NST August 2022: Lights, Camera, Action!

ldee2111

Happy August, turtles! 

Our budget is set for the month  including our trip to London to see the Bob Marley musical - a gift from OH last sprout day. 

I’ll go for 15 NSDs this month. Although we have London, I’ll be trying to underspend as much as possible on the trip and in general. Like @Toni’sfriend, I also need to renew my passport - unfortunately no discount codes for that one. 

I got a shock when I read my smart reader display last night as I went to bed. It showed energy usage for yesterday as £3.20 (and we were out half the day). I’d estimated our bill increase from this month would be around 55% so it added up. Our usual daily usage on the fixed rate was around £2 a day. It was just a surprise to see the big leap! I’ve turned off the screen (1) to save me from stressing (2) to save electricity used by the screen (3) to stop me banning boiling the kettle  

The mix of eating healthier food, walking daily (even if just short walks), and listening to interesting podcasts/audiobooks has been working well for me. I’ll keep that combination going for now as i feel a little less tired and have had far less heartburn/reflux. The weight is slooow in coming off (0.5 last week) but it’s at least going in the right direction. 

I really want to do a declutter and deep clean of the whole house. I will work out a plan for that because it’s a big job and it’ll take time. I’d like to have completed it by the end of this month.

Good luck, turtles xx

apple_muncher

The curtain is up! Lights! Camera! Action! is underway. Happy August, turtles!

abundant1972

Please sign me up Apple! August will be the month I get back on track!!! 

wishus

Good morning everyone!
It's my birthday month (yeah the whole month) which means a time of reflection, organization and renewal. I have a Benjamin Button attitude - I have yet to work out whether I should be getting younger again 😳 but I am definitely rejuvenating my organs if I can. Liver disease can go bye bye.

Budget got done yesterday... Of course, now OH who has joined me and some others in doing the same freelance work project has got talked into travelling a day earlier so I need to get another day's accommodation sorted for him. And he's also asked if we can book a skip for next month's house repairs. At least that's what the savings are for, hey? I've said I am not booking anything until we are sure the plasterer is definitely coming. 

Going to focus on 12 NSDs again. 

Right better get some of that sorted!

Thrifty_Taylor

Pinch punch first of the month!
Happy August everyone. Please count me in @apple_muncher (if #18 is free, that'd be fab 😉)

weenancyinAmerica

Idee - if you can deep clean and declutter your house in one month - it isn't that bad. It took me eight months to clean out one room - most of the way. Still a couple hours work left. Actual cleaning of the floor and the shelves didn't get done before friend of another roommate filled up the room. Trying to get the remaining stuff belonging to roommate Emily out of the room now.

Calling14

Hiya turtles. Can I sneak back In and ride the waves this month please apple. Enjoying having time off but need to start job hunting by September.  NSD will just try for 15 as seem to lack discipline atm. Working on decluttering the house one bedroom and garage left to do. Will do a charity shop run again tomorrow.
Budgets set
Hairdressers £60
Food £110 using up what I have
Petrol £60  as taking gkids here and there. Free places, picnics and odd ice cream.purchases
Going out £100  hoping to not spend that much as nothing planned this month but you never know.

Hope all the turtles are well x

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi turtles

Thanks apple for this challenge:

Lights!

Get outside - will aim for everyday; I like going for walks and it is good for my sore back. 

Make my own life lighter - I am focused on decluttering & this will continue

Light up mine and others lives - will be continuing to support DD1 with her MH struggles and keep DD2 calm while she powers through her dissertation.  Will need some 'me time' to cope with both of these things!  Have a few nice treats this month and some annual leave which i am counting down the days towards

Camera!

- Don’t be comparing yourself to what others put out there. Be true to yourself.

-how much time do you spend looking at a screen? Aim to reduce this.   

 I sometimes have FOMO so have deleted Fb from my phone which helps; I also put my phone out of reach when I'm working to reduce distraction

-look ahead at where you want to be and set some goals, or look back at ones from earlier this year. I'm really focused on overpaying my mortgage 

-start thinking about that day in December – can you cut back the spending and focus on a simpler day/period? DDs and I thought we would spend less on each other but have a family treat so i will discuss that with them 

Action!

-get moving! Be it yoga, belly down burpees - will stick with pilates and some weights, burpees make me dizzy! 

-be proactive about your health. Started eating better today

-take action on your debts/savings. No debt but hardly any savings.  Paid a big chunk towards mortgage last month.  Need to do self assessment so I know how much i owe.

-eat well to fuel the body you want. Can you batch cook? Can you cook once and eat twice just by cooking a little extra? Keep hydrated. Replace a less healthy food with a healthier one. 

Will try all of those

Will do a budget later.  

I have achieved a NSD today.

My gratitudes - seeing DD1, having a phone call with DD2, getting through a frustrating day at work without swearing or crying  

love Deni x

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
Well OH helped me fill in all the forms online and send proof of id etc for my new job so hopefully it shouldn’t be too long until I start. I could do with the money, I really want to clear the credit and start to build a bit of a buffer.
So tomorrow I’ll make a list ( I love a good list) of what jobs I want done while making the most of lazy time. 

I’ve started a crochet blanket and I’ve loads of knitted pieces to sew together. I’ve also knitted a tea cosy. I have to be in the mood to stitch together, 
I’m also thinking about starting on Holly day a bit earlier this year to spread it out a bit.

ldee2111

NSD 1/15

I worked, I walked, and I listened to a podcast about starting/stopping things in your life. I like listening to the presenter - she’s very calming and talks about making changes for the better, learning to be more patient, being a better listener, and so on. 

I’ve started small with the declutter and tackled DS’s toy box and my wardrobe today. Now got a decent sized bag of clothes and toys to go to the CS. @weenancyinAmerica 8 months! I don’t know if I’d have the stamina! 

I ate healthy today, tried a new recipe ( Hairy Bikers cod wrapped in Parma ham with roasted peppers), and this evening I’ve prepared tomorrow’s lunch and snacks for going into the office.

Grateful today for keeping to my plan for the day, for delicious cherries, and for finding a new recipe we enjoyed.