The blank canvas that is 2019

hazydaysofsummer

I could probably win awards for procrastinating, so I do believe it's time to put some action where the words are.
A brief outline of me, it pains me to admit to middle age (Eek), have DD1 & 2, DH & kitty katkins.
In recent years gone by debt was a millstone around my neck but fortunately I've been more or less debt free for a couple of years now but one catalogue account is now over £1000 - crept up slowly as all things do - time to address.
So, with a shiny new year on the horizon, it's the best time to get to grips with what 2019 needs to be for me.
I'd also like to boost the savings account which proves to be a tad difficult when you find yourself so naturally being a spendthrift with so many 'must haves' calling your name !!!!
I think as a whole I need to rethink many aspects which all go hand in hand - i'm quite ordered but the attic needs addressing ((AGAIN - perfect place to store EVERYTHING when you have little storage)) and there are a few cupboards bursting at the seams.
when stuff around me needs sorting it affects my financial habits and my eating habits - all of which need to be addressed.
I also hope to reduce my wastage of food (need to sort meal planner and shop accordingly) - it's not a huge issue but could still do with a little fine tuning, also i'd like to reduce how much plastic/cardboard/recycling we generate & get my eating/health plan back on track (Christmas = too much beige food!! & now I literally have to eat it all before new year ready for my new years healthy eating plan lol!!)
So not much to sort at all !!!!
Ebaying will hopefully make a dent on the catalogue bill but Jan is a bit of a flat Ebay month, so it gives me til end of Jan to sort stuff to bay (there is a mountain)
Kitchen sort is also on the horizon to make it a little more user friendly, currently the prospect of being knocked out when you open a cupboard is not advantageous to a great cooking experience!!
Anyway, enough for now - roll on the hazy days of summer & a streamlined life

hazydaysofsummer

Teetering on the cusp of a new year....
......Another work day, proving to be an interruption of my at home time!!! lol!!


Great expectations, could this actually be the year that I get myself together and get rid of the nagging whispers in my mind of 'what are you doing' after the thrill of the spend!!
So, where to start........
......Christmas, birthdays, car insurance, various bills etc - I am fully aware these things happen annually at pretty much the same time, so why am I always so ill prepared as if its unexpectedly crept up on my me AGAIN, so although it pains me to speak of Christmas 2019 I'm guessing the only way to be prepared is to be prepared!!


This follows nicely into savings, at the beginning of the month I'll transfer some money on pay day into the savings account only to then need to transfer it back at some point in the month due to overspends (unnecessary overspends) - this most definitely needs to stop & although my thought is to transfer a monthly amount for Xmas, I really need to ensure this is a regular commitment that doesn't need to be used, hmmmm.
I've booked a couple of days off of work shortly, it'll just be myself and Kitty katkins at home as DD's & DH will have gone back to school/college/work (quite looking forward to it !!) & my intention is to sort Christmas decorations & charity shop what I no longer need before heading back into the room of doom (aka the attic......)
Thoughts on Ebaying, I have sooooooooo much stuff that I have squirrelled away to Ebay, I send a lot of stuff to charity but I still can't bare to part with anything that I feel will sale, but then on the flip side of that there's the time it takes to Ebay & the amount of stuff in the attic waiting to be Ebayed - some days I think 'well if it only sells for 99p, that'll all add up (catalogue bill & all)' and then other days I just want rid of the clutter for a more streamlined existence!!! what to do......
Anyway, enough rumblings for now
Hope everyone has a fab New Years Eve xxx

Honeysucklelou2

Re Christmas savings, I have a standing order for a few pounds a week that goes out to a savings account held with a completely different bank. The account has no card with it, so to access the money I have to physically go to the branch. It means that I can't transfer the money back which certainly helps me to keep saving!

Good luck with the debt busting in 2019.

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary

Could you use your local FB selling page?

hazydaysofsummer

Thank you Honey & Beanie for wandering through xx
I definitely need to pop some money for Christmas where I can't get to it, so great option to pop it in a card free account where I would have to go to a branch to withdraw - that would be enough to put me off overspending!!


So, great plans for today and unfortunately feeling a tad under the weather & pulled muscle very much restricting movement - January blues don't help, so a tad fed up!!
Anyway, no point focusing on the 'cant do's' as nothing will get done!!
Painkillers popped, first load of washing on, slow cookers filled with next weeks meals and onwards!!
Few days off of work (hence the pulled muscle being extra annoying - in my own time!!) so wanted to get the decluttering underway (house is v tidy but too too much stuff squirrelled away in cupboards, drawers, wardrobes, linen cupboard & attic!!)
but with the intention of everything sorted needs to be recycled, so either sold, given to friends or charity shop.
Don't really know where to start - Christmas decorations would be the sensible place but I need to sort the old decs no longer needed before packing up the current ones.......why does one job always lead to another!!! - Main reason for the declutter, fed up with wasting time sorting!!
Shopping budget this week needed to be around £55 and managed to spend £79.....it does mean I have some extra slow cooker meals but i'm now £24 down - hopefully sales will profit at least £24!!
Anyway must get on or I'll definitely get nothing done!!

[Deleted User]

Good luck on your journey x

hazydaysofsummer

Brrrrr, the car needed a little thawing this morning (note to self check on car status before rushing out of the house late) but what a sunny day it has progressed into - counting the days to summer days, light mornings & evenings, the warmth, windows wide open and fragrant blooms.....hurry please!!


So, update on the selling debacle - I decided in my infinite wisdom (questionable at best!!) that the declutter & sorting shall begin with ones wardrobe (Scary place to be) with a mash up of watching consumed and Marie Kondo courtesy of Netflix, I decided probably 50% had to go as there was heaps of stuff that just didn't fit as Id hoped or proved too snug (weight loss high up on top 5 things to address in 2019) or fitted but I'd fallen out of love with or just didn't like but had bought anyway because it fitted.
I couldn't have comprehended just how long it would take me to go through everything and decide what needed doing with them, recycle, keep, charity or sell - after 2 days, 4 black sacks have gone to charity, 2 full to bursting black sacks of items Ebayed awaiting hopeful sale, bag full for a friend & bag of rubbish/recycling.
I decided that the items I considered sale worthy I would list on a fixed price with a best offer option and if they'd not sold after 10 days then I would take it to the charity shop - I feel less wasteful doing it this way & it's not as though I can afford just to get rid of stuff which may make me a little to pay off of my catalogue bill or fill a gap.
A few sales over the last couple of days have amounted to around £40 (after taking out postage costs & Ebay/paypal fees) which covers the £24 shopping overspend but I have had to pop to shops a couple of times, so need to revisit my finances shortly to recalculate!!
Onwards & upwards

beanielou

Good news on the sales :j

SpekySquarehead

Hey and good luck with the challenge ahead.

I agree with you that something like a tidy and organised home eventually influences other elements of life such as finances, eating, exercising etc. Good on you for finally putting your foot down and deciding enough is enough.

I've subscribed. Good luck!

hazydaysofsummer

A place for everything & everything in it's place.........
........bah!!
Well I must say this decluttering malarkey is not only time consuming it's the messiest job I've tackled!! Everything that is normally so beautifully concealed behind cupboard doors now adorn any available space looking at me challenging what I might do with it!!
I could say it's just because I need a bigger house with more storage, the reality is I need way less stuff - my DM always said you'll always fill the space you have - very true!!
How many face clothes do one family need !!! - just counted 14.....needless to say I've now moved onto the airing cupboard.


Thanks Speky & Beanie for checking in
No more sales yet on Ebay, so finances at a stalemate so far today - I think I need to do an online shop ready for the weekend as I need to be in control of spends this week & not get drawn in by offers in store that jump out at me at every corner !!
Back to the mess!! I'm sure it'll be worth it in the end!!

hazydaysofsummer

Grey miserable day !!!
Roll on the end of January and pay day!!
Well, since yesterday I've generated £19.50 in sales (one postage and fees have been taken out)
This week I need to stick to £130 spends at most.
Fuel today has been £28 ( which should last til next Friday)
Storage boxes plus few cleaning bits was £18 & take out treat for DD was £10
Which leaves me £74 for shopping and any other expenses - wish me luck!!