NST February 2025 Love and Kindness

Thrifty_Taylor

Thanks @laura_lau it is a little better today. Sounds like you've had a good day today too 😊
Glad you're taking things easier @grandmanerd, but still achieving too.

I did yoga & Norwegian this morning. DH had a check up at the hospital in town, so caught the bus with DS3, who's at college this week. It meant I had the place to myself for half an hour (other 2 DSs were asleep), so read my book, then took my spare sewing machine out to the shed when I fed the shed-living cat.

Work was up & down. Went for a walk with work bestie afterwards & it stayed dry 😀

Received my response from the doctors about my complaint. It read like it was a generic letter. I guess it has to be worded a certain way, as the Dr I complained about & her husband own the practice...

Spent the whole evening unpicking the polo neck (well half of it) of a jumper, that has worn along the folded over part & a customer has asked me to repair it. Dont think I'll get money for the full time it's taking me to do it, unfortunately.

Grateful for chocolate, a nice walk, my shoulder not hurting as much

grandmanerd

Thursday 6th February 2025

HAPPINESS
Happiness is a few pounds heavier
It's accepting being tired
Being older. Being softer.
Being more reaching oak and less wildflower
Happiness is taking days to bask in silence
Not doing. Just Being.
Happiness is no longer shrinking
It's releasing
   Guilt. Regret.
The weight of the past and the fear of the future
It's discovering the joy in simplicity
The beauty in the little things
The power in the everyday
(L E Bowman)

12 Easy Decluttering tips
1   Have a plan
2   Start small
3   Get into the right mindset
4   Tackle one area at a time
5   Have everything you need (bags or boxes)
6   Don't go it alone
7   Don't get sidetracked
8   Be decisive
9   Contain the categories
10  Be realistic
11  Make it fun
12  Keep on top of it

grandmanerd

I found a new decluttering person to follow (watched 3 excerpts). I've struggled with some of my regulars, in part because I've developed a habit of putting one on and then switching to a game or another distraction whilst listening and then at some point I realise I've stopped listening. 

The 3 I watched were 2 of the same older couple (I'm not saying elderly because both of them were a lot more mobile than me) being helped to downsize to a 'lodge in the woods' which they already own but we didn't get to see. The first was going through some of their kitchen drawers. Their daughter was helping alongside the declutterer and she was very good at finding extras of certain items which they had stored elsewhere. The second video was tackling their pantry. They did make great progress but also made me feel great about myself.

I've never had anything like the volume of stuff they had - who on earth needs a dozen spatulas (well they were American). The husband cooked as well as the wife and they had different preferences on which tools they used. I also did well on gadgets - I never had a George Foreman grill so I don't have one to dispose of now. I'm also pleased in that my choices (partly based on an early reading of an FoE book but some things I knew about before that) were sustainable. I don't use non-stick pans (the coating can migrate into your food especially if it gets scratched or worn). I prefer stainless steel for pans and tools (cast iron is good too especially skillets). Some of my utensils are older than DS3 (he'll be 35 in a few weeks). In particular I have 2 slotted spoons, slightly shorter than standard  utensils so may have originally been meant to be serving spoons, one of which is slightly bent but still in use after all these years. I hate plastic utensils - the only thing my ex could cook was a fry up and he had plastic utensils all of which had indentations from where they had been balanced on the edge of a frying pan.

The third was helping a woman in Amsterdam with her 'mud room'. This was a small room adjacent to her kitchen leading to her outdoor space which was functioning as a utility room (washer and dryer) but also had cleaning tools and supplies, dirty shoes which had been dropped on entering the house, all her shopping bags, the children's backpacks, the pushchair (one of the awkward items was the rain cover for the pushchair, very necessary but bulky and difficult to keep neat - they put it inside a whicker waste basket and put it on a shelf) and all the miscellaneous stuff you get in a household. The woman was expecting her 3rd child and one of her concerns was that the 'stuff' was extremely visible when she sat in the armchair to rest (constant visual clutter at the edge of her vision). One of the comments was that it was nice to see a European makeover as we tend to have much less stuff than Americans (we also don't often have huge garages and basements to hide stuff in).

I liked the way the organiser reused containers they already had (a very attractive green trug sized tray had belonged to the woman's grandmother). It also emphasized the need to declutter and reduce the amount before trying to put it in any sort of order. I have a Joshua Becker post where he lists 10 items which should be reduced before storing (ie most households have too many).

My pills have just been delivered, I'm going to try to work out how to get things on the washing line (maybe over doors) so I can do the next wash load. I have a duvet in the bathroom which needs to complete drying. DS3 took it up there and covered it with water on my instructions. I am learning, I might have been able to put it in the WM but it needed to soak out the nasties first. Crunching the water out and playing with the weight of a wet duvet is too much for me.  When I asked DS3 to get me a yoghurt on Tuesday he put it near the end of the couch and it later got enfolded in the duvet. The duvet already had an earlier food stain but the yoghurt moved it up the urgent list.

I could do some clear up in the garden (items to go in the skip) or put soil from the 50l containers into small ones to move them across the yard if I can sit comfortably.

dizzyblnd

Yesterday and today were nsds so I am on 2 so far. I haven’t had time to catch up this week and I feel like everyday my to do list gets longer, not shorter. We have weeks like this don’t we? And then we have weeks that don’t have much to do. I’ll catch up with the thread at the weekend. I have been trying to focus on mental well-being this week as I struggle massively with winter months. I went for a walk today. Managed about 20 minutes before I felt frozen. 

Hope everyone’s well 

abundant1972

Good evening

I liked the Happiness is... post today grandmanerd. I have been practising a bit of releasing of emotions that don't serve me, and embracing the silence and just 'being'. 

Quiet day today. Took myself out to do some shopping, using up the last of this week's budget. Am making an effort to load up my discount card (better cashback than my credit cards - and I have to pre-pay it - so it is money I have to have which seems much more MSE than using credit cards). 

Today I am grateful for:

1) Having tools to shift myself into a positive space
2) A lovely bright sunny day
3) Feeling guided and supported 

Today = spend day
NSD total = 4 

Have a lovely evening everyone x

beanielou

The kitchen will be finished tomorrow. Woo hoo. 

Thrifty_Taylor

Oh that's fab @beanielou. Enjoy!

NSD here.

Did my usual routine before breakfast. DH discovered that temporary traffuc lights had been erected at the top of the driveway, when he went to put the bin out. We were on tenterhooks as the breakdown lorry was coming first thing to take DS1's car to the garage. The lorry arrived just as I was ready to leave for work! The mechanic said the handbrake was stuck, hence why it couldn't be driven when tried yesterday. A few other things not working properly either, so DS has a huge bill to look forward to. Good job he's got savings!

An energetic day at work. One of my besties helped in our classroom this afternoon, so was s nice change.

The traffic lights had thankfully gone when I returned from work, otherwise I'd have had to go through them twice! Our drive is at a funny angle, so have to drive past it, turn round at the junction beside our neighbour, then drive to our drive again & reverse.

Read my book then had a nap. Rest of the night spent unpicking more of the jumper...

Grateful for the traffic lights going, DS3 giving me some cake & chats with friends at work

grandmanerd

Friday 7th February 2025

Optimists Day?
Only saw it on a post - no confirmation but it's Fri-yay anyway

Okay it was yesterday = the first Thursday in February. It originated in Quebec (big sigh of relief that it's not from the USA). Further reading says the whole of March is optimists month

The Optimist Creed
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as of your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

That all sounds okay to me but I reserve the right to exempt any one (usually men) who say "Cheer up love, it might never happen"  - it mostly already has and often multiple somethings have already happened (otherwise I'd be smiling or at least trying to smile). My ex OH once told me about an old lady (I knew who he meant) whom he'd overheard saying she thought I 'was simple' because I always had a smile on my face and said hello.   Ah well, you can't please everyone. One of his neighbours thought I was a teacher because I always had an armful of books.

5 Minute hacks BUDGETING
A lot of these come under the heading of 'living cheap' which isn't a phrase I like (equating cheap with nasty or tasteless).  These were under the frugal habits banner and I'm going to put the original and suggest any suggestions to get them under five minutes (conditional)
1    Budgeting Mastery
      Track expenses rigorously with apps like MINT or YNAB to track spending and savings
(mn: if you're good with apps and your phone supports them I'm guessing installation takes 5 minutes. Using a             small notebook that you keep in your bag or keeping hold of the receipts to look through later. Taking 5 minutes         to think about buying something that wasn't on your list - this is a good one for me because I'd weigh up how long it might be before I could get back to that shop ie any shop that's more than 5 minutes from my house)

2    Meal planning
      Plan weekly meals to avoid impulse buys and food waste, saving both time and money
(mn One crisis - overwhelmed/ ill - code I follow suggests planning what you are going to eat for your next meal, then look at the rest of your day/ week when you've eaten. I'd also suggest  checking fridge contents frequently or having a designated, clearly visible spot for use ups. If you're in crisis mode I'd suggest cutting yourself some slack and if necessary discarding items that might need a big clean up if you leave them any longer/ acceptance)

3    DIY Essentials
      Learn basic repairs and maintenance for home and car to reduce maintenance cost
(mn wholeheartedly agree with this one, for many years I did nearly everything in my house from putting together flat pack furniture to plastering a large hole in a wall where one of the boys was kicking it in his sleep. I also think there are some products that are useful to have in eg plumber's tape which you can wrap around a leaking pipe. Don't forget quick common sense measures like putting a bucket or bowl under a leak so you can monitor it and stop it causing more damage. I'd also recommend getting to know the structure of your home and how it works. For many years I had a book picked up from a friend's discards. It was basically a squatter's book from the 60s but had very clear diagrams of typical house plumbing, roof trusses etc. You can use a library book/ internet to diagnose a problem and work out if you can improve the situation. A leak from a bathroom radiator pipe had caused white cobwebby strands to appear under the floorboards - I diagnosed it as a type of 'rot', ideal growing conditions were wet and still so I put a small cup to catch the radiator drip, left the floorboard up and blasted fresh air through the room at every opportunity)
 
4    Minimalist Lifestyle
      Embrace minimalism by decluttering regularly and choosing quality over quantity
(mn Love minimalism, would still love to give all those men with 10 black t-shirts and the ability to work anywhere in the world using only a laptop the curveball of lugging a baby around with them. The Western world does use many more products to sustain a baby's lifestyle but I'm not sure I'd use cloth nappies if living in hotel rooms or local housing options. Love decluttering and really enjoying getting rid of old furniture that I could not afford to let go previously. Lots of opportunities for a 5 minute declutter)

5    Energy Efficiency
      Invest in energy saving appliances and habits to lower utility bills and reduce environmental impact
(mn Good one. Always choose the most environmentally sustainable option and only pay for features you need. Do you really need this gadget at all)
 
6    Smart Shopping
      Use cashback apps, discount codes and buy in bulk for essentials to minimise costs
(mn apps are good if you can use them but remember to go through from time to time and delete any you don't need. I buy in bulk - I have several 'toiletry' options that I need to search for eg toothpaste that is not mint and doesn't contain certain ingredients so when I need it and having found the best price, I'll get 12 which lasts nearly a year).

7    Secondhand Finds
      Explore thrift stores (charity shops) and online marketplaces for quality items at bargain prices
(mn For many years the majority of my clothes came from cs and I've found particular items my sons needed - a specific Shakespeare text and badminton raquets and a net. Some of my favourite shops have closed and a whole slew of them are in the 'Mall' which is abit far to go and not easily accessible by taxi). However one of my new 'go to' clothing brands, recommended by beanie, does have an ebay option, some direct from the shop, and these can often beat the sale prices.)

8    Financial Goals
      Set clear financial goals and review them regularly to stay motivated and focused on long-term savings.
(mn I have savings and am expecting another influx of cash but am not very organised otherwise. I was going to open a BS account last year but was ill on the day and had to cancel)

 

grandmanerd

Okay, the Community shop is not an option today. I really need to go to the library but they've just closed (4 pm). I'm not feeling great (just tired and a bit uncoordinated - bit of a cold coming and some unwise food choices, more for the don't eat these list). I've just had a small grocery order delivered. I tried several of the local shop options - there's one that does breakfasts, sandwiches and salads but also sells the cooked meat sliced up and the quality is lovely but they were closed and another which came up in the search was in Liverpool (they promised a 10 minute delivery time, not sure how they planned to send it, supersonic drone?). So smallish order with a sandwich and 2 ready made salads (I will add extra salad items), salad items I didn't have in and some other options (I have wraps and a few tins but have eaten the last tin of baked beans).

I've taken 2 loads of recycling to the bins and then gathered odd items from the yard to put in the skip. I've dealt with the worst two spots of messy floor - if I can clear the stuff off one of the kitchen chairs, I'll be able to do more sitting down. Taken a bucket and a bowl full of stuff outside to be dealt with and I have another rubbish bag and a can sack nearly full. If I can manage it I'd like to go round picking out stuff that can go. I'm sure I don't need all of it but it's not on the surface, I'll need to dig around.

I got the duvet over a door upstairs to dry (it's mostly dry or would be too heavy. I mentioned it to DS3 yesterday but he ignored me. So it was dry enough for me to be able to pick it up. I took it to the door, reached up to the top of the door with the midpoint of the duvet and then hung there, one hand on top of the door, the other on the handle unable to proceed and would have fallen over if I'd removed either hand, Shouted help with increasing urgency. DS3 came and flopped the duvet over the door and I smoothed it out a bit.

So more rest now and then another little burst of activity. I have several jobs where I could make a start or move them on a bit.

Grateful that DS3 came to help, glad I've got a bit further and have food for the weekend (hope to empty my freezer into the large one and defrost it), nice weather (sunny but very cold) is drying out my path

beanielou

My kitchen is finished 🤩🤩🤩