NST January 2025: Freedom!

apple_muncher

NST January 2025: Freedom!

What came to your mind first when you read this title? Financial freedom? Physical freedom? Freedom from what other people think of you? Freedom is different for each one of us and as Ninja Saving Turtles, we like to look at the whole picture and nibble away at improving our situation.

Without further ado:

Fashionista! Check over your wardrobe to see what you do and don’t wear. Is it fit to give away? What will need replacing soon. Keep a list with you to see if you can source it cheaper. You could even try the 333 project – dress with 33 items or less for 3 months.

Revolutionary! Rebellious! Resourceful! Refuse to do things you don’t want to do. Refuse to bring into the house things that won’t make you happy in the long term. Refuse to spend time with those that drain you. And reuse, recycle etc

Evolutionary! Keep evolving, keep changing, keep learning.

Eat well for the body you want! Nourish yourself, body and soul. Love yourself.

Do good to others! Donate time/money/stuff. And dance to the music (see M)

Old-fashioned ways have a lot to be said in their favour. Have a gander at the board on the forum to get some ideas.

Music! Play an instrument! Sing in the shower! Dance! Enjoy the rhythm/beat/lyrics.

I considered using the word NEW too, but it didn’t seem to fit above, so it’s in the non-negotiables:

No spend days – NSDs – 14 please. It includes any spending except DDs, yellow sticker items, travel, medical needs.

Elephant in the room. What is that thing that you avoid tackling? At east acknowledge it and face it. If possible, write it down and aim to nibble at it this month.

Wish list. What do you want from the year ahead? Do you have 25 things you want to do in 2025? 25 places to go? 25 brands of chocolate to try? (Hmmm, that one might just be me!!!)

And finally, BUDGET. Did you overspend last month? Do you have credit card debt to pay off? Were you paid early last month, so the money feels like it has to stretch further? What’s your plan for this month?

Who is with me on the way to freedom?

apple_muncher

Freedom seekers:

1 apple_muncher

2 FrugalAspirations

3 Betharooni

4 DawnW

5 beanielou

6 ditty1234

7 Esmeralda2662

8 weenancyinAmerica

9 grandmanerd

10 Pauper1

11 laura_lau

12 teapot2

13 ldee2111

14 abundant1972

15 dizzyblnd

16 Shrewbie

17 cybertortoise

18 Thrifty_Taylor

19 Flying_By

20 craftingmad

55 f0xh0les

FrugalAspirations

Sign me up!

Betharooni

I’m in again for January please.

DawnW

Yes please @apple_muncher !

beanielou

Yes please @apple_muncher. Thanks for setting up the thread. 

ditty1234

Dear Apple, can I please join! 

Esmeralda2662

Please can I join you all, @apple_muncher? Thanks for setting up the thread. X

weenancyinAmerica

I'd like to try again this month. I need all the help I can get.

grandmanerd

Thanks for the new thread apple. Please sign me up. January will be a strange month. Next Monday the old kitchen gets ripped out and building of the new shower room and toilet begins. I've tried to anticipate (more water to be bought as I don't want to be up and down stairs and couldn't carry bottles down if I refilled them in the bathroom.

ditty1234

Hi all this is my freedom check in:

Fashionista! My main aim is to wear my clothes proud, and not hide it in the cupboard. I have a pair of trousers I would like i dye and another pair I would like to fit better, Primarily the only thing is a big long winter coat - but I will try and get it second hand or on super sale as it is not currently on the budget.

Revolutionary! Rebellious! Resourceful! Refuse I have a reorganisation due of my living room, and after this week I will be prioritising my creative work and creative people in my life to feed more exciting project - finish one and start a new one.

Evolutionary! I am trying to organise study days with friends to learn new photographic and print making techniques.

Eat well for the body you want! Yep it shall be a simple and cheap month of eating, with a lot of vegetarian food. Am trying to love making dal's.

Do good to others! My aim is to be a good little teacher and to be good to my friends - I di tend to get caught up in my own problems that I have often created myself

Old-fashioned ways have a lot to be said in their favour. My first aim is to renegotiate my broadband contract which runs out in mid January.

Music! On this one I need to get back to writing my poetry no matter how bad it might be :-)

No spend days – NSDs – 14 please. I shall aim high for 20 as I pretty much don't have any money to spend!

Elephant in the room. My elephant is job searching and physically tiding up. There is a fair amount to do.

Wish list. I love this - I shall work on my wish list of 25 things today.

Yes, I am on a budget, I just have enough money to pay my bills. But it will be a push and I don't like it.  I shall be planning forward massively, to get back into a very MSE mindset, I feel it has slipped lately.

Apple thanks for running this thread.