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

Taking_back_control

Morning!
Got slightly ahead of myself and woke up thinking today was payday - another 24 hours to go 🤦‍♀️- never mind!
After my grumble that Vinted sales had slowed, I made £26 on a couple of items - this has been withdrawn to make a payment to the credit card.
I’ve sorted my car insurance- what a faff! I thought doing online was supposed to me quicker and easier! £70 knocked off my renewal and £36 tracked in TCB so it was worth it! Paid for upfront with what would have been allocated to this months council tax (we don’t pay in Feb or March).

Weekend was pretty low spend, DS had football both days so that was the mornings taken care of, other than that we just pottered around the house continuing on my decluttering mission. Another bag of DVDs ready for the charity shop along with a few outgrown coats. Next target is the porch - it’s currently overflowing with shoes and coats, some that have been hanging there years.

My running mojo is slowly returning- I think the glimpses of sunshine and lighter mornings are beginning to help. Not that I’m necessarily fair weather, but I am so done with the grey skys, rain and mud.

On my decluttering mission I’ve come across some unused notebooks - one will be my spending diary and the other for household info such as renewal dates and policy numbers (after having a panic that the car wasn’t insured after struggling to locate the certificate in my emails and having no recollection as to who I’d gone with!) - will start a fresh with the spending diary tomorrow- the start of a new financial month.

Right, best jump off the sofa and get ready to face the day - have a good one 😊

Taking_back_control

Morning! 

Payday been and gone and all monies divided up accordingly. 

Small wins this week……
1. Car insurance saving and TCB tracked
2. Birthday pressie for DS friend using Amazon vouchers via work app
3. Birthday pressie for friend via vouchers paid for via work app.
4. Very BNPL paid off ahead of interest free period (avoiding criminal levels of interest!)
5. 3 x runs for the week
6. World book day costume from Vinted for £4 including postage 
7. Decluttering continues

Taking_back_control

Morning!
I’ve been missing in action again! Things have been moving behind the scenes though. From the beginning of the year debt has decreased from just over £17k to just below £14k - I’ll take that! 

I’m also beginning to feel more in control around the house. Upstairs, there is just OH office to redecorate. Downstairs is another story 🤣. But some major decluttering has taken place to get us this far. I’m planning to keep chipping away at this over the course of the year.

Due to swapping my work days around over the last couple of weeks, I finish work today for a 5 day stretch. I’m planning on getting loads listed on Vinted and begin on the task of sorting downstairs. My goal is to get the £600 OD paid off in the next 3-4 months using Vinted sales. Fortunately it’s in 0% but would be good to clear it asap as it is with the bank who our mortgage is with and that is due for renewal at the end of 2026. I’ve no idea how much of an influence it has, but surely getting it paid off and demonstrating at good period of time without using it can only be a good thing! 

Taking_back_control

Morning,

Counting down to Monday’s pay day! 

 2 small sales made on Vinted already, totally £13, plus another £5 payable in cashback brings me to £18/£600 towards the OD. Started having a bit of a sort through DS toys and have started a car boot box. Once the football season has finished and I’m off my football mum duties I’ll look to stand at the local car boot and get rid of some stuff.

Saw a photo of myself on fb that a colleague had taken and I’m absolutely horrified! It’s shocked me into action. I’ve stepped on the scale this morning and I’m weighing in at 15 stone 2lb. Ideal range for my height is 9st -12st 1lb 😫. I know from experience that 10.5 - 11 is my best range (I’d look awful at 9st - that seems ridiculously low!). My confidence is at an all time low and I’ve lost all interest in my appearance. I owe it to my son to set a good example and to be the healthiest I can be, so it’s time to take this seriously and make some changes. 

Taking_back_control

Well I’m back - I’ve realised that lurking on the forum and being inspired by others diaries isn’t enough. I need to be checking in here to hold myself accountable.

Thought I’d start off with a quick update on my 5 goal areas…..

1. Financial 
Not sure I’ve made much of a dent in this, well certainly not as much as I’d have hoped. Need to sit down and get a realistic budget mapped out so I can see how much we can afford to pay off each month rather than what I’d like to pay off. I feel a spending diary coming on……

2. Home 
This is slowly coming on. I’m feeling more at peace here. There’s still a lot that I’d love to change / improve but we’re getting there.

3. Simplify and slow down….
Still very manic and not much time for relaxation but I am beginning to feel more in control.

4. Family life…
Again still not where I’d like it to be. Had a lot of change in DS after school activities and weekend football which obviously impact this, but we’re beginning to settle into a new routine (just in time for the summer holidays!) where we can carve out more quality family time.

5. Health
Up and down. I’m now running consistently 3 x a week which is great for my mental health but doesn’t appear to be doing much for the scales. I’m learning to listen to my body more, but do still feel on high alert stress wise a lot of the time.

Today’s task list…..
1. Football with DS
2. Wrap birthday pressies for this coming week.
3. Washing - hopefully get out on line to dry
4. Tidy downstairs 
and what feels like 101 other things, but these are priority 

Taking_back_control

Morning,
No massive update debt busting wise, other than bills seem to be never ending this month 😫. Vets bills for both ponies and both dogs, car needs MOT and service (although will hold off on the service for now until I know it’s passed as my car is ancient!!!). Some has been covered by my pots, but they’re looking sadly depleted now and the shortfall has had to come via what had been set aside for this months debt overpayments.

Had a couple of Vinted sales totalling £20. This will be put into my son’s birthday pot towards the cost of his party and gifts. Need to get listing some more bits as my piles of stuff is taking over the dining room!

Plan for this week:
1. Sort garage and make any needed tip runs. There’s a lot that needs clearing out and I’m hoping to just take it all to the tip rather than resort to a skip, but we’ll see.

2. Use the organised mum method to try and keep on top of the house. Lost 2 full days to cleaning last week - haven’t got the time or the energy for that every week, so needs to be little and often.

3. Deliver friends DS birthday pressie (picked up on sale and stashed since earlier in the year).

4. Go through pressie stash - I’m sure there’s some bits put aside for teachers end of year gifts but need to double check.

5. minimum of 3 items per day onto Vinted

6. get back on track with running. I’ve missed a run this week as generally feeling knackered but need to try and work through it as my sleep really isn’t improving…..

Taking_back_control

Morning,
Quick update.
After a truly manic week last week, I’m hoping things settle down a wee bit now. 

Car failed its MOT 😫, not unexpected, so we are now down to one car whilst we keep an eye out for another. Not rushing into anything and will limp on as long as we can. Not ideal but have made the mistake of panic buying cars before.
DS has been poorly and missed most of his final week at school. Waiting for late night / early morning call backs from 111 and visits to the walk in centre have left me shattered. Good news is in true kiddy style he’s bounced back and his poor old mum is left feeling hung over by it all 🤣.
Following on from that, no exercise has been done for a good week. I’m off for a short plod once I’ve finished this update to see just how much my minuscule of fitness has depleted. Wish me luck.
Finances - it’s count down to payday (tomorrow) - I’m just sitting tight now.  Need to tighten up the budget especially in light of the car. Will spend some time on it later.
Have a great day 

Sarahwithlove

Fingers crossed you find a suitable car soon

missymoo81

Hey have read your whole diary. I can really related to everything, I hope you manage to sort a car soon.

Taking_back_control

Morning, 
Can’t believe we’re entering the final week of the school holidays. It hasn’t been the best one to be honest. We had to have one of our dogs put to sleep - he was very old and had a great life and whilst it was definitely his time, it doesn’t make losing him any easier. At a rough guess we’ve spent close to £1k in vet’s bills in the last 6 weeks and whilst I don’t begrudge a penny of it, I must admit my fingers were firmly crossed when handing over my card to pay each time. 

Car situation still isn’t resolved. There is money put aside to buy outright thankfully, but I am determined to make sure it’s a good buy. 

My plans of slowing down and simplifying have taken a massive backward step, as has my MSE ways in light of recent events and the summer hols. Need to get back on it - feel ashamed that since acknowledging what needs to change nearly a year ago, I’ve  made very little progress in actually doing so.

I’m craving a return to some sort of normality and routine. I also need my independence back - can’t believe how much this has been impacted by not having a car of my own. Whilst being a one car family sounds great in theory, what’s not so great is when you live in the middle of nowhere and need to drive pretty much everywhere 🤣

Plan for this week….

1. check uniform stash for DS. I think we have everything, but need to double check.
2. Meal plan and food shop
3. Post item sold on Vinted 
4. Get listing more on Vinted
5. Get back out for a run
6. Get my trusty notebook out and brainstorm ideas for getting my life running like clockwork!!!