NST September 2024: A Turtle soap opera

apple_muncher

NST September 2024: A Turtle soap opera

Soap operas tend to show one crisis flowing into the next into a disaster into lots of shouting. They are defined as a serial drama performed originally on a daytime radio or television program and chiefly characterized by tangled interpersonal situations and melodramatic or sentimental treatment. They are scripted to be that way. That is not the way that we Ninja Saving Turtles want to live. So this month is a focus (again – sorry) on Health, Wealth and a Life Well Lived.

Who are we? We are turtles. Ninja saving turtles. NST. Here is our back story (written by mothernerd) here:

There was a kingdom of tall towers where the financiers lived. They lured wild turtles with gifts of loans and magic cards, making pets of them. When the hard times came the financiers cast off their pets and the turtles fell into the sewers, awash on a tide of debt.

A wise and beautiful Kat rescued the turtles and taught them her ninja ways. Month by month, in a firm but kindly manner, she taught the turtles to exercise their bodies till they could negotiate the sewer, to use their will to resist the temptations of the kingdom, to plan and prepare, save their pennies and to give to those less fortunate.

One day the wise Kat gathered the turtles to tell them she must leave them. She was to go on a quest to the Eastern lands. She had saved all her money (and a little honey) and sought new adventures and learning (and perhaps an owl to be her future companion).

At first the turtles were afraid but wise and beautiful Kat reminded them of the lessons she had taught them (Always pay your debt first). They could now keep afloat on the sewer water and could help each other, and those who joined them along the way, to swim through to the tide of freedom and the beach of tranquillity known as debt free day.

So the brave little turtles set out, swimming against the tide of consumerism and became the

NINJA SAVING TURTLES

 

September.  A new month. A new school year (sorry if you’ve already started), a fresh start. Autumn is definitely here, halfway through the month we hit the ‘100 days until that day’, and we have the equinox.

 

Another month of health, wealth and a life well-lived is upon us. Each month we re-set ourselves and our turtle groupies to spend another month together.

 

Look at the month ahead. Give it a long, hard stare. Like Paddington. Ponder it, mull it over, chew it up. What is coming in and going out? What do you do with what comes in and goes out? Let’s scrutinise the month.

 

Health:

-what state is your health in? Mental health. Physical health. Emotional health. What would you like to change/ improve?

-have a look at your routine. Can it be tweaked to make things simpler for you? Any new habits to try this month? Any habits to ditch for a while? More meditation and less screen time?

-keep active : bend, stretch, dance…

-what are you eating? No self-flagellation (turtles have shells, so it is pointless anyway), just remember to eat well and that food=medicine. Be good to your body.

-look after yourself. Me-time is a requirement, not an optional extra…

 

Wealth:

-budget. Of course you have one. Do you keep to it? Have you looked at what might occur this month and built in slack for unexpected items? Do you know where your money goes?

-are you able to start planning for that day in December? At least make a list and contact people to make a no-present pact asap. Or set a LOW limit to spend on each other.

-NSDs. You can’t have a turtle challenge without talking about No Spend Days. But his month, they are optional. Yikes! Your circumstances may mean that you have to spend more often. However, the target is 15. And you do not lose one for buying only YS (reduced) items so long as that is all that you buy, fuel / travel, medical needs (including things like hospital parking)

 

Life well-lived:

-what do you have on this month. Appointments? Meet-ups? Keep social without doing anything silly. Persist with people who are important to you.

-life admin – are there things that you are putting off doing/checking? Postponed health appointment? Pension? Sorting through paperwork? How much more NI do you need to pay for a full state pension? Get just 1 of them done this month.

-stuff –reduce the unnecessary clutter in your home. Get rid of the gubbins! Would you take it with you if you had to move? You can try to sell it, or simply give it away or to a charity shop. Be generous.

-be grateful for all that you have. Post at least 3 things daily that you are grateful for.

-do something every day that makes you smile.

 

Any non-negotiables? But of course…

-Set your budget and pay to your debts first. If you do not know when your DFD (Debt-free date) is, then work it out.

-aim for 15 NSDS (if you are doing them- if not, keep a record anyway)

-Be kind to yourself and to others.

-This challenge runs for the whole month. No day is unredeemable.

-Post every day with your gratitudes and general chattiness.

apple_muncher

September soap opera cast:

1 apple_muncher

2 beanielou

3 Shrewbie

4 grandmanerd

5 weenancyinAmerica

6 abundant1972

7 DawnW

8 laura_lau

9 Betharooni

10 ditty1234

11 ldee2111

12 Alising

13 hummingbird15

18 Thrifty_Taylor

55 f0xh0les

beanielou

Me too.Ple ase.  Thanks for setting up our shiny new thread.

Shrewbie

Woo hoo! thanks @apple. Count me in!

grandmanerd

me too please apple. My life runs on crises, but I'm very willing to take stock and get rid of what I don't want - raring to go (if only my body will do what I want)

beanielou

My dad loved the word ‘gubbins’. 

He is indeed ubique. 

weenancyinAmerica

I have been going from crisis to crisis for years now - it needs to stop. So please count me in. Yesterday, roommate ended up in the Emergency Room of a different hospital this time (same paramedics though). Having trouble planning my days but am trying. Started back with my crocheting (actually taking a class) to do while waiting for people at the doctor's offices. Have to keep it in the car though as kitten (aged 3 months) keeps getting in the way. How did I end up with another cat? At least this cat is keeping the other two on their paws and running around. 

So can I be added to the list. Thank you so much for helping keep me sane.

abundant1972

Thanks Apple 🍎

Please sign me up! 

DawnW

Yes please @apple_muncher

Shrewbie

beanielou said:

My dad loved the word ‘gubbins’. 

He is indeed ubique. 

My friend's daughter started saying this word when she was a toddler and no one knew where the hell she'd got it from. My friend then realised as she was getting her ready to go outside - that she was actually saying "gloves in"    I think because she had those mittens attached to a string that goes through the inside of the coat. Lol.

laura_lau

I'm in for September!