NST: February 2023 Freedom




Welcome to the February 2023 NST challenge. We are seeking freedom.
100 days from now, we’ll be well into May. The months will pass anyway, so we want to do something memorable/important/necessary/fun with the time.
Back in 2021, grandmanerd was mothernerd, and she wrote: The Ninja Savings Turtles gather together each month to reduce personal debt, save for a house deposit, paying off the mortgage or to follow our dreams (sometimes wearing capes and masks, some brave souls wear lycra and wave pompoms). We believe in a holistic approach. We live within our means take care of our physical and mental health, celebrate our successes, commiserate when a turtle is struggling or when life hands them a double or triple whammy.
Freedom is our goal. Free from too much stuff. Free from toxic people. Free from old ideas that no longer have a place in our lives. We actively seek out free fun.
Exercise is, as we all know, a key to well-being and health. Aim for 5 sessions per week. A session is whatever you want to make it. I’m having fun with kettlebells at the moment and also aiming for one longer walk each week.
Budgets. You should pay to your debt or savings first and live on what is left. Ideally pay it on the first of the month/ payday. Look at everything you have going on this month and see if it needs money. Include donations to the food bank and charities.
Rules you live by. Think about your personal priorities. And apply the mantra to all purchases: Do I need it? Can I afford it? Will I use it? Is it worth it?
Unburden yourself of tat. Clear stuff out and recycle it/give it away/donate it; sort out the paperwork that bothers you. Take items to the tip/recycling centre if they are no longer fit for purpose. Use what you have before buying more eg toiletries, cleaning products. Use up your freezer and cupboard stocks. Plan your meals. Take your lunch to work every single day you are there.
Advance planning: are you wanting to go on holiday this year? Or change your job? Are you setting money aside for sproutmas day and birthdays ? Do you plan your meals? Have you a budget for out and abouting? What about medical-related visits – parking, food…? Got any children’s activities that don’t fall neatly into a monthly pattern? As regards that Feb 14th thing, ignore it unless it is your anniversary or your birthday, take the time to meet a friend, look up what is on at the local museum, library, art gallery, or a cheap film date with a mate (241 or Meerkat movies) or a DVD at home, bonus points for a free date, it is too easy to stop being sociable when it is cold and grey outside. Invite someone round for a coffee and gossip. Bake a cake. And eat it.
Reject those things that draw your focus away from your goal and how you want to live your life. Recharge your batteries. The lighter days are coming. Do what you need to do to lift your mood (that involves no spending…!) Do it 5 times per week: exercise; listen to music; dance. Refuel properly. You ask a lot of your body, give it the fuel that it needs - healthy food, water, enough sleep. Refuel your mind and spirit by taking time to relax and rewind.
You matter so much. Say YES to meeting your own needs first. Actively practice self care – we all need different things. Yesterday has been and gone; today is a new day to enjoy and move towards your goals. (you do have goals, don’t you?!?!)
2 trips out this month.
0ne hundred days from Feb 1st is May 11th (a day before my bday, y’know!!!) Where do you want to be by then? What will you commit to achieving by then? What habit will you practice for 100 days? Or give up? Or make sure you try to do consistently?
2 books read/listened to. Or more.
3 gratitudes every day and share them with us all please.
And the rest:
We start of Feb 1st 2023 and go through to the 28th.
15 NSDs is the goal (exemptions apply for ys items, medical needs, travel)
I have shamelessly borrowed ideas from previous February challenges. What can I say? It’s all such good stuff!
Who will join me?
Comments
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Turtle freedom seekers:1 apple_muncher2 Bad bookkeeper3 Flying_By4 thriftylass5 beanielou6 grandmanerd7 ldee21118 shabbychic129 facethemusic10 DrCarrie11 lcc8612 Shrewbie13 firsview14 greent15 ditty123416 Swayingseaweed17 DawnW18 Thrifty_Taylor18 ldee211119 Dfw3855 f0xh0lesLycra + pompoms toni'sfriendNST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!1
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Me pleaseLightbulb moment - 17/08/2017 £17,033. Current CC debt £0.00 DFD 31/7/24 🥳. Member #8 of Fiver Friday Challenge £45/£2604
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May I join please? I need to be more accountable and also more positive about my life going forward, having had a pretty cr*ppy 2022!4
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Me again please too. Thank you
It's my birthday on that "special day" in February. Don't think I'll be doing anything, just have hubby cook dinner and save my money for the kids and DH's big 50. Gosh, I remember my "old" relatives or even parents turning 50 and thought they were ancient. Now it's us, so weird.
DEBT 02/25: total £6100 Debt free date 12/256 -
Me please apple. Going to use the remainder of January to tie off as many loose ends as possible and clear the decks for the next set of tasks. May 11th is a bit ambitious for getting rid of DS3 and Beloved but if we find a property or are clear on what they want or can afford and make progress on how to finance things, that would be good.7
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Cheering you all on from the side lines. xxHave adventures. laugh a lot and always be kind.7
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I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.7 -
Me too please, for the shortest month of the year!! hooray!!
4/10/22One Year Mortgage Free Yay!
NSTurtle # 55 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢🐢🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 🐢 No Turtle gets left behind.[/b]
******PROUD MEMBER OF THE TOFU EATING COALITION OF CHAOS !!!******6 -
Me too please @apple_muncherNST 🐢 & MFW 🤸
MFD was: Jun 2040 MFD aim: April 2025
FINAL BIG PUSH…
Savings target for March 2025: £14,200/£14,1804 -
Please add me in xxCount down to retirement 20234
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