Daily takeaway and slobby lifestyle

[TheTakeawayDilemma]

I know I’m BU, I just need some serious help and I’ve name changed for this because I’m horrified at how big this issue has become.

DH and I started using a delivery app a lot over the first lockdown as it was easier than trying to get a food delivery slot. This escalated and even when we could get food shopping again, we continued to get takeaways. We now spend £30-60 a day on takeaways and even if we do promise ourselves we’ll be good (and get proper food shopping/delete all the delivery apps) it only lasts a couple of days. The stupid thing is, we can’t even afford to live like this. A lot of it goes on credit cards.

On top of this, our house has become unbearable. Laundry everywhere, boxes of stuff piled high everywhere, it’s just slowly becoming a hoarders paradise.

The issue is, I just don’t know how to correct this slobby path we have fallen down. We both have respectable jobs and work long hours, sometimes 6 days a week, and you’d never think we lived like slobs if you worked with us.

I cry every night just not knowing where to start making changes. We want children soon and there’s no way I could bring DCs into this kind of life.

Please help, I’m at my wits end

Do you work in finance or IT?

I get that you need to he work in order to prove yourself when you’re striving for a promotion. But it’s good that you can reevaluate now.

Kitchen cupboards. I are those plastic trays/bins you can get from b and m bargains or the range or such that you ca store specific things in. Keeps it much more organised.x

I like not I are. God my phone hates me.

Op your idea of putting the £10 onto your card is inspired.

You sound like you're doing an amazing job of turning things around, but you are working too hard - are you sure it's worth it? My FIL ate like you were and did no exercise, he got fatty liver and then cirrhosis of the liver which he eventually died of. I really think you need to put in boundaries - why are you even thinking about working Saturday? The hours you are doing are unsustainable and give a false view of what you can achieve in normal work hours. Why do you want the promotion if these are the expectations? When are you going to have an actual life? Please don't think any job is worth killing yourself for.

well done.
Once you start it's addictive. And having a tidy home makes such a difference to motivation to cook.

Well done OP x

Well OP - sounds like you're doing brilliantly. You'll feel so much better when things are under control at home.

I totally get the mentality of needing to work hard for your promotion, but your employer won't want someone who is completely burnt out working for them either, so I think it's good that you've taken back a little bit of time for yourself.

I also agree with PP who have said about getting a cleaner if you can afford it. Not only will it free up your time, but I find it makes me tidy up properly once a week so she can clean, and it motivates me to keep things clean and tidy after she's been too.

Oh that should say Well done OP, not just well!

Well done OP I'm taking some inspiration from this thread

Well done 👍

www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/peter-walsh/lose-the-clutter-lose-the-weight/9781623366674?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo1F6vMislUyZONJBwb1GdW2xP-EJXbv1CttQYs2ToTdJF78NSL5NlcaAuEyEALw_wcB

Have you seen this book? There's a thought that a cluttered home makes it harder to make good choices when it comes to diet.

@Thecurtainsofdestiny

www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/peter-walsh/lose-the-clutter-lose-the-weight/9781623366674?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo1F6vMislUyZONJBwb1GdW2xP-EJXbv1CttQYs2ToTdJF78NSL5NlcaAuEyEALw_wcB

Have you seen this book? There's a thought that a cluttered home makes it harder to make good choices when it comes to diet.

That’s really interesting, will take a look thank you!

I have spent all day in the kitchen today! Never realised how much crap I’d stored in here (could barely get a pan out of the cupboard) so four bin bags and two food bank bags later, kitchen is done.

I even bought some storage baskets, labels etc and now it’s looking like something from a Pinterest board in my cupboards.

Made a note of some of our favourite recipes we can make from the ingredients we have in and have stuck that on a cupboard door for evenings when we have time to cook but don’t know what.

And another £10 each in the pot today!

It’s actually quite addictive. I’m gutted I haven’t been able to start upstairs but that’s Sunday’s task - and at least I’ll have DH in tow too.

I love this post - well done op! Please keep letting us know how you get on - it’s inspired me to do something about our situation too!!

Wow, what an inspiration OP.

By the end of the weekend, it sounds like you will have made a real difference.

A couple more suggestions - make sure you take some breaks to do something nice to relax and appreciate the good weather we're expecting over the weekend, even if it's just sitting in the garden for an hour or two, listening to the birds, glass of wine and a chat, go for a walk, whatever.

Also, when you feel ready, tackle the credit cards. If they're charging interest, apply to transfer the balances to interest free deals. As long as you have a good credit rating, this should be doable. Have a look at:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/

Well done Op
I’ve only read your responses on here so not sure if anyone else has suggested this but sometimes I’ll spend a whole day batch cooking, making curries, bolognese, tomato sauce (to put in pasta sauces / pizzas etc), jerk chicken etc etc and put them in the freezer because a lot of the time when I come in from work I’m tired and can’t be arsed to cook but it’s so easy to pull something from the freezer and put it over pasta / rice / veg / whatever. I know what works and what doesn’t work know and so I know it’s all very delicious 😋

Also loving this post - well done! If you’re happy to keep updating i’d love to keep reading about how everything progresses.

You're an inspiration OP. Well done and keep it up

I knew you could do it

So great to hear of your hard work!!! Huzzah!

Nice one OP

Hello everyone!

I had to go back into work today but DH made us sandwiches in our sparkly kitchen last night so no takeaway lunches! He was particularly impressed with the new boxes and labelling system in the fridge as it just makes it so much easier to see what we have (thanks to Pinterest for the inspiration )

On Sunday, we are going to get some roast bits and tackle upstairs while everything is in the oven (I can’t remember the last time we cooked something like a roast)! It gives us a good ‘timer’ to get cracking too.

We can also eat on our dining table for the first time in over a year so that will be some nice time spent together too.

It really is amazing how many other things are seemingly falling into place with a bit of organisation.

I will update you on Sunday with how the upstairs goes!

Have a lovely weekend everyone

Fantastic updates 👍 bloody well done.

Great work!!!

Did you take before/after pics by any chance???

Ah OP that is just wonderful, what a turnaround! Well done! You should be so proud of yourself!

Once you start this sort of life changing tidying, it really does become addictive. It's great that you are looking forward to doing upstairs rather than dreading it.
The idea of Roast dinner timer is inspired.
Plus we love Roast leftovers for the next day so that's Monday's dinner sorted?