Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

savingholmes

I agree with targeted activities. I too am someone who can easily over commit

LadyWithAPlan

Just re-read your starting entry and you said  big OP would be starting this year - June- so well done on being in line with your plan

SandyShores

LadyWithAPlan said:

Just re-read your starting entry and you said  big OP would be starting this year - June- so well done on being in line with your plan

Thanks @LadyWithAPlan, but I have to confess that the OPs will start in earnest next June.  We had planned to start them this year, but we have spent quite a lot on the house.  Its partly because we were so frugal getting debt free and getting on the property ladder again (and needed a break from that), but also because its been good to get things done to the house so that we can enjoy them (and we've created another room which has been brilliant).    Covid has also meant more household expense for us, but that should come right in the new year too.  And we are making small overpayments now - to bring the mortgage down by exactly £1k per month.  The plan is to increase that by another £1k in June, so that each month will mean the mortgage reduces by £2k.  We're heading in the right direction at least, but I really can't wait to start knocking £2k off each month

Some good decluttering and clearing done today, but I hit a wall about 3pm and had to go out for some groceries.  I need to drop some things off at the tip and the charity shop tomorrow, which will help a bit more.  It does feel so good to clear things out and tidy the rest up.

SandyShores

Monday morning signature review.  I've one huge list of things on my paper to do list, so I need to get on and do the first one - which is going to the tip, but I've altered my signature so wanted to document it.

I've just weighed myself and 2lbs has melted away   Just been focussing on doing rather than on eating - can't say that its been mindful, but I've definitely enjoyed what I've eaten and thought about how much joy and sustenance I was actually getting vs enjoying just scoffing.  So I've adjusted my target for this year - which is to change 12 stones for 11 stones.  It means another 8lbs which is very achievable before the year end - either way that target is going to be deleted by 2022.  Christmas saver is steady, and so is the MFW - they are going to be on my signature for quite a long time.  Although I have to decide whether to take around £3k out of the savings to make up the OPs to £4k for the year - still debating as it will put debt neutral back a few months - something to think about in December.

Decluttering went well this weekend, and I've a bit more to do today.  I've stepped up my reading a bit, which is an important target for me in many ways - learning, relaxing etc.  And I will start my stretches and exercising in earnest this week as I'm feeling more motivated.  I'd like to remove these from my signature as soon as they become second nature.

SandyShores

I managed to tick some big things off the paper list today, so I redid my list and I now have 24 things on it!  Sounds a lot, but I'm confident I can start getting that down towards zero soon.  Bank balances are looking a little low atm, so roll on payday, but I definitely need to get a tight rein on the spends again, if I'm to start making those big OPs and keep the £6k emergency fund (currently in PBs).

Decluttering stalled a little bit today.  I'm always torn between ebaying items and donating them - i.e. having a bit to pay towards the OPs vs the time it takes/put up with clutter hanging around.  I've decided to have one final go at selling some of the items, before giving up and donating to charity.   If they are going to go for well under value, I'd rather donate them and at least give the charity chance to make a bit more - especially with collect only items.  I'll have another clear out at the weekend, and then I can drop everything in at once.  My fantasy is to be able to keep on top of the decluttering so that I only every have one or two items to drop in at a time - imagine that

I was reading some articles earlier - one about self acceptance and self compassion - I definitely need to develop those - and another about how to cope when the news is getting to you.  The second one was talking about information overload and that upsetting news comes at you constantly, at such a rate and in vast quantities.  I need to develop tactics to cope with it and stop looking at it - yes I want to be informed, but its just too much sometimes to take on board. 

LadyWithAPlan

well done on the decluttering ... I have started ebaying  again to build my house deposit up and also doing the minimalist game on and off.. Flat feeling better for it but I still have so much stuff all hidden in cupboards but still!

I had friends who stopped reading the news completely last year with all the COVID stats. I could not go that far but still choosing how much info you receive in is a good thing as it can completely stress us all out.

SandyShores

Thanks @LadyWithAPlan.  When we did our first move after 15 years I realised there was clutter hidden everywhere - dangers of too much storage   I can smile about it now but it was pretty stressful at the time as a) we were moving to somewhere smaller and b) our buyer wanted a really fast turnaround.  We've moved twice since and it hasn't been quite so bad each time, although it wasn't great trying to move during lockdown.  We managed to sell a lot of stuff locally but ended up moving with some of the donations until the charity shops opened again.  Some of my clutter has come with me - I've realised I am a bit of a messy person - but now we are in our forever home I don't feel the need to keep things just in case.  I even sold some sentimental stuff, because I figured a few hundred pounds towards our new home was better than boxes of stuff in the garage .  I swore I would never move those boxes again - and do you know, I haven't been struck by lightening, there is more space in the garage and somebody is enjoying the stuff in those boxes.

I seem to be hyper aware of all the suffering in the world these days, I make regular donations to charities, but there's not much more I can do beyond that.  I'm quite a practical person so I think it upsets me to see all the suffering in the news and accompanying the donation requests.  I'm finally in a good position, but I almost feel guilty about it.  Perhaps if I went back to being in debt and not owning a property I would feel better again - just joking - I can see how when you have worries they seem to overshadow other's troubles.  An author I read was talking about his mum, saying that she always worried and if she didn't have any worries that would make her worry even more!!  Perhaps that's me!  I feel better just realising that

savingholmes

I think you are making great progress

I had to stop reading the news as it just made me down and afraid

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes.  Definitely a way to go, but good to remember that I am making progress and I am enjoying the tidiness/neatness.

Long and tiring week this week as well, but it has been productive.  Very glad the weekend is here.

Crossed a few things off the list in the last day or two, and should cross off a few more this weekend:  some sorting out, possibly some ebaying, few things to buy/order and some gardening.  Will be exciting to rewrite the hopefully more compact to do list on Sunday.

savingholmes

Good to make progress. Try not to do the female thing of just expanding the list... celebrate what you get done.