Doing up the House (and me) while doing away with the Debt

supersaver1000

So close to moving and yet so far.  Lockdown means no more work on the new house for the moment.  Its looking like another 3 weeks before work starts again so it could be mid-June earliest for moving.  Mortgage offer runs out before then.  We are hoping that will be extended, but will tackle that if and when necessary.  Trying to look on the positive side, it will give me more time to sort things out before moving and another month of savings towards getting things as we want them.  I have a huge 'to do' list which seems to have ground to a halt, so I need to get that going again.  It would be nice to only move the stuff we are planning to keep in the new house.  Would be great to start off uncluttered, but we should also be able to do the move ourselves and save on the cost of a remover.  There should be plenty of time to sell stuff on fleabay beforehand and order in the new things (fingers crossed).  We were also due to sell a vehicle, so its frustrating that its just sat there, but not a lot to be done, so no point mithering.

On the grocery front, more has been spent than budgetted but, with an extra mouth to feed and the shopping limitations, its to be expected.  Actually its a small price to pay, when one of the benefits is getting to spend time with loved ones - and I can't spend it on much else with the shops all shut

Roll on the weekend for some time to get things done.  Hopefully we will have a lovely sunny one again.  

supersaver1000

Spent the day shopping, exercising, cooking, cleaning up, playing board games and a bit of TV to finish off.  Exhausted, but full and satisfied.  Our target for this year, as I keep talking about, is becoming home owners, but alongside this we are continuing our journey to debt freedom (we are debt neutral and soon to be debt free).  We have been very organised with the finances lately - apart from DHs SE (he really can't be trusted to budget) and that will be sorted soon.  The Xmas saving is still on track and that will mean £366 to spend on 1st December.  Great timing as kitty cats insurance is due then, and of course xmas. We had also been doing great with the grocery budget, but we are spending so much more whilst lockdown is in place.  It can't be helped, we have an extra mouth to feed who isn't as easy going as DH and myself, and shopping is a bit hit and miss.  I don't usually keep much in, I do a weekly shop and then pop in on the way home for any fresh bits.  But I've had to start stocking up a bit as its so disappointing to run out of something and then find its not in store when you want it.  Its not like we'll starve but I'd gotten used to being organised and it adds a little bit of stress to be constantly rethinking the meals just because something wasn't in stock.

One benefit has been the exercising and I've joined the old fashion weight losers thread, determined to lose a couple stone.  I'm hoping they will keep me on the straight and narrow like the Debt Free Wannabes has done with the debt.  That will go nicely with the fashion on the ration thread, as I have a wardrobe full of staples now thanks to that thread and a shelf of things that no longer fit but i'd like them to.  

supersaver1000

So, I'm losing weight and getting fit, banishing the clutter, sorting my clothes/fashion, on the grocery challenge and saving for Christmas.  Not sure how I'm fitting in work as well (not very well ).  

greenbee

supersaver1000 said:

So, I'm losing weight and getting fit, banishing the clutter, sorting my clothes/fashion, on the grocery challenge and saving for Christmas.  Not sure how I'm fitting in work as well (not very well ).  

I hear you... I'm losing weight, eating properly, doing pilates & yoga (hoping to get back to walking and then running soon), getting the garden sorted, keeping the house clean and tidy, sorting my clothes... spending money (but planned spending). And fitting in the occasional bit of work

supersaver1000

Haha Greenbee I'm glad I'm not alone.  This really is worklife balance

I've just reported a 1lb weight loss (woohoo), I'm running three times a week and have started doing my dumbbell exercises three sets spread over the day - coffee time, lunch time and tea time.  My back is feeling stronger and more flexible already.   I'm planning to join pilates or yoga when the lock down is over, or maybe I just need to get that Yoga DVD out (if I've still got it).  Although it would be nice to do something more social, maybe a pilates class one day a week and badminton or something.

So, gardening for me this weekend - bit of weeding and a plant or two to put into a pot.  Definitely need to do some house cleaning.  And the main decluttering task is to set myself up a folder for bills and payments.  I've sorted the recipe folder out and its so much better, I've been using the current bills folder for ages and its got so much old stuff in there, new one definitely needed.  If there's any paper I could have a fire again and burn some of the old branches in the garden - there was something very satisfying about that.  I need to get a shifty on with the decluttering now that the building companies might be getting back to work.  I need to be fully prepared for moving day!

greenbee

I can PM you links to people who are doing online Pilates, yoga and HIIT if you want? I’m not back to running yet (walking, mowing, gardening) but am doing up to 4 Pilates and 5 yoga classes a week. Scheduled, paid for live classes so I have to go! Not up to HIIT yet either, but the classes look great ☺️

supersaver1000

Thanks Greenbee, that's really kind of you.  But, I do have a local pilates instructor who is doing online live sessions.  I'm not quite ready to factor in another commitment at the moment (although I have found out the yoga dvd ).  You are doing really well with 9 classes a week, you must be really supple.  My back is definitely loads better with the exercise I am doing - it usually gets very stiff and then painful and then I'm a misery - pilates and yoga would do me lots of good.  If I start up my online session and don't enjoy I might come back to you if that's okay.  

greenbee

Try the online classes from your local instructor. All mine are PAYG, so at the end of each week I pay each instructor for the classes I've been to. I'm not at all supple, but doing the classes regularly (I usually miss lots due to work travel) and adding in all the yoga which I don't usually do, means that my core is MUCH stronger, and I'm gradually getting more flexible! It also provides structure to my week, and even helps with my meal planning (Monday and Wednesday have evening  classes - in fact Wednesday has 2 - so I do a fast day, with a decent lunch and then a smoothie late afternoon). Plus it's kind of social, in that there's a bit of chat at the beginning and end of each class. TBH I also want to support these local instructors rather than random youtube influencers given that I'm lucky enough to still be working. 

supersaver1000

Thanks Greenbee, I really need a stronger core and I'm enjoying getting a routine going.  Travelling and late working really disrupts me, even if I get home on time I can feel too exhausted, but its good to see my running buddies and of course I'm missing my work mates.  I hadn't thought about the social side of the online classes.  I think I might have to give it a go.

greenbee

I rarely spend more than 4 days in a row at home, so this is really strange for me - but hopefully I"m getting some benefits from it. It's nice not having to do all the laundry in a mad rush over the weekend having unpacked and needing to get it ready to repack and it's nice being able to spend time in the garden and hope to actually get it under some kind of control. I do miss my colleagues, but I really don't miss the travel - the shortest trip is 14 hours travel for a day and a half in the office Hopefully once we're allowed out I'll be able to get a better balance.