NST October 2026: Change

apple_muncher

Change.

Bowie said in 1972: "Turn and face the strange / Ch-ch-changes / Just gonna have to be a different man". Change is strange and difficult, but facing it is better than standing still.

It can be scary. Exciting. Avoided. Embraced.

October marks the change of the seasons into a very definite autumn, as the trees change colour and shed. Even the clocks change!

Life will always bring change, whether we are looking for it or not. We choose how to respond to it.

I'm not a great fan of change, but trying to avoid it means that my life shrinks, and I don't want that.

So this month, I choose to embrace change, in all its forms.

Change - instigate some positive ones that you will stick with.

Help others where you can. Donations. A meal deal for a homeless person. Clear your things and give them to a charity shop. Be kind to others.

Advance your goals, however big, small, easy or seemingly impossible you think they are.

NSDs are the staple of money saving, so set yourself a number (in double digits please).

Grab a bargain when you see it. That date in December will arrive before we know it, and in the 2 months before, prices will rise. They always do. So get ahead of the game, enforce 'no presents pacts'. If you plan (note that is the key word) to buy things on black Friday (or weekend, or month!), then make sure it really is cheaper.

Embrace yourself - give yourself lots of love and care.

Who will join me?

DawnW

Ooh do you mean October @apple_muncher ?

Confused now!

grandmanerd

Thanks ffor this apple. Can I join, but please note my internet access is intermittent.

weenancyinAmerica

I'd like to join too. May be in hospital and maybe not. Massive confusion right now.

apple_muncher

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82156760#Comment_82156760

oops!

all changed (🤣) now!

Kerry_Woman

Can I join please.

beanielou

Thanks @apple_muncher Can I please be no 3.

Rowan9

I’d love to join please Apple.
I retire at the end of this month so it is all change for me. Am getting into the mindset a bit in advance
Rowan x

Esmeralda2662

Hi @apple_muncher, please can I join you all for October? Thank you x

DawnW

Yes please @apple_muncher now I am no longer confused 😂

I am on my own this weekend as OH has gone to an event and to see his sister. I stayed here with the dog, as neither the event, nor his sister's house is suitable for dogs. I didn't do a great deal yesterday, but slept really well last night and need to make a plan. So I am committing to doing the following:

Prep a pineapple that is ripe and attracting fruit flies, of which we seem to have a plague at the moment. I will put the prepared pieces in a glass dish in the fridge. I have been putting it off as it is such a sticky messy job. OH usually does it, but he isn't here so I had better get on with it.

Another load of washing and peg it out on the line. Yesterday's load mostly dried, now finishing off on the airer.

Hoover and dust the main bedroom

Dog walk # 2. I have done the morning one.

Wash down the path by the gate which is messy.

Put out the bin for collection tomorrow morning.

For my solo meals, I am using up fridge bits. I had an odd dinner yesterday, but really enjoyed it. A fried egg on the last bit of a loaf toasted, and roasted cauliflower with leftover HM bbq sauce on the side. Sounds weird but was really delicious. I have some roasted cauliflower left so will incorporate that into a salad for today 😊 I never bother with meat when OH is away.

I will be back later to keep myself accountable, and ensure I haven't forgotten anything - except the dog. He won't allow me to forget 😄

Rowan9

we need food shopping today but have my trusty list and will stick to it. Meals have been batch cooked lately and we eat same thing for three days which is handy. Neither of us minds same meals. I just add chilli flakes to DH plate.
sourced a cheaper deal for lovely dog’s sensitive food. Pleased with that.
autumn plans include knitting jumper for one of the boys. I have the wool and saw a nice pattern on Etsy. Will be for a grandson or grand nephew depending who fits it when I finish.
plan to try making flat breads this month never made them before but they look straightforward.
Will also begin to look for socks and second hand books for adult Christmas gifts. My daughter did this for us all a couple of the December C word ago, splitting multi packs of socks, and it was perfect. She added a bar of choc. We do either £5 or £10 agreed amount for adults.
The main change I am making this month is to ease up a bit pre retirement I do a meditation with a colleague every Friday afternoon and I’m wondering when I let it slip to that as I used to do this daily and started meditating 30 years ago Work is incredibly full on with more expected of us and a smaller team so I am going to see where I can realistically ease things

Oh I’ve used the C word so will go back and change it before you read this folks x