Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 1

sophiesmum_2

FrankieM wrote: »

Afternoon all,
Today didn't turn out to be the no spend day I was hoping for and I've not managed to crack on with the work I need to do..

I decided to buy the few things I needed and get fuel so I wouldn't be spending so much next month. Its obviously still the same amount of money but psycologically, I'm hoping it will help me.

I'm really struggling to get myself motivated. I'm finding I spend to much time thinking and planning and not enough actually getting on with things. Its like I think I can change my life with dreams alone and no action. I don't know how to change it either. I've tried lists and plans and routines. They all look good on paper but they never seem to make into reality....everyone else seems to achieve so much...

Frankie you can't change everything at once, and it takes 28 days of repetition or so before something develops into a habit. Start with one thing and concentrate on getting to grips with that for a month before you introduce something else into the equation.By the end of the year you can have learnt 11 more good habits - frugally speaking:D
Don't forget some of us here are into our second year of this challenge , Nyk even further along the line which is why things are more ingrained with us - just more practice at doing it:D

Work out what you need to prioritise then choose one thing that will help you achieve that aim
eg if you can't track spends - keep spending diary for a month and concentrte on that - eventually other things start falling into place.
Good luck:D

Lesley_Gaye

FrankieM wrote: »

Afternoon all,
Today didn't turn out to be the no spend day I was hoping for and I've not managed to crack on with the work I need to do..

I decided to buy the few things I needed and get fuel so I wouldn't be spending so much next month. Its obviously still the same amount of money but psycologically, I'm hoping it will help me.

I'm really struggling to get myself motivated. I'm finding I spend to much time thinking and planning and not enough actually getting on with things. Its like I think I can change my life with dreams alone and no action. I don't know how to change it either. I've tried lists and plans and routines. They all look good on paper but they never seem to make into reality....everyone else seems to achieve so much...

One of the things that I find helpful in making things happen is to see what I can do right now, and then tomorrow. So I wouldn't bin your lists and plans, they are usually helpful to refine what you what from the 'wouldn't it be nice if's'. How about taking said lists and seeing what you can do right now to move you forward, even if it is making one phone call. And then plan another small step for tomorrow. When I do this, I really feel like I am getting somewhere, even when the target is still a long way off - and if you keep it up, one day you will find you have arrived at your target.

best of luck

2NDTIMEROUNDER

Hello to all finance professors. :)Dont laugh, I mean it. If governments,banks and more private individuals were running their finances and companies like you people, the world and the environment would be such a better place for everybody and not in such a mess such as it is right now.

Many thanks to Andromache (good luck with your new eating regime and the job hunt! ), sophiesmum (with such determination I am sure you will find an allotment in the end. A mere delay, I say), bails for your good words and wishes. It is much appreciated.:)

Savingfortravel I sympathise with the constant exhaustion. Seems to be the same with me these last months but we have to chip away at it, one bit at a time. It is the only way.:) Plus you must rest when you need to and dont push yourself too hard.

Kayharcombe your post stood out for me for what can be achieved with patience and planning for years. Against the instant gratification society we live in but proves that it works in the end if you stick at it. Well done and I hope you will have a good life with your family in the new home.

Well done the_cat for beating your budget and with such a big difference! You must be pleased with yourself.

Marru good luck with the job. Hope they come back with the good news tomorrow.

Whitewig that is an excellent idea with the boxes. If I had space I would have done it myself. Awesome.

Talk later. Keep up the good work everybody.

sophiesmum_2

Another useful step to getting things done is to break things down into smaller tasks so they don't seem so unobtainable.
eg - You may have on your list cut grocery budget to £XXX a month - seems quite daunting when you look at it that way but break it down into smaller steps

• make inventory of food in cupboards etc
• make menu plans for weeks meals
• make list of what is needed for meals
• shop using list
• cook for week according to meal plan - not necessarily in any particular order
• repeat for next week
• then try two weeks at a time
• at end of month you will have saved money on grocery spends
• start again with the next month and try and reduce spends with more careful planning/shopping

It really helps taking things a step at a time.

FrankieM

I can do the budgeting thing, the meal plan thing...its the getting off my butt thing...
Perhaps its that I'm trying to run the house well, do some work for extra money and also visit people every now and then...I'm feeling a bit stressed about not managing to do anything well.
And then of course there are the things I need to do as well, like walk/train the dog, DIY and the garden. I struggle to even want to put these on my to do list cause they are things that I don't seem to be enjoying at the moment, though I want the benefit of the end product...so a garden that I can sit in and is producing lovely veg, a dog that doesn't pull on the lead and that I can take to the corner shop without a tug of war! and of course a house that feels like its 'finished'...

sophiesmum_2

Back to my usual post before I forget.

General frugal aims for today;

• storecupboard lunch/ tea planned out with friends to Pizza hut (making use of 50% off voucher for group of us)
• reduce, reuse,recycle one item- lots of foil from lunch club recycled for guide dogs appeal,
• do something nice for me - go out with friends
• do something nice for someone else -made OH a lovely curry to have while we are out - he loves curry - I DON'T_pale_
• fitter not fatter - swim and jacuzzi before we go out for meal (damage limitation)

Todays frugal meals;

• fruit smoothie
• apple and kiwi (more damage limitation:rotfl: )
• quorn and vegetable curry for OH, with wholegrain rice and naan bread(Something from pizza hut for me and DD:eek: )

Fruit and veg portions;
4 fruit, 0 pulses,0 veggies,:D (will update after pizza hut)

Expenditure or additional income

Will probably spend somethng, but have found, pressie, card and gift bag from my stash so that is a good start. Also printed out the 50% off voucher for friend - every little helps:D





Remaining target cash for first 6 months food spends - £256.84 left from budget of £400 for first six months.

angelatgraceland

Apart from a list I tend to use a star system. Put a star by the most important task.
Then a number by the next one. I think maybe some people make their lists too long? That means you never feel you accomplished what you aimed for. Kepp a short list-no more than 5 things and star the important one. I lose motivation quickly as I seem to tire too easily. Today my list was swimming,cashpoint,tidy bedroom. Well I only got the first 2 done but thats a massive achievement as Ive put off the swimming all year!
Now I feel I did what I most needed to Ive made a new prioity shortlist-washing my jacket for work-again-much delayed as it cant really be drie(its a siut jacket)but as Im off work for the next 10 days-now is the time to do it. So today is a success. If my list had been long it would have been a failure-that makes you feel bad and you end up doing less in mho.
FrANKIEm you sound so much like I feel most of the time!
I know all the things that need doing but I will not get stressed by it.

FrankieM

That's really helpful angelatgraceland. Perhaps my lists are too long, but I think if I didn't write things down I'd forget them. Perhaps I should have a todays list and a master list??
I did flylady for a while and that very good but I now have myself trained to clean certain rooms on certain days or at least plan to do that, but then not get around to it and the day for that room is gone...
Maybe I spend too much time online? Has anyone had to restrict their pc time to get themselves more motivated and get things done??

sophiesmum_2

FrankieM wrote: »

I can do the budgeting thing, the meal plan thing...its the getting off my butt thing...
Perhaps its that I'm trying to run the house well, do some work for extra money and also visit people every now and then...I'm feeling a bit stressed about not managing to do anything well.
And then of course there are the things I need to do as well, like walk/train the dog, DIY and the garden. I struggle to even want to put these on my to do list cause they are things that I don't seem to be enjoying at the moment, though I want the benefit of the end product...so a garden that I can sit in and is producing lovely veg, a dog that doesn't pull on the lead and that I can take to the corner shop without a tug of war! and of course a house that feels like its 'finished'...

Bit limited to what you can do in the garden at the moment so why not concentrate on the diy in the house, start with a small job and complete it fully before moving onto the next thing. Getting one thing done can be a great motivator to getting started on a long list.

Marru/Nyk/Cw any dog tips?????

grandma247

FM Apart from all the things that sophiesmum and angel said I would not put the computer on until I have done something. Use it as a reward. You could set a timer and do something for 15 mins then 5 mins on the computer. It is amzing what you can do in 15 mins.
Also If I have a job I really don't want to do I put music on if it is a job that is too busy/noisy for concentration. It needs to be something that is faster than your heartbeat .
If I am ironing or doing something quiet then I put on an audio book or a film.
Do you find you are more motivated when the sun is shining? I am but I feel I waste the sunshine then unless I am gardening.