Friday 27 January 2012

Decluttering and saving money

Well, it's that time of year again when everyone is urged to declutter for the new year. I started before Xmas, sorting out old magazines and papers. In the new year I began going through all my folders with paper cuttings I'd collected over the last few years and took out any that I didn't want. It was a lot. Some of them I'd forgotten I'd had. I only kept what I thought I really needed. Then my mum began going through her photo albums and taking out ones she didn't want because they didn't mean a thing to her. So I started the same job. This is where I managed to save money. I went through most of my albums, a couple have photos of nothing but my two nephews as babies, and took out any that didn't mean a thing to me anymore, any that were duplicated and there were some. I kept a lot of holiday stuff, because it gave me an idea for a series of magical romance stories, different to the Geraldine ones. So, how did I save money? Well, as I went taking photos out, I moved them to the album before the one they were in. By the end of sorting out, I had two spare albums. So if I want to buy any more albums, I don't need to now as I already have two there. Money saved.

So, what have you decluttered, saving money at the same time? Let me know.

Thursday 19 January 2012

Losing weight

As many people are probably doing this time of year, I am trying to lose weight. I have got two inspirations to spur me on. The Biggest Loser TV programme and free Slimming World booklets that came with the paper the other week. I went on the S World website the other day to check my BMI and got a shock. It had gone up a few points and am in the 'at risk' section. As I have numerous health issues already, I don't want to add to them. So am taking this seriously. I am trying follow the S World Food Optimising plan were Free Foods are foods such as fruit and veg, and carbs as well as lean meat and poultry. I had been cutting out the dessert I used to have after dinner and have it for supper instead of crackers. It had been going well until this morning when I got stomach pains. So now I am changing tack as I think it's too much fruit and veg for me. Instead I will have crackers for supper not the tinned fruit and ice dessert I'd been having. We shall see what happens now. I had gone down half a pound from yesterday this morning. I have also been trying to measure my Oat milk so that I have their right amount, but if I want a piece of goat's cheese for lunch/dinner,like today, then I will have less milk. I still have my ryvitas for lunch but don't know if these count as healthy extras or syns. I am thinking of joining an online group but it costs money to do so, and don't know if I want to spend that money. I think if I do then I won't go to either a retreat or conference this year. We shall see. Will put my updates on here when they arrive.