Wow, things are a bit different

LondonLiz

Plodding on.
Sainsburys shop done today for the non-Aldi items I need. (That's tomorrow as they are in opposite directions and its a bit much to do both in one day when walking/carrying stuff back). On the way dropped off a bag of books & several pairs of shoes at the charity shop. Am setting myself a target that every time I have to go past the local charities I have to drop off SOMETHING no matter how small. I've realised this is more likely to make decluttering successful than just big and infrequent blitzes. Shame there isn't a shop near the gym as that's the place I am frequenting the most, though not today as the day got away on me.

Thames Water have confirmed I was not on the correct tariff and it was their fault. Waiting for new bill to be sent but at the moment it appears that as a minimum the credit back will pay for all of this years revised bill and some of next years i.e. my direct debit will got from £30 per month to £0 for at least 12 months. Silly of me not to have checked all this time.

No jobs applied for today - am feeling slightly anxious now as there is less temp jobs out there than I expected and the perm ones are being very picky about industry experience required or sound a bit scary. Total Jobs email alerts is also matching me to everything but the kitchen sink, clearly need to change the criteria as it's clogging up my email with stupid suggestions.

LondonLiz

Did the most minging, revolting task of all time today and cleaned the washing machine filter. It was absolutely full of yukky grey goo and STANK. Then put a black dye through with some jeans that had faded, very pleased they are like brand new. The dye was lurking at the back of the cupboard under the sink for ages, finally remembered it was there. Have some other clothes I might give a go to as well.

Very carroty lamb casserole made and a large portion eaten. Can recommend throwing in a tin of anchovies (mine were only Aldi, not posh ones). Doesn't taste fishy just adds depth of flavour - just remember to drain the oil off thoroughly, mines going to need a good skim. Also added a good glug of wine from the Recession Red (which has also been glugged from a wine glass for tasting purposes only).

No gym again, was not in the mood, but more decluttering is taking place. Have gathered up and counted a United Nations of foreign money - not sure quite what to do with it all especially the coins - anyone going to Guatemala or Indonesia?. The nearly $70 of US notes from a trip over 7 years ago will have to be exchanged as I have no plans to get to the States in the foreseeable future. Bet the exchange rate was better back when I got them though! Not to mention paying in the over £20 of UK silver coins, mostly 5p's that I've been hoarding in every imaginable place and the uncounted pot of coppers. Why oh why?

beanielou

Good news on the jeans.

Humdinger1

Liz

You're getting on brilliantly! I've found decluttering and doing all those low level, never quite making it to the top of the list jobs boosts energy. I suppose the knowledge that they are there is quite draining at some level? It sounds like a very inexpensive way of preparing for the next thing so i wouldn't beat yourself up about the gym. Onwards and upwards Humdinger

LondonLiz

[FONT=&quot]Hello all, especially the nice readers who have posted on my my sad little diary. Nice to know I am not just talking to myself (I do a lot of that anyway!)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Feels like it’s been a long 3 days since I last posted. Made it to the gym Friday and did some Aldi shopping, also dropped off a bag of clothes & books at the charity shop on the way. I am going to have to start spreading out the donations soon, tI usually got o the one right next to the bus stop but since I am walking these days I can make the effort to cross the road - there are at least 3 charity shops to choose from so I can spread the clutter out amongst them all.. Plus got some job apps done, nothing I really fancy but did them anyway. In contrast, spent yesterday frittering time away among some ineffectual decluttering attempts and being mystified by the weather – talk about 4 seasons in one day. Sunshine, thunder, rain/hail, wintry cold, then repeat. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Got to the gym again this morning, then went to a bank holiday event/fair thingy with friends in the afternoon. Decided to walk there and back which was a fair way plus the time walking around it and by the time I got home my legs were killing me. Had to have a lie down and ended up having a nana nap on the sofa! Plus have accepted I need new trainers as I‘ve been getting foot pain over last few weeks and today was especially bad up especially through one heel and instep, which is a good sign my trainers are on the way out. They are well used and over the standard number of miles used as a guide for replacement for running (not that I’ve done much of that) and definitely not as springy as they used to be.. Unfortunately these won’t be cheap as there are only 2 brands that make trainers that fit my weird foot shape and have room for orthotics to fit, so that will be at least £110 even bought online. Sigh.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Well I am going to dig out some[/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot] ibruprofen to get to sleep as legs still a bit achey and my sofa snooze means am not hugely tired. I may have overdone it today. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

mary_hinge

….sneaks in. flings shoes in the corner and parks ones bum in the comfy spot on the sofa! Is that the kettle I hear on the boil?!

I love your plan for decluttering! I would be tempted to replace things on my way out of the CS :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I totally hear you with the trainers - I have previously ended up with a stress fracture from poor gait inducing trainers and there is nothing worse. I found last seasons colours usually cut the price a lot.

Good going on the job hunting, I have a feeling the universe has a job waiting for you just around the corner - it will arrive when you least expect it to!

I hope the DOMS aren't too painful today and you can enjoy the BH!

Ms H - very jealous of the nana nap :rotfl:

LondonLiz

Not sure I can explain why I fell off the posting wagon but it was partly because life felt like a bad job hunting version of groundhog day, and I felt quite down repeating myself in print. Though I did rather enjoy not working - other than the rapidly decreasing bank balance. I was unemployed for nearly 5 months - finally got a temp job in August for a few weeks, then a 6 month contract that I am in until March 2020. Made a major dent in the savings unfortunately, though I still have a reasonable cushion in case I end up with another gap in employment.

So I am starting 2020 aware than I need to get back into the job hunting mode again and watch the pennies. I have been fairly good - my current salary is quite a lot less than than my old perm job so I've reduced spending in several areas but it's fair to say the foot did go off the MSE accelerator a bit once I had an income again.

Today I did a massive download of all my transactions and a lovely pivot table using the categories from the MSE budget planner. Always a bit shocking! I have fallen back into the work lunches trap - on average about £55 a month so that needs to come down. Also won't be able to afford a proper holiday this year unless I use some savings (and assuming I have a job).

I've done a budget through to end of March, after that it's quite hard to plan ahead with such uncertainty around income but I will simply cut harder if no job is sorted by then. So onwards and upwards....

another_casualty

Howdy !
You have a very nice diary . Good news that you are in employment again , one way or another . It may be true about the old saying that you can find a job when you're in a job . Something like that.
Wishing you the best in your goals ...

doingitanyway

Welcome back.

£55 a month for lunches is quite good really but yes taking lunches in is the healthier and more MSE way to do it

LondonLiz

Had an OK weekend, was too lazy to go to the gym so the Christmas pounds won't be shifting as quick as they should. Did a bigger than usual supermarket shop to stock up and as well as nearly doing my back in lugging it home it cost nearly half my monthly budget - will have to make things stretch a bit if I'm to keep within my target. I do have someone staying one night this week so have to feed them as well, and bought a bottle of wine so we can have a good catch up (no dry January for me then).

Nice if unusual surprise at work today. Security gave me a large parcel that arrived late Xmas Eve addressed only by first name & no department to a staff member we finally worked out left several months ago. Opened it and found a rather big hamper of goodies including the usual chocs, cake, sweets, jam & biscuits but also some tins of organic soup (odd inclusions but good). The timing was great as I had back to back meetings and no time to heat & eat the soup I'd taken for lunch - so I ate the posh crisps and a fancy flapjack! Tomorrow I'll give my staff free choice on the rest and I can take the leftovers. Since one is vegan and the other cutting down on sugar I'm hoping they'll still be some nice bits left!