Follow the Yellow Brick Road 2023

SandyShores

Two items collected today, I just need to relist the final items and then let them run until they sell.  I bought a set of three boxes from Argos in the end as they seemed quite reasonable.  MrShores is going to help with a bit of heavy lifting in the morning and then I will spend my weekend organising things into their final areas.  I also need to order some hooks and possibly a few more pots for bits and pieces.   And a trip to the tip is still on the cards. 

The gardening stuff needs weeding out and organising, along with the craft room which is coming along nicely.  There's also the planned veg garden which has become a bit of a dumping ground.  This first stage of getting things roughly into place is almost completed.  Now that I've got a link to watch some episodes of Swedish Death Cleaning (thanks LaPlan) I'm looking forward to watching and hopefully getting some tips for the second stage of getting rid of even more stuff.

savingholmes

Hope the show helps

SandyShores

I'm enjoying the show thank you savingholmes and I've picked up a couple of tips already.  Its reminded me about Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  They said that recycling isn't great for the environment and we should reduce waste or reuse it first.  I always offer my stuff for re-use on our local FB page, and I do a lot of recycling, but I'm going to concentrate on reducing any waste and in particular asking whether I actually need to buy any future purchases (otherwise I'll be creating more waste).

I did like the bit in the first programme where they helped reduce the owner's photograph collection into books.  I'm not sure that would be reducing waste, but it certainly had a better effect in her home (she had them plastered all over the walls and it was a bit cluttered).

And I think a huge part of not buying things is being organised so that you know what you already have - then you won't go out and buy more, as I did recently.  Hooks ordered, tip run done, the rest of this weekend will be more decluttering/organising, gardening and watching the show.

Edit - £15 paid to mortgage account (from clothes sales)

SandyShores

Checking in to report a huge declutter of office paper has now been done.  Half to the recycling bin and the other half needs destroying confidentially, just in case.  Uncovered a few more things to sell/give away, and it will be great when that's done.  There's more work to do but at least everything is now more or less in its place.  Next steps will be to make sure the remaining items really do need to be kept and then putting them into order so I can find it more easily.

I've finished watching the 8 available episodes of Swedish Death Cleaning.  American homes always seem to have huge basements and they quite often give them lots of shelves with a box system.  They're told everything has to go in the boxes, and that when its full, its full and reached its limit.  It does make sense.  I also liked how they explained that if you don't repurpose or gift things now, those useful things could well end up at the tip.  I may have to see if I can loan the book from the library as I'd be interested in using the method.

SandyShores

So, after my last post I've managed to pass on about 8 items to others.  It feels good to know that someone else will get joy from them, rather than being sat unused.  Now that I've done all the major decluttering, and the house feels like it can breathe, I'm going to apply the SDC approach.  Its about keeping things that really matter to you, and making sure they are available to see and touch.  I like the special box idea for items that bring good memories - I tried one before but had too much in it!  After watching SDC I really understand the purpose - its just a few things, special memories etc. that you can look through when want to.

I've still some organising to do, e.g. I have personal paperwork in both the office and some in the bedroom, so I'd like to have it all together in one place.  Sorting that out is definitely a task I've been avoiding.  Likewise there's stuff in the office that needs sorting through and storing properly.  Organising my toiletry and make-up store will definitely be easier - its just one large drawer, so a few containers will help (lovely trip to Dunelm, Homesense coming up).  Clothes will be a biggie again, but I do need to keep on top of those because the wardrobe is starting to burst at the seams again.  I love the bit on one SDC episode where the daughter wanted to keep a jumper that didn't fit.  Juan said 'but would you buy the same thing in your size now if you could?'.  Good thought and I could apply that to a few things in my wardrobe.  I don't want to spend anymore than I have to on clothes, but probably have more than a few items that need passing on or selling on Vinted.

Its great to be at the stage of sorting and tidying, rather than what has felt like the un-joyous stage of sorting through lots of totally disorganised clutter.   There was an SDC episode where there was a ceremony of saying goodbye to bad feelings with someone who had passed on.  It was very touching, and I get that its about living your best life for the remainder of your life and that treasured items should be passed onto people who will treasure them or stored somewhere special.  The SDC strapline is something like 'dealing with your !!!!!! so that someone else won't have to'.  And that your treasures will become someone else's !!!!!! or end up at the dumpster if you don't share them now.  Right, I just have to keep up the momentum - I would say I can see the end in sight, but this is definitely a never ending but rewarding task.

SandyShores

This was a mortgage thread in a mortgage forum, but I feel its been much more.  Finally debt-free and back on the housing ladder but it felt like I'd lost me along the way.  This thread is keeping me focussed but its interesting how priorities (and perspectives) change (Oct24)

1. Financial
We've had some big purchases again this year, but they are generally home related.  Making the mortgage a priority.  MrShores is still a worry financially and this needs tackling.  I was going to take a lump sum but am holding that in back up for now. Edit - MrShores took a lump sum and paid it off the mortgage, he's been a lot more financially responsible of late, we may have turned a corner.
2. Physical Health / Fitness
Walking, running, swimming, weights - incorporating some of these but need to make a routine.
Work on sleep hygiene, relaxing, mindfulness, yoga is paying off.  Chiropractor appointments have worked (pain isn't conducive to exercise).  Must begin knitting again to stop reaching for snacks and have set a 7.5 lb weight loss goal by Xmas 24.  Jan'25 reset this to a 500 calorie daily deficit every day until June 2025. Edit - lost 8.5lb March 2025, lowest since 2015.  Focussing on eating healthily and exercising to build strength/stamina.
3. Family/healthy work-life balance - have definitely reached goals here.
Reduced number of trips to supermarket(s) and am having a less stressful time at work.  
Making space for family time and activities.
4. Career and Learning
One course completed and need to focus on other less formal learning e.g. reading the books
Keep in mind potential career change and connected masters course
Update - my perspective on these is changing and am not sure where this will end up.
5. Environment e.g. decluttering and decorating 
Aim to buy as little as possible, at same time sell.
Major decluttering tasks done, I will move onto the finer details e.g. the kitchen cupboards, wardrobe declutter.  Have tentatively begun decorating and adding soft furnishings - this is the nice bit and I'm keen to keep going on this.  And also continuing to shape the garden to mine, to include raised beds for  a veg plot.
6. Creativity - art, sewing, social etc.
Plan more meet ups with friends and family - near, far and wide - started
Once craft room sorted, use it e.g. making cushions, painting etc. - started
Read lots (7 books read so far)
Do a few of those social activities I keep on about - advanced driving, climbing
7. Spiritual / Personal Growth / Inner Peace
Is supposed to be reached by completing all the above - is this where life is something that happens while you're focussed on other things .  We'll see.

SandyShores

Number 5 Environment: Decluttered a few more items by selling them over the weekend, and they were all mailed off today.  More or less everything I'm aware of as being surplus, has been listed now (apart from a couple of winter season items).  Will be great if everything sells and can leave the building, as it all takes up room.  As well as watching SDC, I've started following a decluttering thread and it just shows that decluttering is a non-stop job\lifestyle choice.  I've also been following a charity shop bargains thread, which could be dangerous for me as I love a bargain so need no more encouragement to buy stuff I don't need 🤣🤣.   I must resist spending/getting clutter - however much fun charity shopping is - the thread is great and I can get the charity shopping buzz vicariously.  I actually need to do another clothes cull and sell/donate.  MrShores also needs to do a clothes audit, but to be honest I need a bit of a break from listing things - although the money is very nice so I'll maybe start again at the weekend.  The house definitely feels bigger without all the clutter - and it felt like we didn't even have that much stuff but it was all on shelves so was hidden out of the way a bit.  There are two items I'd like to purchase though - a new easel and a new sports bag - about £60 in total unless I can buy secondhand.  Not buying anything until I've made enough money from sales - and then the old ones will also be put up for sale/donated - one in/one out!

SandyShores

Had a bit of a lightbulb moment about spending £60 - why would I spend so much money on two items.  So instead I've just paid my sales money off the mortgage.  I've found a suitable bag for less £4, and I've spotted a second hand easel online for £10 if I can get it.  Its definitely time to start tackling this mortgage.

KajiKita

You are doing so well 😊👏
I don’t know where you find the time or the energy. Seriously impressive. 

The comments about would you buy it again now, about clothes that don’t fit any more and only keeping things that trigger special memories is very powerful. I will try and start again by using those 😊

KK

SandyShores

Thank you @KajiKita.  

The decluttering/organising has taken a huge amount of physical and mental effort, I've impressed myself, and MrShores is definitely impressed  

While everything now has a place, so its easier to see where things belong, I need to do more sifting.  I remember an episode of SDC where they said you allocate the space, and then you can only keep enough stuff that fits in that space.  My clothes storage is busting at the seams so is first on the sifting list.  And when I get to the clothes that are too small I'll be asking myself if I would go out and buy the right size today.  

I'm looking forward to creating a memory box too, just for special things, something to reflect on when the mood takes me.

I had a panicky few moments over the weekend, thinking what an impossible task to pay off the mortgage.  But then I thought about it and we'll do it or have a right good go at it.  We'll cope, and no point worrying, I'll be enjoying our lovely home while we are having fun paying for it.