Change - better late than never

Susan1962

wort wrote: »

I found kondoing. THE Marie Kondo method has helped me declutter and buy less. It also will help you sort your clothes as you only keep the ones which bring you joy!r:

Totally agree with this. The book is available in libraries and relatively cheaply as an e-book. And the thread on here is very supportive. Also very active so it helps move things along at a good clip. I post on there from time to time but read it almost every day.

newlythrifty

Hi all. I didn't come back to post yesterday. I spent most of the day trying to catch up with committee work.


Today I went to my Slimming World weigh-in and I've lost 2lb. By 9am we were off to the seaside as the weather was pretty good.
I need to do some laundry this evening, then I will be watching the football with friends.


Plan for tomorrow
A walk - since I signed up for the 500 miles I haven't done any, so I'm going to make a start.
Housework - a little dusting and vacuuming. Eventually I will try the Flylady system, but it's too much just now.
Paperwork/e-mails etc - it's never-ending. I must learn to say no.
I am planning a NSD. I need to bring my budget up to date too.
Re-pot my windowsill plants.
Some sewing or reading on my balcony if it's sunny.


I have my meals planned for tomorrow
Breakfast - porridge and fruit
Lunch - egg salad
Dinner - chicken, new potatoes and vegetables
Snacks - carrots and fruit

newlythrifty

I didn't manage a long walk today - I only clocked up a mile of the 500. I did manage a NSD today, and cleared some paperwork. I also cleared my e-mails, but since I have another meeting tomorrow I will come back with more work to do. I'd like to get into the habit of doing follow-up work from my meetings straight away, instead of leaving it until it becomes a chore. I planned a sewing project and did some housework. I also decluttered some cardboard boxes and packing materials via a local free stuff website. I still feel that I am not achieving much and really need to look at how I spend my time. Still, small steps.

newlythrifty

Oh, the best laid plans............
I had intended an early walk, some housework and some sewing before my meeting this afternoon, but ended up taking my friend to her hospital appointment. The walk will have to come later, the housework can be postponed (haha) and I am going to craft club this evening so I will do some sewing there.
It was good to have an opportunity to chat with my friend. She is going through a bad time healthwise and is so pragmatic about it.
I am sticking to my slimming world plan so far - I would like to lose another 2lb this week; and I can use my store cupboard staples like couscous and balsamic vinegars and remain on plan. Moneysaving too.


Lessonlearned - how is your decluttering coming along? I am envious of your chiminea, and not just for paper burning.


To everyone who has recommended Maria Kondo, I am just starting her book.

lessonlearned

Just having a break.

This morning started on the study, desk nearly finished - another bag full. Just got the side unit to do now but might leave that and have a nap. I couldn't sleep last night, awake till 6 so feeling a bit light headed now. Will let my (healthy:D) lunch go down and then go to bed for an hour.

Over the last couple of days I re-kondoed my bedroom and have managed to get rid of an ottoman which stood at the bottom of the bed. The rooms looks much nicer and more spacious without it.

I have bought some steel shelving for the cellar so that's my next job. And then hopefully I think I'm done. Just the photos left. I gave them a quick sweep and got rid of the real dross......l.you know the ones without heads etc :rotfl:. I will put th nicest in a couple of albums and then allow myself one small box and that's it.....I will also digitise them too. ..anything I'm not too sure about can be scanned and kept in digital form.

I was thinking of having of having a few really nice ones made up into a photo book. I think that's a winter evenings project.

I've also had a bit of a garden clear out and that looks less crowded too.
So all in all I'm making headway. Although I stubbed my little toe on Saturday, don't think it's broken but it's a bit swollen and. Ery bruised so having to rest it quite a bit. So no walking for me either. I'm going to London on Saturday so want it to get better for then.

I love my chimenea, I sit out on a summers evening, drinking a glass of wine watching the flames, it is really peaceful. It's only a little cheap one, nothing fancy. I've had it for about 10 years now and only paid £25 in a sale so it's been quite a bargain. Getting a bit tatty now but I still enjoy it.

Well done With slimming world. I've lost 3 lbs over the last two weeks, nothing exciting but nice and steady. Got a way to go yet though.......

I've set myself a target of 10lbs by August 14th when I go to Belguim and then a further stone by Christmas. Then hopefully another 1.5 stone by next summer.

So roughly 3.5 stones in a year. Roughly lb a week I guess. Should be doable.

I just want to be fitter and healthier and have more energy.

It wad nice of you to accompany your friend. I'm sure it helped her get through it all.

newlythrifty

Thank you Lessonlearned.


You are doing so well with the decluttering.


I don't know whether it would work for me. I have a drawer full of socks for example and it seems wasteful to throw them away just because I don't like them when I know I will have to replace the ones I like in a year or so.


Equally, I know the weight of possessions is dragging me down.


I know I am silly, but I feel guilty for "rejecting" things (almost as though they have feelings) and as for anything given to me as a gift, I'd keep it even if I hate it.


I think I must change the way I think about things. I know I've made many bad decisions in the past and I am allowing them to stick with me unless I cut my losses and move on.


How do you do it? Do you have an overwhelming attachment to any type of thing in your house? How have you managed to get past it.


I have been skimming the "attitudes to cooking, cleaning etc " thread and will come back and read properly. It is interesting to see the difference between people, and differences over time. I am looking forward to a good read of the whole thread this evening.


For today, I have a meeting at 9:30, then a hospital appointment this afternoon. I will combine that with a quick lunch with friends who work there.


Otherwise, I did all the outstanding work from yesterday's meeting, so apart from a little bit of chasing, I will only have things to do from today's committee.
I want to shred some papers, iron a few bits that need doing, have my walk and do some of my sewing project which I started properly yesterday.


I'm keeping (fairly) on track with slimming world. Lesson learned, 3lb over 2 weeks is a good loss. If you keep that up, you will be well over your goal for August 14th. Your weight loss plan looks good. I too would like to have more energy - I feel as though the lump I carry around me middle is draining me.


Wow - if I can get rid of the weight and the clutter that would be much of my "baggage" gone. I would float!!

lessonlearned

Hi Thrifty

Have you started the Marie Kondon book yet. I think that might help you get your head round some of the issues you have about decluttering, especially ideas about "waste", guilt about gifts and parting with sentimental items.

Also look at the Kondo thread. There's lots of ideas on there about getting rid of things responsibly, recycling etc.

Tip re socks......I use my surplus to requirement ones to stuff shoes to help keep their shape when not in use........just an idea.

I used to have real problems with parting with things until my husband died, followed by my mum 7 months later. Their deaths taught me two valuable lessons.

1. THings are only things. They can't bring our loved ones back to us.

2. AN excess of things Holds you back from living. You can spend so much wasted time, storing, maintaining and organising your stuff that you forget to live. My mum was very guilty of this.

(I have alluded to this on the "Attitudes" thread).

You are right too much stuff is a dead weight as is too much body fat.

IF we shed both we will soar......

From now on I will be buying less - reducing clutter and saving money. I will spend the money on experiences and travel rather than things.

For instance. For birthday treats for both my sons and myself I am treating us all to a trip to London on Saturday. We are going to see the Lion King.

I am 65 and I want to enjoy my retirement free from the burden of caring for "stuff". I want to be free........

My advice is - try to think differently about your possessions.

Instead of thinking "what shall I part with" go in from a different angle. Try "what shall I keep". It's a subtle shift in mindset but it works for me.

I cheerfully admit I have a lot of clothes......:rotfl:

I don't do high fashion theSe days having (finally) found my own style so I tend to keep clothes for years. I got rid of everything that didn't make me look good and have gradually replenished my wardrobe with clothes that actually flatter me and make me feel good about myself. I now go for quality over quantity - mainly from charity shops or sales.

It's taken me a couple of years to get this far. Personally, I don't think Decluttering is something that can be rushed. I find it helpful to take a break and then have another sweep a few weeks later. Not the way Marie Kondo advocates but it works for me.

I would say just go at your pace. It's a marathon not a sprint.....:rotfl:

newlythrifty

Thank you Lesson learned. I started reading Marie Kondo's book last night. I found her views on parting with things really eye-opening, although I'm not far through the book.


I certainly feel tied down by my possessions, and having cleared out my parents' house when they died, I vowed not to put relations through the same when I die. I really hadn't taken it on board until now.


I need to get over the idea that getting rid of things is wasted money - in fact the money was wasted at the point I bought them, and I can't go back in time.


I love the idea of the Lion King. I would think it's a spectacular show.
For a while now my family and I have been trying to move towards experiences, but I have one sister who will never give up on giving (and wanting to receive) lots of gifts.


I've found that at this stage in my life I have most things I need and could pretty much buy anything I want.


Plan for today:
Take friend to hospital appointment (a lot of my friends seem to have appointments this week)
Meeting - probably a long one.
Phone calls and e-mail about charity event.
Walk and a few yoga exercises.
Housework and shredding some papers.
A little ironing if I get time.
Read Marie Kondo book.

lessonlearned

Hi Thrifty.......glad you are enjoying the MK book. I know she is "charmingly eccentric" but she does make a lot of sense. She has even managed to turn my hoarder SIL around. And I'm talking serious hoarding, not just a bit of clutter.

I especially like the idea about "wasted money".

You are so right, it was wasted at the point of purchase, hanging on to that purchase won't reimburse you the expenditure.....;) it's dead money and it's in the past, get over it and don't let it be an albatross round your neck.

Dwelling on past mistakes is never a good idea, learn from them and move on.

You will notice my mom de plume is "Lesson Learned". There's a good reason. Mistakes I've made hundreds.....but I rarely make the same mistake twice.

Sounds like a productive day, I'm off to B&Q for some Paint. Will call in at the Chazzer to drop off some stuff. Who knows I might pick up a nice bargain outfit........

A girl can never have too many nice clothes.......;)

I also need to bank my nice little premium bond win......will add it to the travel fund.:D

milasavesmoney

You both are at my point in life. I need to lose some weight and clear out the clutter. I felt like I was listening to my own thoughts as I read the exchange between you two.:)

The scale was good to me this morning! Lost 1lb after being the same weight for two weeks.