NST May MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM

apple_muncher

tiredwithtwins, hello! NST = Ninja Saving Turtles. Mothernerd will no doubt come along and tell you why- there are links to her explanations but I can't do them on my tablet. All will soon be revealed...

mothernerd

Hope this helps
http://smileys.emoticonsonly.com/emoticons/t/turtle-28.gif There was a kingdom of tall towers where the financiers lived. They lured wild turtles with gifts of loans and magic cards, making pets of them. When the hard times came the financiers cast off their pets and the turtles fell into the sewers, awash on a tide of debt.

A wise and beautiful Kat rescued the turtles and taught them her ninja ways. Month by month, in a firm but kindly manner, she taught the turtles to exercise their bodies till they could negotiate the sewer, to use their will to resist the temptations of the kingdom, to plan and prepare, save their pennies and to give to those less fortunate.

One day the wise Kat gathered the turtles to tell them she must leave them. She was to go on a quest to the Eastern lands. She had saved all her money (and a little honey) and sought new adventures and learning (and perhaps an owl to be her future companion).

At first the turtles were afraid but wise and beautiful Kat reminded them of the lessons she had taught them (Always pay your debt first). They could now keep afloat on the sewer water and could help each other, and those who joined them along the way, to swim through to the tide of freedom and the beach of tranquility known as debt free day.

So the brave little turtles set out, swimming against the tide of consumerism and became the
NINJA SAVING TURTLES



Kat (who originally ran the challenges) was Ninja Saving Kat. We decided we would try to carry on by ourselves, when she went travelling. We had to have a new name and after some discussion we arrived at Ninja Saving Turtles. Kat asked that certain things be included in each challenge

• Kat Essentials
• Set your DFD (Debt Free Day)
• You will pay towards your debt FIRST and live on what’s left. Choose the amount now.
• Set all budgets before the start of the month, think ahead for any birthdays, outings etc.
• and that a random rule be included each month

Many other elements of the challenges also originated with Kat - SFD/ NSD (spend free days), not using cafes, restaurants, coffee chains, making meals from scratch, bringing your own lunch to work, healthy eating and exercise, thinking about people who were worse off and donating (set amount or a %age of your income). 

Some have evolved - taking your own food and drink to hospital appointments as some of us spend more of our time there than at paid work (I might have suggested a %age of your income as a donation as £10 to me is a lot more than £10 to some turtles although  Kat would include reducing the previous month's budget by a set amount or a percentage.

If you try to reduce your budget by 50% you will fail, but if you set a realistic budget  you can gradually squeeze/ shave a bit off as you get more experienced (atm we might have to think about increasing food and energy budgets/ DD).

We've also taken everything Kat did to get out of debt and then save enough to go travelling and applied it to a more holistic approach to our whole lives - we want to live well. Different people setting the challenges bring a host of different flavours (abundant took us all on a winter cruise one February - where are you hiding abundant, sending hugs.) 

Kat did everything she asked other people to do (and more) and would ask questions about mistakes, missteps and 'failures' and suggest improvements. apple's challenges are more physical than mine (she was also following Kat's regime for much longer).

I'm not going to tell people to exercise for an hour 5 times a week, because I can't do that. When I first started joining in as opposed to reading along, I was doing up a house to sell and preparing to return to my original small house. 

More later, I need to be on a bus in less than an hour.



 Happy World Turtle Day

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Morning all

Had a small spend yesterday as I went to a concert with my friend - she drove so i bought drinks.  Concert was amazing!  Also did some of my PT work.  Went for a long walk with DD1's bestie then had tea and homemade biscuits - hopefully the 12k steps offset the sugar .... Neighbour mowed lawns.
Woke up early today so did a bit of PT work then logged onto day job.  Got washing on the line.  Just booked car into the garage as one of my tyres keeps deflating, hoping i don't need a new tyre as tyere is only a few months old

Hope everyone has a good day

love Deni x

Toni'sfriend

I remember Abundant's winter cruise. That was fun. Wish I had an imagination like that.

Money - Yesterday was NSD No 11. The TV isn't available at the moment but the Boy is checking every day till it comes back on and he'll order it for me. He's also looking for a deal on a suitable tablet. I've told him how much I'm willing to spend and he says he can find what I want. He also has an old phone which might suit Himself. It needs a new battery but that would be cheaper than buying another phone.

Home - Disposed of some plants which hadn't survived the winter. I had been holding on to them in the hope that with a little TLC they might revive but sadly that was never going to happen. Never mind it's given my a little more room to plant something else. 

Me - I've developed a little red patch of skin between my eyelid and nose. It's quite itchy and painful if touched. I think it might be something to do with my glasses. I'm using medicinal eye wipes on it so hopefully that will clear it up as it's virtually impossible to get an appointment (virtual or otherwise) with our doctors just now. If anybody has any ideas I'd be really grateful to hear them.

So, I'm a bit late in getting started this morning but I have quite a lot I want to do so I'll be getting on. Have a good day. 

DawnW

@Toni'sfriend might it be an idea to check with your optician if you think your glasses are causing problems? I sympathise re the difficulty getting doctor's appointments. Similar in my area. Not sure what is going on.

wishus

@Deni_debt-free_dreamer - I wonder if you went to see the same bands as me - they were doing multiple days! ;P

I'm on my tod tonight as OH is sorting more funeral stuff, so I'm going to have a nice veggie night - mac and cheese with greens!

Had a lovely weekend. The new car is smashing. Took it to my bro's to show off and I marinaded some Bang Bang chicken thighs as my contribution to the BBQ. Had great fun being challenged by my 6-year-old nephew to do burpees and mountain climbers, and then he was dragging me on to the trampoline! The cheeky scamp kept tapping my Fitbit like I had been to see if I was burning fat... er yes I was!
So I feel a bit fitter than I am, which is probably the wrong way round. Another round of dentists tomorrow, then eventually more blood tests.
Tonight I will be reading through a pile of Good Food magazines that I have been gifted by my sister in law. Foody inspiration!

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

wishus said:

@Deni_debt-free_dreamer - I wonder if you went to see the same bands as me - they were doing multiple days! ;P

oooh - don't think so - i'm in the NW of england?
I love live music!

firsview

Evening Turtles. Wishus, eek to the trampoline, I went on the childrens years ago and I felt most unstable and everything was wobbling, never again!
NSD here today, probably as my budget has run out for the month. However I still have £100 in the bank and I get paid on Thursday and Friday, so not too shabby. 

A bit limited today for activity as it was chucking it down and I am a fair weather walker I am afraid. I did make a cake, clean the kitchen and make a start on my Dads Attendance Allowance claim though.
Today I am grateful for not getting wet as I can park right outside today’s customers houses, the Attendance Allowance form being quite straightforward and still having money left so late in the month.

mothernerd

Caught the first bus to the infirmary with 2 drinks and my sandwich (fasting for 10 hours) and the library book I'm reading. Went up to my doctor's surgery first and got a replacement bag and a form for the urine sample (it was safely contained but the bag was a bit fragile), then went for my blood tests and put the sample in the collection box. Sat outside eating my sandwich (the bus was at the stop when I came out but didn't see any point in rushing). 

Got off at the bus station - had come up with a list of things I want/ need and decided to see what I could get in local shops. Bought clothes - 3 dresses (same style as I had previously but these are only knee length -may try using part of the starting to get tatty and holey ones to make them full length), 2 new pairs of leggings, 1 black, 1 navy (had to hunt for them, most of the ones online are cropped and it's not a look I'm comfortable with), 2 nighties (1 lightweight cotton for when it's hot and a thick warm cotton for next winter - the 2 I've nearly worn our are both short sleeved and I've had to sleep in a sweatshirt or jumper sometimes), 2 swimsuits (gave my old ones away but may try this hydrotherapy pool). I do miss the cs that had lots of good stuff in my size.

Looked in Clark's shoe shop - lovely pair of turquoise pumps (elasticated fabric) but they were £80!!!!, nothing else at all suitable (not allowed heels or sandals, can't cope with pointy or narrow toes or those ones with only a tiny front piece so you end up flexing your big toe all the time to stop them pinging off into the distance.

Tried the cheap shop and have 2 lovely pairs of winter boots (reduced) pull-ons with a fake fur lining. Tried various Chelsea boots but they either had pointy toes or none in my size. Tried a pair of very plain black lace ups but noticed it digging into my Achilles tendon so the third pair are black pumps (plimsoles) in a patterned fabric. Posted my 2 letters. Had a quick foray into a cs but too many people, not enough space. 

New to me stand that did men's and women's hair, the customers were 'ladies of a certain age' and I liked what they did. Had to wait 5 minutes but they could fit me in next. So I'm a lot tidier - looks really good. Mum's hairdresser always did it a bit too 'rotary club' and doing it myself is taking a lot out of me - having to do it a bit at a time (4 or 5 attempts). I then had my eyebrows, upper and lower lip, chin and neck threaded (again something that's difficult for me to stay on top of and becoming increasingly tedious). Went home for a late lunch and to rest my aching feet.
 
Decided getting to Mc and back would be too much but thought a quick trip to Bolton might be okay - new bus station is much nearer to the shopping precinct and a couple of places were just in a straightish line  (in Mc the shops I wanted were spread out).

Bookshop didn't have the particular item I wanted but I did spend about £30 - some books by favourite authors, half price or special charity editions, 2 notebooks very much reduced and a £2 map and guide for Edinburgh (mentally committing to a long anticipated return visit). Depressing to see all the abandoned shops - HMV, Game, BHS and more, all still empty. Went in M & S but decided I didn't need more food and was too tired to go to the other floors (still plan to go to MC sometime so may look then) so walked straight through to the end near the bus station only to find those doors are not in use any more so at in my walker for 5 minutes then sat on a bench and had one of my drinks outside. Resisted Waterstones and had not bought sets of cardboard drawers in earlier shop (sale prices). 

Walked back to the bus station, bus service very frequent and got in just after 6 pm. My feet hurt and I'm tired and may not be able to move tomorrow but feel good and don't feel guilty or regret spending money. I've a long hard look at my wardrobe and most of my clothes are 'shabby' (some aren't even 'respectable'). I've been hanging on until I lose more weight but have got to the stage where it's difficult to find things to wear (have worn both pairs of 'winter' joggers in the past week). Shoe situation has been at 'crisis' stage for months - was wearing my mountain climbing trainers nearly all the time and shoving my wellies on at others. Bought the 'monkey boots' as a fill-in a few weeks ago but have since got paint on them. Nothing was wildly expensive - i spent less than £40 on shoes and socks (needed to buy socks to try on shoes).

I think there's been a lot missing from my life for several years. I made a loss on selling the big house. I did have the money to do urgent repairs on my original house (DS2 had been renting it from me) but most of that was necessary but not at all glamorous. I've had many years of barely making ends meet and had a lot of health challenges. I was using food as a substitute for the things that were absent from my life.

I need to sleep, I'll give gratitudes tomorrow - definitely buttercups and daisies and thanks for a lovely day, new hair, a clear face, feeling good.

  

beanielou

Happy new hair mothernerd.
Glad that you are feeling good 
Long may that continue.