My 25 Months Challenge

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Epically exhausted last night totally wiped me out as i went on a wild goose chase to do a shop which i didn't do as i couldn't get to it Very disappointing as was the spending which ensued

Ok too many sad faces there and the spending was disappointing but not all bad:

38p on what was supposed to be a reduced price deluxe sandwich - i never buy these so thought it would be a nice treat - after getting lost in the dark and rain and satnav trying to send me the wrong way Ate most of the sarnie but it wasn't the best and gave up when it got to soggy :eek:

£11 something spent on deluxe meals - all reduced - 5 packs of salmon and 3 pies all originally £5.50 - £6 each so a bit of a bargain

some pence on reduced sausages and mince

And the required ingredients purchased as needed for 2 recipes to do 8 meals. Will dig out receipts

£15.06 on food.

Next week's shopping needs to be minimal:

potatoes
milk
cat food
cheese
wine
brown sauce
bread
bananas

That should do it and i will report back here.

On the positive side i'm hoping it will even out over the month. I mentioned i struggle when i see bargains like these as we don't often manage to find them so i tend to take advantage when i do

Pots currently up to date but that will change with tea.

second lot of washing done just need to move it

i've tried to clean a very dirty pair of trainers - muddy field and white base don't mix - any suggestions on how to clean the white bit?

Trying to rally myself to move another item from the kitchen - moving it will involve clearing an entire cupboard to put it in there - not really a massive job but i am struggling today.

I have selected a top to part with - decided i don't love it so it will go - i've had my money's worth out of wearing it.

bit of a higgledy update there but good to report in

Moneywhizz

Have had a quick read of your diary and after seeing you post on some other diaries. You are doing so well with your goal to be mortgage neutral in a few years time on a limited income. However you seem to be leading a very stressful life and as you have mentioned in previous posts not much is bringing you happiness right now. I know you have also mentioned health issues so relieving some of the stress in your life might help them. I understand that we don't know all the issues with your family that is causing you upset but is it not possible to cut or reduce contact with the ones who are causing you so much pain. No one should have to put up with someone screaming down the phone, it's just another form of bullying and you really should try to protect your mental health from episodes like that. On the house front, I think you know yourself that you need to stop buying bargains and reduce the amount of stuff you have. It sounds so simple and will make your home so much more calm and relaxing but getting there is the difficult bit. If you can discipline yourself to stay away from the shops the not buying will take care of itself. Giving up things is not so easy but again for the sake of your health it would be worth it. Can you imagine coming home for work and just sitting down relaxing instead of having to constantly be emptying bags, trying to find space for things and tidying up. You also seem to do all the housework and cooking, does your partner help you around the house at all? Sorry if these remarks are intrusive but I feel stressed just reading about all the things you do, so I can't imagine how you must feel and living with that amount of stress is not doing you any good. I hope you can make changes to bring a bit more happiness into your life.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

savingholmes wrote: »

Love your description of free money as roadkill! Great list... be kind to yourself too along the way

Thanks savings - i read it on here somewhere

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Moneywhizz thank you so much for your thoughtful and insightful post and not intrusive at all. I really appreciate you taking the time to post and whilst i will reply now - there is a lot in here for me to mull over for some time - truly thank you - i don't know what is a suitable emoticon for this having just 'met' a kiss seems inappropriate

I have chunked your post down - a success for me in itself :T

Moneywhizz wrote: »

Have had a quick read of your diary and after seeing you post on some other diaries. You are doing so well with your goal to be mortgage neutral in a few years time on a limited income. However you seem to be leading a very stressful life and as you have mentioned in previous posts not much is bringing you happiness right now. I know you have also mentioned health issues so relieving some of the stress in your life might help them. I understand that we don't know all the issues with your family that is causing you upset but is it not possible to cut or reduce contact with the ones who are causing you so much pain. No one should have to put up with someone screaming down the phone, it's just another form of bullying and you really should try to protect your mental health from episodes like that.

It was actually me attempting to reduce contact that resulted in this. I was reducing the contact to protect my emotional and mental health.

Moneywhizz wrote: »

On the house front, I think you know yourself that you need to stop buying bargains and reduce the amount of stuff you have. It sounds so simple and will make your home so much more calm and relaxing but getting there is the difficult bit. If you can discipline yourself to stay away from the shops the not buying will take care of itself. Giving up things is not so easy but again for the sake of your health it would be worth it. Can you imagine coming home for work and just sitting down relaxing instead of having to constantly be emptying bags, trying to find space for things and tidying up.

This is true. Partly though there are things i want but our home is very tiny and i get so much pleasure from bargains And i know afterwards there is then the stress of sorting out where things go In addition to this it has been a rough few years and i was quite low for a while - several redundancies and family treatment as above and financial worries and debt to survive all lead to a very sad me. In truth i now realise I stopped looking after our home properly and also me. Part of what i'm dealing with now is the catching up from then.
Despite several setbacks this weekend i've actually stayed focused on the small target i set myself and have managed even more things. I aim to keep this up - but i do also aim to buy less - purchases are always 2nd hand for me and the extra food is the bargain bits. I have been more disciplined with books and stayed out of the charity shops where i usually find several i want - a step forward and a start that i need to keep up.I have also cleared out 3 things today which weren't a good buy and will be passed to others who will find them more useful - again CS bargains - creams but not suitable for me - worth a try at 50p each though.

Moneywhizz wrote: »

You also seem to do all the housework and cooking, does your partner help you around the house at all? Sorry if these remarks are intrusive but I feel stressed just reading about all the things you do, so I can't imagine how you must feel and living with that amount of stress is not doing you any good. I hope you can make changes to bring a bit more happiness into your life.

Mr Socks does minimal things at home - and so do i as noted above Once i am back on top of things then i feel i can reasonably approach Mr Socks to do more. Equally, when my things are tidied the housework for a surface clean should be 3 hours a week max (spending longer in kitchen and bathroom).

I would prefer it if Mr Socks was focused on the mortgage and moving like i am - this would be a huge help. i have tried all approaches over the years and he does not budge - he is of the opinion it can't be done so doesn't try *sigh*

Thank you again moneywhizz - do you have a diary?

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

A quick update as Mr Socks is here and i've showered but not dried my hair and we've had leftovers for lunch so pots also need doing.

Drum roll people - it has been a while in the making but the kitchen is now clear of all things that should not be in there :T Probably standard for most people but as i mentioned above - through some very down times things have slipped a lot here. Anyway i am pleased it's done and may venture to the living room next as planned - although the utility is full of bags - not from the kitchen - just a lot of bags of things in a lot of rooms here.

Self-care - i drank my quota of water yesterday. I always feel better when i do and it's not hard to do is it? so why don't i do it all the time? Set it up as a line in my diary to try and make it a habit again :T

Showered and used body moisturiser - i don't always use this so a little pamper and, of course, once the bottle is used up it will be an item gone - long way to go yet though it's a big bottle :rotfl:

No money movement but i have been using what we have which is good.

Have a good Sunday all x

Moneywhizz

Thank you for taking my post so well. I don't have a diary. I didn't really find MSE until I was debt free but since then have been involved in helping others in real life with budgeting/money management so I really enjoy reading people's diaries and picking up more tips as I go. I don't always post either, only if I feel that I have something to add that might be helpful. Thank you for explaining some of your reasons that things are the way they are, it is easy to make comments that might not be appropriate without knowing the whole situation. I look forward to following your diary and hopefully hearing how you turn things around and make a happier life for you and Mr.S. Making the most of your current home is important and will make you happier even while you work towards your moving plans for the future.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Thank you for your kind support Moneywhizz and if you have any tips i will gratefully listen

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

I was hoping to bounce in here with a cheerful positive post today.

Unfortunately, I've been awake since about 3am when i wake i struggle to get back to sleep - currently because the family thing pops in my head

To add to that today i am also poorly. When i got up i felt the beginnings of a cold / flu tightening its grip on me and, consequently, today has been a real struggle at work.

I am home now and the heating is on - more for comfort than anything else I've done the basics with cooking - i had defrosted items so was a needs must! And, despite being ill i had some pasta with the sauce i didn't like - i really wanted something else for tea but i do not want to waste these things. It just wasn't the most comforting meal considering i ache everywhere

£5.40 on shopping today. This was cat food which was on my shopping list. I did look at the bargains and nearly succumbed to 4 pints of milk for 16p so i could make more rice pudding. But as i am feeling rotten i decided against any more tasks even if they aren't that hard to carry out. plus i would have had the washing and storing to deal with so i think this was the right decision for me today.

I wanted to carry on with the living room clear out today as i did make a start yesterday. Admitting i am not up to it and will take the small wins where i can if i manage to clear out the odd item

Hope all are well and i hope to be feeling better and posting more positively tomorrow

savingholmes

Hi Stripey - You are making progress and that's what counts. I can relate to how difficult it can be to get to a clean and tidy kitchen. We were decluttering regularly (when DD provided the impetus over the summer) but things are getting worse again which isn't good for any of our MH. Hoping to start decluttering again soon. DD strongly suggests I used the 3 items a day method - which would still clear over 1000 items in a year but is less scary than bigger declutters - although she makes me do those from time to time too.

Look after your health in all of this. Get help from OH where you can. Make time for fun.

Well done on staying out of the CS - that's a massive leap forward in itself if you've stopped the avalanche of stuff coming in. I've had to do the same. I'm mostly sticking to food, fuel, clothes and experiences now with my spending.

Tahlullah.H

Hi Stripey, good to hear you are still m moving forward, even when there are the occasional steps backwards. The overall direction of travel is forward!

I am a great advocate for only doing what feels right at the time. So much in life is about doing what you are told to do or expected to do, regardless of your own well-being. So, if you need to take an age to clear a room, take the time. The stuff isn't going anywhere. Make sure that you are in a good place before causing any distress to yourself. Self love and self healing is important, because without these, you cannot care for other or for your home. Take time to rest, relax and repair.