NST January 2025: Freedom!

dizzyblnd

Can I join please @applemuncher? I didn’t do too bad in December. Think I finished with around 14 nsds, I lost count towards the end. Budgets were mostly stick to, although I did spend a little bit more than planned but I just love buying people gifts and things to do. I have already cleared all credit cards though so not terrible. 

Need to think about 25 things to do in 2025. 25 things to declutter in 2025. 25 places to go in 2025. 

2025 feels monumental doesn’t it? I can clearly remember 2000 and that was 25 years ago. Quarter of a century ago. Madness. I want to set myself some big goals. I want this to be a good year. 

Started my January with nsd#1. Have barely left the sitting room. Have caught up on some telly and put away Christmas decorations. Weather today was awful, wet, cold and dark. Bring on more daylight hours. 

Hope everyone is well. Happy new year! 

Betharooni

NSD #1 achieved. Got paid on 31st, money shuffle done and just waiting for DDs to start leaving my account tomorrow.

Quietish day today, spent a little while scanning some pictures from a photo album so that album can be distributed elsewhere, made a big roast and DB2 came over to spend the evening with us. Nice time had by all so counting as a success. DB1 spent the afternoon clearing out some out of date and/or unwanted bits from one of the kitchen cupboards so it’s looking a bit emptier in there. 

Tomorrow I need to make a couple of phone calls, read through a couple of magazines that I want to get rid of, sort out some wool to string a whiteboard up with, bag up some other bits to be taken to my aunts with the photo album, and sort out the rubbish and recycling ready to go on Friday first thing. 

Today I’m thankful for spending time with DB2, getting those photos scanned so we can get the album out of the house this weekend, and that the kitten was fairly well-behaved with DS2.

f0xh0les

Happy Second of January! 

Volunteering today so it messes up being able to do much before I go. 

My bedroom is very green now.  Will do the cutting in later on today.

The dryer has broken (deliberate passive voice - I know who did it! F07 error) so £5 spent on new thermostatic valve, it will arrive on Friday.  Will print out a big notice that says DO NOT OPEN DOOR UNTIL IT HAS STOPPED.  Honestly!

List of stuff to be done, All bills have gone out, money shuffled, 1/4 of credit card bill paid off early,  there is food in the house, the heating  is working, we are not flooded! Hooray! Plenty to be grateful about.

grandmanerd

Spent most of the last 2 days on the couch with frequent loo visits (drinking lots of water and fizzy drinks) and little efforts at cooking (have a plan for a shortcut). New Year's Eve I dozed off all the time (11 hours according to my machine) and was snuggled up by 8.30 pm. I did see in the New Year because I woke up and took a sack of cans to the bins and the Church clock started to gear up when I was outside. Quite aa few fireworks but mostly loud bangs, no pretty ones.

I have the room set up to work my way through stuff, weeding out donations and recycling and organising the rest so food stocks and cooking facilities and accessible (it's all on couches  and other surfaces so I can work through the bags and boxes, sitting on a chair and no bending to get things off the floor). I am anxious about the building work, just coping with the no water, limited cooking facilities and access to the loo. No money has been spent thus far. I did ask DS3 to get me some choc hob n o b s but he claimed neither of the 2 little shops (off licenses with other bits tagged on) had any. I've managed to do my last 4 food deliveries with no chocolate or biscuits included (some must have been out of stock because I'm sure I put one or two on the list).

I have plenty of pampering to do (various bits in urgent need of attention) so I'll start with that, eat my yoghurt with porridge oats and then make a start. 

Wishing all turtles and lurkers a healthy 2025 with less debt, less baggage and lots of joyous moments.

f0xh0les

Embrace the chaos @grandmanerd. 
It will look horrendous, you will feel sick and wonder what on earth you were thinking of, and then it will take shape and be what you need.  Don't fret, they know what they are doing. 
Easier said than done. 

KxMx

@grandmanerd Have you considered moving out into a hotel, or fully equipped air b&b while the work is going on?

Day hotel rooms are also a thing. 

I did living with major renovations once which was one time too many. 

When my kitchen was done last year I went to an air b&b for a week which had everything full kitchen etc.

Carried on my life from a different address, no mess noise or lack of facilities to contend with. 

Zero regrets and when my turn comes for a bathroom, I'll happily do the same. 

grandmanerd

KxMx said:

@grandmanerd Have you considered moving out into a hotel, or fully equipped air b&b while the work is going on?

Day hotel rooms are also a thing. 

I did living with major renovations once which was one time too many. 

When my kitchen was done last year I went to an air b&b for a week which had everything full kitchen etc.

Carried on my life from a different address, no mess noise or lack of facilities to contend with. 

Zero regrets and when my turn comes for a bathroom, I'll happily do the same. 

Yes, it's an idea at the back of my mind. I will need to be here some of the time as we will be discussing as we go along, but I have thought about booking into a hotel for a few days when I can't take it anymore and need a break. I have discussed my birthday with DS1 (no present as I cannot cope with any more stuff coming in at the moment) but I asked to be taken for a meal. What I would really like, but haven't got the courage to raise it atm, is to go to his house for a few days (maybe a weekend after Mr and Mrs Builder stop for the day at 3 pm Friday) and then bring me back on Sunday evening. I don't need amusing (I  can take books, puzzles and games), I just want to sit on the couch, be fed (or I can get a lot from the salad bar) and ideally be sent back with a doggy bag of leftovers to get me through 2 or 3 days.
 

laura_lau

Ok, here comes my plan and considerations for the (year) month. 

January Freedom, what came to my mind when I first saw it? Financial freedom, not having to worry how will I pay my bills if I lose my job, and at the same freedom from the constraints of a corporate job. I still haven't figured out how I can make the two work together, as, from my experience, it's always either one or the other.

Fashionista! Check over your wardrobe to see what you do and don’t wear. - As you know, I have been doing lots of wardrobe decluttering since August last year, and I'm very pleased about it. I know there are still a few things which I have kept and could say goodbye to. I do not think I will get around to that in January, I might have to wait to end of season, but I will keep a conscious eye out. I have also subscribed for the first time to the Fashion with the ration challenge, to actively force myself to avoid buying clothes and yarn this year as much as I can, which I think fits nicely. I like the idea of keeping a list with me of what I really need, and see if I can source it cheaper and get a better deal. My aim is, if I have to buy, to rely on charity shops as much as I can.

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 - This is going to be very big for me. The reuse and recycle is going to feed into the fashion with the ration challenge, as I vow to work on projects from my yarn stash for the year. I might make an exception for yarn advents at the end of the year, as they are my Christmas present to myself, but I will reassess after the first quarter. I want to commit to only buying what I absolutely need, and only if I can't find it second hand. And I definitely will not sign up to do things I don't want to do, or spend time with people who drain me, I have cut a person last year, and, once I will get over the guilt, I will feel very good about it.

Evolutionary! Keep evolving, keep changing, keep learning. -  learning is my middle name, I love constantly learning new things. I actually am going to try and rein it in this month, as I wish for a slightly more quiet time, so learning in moderation, for once!

Eat well for the body you want! Nourish yourself, body and soul. Love yourself. - need to work on this, have indulged a lot in the past month and I can definitely feel it, from next week I am cutting on unnecessary carbs, as I found out I feel much better when I get out of the sugar circle.

Do good to others! Donate time/money/stuff. And dance to the music - always! I am resuming my volunteering this Saturday, so some of my free time will regularly be donated. 

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. - I believe the fashion with the ration challenge is one of the old fashioned challenges? It will be a year long commitment, but I am onboard with it!

Music! Play an instrument! Sing in the shower! Dance! Enjoy the rhythm/beat/lyrics. - I love singing but since I've moved here I've been doing it much less, as I always have the feeling someone will hear me, as I can always hear the neighbours talking... Will see how I can work on that.

No spend days – NSDs – 14 please.  - I've signed up for 18 this month, and I secretly hope to be able to do more.

Elephant in the room. What is that thing that you avoid tackling? At east acknowledge it and face it. - this probably has to do with the reflection on Freedom and with my level of debt and money management. I've been budgeting and keeping track of things, which is definitely more than I used to do until a year or so ago, but I really need to be more strict, especially as the works to renovate the bedroom last September and October have eaten away on the little savings I had managed to set aside, as they cost about twice what was originally quoted. Consequence of that has been a renovated higher use of credit cards, which means I am in no better place than I was a year ago, apart from having repaid 2 (non-credit card) debts. so January really means a renewed focus on this goal.

Wish list. What do you want from the year ahead? Do you have 25 things you want to do in 2025? - I still need to properly think about this, and about the 1000 days plan. Writing it here, so it serves as a reminder, if I don't get round to do it, when I do the end of month considerations.

ditty1234

Happy new year to everybody!
Today I am grateful I made it to my studio and for having undone a lot of the problems I created for myself last year. But there is still a way to go so onwards and upwards. 

DawnW

NSD #2 for me today. I have been to work, and nowhere else.