Organisation will be the key

Purplesocks

I joined a challenge :T:T:T
NST October, this challenge appealed to me as the basis is on being organised, but not at a frantic pace. I liked the idea of “ we may slip but we don’t quit” it fits with my aim of making changes slowly and without pressure. I’m dreadful at getting NSD days, I had hoped to have one tomorrow but then realised I had bought the wrong towels, so it will be a necessity that will break my NSD.

My sleep is steadily improving, but I really did not want to get out of bed this morning and getting moving was a real struggle. So I didn’t do as much as I could have, but I did get to Mr T’s to get salad, bread and rolls for tonight’s tea. While the bath was running I put out some washing and then filled the basket up with rubbish and bits and pieces that belonged downstairs. I’m going to try this every time I have a bath, it’s such a simple idea but makes a noticeable difference immediately.

It’s my payday tomorrow, woo hoo, I pay the water bill, Then put my personal money and weekly money into separate accounts and leave the rest in my main account; Dh then puts the bulk of the housekeeping in on the 1st after dds come out anything left will be transferred to the emergency fund, on the 2nd he takes out the money for the monthly shop which goes in a separate purse, and then on the 3rd he gives me the last bit of housekeeping. I had been using this as an overpayment but for the time being it will go to the emergency fund. Any money left in the monthly shopping purse is used for things I know I will need but won’t fit in the freezer at the beginning of the month and means I have an odd bit to pick up special offers through the month.

So aims for the 1st is to gather the info I need to start the NST October challenge, as this is things I wanted to do any way, the push will help.

And I finally submitted the meter reading, I haven’t done this in months and had to check my emails to find out who my supplier is :rotfl: I change every year to get better deals, and so tend to forget who my current supplier is :rotfl::rotfl:

Purplesocks

I had an awful night sleep, so laid in till 8:30, I figured I was better off getting up later than planned than falling asleep this afternoon.

My wages went in this morning so,I paid £60 of my card and paid off simply be. Water bill paid and weekly money sent to separate account. The rest of the bills go out on the 1st so I’m just waiting till then.

I have worked out my SOA and need to get that posted. Bit of a shock to see how much money we should have left it’s a lot more than I expected, so have decided to use a separate account for yearly bills and presents. I’ve never worked out present cost before, so was a bit shocked by that.

Lots of decluttering and cleaning today. I started by clearing out my underwear drawer and just kept on going. Our bedroom has always been my bugbear, it tends to get used as a dumping ground making it a nightmare to clean. So I have decided to go minimalist which should making cleaning easier and quicker. Lots of stuff is currently on the local fb don’t bin it page if no one has asked for it by tomorrow lunchtime I will take it to the charity shop,

beanielou

Great news on the decluttering

darrannah

Yay, go you purple socks for getting your life in order, sorry to hear about the poor sleeping, I went through that a few years back, it gets better
Decluttering is a good place to start and I look forward to reading the rest of your diary

Purplesocks

Thanks for stopping by Darrennah, I do hope your right and it does get better, last night was not fab. It’s weird at 8:30pm I’m so tired but don’t go up as it’s to early but by 10pm I seem to bounce back awake again.

Today was not as productive as yesterday, but I did get odds and ends done. One bag to the charity shop and I signed up to the gift aid scheme. I thought I would go to Mr A to see if it was cheaper, it was but I picked up some small dehumidifier tubs which was £6 I hadn’t planned on spending but it was a need, last year I left it a bit later and struggled to find them. I couldn’t get one of the main items I wanted so ended up walking to Mr T as well, they’re not too far apart and I’m going to count it as free exercise.

Completed and posted my SOA, despite being on this site for quite a while ( under a different name) I’ve never done this before. It was quite illuminating, particularly on the present spends, this is an area where we have cut down a LOT over the years so it was shocking to see it as a monthly spend.

I have joined this NST October challenge, so for this I plan to reduce my weekly spend from £60 to £50 a week, I will keep the extra £10 in my weekly money account as a safety net. Possibly not in keeping with the challenge but as I have said in previous posts I want to make changes slowly and not put too much pressure on myself. I also plan to go to Mr A for my monthly shop on Wednesday instead of Mr T, hopefully this will save some money and if I need to I can always go to Mr T for any bits I need.

I need to buy a present for my Gn tomorrow, I found a card in my birthday box, must check for wrapping paper. Also need a card for Bil.

I’m working all day tomorrow, so will probably spend tomorrow night sorting plans for the NST challenge, Sunday I aim to complete the food audit, and to give the cupboards a quick wipe while they are empty.

Purplesocks

A fairly decent night sleep, so at least that is something going in the right direction. I’m a bit worn out after a full days work and Dh has kindly shared his cold with me so not feeling fab this evening.

One big bag of stuff dropped at the local air ambulance charity shop today and 4 things collected through the local don’t bin it page. The kitchen table is now clear so hopefully next week I will get another spurt of energy and will start another area of the house.

I bought my Gn birthday present today, the money came from my newly started yearly spends account, so all budgeted. Tomorrow I will pick up Birthday cards and bread in town and then walk over to the big supermarket for Ds lunch stuff for the week. I also want to do my food audit ready for the NST challenge and the monthly shop. If I get any more than that done I will count it as a bonus ��

I’m sure there was something else I wanted to put down, but can’t remember it, oh well couldn’t have been important.

Purplesocks

House Stark's words are
WINTER IS COMING
House Stark has always been very supportive of the Night's Watch who keep the whole of Westoros safe from the Wights. You are the guardian of your family and we will consider how to protect your house and family as Winter approaches.

This needs Planning and Preparation

Before the Start of the Month You MUST
Set Your BUDGET for the Month - Monthly shop £280 - Weekly shop £50 ( cut from £60 for this challenge) Clothes £25
AUDIT your Cupboards, Fridge and Freezer
Make a MEAL PLAN starting with what you have in (unless you have already started to put things aside for a special occasion
Plan for the MONTH - what is happening, what commitments, appointments, celebrations, once a year bills are coming up.

For the Next Ninety Days
What is Your FOCUS?
What do you want to happen?
What needs to change? It may have to be You
SET some goals. Break them down into Monthly and Weekly targets.
Think in terms of small changes that you can make NOW.


House Lannister's words
HEAR ME ROAR
The Lannisters are also famous for always paying their debts. With a lion's ferocity you avoid spending money.

Plan for the Month
You must PAY to YOUR DEBTS or SAVINGS FIRST and live on what is left.
INCREASE your income if possible
REDUCE your outgoings eg by using own brand products or changing your supermarket?
Can you MEND, MAKE or MAKE DO instead of Buying?

For the Next 90 Days
CUT out any unnecessary socialising
CUT Screen Time
Be Mindful, Meditate, Read or just spend time with Nature or Candlelight (you can't see all the 101 things you think you 'ought' to be doing).
LOOK for any free activities or events in your area

House Martell's words are
UNBOWED UNBENT UNBROKEN

We all get tossed by life's storms. Sometimes we are still dealing with the latest disaster when the next crisis bowls us over.

This Month
Whatever happens you need to KEEP GOING.
Whether you stumble, fall or get knocked down you need to GET BACK UP (it's fine to stay down for a while, get your breath back, check if anything is broken).
RUN, WALK or CRAWL
If you can't run, walk. When you can't walk, crawl.
If you are CONFINED TO BED or the couch, PLAN your next moves and find things YOU CAN DO from there (I always found tackling the mending pile was a good thing to do when recovering from flu). Progress is progress, no matter how slow. What you don't do is give up because of one tiny slip.
LOOK AFTER YOURSELF so that you can look after those who depend on you.


For the Next 90 Days
Introduce ONE HABIT to improve your health
Do something FOR YOU each day
BE KIND always (everyone you meet is carrying some burden)



House Reed's words are
HEARTH, HEART and HARVEST

The mud men live simply. They also spear frogs.
SIMPLICITY has been a recurring theme in this year's posts. Treading lightly upon the Earth and being at one with nature fits with the turtles holistic approach.


This month
Concentrate on the THINGS THAT MATTER, your home and loved ones, health and happiness.
Make a FROG LIST - try to tackle one a day.
CONTINUE to SIMPLIFY your life, RELEASE unwanted possessions and REDUCE things that cause you stress.
DONATE - time, goods or money
BE GRATEFUL.

For the Next 90 Days
Think about what really matters to you.
What can you do to get closer to living the life you have always wanted?
What no longer fits in your life?
Visualise Your IDEAL DAY]Make a list of GOOD THINGS that you want in Your Life

Purplesocks

Not an awful lot of sleep last night so I had a lay in until 10, hopefully this won’t throw my sleep pattern too much. I struggle to sleep when Ds is on a night out, the medical issues he has had are from an assault that happened late last year when he got separated from his friends on a night out. As I result I can not settle until he comes home, I’m conscious that if I fidget to much in bed it keeps Dh awake and he finds he tires easier since his heart attack which is not ideal when it’s his weekend to work. So I end up laying on the settee trying to doze or just read. Also my cold has kicked in with a vengeance so breathing is not fab.

Not a hugely productive day, shopping done, bought work skirt, wrapped Gn pressies and washed up. I had set a budget of £25 for a new work skirt, I found one in a charity shop for a fiver, if I dont use all my clothes budget in October I will pay any thing left off my credit card.

I really need to get the food audit done for the NST challenge, also so I can put together a shopping list.Iceland have 10% off when you shop online, it finishes tomorrow night, I think, so hopefully I can take advantage of this offer.

Not the most exciting of days, in fact my life is rarely exciting, but I’m actually quite happy with that. The thought of all the drama that comes with the highs and the lows fills me with dread, I’m not sure if that’s because I’m getting older if it’s just because I can’t be arsed.:rotfl:

beanielou

I would worry too if that was my DS
Hope you sleep well.

darrannah

Oh dear, what an awful thing to happen to your son, my DS is 20 and I’m glad he doesn’t go out DD1 on the other hand, I never rest when she’s out and make her text me all the time, so I understand what you mean