Follow the Yellow Brick Road 2023

Merlin's_Beard

That's an incredible amount!

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes and Merlin's_Beard - can you believe I set out to pay £125k, oh well, aim high . Aiming to keep paying the monthly interest as an OP (although now rates have doubled that will be harder) and throw any 'windfalls' that way too.

I've been following PennysintoPounds thread where people are challenging themselves to get on and finish things, annoying tasks etc., and I'm getting some good ideas:

• old computers need data removing and selling or recycling
• sort my kitchen cupboard 'full' of plastic containers
• cancel one of the life insurances no longer needed
• Edit - just adding detox of current computer and emails, files etc.

SandyShores

Just thought I should re-watch the swedish death cleaning series for some inspiration/motivation.  I've completed so much decluttering and sorting, but just need to do the final, and probably easier, bits. 

Trying to find a quote about procrastination and found this 'think of many things, do one'.  

SandyShores

I finally got around to sorting out the mattress protector today.  Back story - purchased from Dun3lm quite a while ago and  when I opened the packet I found that the elasticated skirt was made of a very flimsy fabric - sort of interlining material.  But I think I bought it at a busy time, but it did the job and so we kept it rather than have the hassle of changing it.  Fast forward and the sides are torn because they are so thin, don't stretch much and to be honest aren't really deep enough for the mattress. 

Its been annoying me for a little while so I finally started looking for a new one - cheapest with deep enough sides I've found was around £25 - and one of the reviews says that one shrinks when washed!  Anyway, I had a light bulb moment this morning.  The one in the spare room is flat and has elastics to keep it around the mattress - it works really well and its much easier to fit.  So, as I've also got a reel of 1 inch elastic in my sewing supplies, I had the idea to adapt the torn one.  I've cut the skirt bit off the old one - leaving the overcast stitch in place - and have sewn four elastics on the corners.  Hey presto I'm keeping my £25 for a bit longer. 

Haven't done anything off my list though, guess I'm thinking of many things and at least I did one thing today:

• old computers need data removing and selling or recycling
• sort my kitchen cupboard 'full' of plastic containers
• cancel one of the life insurances no longer needed
• Edit - just adding detox of current computer and emails, files etc.

Edit - one week later and the mattress protector is working really well.  With the torn skirt it didn't stay put and the sheet didn't stay down either.  So much better now   Must tackle my list though.

savingholmes

It's easy to get stuck in overwhelm but the mantra progress not perfection helps me.

SandyShores

savingholmes said:

It's easy to get stuck in overwhelm but the mantra progress not perfection helps me.

Agree with that savingholmes.  I've made a couple of big financial decisions recently, but I've come to the conclusion you can only do your best - there is no crystal ball.  The important thing is to have a plan.

So, I will be cancelling that life insurance today.  Its cost us £6k over the last 6 years and I'd rather put that towards OPing the mortgage.  My second task will be sorting out the plastics cupboard - that's a frog I need to tackle now.  Computer stuff is on my task-waiting list for the moment

SandyShores

- Insurance company has been emailed to cancel the one policy no longer required - once they've replied I'll stop the DD and set up a regular OP to the mortgage.
- I wanted to say that the plastic containers and cupboard was all sorted but I need some shallow boxes or baskets so that I can put all the bits in and move them in and out.  I have moved a couple of bits into the cupboard I sorted the other week, and have a plan to swap some bits over from the wall unit above it.  Food in the wall unit the other non-food bits in the floor cupboard, but again a box/basket needed to put the bits in.  I like to use containers that are already lying around (saves buying and recycles) so I will keep an eye out around the house this week.

Bonus jobs done - made some space in my sewing box by removing most of the threads and putting them into a flat Tupperware box (from the plastics cupboard).  I won't have to fight the threads every time I want to find a needle to do a quick repair now.  I've kept the black and white threads in the sewing box with scissors, needles and pins etc.
- I also deadheaded the roses and picked up the windfall apples.
- Ordered the regular meds.

Next on my list:

• sort car and car insurance
• old computers need data removing and selling or recycling
• Also a detox of current computer and emails, desktop and files etc.

savingholmes

Brave to cancel insurance - but also sounds like it was an expensive one. Is it not a condition of your mortgage to have one?

SandyShores

Hi @savingholmes, thanks for replying.

No, not a condition of mortgage and we've got enough other life insurance/pensions/savings that we would be okay.  I just feel that the £1.1k a year will be better OPing the mortgage.  But yes, its taken me a little while to pluck up the courage to finally pull the plug on it. Better get onto the OPing and make sure that amount goes into the pot.

I started sorting out passwords while watching the tv this evening.  Around 300 passwords on my mac, and quite a few have the red exclamation - appeared somewhere in a data leak.  I've had to work out if they are still working and if the site still operating, and then either delete them or update them.  Its going to take a few evenings to sort out but its something I've been meaning to do for ages.  I think all of the banking ones etc are super secure but there are some shopping sites that will be good to get done.  I was thinking about signing up to one of the paid password savers, but I'll declutter them all first before I take that step.  

Feels like I've got my second wind for decluttering, hopefully on the homeward leg now.

KajiKita

How on earth do you get to see all your passwords in one place with red ticks or other notations?? Sounds really useful! Is that just a Mac thing?

KK