Generally, I’m pretty organized, I have to say.

However, being organized does not mean that everything runs smoothly all the time. 

Life is just not like that.

Take yesterday, for instance.  I dropped my wife off at her workplace and went about my morning business. 

Later on in the day, while at home, I did all the chores I needed to do (yes, I don’t leave it all to Shelley) and while in the kitchen I put a pot of fresh rhubarb on the cooker in preparation for dinner time. 

Then the phone went in the lounge.

After dealing with that call, which was to do with my car repairs, I phoned my son.  I had wanted to speak to him at some point during the day anyway, coincidentally, about a car purchase he was supposed to be doing with his girlfriend. 

The thought process led naturally from one call to doing the other.

I spoke with him for a few minutes.  

As I did so, I got a whiff of a peculair smell.  It was only slight but somewhat pungent.  A passing thought, “I wonder what that smell is?”. 

Then I went on with the conversation until the same thought came back a few moments later…

I hung up and raced to the kitchen.  But I was too late.  Bugger!  I turned the cooker off, moved the pan off the hot ring and then opened the kitchen door to let some fresh air in.

Don’t know if you’ve ever seen, or smelt, the result of burnt rhubarb?  I have to say it’s not pretty.

So, then I set about cleaning up the mess.   

Do you know what’s nice, though, about incidents like that?

They are timely reminders that, although we may aim to do our best and with the right intentions, we are just human.  We can be forgetful.  Accidents can happen. 

But you don’t have to make more of them than necessary.

I’ve been asked about the car repairs and whether it was worth the money? 

After all, it is a Proton and 12 years old.  The cost of repairs will not be far short of what the whole car is worth!

This might be the case.

But I know the car will be in good shape and, even though it is 12 years old, it’s very reliable and the engine’s still only done 80,000 miles.  It is clean and comfortable, the bodywork is pretty good and it does nearly 40mpg.  There’s potentially a lot of life still left in it.

Plus, it is paid for and so there are no monthly payments to contend with! 

As a result, I don’t need a new car.  For me, the one I have is just fine.

I suppose the answer, though, really depends on what’s important for you and whether or not your identity is linked to material things like your car or house.  Whether having to display these expensive items – so called status symbols – is necessary for your self esteem or to show how (supposedly) wealthy you are.

Do you feel you have to ‘look the part’? 

Why?

And, who told you that?

Maybe you’ve been misled and hoodwinked…

My car’s had it’s service and it turns out there are a couple of additional things needing done to it.  So, it’ll be back in the garage on Thursday.

Fortunately, it doesn’t need a lot.  However, the bill (including the service and fixing the window from last week) will come to £431.  Not an insubstantial figure! 

If you got a bill like that, which you weren’t expecting a couple of days ago, what would you do? 

Reach for the credit card?

Well, not me.

Because I don’t have one.  (I’ll save credit cards for another post later on)

Car repairs, as opposed to routine maintenance/servicing costs, are a good example of the type of situation that can crop up out of nowhere.  Like the washing machine breaking down or your television going on the blink.  And, isn’t it when you least expect it?  

This is where it is really good to have an ‘OOF’ Account.

A what?

An ‘OOF’ (Ordinary Occurrence Fund) Account.  This is for events or situations that do not happen every month.  Or at any specific time of year, for that matter.  But for which you have made an allowance in your budget each month (until the account is fully funded).

It’s like having an ’emergency fund’ but I don’t like to think in terms of emergencies.  For me, an emergency conjurs up an image of a crisis with some tension, distress and difficulty. 

Instead of unnecessarily dramatising the event (which the Ego loves to do) you could look at the situation instead, as it is:

“My car needs fixing.  And it’s going to cost!”. 

There’s really no emergency in that, is there?

And, having the benefit of an ‘OOF Account’ means that you don’t have to suffer unnecessary mental anguish, or stress yourself out, over how to pay the bill.

Now, how much you have lying in the fund is entirely up to you.  It might be as little as £100.  Although, I would suggest, anywhere between £500 and £1,000 is a fairly nice cushion to aim for.  Such an amount can certainly help you feel a little more comfortable and relaxed.   

Just reflect for a moment.

Isn’t that what you’d prefer, to be more comfortable and relaxed?

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Imagine the scene:

You’ve been doing regular overtime now, for a little while, coming in on one of your days off, to help your employer out (because you’re good like that and the extra pay comes in handy).

Today, when you arrive at work you are shocked to find that you’re not required.  The summer holidays have started and there isn’t enough work for you as well as the normal rostered employees.  So your manager says you can have the day off.

As it happens, it is a glorious summer’s day.  A good day to be alive.

How would you react? 

Would you be happy? 

You could now spend the day as you like…perhaps with your family or friends?

Or would you be angry, irritable and frustrated?

What stories and scenarios would your mind produce? “What a waste of time getting ready for and travelling to work”, “It’s not fair”, “I’ve a good mind to…” etc

This is an example where we can easily create unnecessary suffering for ourselves.  And, simply put, we suffer when we don’t get our own way.  When circumstances or people aren’t how we think they should be. 

Instead of getting caught up in unhelpful thinking, look at the situation you find yourself in (like the ‘no overtime today’ situation) and understand, ‘This is how it is’.  Practice saying to yourself, “This is how it is”.  Acceptance will help alleviate the suffering. 

For you to react and rebel, moan and complain, is a poor waste of your energy. 

Learn to relax.

Learn to be calm and peaceful. 

Learn to be grateful for ‘what is’. 

Maybe next week the overtime might be available.

Or maybe not.  Who knows?

For many in such circumstances, of ‘no overtime today’, the suffering is exacerbated by poor financial planning, where you need the overtime.  You forget that the overtime is just that…extra.  It should not be seen as guaranteed. 

In fact, in today’s workplace your whole job should not be seen as guaranteed.  So many changes are taking place in ‘The Economy’.  We don’t know what’s round the corner. 

Are you taking steps to make sure that ‘Your Economy’ is okay? 

If not.  Why not?

Because, it is this – ‘Your Personal Economy’ - that really matters.

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feel free to check it out)

I dropped my car off this morning for it’s service. 

The repair shop is about three miles from home and my intention was to catch a bus back. 

I had about a 15 minute walk to the bus stop.  When I got there I found I had another 20 minutes wait for my particular bus.

As it happens today is another glorious day with blue skies, some sunshine and a little breeze.  So, deciding not to hang around, I kept right on walking and got home in another 27 minutes. 

Result:

• I was home quicker than if I had waited for the bus
• I got some exercise
• I saved a little money 

All in all a pretty good deal, I’d say. 

We are all different, yet we are all the same. 

That is the beauty of being human and of being alive.

As I write this it is Friday afternoon and for many the end of their working week.  A sigh of relief is almost palpable.  So did the time pass quickly or slowly for you? 

Whatever.  I can (almost) guarantee the weekend will go quicker!

In this moment how do you feel?

I don’t presume to know your personal circumstances and, of course, your answer will depend on umpteen factors. 

But I do know that a substantial factor contributing to one’s overall enjoyment is in sharing your self with people close to you:  your wife/husband, partner or ’significant other’, family and friends.

How do you feel when you are near them?

How do you feel when you are apart?

We take so many things for granted, including those people close to us. 

Sometimes, it’s good to stop.  

And think.  

What if they (or you) were no longer here? 

One day that will be so.

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feel free to check it out)

Do you know the meaning of “Retired Debt”?

Maybe or maybe not.  Anyway, I’ll tell you. 

This is the usual definition:

“A debt is retired when it has been paid in full, or satisfied by some other means. ”

Okay, enough.  We don’t like too much technical…

So, consider this scenario:

A certain person I know, who is now a pensioner, has just finished paying off a small car loan. 

So that debt is now retired.  Okay?

The pensioner is happy the debt has gone.

The pensioner’s state pension will now stretch a little bit further. 

The pensioner, like most of the population, has had a number of personal loans over the course of their lifetime from the bank.

The bank was always there to help…and the loans were always paid back. 

The bank knows the pensioner is a pensioner, and has a limited income.

A few weeks after the last payment was made on the car loan the pensioner got a very nice letter from the bank.

The letter confirmed the pensioner had been a good customer.

The bank wanted to help the pensioner some more and was offering the facility of another new loan.  But this time the amount was twice the amount of the previous loan. 

What a kind bank…

Clearly, the bank has a different meaning for “Retired Debt”. 

The pensioner, becoming more wise, put the letter in the bin. 

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Do you like chocolate?

I do. Occasionally.

I’ve had some chocolate in the cupboard for a week or more now and yesterday evening I finally got round to making my favourite chocolate crispy cakes.

I can’t be doing with itsy-bitsy ones, so I make mine in muffin cases.  I know I can get nine from a 175g bar of chocolate.  I put the tray in the fridge overnight and went to bed.  

At 4am I had to go to the bathroom. 

Then, feeling thirsty, I went to get a drink of juice.  With my eyes wide awake I saw the crispy cakes.  Ooh!  

What a combination:  Temptation and Desire.

What would you have done? 

Well, choosing to act on the desire, I took one to have with the drink of juice…ate it mindfully and enjoyed doing so very much.

Then, after brushing my teeth, I went back to bed and slept.

Three hours later, while preparing breakfast, I went back into the fridge. 

This is what I saw: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Temptation was still there.

But no Desire…

As a matter of interest, does your fridge or snack cupboard have ‘night time visitors’ also?

Is it a regular thing?

Is it something done out of habit, maybe?

And, do you really enjoy doing it? 

Okay, enough of that…

So, did I feel guilty when I ate the crispy cake at 4am?

No.

Did I feel guilty when I saw the gap from the missing crispy cake?

No.

What about you?  

What do the voice(s) inside your head say?

And, more importantly, do you choose to listen?

I’m not very good when it comes to things mechanical. 

When I get in the car I only want to turn the ignition and drive. 

Well, this morning was one of those days when the weather was less than favourable, shall we say? There was heavy cloud cover.  It was grey, murky and very wet.   

And so, off I went to drop my wife, Shelley, at her work.  We’re fortunate that, usually, it’s only an easy 15 minute commute.  However, when the weather is bad I know it can take up to twice as long and so I always make an allowance.  I don’t like to be late and I never like to rush.  I prefer calm and peaceful.  No Stress. 

The drive turned out to be as expected.  Heavy, slow moving traffic all the way. 

About half way there I had the impression the rain was beginning to ease somewhat.  I wanted my door window open a little and, being electrically operated, gently pushed the switch.  I only wanted it open slightly but the window kept going until it was completely open…and it wasn’t for going back up.  I tried all the window switches.  The other windows moved, up as well as down.  But, no matter how much I played with the switch, my window wasn’t budging.  Looked like I was going to get wet!

What can you do in such circumstances?  Not a lot, really.  Sure, I could have cursed, moaned or complained that it wasn’t fair but it still wouldn’t have made the window go back up!  Instead, I kept driving to get Shelley to work.   

“What will you do now?” said Shelley.

“Drop you off and then sort it out” said I.

Less than one hour later my window was fixed.

As it happens, I ended up dealing with a new small business.  I have to say, though, I was highly impressed.  The owner was courteous, attentive, extremely helpful and he solved my problem quickly. 

Not only that, having found the cause of the stuck window, he fixed it by taking the switching unit to pieces, fiddling with it and then re-building it.  This was a lot more work for him than simply looking at the sealed unit and saying, “Oh, you know, we’ll have to get a whole new factory replacement one.  The computer board is faulty!” or something similar. 

How refreshing to find an honest mechanic! And also one that tries to genuinely ‘repair’ and re-use first. 

So what a good find for me!  

For Steve, the owner of the business, it was an opportunity for him to give first class customer service.This is an excellent form of advertising.  

Needless to say, I will recommend him to all my family and friends. 

And I was thinking of having the car serviced soon anyway so I’ve booked it in with him for next Monday.  Just have to wait and see now if he’s as frugal with his billing! 

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feel free to check it out)

          

        

  

Today was another ‘Car Boot’ day for me. 

I don’t know about you but I like it.  I always end up feeling a lot better afterwards.

I filled the boot of our car with a goodly amount of boxes.  I can’t remember exactly what was in the boxes because I’d filled them a little while ago, but I do know there was roughly £500 (original retail price) worth of stuff in there.  How do I know that? 

Easy.  Because when I was sorting and filling the boxes the internal calculator in my head was adding the things up!

Do you do the same when you’re de-cluttering?

Bet you do! 

Even though you may never use any of the stuff again, may not even like it now and really don’t have the room for it, when you remember how much you paid for it all then it’s not so easy to let go off. 

You may justify the initial purchases to yourself but, most likely, you’re looking at some major depreciation on those consumer items.   Remember, if you want to be a ‘consumer’ in our society you have to get used to it.  It’s how the system is designed.

So make it easy on yourself. Forget (or, at least, ignore) how much you paid.  It’s history and irrelevant.  Simply accept that the money was spent and get those boxes filled!  

So, how much did I make?  That’s what you say when you’ve done a ‘Car Boot’, isn’t it?

As it happens, nothing actually.

That’s because my ‘Car Booting’ only entails filling the boot up, driving for a little while and then emptying the boxes straight into the charity/thrift shop…

Yes, I know.  The idea of doing a conventional ‘Car Boot’ sale might be appealing, inasmuch as you could get back some of the money you wasted spent on the stuff.  But, for me, the time it would take and the thought of haggling with people over pennies is not my idea of fun.  It’s not how I want to spend my time.

Realistically, how many hours would I use up going to do a real ‘Car Boot’ sale and how much money would I get back in the end (minus the cost of the ‘pitch)?  

Plus, I’d have to get rid off everything at the time because, having gone through the de-clutter process once, I certainly don’t want to bring the same stuff back home again.  Anything that didn’t sell would end up being given away anyway.

So, no thanks! 

Don’t get me wrong.  If you’re one of those people (and there’s definitely a lot of you out there) that does enjoy the whole ‘Car Booting’ thing then great…but it gives me more pleasure (and who doesn’t want that feeling?) to hand the stuff over to the charity/thrift shop and let them make some money.

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feel free to check it out)