Repeat after me! I must try...!

LittleFatFairy

I have made my way down here as I am not quite sure where I fit. I started a debt free wannabee diary but felt that I had other things more important to get sorted first. I feel that I need a little bit of space to sort myself out and get myself motivated. Bottom line is that I am a LAZY! There I have said it! Not proud of it, getting a bit fed up of it, not sure how to get out of it. So how have I managed to get like this ... well about 12 years ago I was working too hard and got too stressed and basically had a breakdown. Long story and not very interesting, but basically after the birth of my daughter I had another episode! My daughter is now 5 years old and beautiful. I married our little lady's dad last August and we are a happy family, with dog, cats, guinea pigs, rabbit and tortoise!! I managed to get back to part time work last June, but have struggled with it, and it is only 8 hours a week!! Anyway Little Lady has been off school poorly this week and it has really made me think.

I have visited the flylady thread on the Old Style bit. Visited the meal planning bit and also the grocery challenge. However my house isn't exactly cluttered and is quite tidy, but not that clean. I plan meals so we eat well and fairly healthly but not cheaply. Little Lady is really fussy!! I spend within my house-keeping and top up with my wages. My husband is very generous so I can always ask him if I want something. I save some of my wages, use my child benefit purely for Little Lady, and have a credit card which I try to pay off monthly. So I don't think that I do too bad. However I don't have a cleaning rota, I potter about and get things done, then I get bored!

There are lots of things that I think I should do, but part of my counselling was to change should to could, so this has made me think I don't have too.

I thought if I put my thoughts down it might give me a focus. So what do I want to change:

• Follow a cleaning routine to ensure a cleaner house
• Manage to get to work and do my hours
• Better organise myself so I don't get stressed
• Not to order take-aways instead of cooking
• Plan my studying so that I actually complete the course (this will be the 4th that I have started in the last 5 years -never seems to be the right time). I am planning to pay for this one myself this time, instead of hubby!
• Not employ someone to do the garden this year, but to do it myself (this is my project for the spring, so that I can enjoy it in the summer).
• Use my slow cooker more oftern. First time use today. Doing a vegetable and bean stew. It's not as big as I thought it was, so it is rather full.
• Limit my drinking -I do like to have a glass of wine when I prepare dinner.
• Do budget with hubby to ensure that we are not spending more than we have coming in.
• Get my Little Lady to eat the same as us!! Need to build myself up to this.
• Car boot toys etc rather than giving them away. (This became a habit when we had to sort out hubby's parents house. We moved it all into our garage and it took us about 3 months of constant weekend sorting to get it cleared. I felt really bad about the stuff being given away at the begining but after a while it was the best thing for us to mentally!! for both of us. We did send a few bits to auctiona and sold some bits on ebay. However I did get well known on Freecycle!) Now however I think it is better if we get some money for items as Little Lady is always trying to give her toys away!! Bless her!

As for spending ... I am a bit of an impulse buyer! Not normally for myself but definately for Little Lady and I am concerned that she will become spoilt. I do spend time with her and we do enjoy doing things together, but I am not great at imaginative play or Barbie's. So I suppose I need to add that I would also like to spend more time doing interesting things with my Little Lady rather than just buying her stuff to compensate for not playing dolls. We do read alot and we are also quite creative, so I don't think we do to badly. Anyway need to go and check the slow cooker. Will come back later and list what I actually did today. :undecided

LittleFatFairy

The slow cooker was a success! Bit more seasoning but definately cooked. Really simple to do, so I am going to try chicken in it next time. Also there is enough for my lunch tomorrow - yippee. Much more healthy than chips!

Anyway DD in bed, hubby at Football Practice so I can review today and plan tomorrow.




I forgot to put on my list the following:

• Walk the dog everyday (he's only little but should still have a walk
• walk to school and back - save petrol
• Use my bike that I have recently bought, to get to work (It was a god send when our car broke down!)

Today:

• Washed the floors in the lobby and the bathroom. Run out of floor cleaner now so have to get some tomorrow.
• Prepared dinner in the slow cooker - success!
• Inputed expense invoices for SL (work)
• Looked after DD.
• Got DD to practice reading - one book a night

So tomorrow:
Master bedroom & landing - Thursday
Level 1
Check fire alarms are working TICK
[STRIKE]Remove and wash bed linen and duvet covers.[/STRIKE][STRIKE]
[/STRIKE]Fling open the window and let in the spring! It isn't snow.. it is dust! lol
Level 2
Dust surfaces & make sure no cobwebs.. TICK
[STRIKE]Vacuum & turn mattress before replacing with fresh linen.. [/STRIKE][STRIKE]
[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Air the duvet[/STRIKE][STRIKE]
[/STRIKE]
15 minutes floordrobe clearance NOT NECESSARY
Level 3
[STRIKE]Vacuum floors in bedroom and on landing[/STRIKE][STRIKE]
[/STRIKE]
Sort 10 things from your wardrobe (or someone elses) that you can get rid of..
Clear a hotspot.. or spend 15 minutes clearing one. NEED TO DO DD



Extras

• Binbag dance NOT NECESSARY
• Clean windows in these rooms - TICK
• [STRIKE]Clear a box of clutter from the landing[/STRIKE]
• Sort through that airing cupboard!! HAVEN'T GOT ONE!

I have crossed off everything that I actually did yesterday :j , but will endeavour to do the rest.



Also -

• get dd to school, she is much better, but won't want to go! - TICK
• go to work - TICK
• take dog out - TICK
• work for SL - 11.30 - CANCELLED BY SL
• clear items for car boot to the garage - TICK

Just waiting for my course material to arrive and my delivery of cards that I can sort out. Every little helps, no profit yet!
Think that's about it for now
Feeling more organised than ever. x

LittleFatFairy

Should have noted to myself: DO NOT GO TO BED DURING THE DAY!

Well pat on the back for me - I am not going to today. My course material has arrived and I need to pop out to get a pad of paper so that I can start. Need to plan studying time into my week now, aswell as time to practice the piano.

DD went to school without fuss, which was great and then I went straight to work. :j so I have done my 2 hours today. Still got all the chores to do, but have just had my lunch (rest of the stew with added tarragon and some grated cheese - lovely!) and I think that I will walk into town to get my pad and take the dog with me. Then I will spend some time on my course and do the other stuff when DD comes home from school. Going to try to make a frittata for tea to see if she will eat it. Wish me luck.

I have been trying to do a spending diary, because actually I always over spend the house keeping and have to top up with my wages. Well now I have my course to pay for, I have decided that I need not to overspend each month and also perhaps try and reduce the housekeeping as hubby has to give it to me each month as well as paying all the bills. He is always juggling his accounts so that would be very helpful I know.

So going out now. Will pop back later and list what I did today. This is definately a change for me to have some direction, lets hope it lasts :rotfl:

LittleFatFairy

Just nipped up to the Old Style thread to find out what I need to do tomorrow and voila, as if by magic, here it is:

Friday ~ those frightening kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc TICK
Make an appointment for some ME-time.. hairdressers? manicure? night out with friends? .. whatever just do it!
Level Two
Vacuum the floor
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat fluffy surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade and curtain pole!!!
[STRIKE]Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check if duvets need freshening up too!! [/STRIKE]
Level Three
Clean 2 windows
Make a start on sorting out the summer stuff to out away/get rid of TICK
Wipe any sticky marks off walls and doors

Extras

1. 15 minutes in the garden.. preparation for summer, planting, weeding or just enjoying!
2. Wipe the radiators, skirtings and window & door frames!
3. HHI
4. Friday fling!! grab a binbag and fill it with stuff to leave the house.. rubbish or charity shop or to donate to a friend!

and for myself

• get to work TICK
• do a top up shop - plenty in the freezer so shouldn't cost too much, check when tax credits are due TICK
• walk the dog
• empty WM - sort washing piles and start washing - TICK as @ Saturday
• make some chocolate buns - yum
• Get Rabbit food
• practice piano
• Do some course work
• prepare dinner before swimming so can reheat when we get back [EMAIL="DIDN@T"]DIDN'T[/EMAIL] need to as plans changed!

Think that is about it. DD read her book tonight very well indeed. Doing it before she has her bedtime stories is working really well and I am very pleased how quickly she has got used to it.

Already planning the weekend. Normally Hubby and I share Saturday mornings to sleep! However he has early football and I am going to take DD to a craft morning in town, which I think we'll both enjoy. She won't enjoy the walk there and back but hey you can't have everything.

Weather is pretty miserable here at the moment. Last Saturday I managed to get out in the garden and do quite a lot of work. One good point have managed to find an abudance of weeds that the tortoise likes so have been picking those out and cleared quite a bit of space. Shame the cats keep using it as a toilet, hey ho - I love my cats but this has got to stop. Prickly things may have to be strategically place as a deterent. Now where can I get some holly ...

I am finding it very liberating jotting down my thoughts and lists, although it is a bit lonely down here! It is a hive of activity up towards the top, but also a bit daunting.

The Fritatta (how do you spell it?) was really nice. DD ate the tomatoes and few mouthfuls and then said she didn't like it. I put my foot down and said that she would have nothing else tonight. As she lay down to go to sleep she told me she was starving (what a surprise!). I said goodnight and turned off the light - mean mummy.

I should get paid tomorrow, so the money saving starts in earnest. I have to say that I have switched my electric and gas provider, so have started saving there. Must remind hubby to go through our budget asap to see where we can make more savings. Also saved a packet when I compared Pet Insurers. Also helped that we have gone from having 6 cats to 3. I think maybe all round 6 is too many. 3 is much more sensible, plus they all get lots of attention.

Waffling now, so time to go. Will catch up with myself tomorrow.

Remember - YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!! :rotfl:

LittleFatFairy

OK so Friday did not go well. And I had a snooze early afternoon - this was because dd woke us up a 4am and then started telling us about why a little girl wouldn't be wearing red for red nose day! very interesting but not at that time of the morning! Then she woke up at 6.30 and I just can't do it. I need my sleep. So managed work and the shopping and then that was about it. Hubby cooked dinner in the end as he didn't go to work and we didn't have to rush back from swimming. Went out to my friends for a Body Shop party where I ordered some moisturiser for £11. Too much I know but I felt bad not buying something and I wanted to buy something that I would use - so there we are.

Had a cracking day today. Got some washing on the line. The tortoise was able to go outside. It was 20 degrees in his little pen, so that was good. DD and I went to a craft morning and enjoyed ourselves very much. Put a basket of cards in the hall next door to help raise some money for a good cause. Don't think I will have sold much, but that doesn't matter. Going to pop the basket into school this week and see how we go. Delivery has arrived so will sort the orders out tomorrow and get them out on Monday.

Spent the afternoon with DD. We sorted the washing by me throwing different items to her and then her throwing them onto the appropriate pile. She has always enjoyed sorting the washing and putting them into colours (I am a bit obsessive over the washing!). We also emptied the DW together and then we spent quite a while building lego together, really enjoyed it! DD is now sitting beside me desperate to get onto dress up barbie, so that's what she'll be doing whilst I get her dinner ready (eating not going well but hey not going to worry about that today)

Tomorrow we are going to see Going on a Bear Hunt in the morning. In the afternoon I am going to finish doing DD's room - the window and the dusting and then hoover upstairs. The washing will now be done constantly until it is finshed. I do mine once a week and have about 6 loads, normally it hangs around a bit, either ready to go in the WM or in the WM or in the TD. So going to try and get it sorted asap!!

We,re having pizza tonight. I'm thinking that we always seem to have a take away on a saturday so maybe we should make saturday our take away night. The rest of the week I will cook!

Got paid. Sorted my money into different areas - pension, saving for christmas, saving for DD, money for the next month (£40). Spent £11 at friends. Also today spent about £5.00 at the charity coffee morning. So now have about £40 to do something with, oh yes pay off some credit card spending!!

Going to review all my bank accounts tomorrow. Review my budget diary and start my spending diary (again). Am I the only one who has good intentions but gets waylayed, mostly by fatigue not lethargy!! :rotfl:

LittleFatFairy

Monday ~ Living room, Hallway, Stairs
Level One
remove clutter from floors, chairs and fireplace.. TICK
Vacuum floors you can see and sofas
Open the windows and let in some fresh air
Level Two
Vacuum under the furniture you can move safely
Wipe and water neglected plants
Dust those flat fluffy surfaces
Level Three
muck out manky pets!
Clean windows, pictures, mirrors etc.
Vacuum hall and stairs.. all the way up to the top!!!!!

Extras

1. Wipe woodwork in the living room/s
2. Wash any smelly soft furnishings
3. Sort spreadsheets/finances/meal plans etc TICK
4. 15 minutes filing TICK

Not a great start to the week.

DD off school today, but took her to work with me, which was fine.

Managed to sort my cards last night so they should have gone out today, but as the customers were up at school, couldn't finish that. Defo going to try and sort that out tomorrow.

So Tuesday

• Bank Money
• Pay in £36.22 to cover credit card
• Take cards upto school
• Take Junk modelling and box for castle making
• Take back laminator and exchange for one that works
• Take snow white to work to get arm put back in (that's another story)
• Sort out Photos and send to relevant friends and family
• Chemists
• Give back Club Penguin cushion thingy ( I have no idea really but dd borrowed it!)
• Spend 15 minutes with DD - just WWW ing!

I managed to have a good tidy up after the weekend and the washing is underway. Organised for tomorrow. Going to take DD to an after school club tomorrow, to see if she likes it. She asked me what would happen if she didn't like it, so I said that she could come home. Oh Good! she said, I can do my inventing. What inventing I asked? Juice money I'm inventing juice. So tomorrow we are doing some juice inventing with lots of water juice and mess. Lovely ... no really I am looking forward to it. Just going to make sure that we do it in the kitchen not the living room like last time :rotfl:

Need to review the cleaning routine tomorrow as it has slipped again, not that it really had got a hold!

C'est La Vie!! Which reminds me managed to order some supplements for my card brochures but sadly I ordered them in French.

Allegra

LittleFatFairy wrote: »

I am finding it very liberating jotting down my thoughts and lists, although it is a bit lonely down here! It is a hive of activity up towards the top, but also a bit daunting.

Hi Fairy,

You are right, it can get a bit lonely down here However, I just thought I'd jump in and let you know that you are not altogether alone - I have been reading your "diary" on and off when I had a moment to spare, and I think you are doing marvellously well :T Don't push yourself too hard though, or set yourself unrealistic goals - baby steps are fine, and anything you do is a bonus, things left undone do not count in the greater scheme of things


Having said all that, though, perhaps dipping a toe in some of the livelier threads could prove quite beneficial in the long run ? As you are attempting to follow Flylady, just an occasional post in the Flylady thread might spur you on more than trying to go it alone, and the same goes for the grocery challenge/meal planning threads on Old Style

trixiepix

Hi fairy,

I've only popped in briefly this morning (shd be doing housework - lol!!!) and you really struck a chord with me ( v similar :rotfl:) - i've not had chance to read your full thread but will later when i've got a minute and will post again.

xx //(' _ ')\\ xx