NST No!vember 2024

ditty1234

Hi @Shrewbie can I please join. No to things and yes to people - I am all for that. I am ready for a bit of clearing out to get a fresh start. I have been slowly going through the house doing layer one - trying to put everything where it belongs or find a place for things. Moving forward from being a carer to being a supportive mum of adult children. And also just being me and working out what it is that I am going to do next?
I am so incredibly grateful for this thread, so I would not be without it, even if I am not the most faithful! 
My financial goal at the moment is to pay my bills, top up my savings, get hold of a dishwasher and go visit my mum. 
And find a new lovely job as soon as possible :-) 
Although currently the job is hiding and I am out of ideas for what to apply for, as essentially a burnt out art teacher!
And as above - I need to actually adhere to my budget, I have already gone over in this past week - oops. 
Happy November and Movember, ds2 already have a proper Mexican style moustache - he started back in the beginning of October. And Ds1 was sporting a full beard when he went back to uni yesterday. 

f0xh0les

Happy Shiny New Month!!! 🎉 
Bills have been paid, money has been shunted.
I am applying for jobs now for me, as well as sending them to DS1 and DS2.  Hopefully there will not be too many No!s coming my way. 
I have plenty of craft fairs coming up this month to visit. I am very good at looking and not buying. I walk to them so count it as exercise. You might get some ideas for another side hustle @ditty at these 'arty fairs' ....
Right, off to clear my tiny shopping list ( cornflour and fruit cordial and bread) and get back in time for lunch with DH. 
It's Friday!!

basketcase

SAY NO TO:

PAYING MORE FOR THINGS THAN I SHOULD

I’m not getting the best deals and I’ve been a bit of a roundtuit.  Not in NO!vember.  So I’m going to do the following:

Banking - I’ve had a package for years, but the fee is now ridiculous (£19/month) for fewer and less benefits.  Definitely time for a NO

Internet – Vodafone is now an eyewatering £75.30 for a speed we can’t get and a landline that isn’t really a landline and we never use.  (Because it isn’t really a landline!)  So NO.

Mobile – the data usage is very low, especially for what I’m paying.  This isn’t too bad really (SIM only), but I’m sure I can do better.  So another NO.

EVENTS

I’ve got a few events on this month.  But rather than saying NO on this one, I think I should say NO to saying NO!  I’m aware that I’ve been cutting myself off from people IRL and online and I need to reverse that.

 

DECLUTTERING THE PHYSICAL SPACE:

Implement 5 min tidying bursts – I like this.  I’ve got lists of 1 and 2 minute jobs, so I’ll combine doing those with 5 minute tasks and see how it goes.  I won’t set a target, because they don’t really work for me.  If I don’t reach it I disappoint myself.  If I don’t set one, everything’s a win!

 

PLANS for NOVEMBER

• I’ve aimed for, and managed, at least 12 NSDs every month this year.  Of course, the target should be more than 12, but I set it low to be easily achievable.  I think it’s time to up my game and say 15!  (Still achievable, as I've been doing that most months!)
• I sorted loads of paperwork in October.  Next step is to finish the filing then I update my budgets and banking records.  This and the 3 financial NOs above should clear the way for me to start using my organising and financial tracking systems again.
• I’m halfway through sorting seasonal clothing and bedding, so I need to put that in storage and get the stuff I don’t want out of the house.
• I’ve got an allotment plot which needs a major tidy.  I also need to get the beds rearranged and mulched/ planted for winter.

 

Do you know, I haven’t done anything yet and I feel better already!  Like Betharooni, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by everything and so just putting it in writing does help.

 

Now all I have to do is get that lot done!

laura_lau

I'd like to take part in it! I just saw a post somewhere on social media that was suggesting a similar exercise and I did think "this sounds exactly what I need now!", so this is perfect for me, thank you @Shrewbie count me in.

beanielou

I am trying very hard to not buy a Christmas cardigan!! 

laura_lau

Posting my intentions for the month:

1. Decluttering the mental state: what should I say "no" to this month? I've had a very busy Autumn, between house renovations, holidays and weekends away and work and daily life. I am really feeling I need more time to myself, but I still have 2 weekends planned, I am going to a craft fair with a friend next week for a long weekend in York, and we are going to take some time to visit the city. It's time away but I'm seeing it as a fairly relaxing one, as I don't have to fly, and we both are quite relaxed people, so that will be counted as "me" time. At the very end of the month, I am going to Stockholm to visit another friend, a weekend that I booked and planned at the beginning for the year. I planned to meet other friends during the month, so that can't be changed either. My intention is to absolutely say "NO" to anything else, for both November and December and even January. I really want to give myself time to recover and calm down the mental buzz, as I can't have this fully happening in November, I aim to extend and not plan too much of the coming months. I want to say "NO" to anything that is going to prevent me from feeling comfortable and relaxing and doing what I like. I'm going to say "NO" to all unnecessary spending, even in view of Christmas, as I have already most of the presents and I want to make some things myself using my stash yarn. 
2. Decluttering the physical space: this is a very strong point at the moment. After renovating the bedroom, we are still in the process of moving things back to the room, as I want to declutter as much as possible before putting them in the new space. I have already listed about 10 garments on Vint*d in October, sold most of them, and have already photographed about 15 more, which I am going to list in the next few days. I also donated 1 full bag of clothes and 2 pair of shoes. I still have to wash and box half of the Summer clothes, and want to take out a few pieces from there too, so I can sell or donate, so this is on the list fore November. Also I will be saying "NO" to spending on yarn and craft supplies - I will be going to the fair but mainly to have a lovely day out. I need to buy 1 present for my aunt when I go, so that will be my spending. I like the idea of the 5 minutes bursts, however I will decide after this weekend - I need to do a weekend-long deep dive, as OH and I really want to have the living back to an enjoyable state, so we are both spending the weekend home doing as much decluttering, organising and cleaning as we can. Wish us luck! After that, I will probably have a better idea on what the 5 minute bursts will be used for.
3. Goals and positive changes: NSD's - I am going to aim for 18 again, it worked out just fine in October and, since I have still 2 weekends away and 1 day in London planned, I think this is achievable but still realistic. The positive changes I would like to create this month is to have time to stop and pause and listen to myself, find a bit of calmness to appreciate the time of year.

While I am here, today is my first NSD of the month! Today I am grateful for it being almost the weekend, for my work which offered free flu jabs to all employees who wish to do it (so I was able to go to the pharmacy earlier today to get my free jab), and for finally having the time, mental space and energy to get the declutter and organising done in the flat starting from today (I actually started a bit yesterday when I got home from work).
Happy November Turtles!

Shrewbie

beanielou said:

I am trying very hard to not buy a Christmas cardigan!! 

argh!! will it make you happy? then do it!! You've been doing so well with the NSDs I feel like you deserve it.

grandmanerd

beanielou said:

I am trying very hard to not buy a Christmas cardigan!! 

How is it special? I know you aren't going to spend cash on some random piece of carp, so why?

dizzyblnd

Shrewbie said:

beanielou said:

I am trying very hard to not buy a Christmas cardigan!! 

argh!! will it make you happy? then do it!! You've been doing so well with the NSDs I feel like you deserve it.

I fully agree with @Shrewbie

dizzyblnd

Happy new month! It’s November and after a week off work I am feeling rested and organised. I’m sure it won’t last longer than 9am Monday morning ha ha. My washing is up to date although I now need to put it all away. Nsd #1 today woohoo! I was hoping to list at least 1 thing on v1nted today so need to do that before bed.