Irritated

I started my cross stitch over the weekend, it was lovely to be stitching again, but I did not get the results I wanted. I started using almost all the correct colours, I decided I would prefer a lighter blue and went with a matching shade, as you can see in my top photo it does not work for this design. So I started again, this time on the edge of the bigger design, Lilly was very interested in my work and I did not pay attention to the pattern and the top darker orange section is one stitch out, unpicking happening and with these tiny stitches it's not easy.  

 I love The Pickles as does hubby, we often show unseen cartoons to each other, I did chuckle at this one. The start is repeating what Billy Connolly always said. 

Another author I enjoy, occasionally she writes a book I don't enjoy, this title is on my good list. I like the way opinions change as the narrative grows, views changed through out the story, is Grace good or bad, or is there more to her than that. Book 20 read this year.

A new author to me, I don't normally read spy books, this is set in London, the story is mainly focused on one night, I enjoyed the plot, quite simple, I think it was her first book, I will look for the second title with the same spy. Book 21 read this year.

I got an email from tax office this week, asking me to check my account, I am already mindful of tax issues, last November I had 50% removed from my very small private pension, checking with the company pension department they confirmed it was tax issue, since then I have paid tax each month, my private pension amount is just under £70 per month. On checking my account I will now have to pay tax, the tax takes away most of the increase given earlier this year.

I have no issue with paying tax, but to tax anyone on their state pension is wrong, there are loads of people who are just managing, the prediction is if we have a triple lock next year, the basic amount paid will be over the taxable start limit, they are sticking to the previous governments plan to hold the taxable point until 2028, it is now really low figure, which catches anyone on such a low income. Hubby has paid tax on every pension he collects, which is OK, not everyone had the luxury to be able to save private pensions, so many women (like me), took years off to ensure their children had proper care, and are left with low or no private pensions, once again we have done what we were asked, saved and now we are being punished. I understand the country has gone to the dogs, everything everywhere is underfunded and suffering, there are benefits to help low income, but so many pensioners are too proud to apply. Is it me, should our government help keep more money in the pockets of people and reduce the welfare budgets, it's costly to take taxes and then issue welfare to those same people. 

January round up

Expensive start to the new year, to keep under £1000, I have on average only £83 per month, so I'm well and truly over spent this month. £42.99 of the wool spend was on my loom and shuttles, which is an one off purchase. So in January I've already blown my budget, mainly on wool, but I have enough to make myself a couple warm items, and loads of socks. Or maybe  I should admit to having a yarn stash problem.  I got a good deal on crafting card, the 3rd pack free, plus £10 off.
On checking last year, I notice I didn't purchase yarn, sewing and card making every month, and I spent nothing on gardening in December, infact I spent only a small amount on fabric in December, so whilst my spending to over this month, I expect to have months where my spending is under.
One of my yarn purchase, I had a voucher from my sister, so the amount added to the list was just the extra I paid for.  I did not add my new loom to this list.

I purchased no clothes or shoes, did not expect to, never visited the sales, my Christmas crackers and room scent has been added to Christmas, and some reduced battery coloured lights plus a couple of books 2nd hand from Amazon.

I have been thinking regarding recording my yarn spend, this year I have loads for making warm clothes for me. So this year, I will record on my stash spend all yarn purchased, but once it is made into a garment I can wear, I will add the cost to my clothes list and remove the cost from the yarn list. I will not do this for socks, as I purchase the yarn for the pretty colours and the joy of knitting, rather than the need for socks.

We counted our saving jars, just for interest, we saved £222 in two pound coins, plus £60 Christmas money, so we have booked 3 nights away in Liverpool in March, it's a city on my list to visit. In our bottle we had £62.70, this is all other coins except one pound coins which we do not save, this we have put back, the jar is only half full, so we will empty once it is full. Saving takes longer as we do not shop as much, so we don't always have loads of small change.

We were still using Co-op vouchers for our shopping, they lasted 3 weeks, we did one shop from Lidl for a fridge restock, we still have loads in cupboards and freezers.

It was interesting to see on the news, how the scientist believe we should eat, including factors such as environment, health, and the need for a balanced diet, they suggest small amount of red meat once a week, chicken and fish each twice a week and two days plant, which is almost to our diet, we often have lamb instead of beef, but it's the pattern we try to follow. This year we are looking to reduce the amount of meat we serve,  our portions have always been a problem.

We were good and managed not to waste any food after Christmas, we did eat some strange meals, but no waste, which we were pleased with, but we have to stop purchasing so much in just for Christmas, which is always ate in January.

I'm not recording any steps, my fitbit broke and I'm not replacing it, I know how much I need to walk each day, January started poor, but we are now walking through the park when we can.

On a totally different topic, I have decided to give up chocolate for February, hubby is joining me, I eat far too much chocolate, it will be hard, but it's only 4 weeks.

Sorted

From this

 to sorted

 Junk drawer

 Sorted

For me January is the sort out and planning month, planning is very easy, I make list, I love a list, at work I was always know as queen of excel, if ever we had a meeting, it was always left to me to make a spreadsheet, play around with the figures showing the best and worse of our results, it was always a labour of love. So it's no surprise I still keep spreadsheets, thank you for your many comments regarding my targets, with years of working in sales I find a target keep my mind focus.
I also love a tidy home, and sorting the bottom big drawer with my stash of magazines in brought to the fore front, how much money I have spent on magazines, I threw loads away, I did offer them free on our local facebook page, but no takers. I don't throw much away these days, simply because I don't buy so much, which has been our driving force for a couple of years, we both love life without the clutter. Enjoying our savings with the unspent monies.
My mind is turning to cleaning the kitchen again, I did a huge clean beginning of last year, with the promise I would do it again in September, which did not happen, I am mainly talking the top of the kitchen cabinates, dirty but necessary job, on my list to do this month.
The builders from next door are making a mess of our shared drive, they are digging out foundations for a conservatory, and are going to pave the whole garden, they have already been erecting 6' wooden panel fences, which won't impact on our sitting area, it will be nice to have our garden private again, we don't mind in a few weeks they will be gone and the peace will return.
I had a fantastic afternoon with Josh and Sam on Friday, we went to Lee on the Solent, it was a cold sunny day, we spent some time in the amusement arcades, they had cake and ice cream, followed by a nice walk along the water edge. Perfect way to spend time with my eldest grandsons.

Targets in 2019

2018 total spend

I am aiming to reduce this spending, bringing it back to under £1000, I almost doubled my garden spend on the previous year, wool was a new addition to the list, but will stay. I spent nothing on cross stitch, I have a good stash of fabrics and silks, but sadly I am still not working on much. So gardening is my focus, I did a few different things, most of which failed, so this year my aim is to spend no more than £400, which was my spend in 2017.
I did last year start another list for Shoes, clothes, books and household, but I got lazy in the middle of the year and the everything other than clothes and shoes fell away.
I aim to allow myself £30 per month for clothes and shoes, I already know I won't need much this year, I am in the habit of not buying just because I see items. But it will be nice to have a small budget.
I was good with books at the start of the year and through the summer, but I did buy loads in the latter months of last year. I was really bad with garden magazines in the summer, I do have gardeners world on subscription, which will finish this year, I won't renew, I have kept all the magazines in the two years, so I can refer to them. But I was getting other gardening magazines, those with the free seeds, cost effective, but I didn't use the seeds, I gave them away.
I read 49 books last year, much less than in 2017, but loads of my time has been taken up with crochet and my ripple blanket.
I am going to add to a second list to my craft list page, showing clothes and books, by having a list it keeps it in my mind not to waste my money.
We are planning on a low spend January, we still have £50 in Co-op vouchers and full food cupboards and freezers, so this is an easy challenge, I do want to keep good stocks of food, just in case Brexit in March causes any issues.
We are not adding to our waste targets, we know where we are aiming for, it's just a case of being mindful.
On the truly plus side, I always weigh  myself on Jan 1st, this year I am 8lbs lighter than last year, and less than a pound heaver than Jan 2017, I am more than pleased with myself, no diet, just being sensible.

Clear values for this year, not many changes, just following our chosen path.

Round-up

Totally low spend for December, just some fabrics. 

My crafting has been more expensive this year, I have spent loads more on yarn, plus my gardening was much higher. I knew I was not going to be able to repeat the low spent from 2017. Being retired gives me loads more time for doing things I love. My aim this year is to reduce my gardening spend, and come in under £1000.

Other challenges....

Cutting back on spending this year has been interesting, I have not purchased any new footwear at all, I still have loads of lovely sandals, shoes and boots, I will be setting another goal for 2019. Clothes spend was £150.75 for the year. I was doing well, until the colder weather arrived and I got fed up with wearing jeans. I have not missed shopping for clothes, I have seen loads of lovely items, which I was happy to pass on. I still have wardrobes full of clothes and footwear, lot's of items in near new condition, so I am thinking of a budget for next year. I did consider £50 a month, £600 for the year, but that does seam high, I'm sure I could do a lower spend than that. I did purchase a new winter coat, which cost higher than the total amount I spent on clothes this year, my old coat was very tatty and did not keep me warm anymore. I was looking for a new jacket, but could not find one, so my red jacket has been dry cleaned, it's over 10 years old, but does not show signs of wear, so it will last another year.
I have had 3 pairs of boots re-heeled, giving them a complete new lease of life, each pair is looking almost new again.
We are still doing very well on waste, we do not waste any food, and are eating meat only 3 or 4 times a week, and almost no red meat, with fish twice a week and the other days being vegetarians. We are purchasing more frozen veg, which is a good way of ensuring nothing goes off. Making soup for lunches uses anything lurking in the bottom of the fridge.
Packaging is still an issue, at Christmas time, with everything packed for giving, but we are trying to chose items in cardboard rather than plastic, buying loose where we can.
For me it's a pleasing year, so many goals met, and changes to our lifestyle, neither of us notice these changes being any different, it's just our way of life.

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