NST April 2022: April opportunities

32b3in2013

First check-in of the month for me,  so here are my commitments.

- Apply yourself to yourself. Look after YOU first. What do you need? Alone time? Meditation? Exercise? Healthy food? To be with people you love? To be challenged? Moisturiser? 

I really want to take up yoga,  but I hate being bare footed! so I am going to email the yoga centre to see if I can wear yoga socks.  If I can,  I will sign up for a beginners course.  The course costs about £50 for 5 lessons, but after doing it it hope to have the basics so I can follow you tube videos.

- Avoid unnecessary spends. Consider everything. Also avoid expensive coffee shops, vending machines, corner shops (unless this prevents a supermarket visit with its myriad of temptation)

I am back in the office two days a week and have been taking lunch in with me.  I still buy breakfast on my way, but it’s really a toss up between getting dressed and eating, so I am making the best choice for my colleagues 😂

- Pay to debt/savings first and live off the rest. And keep track of what you are spending. Especially if you are affected by the school holidays – 2 weeks of them this month.

All done,  mostly by direct debit, but any other bills I pay on payday. I have regular direct debits to a few different savings accounts.

- Plan ahead: look first at April and at what you are expecting from the month and how it affects your budget. Birthdays/ outings/ Easter/ school holidays/ bills/ new clothes or footwear/ travel…. Then look at the summer months. Then stretch it out to that celebration in December – can you pare this back and create some new traditions like no-present pacts? Or at least be sure that you are saving up for it.

Two birthdays and two short breaks planned for April.  1st  birthday was celebrated yesterday, and I didn’t spend any more than planned,  other birthday is Easter Saturday and I have ear-marked a present from my gift box for that one, so no additional spend.  The two breaks are both in airBnB so we can eat in sometimes, I need to book a train ticket back from the 1st one, but getting a lift there, and a friend is driving to and back from the second break.

- Prepare for next winter. Rising fuel prices are hitting us all and impacting every aspect of our lives. How can you live in a more energy-efficient way? What changes do you need to make to your house in time for next winter?

I will have a think about this one.

- Remember those who are struggling, who are worse off than you. You might be too stretched yourself to give time, money or donations. But kindness is free to spread around liberally.

Friday was the first day of the new project 333 season, so I have a bag of things to take to the charity shop.  I also usually buy a pre-packed food bank bag when in Morrisons so will carry on doing that this month when I go in there.

- Report in every day. The daily support from this thread will keep you on track

I have already failed in this,  but I will do better 

Identify the things you do well and celebrate them.

- Invest in yourself, your family, your home - the things that really matter to you.

Hopefully I will/3 able to do the yoga course 🤞🏻

-income vs outgoings. Finances are why we are on this thread. Whatever our circumstances financially, there are always tweaks to be made. Budget every penny for the month ahead and write down every single spend to see how well you keep to your plan

I have my budget and I don’t need to buy anything.  I have a spreadsheet on my phone which I use to track my spending and I have a visual tool on year in pixels, which I use to track NSDs

- Lose one bad habit.

I have bitten my nails since I have had teeth so not sure how easy it would be to stop, but I will try - again….

- Live the sort of life you want to have. Maybe it’s my age, but I’m harking after being a surfer dude. Strong, relaxed, balanced, contented, supple, chilled, enjoying life, fulfilled and not worrying about my hair! (I don’t surf, can’t see too well without my glasses, live nowhere near the sea…but I still want it!)

I am pretty happy with my life,  but there is always room for improvement.  I am currently on secondment to a job that I quite fancied having a go at,  it is nowhere near as exciting as I thought it would be, but I will stick with it for another few mi the as see how it goes.  I can go back to the dept I came from, so I don’t have to stay where I am,  but I will see how I feel.

Important info:

The challenge runs for the whole of April.

- NSDs = 16 (No Spend Days) If you have purchases that are all "yellow sticker" purchases then this is classed as an NSD. (Medical needs are exempt - can't have you all keeling over now can we. And travel expenses – don’t want you stranded.)

1/16 so far this month

- Gratitudes = 3 each day please

Todays gratitudes
Enough clothes to not need to go shopping until July! 

Only two weeks to go before I go my most favourite place in the world
a light hoover!

Calling14

Can I join the turtle gang please apple, got left adrift last month. 

Need to get my act together, although my savings look healthy, my car is getting very old and I need my house repointing which isn't cheap. 

NSD 2/16
Saturday gave into grandkids in zoo and bought ice creams. 

My Bad Habit I need to stop wasting time scrolling on social media and do exercise instead. My back is killing me lately. Booked a massage on Thursday.

New job isn't that exciting but 3 days a week is lovely. Bit naffed that I have to do a training course tomorrow at end of the day which will run into my own time. 

Grateful for
Spending today cleaning the house feel more relaxed now. 
Nice walk this morning tad chilly though. 
Finding a cream egg in cupboard 😋

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dc sleeping well, for having a printer, for a good book, for making a big salad for the next few days, for the garden plants spouting, for our comfy sofa.

Hey calling! Welcome back! I've added you.

Calling14

Thanks apple 😁

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi all

First NSD of the month for me
DDs made me an afternoon tea as a late mother's day celebration - was lovely.  We also had a relaxing walk by the canal.
DD2 managed to spill a whole bottle of milk and left a charger plugged in all afternoon but i'm ignoring those wastes of money ...
Then DD2 persuaded me to join her in going for a run!  Managed over 2.5k in bursts of run then walk but it was hard.  
Having a chilled eve before Monday arrives too quickly

Gratitudes - DDs making a lovely afternoon tea; DD2 for encouraging me during my run; spending time with DDs

love Deni 

DrCarrie

Evening Turtles, 

I hope you have all had a nice weekend. Low spend day today, just a coffee whilst I was out for a lovely day learning about some foraging, on a course with my stepmother. Really enjoyed it and it ended with a wild food light lunch.  Planning on making a wild greens pie. I was out in the fresh air for the longest I have been for a very long time, maybe October. 

Grateful for:
- Sunshine and learning 
- Seeing 2 amazing cockrels 
- making contact with quite a few people that I haven't for ages. 

BadBookkeeper

Evening turtles 

Had ds footy match this morning he played well & ended in a draw.

Did the ironing then into another ds activity of bowling!! Whilst he was there DH & I had a wander around the shops!  Had a spend in hb but everything was needed so hey ho.

Didn’t do anything off my declutter challenge today so plan to do 2 tomorrow. 

NSD still 1/16

grateful for
good footy match for ds
bacon buttys
all organised for week ahead

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello folks, 

I didn't book mark the thread, but have found you now! 

Tomorrow I am getting a food delivery and will spend some time cleaning and sorting stuff. Then I shall set my goals for April. 

sending love XX 

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#1

Wet & windy here. Had a lie in, haven't managed to for ages, my eyes tend to ping open at the usual time! Did my stretching exercises before breakfast.
Received a message to say no one went to collect the other doors asvertised, so me & hubby drove 10 miles each way to collect a wooden door & one with glass panels for our porch renovation. Washed the dishes, then finished my book whilst eating dinner. Completed a sewing job, & did the ironing whilst watching a dvd that I can now donate to CS.
Feeling really tired & got a slight headache & wobbly legs, so taken things easy today. Sorted through finances, putting money into sinking funds, & totalling last month's spends. Sad to see I'd overspent on the food budget by £14, but hoping I'll be under this month to compensate.

Grateful for free doors, hearing from my DS's about their trip & being cosy by the fire

ditty1234

Hi all I generally love the MSE website, but this:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/cheaper-fuel/
Not even a mention of - not drivint.
As in 'walk to the shops'
'Get on your bike'
Just had to mention that.
The positive one that is on there is hteride share app.

Happy Monday, it's 2 weeks of holiday for me, so I'll try and keep up a bit more.