me. x

greent

Count me in please! X

DawnW

Can you add me please?

ditty1234

Hi can I please join for April.

apple_muncher

Pinch, punch, first of the month.

And we're off!

Put on an extra layer turtles, and take care today x

DrCarrie

Morning all, setting out my stall for April.

Apply yourself to yourself. Look after YOU first. - I need a lot of things, work very much getting in the way, but hoping for a bit of shift here with new staff joining. I need some work-life balance, without exhausting myself in the process!

Avoid unnecessary spends. Consider everything. I have almost eradicated the use of corner shops, but need to be better at meal planning and shopping for that. 

Pay to debt/savings first and live off the rest. Debt and saving in their respective pots already. 

Plan ahead: No Birthdays to think about this month and have sinking funds for birthdays and ...December. But I am thinking of making some choocy truffles for Easter gifts. 

Prepare for next winter. Good shout Apple. - I need to get my smart meter working again, it keeps beeping when I turn it on, but really would like to monitor my usage of Gas and Electric. I am going to have a lookout for blankets in the charity shop that I can put at the living room window, and the front door, maybe also the kitchen. . And make a better insulated 'curtain door' for the living room and hall. 

Remember those who are struggling, I have some chocolate that was a gift...I am going to take it up to the food bank.

Report in every day. Really going to endeavor to do this. 

Identify the things you do well and celebrate them. - this is a really lovely one. 

Invest in yourself, your family, your home I am going back to therapy for a while, definitely an investment in myself.

Income vs outgoings. Constantly doing this...and will need to look at it again with the new Financial Year, I think there will be a reduction in my take-home pay. 

Lose one bad habit. - think smoking definitely counts for this. Giving up day is Good Friday. 

Live the sort of life you want to have. - this needs some serious thought, and realistic goals for the next couple of years. I can see the future but the here and now is a bit of struggling, not really having much joy or pleasure. 

Esmeralda2662

Here goes for April Opportunities!

Apply to look after yourself - Need a bedtime routine to help poor sleep. Would like to reduce work to 2 days a week as it's too much but need to work out finances to see if it's possible. Even losing a day every other week would be a start.

Avoid unnecessary spends - will do. May only buy a paper Mon/Thurs/Sat. Car boots have started so will buy there and charity shops where possible.

Pay debt/savings - Luckily no debt but eeking savings out and doing 3 day week until state pension in 7 years.

Plan ahead - 1 birthday in April, present already bought. Need new clothes & footwear as everything worn out. Holiday booked so need spending money. Would like more time away if possible. May need replacement car this year/next and have said I'll help DS get one for work if he contributes too.

Prepare for winter - Wood burner needs repair/replacing as it fell apart 2 years ago. Need a few draught excluders too.

Remember those struggling - Will support shoebox appeal, Sierra Leone school, food bank as and when I can.

Report in every day - Will do if I can.

Identify what I do well and celebrate - Will do.

Invest in what matters - Will do. Need to think about this.

Income v Outgoings - Budget sheet set up and listing every spend. Will check last year's to see if I can reduce on certain categories especially as things have gone up so much.

Lose one bad habit - Unfortunately have taken one up instead! If I can't give it up I will at least cut down.

Live the life you want - Want more time away and less work days but see how gas/elec increases affect me first. Want to clear some clutter as I'm getting smothered, can't find things and it plays on my mind. Family members find it annoying and i'm then in trouble so less clutter = less hassle.

16 NSD - Will try. Any will be good!

3 Gratitudes - Will do.

Here's to an April full of opportunities! 

BadBookkeeper

Here’s my plan for April:

Apply - Need to tidy myself up a bit! Lose weight & feel more like me.  Review my wardrobe and my personal maintenance!  Nails need tidying, eyebrows need shaping, clothes need a revamp!  House needs a declutter so printed off a 30 day challenge and will tick an item off each day.

Avoid - I can’t spend what I haven’t got. 

Pay - Debts all paid & pots replenished.  Budget made for April with everything I can think of!  Easter, birthdays, holidays, clubs etc all budgeted for.

Plan - As above.  I have £30 miscellaneous if there’s anything I’ve forgotten and will pay that to debt if still have it end of month.  I may even pay £10 if not used every 10th day.

Prepare - Trying the best I can here.  I do save for that day in December.

Remember others -  will donate to foodbank also will have a sort out of clothes for charity.

Report daily - will do

Identify things you do well - hmmm 🤔 nice idea but difficult.  I’ll be interested to see what others do for this

Invest - Family time I want more starting with tea around the table on week nights.

Income v outgoings- will tick off things each day, any differences in my favour will go to holiday pot or cc

Lose a habit - scrolling on social media can’t stop but will reduce

Live - In the future we would like a sited tourer to go to whenever we can.  Once I’m debt free this is what my aim is.  Until then we will use the campervan to find the ideal spot although I think I know where I’d like to be.

NSD - aiming for 16

Grateful for 3 things - will post this each day