Still off-sick from work (return next Wednesday) so today is the day that we have to turn Aladdin's Cave aka a de-clutterer's heaven into a show home. We have our house on the market and following a Christmas lull we are hoping for some viewings this weekend. The estate agent has recommended reducing the price by £10,000 and is putting the house in the local press today. We are currently surrounded by boxes from Approved Foods, sewing and knitting projects, stuff ready to sell, and the general clutter of everyday living.  I have been clearing out with a vengeance, but you know how it is..... I got carried away and there are now several mountains of stuff to sort!  Mr Thrifty and I have decided that we have to clear this today in anticipation of some viewings over the weekend. If we sell, we can downsize and reduce our considerable mortgage, as well as making space for new projects (more of that later). I would much rather be crafting, but needs must. I have done my menus for the week, made a minimal shopping list and audited the fridge, freezer and cupboards - all positive! Action ...... I do wish motivation came in a bottle.

Enjoy your day x

Later...

Oh dear, oh dear..... spent all day cleaning and only did the kitchen - but I did empty all the cupboards including the larder and then reorganised them all. Seemed to take forever and have just sat down with Mr Thrifty and a cup of cocoa.

Update on the clutter clear-out... I have to find 20 things to take to the charity shop tomorrow or sell or I don't reach my 500 item target. My daughter used to say that she had to be very careful when I wandered around the house muttering "use it or lose it" because she knew that it was clear-out season.

Number 2 called to say that he had just passed 3 of his chartered accountancy exams and was chuffed to bits as he had found them hard. He only has a couple more left before he is completely qualified and he and lovely girlfriend are now house hunting. Perhaps I should just find 20 more things for their collection......

Another day

The crochet project has come to a standstill. Without the book I carried on and a quick measurement against the cafetiere alerted me to the fact that I had overshot the runway - ah well. Will wait until the weekend to retrieve book and continue WITH pattern! Might have to start another project though as I am enjoying it so much. Have to say I am very pleased with first efforts.... now to tackle more complex stitches!

Been reading some inspirational blogs around the subjects of crafting and being frugal - there are some amazing people out there - links on my page if you would like to discover for yourself.

Managed to find 15 items of boys clothing for charity yesterday, so 20 items needed by Friday to meet 500 target. Doctor had signed me off until nest Wednesday, so have time to sort! £212 of monthly food budget of £240 spent so far, so next week will be a mega-frugal week. That said, we have substantial supplies from Approved Foods and much of this will last well into next month. Shared last shop with Sister, who is self-confessed shopaholic and gently introducing her to thrifty ways. Not sure if I can tackle her Chanel budget, but you never know. She thought that pinafore for Pumpkin could match Boden, so I was somewhat delighted with my first review.

Going to have a birthday wish list for things I mustn't purchase and first is this lovely book I saw on my site trawling expedition at 5am this morning (early I know, but the menopause and associated wild fluctuations in temperature are not conducive to good sleep).





Sue, from http://ournewlifeinthecountry.blogspot.com/ (a lovely blog) has put a link on her site for a super meal planner. What a great idea thought I. All helps in the frugal war. Meals for next week planned and shopping list (frugal) made!

Busy, busy, busy..

Mad day today. Zena has to be at the dog groomers by 9.30 (a 20 minute drive away) and then I have to go and buy dog food and pick up the crochet book I stupidly left at sister's yesterday. Doctors appointment this afternoon and if health complications have abated, will be back at school tomorrow. Going to try and find 35 things to donate to charity this morning on way through to dog groomer, so I can reach my de-clutter target of 500 items for the week. Brought a box of boy's clothing out of the attic the other day, so I shall start there. Number 3 and Number 4 grew very rapidly leaving clothes behind them and are currently 6'6" and 6'7" - at a not so tiny 5'10" myself. I feel positively short beside them. Must have been a combination of extended breastfeeding and the gene pool. Number 1 (female) is 6' and Number 2 is 6'4½" - the same as Mr Thrifty. I am sure you can imagine that these bodies take some feeding - not like toddlers! Number 3, who is now at university for part of the year, is very slender and permanently hungry. All suggestions gratefully received. Although Mr Thrifty and I are vegetarian. the boys are not and Sister has promised to cook Number 3 a steak in the knowledge that I wouldn't know what to do with one (nor the inclination). He is positively drooling at the thought and apparently mother of lovely friend has offered the same..... he might look starving but I do promise he eats ... and eats... and eats!

Happy Birthday Mr Thrifty

Mr Thrifty's birthday today and Pumpkin has just telephoned to wish him a happy birthday. Apparently she wanted to do so at 4am and was persuaded that it was a little early. Birthday breakfast - splashed out on a box of croissants (£1) from Tescos. Last night's attempts at crochet had to be unravelled... will try again today. Found a lovely blog belonging to Lucy who makes simply staggeringly beautiful things ...... I shall keep dreaming. http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/

Sewing going well - completed 2 more pillowcases and 2 towels this morning with thread found on-line for 66p for 1000 yards. Thought it might break in machine, but no problems at all! Really pleased with that.


Thank you very much to beloved sister and mother of Pumpkin and Pie for a lovely birthday tea for Mr Thrifty. Photograph of Pumpkin wearing pinafore dress to follow - the poor darling has been very sick and is as white as a sheet, so she will be photographed by her mother when she is feeling better. Compared crochet notes with sister who already can crochet and was given the thumbs up. This is the 3rd attempt at a cafetiere warmer (unfinished) and I must say I am rather chuffed as it is only day 2 of newly acquired skill.

Onwards

Thank you to my new followers and a huge welcome to my little corner in an increasingly frugal world. I feel blessed to live somewhere so beautiful and this is the view I am greeted with in the morning.


 The other day there was a mist across the fields which looked quite mystical.







A rainbow greeted me on another occasion.

Charity drop off completed this morning... a car full. Refused to buy eggs yesterday in supermarket because they were £2.80 per dozen (free range). Spent a total of £15.65 for weekly needs, to supplement items bought from Approved Foods. Noticed eggs for £4 a tray of 30 in the local greengrocers so bought them there.

Started learning to crochet.... not terribly successful - my lines won't stay straight! Frustrated, but I will succeed.

Spending

Food budget on target.
Petrol lower than target.
Still spending unnecessarily.... eg. coffees out and it all adds up.

Saw this and thought "how true".

Sorted a large pile of the boys' old t-shirts ready to make a baby gown I found on another forum..  http://thismamamakesstuff.com/2008/08/tutorial-t-shirt-to-newborn-gown  -  it looks really different and definitely what the Duchess http://frugaldom.myfreeforum.org/sutra29320.php#29320 would call "sideways thinking". I just love that expression. I have always been somewhat eccentric, but I love the idea of thinking in a different way. Thank you Duchess - you made my day.

The clear-out is continuing ..

Week 2 begins:
No 2 and girlfriend's box: + 27 items
clothing to charity: 134 items
old videos to charity: 21
bric-a-brac to charity: 17 items
Sign Language videos to Deaf Centre: 12
Pairs of shoes/football boots to charity: 11
magazines to doctor's surgery: 18
books to charity: 8
spare coat hangers: 48
dvds to sell: 120 (I know!!!!!)
Ebay selling: bags - 4
keyboard - 1
keyboard stand - 1
clothes: 43 items

Total for week so far: 465 items (35 to go)... not bad for one day. This just indicates how much clutter I have; how many things we own that will probably not get used again. I have set myself a new challenge .. 5000 items by Easter. Given the state of our garage/sheds/attic and overflowing cupboards, I don't think this is an impossible goal, but we shall see.

Money spent today - NIL - hurrah!

Onwards...

End of the week and I was determined to make my target of 500 items out of my life forever. Yesterday's total of 469 left just 31 items to find, so I carried on with the clothes clear-out and found my 31 items; a couple more things for my sister and the rest for charity. There were a couple of the boys' t-shirts which were stained, so I stripped the buttons off and then cut them into squares for dusting. I know dusters only cost a few pence, but if I watch every penny the savings should mount and the debts decline!

Clutter audit: 500 items. Hurrah! I did it!


Can I match this next week? I wonder....

Started clearing the attic, so more stuff to get rid of there to start next week's tally. I am hoping that Number 3 will emerge from his bed before mid afternoon tomorrow and put some stuff on Ebay for me. We shall see. No crafting today but the clear-out seems a very important part of clearing space for new things to happen (not for new 'material' things to arrive I hasted to add).

We have kept the food shopping to £60 per week since the beginning of the year which feels like a very positive move in the right direction. Had to buy more milk today and also washing-up liquid, but that was it.  I have already written next week's menus so I am hoping we don't have to spend much; most items should be in the larder or freezer. When all three of my sons were at home we were spending around £150 per week. There are many people on the frugal forums I have been visiting who manage far better than £60 per week, so I am hoping that we can bring this down even further and I welcome all ideas and suggestions.