Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

I wrote a long update post a few days ago, lost it to a computer wibble and couldn't face doing it over again! So here's another one.

I'm just enjoying chilling really.

I filled the car with petrol, took the receipt and only ealised I hadn't looked at how much it cost once I got back in the car. Which was a bit odd - though I know the maximum the tank will take and I knew there was plenty of money in the account. It's a nice feeling to realise that not every spend has to be accompanied by anxiety and/ or guilt.

I've done much less decluttering than I intended but it is progressing slowly and I think it will get there. I'm just beginning to have visions of how the flat could be, which is much more motivating than 'not like this'. For example, I realised this afternoon that if I do clear the garden then there is just about enough room to do yoga out there. And I am noticing that I feel less anxious about disposing of things, as instead of 'oh but what if I need it and can't afford another one' I can now say to myself 'you're not using it and it is taking up space and energy right now, if you do really need another one it will turn up so don't drag on your future with junk from your past'. It's funny, I was intending to be organised about how I cleared things but it isn't happening that way. Instead of focusing on one room at a time I find myself suddenly spotting something that annoys me and clearing that, then another random small annoyance. Yesterday I cleared the kitchen counter top and this evening I have suddenly decided I can't be bothered to try and get the coffee machine and other small electricals fixed or rehomed - they'll be going in a bag shortly and left for recycling. Still, the end result should be the same :rotfl:

My YNAB budget forecast is slightly over at present, partly due to an unexpected spend on insurance excess. My phone was stolen from my bag earlier in the week. Fortunately I did insure it but it will take a few days to get the replacement. And it will also cost me to replace the case and SD card. Annoyed. :mad: However, it did make me realise how much I now use and enjoy that phone - I have realised that I can do a lot of the things I used to do on the laptop on there. Very grateful that I had and can afford the insurance and also for the lovely Vodafone staff - I was in town when it happened, so went straight in the store to get it blocked etc. They were really helpful despite it taking about an hour by the time they had called the claims department, then I had called the police to get the crime reference number, and then we'd sorted out the replacement.

I'm thinking of starting another budget from August. It would be the first one with no claims on the money from my past and could begin to include things like replacement funds for the laptop and car, as well as for a house. I will also start earmarking money for holidays. I've got a few days away planned in late August and am really looking forward to that, but have also realised that I could afford to go somewhere interesting in September or for the New Year.

So all is good here... well except for the phone situation, but I've decided whoever nicked it can be sorted out by karma rather so there's no need for it to take up any of my energy.

Hope all is well with everyone else too


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

One of the 3bay items I listed last week has sold for 3 times what I paid for it :rotfl:. That should be about £18 in the bank if the payment comes through OK.

As I haven't got my good phone to do more photos of clothing, I've had a quick scoot through my books and listed some on the rainforest. Hopefully that will bring in some more money. I found my original copy of a textbook I thought I'd lost, it was shoved into a random pocket of a travel bag! so I can now sell the newer one. I'm also tempted to sell one of the textbooks that I bought for revision and found disappointing, but I guess I should read it more fully first.

I'm thinking of tracking non-salary income, as I want to think about cutting my hours in the longer term, but not sure that decluttering sales are really a good reflection as they will fade out over time. This needs more thought. And I need to set up or move another direct debit in order to get my Holyfax reward - should go and sort that.


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

Evening Rosa what a lovely couple of posts..well not your phone being stolen, that's horrible, I found one in the street in Sydney when we were there, picked it up and managed to reunite it with its owner, via her husband who was coming to meet his wife. She'd hopped out of the car to get lunch while he parked and must've dropped it, I don't think she'd even realised she didn't have it by the time it was on its way back to her. So glad we found it rather than someone who may have been less honest.

Anyway I digress, your mindset really made me smile, esp the nature of your declitting which I have been doing since we moved rather than try and tackle rooms / boxes at a set time when I begin to feel pressured and overwhelmed after a while.

How exciting to be planning to save for holidays and the like. Oh, and I'd get rid of that book you weren't impressed with, chances we if it didn't click with you to begin with, it's not going to x

doingitanyway

Hey Rosa,

It’s all sounding so upbeat for you.

Sorry about your phone but it’s probably the best way of losing your phone, as in you were not mugged for it and you had the good sense to insure it. No real harm done and as you say karma can be trusted to right any wrongs.

I like what you say about decluttering. I struggle with ‘but I might need it’ syndrome. At the minute I am keeping a shabby pair of trainers because I fear I might not be able to replace them. Letting go is good and the universe usually finds a way if you need something in the future

It’s nice you can buy things without guilt and anxiety. It just shows we can revert to feeling okay about money again after the years of frugality and all the complex emotions that can bring.

So glad your present self isn’t being held back by your past self any longer

Enjoy

DIA x

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I wrote a long update post a few days ago, lost it to a computer wibble and couldn't face doing it over again!

If you click the back arrow it usually (firefox at least) takes you back to where you've filled all the text boxes in.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

And I am noticing that I feel less anxious about disposing of things,

Less anxious in general?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

My YNAB budget forecast is slightly over at present, partly due to an unexpected spend on insurance excess. My phone was stolen from my bag earlier in the week. Fortunately I did insure it but it will take a few days to get the replacement. And it will also cost me to replace the case and SD card. Annoyed. :mad:

:grouphug:

Did you take backups? Was the phone encrypted?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I'm thinking of starting another budget from August. It would be the first one with no claims on the money from my past and could begin to include things like replacement funds for the laptop and car, as well as for a house. I will also start earmarking money for holidays. I've got a few days away planned in late August and am really looking forward to that,

Where are you going?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

but have also realised that I could afford to go somewhere interesting in September or for the New Year.

Go on the Santa Express...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

One of the 3bay items I listed last week has sold for 3 times what I paid for it :rotfl:.

If only you could do that for everything.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I'm thinking of tracking non-salary income, as I want to think about cutting my hours in the longer term, but not sure that decluttering sales are really a good reflection as they will fade out over time.

Is this cutting hours to do with your exam subject, or is this cut hours to simply not be working?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

This needs more thought.

Yes, your non-salary income needs to be revenue, not capital...

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt wrote: »

Evening Rosa what a lovely couple of posts..well not your phone being stolen, that's horrible, I found one in the street in Sydney when we were there, picked it up and managed to reunite it with its owner, via her husband who was coming to meet his wife. She'd hopped out of the car to get lunch while he parked and must've dropped it, I don't think she'd even realised she didn't have it by the time it was on its way back to her. So glad we found it rather than someone who may have been less honest.

Anyway I digress, your mindset really made me smile, esp the nature of your decluttering which I have been doing since we moved rather than try and tackle rooms / boxes at a set time when I begin to feel pressured and overwhelmed after a while.

How exciting to be planning to save for holidays and the like. Oh, and I'd get rid of that book you weren't impressed with, chances we if it didn't click with you to begin with, it's not going to x

Thanks Kerri :A

It is nicer to declutter this way isn't it... no pressure and I guess it gets the most annoying things done first!

And you are probably right about the book - I will have a quick flick through and probably then put it up for sale. It was expensive and it's not like I don't have enough other books on the subject!


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

doingitanyway wrote: »

Hey Rosa,

It’s all sounding so upbeat for you.

Sorry about your phone but it’s probably the best way of losing your phone, as in you were not mugged for it and you had the good sense to insure it. No real harm done and as you say karma can be trusted to right any wrongs.

I like what you say about decluttering. I struggle with ‘but I might need it’ syndrome. At the minute I am keeping a shabby pair of trainers because I fear I might not be able to replace them. Letting go is good and the universe usually finds a way if you need something in the future

It’s nice you can buy things without guilt and anxiety. It just shows we can revert to feeling okay about money again after the years of frugality and all the complex emotions that can bring.

So glad your present self isn’t being held back by your past self any longer

Enjoy

DIA x

Thanks DIA :A

I have kept sooooo much stuff out of 'but I might need it syndrome'. Shoes that are too high but go with occasion dresses... dresses that I bought thinking they would be a bargain for when I needed them for an event, that then never happened... tops in colours I never wear any more because they won't make anything on 3bay and just might save me buying something in the future. These things need to go. I am so glad and grateful that I have finished my training. Now I feel that what I want to happen in my life and what will happen are aligned, and I can make clearer decisions about what I need.

I also have a lot of stuff that I don't currently use much, but bought because I did really love it and wanted it to be part of a future life. Thinking about this, it's mostly cooking related - kitchen gadgets and crockery that hasn't had much use while I have been working and studying too much to have time to cook. If I can clear and organise the cupboards a bit better, there is potential for this to be used more. I also have two boxes of fabric that I've kept for experimenting with the sewing machine that I haven't properly learnt to use yet... every time I find something I love but is too worn to really go to the charity shop, it's ended up in the fabric pile! As I get the flat tidied a bit, I will have room to get the machine out

I'm trying to think about the distinction between these two kinds of stuff, asking myself if I want this in my life - very much like Marie Kondo's simple question of 'does it bring me joy?'. The answers are not necessarily very logical to anyone else, but it only matters that they are right for me. And the process of discovering what I want to keep, is itself helping me refine my ideas about what next. I'm slowly finding a new picture coming into focus, and it's a delight.


Rosa xx

Save

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

If you click the back arrow it usually (firefox at least) takes you back to where you've filled all the text boxes in.

Less anxious in general?

:grouphug:

Did you take backups? Was the phone encrypted?

Where are you going?

Go on the Santa Express...

If only you could do that for everything.

Is this cutting hours to do with your exam subject, or is this cut hours to simply not be working?

Yes, your non-salary income needs to be revenue, not capital...

Hi Z :A

The computer had a blue screen type wibble, so everything went... it's rather on its last legs. I think I may need to replace it sooner than I'd originally planned, as it's got so slow and annoying I am not using it for things that would be sensible, like, er, backing up my phone :mad: . Fortunately pretty much everything on the phone is cloud based anyway, but I've realised I lost a couple of photos that I can't replace. The phone was password protected and blocked within half an hour of it being stolen, so I really hope my data hasn't been nicked along with it. My emails don't seem to be being read and the banking apps all have extra passwords, so fingers crossed. I was rather hoping to get an email from the LockWatch app that would help catch the person who nicked it, but so far nothing... the phone may well have been killed before they got round to trying it, as they appeared to have switched it off when we tried ringing it.

Re August, I'm off to a small festival with friends. Really looking forward to it.

The reducing hours thing is kind of both... another thread coming in to a transition plan. Ultimately I want to do some work in my new field without having to do it in addition to a full time job, but it's unlikely I could cut my hours in the current one. So just beginning to think about what else I could be doing, and how much I really need coming in now that all my college fees and debts are dealt with. It's still sinking in!


Rosa xx

Save

RosaBernicia

Well today I have...

• Decluttered 1 carrier bag to the charity shop
• Posted a 3bay parcel
• Looked at new laptops online and been surprised that they are cheaper than I thought. Either they cost more 8 years ago, or maybe it's just that then the cost was a real stretch.
• Eaten a proper breakfast and a passably healthy lunch (didn't manage to take it in to work, but did buy the makings of sandwiches that I would have made anyway)
• Read through the membership application for my new professional field
• Emailed college about a reference, after checking my online record and being very happy to see my award listed as 2.i

And I'm intending to...

• Cook dinner from scratch (for the second night in a row... this is a recent record)
• Do the ironing - I am all caught up on laundry as did extra washes yesterday
• Order a replacement SD card and phone case, so that I don't have to wait for them when I have the new phone
• Go to bed before 1130 as I have an early start tomorrow

I had forgotten how nice it feels to have things in general organised and under control. A few years ago, I got all sorted with FlyLady routines and it was great. It helped me survive the MSc, although the routines didn't make it in quite the same form. I'm thinking how good it would be to have that again, although I know it took me several months to get there... so just going slowly and enjoying the view




Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

tops in colours I never wear any more because they won't make anything on 3bay and just might save me buying something in the future.

From my "alternative" point of view - that makes no sense... :rotfl:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

asking myself if I want this in my life - very much like Marie Kondo's simple question of 'does it bring me joy?'. The answers are not necessarily very logical to anyone else, but it only matters that they are right for me.

Joy is not about logic, nor should it be

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hi Z :A

:wave:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

The computer had a blue screen type wibble, so everything went...

Next time it BSODs, write down the text bit and google it. Sometimes it gives a hint about what bit is going dodgiest, fastest.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I am not using it for things that would be sensible, like, er, backing up my phone :mad: .

You can also back up to the Cloud, depending on what phone you have, and your risk appetite. I have the risk appetite of a small nibble (or nybble ) and so back up to USB.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Fortunately pretty much everything on the phone is cloud based anyway, but I've realised I lost a couple of photos that I can't replace. The phone was password protected and blocked within half an hour of it being stolen, so I really hope my data hasn't been nicked along with it.

If it has a PIN (for the phone, not just the SIM) and is encrypted, then it's unlikely your bog-standard charva would bother. If someone does bother, and it's encrypted, then it'll be as strong as your PIN.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

My emails don't seem to be being read and the banking apps all have extra passwords, so fingers crossed. I was rather hoping to get an email from the LockWatch app that would help catch the person who nicked it, but so far nothing... the phone may well have been killed before they got round to trying it, as they appeared to have switched it off when we tried ringing it.

It'll be wiped, IMEI reprogrammed, and then sold on.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Re August, I'm off to a small festival with friends. Really looking forward to it.

Good.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

The reducing hours thing is kind of both... another thread coming in to a transition plan. Ultimately I want to do some work in my new field without having to do it in addition to a full time job, but it's unlikely I could cut my hours in the current one.

Why? Finances or "operational issues"?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

• Looked at new laptops online and been surprised that they are cheaper than I thought. Either they cost more 8 years ago, or maybe it's just that then the cost was a real stretch.

They get cheaper over time. March of progress and all that.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I had forgotten how nice it feels to have things in general organised and under control.

:T