Paid off the £31,000! BUT - still scrimping!

Seasidegal58

Hi everyone

Yesterday's NSD didn't go as planned. My friend who I work with had an altercation with one of guys she works for - it wasn't her fault and he can be a real a*s* anyway. So I went and had a coffee at Pret lunchtime to commiserate with her. As the NSD went belly up I thought I might as well get a couple of Xmas pressies - bought water jug for DD and boxers for her OH - both online and what they wanted. Also popped into House of Fraser on my way home and bought a MAC powder brush for a bestie, which is what she wanted too. Got 10% off using my loyalty card.

Anyway today was a NSD - also had half a day off work so nice to have extra hours at home.

SSG Xmas Cleaning Project -

Yesterday
Cleaning Task - bathroom grout! Which was all ok and so didn't have to do it!

Organising - Hair accessories. She assumes you keep these in the bathroom but mine are in drawer in my dressing table. So took everything out and went through scrunchies, hairspray etc. Also washed brushes and combs.

Maintenance Task - laundry - as I mentioned before I have my own routine so didn't need to do anything.

Today
Cleaning Task - wrapping up cleaning the bathroom.

Clean ceiling fan - don't have one. Wiped over light instead.

Dusted ceiling, windowsill, door, top of cabinet and polished mirrors.

Cleaned outside of toilet, sides of bath, scrubbed inside of toilet, and swept and cleaned floor, polished taps.

Organising - items on my vanity. Not sure what she meant by this - assume she meant wash basin. Nothing on here except nail brush! I keep hand wash and hand cream on a glass shelf between mirror and top of sink so cleaned this. Also dusted the ornamental jar on windowsill and new seahorse purchased at Xmas show!

Maintenance Task - back in kitchen - wiped tops and cupboard door fronts. Dusted top of fridge and wine bottles in stand there. Went through fridge and wiped shelves and front. Also front of cooker and washing machine. Supposed to clean inside of windows but did that other day so didn't bother as they were clean. Took out rubbish and cleaned floor!

Just sitting down with nice cup of coffee and then will have my soup!

in_need_of_direction

I hate people like you! With a major cleaning list, you can report back that most of it doesn't need done whereas I'm likely to lose the list under a pile of clutter.

Seasidegal58

Time has gone so quick and I haven’t updated diary for a couple of days!

On Saturday I had the bedroom carpet cleaned in the morning - £50. Got a few foodie/household bits which I needed for the coming week, i.e. fruit, eggs, etc. Also stocked up on a few Xmas pressies – two bottles of prosecco for a friend and my nail girl. Had to get some mouthwash as I was down to a few dribbles in the bottle! Boots were doing a third off so I got two to keep me going. Have totally trashed the £25 toiletries/make-up budget and in the true YNAB tradition have covered the deficit in this category from my ad hoc spends category.

Sunday I stayed in for big decluttering and cleaning of wardrobe of which more anon below! – NSD though!

Yesterday was a NSD as well!

Today WAS a spend day as I totally forgot that I added a “bolt on” to my mobile for international calls/texts when I was in Germany recently and so my mobile bill reflected this – extra £8 on it this month! I also finally bought a new pair of winter boots which I have been dithering about. Received a 30% discount voucher from Marisota valid for five days so I couldn’t really leave it any longer – also bought a nice pair of tan cord leggings in just the shade and material I have been looking for. So also busted the clothes budget category I started this month in YNAB – I’ve allowed £50 per month – spent £73.50 so I think I will let the extra £23.50 rollover to next month – if I have enough in the ad hoc spends by payday I will settle it from this then – so not in the true YNAB tradition this time!

SSG Xmas Cleaning Project:

Cleaning and organizing tasks for Saturday were both for the wardrobe! I knew this was going to be a mammoth task as most of my winter footwear was in a suitcase under the bed and the summer stuff was still in the wardrobe! As I had the carpet cleaned that morning and it was still going to be damp for most of the day, plus I had errands to run, I decided to go against the rules of not deviating from the cleaning plan and to make the wardrobe Sunday’s chore.

So:-

Saturday –

Cleaning Task – Entry Way – one good thing was that living in a flat and having a communal entry way and garden I didn’t have to do the “outside” section of this! I just did the inside bit which was to wash down my front door and woodwork and shake out the doormat! Also tidy up the coats hanging up (only got a couple) in the hallway, dust the hallway all over, remove scuffs with a Flash eraser on walls, clean light and vacuum and clean hard floor. I didn’t go so far as to provide a basket with spare slippers so that guests can shed their shoes when they come in as suggested in the book! You’ll just have to go about with no shoes on in my house!


Organising Task – Mail – which was easy peasy as I sort out my mail as it comes in, put anything with personal details in the shredding basket and re-cycle any junk mail. I shred stuff on Saturdays anyway so it worked out fine. I have a filing tray in the kitchen that I put anything in I have received during the week that can wait till Saturday and it gets sorted then.

Maintenance Task – extra time in the Bedroom – I didn’t do this as I thought I would leave it till after I had sorted out the wardrobe.

Sunday

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

I hate people like you! With a major cleaning list, you can report back that most of it doesn't need done whereas I'm likely to lose the list under a pile of clutter.

This is where the ante gets upped inod!

Today’s Cleaning and Maintenance Tasks were both for the dreaded WARDROBE – The author gives long procedure how to do this. The trouble is that the wardrobe tasks also morphed into “under the bed and what lies beneath” so it took all afternoon! But at the end the wardrobe was cleaned out and tidied, clothes, bags, shoes and costume jewellery were sorted out and put back neatly. Also had everything else out from under the bed and gave the underneath a good vacuum and clean. I finally got ruthless and filled a suitcase for the charity shop with things I’ve finally admitted to myself that I’m not likely to wear and other things in smaller sizes that won’t really suit me anymore even if I get down to my fighting weight! Also got two pairs of boots, cape with furry hood from Next (god knows why I bought that –some capes are nice but in this one I look like Batman’s sister!) and some costume jewellery that I don’t really like – all to go to dress agency. Stuff also went into recycling sack.

Afterwards went through bedroom dusting, vacuuming changing sheets etc and felt very pleased at the end of the day! Still have stuff to go through in dresser drawers etc and hope she gets around to these later!

Monday -

Cleaning Task – Washing Machine – ie. This was cleaning it by running the hottest wash through with white vinegar so this was a piece of cake. Also wiped it down.

Organising Task related to the Laundry Room Shelves – which I don’t have!:j

Maintenance Task – Bathrooms – but I always do this on Saturday morning so nothing here either!:j

Today

Cleaning Task – is cleaning the tumble dryer – which again I don’t have!:j

Organising Task – Bookshelves – this is going to be the next biggie – I’m in work at the moment finishing off my diary entry so I think this may have to wait till tomorrow!

Maintenance – catch up on Laundry – all done already!:j

I’m off home now!

Sun_Addict

You're ripping through those household tasks, although sounds like you're on top of most of it anyway

Bobarella

Lol at Batman's sister!!

Seasidegal58

Last night on my way home I fell by the wayside! I was walking home from the station late from work, it was raining and miserable and I was starving. The rather lovely aroma from the fish and chip shop drew me in and in next to no time I had wolfed down cod and chips when I got home! This is my big time bomb area - when I work late it's so easy to succoumb to take-aways.:( Only saving grace was it wasn't a NSD and it's my first take-away in over a month!

Today was back on the wagon - NSD day and 5:2 diet day. Hope I haven't sabotaged it too much! Lost 1 3/4 lbs last weekend so that's just under a stone lost since I was poorly the other week!:T

SSG Xmas Cleaning Project'

I'm halfway through the project now!

As I said yesterday, I left sorting out the bookcase last night. I've decided to leave it till the weekend as it's one of the bigger jobs and I'll have more time to clean it and sort out the books properly.

Today's Cleaning Task was to finish the Laundry Room - you know the one I haven't got!:j

We're now onto the process of deep cleaning the living room so Organising Task was CDS, DVDS and Games! I downloaded all my CDs onto my IPod months ago and have used ITunes downloads for any new music purchases. I couldn't bring myself to throw away my CDs though so I threw all the CD cases away and packed the discs in a little CD case I purchased for the purpose. It's amazing how little space they take up without the covers! They live under the bed with the clothes now!:D

I haven't any games but my DVDS are stored neatly away in drawers in my TV unit. I purged these a while ago. I had a quick flick through them tonight and there's none to get rid of. I do have my box sets stored in the bookcase so will sort these at the weekend with the books.

The Maintenance Task was just straighten the three cupboards I sorted out previously - under kitchen sink, kitchen food storage containers and bathroom cupboard/ cabinet and medicine shelf in kitchen. All still in good shape!

brizzledfw

Amazing work SSG, well done...I haven't even opened the book yet..will get onto it!

Seasidegal58

Thanks brizzle! it is proving quite satisfying. I definitely feel more relaxed every time I look in the wardrobe now! I'm changing my costume jewellery necklaces every day now they're not all tangled up!

Today I bought a couple of Xmas pressies for my sister. I got a 20% discount voucher from M&S so bought her a nice top and a spangly scarf for evenings. In addition we had a cake sale for charity in work today - it was £2 per slice so I bought one each for me and my boss. He never lets me buy a drink when we go out so I treated him for a change!

SSG Xmas Cleaning Project

Cleaning Task - today was cleaning the wood furniture in the living room i.e. remove wax buildup, stains etc. I don't have wood furniture in the living room - I have glass tables and gloss veneer so no stains etc!:j

Organising- was Coat Closet - which I dont have. I have a couple of coats hanging up in the hall at any one time!

Maintenance - was re-emphasis on kitchen - wiping fronts of cupboard, dusting, cleaning floor etc. I couldn't clean the window as it's pitch black out there so this will have to wait till weekend!

Bobarella

Fish and chips....ummmm now I'm hungry and it's too late for a snack and I'll have to wait to breakfast

Sun_Addict

This Xmas cleaning project sounds like a doddle to me, looks like most of it doesn't apply