NST March 2023 LIONS and LAMBS

Shrewbie

Hi to @NinjaSavingKat !! it's great to hear what you are up to and thank you so much for starting this enriching challenge.
And happy belated birthday to @firsview! I'll be back to set out my plan for the month, albeit late. 

Shrewbie

L      Live on what is left after paying towards your Debt or Savings 

I’m starting to get into the rhythm of this. I have a spreadsheet with my savings targets and becoming more conscious of where each penny goes. 

I       If you don't yet have your life fully sorted out, don't worry. If you have a plan but it's vague, pencil in some details and small actions. 

I have a vague life plan! 

O     Outdated ideas, possessions that belong to your former life (or 'fantasy you') and toxic people need to go. We all need space, in our homes and in our heads

I feel a lot lighter since I got rid of my social media accounts from my phone. I haven’t looked at any social media for about 8 weeks now, and I feel that my ability to concentrate is improving. Although I still find myself reaching for my phone aimlessly, I am spending much less time on it. For the first time in my life I have managed to maintain a tidy knicker drawer and inbox, haha. I suspect this is also due to not having drunk alcohol for 8 weeks either. 

N     NSDs - target for the month is 15. Fuel or travel cost from your budget do not forfeit an NSD on the day of purchase, neither do medical needs (inc special diets).            YS  purchases get a free pass

Currenly on 2. Will try to beat last month (14) 

S     Set all budgets before the start of the month - Food, travel, 'personal spends', diy, entertainment

Have set aside money for my trip to Tenerife at the end of the month. Am managing to reduce food spends bit by bit and all budgets are set. 

and 

L      - We can all do with less sugar, salt, caffeine in our bodies, (more under M)

Will continue with no booze until I go to Tenerife. The no social media thing might be permanent. 

If we have ENOUGH we should express our gratitude (3 a day. more if possible) 

I will do this! Will also donate to earthquake relief. 

NOTICE the world around us. Spend time with nature.

Will  resume my efforts to take myself out on a nice walk or outing once a week on my lunch break. 

 Take TIME for quiet reflection and with those we care about.

Will keep up meditation and my journalling/writing practice. Will phone family and friends more. Must do this.

A    Advance planning . Think about the month ahead, any birthdays or celebrations. 

There are two birthdays this month and will send my mum some flowers for mother's day. Easter should be cheap as I plan to stay in Madrid and use the time to write. BF will be in the UK visiting his family so I will have a lot of free time.

M   Manifesto for a simple life

       Eat less, move more,  Buy less, make more,  Stress less, laugh more,  Feel blessed, love more.  Find a quiet spot each day and breathe 

I love this. I have resumed my ban on buying new clothes this year, will keep up my exercise routine. I am also constantly working on trying not to take myself so seriously!! Also, will keep up the meditation,

B    Be happy, whatever your circumstances. Be kind, to yourself and others

Will do! 

S     Small habits repeated daily are  the foundation of any change (big or small). 

I have managed to start some daily habits in the last few weeks that I really didn´t think I’d ever be able to maintain. And I’m doing it, I am feeling motivated so I will continue. And I really love being free from the braying faceache donkeys!!

Today I am grateful for managing to write a lot yesterday, for also getting an NSD on a Saturday and for feeling inspired. Have a great Sunday turtles. 

grandmanerd

Sunday 5th March 2023

I'll let Kat's post be the inspiration for today. To a simple life and challenging everything

beanielou

There is a new cat on the block!
Master mustard has come to stay! (Col Mustard?)
A new adventure begins!
Let's see how it goes!

lcc86

Afternoon turtles 

Did some cleaning and a couple of loads of washing later last night to save having to stress about doing it all today.

Had a good sleep last night, woke up early and did my nail wraps while having a coffee, nice relaxing start to the day. Went to see my share pony and we had a really nice ride, not too long but I like days like today where we just potter around.

Have done a couple of small jobs around the house to get them ticked off, but nothing major. Just sitting watching TV with OH now, will jump in the bath shortly before dinner.

Nothing spent today, exercise done, have been naughty and had a brownie but not the end of the world.

facethemusic

It's still NSD 3, had to buy milk and got scammed by DD into buying some chocolate eggs 🤣. She doesn't often try for treats when we pop into a shop and would have been fine if I'd said no- but the eggs were a bit too tempting to turn down! 
It's really cold here today- I'm about to override the heating timer and get the radiators on. DD had a sports class this morning and we have done some bits at home this afternoon but I've struggled with being really cold so we have been less productive than we should have been. 
Grateful for snowdrops and crocuses in the garden, DDs enthusiasm for books, chocolate eggs. 

f0xh0les

I took the budget for the week out of the hole in the wall today. Needed money for the kids bus passes tomorrow.  Bizarrely had £19 of last week's budget still in my purse. Yay! Bit odd though...... anyway,  took £20 less out. It will only go towards the house insurance when the cc bill comes in, not bottles of champagne 🍾🍾. 
Weather forecast for the week looks brrrrr! Hot water bottles will be deployed and I will not be driving anywhere if it snows. 
Down to the last litre of soy milk this morning ( had 6 at 4pm on Friday) so have read the riot act as I did not want to spend any money today or go anywhere near a supermarket.  Mugs of flavoured hot milk are off the menu.... grrr! 
NSD 3.  Laundry done and folded and returned. People fed.  Just going to make sure they all bathe tonight and then watch Endeavour. 

NinjaSavingKat

@thriftylass said:

NinjaSavingKat so good to hear from you. My work forgot to put me on the pension scheme too initially for a year. They said I can voluntarily pay for the year but they won't contribute. But I might look into challenging that again. They thought I'm on a pay grade where you have to opt in voluntarily but I was on one where they should have opted me in automatically. So it was their fault.

I'm gonna go back to lurking momentarily - but this pension oversight is important....

I would suggest speaking to the MoneyMatters people. If you should have been on the government enrolment pension  ( mine is NEST) then the ombudsman service would like to hear about your work place refusing to pay for that year. However the MM people always suggest working "with your company" and not going straight to the Ombudsman....but a well versed email to HR is what I sent...;-)

You will be missing out on tax credits as well. If they pay, they can request that you pay your part too - thats when you need to highlight cost of living crisis etc so you can pay your contribution slowly...

However, this is YOUR money. Time to get it paid!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dc being much better, for big sis visiting us for several hours, for the fourth book in my quadlogy having the 'right' ending, for salt and vinegar crisps, for strongman 2023 comps on tube.

apple_muncher

Enjoy Mustard, beanie 😺