NST JULY

grandmanerd

Ninja Saving Turtles JULY 2025
The turtles get together each month with the aim of getting out of debt, saving (to buy a house, take the trip of a lifetime, pay off the mortgage or retire) and live within our means whilst having fun. We encourage, sympathise, office helpful hints and celebrate wins. No turtle gets left behind.

I start with some words of wisdom from OurMindfulLife.com
JULY REMINDERS
Choose Happiness. Choose Health. Choose Yourself
The time that you enjoy is not wasted
You deserve as much of your attention as others
You can be a nice person and still Have Boundaries

HELLO JULY
Just be you because you are
Unique, worthy and amazing
Live every day to the fullest
You deserve all the good in the world

The JULY CHALLENGE
Choose Happiness. It can be a choice even in the most difficult of times. I read recently that 'granny hobbies' may be the key to happiness - knitting, sewing, reading, gardening, crafts

 Choose Health. Make wise choices about what you eat and drink. Choose to move even if it's sitting in a chair or you get breathless after two minutes. Check your mood each day. Cooking from scratch means you know exactly what is in your food (good for your budget, good for your health)

Choose Yourself. This is not selfish. Too many of us respond to the demands of friends, family, our bosses, societal expectations (shoulds and musts), take on far too much and have nothing left for ourselves. Turtles have chosen to tread a different path, building a life on what truly matters rather than chasing 'the Joneses' who live on credit.

The time that you enjoy is not wasted. We all need enough sleep, time to recover and rest and to spend time doing things we love, that give us joy. Life is for living, not just surviving

You deserve as much of your attention as others. Treat others as you would like to be treated but start with treating yourself well. If your own needs have been met, you will have more energy and capacity to give to others. List 3 gratitudes at the end of each day.

You can be a nice person and still Have Boundaries. The Art of saying NO (nicely). You also need to set boundaries with yourself. Set your monthly BUDGETS so that the money you have goes to supporting the life you want. If needed, set yourself a TIME  BUDGET. Check out how you currently spend time (make a chart and note down what you are doing at 15 minute intervals throughout the day). If you have unmet needs, work out what activities can be cut back (mindless screening, silently fuming over things other people did or didn't do) and use that for things you really want to do  - studying, crafts, sitting quietly outside.


JUST BE YOU, there's no-one else like you. 
    JUST get on with it - make a start, just do some of it if you can't do it all, do a bit each day
    JUST - always stand up for what is just and do what you can. People in many regions and in the UK are living in poverty and deprivation. The Trussell Trust is currently campaigning for school holiday support. There are many international Aid organisations. Donate your unwanted clothes and furniture to charitable organisations.
    JUST concentrate on NOW.  We like to plan and prepare but beware of freefall anxiety. We need to enjoy things as they happen, keep grounded.

Unique, worthy and amazing. 
     UNIQUE life plan. ASSESS your future plans (we are at the mid pint of the year). Are you on track or do you need a reset? Are parts of your plans redundant and no longer meet your needs?
     WORTHY - many of us struggle with this. Try to include pampering activities this month.
     AMAZING The world is a wonderful and amazing place. Take notice this month.

LIVE EVERY DAY TO THE FULLEST  If you are unwell and struggle to get yourself into the shower or out of your pyjamas, build small joys into your day

YOU DESERVE ALL THE GOOD IN THE WORLD and that is what I wish for you this month.

 

beanielou

Thanks @grandmanerd for our shiny new thread. 

grandmanerd

July Challenge Contenders
1    beanilou
2    grandmanerd
3    Rowan
4    apple-muncher
5    KajiKita
6    f0xh0les
7    DawnW
8    Betharooni
9    weenancyinAmerica

Rowan9

Grandmanerd thank you so much for this. It makes me smile. I’d love to join again please 

apple_muncher

I'm in! Thank you!

KajiKita

I’ll toddle along at the back somewhere please … 😊

KK

f0xh0les

I'm going to sunny Bolt-0n for work for a week so might disappear in the middle, but would love to join you all for the start and end of a Jubilant July Jamboree ( does anyone apart from guides and scouts jamboree? Is it a protected characteristic, like cheeses? Is it a verb? Is it a plane?  No, it is f0xh0les off on one again)  I digress.  Must be all the tinsel.

f0xh0les

Pinch punch first of the month  and no returns!

apple_muncher

What were you doing up so early, f0xh0les?

f0xh0les

I could not decide if it was a sexy fox who was confused and barking for advice, or a very obnoxious seagull scared of the dark.... or possibly a menage of the two (or more, who am I to judge) but I said bad words inside my head and wished to be asleep, but after 15 minutes I gave up and checked my phone for the time.  Then the hungry ghosts appeared. I am not rested. 

Binmen started at 5.30 am dragging the bins around, I gave up and got up.

Happy July!

apple_muncher

Start as you mean to go on, eh???