Prosperous soul in the making

MovingForwards

Just stopped by to say hello and congratulations on moving as much as you have!

savingholmes

Thanks MovingForwards - I am about to drop off my first ever book drop to mus1c m@gp1e - For 29 items I'm getting £13.53 - which basically means I am getting £5 x 1 and 2 x £2 for 3 books and the rest are all pennies. Neverheless - I would normally just send them all to charity so it is something for us at least. I don't have the patience to sell them individually. Just waiting for OH to finish playing a computer game so we can go and drop the box off. It's heavy so getting him to help....

Then really I need to psyche myself up to do some of the work I should have done Friday.... No doubt DD will come and demand that I do more decluttering later too...:eek:

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

hello savingholmes

Tea sounds delicious And well done on all that decluttering - i am inspired - though struggling to part with anything :rotfl:

savingholmes

StripeyTightsSpottySocks wrote: »

d well done on all that decluttering - i am inspired - though struggling to part with anything :rotfl:

Hi Stripey - traditionally I've really struggled to let go of things- even more so if I'd bought them but never used them. Downstairs looked acceptable - partly thanks to our cleaner - but bags of stuff hid in the garage or upstairs. My stuff was literally climbing the walls in our bedroom, spilling into DS's room while he's away and in my study it looked like stuff was erupting like a volcano. :eek:I'm not kidding. In my so called study the stuff was all like three boxes high - even the desk was mounded with stuff etc. The boxes of Christmas decs that had been on the landing since January were still there in June - although I blame OH for not putting them in the loft. Then other boxes or bags were gathering alongside them...

My DD set me a challenge of 10 items per day - but in practice - we've been doing whole bin bags because those things really weren't serving me/us anymore. DR has a saying 'do things have you?' I think things definitely had me. So when I say - my study's nearly done - hopefully you can see what an achievement that is in that context. I think other than the hoover the landing is now clear. In our bedroom most of the stuff climbing the walls has gone - although the ever present pile of washing to be sorted never gets fully eliminated before the next run of washing.

I think the biggest achievement is not just letting things go - but also I have majorly reduced my fritter spend so not bringing new things in. That it going a long way to making the battle winnable. The books I sold today - I last read years ago.... So why was I holding onto them? I hopefully have decades of life left - but when I listen to people I work with having to sort through their parents belongings after they're gone, it feels only right to reduce the stuff we have as we go along rather than leaving them to call for skips or house clearance people later...

I also find that I can do things for a while - and then the motivation dies - so trying to ride the wave currently! Plus my DD is being a major help - its like being part of a bootcamp :rotfl:

All that to say, I hope you manage to clear some space physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually by letting things go.

savingholmes

DD had a friend over last night so I managed to escape further decluttering. I did catch up a little on my work but not enough - so have got up early for me and intend to try and get to work at a decent time every day this week - and thus catch up 30 minutes or so a day.

Cheque one cashed early so sent another £500 of planned (following ppi claim) over payment to CC5. CC5 is now down to £6K (started the month on £8.2K). Once PPI cheque cleared plan to reduce it to £1.3K and then pay in full next payday in just over 2 weeks time. I'm going to reduce the CC limit on it but I want to keep it open for now until we have a fully funded emergency fund - this particularly card has offered me money transfers in the past at 1.9% so while also tempting has appeared helpful. I know DR would say just cancel it but I don't feel able to yet.

I've worked out that this month we have had about £7.3K in extra money (ppi, back pay, qui1dco, motorbike sales, other sales). What a fantastic start to the recommitment to my debt free journey. Whether you believe in God or the universe - we've definitely had a helping hand this month. Hoping cheque 2 also cashes early....

I need to work out how to send some sandals back to 3vans as they completely split and fell apart after 2-3 months wear. Also need to send something back to pr3tty l1ttl3 th1ng for DD as it has a hole in it. Will ask for refunds as with the sandals I'd already bought a second pair as they were comfortable.

Between now and payday I plan to:
1) Catch up on some hours at work by going in earlier - but still come home at a decent time
2) Pay off CC5
3) Pay CC3 about £90
4) Make regular payment of around £75 to CC1
5) Pay CC2 about £190
6) Continue decluttering
7) Find other stuff to sell
8) Sort out present for OH's birthday
9) Go out for the day together next Saturday & celebrate
10) Make time for fun, relaxation and 'dreaming'

jwil

You've reminded me I've got a bag of stuff to check on music magpie etc, thank you! Must do that, I could do with the cash.

That's an amazing amount of extra cash in, fabulous!

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil - good luck with your sales too

Got to work at a decent time today. Had a productive day. Took lunch in with me. Claimed a small amount of expenses.

OH is eating leftovers tonight as its my turn to cook and I can't be bothered right now. May either do porridge again or think we have taco mince left from last week. DD has gone out with friends. She borrowed a fiver to eat out.

Trying to motivate myself to do something money saving or perhaps painting or decluttering... Should take dog for a walk too. I may risk the shops and buy OH a joke present. I could take some cash and stick to only spending that... Need something to wrap up for him. Will make some porridge, eat and then go...

FloraandFauna

Shame about the house, Holmes, but you either get the feeling or you don't. You could never have lived with listening to cars accelerating around that 60mph bend : ) I remember when I was looking for this one, I visited something that was perfect on paper but when I got there, was just... blank. This one is not perfect on paper, but when I visited fell irremediably in love.

If your area's on the up, it may make more sense to wait a few years anyway.

savingholmes

Thanks Flora. Well I popped out - and overspent compared to what I planned. Oops. Bought some towels in the sale for me, DD and DH. Sorting out our airing cupboard revealed our towels to be old, holey and on the way out. I'm going to wrap him up a beach towel for his birthday lol but give the others to the family now. I ended up buying more pop, milk, crackers and cat food so not terrible but not great. DD is giving me some money back for sweets I bought on her behalf.

The dog is doing what she does best - alternately giving me puppy eyes to take her out or chasing the cat...

savingholmes

I am considering whether I should hold off paying CC5 on august payday until I know what the scooter, laptop, scooter course, scooter insurance and protective clothing costs are going to be. MIL has said she will pay for a lot of it - but she isn't always the quickest at transferring the money. I also need tyres next month - at least 2 at the front. Need to buy £140 of stuff for DD's new school. I've also promised DD a hair appointment after her GCSE results (before she starts 6th form £85 as she needs some dye stripping) and DS arrives back in the country and we're likely to celebrate. I will still pay another £4.7K this month when the money clears - leaving me a balance of £1.3K to pay either next month in full or perhaps over 2 months to allow for the above.

This week:

1. I need to confirm I still want child benefit while DD goes to sixth form.Need to look for other things to sell.
2. DH still hasn't done anything about selling my archery kit. I need to try and sell my desk, an air fat fryer and a juicer!
3. I need to do some more ppi reclaim attempts - for me and DH - and check whether there is any more free money out there with our name on it.
4. I also need to appeal against the latest job evaluation and put in additional detail. I need to specify the course I want and check there is money in the work training budget to pay for it.
5. Now though I need to get my !!!! in gear and go to work :rotfl: