Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

doingitanyway

Great conversation about clothes and what we keep/part with.
I have 2 jumpers that were expensive but they shrunk slightly in the wash. I've been holding onto them. Why?
So, put in the cs bag for someone else (smaller than me)

@savingholmes incremental change towards weight loss and better health is definitely the way to go.

savingholmes

Waves at DIA - incremental change is I think healthiest when it comes to things like health and fitness and changing patterns. Although sometimes we have to do the radical things too like you and I both have in different ways.

Hi Cheery Daff - I think my priority in your situation would be to let yourself have a few more things that actually fit and let some of the other stuff go until you have proper wardrobes etc... 

Hi Stripey - getting rid of 12 things is immense. I know how hard it is for both of us to let things go. Glad the discussion is helping. 

Sandy - I love Mel too.

I'm still working my way through the boxes from the loft. I've just got rid of 2 boxes of coursework - some of which dated back to 1988!! Can't believe I had kept it all these years. Definitely need to challenge myself more on what I keep - but for now I'm doing a quick sort of:

• Definitely gone/bin.
• Sentimental / photos to deal with later.
• Valuable to sell.
• Stuff to donate.

Very little other than the sentimental stuff is staying - which for me is progress. I'm starting to see patches of floor in my spare room. It's exciting!

BellaLasagna2018

savingholmes said

A utube I listened to described clothes that don't fit you as toxic clutter - constantly accusing you. She suggests letting them go - Kondo style - thanking them and passing them on. A friend also said to me that if I lose weight - I can reward myself with a new wardrobe. If I really did lose the weight I'd be so delighted I'd happily invest in new things. I have kept some particularly expensive items (3 ball gowns) - and a few items that I really liked. I've kept what I consider the next size down - but they are boxed up rather than hanging in my wardrobe. I just keep out what fits - mostly. That way I don't have that horrible sensation of having a full closet and nothing to wear. She suggests getting them or out of your bedroom if at all possible - so your room is your sanctuary. Most of my clothing is made of stretchy t-shirt type materials so they are quite forgiving between sizes anyway... I don't do formal trousers or blouses or things like that...

I partially agree with that YouTuber. I have just got rid of quite a few clothes that didn’t fit any longer, even though I’m trying to lose weight because in the end they were a constant reminder of what I see as my failure: an inability to keep the weight I lose off. It felt good to give nearly brand new clothes to charity, but also what if I don’t  manage to lose enough weight to get back to that size? Such a negative impact. 

However, I have kept 2 or 3 pieces, a couple for work but particularly a really nice skirt that I absolutely love and will use as an incentive. 

I like to wear jeans, T-shirt and jumpers mostly and scarves. I love scarves! You never get too fat for your scarves  😂 😂 

savingholmes

Sounds like the right approach @BellaLasagna2018

I too have lots of scarves - I hadn't thought that could be why but it kind of makes sense. 

BellaLasagna2018

savingholmes said:

Sounds like the right approach @BellaLasagna2018

I too have lots of scarves - I hadn't thought that could be why but it kind of makes sense. 

I’m always cold, so a scarf around my neck feels great. Friends and family buy them for me for my birthday occasionally and I’ve started knitting again and a couple of scarves are a great project for me to get back into it. 

girlatplay

You inspired me to clear the top of my chest of drawers today.  It wasn't a big job as I cleared it a couple of months back but it still needed done as clutter was creeping in again.  I might have to start posting decluttering aims on my diary.

I think you're going about it the right way, you're making changes as you go along, clearing the clutter, doing the classes to improve your flexibility.  If you try to force the weight loss on top of that it might be too much.  Little and often for most things I think.  You're doing a really great job in your life right now.

happymum37

Love a declutter. 

I'm still doing the 1 thing a day in the charity bag.  Can be from anywhere in the house.  Soon builds up .

I realised I hoard ugly clothes.  The washed out comfy ones that are so ugly yet comfy. 

No more.  Off to the bin they go!!

savingholmes

Thanks GAP and Happy. Glad we are all motivating each other!!

Well my second mortgage payment went out today complete with £20 OP. This month I estimate I've knocked £636 off my mortgage (no app!!). So I am now at c£200720. What encourages me about that - is even if I increase my CC debt slightly due to car bills this month - I should still end up owing less overall than last month. I can't believe it's taken virtually my whole adult life (other than 5 years in the middle) to end up on a repayment mortgage. I'm also excited to think that in March my mortgage will start with a 1 instead of a 2. I am tempted to try and OP the mortgage more - but it's the CC debt that is getting me down rather than the mortgage  so that needs to be the focus. I want shut of it. Then I can make real progress. 

I woke DD up 45 minutes ago but she went back to sleep!!! I also discovered she'd left the bathroom tap running all night... Oh yes - must be a Monday!! I have to keep telling myself I did the same at her age!!! Should have set off by 7.10am so as not to mess up my day and to miss the worst of the traffic. Trying to practice mindfulness right about now!!

This weekend I'm at the hairdressers so planning to use some of my FB cash towards that. I'm going to wait until after I know what my car bills are to consider any other OPs to CC or mortgage or pension.

girlatplay

Getting rid of the cc debt will do wonders for your mental health.  Keep hammering that and once it's gone you can give the mortgage your all.  OPs to the mortgage now (other than your usual £20 as I get that you need to see a bit extra off, totally understand that one) are just delaying the cc.  You are nearly there!  Keep going.

EssexHebridean

Overall debt going down is great - that's such a motivating way of looking at it too - as an overall picture!

I'd suggest you're doing the right things by working on your health first and foremost - your stress levels have already reduced, I'm guessing as a result of that your sleep is very likely better. You're back to doing the balance classes which should be helping with flexibility and probably to a degree strength too. Start to increase weight bearing exercise a little (there is something on the NHS site I believe about just a 10 minute walk per day having a positive impact) and perhaps start to incorporate some resistance work too - even if that is squats or lunges while waiting for the kettle to boil, or bicep curls with a tin of beans in each hand while cooking dinner. All those things will have a positive and measurable effect on your physical health,. The decluttering is quite clearly helping your mental health too. Let the weight side of things worry about itself for the time being while you find your way forwards - overall health is way more multi-faceted than weight. 

(Ps - for those feeling a "failure" because you haven't kept the weight off - had your previous diet-plans taught you genuinely sustainable methods to maintain weight, assuming that the weight you were at was right for you then it would have stayed off - they didn't, it's not your failure! Diet culture likes to create a situation where we feel a failure for our bodies changing while simultaneously ensuring that they DO change as that is the only way of ensuring repeat customers... ) 

Great news on the FB sales SH - especially being able to use the funds raised for something like a haircut! Less good news on the bathroom tap, though...