2024 - slowing down, simplifying and saving up for a more intentional life!

Taking_back_control

Today will definitely be my first day back at work and DS back to school thank goodness! 

Not a massive amount to report. Managed to get the the key parts of the house into some sort of a decent state yesterday. Utility room however looks like a bombs gone off, so that will be focus over the weekend. 

Got some freebie base layers in the next size up for DS off fb marketplace that I need to collect later. With him playing football 5 days a week you really can never have enough! Also need to post my Vinted parcel.

Budget isn’t doing too badly for a January! I’ve paid off the Next account (£102), so that’s one less black mark against my name. Will spend some time over the weekend listing some bits on Vinted / Facebook to try and make a dent in the £4777.

Happy Friday everyone- it’s nearly the weekend! 

Taking_back_control

Morning, 

Still plodding here. Most the direct debits have now left the account, I just have a handful left plus petrol to budget for. Food shop is covered by giftcards (I can purchase through work and get a percentage back in cashback- I’ve received £490 in the 18 months be been doing it. It also helps with budgeting).

Sinking fund pots have also been added to for the month. Need to protect them now and keep them intact! 

£12 from TCB and £15 in Vinted sales have been transferred to BC - so £27/£4777 paid. 

It was a non working day for me yesterday so had a productive day around the house. Managed to shampoo the downstairs carpet, catch up on washing, quick nip round Aldi, uniform sorted for week ahead and calendar filled in for January.

I’m toying with the idea of deferring my marathon place to next year. It’s a once in a lifetime bucket list event for me and right now I don’t feel in the right place to give it my all. I’m at my heaviest ever and following a run of Ill health from September, my training is no where near where I need it to be. I have the great north run in September, so thinking of concentrating my efforts on that and start with marathon training for next year once that is over. That way I should have a good base line fitness going into the training. A half in 9 months is a lot more achievable than a full in less than 4 😝

Plan for today:

1. In the office - lunch brought from home
2. Fill up car
3. Write my task list for January 
4. Get at least 3 items listed in Vinted 

twiggy86

Re marathon - I was due to do mine in April 2020! So I was so far through my training when it got moved to October... so far through my training when it got moved again! I then opted for the April (rather than October) date when I was given the choice as I prefer running in the colder months - well it then got moved to October! (And announced via social media without bothering to tell the individuals who had already been so messed around!) By this point I had completely lost my running mojo and actually have never got back into it! In some ways I regret not doing it (as you say it is once in a lifetime event), but also it was completely the right decision for me as it is a big undertaking (both the training and the event) if your head isn't in it - and mine totally wasn't! 

But my question is - do you want to "complete a marathon" or do you want to run for a particular time? It really doesn't matter how slow/ fast you complete it to have the accomplishment of saying you've run a marathon! 

Taking_back_control

twiggy86 said:

Re marathon - I was due to do mine in April 2020! So I was so far through my training when it got moved to October... so far through my training when it got moved again! I then opted for the April (rather than October) date when I was given the choice as I prefer running in the colder months - well it then got moved to October! (And announced via social media without bothering to tell the individuals who had already been so messed around!) By this point I had completely lost my running mojo and actually have never got back into it! In some ways I regret not doing it (as you say it is once in a lifetime event), but also it was completely the right decision for me as it is a big undertaking (both the training and the event) if your head isn't in it - and mine totally wasn't! 

But my question is - do you want to "complete a marathon" or do you want to run for a particular time? It really doesn't matter how slow/ fast you complete it to have the accomplishment of saying you've run a marathon! 

@twiggy86 I’ve got no expectations time wise, however I want to give it my best go. When I did my first GNR in 2022 I had a bad run- it was so hot and my hands had swelled ridiculously by mile 6 so I had to walk a lot and sort myself out. I was disappointed and it left me feeling like I had unfinished business! I’m lucky enough to be running it again this year, so can hopefully put that one to bed! I don’t want the same to happen with London. I’ve always said it’ll be my one and only marathon as it’s such a massive commitment training wise so really want to give it my all, which I feel I’ve left it to late in the day to do now 😖

Taking_back_control

Just a quick catch up whilst DS is at football training…..

£12 Vinted sale made over the weekend. Awaiting for the balance to clear and then will pay off the credit card. Also had £57 of sales on fb which I have paid straight off the cc taking total to £84/£4777. Baby steps, but all in the right direction.

Jobs for this week:
1. Collect written prescription from vets so that I can order dog meds cheaper online.
2. Post friend’s birthday pressie
3. Get refund for 20 mile race I’d entered to act as my long run for the marathon 

Taking_back_control

Morning, 
Long time no update 🤦‍♀️. I’m still plodding, hit the awkward just post mid month point where all bills are paid, but very little money to make stretch til the end of the month. Payday is in sight though…..

The good:
1. Another £50 made in Vinted sales 
2. £15 Clarks school shoes for DS in the sale 
3. £20 payable in cashback account.
4. Lots of decluttering of clothes completed - some to charity and some to sell on Vinted.
5. Started using Trello for my to do lists - it’s helping massively to get me organised.

The not so good…..
1. Gave in to take away after persuasion from DS and OH. It’s made me feel like 💩(health wise) - I need to remember this next time I’m tempted to take the easy option! 

2. I’m feeling very run down again at the minute. Convinced I’m peri menopausal. Everything hurts, sleep is rubbish and I’m permanently tired and irritable. 

3. The house is in chaos (again!) This is mainly due to the massive declutter I’m undertaking, I get that you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs etc but it’s getting a bit overwhelming.

Decision has been made with regards to marathon - it’s not happening for me this year. I’ve instead joking a local (free) running group to help keep me motivated and focused on getting round the Great North in September. Refund has been received for the 20 mile race, but will be entering next year in prep for London 2025.  On the note I’m signing off and heading out for a plod around the village.

Ambyth

Bookmarking your thread - your 'Top 5' resonate so much I'm hoping your good examples will keep me motivated (no pressure  )

Like Twiggy, I lost the running mojo due to a half marathon I had registered for being constantly moved due to Covid.  Am just restarting the Couch to 5k.

Taking_back_control

Hi @Ambyth

I’m not sure about good examples - I feel like I’m failing miserably on all 5 counts at the minute🤣.

Plod round the village never happened - I tried to go and felt like I’d been hit my a bus! DS has been poorly on and off since before Christmas and it seems that I’m now fighting something. Could have tried and worked through it, but figured it’d do my body more harm than good! 

Day off today - I’m helping at school this afternoon, but the morning will be spent continuing to declutter our bedroom. I’m feeling like there’s always so much to do at the minute, but I need to accept that it is all part of the greater plan and that hopefully in 18 months from now my life will look very different. I will be:
1. Debt free!
2. 3 stone lighter
3. Fit and healthy
4. Living in a house I’m proud of.
5. Living an intentional life rather than feeling like a passenger!

Jobs for today:
1. Finish decluttering bedroom
2. Post fb sales
3. List at least 5 x items on Vinted or fb

Taking_back_control

Morning,
Another couple of weeks flown by. 

Not been great financially 🤦‍♀️. Eye test time for both me and OH = £400 lighter 😫. Need a pot to cover this for next year. The only saving grace is we don’t pay council tax this month so half has been covered by that.
Day off today - will be continuing to wade my way through the chaos that is my home. It’s really getting me down at the minute. The weekend has been so busy that I haven’t had chance to do anything other than a couple of loads of washing, so gearing myself up for a busy day! 

Good news at work is that I should be due a bonus of some description. I’ve no idea how much (was only a couple of hundred £ last year, so not mega money!) but should be more that last year as the company has done a lot better. This will come beginning of April 🤞

Anyways, I better disappear and sort the animals- just checking in to keep up some sort of focus! Have a great day x

Taking_back_control

Morning, sneaking back in to keep focus and momentum up….

Productive half term - finally feel like I’m finally beginning to claw back some control at home! Weather has been grey, wet and miserable, so lots of time spent around the house. Fortunately DS is ok with this! Did manage to take advantage of the one sunny day and get to the park with friends. It was still very muddy but was wow what a difference a bit of sunshine makes! Roll on spring! 

Made the most of the sky cinema offer and ‘treated’ DS to a free trip to the cinema which he enjoyed. Other than that the mass decluttering continued. At least 5 bin bags of clothes dropped off at the clothes bank, 3 huge bags of DVDs and CDs gone to the local charity shop and a few larger items advertised as free to collect on fb and have been snapped up! 

Personal spends have been low this month, so I’m popping the left over into a pot towards my hair appointment. I’m relatively low maintenance but have wild hair that needs keeping on top of so this will give me a head start! 

Both lots of car insurance are up for renewal- this will be a job for later in the week. I’ve meerkated it but want to see if I can get better deals via cashback sites etc. 

Vinted sales slowed up again - a £4 sale to post today, but really need to get some more listed. Just need to find my dining room first 🤣