Getting Rid of Stuff and Organising....again

Recently I've been getting that nagging feeling that I get when I feel like I just have too much stuff.  Stuff that I'm not using.  Stuff that's gotten disorganised and that is maybe making me feel a little bit stressed.  Admittedly I do use most of the things I own or at least have set plans for it in the future, but there are still a few things here and there that I could get rid of. 

There are quite a few books, but they're staying as I will be reading them in the future.  I just need to dedicate time to do so.  I'm also leaving our board games as we need to play them more before we can decide if we want to get rid of them or not.  And we tend to go in cycles when it comes to what we enjoy playing.  Although Exploding Kittens is always going to be a favourite game.

The camping gear is also all staying but clothes is an area that I can downsize in.  Either because it is an item I haven't worn in ages and am unlikely to in the future (like my thermal trousers), or items that are just not comfortable (like my sandals that I love the look of but just feel uncomfortable walking in), or that I genuinely don't fit in now that I've put on weight.  Unfortunately, the last items are clothes that I've made so rather than get rid of them I'm going to put those to one side so that I can alter them.  I'm also moving my winter things, like my thermals, out of the way so it's easier for me to use the rest of my wardrobe.

My stationary box was a quick one as we do use most of the stuff in there, but there were a few things that I was keeping just in case but never actually use so I've gotten rid of those.  My craft boxes also have a lot in them, but as I went through each one I realised that they were all items connected to projects I have planned.  Once I've completed those I'll go through the boxes again and get rid of anything that is surplus and no longer needed.

It's only a small declutter this time, not like some of my previous ones.  However, for some reason, even this little clearing out has made me feel so much better.  As I read more books and work through more projects everything will naturally get smaller as well, especially as I've put no buys on these two areas as I work through what I have.  Maybe I'll get to the point where I don't feel the need to declutter anymore.  Admittedly that does seem pretty unlikely.

Crafting 2024: Update 1#

As I expected at the start of this year, I haven't completed many crafting projects so far this year.  This is partly because I've put aside a lot less time for crafting, but also partly because of my depression which that I wasn't really in the mood to do anything at all.  I have, however, managed to get a few things done over these last few months and I'm still happy to just let myself slowly work through the projects without putting any pressure on myself to do them at a certain time.  That being said, I have completed one project and have been working through another.

The Maggie Jumper

This jumper did take quite a long time to complete, not because the pattern was particularly complicated but because the stitching was so small that each row took a while to complete.  However, it is now finished just in time for.......some very hot weather that doesn't need a jumper.  I do love it though and it's very soft so I will be wearing it as soon as the opportunity arises.  

Quilling Christmas cards

I started this off really well, making about two cards a week, but then it fell to the wayside and I haven't made any more progress since.  I have still made twelve though, which is about a quarter of the total number I need to make before Christmas.  They are very beautiful and I got the kit off Etsy from the shop TillyViktor.  I would definitely recommend this shop for quilling things, especially if you're just starting out.

My plan next is to make a top using the Grogu fabric.  I have a style in mind, but I haven't been able to find a pattern I like so it's going to be more of a 'winging it' type of project.  After that, I'm going to work on the Field of Fucks cross-stitch, and I'll still be making Christmas cards alongside both of these projects.  So I haven't quite got through as many projects as I have done in the previous years, but crafting for me is all about doing something I enjoy and I'm fine with the idea of not getting as much done this year.  Maybe I'll speed up in the next half of the year, or maybe I'll only get four projects done, and that'll be fine too.

What is left on my list:

• Sew the Field of Fucks cross-stitch
• Crochet a crop top with leftover yarn
• Re-knit the Icelandic jumper in a larger size
• Knit matching mittens to my hat
• Sew a left-over fabric top
• Sew the Welcome to Erebort cross-stitch
• Sew a Grogu fabric top
• Sew the cropped trousers
• Crochet a long-sleeved top
• Sew the cut embroidered dress
• Sew an apron
• Knit the Underwing mitts
• Knit another vintage cardigan in simpler yarn
• Start crocheting a leftover yarn blanket
• Start sewing a leftover fabric quilt

Goals 2024: Update #1

Whenever I get ready to write my goal updates I always hope that there will be positives to write about, and this year did start off well but then depression snuck in in February.  And then it lingered.....and lingered.......and lingered some more.  I tried to deal with it whilst carrying on with everyday life and working towards my goals, but it was getting worse and, in the end, I decided to just stop.  So I stopped doing my budgets for a while, and I stopped trying to practice new skills, and crafting, and trying to eat healthy, and I even stopped doing as much housework.  I just let myself be.  Am I 100% better?  Not a bit.  Do I feel less overwhelmed?  A little.  At least enough to start doing some things again and to start looking at my goals for 2024.  

Financial Freedom.

• Saving another third of our four-month emergency fund - this has been one of the big positives so far this year as we're already very close to completing this goal already.  Even though we have been spending more than we should, we've still managed to keep all our bills and spending down enough that we've been able to put a good part of our monthly wages into our savings.  We might actually complete this long-term goal before the end of the year.  Which makes me want to give us both big gold stars.  
• Sinking funds - at the beginning of the year we concentrated mostly on putting money into our Christmas sinking fund and we've now got a fully funded Christmas fund.  As it looks like we'll be reaching our emergency fund goal much earlier than we had expected we'll be able to start putting money into our holiday sinking fund this year as well.  We still haven't quite decided where we're going, other than it'll be somewhere on the African continent.
• 12.5% of earnings towards my pension - I did change jobs at the beginning of March and with that job comes the company pension scheme.  I'm just waiting for my details to come through and then I can change my payment amount to fit the 12.5% that I want for this year.  The good thing about this job is that they will match pay into your pension up to 10% and I intend to make full use of this.
• Secondary income - this has gone completely on the back-burner for now, but hopefully, I'll be in the right mindset to think about it again soon.
• Changing my bank account - still to do, but again I'll come back to this at another time.

Learning New Skills.

• Skateboarding - I have given this a few tries and I do feel more comfortable than I did before.  However, I'm still nervous about hurting myself so maybe I just need to bite the bullet and buy all the protective gear.  Then I can just get on with it.  I haven't done much of this recently though as I've just been letting myself sit instead of trying to do things. 
• Surfing - I had started the process of looking into hiring surfboards for us to practice with, but that fell to the wayside when the depression came along.  But we both enjoy this so it's definitely time to get back to it again.
• Drawing - this was one of the first things to go when I started feeling low.  I don't mind though, as I had already managed to fit some practicing in and that gave me a bit of an idea as to where my skill level is.  I will bring this back, but as an 'every now and then' thing instead of a 'must do regularly' thing.
• Flute playing - I did get quite a few practices in for this and it did feel good, though I'm not sure how far I'll be able to go without having a teacher guide me along.  As with everything else, I stopped for a bit, but I will start it up again.  I'll see if I want to carry it on once the year is out, but for now, it's been enjoyable when I do play it.
• Reading - this one hasn't really gone to plan, but it'll be easy enough for me to pick it back up again.  I just need to make the decision to.
• Learning another language - funnily enough, I haven't even looked at this.  Future George decision I think.  For now, I'm just going to concentrate on getting back to where I was at the start of the year.  This can wait a little.

And that's it.  Depression has meant that it hasn't been quite the success I was hoping for, but then it hasn't been a complete disaster either.  Especially when it comes to our financials, which we have managed to do pretty well.  We are already a third of the way into the second quarter, but hopefully, I'll be able to pick things up for the next couple of months, though I'm not going to push too hard just yet.  I'm going to take it slow. After all, I have plenty of time this year to achieve what I want.  No need to try and get it all done now.