Where is my motivation?

[Deleted User]

I think it's often 'baby steps' that help.
e.g. I tend to 'tidy' as I go IYSWIM, if there is something that needs to be put away upstairs, I will put it at the bottom of the stairs for me to take up when I go next, and the same in reverse.
As I go from room to room I try to put something away on my way.I live in a tiny cottage and really haven't got a great deal of room for 'clutter'
If I am walking across to the shops (about less than 5 minutes away) I will take any recycling stuff to the big bins there on my way.Stops having a big stash of paper hanging about for the weekly collection.I always unwrap anything if I can thats going into the fridge, cuecumber doesn't need a plastic wrap only a bit of foil over the cut end.I dislike unnecessary clutter or waste so try to keep things to a minimum.If I haven't made any biscuits and have bought some then they go into the biscuit box and wrappers get binned to the recycling bag.Food waste is minimal as peelings get recycled if possible into soup or (potato ) crisped up in my remoska..I grate cheese into a box in the fridge(goes futher that way) HM soups are so easy to make and far cheaper and nicer than tinned stuff.

So many ways to cut back on buying ready made stuff.I cook vitually everything from scratch if I can.Definitely have a to-do list and try to tick at least one to two things off it a day to begin with eventually your list will get shorter and shorter.Cashwise I only use a set amount per month, and once its gone that's it until the first of the next month

It does help keep you focussed on what's really a necessity and stops 'impulse buys' I have a seperate amount I keep as 'Happy Cash money .This can be used for anything I feel like treating myself to, but this too is a set amount and once gone that's it until the following month.

I craft all my own Christmas and birthday cards ,very easy to do once you have the basic stuff and the decorations are easy to find from old ones you received the previous year I cut all the bits out I want and use the rest of the cards for 'scrap' for shopping lists or reminder notes.

This month so far I have spend only two pounds so far, and am eating from my freezer and store cupboards.It's day four and 26 more to go until the end of the month.

At the moment I have nothing to buy on my shopping list so, ergo, I go NOWHERE near a shop.When I come out of my house instead of strolling over to the shops where I may get 'tempted' I turn right and walk to the library or park, healthy excercise (about a ten minute walk) and best of all its free. if its raining then the library is warm,dry and free and I can even go online there if I wish.

Changing the mindest and having goals for what you want to do is great,but also have fun while your doing it and look around your area and see what you can do thats free, its suprising what's available.

If you live in London then you are lucky as there is so much around.A sandwich and a flask and your set for a day out at a museum or art gallery, best of all I like to chat to people I meet, and a smile goes a long way.

I live around 40 miles from London now, but I can still find lots of things to do locally. Even a wander in to a different park is nice.

I am lucky I have a bus pass as I am err....getting on a bit so I can just jump on a bus and have a ride somewhere with my flask and sarnie I can have a day out almost anywhere.
Good luck and keep posting how your getting on
JackieO xxx

http://meanqueen-lifeaftermoney.blogspot.co.uk/ this lady has a great site and is full of ideas and recipes :j

Catcherupper14

Jackie, I have read many of your posts on this board over the last year or so and I think you (and people like Ilona) have achieved what I am now aspiring to.


I have been making my own soup and freezing extra portions, and at this time of year I will be able to use up most of my veggies either for soup or roasted, if they get past their best. I am learning to batch cook effectively - I have a small freezer and in the past have been over-enthusiastic and bought and made up more meals than I can fit into the freezer.


I am making a to-do list for the big jobs and will try to complete one a month (decorating a room, making a sofa cover etc). I can't do flylady as it doesn't fit into my commitments, but at the start of every week I am going to allocate a day to each room an stick to it. This week I have started making housework checklists for each room; the lists make me work logically through the room and cut the time I spend dabbling. I will tick off what I've achieved as a boost, and also to make sure I don't habitually avoid a task (windows).


I can sew, knit and crochet (sort of). I admire the cards that people make but don't have the right sort of eye to make them myself. I do have a friend who makes some, so perhaps I can do a swap!


You are right, small steps are the way to go. I also need to work on several aspects, housework, food waste, health, finances, crafting so if I mix and match I won't get bored.

Catcherupper14

I forgot milk for visitors yesterday so a quick walk to the shop today.


Jobs for today - bathroom to clean and make checklist. Exercise - I plan to do a yoga/Pilates session at home. I am also going to sort out some books and DVDs for a stall at the Christmas fayre (part of my decluttering plan).

Catcherupper14

Well I didn't get anything much done on Thursday or Friday - one of our local transport volunteers was sick so I took my neighbour to hospital both days.


The bathroom still needs a good clean, as does the rest of the flat, although the task for the rooms I've blitzed seems to be getting easier as I get into a routine.


I've managed to clear the backlog of ironing (and not by putting it all back in the wash) and from now on will iron each washload as it dries.


I've been a bit hit and miss on the food side of things this week. I forgot to take meals out of the freezer in time, and haven't replenished my meal stock. This is one of my jobs for the weekend. I also need to clear some more old paperwork and do some sewing.


So for Saturday and Sunday (not forgetting Remembrance Sunday at the memorial)
1. Sort at least 2 inches of my paperwork pile. Shred as much as possible.
2. Clean bathroom and kitchen and make cleaning checklists.
3. Batch cook and make a meal plan for next week. Update my inventory of the fridge, freezer and cupboards and make a shopping list.
4. Complete one sewing project (I have several almost finished).
5. Go for a long(ish) walk.
6. Iron the stuff in the wash this morning.

Catcherupper14

Well I didn't finish either the cleaning or the sewing over the weekend, so they are both back on the plan for today.


I also have several calls to make for my business, need to make a hair appointment as I look like a shaggy dog and would like to rid myself of another small heap of paperwork.


That said, I did prepare a number of meals which will give me dinners for the rest of the month, plus some of my lunches.


At least that aspect is getting more organised.


I did some Christmas shopping online yesterday (from savings for that purpose), otherwise I only spent my TV licence direct debit. Unfortunately I will need a couple of items, but I'm holding out until tomorrow.


I had a declutter of my books and have sorted out some for a neighbour who is ill.


Raffle prize for Christmas Fayre will also go out of the house today - another declutter.

Catcherupper14

Yesterday I did some decluttering of my sewing stuff to a local craft group, and tidied some of my fabric stash and haberdashery.


I sorted some paperwork and dealt with some correspondence - which will lead to a refund £100 later this month!


Today I am working from 12pm to 5pm and have a meeting at 7pm. The only other thing I must do is finish a costume for a children's' play - dress rehearsal is coming up soon and they are running behind with organising so I only got the "commission" last week. It always comes at the busiest time.

Catcherupper14

I managed to finish one costume yesterday and have another to do today.


I'm working from 1pm today so I will be sewing this morning, then work, then packing up the costumes for a fitting later.


This evening I need to get started on some sewing for our Christmas fayre.


Luckily this will stop me from going out and spending money - yesterday I needed a few items, but stuck to my list because I didn't have time to browse.


The house has had a lick and a promise this week, although I have sorted out some paperwork and crafting stuff.


Even though it's all a bit of a rush, I enjoy sewing and crafting - if I get other aspects of my life into order I will have more time to do it.

Catcherupper14

Costume fitting cancelled yesterday and rescheduled for today. I have guests this weekend - coming this evening and we are going straight out.


Tasks for today:
Make up spare bed and dust and vacuum the bedroom.
Clean living room - I've done my cleaning checklist for this room so it should be easy.
Go to bank for cash.
Sewing - Christmas projects if I have time.
Shredding - the paper pile for shredding is growing. I have sorted more defunct paperwork, but haven't kept up with shredding as I tend to do the sorting very early or very late.


Being part of the grocery challenge has reined in my shopping habit (time and money-consuming) , and I have meals in my freezer for the rest of the month which is helping me plan my meals each week.

Catcherupper14

I did okay yesterday - managed to get everything ready for my guests and had a lovely evening out.


We are out and about today so not many chores on the agenda - just a quick swish and swipe of the bathroom.