A Good Sort Out!
I get to this time of year, with Christmas fast approaching and I always have a damn good sort out. I often also end up setting myself some unrealistic target of painting the kitchen or lounge before the day too, but have decided that I can do without that sort of relentless pressure!
So, throughout November I have set myself the challenge of going through cupboards and drawers, clothes and kitchen items and de cluttering.
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| It all ends up in here! Good job this is being re done in the building works! |
I am being ruthless.
A bag of 'junk' a day has to go. I have made an E. Bay pile, but am being realistic about what will sell and the rest is going to my nieces ( clothes, jewellery and make up) and charity. Tomorrow I am even going to head into the dark abyss that is better known as The Loft. If I don't return by nightfall, please send in a search party to get me out.
It is a fantastic feeling . I always think I am not a hoarder and am quite organised, but no, not so. You won't believe the stuff I have found!
Now there is an ulterior motive to all this madness apart from Christmas. We are launching into an extension to our house early next year and I intend on documenting some of this on my blog. It is a pretty major bit of work and we have been saving forever to do this. However, as with all projects, when is enough, enough? So we are tightening our belts to make sure we can spend the spare cash we have on this project and finish it to the standard we know it deserves. For those who know me , you know how long and how patiently I have waited for this and how many times we have postponed it's start so a little tightening our belts is no hardship I can tell you! I am going to end up with a fantastic new kitchen and living space.
Of course once you look afresh at your finances and how you spend, it becomes somewhat shocking how much can actually dribble through your fingers in a short space of time. These small expenses quickly add up and can be the thing that tips the balance between saving or not. So, in my mission to save a little (and my hatred of giving away unnecessarily our hard earned money) I am going to be documenting this part of my journey in some regular posts on a Friday. I am going to call these
Frugal Friday posts
Although I am not technically being totally frugal in our spending - just careful with how I do spend - these posts will contain tips and hints on how to cut back on your weekly outgoings and also how well (or badly ) I am doing. I often have set myself a" no spend" period of time like I did during my 30 x 30 challenge as I feel this helps diminish in me that desire and need to spend, spend, spend!
When you see how much after a week, a month, a year that you can save then it can become quite addictive! We have the attitude that we would rather be careful with our money where we can so we can spend it on the things we really want!
If it's not your thing, then thats fine too - avoid my Friday post!
What do you do when you need to rein things in and tighten your belt?
Great post Claire! I will be looking forward to your frugal Friday posts. I find I am good at managing bills and budgeting for clothes, but I waste a lot buying bits in the local grocery shop on a daily basis!I need to do one big supermarket run a week and make it last!
ReplyDelete~Anne xx
I think I am the same - it's the groceries that mount up for me - been costing more than anything else. I made a huge effort last week and I managed to half my grocery bill !!! x
DeleteMy family is also trying to tighten our belts. We have a lower level to our home which is unfinished and we keep thinking about how much more useable our entire home would be if we would just get it done.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we want to just spend on those things we enjoy....just like you said. For me its ballroom dance competition and for my husband its golf. It can be hard to get started on the 'belt tightening' but I think once its underway, it can be fun. Great post.
I do find it fun and a bit addictive ! It is scary though how much you can spend without realising it! X
DeleteGosh - I wish you such luck. I would be awful - I am awful. I look forward to the Friday posts though for helpful hints. We are only a one income family and need to watch the pennies too.
ReplyDeleteI just have in my mind the lovely new kitchen I will get at the end of it!! It's amazing how much you can cut back when you have a goal in sight!
DeleteLooking at the bank balance always gets things into sharp focus!
ReplyDeleteHi Jo ! It does indeed - and has, hence the cutbacks! X
DeleteI'm a complete hoarder Claire (you may have already guessed that!) - really need to do the de-cluttering before Christmas too - feel so much better when things are tidied and in place (not a regular occurance!) Looking forward to your Frugal Friday posts - I spend far too much on the grocery shop (and in Boots!)- could do with trying to save some pennies so that I can have some more singing lessons! x
ReplyDeleteNo - surely not Jenny!! Hee hee! I have areas where I dump stuff and then shut the door on it - not a good idea! My weak areas are also the grocery and Boots. Ive done much better this week at the food shopping though. Quite ashamed how lazy I'd got with it all :0 X You go with the singing lessons - sounds great! XX
DeleteGood Luck with it all.
ReplyDeleteI will need it!!!!
DeleteLooking forward to your Friday posts. I think most of us could do with a few lessons on how to be more frugal!
ReplyDeleteIve already managed to convince my family we can cut down on the excessive present buying at Christmas - phew! X
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