Do you have a plan!?

tootoo

Hello all,
sorry for another question!
I'm currently trying to reduce our spends, I always cook from scratch and I'm meal planning and taking part in the gc.
I'm also trying to follow flylady (trying, not very easy with a little one!) and also decluttering the house.
We have a small amount of debt on a cc, which we are paying off and don't use. We overpay as much as we can each month.
Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed and think I'm probably trying to do too much all at once.
I thought maybe having a 'plan' would keep me going and motivated (I have a pay off cc by ?, which keeps me motivated) does anyone have any tips for the others? Or just living in general. Would anyone be kind enough to share their plan?
I'm also getting ready for xmas (hubby laughs at me for this! although by october he will really appreciate I've done all of the shopping!). Thats another thing rattling around my head- I feel as though if I write them all down and have something to work with on each it will keep me motivated! Maybe I'm trying to do too much at once?!
Sorry for the ramble.
Tootoo

Butterfly_Brain

Don't be sorry, the only advice that I can give is baby steps
By all means work out goals but cut yourself some slack.
I must admit I have lists for most things and after paying off all of our cc debt a couple of years ago we are trying to overpay the mortgage a little more every month so that we can be mortgage free asap.
I always have a list of what is in the cupboards and freezer, grow our own fruit and veg and freeze the surplus so that if any unexpected bills come in we know that we have enough in to feed us without having to go shopping.

rosieben

My lifesaver is lists - I have lists for everything, can't manage without them - meal lists, food inventory, craft projects, shopping (covers everything including my online grocery shopping and wish lists for when I get to places like BnQ), birthday, christmas (similar but simpler than the christmas control journal that flylady does);

I'd suggest you get yourself a notebook or a ring binder and start writing things down, you'll find a system that works for you.

it might be worth having a read of Moggins household manual thread

flylady's journal list is here - the Holiday one is the one I adapted for Christmas

hth

just wanted to add, the important thing is to find a system that works for you, don't feel pressured to do it anyone else's way

just writing things down stops my head spinning

lostinrates

tootoo wrote: »

I'm also getting ready for xmas (hubby laughs at me for this! although by october he will really appreciate I've done all of the shopping!).
Tootoo

It makes sense to pick stuff up in January sales.....Christmas themed things. ANd to buy gifts etc when you see them through the year but personally if prepping now for Christmas I think I'd open a small savings acc and put some money in each week/month. When prepping too early I find people go off the thing that they were raving about the spring before and that is bought for them and put in a box for Christmas, or buy it themselves before then.

esmf73

I have also started prepping for Christmas - have some hampers already made and a good start made on some more. My plan just to keep ahead of the money - so that I know that I have some payments that have to be made each month, then I have plans that are just nice to have in mind - like plans for the garden, world domination etc!!!! I plan to reduce my ironing pile - that hasn't happened either yet! But I had been planning for ages to get a woodburner installed and get rid of the yuckky stone fireplace. In December I decided to go for it! Got woodburner, new fireplace (from ebay!) and gorgeous wood flooring. Cost was high, but it will last for ages and should bring our heating bills down too.

Next plan (major league) is to plan to pay off the mortgage early. Still thinking how I'll do this.

Eyeore

Hi, I love a list too (feels like confession!), always use them at work. Do you think a home manual would be silly for me? Only me and OH, we work long hours and so only really have weekends although he works on Sat too. I would love to be able to do a bit each eve and then not spend every weekend tidying etc! If I had a plan/list it may help motivate me?

Love this site so thanks to all who contribute, have learnt soooo much already!

tootoo

Thank you for your kind replies. I have a ring binder in the cupboard which is going to be my new home manual!
Thanks for the links, I'll try a few of the ideas and see which ones work best and then adapt them for me.

Eeyore - I think you could make one work for you too! Then you would have more time for you.
Tootoo