bitbybit's road to freedom

Mrs_Money_Penny

Well done. March will soon be here. Let us know your retirement dreams Covid permitting. xx

bit_by_bit

So part of the prep to retire is clearing out the clutter. I am a bit of a hoarder. Unfortunately the CS will be shut for a while so I am going to load up the garage with the things to go. I also have some stuff for the refugee support centre. (5 bags so far).
Since the first of Jan I have cleared the table in my craft room (of doom) and started photographing stuff to sell. Obviously some of  the proceeds are to go to the mortgage although some will go to my travel fund.
I was hoping to go travelling in 2022. We will see how the world is then.

bit_by_bit

This week had been good so far with over £120 proffit from sales on various sites. This is all cash so can go into the overpayment pot at the end of the month. This is very satisfying but not usual as one item someone paid a LOT more than expected. Not complaining though.
Also I have over £90 in the tilly tidy account whic is all of Decembers as well as Januarys tidies. I think the first overpayment for 2021 is going to be good and with my regular payment tip over into £500 off the mortgage for january.
Still photogaphing and listing. I have a LOT to go.

bit_by_bit

Mrs_Money_Penny said:

Well done. March will soon be here. Let us know your retirement dreams Covid permitting. xx

I think my first plan is to finish the job I started with the clearing and fixing the house. It shouldn't take long. 
Financially I will be secure but will be looking at how to squeeze every penny out as my pensions will be small. 
After this a few months enjoying rest and summer  working on the allotment. 
I want to write my autobography. I have had a reasonably interesting life.
Completing some of the crafting plans I have had for YEARs.
The big plan has actually to go travelling with DH who will retire next year. This has been put of once due to the Big C so I want to carry on with that plan.
Unfortunately I can see my in laws are getting older and are already needing support. I have some help from grown up nephews but in the newer than hoped future I might be tied down again. 

bit_by_bit

Half way through the month and have been busy. Hundres of pounds have come in from sales online including a leather ottoman that has held blankets in the lounge for years. Very Very pleasing.
The though lounge is nearly finished with the dcluttering and clearing out. We part exchanged an over sized Welsh dresser for a smaller on and emptied the drinks cabinet into it. Out came the board games which will be stored else where.
I have a LOT of stuff to sell now and I reckon at my current pace it is going to take me a year. However the place is looking better day by day as I do some bit by bit ; see what I did there?
Feeling bouyant and holding onto the feeling while it lasts

beanielou

Sounding good 

bit_by_bit

An exceptional month selling on The Bay. I have overpaid £340 which includes my sales and Tilly Tidies. 
I have also put away the council tax and water money from this month which adds up to about £230. This is in a savings pot for paying off the mortgage later in the year but I am hanging onto this in case my brother needs some while the lockdown continues.
We have also sold some furniture and have more space. Got all my sales items in one place so I am going to work through that over the coming year. Lots of bags for the charity shop and the refugees. 
In a few months loads of stuff will be going out of the house and I can't wait. 

family355

Excellent sales bit by bit, I’ve not sold on there for years but used to love the feeling of decluttering and making money! Wish I’d have known about MFW then to plough profits into! I always felt that things I was sure would sell, didn’t and things I thought were probably junk sold for a good price. I love autobiography’s too so please let us know how you are getting on with this!
Really nice you are helping your brother too 🙂 

caeler

Good luck with it all @bit_by_bit
I’m also waiting for charity shops to open, 8 bags here! 

bit_by_bit

Thanks family355. To be honest it was luck really than judgemnt that has helped me with the online sales. I have been given lots of stuff to get rid of by other people ( with tidier houses) to get rid of. I seem to be the local womble. I recycle any packaging. Postage is paid from a pot of stamps that I get for doing the postal survey. It is hard to make any money on low price items and it requires energy to keep it up. I like doing it while its winter so I will carry one. 
Writing the autobiography has been a work in progress for many years. I think my life is boring and nothing special but now one else seems to. 
Thanks for the good wishes caeler. I just took in a few at a time when they opened as they were overwhelmed. There are still clothing containers around if you want to clear the decks sooner. 
Today large cabinet has been sold and I filled in paperwork to do with reitrement and my pension. It should ahve been done months ago, thenI lost it. Anyway. all done now. Just the tax return and my sister's probate to sort out now.