Hope is not an Effective Financial Strategy

shangaijimmy

Right...nothing but positivity, optimism and enthusiasm for home schooling this morning! DD couldn't be any worse than she was yesterday morning (if she is she's going in the garage), so everything has to be better...

I have an hours peaceful respite this afternoon as I have blood donation appointment, so maybe my enthusiasm is bouyed by the thought of leaving the house and going somewhere other than a walk/run...

Back later with some declutter updates.

Suffolk_lass

Ooh, an outing! how exciting...

shangaijimmy

I've had to lean on our support bubble (my parents) for the first time. We've been so reluctant to ask them, despite many offers, and my folks are very understanding and aware. I agonised over asking them to pop round for an hour, but thought that the 'greater good' of blood donation at this current time was too important for me to cancel the appointment.

The morning has gone quite well with home schooling. I've refused to do one of the tasks with DD though...it's definitely not something I am capable of, and we haven't got half of the things that are needed (I'm not sure 1 hours notice when we're not supposed to go out is appropriate, but that's another discussion) so I'm not rushing around for it. We'd have only ending up falling out and no doubt both sulking! Jigsaws and an outing in the sunshine on a scooter was a better fit.

I've decluttered a duvet (will go to the homeless) 1 plastic sword, 1 hoody of mine, 1 pair of jogging pants of DS1, 1 jumper of DS2 and a vest of DD. Quite pleased with that little haul for today.

Nothing has happened on our current account so to celebrate I TT'd a nice and tidy £1!

shangaijimmy

Good morning all. Quick check in ahead of morning registration and a day of pain!

£1 OP made as a reward of the account remaining nice and tidy. I've also joined the 1% challenge figuring it gives me something to aim for for 'extras' that are thrown at mortgage and separate to the neutral quest. £705 is 1% for us.

shangaijimmy

Grrrrr....longish post lost!

Well humpday is done, so its all downhill from here to the weekend. Happy to report that DD remain inside the house although the garage is ominously in the background... We've saved one of DD's craft activities for this evening to give the kids something to do, as DS2 will enjoy taking part.

Mrs SJ was working from home today so I snuck out for a run at lunchtime. It was pouring with rain, but lunchtime was my slot so off I tootled. I must say that the cold doesn't usually bother me but the rain was sooooo cold on my face today, brrrr! Poor pooch has done some mopping round the house today, as I suspect he knows that its raining and that he's going to get wet at some stage!!

3 more items for the charity bag (2 are currently in the wash), and a rather large plastic toy tea pot lid that belongs to a tea set long since sent to the charity shop! Bit by bit I am disposing of items. Hopefully it can stay ahead of the rate that new items come into the house!

debtfreeoneday

Thanks for popping into my diary SJ. I did laugh reading that you’ve decluttered your plastic sword. Are you ready for that??

then I reread it! 🤦🏻‍♀️

shangaijimmy

Well Friday has thankfully arrived... It felt like an eternity away on Wednesday morning with DD's home schooling, but we're here. Hopefully not too arduous a day, but I would much rather sit and watch the cricket this morning...hey ho!

Food shop day today and its needed. The volume of toast, sandwiches, pancakes, yoghurts that the kids chomp through is unbelievable when they're home schooling. They must be permanently hungry in school. And juice come to think of it, they're constantly drinking. Up shot is that our food shop will be a few £1's higher but can be offset in less alcohol purchases 

50p TT made this morning. Current account is looking relatively healthy for January. 2 of the 5 family birthdays (1 dad, 2 sisters and 2 of our own kids) have been and gone. We have 2 this week, and one is a number milestone but I'm sure Mrs SJ has already sorted out for that one. 

I'm going to do a tip run today as well so I can make a start on the garage at the weekend. I have piles of charity and tip stuff in their which need to be gone so that I can move around more to organise the shelves and so on... With the charity shops shut I'm a bit limited on how much I can do for the time being though, and there are quite a few big childrens toys that included in those piles.

greent

Kids toys - Sell them via Facebook mktplace? Give away via olio or Facebook or freegle? 

Viking_mfw

With items like that I find listing on fb or gtree for 50p or £1 more effective than trying to give them away - people think they're getting a bargain rather than doing you a favour! 

themadvix

You’re in with a chance with the decluttering, I reckon - with shops shut and no birthday parties for the kids, surely there’s less opportunity for stuff to come into the house?!

I second greent’s suggestions for giving stuff away - and if Freegle or Olio are not big in your area, try Freecycle or Trash Nothing. I find it varies by location as which platform is most active.