March was pretty good in terms of following through on my resolutions, or goals. Report card time:
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - We sold the house! All systems are go to exchange contracts on both properties on April 15. We haven't really done any more packing, but the storage unit is full and we are stuffed!! I think this counts as definitely accomplished for the month :)
2. Get a job. It really is time after 18 years to go back to earning some sort of income. This is a scary one. I have no idea how I and the rest of the family will cope - they have all got used to me being available whenever required. I did not have children or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last time I worked. A very large part of me does not want to go back to work. But a small part of me craves the idea of doing something else.
Report - The interview I mentioned last month was a success and I got the job. The pay is poor. It is a total shock to the system returning to work after 18 years. The first two weeks were pretty awful, readjusting and learning new things, but this week I am starting to feel that I am settling in, learning the new routines, and actually starting to enjoy myself. But gosh it is a time waster!!!
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - I have finished my February Beading Journal Project piece. It was photographed and blogged about separately. Very pleased with both it, and with finishing something!! And I finished a pair of socks for George which I think I have also written about. Plus I helped make knitted/crocheted flowers for the wedding bouquet for the wedding later in March!!
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 'Necessary' means underwear if my current collection falls apart; if I end up in a job where I can't wear jeans, some other covering for my bottom half may be necessary beyond the one pair of black trousers and one black skirt I own; and I am going to a family wedding in March that MAY necessitate a new outfit. I can make myself anything I like out of my vast stash of fabrics and patterns, however, and if this is the case, purchase of required notions will be permitted. I would make an outfit for the wedding but that is likely to be around the time we move, and I am packing up my stash as we speak.
Report - Ha Ha! Quite a few work clothes purchased, the new job requiring reasonably corporate clothing. But nothing frivolous or not usable for work. (Oh, and there were some shoes too, but ditto). I bought a dress for the wedding, despite really wanting to make something, but realising that I just wouldn't get round to it, and the dress is suitable for work as well. All in all, more money spent than I really should have done, but for a good reason.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - surprisingly successful. I bought the latest series that is out of Waking the Dead, and for the film, The Girl Who Played with Fire. Absolutely nothing else. Pleased with myself.
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - hey, guess what, did not buy ONE BOOK AT ALL. Again. But this time I am going to roll it over as I did not overspend on the DVD's nor did I buy privolous clothes.
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - two dress patterns when I thought I would still have time to make a dress for the wedding. They will get used, just not now. Quite a few small sundries because I have a collection of small projects on the go and they are all either being used or in a queue for immediate use.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - no craft shows, so I passed this one!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - I am pretty certain that I followed this one to the letter.
1. Accomplish all the necessary stuff involved in selling this house and moving into the one we are buying. This is the sort of resolution that, although not easy in itself, HAS to be followed through on.
Report - We sold the house! All systems are go to exchange contracts on both properties on April 15. We haven't really done any more packing, but the storage unit is full and we are stuffed!! I think this counts as definitely accomplished for the month :)
2. Get a job. It really is time after 18 years to go back to earning some sort of income. This is a scary one. I have no idea how I and the rest of the family will cope - they have all got used to me being available whenever required. I did not have children or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last time I worked. A very large part of me does not want to go back to work. But a small part of me craves the idea of doing something else.
Report - The interview I mentioned last month was a success and I got the job. The pay is poor. It is a total shock to the system returning to work after 18 years. The first two weeks were pretty awful, readjusting and learning new things, but this week I am starting to feel that I am settling in, learning the new routines, and actually starting to enjoy myself. But gosh it is a time waster!!!
3. Complete a project a month. Even if it is just a plain sock (pair of socks!) Preferably try out some new techniques or whatever, but at least one project a month.
Report - I have finished my February Beading Journal Project piece. It was photographed and blogged about separately. Very pleased with both it, and with finishing something!! And I finished a pair of socks for George which I think I have also written about. Plus I helped make knitted/crocheted flowers for the wedding bouquet for the wedding later in March!!
4. Stop spending money like water. With this in mind, this resolution is split into sections :
4.1 I will not buy any clothes or shoes unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. 'Necessary' means underwear if my current collection falls apart; if I end up in a job where I can't wear jeans, some other covering for my bottom half may be necessary beyond the one pair of black trousers and one black skirt I own; and I am going to a family wedding in March that MAY necessitate a new outfit. I can make myself anything I like out of my vast stash of fabrics and patterns, however, and if this is the case, purchase of required notions will be permitted. I would make an outfit for the wedding but that is likely to be around the time we move, and I am packing up my stash as we speak.
Report - Ha Ha! Quite a few work clothes purchased, the new job requiring reasonably corporate clothing. But nothing frivolous or not usable for work. (Oh, and there were some shoes too, but ditto). I bought a dress for the wedding, despite really wanting to make something, but realising that I just wouldn't get round to it, and the dress is suitable for work as well. All in all, more money spent than I really should have done, but for a good reason.
4.2 I buy far too many DVDs. I will restrict myself to the equivalent of one full-price film (i.e. one new release or something like those 3 for $30 specials you see around) and one TV series. I need to be VERY STRICT about this.
Report - surprisingly successful. I bought the latest series that is out of Waking the Dead, and for the film, The Girl Who Played with Fire. Absolutely nothing else. Pleased with myself.
4.3 Likewise with books. One full-price book or the equivalent per month.
Report - hey, guess what, did not buy ONE BOOK AT ALL. Again. But this time I am going to roll it over as I did not overspend on the DVD's nor did I buy privolous clothes.
4.4 Craft materials - only to be purchased if necessary to make a specific project immediately after purchase. Otherwise all craft material shopping is to be done from the stash.
Report - two dress patterns when I thought I would still have time to make a dress for the wedding. They will get used, just not now. Quite a few small sundries because I have a collection of small projects on the go and they are all either being used or in a queue for immediate use.
4.5 Exceptions to the rules will include craft shows, where I will take a fixed amount of cash and leave my credit cards at home. Nothing purchased under these circumstances will count towards the total!
Report - no craft shows, so I passed this one!
4.6 Items for any room in the new house, but especially the kitchen, will only be purchased if necessary, not just because they catch my eye. There will be some purchases, planned in advance.
Report - I am pretty certain that I followed this one to the letter.
4 comments:
It's a win, win, win, win, etc month for you in February. I am glad that you are getting used to being at work. In some ways, I was much more productive craft-wise when I was at work, I had to work fast and smart to fit craft in!!
Well done! A+ I reckon.
I think you deserve a medal, you seem to be adjusting so well...I was totally useless at work!!
You're an inspiration in the not spending too much category! We're trying to watch our pennies, too. Congrats on the job and accomplishing so many of your goals!
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