NST July 2024: A July jaunt around Madrid

apple_muncher

¡Quiero ser madrileña!

July is our Big Adventure (yep, so big it is capitalised 🤣) as we head over to Oz on the 8th for a month 😎.

DrCarrie

I love this challenge so much.

I am setting out my stall: 

M - is for MONEY - the sordid topic of coin. Holidays stretch our budgets. 

I am not going on holiday in July, but I am going to a conference, later in the month. I will put all the costs (save alcohol) through my sole trader books.  So I will be having 4 nights in a hotel, last year I stayed in university halls, but this year I have forn for the mid-range hotel, that has a bit of spa. I have a sinking fund for holidays, but boy oh boy holidays are expensive! I have 2 weeks off in September / October looking to have an adventure, but not sure yet. 

A - is for ADVENTURE - What does adventure look like to you. Think back to your childhood, what signalled to you that summer had arrived? Was it free or did it cost money? Did you do it alone or with other people? Do that thing! 

Days and adventures, one of my most favorite things is to lay down and walk barefoot in the grass, I love to forage and bring the world into my home, I can definitely commit to this. I may buy some lollies and icecream too. I used to make picnics all the time - I am going to add that to my repertoire for this month. 

D - is for DEBT AND SAVINGS  

I have an old spreadsheet by a member of MSE - that enables me to see all the 'pots' for the money I have in my Cash ISA - to optimise the interest.  I feel fortunate that I have paid off my debts, but still very much learning about my changing relationship with money. 

I say I don't have debt...I really do have debt.  I have a mortgage! I am actually in the most debt I have ever been in. This debt is normalised in our culture. I am overpaying! 

R - is for RAKS 

I am really good at letting people know that they have done a good job and that they have contributed in a meaningful way. This is mainly at work. I would like to extend my RAKS to strangers, i sues or be very good at thet too, when I lived in London.

I - Is for IDEAL DAY. What does your ideal ideal day look like (no limits) from waking up to going to bed. Take one aspect and do it this summer!  -

This is such a good reflection point! Thank you. There are lots of ideal days - the 

I would like to wake up outside. I could maybe do that in the garden, I don't have tent or a car at the moment, but hoping this will change in a few weeks.  

I think the recipe for a perfect day would be to eat delicious food and delicious drinks. Some nice products to pamper with, and put myself in a position where I see beauty, in any form. It would be nice to share the day but I am also ok on my own. 

D- Is for DANCING. Yes, good shout, I haven't danced in my new home. I have danced, just not at home. 

I think 10 Spend Free days is a good aim for me, coming back into the fold. 

Shrewbie

apple_muncher said:

¡Quiero ser madrileña!

July is our Big Adventure (yep, so big it is capitalised 🤣) as we head over to Oz on the 8th for a month 😎.

Well isn't that exciting?!!!

short_bird said:

(delurks)
ooh Madrid!! Amazing city: oddly enough, first thing I thought of was the free entry (and climate controlled) museums. Some museums are free all the time, some are free at specific times on specific days. Any free or low cost activities in your neighbourhood in the next few weeks??
My second thought was: there used to be a turtle pond at Atocha train station but sadly, that's not there any more. 
(relurks)

That's right short_bird! I just looked it up as I couldn't remember why or where they were moved to. It apparently reached a point where there were over 300 turtles in there, I guess it started with turtles being  abandoned by their owners, and then they were moved when the population numbers got too crazy.

Talking about free/low cost activities, I'm always surprised by the amount of free events that happen in Madrid, just last weekend I was at a free concert at the Matadero (although they overcharged on drinks once inside, which I don't really mind but they were watered down too) 

You're very welcome to join the challenge if you'd like a number, let me know.

DrCarrie said:

I would like to wake up outside. I could maybe do that in the garden, I don't have tent or a car at the moment, but hoping this will change in a few weeks.  

Ooh I'd like to do this too!! And good point about the mortgage 

Welcome @mothernerd/@grandmanerd. Glad you've got a new laptop sorted!!

Everyone should be numbered up to this point, please shout if i miss you!

ldee2111

Please count me in 🙂

weenancyinAmerica

I'm not sure about getting out and doing what marked summer in my childhood - it was roller skating all over town! At 76, might not be such a good idea. Right now it would be racing my rollator all over this block. May have to think of something more.

leftatthetrafficlights

Count me in please! 😁 

Thrifty_Taylor

Count me in please @Shrewbie. Could I be #18? Thanks 😃

ldee2111

Happy July, turtles! 

Setting out my stall…

M - is for MONEY - the sordid topic of coin.

We’ve just returned from our holiday to Germany. Despite the scores at the football, we had a tremendous time. We’ve now got the whole of the school summer holidays ahead of us and a couple more trips within the UK. I’ve got an account (a ‘digital envelope’ as I see it) for ‘small trips’ which I put into every month. I’ve also got a small weekly budget for ’leisure’ which’ll cover a picnic here and there and other low cost activities for DS. 

A - is for ADVENTURE - What does adventure look like to you. Think back to your childhood, what signalled to you that summer had arrived?

Summer had arrived when I was out on the street playing football, having water fights, or climbing trees in the local woods and getting home for mum to plonk me in a bath of Dettol (not an experience I’d want to replicate 🤣). But now that I have my own little DS who loves football and water fights, I can do those if the weather allows. OH, DS and I also like the outdoors so I’ll be heading to the woods and having some picnics (maybe not climbing the trees for me). DS is also in demand from grandparents to school friends so plenty to fill up the holidays!

D - is for DEBT AND SAVINGS  Do you have a way of visualising your progress with paying down debt or saving? 

The only debt we have now is the mortgage. @shrewbie At the start of our mortgage-free journey, I had printed out one of those templates of a house with bricks which I’d colour every time we hit an amount (I think it was £500). Nowadays I just obsessively check my remaining mortgage amount and overpayment savings on the banking app. Just seeing those figures is motivating enough. 

Still saving monthly for the overpayment in April 2025. We're on course to pay off next year, now earlier than planned as my work days are increasing from 4 to 5 as of this week. Thankfully the increase is only until March to cover a temporary project at work. Sadly I’ve had to pause volunteering at DS’s school but I’ll return to the school after March, and the bonus of working the extra day for the next 9 months is it will bring our mortgage free date forward! 👍🏻

R - is for RAKS (RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS) think about how you can make someone’s day better and in turn, your own.

I’ll be more conscious about doing this.

I - Is for IDEAL DAY. What does your ideal ideal day look like (no limits) from waking up to going to bed. Take one aspect and do it this summer! 

My ideal day is a relaxed morning taken at a slow pace, a trip to a beach with OH and DS where we kick off our shoes, collect shells, play games, and have a picnic. Hopefully we get that opportunity during the holidays on a trip to the caravan near the coast. 

D- Is for DANCING. Put on your headphones and dance/chair/chaise-longue dance to your favourite tune every day for a week. 

No problemo!

I’d like to suggest 10 NSDs for this month.

I always struggle with 15 but I’m sure I could manage 10.

Good luck turtles! X

f0xh0les

Pinch Punch, first of the month and no returns!

apple_muncher

f0xh0les said:

Pinch Punch, first of the month and no returns!

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I forgot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was up much earlier than f0xh0les!!!!!!!!!!!!!