My 25 Months Challenge

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Tahlullah.H wrote: »

Wow Stripey, you always have me stand back in awe! Your list of things, which you say are already within your comfort zone. Amazing! Half marathons are within your comfort zone? I cant even run a mile without risk of a heart attack! And then another language as well as learning new songs? My life is so boring compared.

I appreciate you may be feeling undervalued at work and that things are going wrong and life is passing you by, but I can assure you that if you are doing all of these things already which are within reach, then you are already leading a rich and fulfilling life. All that is happening is that you are having a period of down, which will pass.

Thank you Tahlullah - quick visit from me as i should be in bed *yawn*

These are things i used to do all the time before family upset really made me very down. I am starting again with the running - half marathon was my distance with the intention to do 1 full marathon. I stopped doing anything i was so upset - just an explanation - i am just trying to look forward now. illness has hampered getting back to this sooner but it will be better for my physical and mental health to do this - i am starting slow and short distances and will build this up again - it will take time to get back to where i was but that is ok - i aim to be fitter and healthier than i was when running before and smashing my PB

Again learning an instrument and a new language - i loved doing these things. i don't think anyone really appreciates how low i got - even me. It is only now i am looking to do these things again i realise it - so i can't expect others to see what i couldn't.

Thank you for replying - your life is so not boring at all! I dream of a campervan and getting to new places

Love your resolution too by the way and thank you so much for stopping by - i really appreciate it - feel daft to say it but feel a little fragile as i start to do things i loved before - guess it brings it back to me the time wasted when i wasn't really up to doing anything

Still no news on the meeting with my boss. I am not going to chase it just yet - i think if i need to chase it then that is answer enough.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Hello all

as i said i should be in bed - it has been a very busy day. A full day in work followed by 2 lots of washing and drying - not all moved mind

Finance goals
Using what i haveBatch cooked another 5 meals because the veg used in them wouldn't have lasted - disaster with the lid dropping off the garlic though so that will be one strong meal :eek: or several as it was batch done :rotfl: This will save waste though and uses what we have :T

Decluttered i think? 21 items (will count again) most are for selling but this helps with finance and home targets :T Didn't get as much done as i wanted mind

& added to my goal list - think i'm more or less happy with it now. Pleased i've done some things towards it today & ooh - clothes are going back :T yes i feel good in them but they will be clutter gone :T & money back in my account :T i have too many clothes. Any advice on reducing this appreciated Some things i'll revisit when i'm at the right weight and decide if i genuinely like them as my shape may change and can only tell when they are actually properly on - now it's a bit of a guess.

Sure there was more as i've been non-stop all day.

Hope all is good with everyone - wll get round and post when i can x

savingholmes

Hi Stripey

It is okay and even good to spend birthday money on yourself. On not over-buying clothes - I am not perfect either - but I raised the bar. Wherever possible, clothes have to make me feel special and boost my confidence not just cover me. If it only 'covers me' it's not a bargain and I search for something better that I eel more confident in. I quote like TKs for that. They have a plus sizes and unusual brands and designs and it often looks better on than the high street. Am@z... weirdly in another one that can have really good looking things at decent prices...

Wanna_Bee_Free

Hi Stripey,

I've just read all your diary and look forward to exciting things now you have your mojo back!
I don't post there often but avidly read the Declutter thread (2019 a clutter free life) so wanted to help you with a link as you mentioned it a week or so back:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5942702/2019-a-clutter-free-life
The lovely Mrs Salad Dodger cheers everyone on.

I hope the link works ok for you. I hope you have a good day.

Wanna_Bee_Free

PS I think you should keep your new birthday clothes if they put a spring in your step and a twinkle in your eye - a great use of your birthday money.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

savingholmes wrote: »

Hi Stripey

It is okay and even good to spend birthday money on yourself. On not over-buying clothes - I am not perfect either - but I raised the bar. Wherever possible, clothes have to make me feel special and boost my confidence not just cover me. If it only 'covers me' it's not a bargain and I search for something better that I eel more confident in. I quote like TKs for that. They have a plus sizes and unusual brands and designs and it often looks better on than the high street. Am@z... weirdly in another one that can have really good looking things at decent prices...

Hi savings - thank you - but my clothes are *all* second hand - the ones i'd bought with birthday money were obviously new & i did return them.

Really i think i just need to get over myself I'm not in the position i thought i'd be in by now and that is what it is. I partly buy clothes because i think i *should* be able to afford to do so, partly because i'm unhappy with my shape currently, and partly, i realised, because we are seeing family soon - no outfit will change how i feel but urgh! Tried explaining but it's too much to go into i also buy my clothes secondhand and enjoy the 'bargain.' Of course, it isn't a bargain when it doesn't fit but usually i've only wasted a £1 or £2 at the most.

Thank you though for sharing your experience with me. T&K do have some lovely things but i think i'm just going to pledge not to buy anything new new for a year - only exception is if on holiday - & then i don't really take enough money to spend on clothes anyway and i need to eat :rotfl:

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Wanna_Bee_Free wrote: »

PS I think you should keep your new birthday clothes if they put a spring in your step and a twinkle in your eye - a great use of your birthday money.

Hello Bee and thank you for stopping by i will look up the thread you mentioned. I returned all the new birthday clothes already. As mentioned to savings i will now be pledging no new 'new' clothes for a year. minimum. I did like the clothes - but i am still aiming to lose weight so i think they may have been short-lived to.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

So i was going out this evening but have stayed home, opting to update on here & maybe clear a bag or 2 - i will report on progress

I'll do a sweeping update now and then report back with an update against targets - it's like my carrot to get things done

As previously stated it has been a busy month of celebrating birthdays, some for close family so spending has happened. i've stayed in tonight to counteract some of that - i have spent more than i should. Although i am owed some money for gifts bought on behalf of Mr Socks, things picked up for him when out shopping and things picked up for mum when out shopping. i should really have analysed the individual costs rather than look at the one pot of funds - or no funds as it stands now.

Sold a small value item - made someone else happy and £5 for me - was in my decluttered items of 52 Aiming for another 50 during a very busy first week of December.

Gosh all my updates seem to centre around my targets - which should be good i think? So i will tackle said bag, have a survey to do too so best get on and then back here to update more fully.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Ok, further quick update and prepare to be horrified as i confess this.

I have just emptied and moved 2 bags of items, i did 1 bag. I tipped up a second bag and have sorted a little bit for recycling, a little bit for shredding (all old paperwork /receipts) The majority went back in the bag and I WILL do this bag tomorrow. I then did a third bag so I have done 2 full bags. The second bag was just overwhelming with stuff i have shoved in there to clear a different space. To give you an idea of the length of time i've not been dealing with things for - i came across the food order i'd written out for us for a takeaway pre-Christmas Eve last year :eek:

I just feel glad to be dealing with things now, hopefully, MH wise, it means i am moving on, making progress. I have said before i have gotten very low about things in the past.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Set until 31.12.20

Finances:
50k in savings not a lot of movement this month - usual savings amount
down to 1 debt above all minimums met. expensive birthday month & not enough left do extra
10% paid off mortgage couple of round down payments
1k Emergency fund stands at £100 of £1k

Home:
Home, including all cupboards, freezer etc sorted and at a manageable level eg - space in the freezer if i buy anything / cook anything. All tins / jars orderly in cupboards

Still overstocking the freezer - remember money is tied up in all the objects that come in here - edible and otherwise - the money will be better.

But, i have decluttered entirely 52 items, some for sale, some non salvageable, some to gift stash so will save money that way too. I have tried things on and let things go - i do fid it hard to let things go - especially when there is still some wear in it. My coat is very tatty it is split both on the inside and out with bits of the padded inner material sifting out I have just now decided to just use it for scruffy outdoor jobs and the same for the scarf i wear with it - it has holes in but is ok when you wrap it round. - see how hard it is to just part with things? Any suggestions whether they should be recycled or kept welcome

Self:
Run regularly to include a 1/2 marathon each week or fortnight (starting from 0 this is the target) I have started running again 3 short runs so far and illness has stopped any more for now but i will *not* give this up - mini target to be at 10k by the end of the year
Zumba - go to classes again Quandry - it will cost money, i'm trying to make cutbacks but i really WANT to do it - it is a want after all..
Music practice x 3 a week minimum - repertoire minimum 12 new songs by end of year nope
Language practice x 5 week 10 hours minimum nope
Read daily not quite at daily levels but i have started again
Travel - plan this Yes! Currently 4 mini trips planned :T
Minimum 2 charity walks 1 signed up to already and is imminent :j

Relationships:
Quality time: Mr, Mum, friends have some dates planned with Mr Socks :smileyhea plans to meet all my friends - will involve 4 more different catch upas as i've already been on 1 get together So something with mum to plan in soon - but neither of us are well so may be a while
Each interaction with others to be the best it can be 4 P's - polite, positive, patient, present work in progress

Community:
Do more in and for the community - if it is a small spend to help others maybe go without something on the shopping list to afford it? joined 1 community event, attended another briefly and have been asked for a donation for a third thing - will give the donation

Also wanted to note i have started to do other things i used to enjoy too - baking and painting my nails, small simple pleasures