Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak said:

Have a lovely day Hairy x

Thanks Nicnak

jwil said:

I love seeing my bookcases with all my favourite books on display

Glad you've managed to get your shopping, and great on the extra bananas and cash!

Thanks Jwil . 

HairyHandofDartmoor

I had a list of jobs written down to tackle today, but instead I've spent all morning doing something that wasn't on my list 🙄.

Doing book tetris for the past few days has made me think about my books and how I still have some in my bedroom piled in a corner that I can't reach very easily. I want all my favourite books to be available for me to get to and read, so I've done another big cull of books to go to the charity shop, thirteen carrier bags in total 😳. I know the charity shops aren't open, but I've stored the books in DS3's room as he's still at uni and not likely to come home before the lockdown ends, so I should be able to take them to the charity shop before he comes home.

I want to focus on my vintage books and my favourite authors, as any author I feel so so about I can borrow from the library if I want to read them (although I bet I won't bother as I still have plenty of reading material). I have to realise that one lifetime isn't enough to read all the books in the world and I need to curate more 🤔. 

I feel pleased to have created more space for the books I love. I've been already brought some books down from my bedroom and there are gaps where I can bring more down when I'm less knackered. But I also feel a bit guilty that I've done nothing from my list. Which is silly because I made the list and I can put what I like on it 🤣. If I have the energy this afternoon, I'll bring some more books down from my bedroom and arrange them where the gaps are in the bookcases, and then I'll finally be finished with the book tetris. It's my own fault for having too many books as I got rid of literally hundreds last summer too and have hardly brought any into the house since then. 

I've obviously got book sorting mania, so I may as well go with the flow and get the job done. Then my mind will be ready to do something else . You know what it's like when you get obsessed with something, well that's me with my books at the moment 🙂.

beanielou

Well done 

Sun_Addict

I'm like you with books, I just love them.  Except for a very few I pass them on once I've read them, they tend to get replaced as fast as I read them though.  Mr SA once remarked that I'd got more books than I'd got time left to read them 🤣 At least you've found something to immerse yourself in and you'll feel accomplished when the job is done.

Willowtree222

Book Tetris is fab. I've been playing it since Jan and got rid of hundred too. 
I feel so much better now looking at my bookshelf. It feels more manageable what I want to read.
Enjoy the sun Hairy, lists can wait! X

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak said:

Book Tetris is fab. I've been playing it since Jan and got rid of hundred too. 
I feel so much better now looking at my bookshelf. It feels more manageable what I want to read.
Enjoy the sun Hairy, lists can wait! X

Thanks Nicnak . It is nice to feel that my books are more manageable.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Although I feel as though I still have too many books for them to look neat and tidy, believe it or not 🙄! DH has a big bookcase in the office now for his books. I have a bookcase in the living room, one in the bathroom, a large one in the kitchen, a small one on the landing and a small one in my bedroom. I also have some shelves in my bedroom with some books in. That's three large bookcases, two small ones and some shelves just for my books and they're still double stacked in the living room one 😱. 

Maybe I can do a further cull at some point. I've had zero regrets about the thousand books I got rid of in the summer holidays 🤣.

On the plus side I've taken my books out of the office as they were taking up a shelf there, I've removed my books from the bottom shelf of the shelves where DH keeps his dvd collection, I've emptied seven plastic boxes from my bedroom and the shelves in the corner of my bedroom are no longer triple stacked with books. So I have made a lot of progress 😀.


It's not just my books that need sorting out. The trouble with being at home so much is that you have more leisure to notice things that are untidy, dirty or shabby 😥.

But I suppose if it forces me to try to improve things then it's not a bad thing. Some areas will stay shabby until we can throw money at them, like the bathroom suite and tiles, the carpets and the damp patch in the hall. However many other areas just need a good tidy and clean. I reckon I need twelve weeks just to get the house and garden in shape, and I wish I was joking 😩.

Anway I must try not to feel overwhelmed with all that needs doing. I just need to do what I can every day and slowly make progress.

beanielou

12 weeks will fly in & by the end of the summer holidays you will be sorted 

HairyHandofDartmoor

beanielou said:

12 weeks will fly in & by the end of the summer holidays you will be sorted 

I hope so Beanie 🙂 .

milann

The past 3 weeks have passed surprisingly quickly so like Beanie says 12 weeks will pass - you’ll have lots sorted in that time if you keep at it. I’ve not done much at all except sit in front of a screen....I need to give myself a kick up the behind me thinks.