Diary of a home owner wannabe (my 6 year journey)

Pearla*Merle

pennyforthepot wrote: »

I really would like to get on track to simplifying my life so stuff doesn't get in my way - whether it be physical stuff or digital stuff. I have decided to unsubscribe to all the junk emails I get and see if I can get my on-line life in order - this includes spending less time on line (excluding MSE of course ). I would also like to get some systems in place that makes life run even smoother. My husband tells me I am extremely methodical and organised which compared to him I am but I am determined to streamline this even more to free me up to do the things that I want to do. There will always be 'stuff' as it is part of life but how wonderful it would be to wake up just one day a week with no 'stuff to do'

Penny, you should definitely check out a book called How To Do Everything And Be Happy (I found it at the library, it might be at yours?), but he has some great ideas for organising your life and getting going on doing the things you actually want to do, it's quite an easy read and has some very simple and inspiring ideas in there. I think it'd be right up your street.

edinburgher wrote: »

I hope you won't judge me, but there is 3p sitting in our work kitchen, it has been there for 6 months now and oh how it tempts me

Edinburgher, your willpower is something to behold! That would have been long gone by now if I was there.

pennyforthepot

edinburgher wrote: »

Your meal plan is delicious, I really should remember that everyone is a gourmand on here before stopping in for a snoop!

I hope you won't judge me, but there is 3p sitting in our work kitchen, it has been there for 6 months now and oh how it tempts me

Lol! I would hardly call takeaway from supermarket and leftovers - gourmet - actually, in our house maybe I would. Anyway you can talk there's always mouthwatering recipes on your diary.

3p - don't spend it all at once

PFTP x

pennyforthepot

2heartsx wrote: »

Hiya
Found your diary the other and just caught up to your recent posts
You inspired me to start my own diary. I have been thinking for a few months now about saving up enough money to buy a house in the future, I thought it wasn't possible to do it but you proved me wrong:j
Hope you have a smooth running day x

Hi 2heartsx - so nice of you to drop by. My one piece of advice to you would be start now if you can - even the smallest amount adds up. My one regret is that I didn't start saving properly earlier which would have made life so much easier now in terms of my savings plan (being 46 next month) I think the problem was not having an identifiable goal. Identifying the goal, setting a timeline and an amount to achieve makes it less overwhelming and keeps you focused.

Good luck to you and hope cross paths again

PFTP x

pennyforthepot

Pearla*Merle wrote: »

Penny, you should definitely check out a book called How To Do Everything And Be Happy (I found it at the library, it might be at yours?), but he has some great ideas for organising your life and getting going on doing the things you actually want to do, it's quite an easy read and has some very simple and inspiring ideas in there. I think it'd be right up your street.


Edinburgher, your willpower is something to behold! That would have been long gone by now if I was there.

Oooh thanks Pearla*Merle - just what I need - I shall take a trip down the library and check it out :T

PFTP x

pennyforthepot

Quick report today as its already 4.30pm and Im about to drop DS at his dads.

Small spend in Waitrose last night on some reduced chicken fillets and 6 cans of reduced condensed chicken soup for my one pot pies.

No spend on food today just had to give DD £2 for her train fare to her dads. Hang on - just remembered I have a £1.50 voucher for Sainsburys to use up so may just pop in there tonight as its near to the kids dads.

I had one thing on my to do list for today and that was to clean the mini inside and out - achieved

went for a coffee with DH and a wander round the charity shops. Kept picking things up and saying -' ooh isnt that nice' - then remembered that we are meant to be minimalising and simplifying.

Daily food budget £9.86 9 days left.

Cream crackered today - took a tablet to help me with my cold just before bed then realised it was full of caffeine - not a lot of sleep:mad:

Right DS home so need to get going in my shiny clean car :rotfl:

PFTP x

pennyforthepot

Woke up to a slightly thick head this morning after a trip to the local pub with DH for our date night -£8 spent. Not feeling too productive today - on a bit of a go slow.

Picked up tea from Mr T - I can't believe how expensive chicken fillets are nowadays. £10 worth will just about cover dinner for five of us - need to find another source. :eek:

Daily food budget is down to £9.10 although I do have chicken breast for dinner for next week now.

Have over spent on my budget for me this month by £25 - £95/£70 and still a week to go. DH and I have been out quite a few times this month. However I am hoping to come in under by £25 on my petrol budget so that should balance it out. I can't believe we still have over a week to go before the end of January - its felt so long.

I should be doing some work on the business this afternoon but not sure how productive I'm going to be - maybe a coffee to perk me up

PFTP x

Pearla*Merle

pennyforthepot wrote: »

went for a coffee with DH and a wander round the charity shops. Kept picking things up and saying -' ooh isnt that nice' - then remembered that we are meant to be minimalising and simplifying.

I've had a lot of that lately too. :eek: It's very hard to get out the habit when you see bargainous things, I just have to keep reminding myself that I've got more than enough trinkets and so forth to enjoy for now and that more will always come along when/if I ever need them. Very slowly I'm seeing the dawning light and realising I really don't need to be surrounded by 'stuff' any more. :T

Ooh, one thing that's helping as well is taking a closer look at what I already have and arranging things in nice little collections, and/or change the collections around a lot more (ie. having a winter collection, then putting those things away for a while and taking new things out for spring). It gives things a bit of space to breathe so the shelves don't look so cluttered and I can see them properly and then I also get the pleasure of appreciating them afresh.

pennyforthepot

Pearla*Merle wrote: »

Ooh, one thing that's helping as well is taking a closer look at what I already have and arranging things in nice little collections, and/or change the collections around a lot more (ie. having a winter collection, then putting those things away for a while and taking new things out for spring). It gives things a bit of space to breathe so the shelves don't look so cluttered and I can see them properly and then I also get the pleasure of appreciating them afresh.

I'm so with you there Pearla*Merle

PFTP x

pennyforthepot

Late in the day again for me to be posting - Friday is my housework day - all done, duvets drying on the radiators, bathrooms cleaned, everywhere has been dusted, swept and hoovered to within an inch of its life. :j

I've been really engaging in the life more simple and the ways of minimalism over the past week. Both my digital life and my physical life are becoming a lot simpler. I am slowly going through all the drawers and cupboards in the house and removing things that are no longer needed and will never be needed. It is liberating yet quite a difficult process to go through on an emotional basis. It's not just about getting rid of stuff but also about leading a more simple life in relation to commitments and filling your time with things that you really want to do but never feel you have time and also about giving your time, knowledge or skills to those in need. Enough preaching :eek:

On the MS front - not a lot going on but that is because I'm not really spending anything at the moment . I may even get away with a NSD today as DH is in London and may not be back for dinner (kids away weekend) so I may save the Curry till tomorrow

Have a great weekend everyone - I think we will be going for another long walk on Sunday (weather dependent) followed by a good old fry up

PFTP x

pennyforthepot

Feeling virtuous - just been on a 5 mile walk despite the rain - soggy yet satisfied (and certainly enjoyed the fry-up afterwards)

Two NSDs in a row for me - a first I do believe - DH had a hangover yesterday so we slobbed on the sofa for most of the day and he didn't fancy eating anything other than toast which meant no trip to MR T.

The last 5 days have been a really low spend for me and I'm hoping to hit the week below £100 (this makes a change from the last 3 weeks where I've averaged £600 a week - includes all payments except rent and direct debits for utilities). Hoping to come way under budget on petrol this month as I've only put £50 in to date and even under on the food budget (possibly the first time) and that doesn't even include the £15 I put aside from my £400 food budget for Christmas food.
Daily food budget £12.56 for 5 more days

Can't wait to see the back of January and the back of this rain.

PFTP x