NST July 2023: Jurassic July

Starlight_at_Sea · 28 June 2023 at 9:12PM

Welcome to a new NST (Ninja Saving Turtles) challenge! NSTs are a group of Money Saving challengers from all over the place, who are always up for new money saving ways, fighting our way to debt freedom, sharing tips and new money saving discoveries, general chat, support and good humour! This challenge is open to everyone- so please join us.

The Jurassic coastline is one of my favourite places. A walk along the cliffs is to take in some incredible ups and some incredible downs as the paths rise steeply and then plummet. There is quicksand and sticky mud, and the pebbles are graded by the waves so some parts of the bay are covered by huge bounders and others are long relentless stretches of tiny rounded pebbles. It is pretty much always tough going, and as soon as you get used to one kind of tough, the terrain changes and it becomes tough in a different way - sound familiar? But it’s also incredibly pretty, and the hike is worth the views.

There are huge, dark undercliffs with a rainforest like feel to them, unchartered territory as the path is rerouted every time the landslips. Its a good reminder of the passing nature of so many things that trouble us. The rocks are between 65 and 200 million years old, and spill fossils out of the cliffs onto the beaches and into the rockpools. Each walk brings with it the possibility of something incredible being found, if you are looking in the right place at the right time. Just after a storm is the best time to seek out the treasure.

With the summer solstice behind us, this month’s focus is on lifting our eyes to the horizon and taking a longer term view. While debt-slaying or trying to save, our attention can be drawn in by the immediate challenges. Our longer term ambitions or intent, especially for things to do with ourselves, often get put on hold.

Even though we might not have masses of time, energy, or resources just now, small and consistent incremental steps can help us move mountains over time. This challenge is incredibly basic, but provides a chance to reset and to give future you a helping hand.

Ambitions for this month

Do something at the first opportunity today that will show benefits tomorrow.
Do something today that will show benefits over the next few days.
Do something this week that will show benefits over the next month.
Do something by mid-month, that will show benefits over the next 6 months.
Do something by month-end that will show benefits over the next year.
Set the foundation for doing something this year that will show benefits over the lifespan of your longest debt / savings goal.

“Benefit” could be many things… peace of mind, developing your physical, mental or financial health, providing for yourself or others, developing resilience, saving effort or expense, planning ahead for an event or activity, eating frogs, or many more.

Declare here if accountability will help, or to share habits that you are trying out or are long established successes.

The challenge runs for the whole of July.

We’re also seeking to achieve the regular goals:

Pay to debts/savings first, allocate budgets, and plan ahead.

Lets try for 15 NSDs (No Spend Days). Medical needs and travel expenses are exempt. If you have purchases that are all "yellow sticker" purchases then this is classed as an NSD.

Who is hiking with me? Over that hill, over there.

Starlight_at_Sea · 28 June 2023 at 9:17PM

Reserved for fossil-hunters

1.Grandmanerd
2.F0xh0les
3.Beanielou
4.Toni'sfriend
5. Applemuncher
6. Swayingseaweed
7.Shrewbie
8.Starlight at Sea
9. Esmeralda2662
10.Ldee2011
11.DawnW
12.Dizzy_Imp
...14. Thriftylass
...18. Thrifty_Taylor