NST OCTOBERFEST

grandmanerd · 28 September 2024 at 7:26PM

Ninja Saving Turtles October 2024

OCTOBERFEST

The geese are flying south for the winter, the trees are losing their leaves, small mammals curl up in their burrows. The world is settling down for a winter nap.

October was originally the eighth month (before Julius Caesar and then Augustus insisted on having months named after them) OCTO means eight
Eight OCTOBER Essentials
1 Know your Debt Free Date (add up what you owe, see how much you can throw at it)
2 Pay to your Debt or Savings first, live on what is left
3 All Budgets should be set before the start of the month (3rd October this month)
4 Spend Free Days - Minimum 8/ Try for a run of 8 days/ Spend only on 8 days (choose)
5 No takeaways, chain coffee purchases, vending machines. Lunch to work and appointments
6 Do a pantry inventory, base meals around what you have and batch cook
7 Travel costs do not lose a SFD as long as you spend from your travel budget (meds too)
8 Regular check ins

C COSY Home - check the boiler/ radiators/ other heaters. Try diy draught proofing - curtains, door curtains, draught excluders, insulating tape round the windows if you're saving up to replace them. Heat the PERSON not the room - extra layers, hot water bottles, a thermos. If you change over summer/ winter clothes or have growing Children check items for sizing/ what can be handed down/ anything that needs mending and only fit for rags. TRAVEL SAFELY - make sure you and your children can be seen when walking/ cycling, pack a spare coat/ torch/ spade etc in your car in case of breakdown. Check outside lighting.

T TAKE STOCK Check the pantry, fridge and freezer. Work out what needs using up and when/ if you are going to defrost them. Do the same with your clothes - try new ways of combining the things you have (shopping from your wardrobe). If you are going to need a 'party frock' or the dreaded festive jumper, check out the charity shops (Halloween costumes too) first especially if like me, you buy a shiny top to wear with regular skirts/ jog pants and then donate it back later. It's a good time to review the year so far and start planning for next year (if you're rushed off your feet leave this out)

O OUTSIDE yes there's a nip in the air but wrap up warm and get moving. Or just wrap up in a blanket and sit sipping a hot drink. The sunshine (if there's light the sun is there somewhere even hiding behind heavy clouds). Soak up the vitamin D and keep drying washing outside when possible (sunshine will help kill off the winter bugs).

B BUDGETS What does your month look like. Any birthdays or outings, what are you doing and what needs paying for. Is it half term? Start researching festive gifts and if something is 'just right' don't leave it until later. I will be trawling the cs for a few little treats for myself - I don't mind lashing out 50p on posh soap or hand cream.

E EXERCISE At least 3 times a week or regular low impact (walking) every day. Kick through piles of leaves and splash through puddles. Be alive to the wonder of the world.

R REPURPOSE Sell on your and your children's old clothes, downgrade some to painting and dirty jobs clothes. I will be using 2 full length t shirt dresses (one has embarrassing holes) as nightwear (with a jumper on top when needed) or for days when I don't plan on going further than the bins. If you are crafty the good parts of old clothes can be turned into bags, cushions, draught excluders etc (I used to unpick old worn out pillows, use clothes/ bedding to re-plump them and sew them back up)

F FIVE 'F's (The Minimalist Mom). Continuing our efforts to discard anything that no longer serves the life we want to lead.
1 Five Minute Focus
2 Floor (clearing everything off the floor will have the greatest impact
3 Flat Surfaces (most visible clutter)
4 Find a Fit (simple categories -rubbish/ things that have a home/ things that do not have a home
5 Finish - take the items from other rooms to where they belong

E If EVERYBODY else depends on you, self-care is a must. Stock up on generic cold/ flu/ D & V medications. Have some stand by simple ,meals (soup, stew, sandwiches) for when you can barely stand up (and soft things for sore throats - yoghurt, ice cream, hot chocolate). You may think your skin never sees the light of day but try to pamper yourself once a week and smother yourself in body lotion/ moisturiser - and keeping hydrated is still important.

T THINK OF OTHERS Donate to the food bank (or charity of your choice). Donate excess possessions to keep the cs going - your unwanted items could be someone else's treasure. Get your children to sort through their toys and donate (or sell) outgrown toys and get rid of broken ones. Put a pile of small coins in your bag for collection boxes. It really is better to give than to receive.

So who wants to take part?

grandmanerd · 28 September 2024 at 7:27PM

Reserved for Contenders
1 grandmanerd
2 beanielou
3 apple muncher
4 ditty1234
5 DawnW
6 wwenancyinAmerica
7 dizzybind
8 Shrewbie
9 f0xholes (AKA No 55)
10Dr Carrie
11Ladybird1106
12Betharooni
13Flying by
14laura lau
15Idee2111
16Esmerelda2552
17
18ThriftyTaylor