NST April 2026: Thrift and Thrive

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NST April 2026: Thrift and Thrive

The connection between thrive and thrift is both deeply rooted in etymology and practically linked in modern sustainability, where careful resource management (thrift) enables long-term prosperity and well-being (thrive).

 Here is the breakdown of the connection between the two:

1. Etymological Roots (Origins)

• Shared Origin: "Thrift" is directly derived from the verb "thrive".
• Viking Siblings: It stems from Old Norse roots, specifically þrift, which is related to þrifask ("to thrive") and þrifa ("to grasp to oneself").
• Original Meaning: Originally (c. 1300), "thrift" did not mean saving money; it meant the "fact of thriving," prosperity, or profit.
• Evolution: By the 1520s, the meaning shifted from simply prospering to the careful management of money (frugality) needed to prosper. 

2. Conceptual Link: "Thrift to Thrive"

• Resistant Practice: Modern interpretations view thrift not as mere frugality or scarcity, but as a deliberate, mindful approach to consumption that rejects wastefulness.
• Sustainability: By adopting a "thrift" lifestyle (buying second-hand, repairing, and repurposing), individuals and communities can reduce their carbon footprint by an average of 25%, supporting environmental health.
• "Spendthrift" Paradox: Because "thrift" once meant prosperity, a "spendthrift" is historically understood as someone who spends all their savings. Don't be one of these!!!

In summary, thrift is the means, and thrive is the end result. Thrift means saving and careful management, which allows people and the planet to prosper (thrive).

I feel that these 2 words sum up us as Ninja Saving Turtles. We want to thrive in our lives, and to be able to do that, we are thrifty.

In April, set your own NSD (no spend day) target. You may wish to not set a target of NSDs but focus more on spending less overall. You will not lose an NSD is you buy fuel, medical items, reduced items, so long as that is all you buy. Direct debits do not count as a spend as they sometimes come out of your account on different days from what was expected. Grocery shopping does count as a spend.

One tax year ends and another one begins. Is your money working for you? It's always worth another check.

Take time to be still and to look around you at nature. My sister has been posting photos of plants on our cousin's group, along with info about the name/flowers/leaves/uses…. Most of what she's taking pictures of are the small plants. The ones that grow on the kerbside. But she has said that now that she is looking for them, she is finding all sorts of new ones. Notice the little things.

Persist in looking after yourself. Eat well. Drink enough water. Get fresh air. Meditate. Read. Create. Move your body.

Have a budget and stick to it. There are 2 weeks of school holidays and chocolate galore, so think ahead.

Enjoy what you do, the company you keep, the hobbies you have. Relish the food that you eat. Be grateful for all you have and aim to post on here with some daily gratitudes.

Who is with me?

apple_muncher

Thifters and Thrivers:

1 apple_muncher

2 grandmanerd

3 weenancyinAmerica

4 beanielou

5 FrugalAspirations

55 f0xh0les

f0xh0les

Me please @apple_muncher , again I am Sailor F0xh0les on the High(rish) Sea , taking the motley crewmates to the family I married in to. Back on Monday, I am not THAT daft.

I start this lovely spring month in a hole. Worst hole for many years, I cannot afford to pay off my credit card bill for last month and still live this month. I have a R/S maturing on the 30th of April and then I am back to being utterly fine. It is a short term cash flow problem. I thought they were all behind me, but last month was horrendous for Insurances and building surveys and birthdays and paying for this trip . I guess I pay off the credit card bill, then live frugally on the credit card for April. No other way out of it. Unless the Premium Bond fairy absolutely covers me in glittery fairy dust tomorrow.

I do have money, but it is all locked away in accounts I can't touch without penalty, so I am going to have to struggle for April and hope the weather improves so the bills will be lower and the outgoings will be less. Plus I worked a whole day in March, which will be paid at the end of April. It is worth 2 weeks of grocery money, so I am not going to be sniffy about it, I am grateful for anything coming my way. Oh, and I have £87 of work expenses coming back to me.

I wonder if they will drop my dd for fuel, as they reckon I will be over £200 better off with this price cap thingie. I took the meter readings last night and will submit them tomorrow, because it doesn't work on the 1st but does on the 2nd.

Was brave on Monday night, and had the builder round again, and he is going to be able to quote properly now, but it cost me £400 in a structural survey that I wasn't expecting last month. Knowledge is power. I am fixing this house. It will be amazing. I will love it. Then DH will get a job somewhere else and I will start all over again but with more knowledge and being better prepared for possible future major structural works.

So, my aim for April is to clear the credit card and avoid a penalty, and then be super frugal living on the credit card and pay it all off with the regular saver before the bill is even due. Starting May in a positive position.

Just gotta get through it.

grandmanerd

Me please apple.

Just back from a day of adventuring and mild peril.

Booked a taxi for today's doctor's visit. First face to face doctor's appointment since pre-pandemic. She asked what I wanted to deal with as the Practice Nurse had only booked a single appointment rather than a double. I chose my shaking hands (and legs and sometimes my whole body). The doctor was very thorough - lots of questions, checking how much I could feel with various parts, pushing against her hands, stand up, sit down, keep moving. She was most anxious about my blood oxygen levels. 94 is normal, mine wobbled about at 91 then plummetted to 85.

Would I go to the hospital (Wigan or Bolton)? It could be nothing but if it was something serious, as she had found nothing to cause it (she ruled out Parkinson's - always nice to cross off one of the big bads). How would I get there? (bus but then amended it to a taxi - not serious enough to have an ambulance). Did I have anyone to take me?.

She's going to send me for a couple of referrals (heart and lungs) and of course we need more blood and samples.

Made my way downstairs, bought 2 sandwiches and a drink (very grateful for these later) and went outside. The bus was at the bus stop (across a car park). I decided not to run for it but sat on a bench in the sunshine to assimilate everything, I tried to phone for a taxi but no-one answered so I made my way across to the bus stop to wait for the next bus.

Got off at the bus station again (miles of plastic panels where my stop should be), walked towards my house, picked up cash at the atm, sat on the bed at home, gathered a book to read, a puzzle book, a litre of water and a can. Tried the taxi firm again but was prepared to go by bus if necessary. Got through and they could send a taxi straight away. Decided this was for the best as it's another bus ride after you get to Wigan bus station.

Into the Infirmary (the Royal Albert Edward) short queue for reception, booked in, took a seat in the waiting room, called to triage, into a second room for bloods, then sent to the next block of the hospital. Struggled on the slope (someone did offer to help and walked with me to the entrance I needed). Booked in again (they were expecting me) then into the waiting room. We were obviously the walking wounded (mostly limping or in wheelchairs) and lots of children who were obviously enjoying their holidays too much. Actually the queue was shorter than it looked because many groups had a couple of kids (one injured). Still a long wait (I did lots of foot and leg exercises), read to page 111 in my book.

Finally I was called. Why was I there - handed over the letter I made the doctor write, again. Apparently my blood oxygen was normal in triage. I said thank you a lot. Sat outside, phoned for a taxi (really couldn't face 2 bus journeys) but we were running into the school run and they had nothing for an hour. I said that was fine (I had a sandwich, drinks and a book, it wasn't raining - lovely). I came home and am on the bed stretching my back. I grabbed some sliced chicken from the fridge and have my book, things to eat and drink and I may not move for the next 2 days.

Grateful for the NHS, taxi drivers (my legs weren't co-operating but they kept saying to take my time), books and picnics in the mild sunshine. Spent £44 on unplanned taxis (but didn't spend much of last month's adventuring money) so not a thrifty start but buses would have been too much physically.

grandmanerd

The doctor just phoned me to check that I was okay

weenancyinAmerica

Would like to sign up again. Actually coming on here helps keep me sane. Both of my sisters, their OHs, and both of my nephews and their OHs, took part in the No Kings rally here. I couldn't go for medical reasons or I would have joined them.

apple_muncher

grandmanerd, that sounds like an exhausting day!

Today I am grateful for a good gym session, for bumping into some neighbours, for the tulips blooming, for dh cooking tea, for soft toilet paper (we had the stuff that doubled up as tracing paper when I was at school 😱).

grandmanerd

Our first history homework was to copy and colour in a Roman centurion in his uniform. The teacher said we coucl trace it -"Unfortunately the school does not supply tracing paper - however the stuff in the toilets is perfect for the purpose"

beanielou

I’m in.
@grandmanerd. Take care of yourself. 🤗. @apple_muncher. Thanks for our shiny new thread.

weenancyinAmerica

I remember the toilet paper when I first went to England. Loved the fact that the paper in the Imperial War Museum had "Property of Her Majesty the Queen" stamped on each sheet. I also remember the really bright yellow and purple toilet paper which made me so nervous about the dyes that the first purchase I made when I arrived was a small box of toilet paper that I took with me everywhere. The purple dye in the paper towels did come off on your hands. I used to think I could make my fortune by hiring booth space at the Home Show at Earl's Court and selling US toilet paper.

FrugalAspirations

Can I join please? I've been waiting for the April thread to start!

I feel that my 'little treat' of coffee has perhaps got out of hand so will be trimming that back a bit 😅

I'll be buying a new book for book club this month at some point but will avoid any spontaneous book buying (I'm a fiend for it). I know in theory I could use the library, but something has happened to my account that means I can't get anything out and I haven't fixed it yet. We also read quite a lot of new releases.

I'm going to set a goal of 3 NSD a week, so 12 total. Definitely doable if I'm a bit more mindful of my spending.