My 25 Months Challenge

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Hello all - i have enjoyed reading some updates and been encouraged by all the activity and productivity i've been reading about - i really must get my energy levels up! & if not then i need to ensure i am determined to get things done!
I've totted up the month's grocery spends so far and, by keeping to lists, will come in on target  This is good as I was a little worried about how much I may have spent - we needed a lot of the dearer things at once - KP, TP and coffee.
I've started to read a book to help with MH - taking it slowly at the moment.
I batch cooked a pot of chilli at the weekend which was rather good and the rest has been portioned into the freezer - the freezer is quite full after being almost empty. We will eat from the freezer this next few weeks to save on shopping and then see where we are at the start of next month's shopping. It is harder to keep spends down now  not as many bargains or offers available and we don't have any money to spend on takeaways which saved on shopping as from another budget.
I didn't get round to the bay but do need to go through some clothes so i will see if there is anything there.

savingholmes

Are  you getting out into the garden / sun / fresh air Stripey? That can really help with MH too. I cut some beautiful pink roses today and brought them inside and they really cheer the room up.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Thank you savings - no - i know i need to force myself outside but i can very easily go for several days without stepping outside

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Hello all

Well there are things i want and there is only me to get me there - and the support on here is really appreciated  So i thought i'd open up a little more. I've enjoyed reading other diaries which have been inspiring and i realise i enjoy the way they share so much about their lives.

I don't want to talk and bring people down but i have been feeling low for a while for a number of reasons - very low self-esteem is in there - so any books anyone can recommend specifically for this would be appreciated 

So, professionally, i'm unhappy in work. Aside from updating my CV and looking for a new job I am in the process of completing an initial online course and will build on this with another course for a qualification in the field in which i want to work. The courses cost money. But they show my commitment and give me the direct and relevant training i need. 

Home - as you may be be aware, i am desperate to move house. We only ever intended to live here short term and several redundancies (statutory minimums) and loss of money owed to us has left us both living here longer than I wanted and struggling to get back on our feet financially. On the home aspect we simply need more space - and there are, of course, other wants i have - a garden, for example. So I have registered interest in areas we have agreed we'd be happy to move to so i can see properties as they come up and then have a clearer idea as to whether those properties would work for us in terms of layout / space and also i'll know the sorts of prices things are listed / selling for.

I also looked (with my current lender)I' about taking a new mortgage, and, even with 25% deposit used as an example my income is very low - so increasing my income is a need which ties in with work and moving house.

I notice as i'm writing this how i've tried to section off areas but they are all overlapping really..

Home - we are here for now, I need to make it the best i can - which means onwards with the decluttering and clearing and cleaning and making it as nice as it can be whilst we're here.

Health - MH obviously, as well as all my other ongoing niggles. I have also gained  lot of weight - health niggle related so harder to shift. I am happier when i'm slimmer and can fit into the clothes i own - so losing weight needs to be focused on, but on a budget, because i can't afford all the healthy food which would be ideal for this.

Finances - I need to clear the unsecured debt. This was always my plan - it's just how i do this has had to change because i've not secured the second job / income stream i was looking at just before lockdown and now i need to rethink things a bit. A further £17 paid off credit card - £10 because i figured i had the money there and could afford to and i was tired of the balance not moving. £7 from Surveys. So balance is now £826. It will be paid in full this month but the more i pay off it this month will mean the more i can start to pay off the next card with. 

I've started decluttering, as previously mentioned and after a lot of hassle i finally got an item listed on the bay - yippee! it's not as straightforward as it used to be, but hey ho. The aim is now to list a lot!! more things in the hope of selling some and making money - things gone from the house, money coming in to pay off debt / mortgage - a win all round. i now just need to be a bit more ruthless in finding things to list!

Tahlullah.H

Hi Stripey.
Good to hear that you are getting back on track.  It can be hard when you take a step away, to then get back into the game.  Acknowledging where the barriers are in your life is always positive, because it provides an opportunity for us to focus on that one area at a time and make a change, which then gives confidence and clarity to move onto another area.  It is always small steps.

Ebay is a great way to make small amounts, unless you have something significant to sell.  But it is a slow process.  Just keep going.  I have 15 items on there at present, which just keep relisting, and as one thing goes, I add another.  Never going to get rich quick, but it allows me to reduce spending somewhere else.  I'm not very good at making small payments anywhere because I like symmetry.  I am certain that your plan will work. 

I have just recently joined Prolific Academy and since 6 June, I have made £10.47.  Certainly faster earning potential than nay other survey site I have been on.  It may be something you can do to help?  Along with everything you are doing, every little helps. You are doing fine.  Look after yourself and as Savings says,  stop to smell the roses occasionally.  Getting back to nature makes such a difference to our mental well-being.

savingholmes

Glad you are back posting Stripey. Tahlullah makes a lot of good points too. Be kind to yourself. Everything doesn't have to change over night. Little by little you can make a difference and chip away at stuff to make things beautiful and lower cost. 

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Hello all - on my phone so apologies for typos! I tried to get in earlier but it wasn't meant to be & I didn't want to miss an update today as I need to jot these plans down.
update at start of each post
emergency fund: £/£1000
weight loss 0/3st 8 3/4 or 40 3/4 lb
list to sell /500
Mortgage Balance
So I stood on the scales today because I decided to post on here what weight I desperately need to lose - note, not the weight I am. I'll update this each Friday as it'll be my weigh in day.
Priorities:
Complete course (initial)
Sign up for second course (advanced)
Apply for dream job
All other plans and loves on hold to focus on these whilst I'm still working full time. I'll post tomorrow more when I can get on computer more. I hope all are well and safe and thank you for posting - it really means a lot x

savingholmes

Hi  Stripey - keep posting and you will see your life change. Remember when we read diaries or watch movie we are only ever reading the highlight reel. You will get there. 

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Thank you savings - i tried to quote you but i've not got the hang of that yet. 

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

emergency fund: £/£1000
weight loss 0/3st 8 3/4 or 40 3/4 lb
list to sell /500
Mortgage Balance
Priorities:
Complete course (initial)
Sign up for second course (advanced)
Apply for dream job
Good morning all - i popped the above in case the post ends up on another page and then i will see it and be reminded. i was SO hoping to pop on this weekend and be posting positively that i'd listed x number of things and completed my course and applied to the next one. I have listed some things - but not as many as i hoped. I have been working on my course - but not finished it yet. I did send a tiny payment to the  mortgage £1.xx to round the balance so i'll update after.
one of the things i'm struggling with at the moment is not sleeping well at night - i am either worrying or panicking about work  so i spend 2/3 nights not sleeping well. I then get up but am exhausted so can't achieve all i want to, and i am getting up later than i wanted to so i am not doing all the things i want to - my course, making extra money. i really feel stuck in a cycle with this. The one good nights sleep i get - i am then up early for work and tired and then the whole thing starts again. I absolutely want to hand my notice in - but i have no new job to go to. I want a holiday from work but i couldn't get one for the dates i wanted and work will be even more overwhelming before and after being off so it won't be worth it. What to do? I do not know. Off to work now and i hope to post later. 
Have a good day all x