My Regaining the Focus and Getting Back on Track Diary

chocaholic110

Definitely. It might have been a scary time otherwise!

Both cars are now serviced and ouch! Hopefully that's it for another year.

Got nearly all the ironing done today and sorted out DD's very messy wardrobe. Glad I am doing the spend less on clothes challenge as she certainly doesn't need any more. I was a bit appalled at how much she does have, many with the tags still on. It's just reinforced my decision this year to spend as little as possible on "things" and declutter the stuff we don't need. Doing ok so far, apart from spending £1 on two tops from Vertbaudet for Tom and spending £3 on a smartprice dinner set we haven't spent anything so far this year apart from a small amount on food and the usual bills that I can't avoid.

pandapaws

It never fails to amaze me how much you manage to get done with so many kids around your ankles!

Re the stuff you're selling - have you tried Gumtree? I put a couple of things on the Sheffield site and had quite a good response, and it's free which is a bonus.

It's amazing that a year has passed since you had Tom. It just reminded me of how much has happened and changed in that year. And we're all still here!

chocaholic110

I do have stuff to sell but can't really be bothered. I've been mostly freecycling - it's easier! Might have a look at gumtree though.

Lol, only Tom is round my ankles; the other two are nearly as big or bigger than I am! Luckily Tom is getting slightly more able to entertain himself, mostly by opening kitchen cupboards and saying "ooh!". He did this for about ten minutes yesterday at one cupboard. I don't know why he was so surprised - it was just the toaster that was there each time - don't know whta he was expecting! Plus he goes to bed on a night finally. He grumbles as he goes up the stairs but then goes out like a light.

chocaholic110

Ooh, just checked Valued Opinions and have enough for a £10 Argos voucher and checked Dooyoo and would have enough for a £10 Amazon voucher if that's what i cashed it in for.

lunar

Good news on the vouchers, i have been so lazy recently with bits like that. i really should get back to it all.

chocaholic110

Well, after I said I wasn't really selling anything, two people phoned up about items I had placed in the local paper last week. Even better, they were the two biggest items (a computer desk and the jumperoo) so we now have more space and I sold each for £5 more than I paid in the first place - result!

The big declutter (I feel as if that needs capitalising - The Big Declutter) has been ongoing. I have been back in DD's room today and have thrown away another binbag and a half of rubbish, plus have a bag of stuff for Freecycle, mostly books that she has two copies of. Also, I've reorganised the books and CDs and got rid of a ton of dust - I'm ashamed to admit how much was in the uplighter! DD is haggling for her bedroom to be redecorated (the whole house needs doing) which is a fair point as it as last done when she was about five and is lilac with Disney Princess stickarounds. As she's now ten she wants a more grown up bedroom and keeps looking at turquoise bedding and accessories. Not exactly how sure we'll pay for it though - maybe I'll have to save up the Dooyoo money.

Talking of which I'd better go and do a review or two...

beanielou

If you only paint it it shouldent be too expensive.
Primark for bedding?

chocaholic110

beanielou wrote: »

If you only paint it it shouldent be too expensive.
Primark for bedding?

We would just paint it and I think we could probably find the bedding and accesories reasonably in Asda or Tesco or someplace. The biggie is she really needs a new bed so I'd rather save up and do it all at the same time.

beanielou

Oh ok.waited til DS went to High school for that biggie!

chocaholic110

beanielou wrote: »

Oh ok.waited til DS went to High school for that biggie!

That might be what happens depending upon how the saving up goes!