Hello and welcome! Please check out my No Spend update of my No Spend January Challenge.
It has really help go through my finances and not neglect them, and be logical and I did do a video similarly ago on my other Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mywayofliving1602
The video on this blog is on my main channel, Typical London Gal.
Here is a my latest No Spend January update
It has influenced me to plan my finances for the entire year which I have never done before, but I feel the sense of dread where I know bills are due, but worrying how they gonna get paid. I will do it again and I will be filming another update this week and if you did No Spend January how it went for you.
Hello and thank you for all your likes, it really helps me to build my content and do more to reach out to you and seeing your likes and following me, means the world, honestly it really makes me feel proud of my blogs and build my confidence in myself and want to help you do the same. Love yourself, and have belief, honestly if you can put your mind to it, you can do anything and I want to be part of your journey in doing so.
I really enjoyed the feedback about my Newsletter that I began last year, and will continue, so here is my new Newsletter for 2023 and hope you like it and helps kick start your adrenaline to be the person you want to be.
So I feel so blessed that you are liking my blogs and following me, it really means the world.
I am still continuing on with my Monthly challenge of No Spend January and so here is a video I did for my Main Youtube channel on how it is going. I talk about my money habits and things I have paid for whilst doing this challenge and only buying what I need, as this is the point, and being strict with myself.
Here is the video below:
It can be tempting, because I do like to have a coffee from a coffee shop, but this can add up and I have got access to a Coffee Machine and have two jars of instant coffee which is just good enough, and so I have been focusing making sure I top up my Oyster card, which I used to ride the bus and train, and that I have cash on my should I need to buy anything like personal care items.
I am starting to feel like I want to challenge myself for the year, but I know that will be super tough, so going to decide once I have reached at the end of the month.
I really hope you like this video and remember if you’d like to be kept up to date about blogs, then you can do so my following me.
So if you didn’t see my last blog then I am taking on a new challenge for January and that is no spend. This is from and idea I got from watching a Kate Kaden, and not because she is doing it, it’s because I do want to control myself when it comes to money and focusing what I need rather than what I want.
If you’d like to see more of my videos that I do each week then please subscribe on my channel as I love reaching out to you all.
Please check out first vide on Youtube here:
I really you enjoy watching and there will be more to come.
Yes it is 2023 and my first challenge for this year for January is going to be no spending. Now yes I have been out and bought a few bits today, but they were items I needed, and it is not buying items that aren’t a need, and avoid the impulse buying. Plus I do have a birthday coming up, but have already reserved money for this and planning what I will be using my money for, like travelling that I do each day to wait at my son’s home to come home from school, food and that is what I did today and want to buy items for lunches to be a bit more healthier and be vigilant with what I want to put into my body.
I am not going to buy anymore clothes and wear what I have got and not spending money on coffees at a coffee shop. Making a small changes make a huge difference and doing no spending days, that I did last year really help prepare me, and it helped me manage my habit of buying coffee from a coffee shop and use instant or from the coffee machine I have where I live. I will be vlogging it and so will do this as of tomorrow as I should be able to speak as I have had a stinking cold, and just want to get over the first day.
I have just written my financial target to pay off my debts and almost paid one off, just got to make another two payments and then that is then complete, and all I have to worry about is my credit card, and so plan to pay off £1200 by the end of this year, by paying £1200.00, which will take my debts to zero. I feel so good about that, because debts has had an effect on my wellbeing and mental health.
All challenges have to lead to a good result that make you feel good about life. Getting as much out of life as much as possible and feel good about yourself and give you a buzz, and stir you on for building your life every year. Making good positive changes. I want to start running again and do some fundraising events and do a fitness class that helps me to fight fatigue and to help me build up my energy levels, to feel fitter and reduce my sitting down time.
I am trying stop having my phone near by all of the time, as it does make me procrastinate and has made me feel more present. I think we get so sucked in when it comes to social media so monitoring my phone habits, when I have tasks to do, having my phone away from me has made a difference and getting jobs done.
I am not sure what I plan for February, but going to see how my no spending January goes first, and looking at the thing I want to invest in and was going to book an exercise class, but got a bit nervous about doing so and so going to concentrate on not spending money on clothes and see how much I can save for items I want, and what I need and would like it to continue in being logical when it comes to money.
I have put together a set of Pins which has some Life coaching advice and tools to help, check out my life coaching tools I have put together on my Pinterest that may help you set some challenges for yourself, and have already putting items ready for my Life coaching programme, “2023 Project” too, so you can whilst you are there checks these pins too.
So I said in my last newsletter that I would be putting up some days in a life and gift guides but I need to put my hands up “I am behind” and do this to myself a lot. I try to do some many things and so once again I rein myself in and think right what can I get done that will make less for tomorrow?
Since school half term which was two weeks ago it has been tricky to get bits for my blogs and videos been difficult but do what I can. I continue writing this blog on a Saturday night, and supposed to be my night off, but wanted to write this blog because I write a lot of blogs on having a better wellbeing, and show I am a real person and not always ahead of myself, as much as I try to be and because I know for my wellbeing I need to slow down.
I have been doing a course about mental health and it that is has taken a lot of my time, but wanted to do it to help me go to where I want to be and that is to help others with managing their mental health, but nearly completed and this week going to do all I can to get back to working on my book Mum&me and have more day in a life videos to publish as I love doing documenting my life and something I can look back on and if they really help just a few people then that is my goal and keep my energy levels high to keep on creating items for my blogs, books and videos.
I also been looking for outside work hence why I have been doing some courses, and be in healthcare or in a educational setting.
When I get behind it helps me to focus on focusing on one thing and having a cup of tea and a coffee in the morning really helps along with having something I can jot things down on, even when I go out, as ideas of content usually comes to me when outdoors along with listening to podcasts and music.
The other things I have started to do organize what I am going to wear each week on a Sunday and wear all of my clothes I have, I have started to go through my finances and manage my money again and have no spend days and use what I have got and not started other things until I have gotten a few the main things I need to get done completed first. To manage my life and you may feel the same is when I prioritize and like this week get my training course done and today now being Sunday finishing this blog and last night when I couldn’t sleep is create a filming schedule and what videos I want to film and upload.
Have patience with yourself and know that you will finish tasks and break it down. I did this last night and created a list of things I want to complete and where resetting really helps and so do this each Sunday, which is today finishing this blog and Monday’s and get back on track and continue growing my life, my blogs and my videos.
This was so enjoyable to do and I am glad many of you liked the posts I shared, and I did manage to sort some areas out like going through my emails and using any spare time to go through and unsubscribe from services I no longer need, but with half term and getting my next book finished it was a lot of work,but glad I was able to have a good sort through and lead me to new positive habits, like each Sunday I will plan what I want to wear in the week and getting the most out of my clothes. Clear my laptop and do have a printable to go up for the Autumn Reset, but been on a course and so couldn’t complete, but going to continue with it and upload, once ready and can still use it as I do a weekly reset, mainly on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays.
I want to do more projects and for Winter I am planning a Winter Wellness Project to give tips on Managing Your Life in the winter as I can often feel slumped because of the reduction of day light, and so this will be coming soon. I will say more next week.
It is all about looking at your mind, body and soul.
Making gradual steps is what works for me and will help me set up new goals for myself and getting ready for the festive season and going to do some gift guides, but minimising my spending and remember that is not able cost but being with family and creating happy memories, and I know we are all feeling worried because of the prices on things are increasing, but you don’t need to spend a fortune in celebrating Christmas and forget the worries for one day and have friends and family bring food over so it is a joint effort and enjoy the festive cheer, without having to organize on your own, and ease the anxiety on the cost of things and not have a Christmas.
Life is not all about money it is more to do with time. If you make a gift or make a card with scrap paper with nice message is still a thoughtful gift and use what items you have in your possession unused that someone else would like. Doing a reset helps to see what ways you can change things in your life, and giving gifts can be one of them. Do a reset on money, can really help reduce spending and now I keep note again and check my account throughout the week and seeing what I can reduce, to save and invest in my life, of items that really mean something to me, such as clothing I like to wear all through the year and not just for the colder or summer season, and on skincare because I like to try different products and like to treatment me to some gift sets that will last all year and will save my money on festive drinks I like to have, like Advocate and Lemonade, which is called a Snowball.
Have what you like but save for those special occasions and have a back up fund, for those days you need an extra bit of cash, and one thing you can do to do a reset is to set a financial plan to budget and save for those items we want each year and any amount you can save do it.
I have limited myself to not spend money on coffees out and use my instant coffee. I now have a discount card on travel because I travel a lot to look after my son when he returns home from school, and if you are on Universal credit you can get money off on travelling on buses and trams.
I have begun limiting my spending on clothes, and buy what I need. like I live in Leggins most of the time because of be active with walking a lot and playing sports with my son, and so I replace them but limit myself on pairs, but enough that I can work continuously and make sure they wash well, as some can lose their shape.
So I am not going to get ready for the week ahead, and will blog again in a few days.
It can be hard, but you know in order to make changes in life, there are things that need to be rid of, and if they just gathering dust and no longer make you feel good then it is time to give them to a new home, like clothes or books you are never going to read again.
This can cause anxiety because you need stuff in your life to feel fulfilled and that to me is fine, but if it makes you feel low and feels like an eye sore, then it is time to let it go. There may be items that have sentimental value but if they don’t fit anywhere, for me that is a sign that some items need replacing, and something else to replace it.
Example I used to collect T-Pots and had loads, but I moved into a new home with my husband back then and it was time to let them go. It was a hard decision but it felt right and had no more a place for me. It helped start a fresh chapter and time to focus on living and building myself as I was looking to a new job, so it was time. That need replaced my need t collect stuff.
As I have gotten older it has become easier and so this week concentrated on sorting my clothes out, and then going to work on paperwork. I find paperwork can build and build so it is time to have a sort through to have a clearer space and feel I need to get this done to allow other documents that have replaced other documents and go through what is a requirement and what is not.
I keep my writing because of fear of someone else writing the same thing and it is proof that I wrote it, and I hope noone would, with the internet you never know who could steal my work, so it is safety net of just in case. Also like to look back on my writing because how far it has come and go back on passed ideas that I may want to re-write.
I am a stuff girl and so I have to be disciplined and realistic. Do I have a place for it all? and no so going to keep going through what is still present in my life and what is not, to downsize and have more space.
Thank you for following me on my Autumn Reset journey and lets work together.
Hello it September 2022 and it has taken a few days to get over the events of the Queens passing as it was so amazing to see so many people paying their respects and when it comes to a loss of someone it can take a while to readjust and it was such a historic event that kids will be able to tell their kids one day of the last ten days.
Now it is time to get back to normality and so getting bits done and today I have really had to push myself as I am struggling with my energy levels and been gradually getting bits done but at a steady pace and that the key is “Not to stress over what I needs to be done”, and do it because you want to. It is a bad habit to fall into as when we rush we aren’t using our full potential. It can make us even more unmotivated, and make mistakes, so this morning I have been filming as filming in the mornings works better for me and I don’t always wear make up, but I want my videos to be about me and that is what it is, it’s showing parts of my life that may inspired others, but finding what works for them, using my methods of getting parts of your life sorted out.
I separate my time by doing some work in the mornings and in the evenings and it really is a system to manage what I need to do. Doing a Autumn Reset means Managing your life but for me it has to be “One area at a time”. I can’t do it for my sanity “All at once”. So for example this week I have been filming some videos that were due and wanted to get done, I have been going through my financial goals, then writing this blog post and will be working on my other blog sites and get my Autumn Reset Printable completed to post and work on this months newsletter and then work on my emails.
I have no posh system. I use my diary from TK Maxx, a notebook from the store The Works, One Note and Notion to manage my life. I use a teacher planner for my son Henry to help with managing his life to help keep track of dates and what he had for dinner, what he has been doing and just keeping track, to help him and me. It is have “A I can do it system” and now I have started to feel a live and so gonna use it to manage my life and listen to music, and “Be comfortable”.
Welcome to day four and I filmed a video today clearing out one of my storage bins that sits on my bedside set of draws near to my bedside table, and so if you’d like to watch this, then click here https://youtu.be/ZBpYIFOUSZM
I will film another video tomorrow to clear out another storage bin which is placed under my desk at the moment and then I going to sort out my small wardrobe I have and see what can stay and what can go.
Managing life when there are many areas to clear up is the process of turning a corner. It felt good to sort out that bin today because it is another area I don’t have to stress about, and that is the main point. If it causing you stress get it sorted out as the stress is just going to build up even more.
Get inspired by others. That is what happened to me today when watching a Youtube video of someone giving tips of sorting out the stuff they have, called the Sunday Stylist and just now watched another video by Clutterbug, which has now made me want to sort out my wardrobe and clothes. I hope these blogs inspire you. It really is worth it.
IT IS GOOD TO SPREAD THE WORD!
I am going to put together, like I did for my Life coaching programmes, a printable together with tips and ideas in sorting out your life. I do also have EBooks on Amazon that may interest you under the names of Carrie Challoner, Carrie Lee Holmes as I wanted to be original but then have stuck with my maiden name, Carrie Holmes as it is easier to remember.
It means going through your finances too, and do take notes of what I have spent each day is making a difference, and checking my bank account each day and and now being able to save again and be more vigilant. It so easy to spend money now when you just have to tap your card on a little machine and so really making sure I spend wisely and still looking for inspiration on looking after my finances still. I currently use a notebook which I use daily to write tasks down and for a lot of things, so would like a better system still. If you know of ideas then let me know.
I even had a Filofax to help me look after my money but this didn’t work for me at all. I will keep researching and need to update my budget which is one thing I do through out the year. I budget on everything, like buying clothes, food and yearly celebrations, such as birthdays and dare I say it, Christmas.
So lets keep on and see what else I can sorted out. I think I am going to do another chapter of my book I am working on and then a bit more motivation to help me continue for tomorrow., to get to grips of the areas that need to be dealt with and can get finished items done too.
