Watty's Awakening

Watty1

Thank you @KajiKita   Great nights sleep and feel motivated this morning.   The handyman  chap came back with a price to do a large job but for some reason my instincts are not to go with him.  The other company/chap did not turn up yesterday but as I liked him when we chatted I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and rang him this morning.  No answer but very shortly a text came to say he would call later but had had to travel to look after  his mother so I responded that I understood (oh dear readers after the VNM's mother I do so understand) to find his mother has parkinsons and heart disease so I am going to give him another chance to get back to me as he sounded ok when we chatted.

Left a message for the farming fencer chap.  Unreliable but does an excellent job when he turns up. Wonder if he can prevailed upon to do that at this time? We shall see.

The motivation extends to not only clearing my desk but sorting someone to do the work outside and start again on some of the inside work.   The estate agent has made me re-think a lot of what I was going to do and the work list has been cut in half. Yes, some of it "would be nice to do" but I wonder if I would really notice it after a while?   

Still trying for no unnecessary spend this year. I know I have made a few frivolous purchases but they are so minimal I'm really noticing the difference in my bank account.   Did buy a new French press for coffee this morning however. Mine broke and I've been managing with the 'friends' one which does around 4 large cups and this morning I looked at it and thought "why" so I bought a very nice little one again for just me.  Happy days.   Having reduced my spending so much I find that I really enjoy buying the odd item like that.  Am wearing my new to me cardigan, my fancy earrings and feeling cheerful.  How my life has changed!

WelshmansDaughter

It sounds to me that no unnecessary spending is maybe not a good fit for your circumstances? Swapping the necessary/unnecessary dichotomy for little things that make your life pleasurable?

beanielou

Feeling cheerful is always good. 😊 

Watty1

WelshmansDaughter said:

It sounds to me that no unnecessary spending is maybe not a good fit for your circumstances? Swapping the necessary/unnecessary dichotomy for little things that make your life pleasurable?

I love this reframe.  Thank you.    Perfect.

Watty1

Lovely evening out. The VNM stayed in in case of the dreaded fireworks and I went with girlfriends to the local country house hotel where we spent until way past midnight sitting in the lounge with cocktails and then tea.  Utterly frivolous fun evening in luxurious surroundings.
This morning breakfast in the VNM's favourite cafe as a thank you for looking after my horses.   Now am at work. I have a plan to catch up with myself and feel more organised.  Desk looking a lot clearer already and a "to do" list drawn up.         Back to the paperwork

LadyWithAPlan

On the spending I think those things we do/look at every day are not frivolous, they make a difference to how I feel.  Every time I turn on my Smeg kettle I still smile, its gorgeous and I wanted one for years.

The Smeg expresso machine I also wanted for years that I then bought (in a diff colour than I really wanted)  at an auction - so about a quarter of the price.. and ended up with the next version up - again it looks beautiful, makes great coffee and each day when I wake up using my fabulous stylish expresso  machine and waving those beans around like a real barista, it makes my morning fabulous, just like I am sure you having a morning cuppa looking at your horses makes your life wonderful. 
I have chosen to not have kids and current place does not accept animals so I might as well keep my London life as fabulous (whilst being frugal) and design does  matter and I save up for the right pieces.

Well done on the organisation! It always makes you feel good when paperwork is decluttered and a doable to do list is made.

Watty1

@WelshmansDaughter and @LadyWithAPlan you have really made me think. I started off the diary with no money, credit card debit and somewhat feeling daunted by the year ahead I decided on a no spend year unless it was for the house renovations or related to the animals.

At this point I have cc debt of just £109 from spends before the card was locked due to the fraud (the subscriptions have all been refunded) and I have started saving regularly. My business is supporting me.  It is all good.

I think you both have touched on something quite central.     I paid off the original mortgages by being frugal and watching every penny. I kept my head above water during the trauma  the same way.  I started this year that way too and yet now I can allow myself to recognise things are different.

Maybe now it is time for a new approach.   Only spending to make my life more pleasurable.  I used my little French Press to make my morning coffee, just the right amount for me, no splashes on the worksurface, just easy.    The large one will go back in the cupboard for when friends are over when it works really well but my tiny one is a joy. 

Maybe that is the point.  To only spend on necessary things but to widen the definition somewhat. So I can spend but only genuine life things.  I might need to work on my definition but you have both helped me work out a new approach.

daisy_1571

That sounds very healthy and good for the soul

Daisy xxx

KajiKita

We have a phrase in this house - ‘it’s a real quality of life thing’. It applies when it makes our life better pretty much every day - a safe bathroom where we can walk in and out of a low level show cubicle rather climbing in / out of a bath (we both slipped and fell slightly doing this within six months!), or in your case a single serving cafetière 😊

KK

beanielou

KajiKita said:

We have a phrase in this house - ‘it’s a real quality of life thing’. It applies when it makes our life better pretty much every day - a safe bathroom where we can walk in and out of a low level show cubicle rather climbing in / out of a bath (we both slipped and fell slightly doing this within six months!), or in your case a single serving cafetière 😊

KK

Absolutely this. One of my friends said to the joiners on Friday that this ( having the bedroom floor done) was a real quality of life thing & life changing.