Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

PiggyBankShaker

savingholmes said:

Progress not perfection. 2 boxes and 4 bags left the house today. If I do that regularly it will make a difference.

That sounds like real progress to me - I have had a box for the chazza in the boot of my car for at least two months and one 'on the go' in the house (which I fill with bits that I find, mainly outgrown kids clothes at the moment) If I got rid of them I'd be well chuffed. We didn't accumulate these things overnight and neither will we declutter overnight, its a process and long and there's progress we're winning.

Fortune_Smiles

@postmenopause recently reminded me of my mantra when we were moving house - 'It is possible to move a mountain by carrying small stones'.  If you carry just one small stone every day, that's 365 stones by the end of a year.  Keep going.  You are doing brilliantly and I really respect the fact that you are making a difference in your life.

Which small stone would make the biggest difference?

Fortune x

savingholmes

Thanks @chicker @PiggyBankShaker and @Fortune_Smiles

They were lovely posts to wake up to and help me feel hope rather than judgment.

A photo flashed up on my phone yesterday of when I upgraded the kitchen counter a couple of years ago. All the surfaces were clear. So I think tonight's job is to put my acrylic pouring art stuff away - and then clear off as much of the kitchen counter as possible. Potentially only leaving the kettle, microwave and fruit bowl. I then also need to reduce the stuff on the shelf above the sink. If I put things like my separate grill and toaster and place mats etc away - it will feel a lot less cluttered all the time. I originally got rid of everything above the cupboards. That gradually crept back in. That may take a little longer to sort - but that could be a goal too. I'd cleared some space in the original plastics cupboard last week - so I'm hoping the stuff I'm rehoming fits in there - if not it may need to go. 

I have an empty box ready to start filling. Getting stuff actually out of the door yesterday was very motivational too. I find if I fill charity bags / boxes and it goes immediately - or even stuff for the tip - that helps me keep going where if it hangs around it just adds to the mess. 

At the weekend I did home a huge roll of bubble wrap back to the garage from the hall. It's the little things. 

Tahlullah.H

You are doing great Savings.  Every small thing makes a difference over time.  If you can stand back and see a change from before in any area of the home, then your plan is working.  Rome was not built in a day.

savingholmes

Thanks Tahlullah. You are right - baby steps. 

I have packed the dishwasher. Poured 2 lots of leftover paint into a water bottle for reuse another day. Put the bins back around the back of the house. I've also put a handful of things into a box to give away.

I had a letter from BG - saying my supply for elec is with them and requesting more details - despite me ringing them before Xmas - and them agreeing to treat it as a wrong transfer. I need to find whatever journal I wrote about that in! More life admin. 

I need to ring Sh311 back re BB so I get a refund for the days it wasn't working properly. I also need to speak to them re gas and elec - and the direct debit as it still hasn't gone out. 

I've been sent a survey re my GP - which I will complete... but again more life admin.

Still debating what to do about the ballet being cancelled. Whether to go and see my sis this weekend or another. Or possibly even book a B&B somewhere so I have a night or 2 away but don't travel as far. It feels extravagant but DD and I were both looking forward to a break from each other this weekend! It might encourage me to get out in the fresh air more although the weather hasn't been great recently.

I still have leftover Chinese - so going to have that for tea I think with jacket spud. Chicken and black bean. Will throw rice and chips away. Just had freezer surprise as a mini lunch - veggie pasta with a topping of mozzarella.

sabsob

Hi savingholmes, just catching up with your diary - love your creativity. I was self-employed as an artist for about 4 years, following redundancy. I'm now back in a job, but am eyeing the craft supplies as a means to supplement income. I have also written a book, but not dared to go down the self-publishing route - instead, it sits in a drawer...well, folder on my laptop Looking forward to following your journey some more.

lucielle

Would staying at your sisters be cheaper?  If so I'd go down that route.  
L

jwil

You are making loads of progress, so much going on!

MovingForwards

You're encouraging us to have a clear out reading the updates. 
Time away would be good. Any chance of going to the escape you went last year?

Honeysucklelou2

Am following the decluttering progress with interest. I need to declutter, so am finding it encouraging to realise that others are too.

Well done on your progress so far SH!