Ten Different Ways to Get more organised

When it comes to organisation I have to really drone in on my habits and I am avoiding my bedroom at the moment because of the heat wave I have gone through a lot of clothes, but I know in myself I will tidy them up but not just yet. 

Having Several Accounts Doesn't Work For me

Since watching many different videos on money, some saying you should have seven accounts or 4 to 5. To me that was too much and when I followed that I ended up in huge debt. 

                              

I have now two accounts and one is for money saved for holidays and my main account. I like it like that. 

Having my balance showing in my Wallet it is so easy to keep track of what I am spending and balance and like tomorrow I have cash ready and I will take a certain amount in cash and if I can use it I do and has been a good strategy. 

I can't handle so many accounts. Two is enough and my son has an account but that is for him for when he is older and credit cards are venom to me and glad I no longer have one. I would like to have my own home one day but now I am happy with my current situation. 

So my focus is to save for the Summer Holidays and for weekly expenses, like food shopping, coffees, even though most days I make my own, but love writing in a coffee shop at least once a week and I like to mooch but I can restrain myself and just like to be outdoors. 

I'm glad I no longer have an Overdraft and I am glad that I have unsubscribed from some companies and keeping what I know I am going to use and has value. I like the fact I have Journal APP, free fitness APPs and notes and TV APPs which are free and I am selective when it comes to APPs as they use up storage and if I have point cards for the coffee shops and supermarkets I use. 

I was thinking about it, because I am in a steady place in my life and when I get the urge for shopping my enthusiasm tends to go and feel good when I don't spend. Life is not all about Materialistic things. I feel once you love what you have that is the biggest incentive in not spending and having control of the spending bug. 

So have two accounts if you feel the same and having a daily check on your money. I am going to each day check my balance and set myself saving goals and I each week do a Buy List and this helps see where I have to spend money, like food, toiletries and cleaning products. The main things we buy and that I have money should something else come up, example: School uniform and go through my sons clothes, if we need toilet roll, sponges for washing up and laundry detergent. 

I have done some videos about Hoarding on my Youtube channel if you'd like to check them out and please follow me on X too: 

https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner

https://x.com/typical86285

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

 

Being Resistant To Doing Tasks

As soon as resistance steps in I get up and do that task. Example watering my sons plant. However going out today I felt resistant in buying another notebook. This is where resistance can be a good thing. It depends on the outcome. I know if I water my son's plant will keep it alive and grow.

One of the Places I like to walk in Epsomn

Buying another notebook will cost money and when I have plenty already and not gathering dust and once these are used then buy another notebook. It is good to journal. I journal every day and filmed my two favourite things on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMmlsGjUCFY 

Resistant's is the mind saying "Be Careful" and can trigger anxiety and anxiousness. Thinking of the things I shouldn't do that I know will make me feel good, compared to what the consequences will be when I know I don't need another notebook and be tempted. I think of God testing Eve. Do I eat a poisoned apple or do something that won't lead to a good outcome. I write a lot but a blank piece of paper can still have the same benefits and yes I love a good pretty notebook but I have ones still unused and my one goal for me is to reduce waste and not keep adding more to landfill.

Also I have made my own and want to test these out and then sell my own. 

Walking for example is free, wakes me up and helps me feel peace in my mind and so can do this everyday, whereby spending money all the time it can make me feel sick at times because I know I don't need to spend money to be happy. Journaling has really good benefits but if someone asks what you'd like for your birthday then ask for a new notepad or when your on holiday save to buy a journal whilst away as to me now it has to have meaning. 

I find excuses as to why I need spend and then afterwards feel regret what I have purchased yet when I have cleaned the house and seen a result of a cleaner desk give me pride in having a shiny clean desk and cost me nothing. Cleaning products that actually clean is worth it, buying a cleaning device that was intended to clean sitting in the cupboard no purpose, when I have clothes and sponges do the same its just a fancy gadget that is a gimmick and not helped but add to more items I don't need. 

I wonder if you identify? Please fill in the comments box below if you do. It costs you nothing in doing so just would like to read other peoples stories. 

So manage your resistance as it can be a burden but it can also be useful in doing positive habits and stop negative habits. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

I've got 4 pints of 4 pints milk

What to do if you have a high stack of food? Donate to friends and family or a too a local food bank?

This includes fruit and vegetables soups, stews and even curries. 

Made myself a Pimms and great for using up fruit and yes I ate the fruit once finished and so getting my Vitamins with a favourite drink of the Summer. 

I now going to have some scrambled egg on toast and use up the milk and my son drinks a lot of milk so not too bad and its good to have enough. My step dad would cook extra for lunches and to give to a elderly lady and call a friend to come over to have a meal with you if they're in need of company. 

If you have the crusts of bread why not make a bread a butter pudding and I am going to make a hot chocolate later or tomorrow with hot milk and so it has its uses over stocking and can help with being inventive and have fun when cooking to see what you can make.

If it is fruit and milk you can make smoothies or lollies as long as you have a freezer and ice cubes and with yogurts too and with meat can be frozen and having a good back up of food is good as then your not going over what to have and I like to trying different drinks and food. I like my cold coffee so I have ordered cans by Nescafe and see what they are like. 

I love a cold coffee this time of year and hot coffee in the winter and not going buy anymore coffee as I have sachets to use and a bag of coffee for my Cafeteria and love a milky coffee and so got some ideas of what I can have now I have a overstocked on milk and my son will be pleased. I did give my mum and step dad a four pint. 

My husband loves tuna and so these are good to have in the cupboard as great for sandwiches and dinners. I am not keen on Tuna but my husband does and we have plenty of peanut butter which we mainly have for breakfast and like to have fruit and use some of it for drinks. At the weekend I saw we had a bottle of Pimms still in the cupboard so made myself a Pimms and Lemonade and used strawberries, a quarter of a orange, cucumber and mint, with ice and not something I drink all the time but love one now and again and so refreshing. The only downside is that when buying oranges I couldn't just buy one which one is all I needed but going to have a quarter that we have left of one and is better than juice and great for cakes like spiced ginger cakes, with a dash of cinnamon and very good for the #autumn but still, I like an orange and having a lemon and lime for drinks. 

So not feeling too bad of having a lot of milk but will hopefully be good to have enough for us now so I only need to pick up one for the rest of the week and means I can do a morning walk to get some and learn for my next shop.  

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Summer Organisation things I do during the school holidays

So we have had half term here in the UK. The final one until the Summer Holidays and it can be tricky when it comes to organisation and so I have some tips that may help you.

Day trips: Plan ahead if you can and do a list a week before if not earlier and remember to pack a first aid kit, money should you decide to buy drinks and food where you are going and remember skin protection. So hats, goggles for swimming, sun cream, change of clothes depending how far you are  heading and open up the car to cool it down before getting in. If it possible see if you can park in the shade. Pack antihistamine and bite cream and if going in water, arm bands and floats and shoes the beach. 

#washing clothes: Do it in cycles and what do you want to take on holiday. I like to mix and match. I do where trainers with socks and pack plenty of underwear and that my son has clothes that can be for the day and evening. Have the washed clothes near the suitcase ready and I like buying packs of vest tops. I wear these all year round and so versatile. Check out my: https://carriesversatilefashion.com/ I will bring shorts. What I mainly where in the summer along with a pair of good walking sandals and trainers that can be washed and a couple of jackets for the evening. |Light jackets. I take my Denim Jackets. You can buy a bar of washing for clothes soap or take some washing tablets and find out what the accommodation has on site. I like to air dry my clothes and so make sure there is a place I can hang once washed. Soak the swimwear to get rid of the chlorine and salt from the sea. 

Guides: Get an idea of where the beaches or seaside is from where you are staying, unless you are holidaying in a city. There may be parks and lakes. So find out before booking, does it have a swimming pool, a restaurant on site and what the night entertainment they have. Can I do exercise? Are there good walks. Are there areas you should stay away from and when hiring a car find out what it is going to be as when we travelled in one of the Greek Islands with my mum and her friend, had this old banger and it was dreadful. I like to see how far it is from the town, I like self catering, so will check to see if there is transport available, supermarket, pharmacy and I love a tourist shop. I don't drive and often my husband doesn't like to always drive on holiday and check if there is parking and how much it is to park. I speak to people who to find if anyone has been there that I know that could give good tips of where to go and the Travel Information in the place you are visiting. Can you buy a guide? Also currency. How much is the exchange rate and the prices to eat out if you don't do self catering? 

Medication and toiletries: I take medication and it is a while since travelling abroad but have it in your luggage and in a clear bag and only take what you need. I like to take a first aid kid but no scissors or anything that is sharp as they will confiscate it, but things like bite cream, wet wipes, sanitizer and plasters for example and you can get travel size toiletries. Boots do a huge range, but find out from the hotel if you can of what will be provided in the accommodation. 

So I hope you find this blog helpful and it is back to school this week for my son and so making the most of the weekend. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Use One Place For Multiple Uses

I have read Atomic Habits. It talks about using one area for one habit, like using the dining table just to do work on my laptop, but I love to use the couch sometimes and when peeling potatoes love having my laptop set up whilst I prep my daily meal.

When it is summer time I like to use the garden to play sports, working on content, journaling and writing a book so I find that it is good to mix it up a bit.

It is good to have a desk and tend to use this as my son loves to use the dining table to watch his tablet, play a board game or his Tipping Point machine as he got back to playing with that, after a break of playing with his trains and buses and airplanes. 

I believe a Living room is to live in and we have a dartboard and often my husband and son will play and my husband and I will work out there too and my husband has a treadmill and so is used and it is good to have a room that is fun and functional too. 

A home to me is a nest, personal to you. I love having a place to read and that be in bed, on the sofa and out in the garden and my son loves to do a bit of DIY in the garden and paint something. 

He painted my bedroom shelves for me and the living room is where he will get dressed for school and where we eat and watch TV. I want to get Henry a TV for his bedroom and he has a desk in his room but he's not used this yet, but wanted it because it his personal space and if he would like to eventually have time in his room rather than the living room then he can. 

It is good to have a room that has personality and should be put together depending on your lifestyle and one of my friends loves to read in the bath, I like to listen to music or an audio book if I am having a bath and that the space can be for relaxing too and not just four walls but is liveable. 

I find having a space where you can be a safe haven. I was fearful at one point of my home but now I love my home and does for now until I can afford a place of my own and that it is personal to me and my bedroom is full of books, my toiletries and clothes. I love my bedroom and it suits me.  

So do you use one place for Multiple purposes or do you like to use difference spaces for one purpose?

You can leave a comment below. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Giving yourself more time

How many of us rush only to find that we have forgotten our keys or you didn't have time for a coffee and you've missed the train or bus and now you are making up time. It can get to the point which you wished you hadn't got up or want to turn back the clock and start again. 

Neither are possible but doesn't mean that this continues. Start by doing one change. This can be take a coffee with you from home. Look where you put things. I make sure my bag is in the living room where I know I will pick it up and my coat in the hallway near the front door. 

The same with shoes and I love slip on trainers because they do save up time or sliders. 

I like to concentrate firstly on waking up and my son turns off my alarm. If I don't let him then it can lead to a tantrum and then he goes back to bed and waits for the second alarm for him and I don't do anything else once my son is up as I like to focus on getting my son ready for school. His uniform is laid out and so it is so he can get himself dressed and so I can focus on with filling up his water bottle and put it in his bag. I have create a travel kit bag for him, of wipes, Sun Cream, pocket tissues. Once he is off to school then I will either pop out or start writing a blog, work on a book and so just focus on one thing. 

Today I went out as I wanted a book from a Charity shop in Wimbledon and picked up some shopping and wrote in my journal and drafting the sequel to my new Book out When Mothers Are Real. 

I will batch some tasks. Today it was catching up on my weekly finances that I have missed and gone through my weekly expenses and caught up. I no longer going to use a spreadsheet because my laptop is no longer working and so using my husbands and lost many files and so writing it down. 

The issues with technology makes you go back to old school planning and keeping track of my money and using google docs for my books as not sure if they can be retrieved and it has made me still write things down and I know these won't suddenly crash.

I have an excuse to have a notebook rather than relaying on an online planner all the time. 

So save yourself time by making one change to your day or week and  eases stress and no longer forgetting what you need and have time for a coffee and never miss the bus, train or stuck in traffic again. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X