NST: February 2023 Freedom

grandmanerd

Thanks for this month apple.  I'm not sure how well I did but I have made progress. Using up, clutter clearing and adopting good habits are all going well. Had a talk with DS3 last week and he has taken on board some of the things I said (I recognised that they were both ill but said that I'm ill as well and then asked how we could improve the house right now - so non confrontational and working together going forward). Still lots to do on many different fronts but trying to make it more balanced and include things that will improve my mental, spiritual and physical health.

I'm not planning on leaving the house (may go as far as the library) so I'm just putting my nightie on for now (clothes for yesterday are being added to the washing pile) and will strap my foot and ankle up. Going to be an attacking the mess day and 'housework' (I'm thinking of ways to do the floor mopping - it probably involves mucky towels that need washing anyway). 

Grateful for this thread, the turtle 'way', good books (and teh trashy ones), films and drama series and doing things online (when the library doesn't have the solution). 

f0xh0les

Freedom Well I am not entirely free yet Free from too much stuff - making progress, more is leaving the house than entering.

Exercise. Did nothing about this at all - Shocking!! On it for March though  - started the day with a shake

Budgets.  Somehow managed to keep in budget, pulled in various bits and bobs of ambient income. Surveys, actually  made quite a bit in Big River Vouchers, and more in cash from p/a, waiting on £200 bank switch bribe. Got unexpected pay from the job I left, probably from deductions and holiday pay and all that jazz. Thank you very much!

Rules I will not live like this any more.  I do not have to live like this any more. My house is an embarrassment.

Unburden yourself  - actually making a lot of progress on this one.

Advance planning: I planned, the gods laughed. Coughs and colds scuppered half term fun activities. I used the enforced house arrest to meet with an architect and a builder.  I am at least at the starting line, instead of sitting waiting to get on the track.

Reject those things that draw your focus away from your goal and how you want to live your life.  Making progress.  Trying to jettison kids, but they are unwilling to leave.

You matter - Yes I do!

2 trips out - Went out to dinner one night with work people (company good, food disappointing).  Used a 2-4-1 offer for coffee with another workmate who is a total love - claimed both back on expenses, my accounting was erm, slightly creative, but technically  true.

0ne hundred days - I want architect plans and a date for work to begin. I want it in the diary asap.

2 books read - yep, managed 3!!

3 gratitudes - I am grateful for you Turtles every single day.  I am surrounded by people complaining they have no money, who then run toward the Golden Arches every lunchtime, or clothes shopping as a fun family activity at the weekend, or upgrading their car on the never-never, when they decide they want one in a different colour... and don't even start me on their spa breaks, weekend breaks in foreign cities, and winter sun holidays.   I am honestly not jealous, I am actually horrified they can think the way they are living is funny.

Smashed the 15 NSD target,  and am glad I know how to make ambient income to stretch my actual budget, letting me keep more of my money, while spending more of theirs.  Pr0lific Academic is the easiest quickest way to make money while sitting on the sofa/bus/train/waiting for food to cook.

Thank you for the freedoms found this month apple.  See you all on the other side.

beanielou

An unintentional interesting day yesterday!! Had a fall yesterday & cut my hand badly & nicked a blood vessel. It just would not stop bleeding. Off to A & E. Many hours later it was stitched & x-rayed. Shattered today & not at my best. Bah.
Only me, only me.

Take care @grandmanerd 

BadBookkeeper

Hope you are ok @beanielou

F - Freedom - Decluttered a lot of stuff or tidied so feel this task has been met but it’s a work in progress! 

E - Exercise - 100 skips today and my February challenge of 100 skips a day has been met!  Also went for a 15 minute walk at lunch time. 

B - Budget- February went well.  I think the 28 days is a good month for budgets! 

R - Rules - Mostly kept to the 1 in 1 out rule & I’ve been mindful of our energy usage this month and will continue to do so. 

U - Unburden tat, Using up December toiletries. 

A - Advanced planning.  Due to my increase in hours, I’ve redone my budget, set up new pots and best of all, increased my debt repayments so my DFD is now 18 months not 21! 

R - Refuel - Ate healthy so far today, drinking my water and will only have a light tea and no alcohol tonight. 

Y - You - self care - took myself for a little walk earlier.  But gutted I’ve missed the northern lights wished I’d have known about it would have loved to have seen them from North Wales. 

2 - 2 trips out - didn’t achieve this but that meant I had surplus cash for other little treats and really enjoyed our at home cinema night and will definitely have more of those. 

0 - 100 days on track

2 - Read 2 books - nooooo 

3 - Gratitudes x 3 - My pay increase making life a little easier even a regular savings payment feels good and obviously shaving 3 months off my debt I can see the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel!! @apple_muncher for running Februarys thread, having a clearer mind to think things through as felt bogged down with life recently.

13/15 NSDs - happy with that ☺️

Shrewbie

Thank you @apple for this month’s thread. I got 14 NSDs which I’m pretty happy with. I would have got more but have been ill the last few days and ended up buying comfort food. Still not 100% now but better than last week, so onwards and upwards!! 

ldee2111

Thanks for our February challenge @apple_muncher

Overall I'd say I've done OK this month:

• I saved some
• I decluttered some
• I learned some
• I read some
• I relaxed some
• I hugged a lot

I lost count of NSDs but I think I managed around 10. I've stopped the multiple trips to the SM to get top-ups.

Today I had a quieter day in terms of work tasks (thankfully). "Thankfully" because I had DS around for most of the day (school closed from strikes) until Mum took him swimming late afternoon. I set 30 minute timers and switched between work and entertaining DS with games and teaching him how to fold and put away washing. He actually did a great job so I'll be getting him to help in the future.

Grateful today for getting our washing dried on the line, for DS helping to fold and put away washing, for Mum looking after DS for a couple of hours, for OH getting a wee bonus at work, and for learning how to do some new things in my job.

See you in March lovely turtles. x

facethemusic

NSD 14 today, so not too bad. 
I've got rid of more stuff than I have bought, done some painting and have some money left over so they are my plusses for the month. My minuses are that there is still painting left to do and I'm no further forward with sorting the pension situation. 
Bring on March! 
Thank you @apple_muncher for pointing us all in the direction of freedom for the month. 

apple_muncher

Beanie, take care and rest and recuperate. That all sounds very draining. Hugs.

beanielou

apple_muncher said:

Beanie, take care and rest and recuperate. That all sounds very draining. Hugs.

Thank you 

Thrifty_Taylor

Sending massive hugs @beanielou, wish I was closer to help you out a bit x

Well done to all of you, you've done great this month & inspired me lots!

Ended up with NSD#15
Don't know what came over me this morning, but I was awake before my alarm, did yoga, Norwegian, re-attempted to apply for my new driving license, as it expires in 3 weeks - doesn't like my passport as ID got some reason... Dusted some surfaces in the living room, hoovered, took wrapping paper out to the shed & loaded my car with bags for the CS. All that before 9am! And I managed to eat breakfast & make my dinner. Oh & I finished my book, so that's 2 read this month 😊

Work was just as busy. Strike day, so the teachers had left us a list. Furniture moving first thing, then I've been up & down ladders, taking down displays & putting up new ones the rest of the day. Went a walk at dinnertime with my friend before we ate.

After work I dropped sewing off, then went to the post office. Renewed my driving licence & asked for a form for a friend & a leaflet she'd told me about. Headed to T0sco, the cereal I thought had the bigger box on offer, was only the smaller box, so cheaper to get it from L1dl. Did buy my TV mag though, then read it til time for my dental appointment.

Caught up on emails when I got home, filled in a puzzle for a competition, then after tea I did some sewing. Took DS3's GF to her granny's.

Feeling like I'm starting with a cold, so heading to bed shortly.

Grateful for getting lots done today, dropping the stuff off for CS so I'll be able to get in the shed easier, good books, good TV, a hug from DS1 just now, & you lot for cheerleading & supporting each other ❤️

Thanks @apple_muncher for this month, looking forward to a new month where we can start afresh & lighter nights/better weather so I can stick to my more active goals (unlike this month!)