NST NOVEMBER

grandmanerd

NST NOVEMBER

The Ninja Saving Turtles were inspired by Ninja Saving Kat (NSK - look up her original awe inspiring challenges) so that we could continue as a group when Kat went off on her travels. Kat's essentials were - knowing your debt free date, setting all your budgets before the start of the month (and sticking to them) and a random rule. I'm not Kat, I can't tell people to get to the gym 3 times a week when I struggle to get up and down the yard. WE all play to our own strengths and weaknesses - I'm dogged and persistent and mostly resilient, ('I get knocked down, but I get up again' Chumbawumba). So here is my humble attempt at this month's challenge.

N NEEDS not WANTS This means making good buying choices,cutting down on frivolous purchases. BUT it also means thinking about what you, your body and your mind really need - lots of water and veg but knowing there are times when only chocolate will do (more info on benefits of certain foods and how to understand cravings during the month)

O ONLY BUY Things Your Family Will Eat. Forget the Christmas ads - if you all hate sprouts, don't have them, why buy nuts when no one eats them. Make the whole family share the responsibility by listing 10 things that 'make Christmas' for them. If it isn't on their list, they can't complain that it's not on the table. I know that this is the November thread but I it makes sense to stock up on non-perishable essentials now - cold and flu meds (D & V?), pet food, batteries, light bulbs, toilet rolls. Minimise gifting and cards. NSDs are important (try for 10 easy or 15 harder) but at this time of year finding something on your list at a bargain price will be more cost effective than returning later.

V VISITS should be planned early, take advantage of bargain ticket prices, hand over presents and cards (saving on postage). If you have meetings where you see people once a month exchange greetings then, share a meal or a drink if appropriate (decline office parties if you hate them or they're expensive).

E EXERCISE Move your body to keep warm. Winter walks can be magical. (wrap a scarf over your mouth if cold air causes breathing problems). Use household furniture and fittings for exercises (even putting away pots one at a time helps get in your steps). Don't rush back to the gym after flu (heart attack risk). Do puzzles to keep your brain sharp, jigsaws help with eye and hand co-ordination.

M Have a MINIMAL ROUTINE for bad days and busy times. Easy options for eating, build cleaning habits.

B BUDGETS and RESOURCES. Set your budgets by the end of the first week (late posting). Think about your resources too. For years I only used white paint. Once the children had settled at school, I would go round, painting woodwork and touching up the walls that were covered in hand prints - around doors and light switches. Many things can be fixed by you (or at least stopped from causing further damage). Throws can be used to cover shabby furnishings. You are amazing. There's nearly always a solution.

E ENERGY Conserve yours. Family, friends, work and society will have expectations (+ tons of advertising pressure). Build in fun activities and make time for rest, relaxation and time to recharge. Think of ways to allow children to run off excess energy. Delegate tasks and responsibility.

R REMEMBER OTHERS. There will be many calls on your purse - school activities and fundraising, appeals and adverts. However there are lots of ways to make a difference - socks and a second best coat to a homeless shelter, buy an extra tin, packet or jar to put in the trolley for the local food bank, buy cards and presents from a charity/ charity shop (I used to treat myself to candles and posh lavender soap). One year I used all the shrapnel from my 'penny a day' challenge (I'd swapped useful coins for notes during the year) and filled a variety of collection boxes with it. A reverse advent calendar can be good fun (and reduces clutter in your home). I'm not a fan of making everything into a 'worthy' experience for children but even in my poor childhood we took time each year to weed out old and broken toys to donate or discard.

That's it. Who will join me?

weenancyinAmerica

I really need to join again. My surgery has been postponed until March (unless there is a cancellation before then). Good news is that a local company is going to paint and carpet the new bookstore in the library for the Friends of the Library. They are providing everything including the workpeople to take care of everything. Then we are going to get to move to our new bookstore in January - so I can be there to oversee everything as I am the President of the Friends. Can't do any actual work as I can't stand up, but I can sort sitting down and direct everyone on where to put the signs and the books.

We are expecting rain for the next three days - heavy rain. We are also having higher than ever tides along our beach cities, so they are already flooded even before the rain gets here. Someone was kayaking down the main street of one of the towns yesterday. We had driven down there just a month ago. This storm may cross the country so may be headed for all of you. Get your food supplies in early. And your cat litter - an important consideration in my house with three cats (plus their treats - most important according to the cats).

I always copy the month's instructions grandmanerd so I can look at them as the month goes along. And refer back to them in later months. This site has helped my sanity such as it is at this point. Keep up the good work.

Thank you @apple_muncher for last month. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through the month with all the problems we are having here. With your help, I am still here and not running around screaming my head off.

grandmanerd

Reserved for contenders (if you want a number)

1 grandmanerd

2 weenancy

3 beanielou

4 apple-muncher

5 Rowan9

6 Saipan

7 Esmerelda2662

beanielou

Thanks @grandmanerd for our shiny new challenge.
Can I please be no 3. Thanks. 🙏

apple_muncher

Please add me too, grandmanerd. Love the challenge!

Rowan9

can you please add me grandmanerd? Thanks for doing this month’s challenge. i always read along but will try to post more x

grandmanerd

Sunday 1st November 2026

Welcome one and all.

Pootling - to move or spend time in a slow, relaxed and unhurried way, without any pressure or urgency. Happy pootling turtles

Things Within Your Power This Week

How kindly you treat yourself

The Conversations you engage with

The food and drink you consume

How much news or noise you let in

The way you speak to yourself after a hard moment

How you care for your body when it's overwhelmed

How much you compare yourself to others

The routines that keep you steady

(@mental.health.with.emma)

Saipan

Hello Turtles 👋

I’d love to join in this month please, if you’ll have me.

I have been reading along for months, love the challenges, and have decided to take the plunge and start posting.

Thanks to everyone for inspiring me and to @grandmanerd for this month’s amazing challenge.

J x

beanielou

Happy November everyone. My aim is to continue with the decluttering.

Esmeralda2662

Hi @grandmanerd, please can I join in? Thank you! x

apple_muncher

Pinch punch! First of the month!

No returns !

can't believe no one else did this 🤣

I have a busy week ahead with either work or appointments every day, plus helping Pip get things ready for him having several friends over on Saturday.

Today I am grateful for chatting with friends, for my car, for a neighbour complimenting the work I've done on the front garden, for Pip always talking to me about things.