Consequences of Trying

I am surprisingly motivated by my disaster, also having my family pitch in a little also helped greatly.

I am fighting with my body every minute of every day to get five more minutes but I have been accomplishing small things which are leading to greater improvements each day.  I am also fighting with my knee, not the bad knee though, the other knee, the one that has been soldiering through the disaster that is my other knee, which ironically, is feeling much better just the odd twinge now and again, it is playing up with every move but I know I need to fight through it.

My son commented about how I didn’t complain about being very uncomfortable during our recent trip to the supermarket, which I normally am. I told him I had to take painkillers before we left home so I could cope he was a little disappointed for me that I had to take them.

But honestly the more I move the less painful things get in the moment but if I push it to far the pain slaps me down, it usually gets worse in when I sit on the sofa and dissipates when I lie down. But I need to avoid lying down because I fall asleep 😴 and then everything stops.

I am repeating the phrase “we need pma” constantly it is annoying the kid quite a bit but it is working for me in building a positive mental attitude.

Funny story, the kid has been having trouble getting up on school days recently. I have had enough so this morning I started chasing him to get up at 7am. He was resisting me at all costs so at 7:15 I played an annoying play list of wake up songs. It took him 15 minutes but a clearly annoyed kid was up and in the shower by 7:30 🕢 if it works I will do it everyday. 😚😃

I got up with him as well I think that helped a little. I am determined to make the most of the day.

Catch you later

cmx

 

November Blog Challenge Again – Same but different?!

So last year I almost succeeded but not quite so I am determined to do it fully this year.

Some of my posts will be straight up reposts but I plan to write something different where possible and see how things have changed in the last year if at all.

So this was inspired by my friends photo challenge that she was doing last year on Instagram.

20 facts about me coming up tomorrow….!

Catch you later

cmx

YouTube

Over last year or so I have fully gone down the YouTube rabbit hole and discovered a great many videos I didn’t even know I needed in my life. Well maybe not need but enjoy, some I dip into as and when, others I follow diligently.

Interestingly I think my list is eclectic from following my best friends family vlog to watching film theory to quality journalism to entertainment gossip to beauty gurus to bullet journal creators to apartment tours to motivational and anti procrastinating videos.

The later I find quite reassuring as often these vloggers are regularly hitting the reset button on areas if their lives. This means a lot to me as I am constantly letting things slide and am able to take inspiration from these videos and get some things done. I do have to be careful though that I don’t descend into the abyss and forget to get the work done.

So I have drawn inspiration on decluttering my home, how to reorganise it so my family benefits from living here. I have learned how to do my make-up for special events and everyday life. I have geeked out over movies I love and that one comedian that makes me laugh. I have taken pleasure in seeing a snapshot what is going on in my ‘soulsista’s’ life as we are so far apart.

The most interesting side note is the kid and I often suggest videos to each other and it has opened up interesting conversations for us.

YouTube has its place and I enjoy it but it is no replacement for advise from friends and family and the joy of getting out and about and living your life.

catch you later

cmx

Achievement #1

I set a goal and achieved it using baby steps.

Day One

I did a 15 minute declutter and made my bed, this led to a longer declutter, it was nice to see the things get done.

‘Perfectionism leads to Procrastination‘ I thought I was weird and nobody understood this feeling I had turns out I was very wrong. I am trying to apply the ‘little bit at a time’ ethos which should lead to good habits long term.  I have been following The Flylady and The Clutterbug online through their websites and youtube channels. Today I also followed The Clutterbug Podcast then I took the free clutterbug mini-course to find out my clutterbug style.  I related to a couple of other types of Bug but I am really a Cricket at heart.  To understand what that means I suggest you have look and see.

I am a huge overthinker as you know so this leads to planning until the end of time but never really getting started.  Which is why I think little and often works for me just now.

Day Two

Bed made, it’s Sunday which is a busy day for me so I didn’t do a lot of stuff in the house.  Got some laundry done as a bonus.

Day Three

Spent some time with my son mooching about town, he is back to school in a couple of days so I am glad that I got to do that today. 15 minute declutter done, bed made, dishes done. Finally sorted the ironing mountain and folded all the non iron items. Maybe one day I can call it an ironing pile again.

Day Four

Had to go back to town this afternoon for an appointment but didn’t linger long. 15 minute declutter done, bed made, a bit of ironing. Then spent some quality time with my son and we worked together to get his stuff sorted for tomorrow.

Day Five

He has gone to school the house is so quiet 😁 enjoying the peace. 15 minute declutter rolled into an hour and a half, bed made. Also got the laundry out on the line for the first time in days. Did a wee bit more ironing.

Day Six

Up early and another load of laundry is out on the line yesterday’s load is all folded away in the appropriate drawers. I now do a load every night at bed time so it’s ready to go on the line in the morning as the tumble dryer is broken. I always forget how long it takes to dry clothes inside when your heating is off especially now the heatwave is over. So the earlier I can get it on the line the better especially if there is no rain forecast.

15 minute declutter done, bed made, dishes done.

Day Seven

Went to work then had coffee with my pal. 15 minute declutter done, bed made, dishes done.

Being productive this week has been interesting I got the ball rolling on Saturday, not Monday I don’t start things on Monday otherwise I will be done by Tuesday. I was important to me to start before the kid went back to school so I had things to do and was in the habit of doing them. I had 6 daily tasks on my list including updating this blog post and have successfully accomplished them each day thanks to baby steps what surprised me was I always did more than I planned and it didn’t feel forced or overwhelming.

I wonder what will I accomplish next week?

catch you later

cmx

 

 

 

No Spend 2019 – Update 5

….So summer is nearly over.

Sadly plans were upended, some paid work dried up and I was back to square one.

The joys of bad health and being self employed and next thing you know No Spend 2019 is on hold.

The silver lining is I had time to spend with my son as most of my work is online.

We are back to routine later this week and I am hopeful that I will have more work starting shortly.

Time for a reset…

Catch you later

cmx

No Spend 2019 – Update 4

Finally, some success has been had!

I have managed to still have cash in the bank on payday!  That has not happened in a very long time, it is an indication that this new plan is beginning to work for us.  This last month feels very different than the previous month, it has been comparatively easy, although there is no room for complacency.

I have made several adjustments to our lifestyle to ensure that we will cope when my income drops in May.  Basically, we are living on what we will have in the summer and hanging on for dear life onto the difference so we can get through the summer without too much trouble.

Our two short breaks this year are covered which takes the pressure off.  I am looking forward to a summer full of free activities because that is what we can afford plus we have relatives coming from overseas so that will be fun too.

You may ask why are you talking about summer, we are still in the midst of winter and spring is a million miles away?

Well, I am nearly finished my second semester of university, classes finish really soon then I have exams a month later. So my summer is nearly here…

catch you later

cmx

ps. My son is still fundraising to go on Outward Bound Thank you x

No Spend 2019 – Update 3

EPIC FAIL

It started so well and it ended so badly.  I have less than £5 between my bank and purse and 6 days until I get paid.  We have been ill for most of the month which impacts everything.  Was it all bad? Well no, it wasn’t but it has illustrated to me how out of control I am when it comes to spending what little money I have.  The sad reality of living on a low income is there are 100 ways to spend a tenner and I will spend that tenner.

WHAT I DID WRONG

I had a number of unplanned purchases this month of a larger slow cooker and some clothes for my ever growing son and books for university.  They in themselves were not bad purchases but necessary? No.

When I think back I wasn’t going to buy ANYTHING and yet I bought some really stupid things like some decorative pieces for the living room and a couple of mugs which were cheap but it all adds up – none of which I needed.

I didn’t freeze some of the food I bought at the start of the month so had some expensive food waste as a consequence.  I am cooking more than ever but I gave in to the food delivery apps more than once and overdid Meerkat Meals too and what is worse is that it can be anything up to £35 a pop and there is only two of us.  I was especially bad in the second week of January.  I spent too much money at breakfast and lunchtime on campus too.  I need to cook every day, food and exhaustion has always been my greatest downfall, I will say I reigned myself in after week two but it was too late and there were some unintended consequences.

I had two fines that required paying immediately which was frustrating and should have been avoided plus I also missed two hours of paid work for one client.  The reality is if I stuck to my own rules and done all my work I would have money to spare despite the fines.

WHAT I DID RIGHT

I am glad that I am doing this now and didn’t wait until the end of the academic year when my income drops in half.

I cancelled all my extraneous subscriptions, moved my broadband supplier, I renewed other contracts to keep the costs lower.  I have stopped buying movies and clothes for myself, I have also not bought any stationery.

I am cooking more than ever and I am taking packed lunches to university some days, the slow cooker is my friend and so is Asda because it is cheap and good quality plus they make a lovely pizza which saves us a fortune.

I lost 4kgs.

I didn’t spend on Amazon or Groupon.

I said no a lot.

We didn’t go to the cinema every week.

I avoided driving great distances so only been to refuel once, which is not only great for the bank balance but also the environment, (yes I know food waste is bad).

RESET

I am now planning in greater detail what I am going to spend in this month of February.  I am still ill but by planning I am less likely to give in to my old bad habits.  I am going to assume there is a big bill coming and wait.  I will continue to review my services and contracts to make sure I always have the best available deals.  I need to stay away from the nick nacks in Asda, I think that was the reason why I said last time I was going to shop online instead of instore. I also have to repay £250 on payday which is not a great start but if I really stick to the rules and cook it should be all good.

So the rules for February are:

• Breakfast at home.
• Packed lunches and water.
• Homecooked meals every day.
• Pizza must be store bought.
• Shop at Asda and freeze stuff.
• Meerkat Meal once only.
• Meerkat Movie only for a good new movie.
• Pay for the Ferry*
• One art lesson~
• Tubing~

GOALS

• Have something in the bank on my next payday.
• Have all my bills paid on time.
• No surprises.

catch you later

cmx

*We are going to the Western Isles in April for a long-planned trip to visit friends and aid us with our Gaelic.

~for the kid.

Reset – time to learn from my mistakes.

As you know I have started a No Spend year this year, I am not one to do New Years resolutions, however, I do like a reset.  Primarily, because you can do it whenever you like, I am planning to do a number of resets this year which I will share with you. Some will be the natural side-effect of my No Spend year, others will require more work but I am looking forward to it.

I will be doing a series of blogs reflecting these changes, I have already began the “No Spend 2019” series, I will be following up this post with a series called “Starting New Habits” it will be a review of my accomplishments rather than a raking over the coals.  I will also be repeating my “November Blog Challenge” and looking for something similar to do earlier in the year.  I am attempting to do a bullet journal this year too I am already making some hilarious mistakes so I will let you in on that. I will be reading more so I hope to do some new book reviews which I haven’t done for a few years.  I will share more tidbits from university and my journey to learn Gaelic.  I may also include some before and after cleaning tips on occasion too.

My main focus of this year is having a Positive Mental Attitude “PMA” and we all know that’s new!  I will be touching on some hard topics too but always looking forward keeping a “PMA”.

I will be getting ideas from YouTube, Instagram and other bloggers, feel free to let me know what you’d like me to write about too.

catch you later

cmx