NST January 2023 Best Possible Me 28 December 2022 at 2:20PM in Debt-free wannabe challenges 557 replies 19.2K views

DawnW

@Toni'sfriend you are not selfish. You absolutely need to concentrate on you at the moment. Don't worry about the house too much, unless it helps take your mind off other things. Hope your tests go well.

dizzyblnd

I would love to be a cheerleader for you all this month. I absolutely love this challenge but life gets in the way of me posting everyday. I read along but usually a few days behind. You are all amazing and offer so much inspiration to everyone that drops by. 

lcc86

Evening turtles, setting out my stall ready for the new month and the new year.

I'm aiming for 18 "healthy food" days. For me that's sticking to 1700 calories give or take.

I'm aiming for 17 NSD's. At the moment coffee is my weakness which is ruining my tally and also not very MSE. I have a coffee machine so make my own every morning but I'm sleeping really badly atm and am often resorting to buying coffee when I'm at work... need to get back into the habit of bringing my own into work as well. I have no excuse.

I'm also aiming to work out 4 times a week, whether that's horse riding, pilates, yoga, cycling partway to work, or using some of my home equipment. I have long-term back problems and staying active helps with flare-ups so this is important to me, even if it's just 15 minutes a time. I also have physio exercises I need to do twice a day....

I want to invest £25 in my premium bond account and £25 in my Wealthify account (opened after reading one of Martin's emails a few weeks back). I've applied for a bank transfer where they give you £200 but haven't heard anything, need to chase that up. I need to review my savings accounts too as the interest rates are pitiful, need to see if I can do anything about those.

I need to stop buying stuff unnecessarily so have set a monthly limit of 2 new personal purchases.

The kitchen needs a massive tidy and overhaul. Smallest room in the house by far but it's become a dumping ground! I hate our kitchen as it's really old and this doesn't help, so if I can get it tidy at least that should help.

In terms of making extra money, I am doing overtime at my main job on 2nd and another Saturday in the month. I'm also working at my part-time job a couple of times, and will have some pretty big expense claims this month due to having to travel from the south east up to Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Kent on different days. Can't take trains because of the strike days planned but I should be in profit once the mileage is paid out. 

As work is looking a bit mental I really need to make sure I take time out for myself. I love my job and enjoy being busy but it's really stressful and I'm guilty of not being boundaried enough sometimes so need to improve there!

Anyway, that's enough rambling, see you all in 2023!

Esmeralda2662

Thanks for preparing January, Grandmanerd! Please can I join in?

grandmanerd

Sunday 1st January 2023
A New Year is not just about starting something new. It's also about putting the past behind you along with the tears, the triumphs and regrets. 
It's about clearing up mental space for new adventures and knowledge. So be an empty cup and fill it with gold
(Our mindful life)

Be the things you loved most about those who are gone.

Pinch, punch first of the month and no returns (nah nah ne nah na) 

apple_muncher

Let the games/adventures begin!!!!

Bravo grandmanerd for getting in first 🤣

f0xh0les

At the same time @grandmanerd posted her random act of violence, I was running around the house pinching and punching 'the antisocials' who had gone to bed early.  Ho ho ho! Got them all!  Every last one.

abundant1972

Good morning and Happy 2023!!! ⛅

Very crafty grandmanerd getting in the first pinch-punch. I'll be ready next month!!!

I think from this month's thread embracing the 'Best version of me' is a really good idea - and being mindful not to live in the past and everything that happened last year - and for me not to stray too far into the future and worry about where I'm going to end up. Change happens in the present moment - with every decision I choose to make or not make. Now is about my recovery, and building on good habits. 

Have a few meals prepared and stuff in my cupboards though will need to get in some fresh fruit/veg as and when I run out. I've got my bags of Gruel (Huel) haha and that will cover me for a fair few meals. Meal plans sorted. Onwards and upwards!!!

Today = NSD 1 / 15

Today I am grateful for:
1) Waking up without a hangover - unlike many of my friends haha
2) Feeling positive and firm in my resolve to succeed
3) Everybody on this thread 

Week 1:

Mindfulness 🧘🏻‍♂️ = 1/7 
Nature Walk 🌳 = 1/4 
Gym 🏋🏻‍♂️ = 0/3

I'll update my good habits at the end of each day / when I next post. 

Have a great January 01st folks!!! 🥂

thriftylass

Happy new year! Here's to the best version of us! Wasn't the best of myself last night against all good intentions. Luckily feel great this morning and looking fwd to an addiction (various) free January, this year I will be the best version of myself esp for my kids!

Didn't start with an NSD. Looked at my calendar and needed 3 big birthday cards (70, 80, and 90). While in [email protected] I picked up some YS bargains like fruit and mince 

Going for a walk after I stripped and prepared the goose carcass for stock

grandmanerd

My Plans (a work in progress)

I've written a page into my Project Book on the 'values' part of this month's challenge - not decided on a word for the year but have lots of 'this is the direction I'm going in.

I'm still quite ill so not going to set targets too high. Decluttering will be a consistent theme for the year. Hopefully the bungalow sale will go through on the 10th (cue meter reading, final bills, dropping off keys etc). Still a few outstanding bits to sort so will get those in motion. A chunk of money will appear in my bank account (probably all spoken for, may need to save more) but I will be over the capital limit for UC so more paperwork and final reckonings.

Decluttering 2023
1   Bungalow (still need to bring back the last few items)
2   My ex's LPs (aka the boys' inheritance -in abeyance until the DWP decide how much they want to reclaim & DS2 completes his Masters)
3   House Hunt in Keighley (possible overnight stay). In addition, check mortgage requirements and various 'schemes'. Declutter 2 x 34 yo, 3 chinchillas and half the contents of my house (probably April/ May now, was hoping to run this in tandem with bungalow sale but it didn't happen)
4   My new kitchen and other works needing doing - long complicated and involved
5   Future proofing - get rid of several large pieces of furniture and put wheels on others
6   Deal with my own clutter first. Priorities for JANUARY  (this month) KITCHEN useable, COSY reading spot for me (clear my couch), OUTSIDE - work on the yard and backs, turn the 'mess' into a plan, re-establish some raised beds

BUDGETS
FOOD - setting it at £150 for the month. I have fresh veg, yoghurts and brisket and chicken breasts (3+ meals each), frozen veg and fish, lots of tins. Will be aiming to use 23 cans per week and will set aside £1 per can used to enable me to restock (with my preferences. not mum's). I do need the buffer stock, if it snows I'm not, going anywhere, if it's icy I'm not even going down the garden path, if I'm ill I may not even go downstairs (have been gifted chips and fried chicken at the point where I was trying to make myself go down to heat soup).

TRAVEL - bus pass will cover most of it but may need train fares to Keighley. 

PERSONAL Film club is £7 per month (£2 in the afternoon, £5 in the evening) but not sure if I can get to the new venue. Puzzle book(s) is similar so I'll say £20. In addition, it's my birthday this month - if DS1 takes me for a meal, it's his turn to pay, if DS2 takes me for a meal, it's my turn to pay. If no-one takes me for a meal, I reserve the right to have a takeaway - but my planned cooking should make this unnecessary. Also plan to set up a DD for a charity.

Any house jobs will come from capital, not everyday living expenses. 

ASSESS what you have. I'll be setting some seeds off this month (they'll grow when they're ready). I have some cans of paint that I might use for sprucing up grubby corners . Need to do a serious clean first. Use existing craft materials to work on a couple of projects. Art Therapy is continuing.

USE what you have - need to go through mum's cleaning stuff, far too much of some things and running out of others. 

HEALTH need to lose weight, move more, eat well. ADD lots of things that make me happy