NST July 2022: A Turtle Triathlon

greent

That's great to hear Thrifty - really pleased for you all! 🙂  x

Toni'sfriend

That's terrific news, Thrifty.

Welcome, abouttme

And thank you all so much for the encouragement. I really do feel that I'm achieving something now. And the best news is that as I have given up drinking, Himself has too. Well, in his case at least till we go on holiday in September but that's better than nothing. Costing a fortune in buying chocolate biscuits for him, though.

Speaking of holidays I had to pay for ours yesterday so it was very spendy. But we had started a few months ago putting a bit extra away in a special account to cover it and all the money was there so no need to take it out of the savings for our big (hopefully) holiday next January. Need to keep on the account going to pay for our annual holiday in the Lake District in December.

We went for a walk through the park yesterday by a different route. I thought it was quite short but my tracker tells me it was two and a half miles. Longer one today, hopefully.

So, I'm going to finish this coffee and get going.

Have a good day.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

morning turtles

well done on weightloss @Toni'sfriend & that's brilliant news Thrifty !

My parents were here all week which was lovely, don't see them often as they live 100s of miles away.  On Thursday I took the afternoon off and we went for a walk, just somewhere local that i hadn't been to for years but it was a really pleasant 45 minute walk round a lake; then my dad took us out for a meal.  

On Friday i went to my self employment job, followed by a free lunch at a hotel which was yummy and I resisted the cakes for pudding and had fruit.  In the afternoon I went to the library, zero waste shop, cheap shop for loo rolls and then took a bootful of stuff to the tip/recycling.  Garden now looks much tidier but there is no colour so i'm going to get some plants today.  Went to bed really early last night as i had a headache.  Been awake since 6am just pottering

Haven't had any NSDs, mostly very small spends but should be better next week.

Have made some additional donations to charity (have a few SOs already) - bought a cake at work as someone had arranged a charity cake sale so paid £2; also dropped off a small jam jar of 5ps to the local hospice CS - each jar = £2. 

Hope everyone has a good day
Love Deni

BadBookkeeper

Morning turtles, hope the sun is shining where you are 😎.

Excellent news on the payout Thirfty.

Didn’t get chance to post yesterday as we are away for a weekend.  Here’s yesterday’s update:

- Didn’t spend anything.  DH paid for drinks in the bar and DS used his own money (£3) for 2p slotters & a game of pool.

- Didn’t waste anything, used fuel to commute and hardly touched my phone only to take photos. 

- Not too stressy today, work went well, well organised for trip away and accommodation exceeded our expectations.  It’s a static caravan with a hot tub.  It’s on a site we visit regularly but there’s no pitches for the campervan so we cheated!!  Sound of the waves at sunset takes any stresses away. DH really needed this break to recharge.  Hasn’t been alcohol free so still 6/31.

- Being by the sea makes me smile with my favourite people 

- Budgets are as they were.  I have a £60 budget for the weekend with an extra £20 allowed for a takeaway if needed. Although I could do with using this on Monday for a birthday lunch for DH.

- We brought our own food & drinks so will keep costs down.  Except for a few drinks at the bar & ice cream. 

- Forgot to bring shower gel so will use DHs there’s a saving on mine ha ha!

- NSD 7/16 achieved but doubt the next few days will be.

- School Uniform can be decluttered on Tuesday once washed I will update declutter items then but should be 19/31 

abundant1972

Good afternoon 🌞

I hope everyone is doing ok. So sorry <again> for my absenteeism. I've had a bit of a roller-coaster few weeks. I've been really trying to get my life together... Having therapy... came off all my dating apps as they just weren't healthy... started socialising in an effort to grow some normal relationships/friendships as opposed to hook ups... started dancing... eating better... BUT... I think part of me is rebelling/not facing up to something because I went off the rails big time clubbing/spending money I don't have. Clearly compensating for something. Sigh. One step forward - ten steps back. Facing ones demons isn't as easy as I thought it would be. 

Today (after a nights clubbing again and a hotel!) I got home and thought what am I doing? I haven't been tracking spends and have just been irresponsible. So my adult-self stepped in and made me sit down and work out the damage. Every penny. Nearly £2K in a month. So my debt now stands at £9600 <feel very ashamed of myself> and my DFD has been pushed back to August 2026 @ £200 per month. I have just cut up the credit cards and re-worked my budget for August. 

I did buy some clothes (haven't bought any in ages) but the majority of spending has been on alcohol/clubbing... I get drunk then start buying people drinks... that's not the way to try and make friends - 'paying' people to 'like me'. So back to therapy next week to start unpicking what's underneath it all. I've removed several vices <hook-up apps and comfort eating> only to replace them with partying and alcohol. I'll get there... I sent some clothes back - and well, the rest I'll have to put down to collateral damage.

However - I'm alive. I'm actually in the best shape I've been in for ages... and despite all the above my mental health/sanity is pretty good. I just have to try and develop my social life without any crutches like drinking. So that's me folks - I've come clean and pushed the big red reset button. 

Today I am grateful for:

1) Meditation in the park which brought me back to Earth with a bump
2) My dance classes
3) Having here to come back and anchor myself to

Today = NSD number 7 (I think!) 

I will really try my best to be positive and stay on track from here on!!! 🤞🏻

Have a lovely afternoon everyone xxx

f0xh0les

abundant1972 said:

Facing ones demons isn't as easy as I thought it would be. 
 Nearly £2K in a month.

I get drunk then start buying people drinks... that's not the way to try and make friends

I've removed several vices <hook-up apps and comfort eating> only to replace them with partying and alcohol.

and despite all the above my mental health/sanity is pretty good.

Sounds to me (in a total 'what does she know anyway' non-professional capacity) you need to find out what triggers this behaviour that makes you fall off the wagon.  It is not going to stop until you do. It might not even stop, but you will know why you are doing it, and will see it coming.  

You sound like you are preparing to dip into what sets you off.   Spending money is not a bad thing if you want to spend money, but you don't seem happy about putting 'future you's' debt free day back - so really you swap one form of self destructive (or at least minor sabotage) behaviour for another one.   At least that is what it sounds like to me.   What would you say to your best friend if they were doing this? Pretend you are not you for a minute and have a poke around in your head.  What would not you be saying to you?  Friends often see the whole picture while you are focused on one  part of the detail, so be your own best friend and see what you can work out....  just as an exercise... or not,  whatever you fancy.  
You are a turtle and turtles have each other's backs, or shells, or something-like-that, ((((hugs)))))

firsview

Evening Turtles. I am so pleased for you Thrifty, that is so exciting! Hugs abundant, you will get there in the end!
Small spend on tea and ice cream when on our Saturday walk along the seafront. Loads of people in the sea, still a bit cold for me though.
Today I am grateful for a bit of a breeze by the sea, finding a dress in my wardrobe that I forgot about and wearing it and only putting on 2lb when weighing in this morning (from my holiday)

beanielou

So pleased for you @Thrifty_Taylor

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hugs abundant

Failed in my attempt to go on my bike this morning due to a broken garage door so I couldn't access my bike    Spent an hour sorting the garage (it will take many hours/days to sort but it's a start).  
Went to town for a birthday present but couldn't find anything so drove to nearby town for the craftyhobby shop and then the swedish emporium.  Bought the present, also bought myself a counted cross stitch kit to give me some me time & then bought some storage tubs/jars, lots of elderflower cordial and a couple of other things in the swedish shop.

Too hot to cook so had cheese on toast for tea.

Grateful that DD1 has coped with her MH challenges today, DD2 is happy and I'm lying down in a cool bedroom 

love to all 
Deni  

f0xh0les

Great news Thrifty! Really pleased for you all.

Had a very spendy few days away working, but it will all be paid for by expenses, plus a bit more on top.  It was also quite boozy. Lovely lovely change from the normal tbh.  Could cope with that once a month.  Did get a few people hitting me up about more work... will see if it comes to anything.

Missed you guys! but was reading along at the end of the day.