31 December 2017

A New Year, a New Diary

For a stationery addict like me just the thought of a brand new year sends shivers down my spine because a new year means a new diary.

A whole book, just waiting for me to fill in the blanks, map out plans for  the coming twelve months, set schedules and goals and stay organised.

I love my diary. It's nothing flash - I always use a school diary - they have enough space to write appointments and jot down notes, they are a week to a view, and have all the school and public holidays marked, as well as having space to note special projects, planning etc. But best of all they're sturdy and cheap, and fit neatly in my bag. So much better than any other diary I've tried over the years, and I've tried a few different brands and versions.

Last year I was given a beautiful planner, that has a removable cover, so the old planner has been slipped out and my new diary slipped in. It's pretty and makes me smile, and looks so much more grown-up than my little school diary. It has a nifty little slot for a pen (and yes, I have favourite pens too!) and pockets on the inside of the cover for important stuff like receipts that need to be filed.
One of my very favourite New Year's Eve traditions is shifting  information from my old diary to my new diary.

I mark in birthdays and other special events.

I add the work timetable for The Cheapskates Club.

I add my goals for the year (we have quite a few as a family, Wayne and I have some as a couple and I have some just for me).

I use the yearly planner section to keep track of important dates like birthdays, annual leave, special events etc. so I can see at a glance what's happening if I need to.

To keep it pretty, because I like pretty things, I use coloured markers and stickers to highlight different dates and important events.

Best of all, I use this diary. Every. Single. Day. Of. The. Year.  Because there's no point in taking the time on New Year's Eve to set up a lovely new diary/planner and not use it.

So do you get excited at the thought of a new diary?


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27 December 2017

The 2018 Boxing Day (non) Sales


Well,for the first time in I can't remember how many years, I haven't been near a shop since 8am Christmas Eve.

Now for a die-hard Boxing Day shopper, this is huge! I look forward to the Boxing Day sales from the 28th December every year. I save my mad money, my birthday and Christmas money, I shuffle the slush fund around so there is extra, the gift fund and the household funds get shuffled so that come Boxing Day I can get up as soon as the sun peeps over the horizon, dress in comfy clothes and shoes, eat a good, protein packed breakfast so I'll have the energy to battle other shoppers and then shop my list til everything is crossed off.

Well this year, starting as always in early December, I looked and looked and looked; in stores, online, in the junk mail to see if there was anything I/we needed, wanted, could use, would use, may use, could or would be a great gift so I could add those things to my Boxing Day shopping list and came up with nothing - nada - zilch!
My money is still in my purse, and it will be used on New Year's Day to buy the marked down groceries we will use.

The present box has birthday, Christmas, Mother's and Father's Day gifts until 2021, and upcoming engagement, wedding and 21st presents. The wrapping box is full to overflowing with paper, cards, ribbons, stickers, stamps and sticky tape. I've double checked the linen cupboard and towels, sheets, tea towels, hand towels, face washers, tablecloths, doyleys, are all in plentiful supply with new manchester ready to replace old. I definitely do not need any new dishes or glassware for the house. We don't even need any new camping gear.


I looked at the tech sales - nothing I need, and not really anything I want either, at least not enough to buy now.

I may have been tempted by shoes (I usually love the David Jones Boxing Day sale for my shoes) but I don't need them and I have shoes I've only worn a couple of times to get to still.
Hannah said I'm just being fussy and maybe I am but I don't like shopping, especially just for the sake of shopping and I am on a serious decluttering mission so bringing more "stuff" into the house isn't in the plan.

Buying things on sale is a great way to save money - duh! But if you're just shopping out of habit, and don't need or really want those things then that's a complete waste of money (and time and energy - shopping is hard work). 

And that applies all year round, not just for the Boxing Day sales.

Did you brave the Boxing Day sales yesterday? What bargains did you pick up? Did you shop with a plan or just randomly buy things you think you may use? Do you have a sale budget, especially for the Boxing Day sales?


01 December 2017