How do you people get motivated?

bluestarrz

My motivation was my kids, I wanted to change our lives for them so they had memories of home cooked meals and a clean house to bring their friends round to. Growing up we ate ready meals and our house wasn't the cleanest...
Guess I just wanted better for them.
But as soon as I started making all the little changes like meal planning and budgeting that's when the real benefits shine through! My kids behave better now than they ever have, they look healthier and have tons more energy, less mood swings etc..
How about getting your kids involved in the cooking and cleaning? Just little jobs that will help them get into a routine e.g. hoover their rooms/ make their beds this will help you and help them!
As for cooking, let them bake with you, lick the bowls clean, wash up etc and make a family day/ night of it?
You will honestly see the difference as soon as you start and it isn't always the financial advantages that are the best!
Good luck!!

vivw_2

I also have trouble being motivated but I no longer have kids as my excuse. I do work full time as a teacher and now its the holidays, you would think that I should be able to get on top of things. However all I seem to do is find other things I'd prefer to do - knitting, reading, seeing friends and even 'school' preparation work. My health is not brilliant so I tend to use that as an excuse

mrsmortenharket

It is hard isn't it.

I found following these weekly threads have helped me enormously

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1855371

Lisa x

vivw_2

mrsmortenharket wrote: »

It is hard isn't it.

I found following these weekly threads have helped me enormously

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1855371

Lisa x

As someone who can also get quite competitive, unless my mood is positive, I find that thread quite demotivating as it makes me feel like a failure. Agree though at other times [when my mood is right] it can help

*zippy*

I can totally relate to what you are saying purpledreams i'm overweight and in constant battle with the house. I find it difficult to be consistant, I start off ok and then get fed up and the house or eating properly goes to pot again.

The best motivation for me is having some company and support online as its less boring and nice to have someone to tell you have just put the hoover over I use fly lady when I can and a while back a few of us had a motivation thread in the arms for people in the same boat, that really helped me get started, maybe we could do the same or ressurrect that thread.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1011869

Edited to add a link as just had to go and search for it x

vivw_2

*zippy* wrote: »

I can totally relate to what you are saying purpledreams i'm overweight and in constant battle with the house. I find it difficult to be consistant, I start off ok and then get fed up and the house or eating properly goes to pot again.

The best motivation for me is having some company and support online as its less boring and nice to have someone to tell you have just put the hoover over I use fly lady when I can and a while back a few of us had a motivation thread in the arms for people in the same boat, that really helped me get started, maybe we could do the same or ressurrect that thread.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1011869

Good Idea.....Ive posted on the tread so I hope someone can join in and help me get at least something done
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1011869&page=7

Rummer

Hello! I know exactly how you feel, there is always so much to do that I often worry myself to a standstill and end up doing nothing, which doesn't help. Now I try to focus on one thing a day and get that done. However if I lived alone my house would be immaculate!

lazy_daisy

I find a different approach works better for me, little and often (OK, sometimes a bit too little and not quite often enough!) so I have a task chart on the pin board in the kitchen.

For example, Monday - bedrooms, change sheets, dust and hoover, Tuesday - downstairs rooms; hoover tidy and dust, Wednesday - bathroom, Thursday hall, stairs, landing, Friday kitchen including floor and clean out 1 cupboard OR fridge Or cooker depending on which is the grimmest. The kids get roped in to help. If they are off school I leave them a note - 'TIDY BEDROOM', or 'CLEAN AND VACUUM LOUNGE' ! Your kids are perhaps a little small to do a room by themselves but they will soon be big enough so start training them now for best results, they just need to know how to do things and often like helping Mum.

That way the house is never a complete pit and I can fit it in around work,etc.

Oh I also DON'T IRON! (Don't faint! people never know until I tell them so we can't look too bad!) It's very time consuming and bad for your mojo.
Good luck,
Daisy x

kippers

I have been really struggling to get things done this summer holiday, my children are 9 & 11...so don't beat yourself up as you have four children under 7! I got so fed up last week of feeling like i do nothing that i kept a piece of paper with me all day and wrote down exactly what i did the whole day and i was shocked!...no wonder i'm tired at night!

Try doing this, but make sure you include everything from getting breakfast to playing with the kids, putting washing away, putting washing on etc etc...i bet you will be shocked too.

Yes organisation helps, but it is difficult with children as they need attention most of the time. Start small and have one job a day ie change beds, clean bathroom sink. Also, maybe have a binliner and go round each room for 20 mins chucking things in that are rubbish.

When i look back at my childhood i remember my mother always cleaning etc but i also remember that she didn't pay me much attention as she was always busy and i had to amuse myself...we still aren't that close now. Children grow up remembering these things so try and make a balance and don't beat yourself up so much while the children are so young...they grow up so fast.

Hope i've been helpful.

verynewmoneysaver

Hi, I have great difficulty in getting every thing done as I have a demanding job and I'm not in the first flush of youth!. I'm now sending ironing to laundrette to do. I know it's not moneysaving but it's saving my sanity a bit! Also shopping on line every now and again saves time. Still have lots to do and not much energy to do it.