It's the "thoughts" that (don't) "count"!

"Yes, what was I thinking? maybe they were just "thoughts"

I returned home yesterday to find my fridge/freezer not working anymore. Those frozen breads gone all soft and the fridge not very cool. I was a little "stressed". I can remember under normal situation, I would be "thinking a lot" over this matter and not letting it rest (because I just can't!). Now, however, is an interesting time to challenge myself to be more of an expert facing situation like this.

Let's "rewind" what happen at that instant. Well, upon knowing my fridge/freezer not working, my first thought was, oh no, another headache, what a shame, it has been going on so well so far. By that, I can tell I am more of a perfectionist and this is doing me no good. I also thought about calling the agency to report the matter last night. Then the next thing come to the mind was, perhaps the owner would not want to support this, or replaced a new one if there was a real fault in it. Anyway, that was last night, I went to bed still a bit affected by the matter, but I kind of feel still manageable, perhaps it was all a bit like thought lingering about my head.

This morning obviously the problem still remains, but I got on my day. I do my usual smoothie, get my dinner prep ready and then I call the agency to report the matter. Still have the "fear" what if they refuse to help. I mean you cannot discount the possibility for that to happen. Anyway, call them to report in the first instance. The agency was a bit sympathetic about it and I also appeared understanding, given the bank holiday period over the next few days. Therefore, I cannot expect too soon the problem to be fixed. But I did say I would like to hear from them by today. I got on my day after that feeling quite "sane" as I seemed able to "let the matter rest" as best as possible. I had further thoughts about this, well perhaps it is only money matter, getting another fridge if the owner refuses to do so. I could even suggest that I would pay additional £10 per month in "compensating" the owner for buying a new fridge, even though I shouldn't since it was in the contract the fridge is in fair condition and it is stated that it was provided, so it should be, but out of goodwill I am happy to put additional £10 more for that. Honestly, even with additional £10, I am still getting an above average good deal for the rental I paid. The whole feeling about the fridge/freezer seems died away itself and the whole matter became less gloomy.

It's strange how sometimes feeling can change at different times of the day or perhaps in different places. I guess the attitude to the matter and the subsequent possible effects are the main reasons for the change. I guess I used to view similar incidents a bit like "coming to the end of the road" and it could have "hard hit" effects. However, that could be just a thought and not what it could materialize. I learned from this incident that, taking one at a time and remain settled could help. At times, the breathing exercise that I had been practicing helps. It enhanced the "calmness" in the mind, which is important to deal with similar events or even worst events.

Looking forward to good productivity

" . Time waits for no man, but time waits for me..."

This is still the Easter holiday period for the University, and it also coincides with the National Easter holiday, so the University is closed and I was happy to stay at home for good Friday, the weekend and the bank holiday Monday. I had laid down few tasks last Thursday before retiring back at home, but yet to do any. This is actually a good thing. I probably mentioned before, but I was not very good at relaxing. However, I made some progress this time and I was happy about it. I took the baby steps. Time waits for no man, but time waits for me. Outrageous as it sounded, but it's true, and I am patient. Always wanted to feel all ready and prepared, and then I moved my next step. I know I am not that adventurous or spontaneous, but I am enjoying every minute of it.

Reflecting upon the last few days of "tasks". I can say I have decided upon the allocation of saving and how much to put in which saving accounts. I still need to think a bit about the MP AVC schemes from prudential. And today I found another alternative for my saving, i.e., the NS&I Premium bonds. This one is a prize draw. You won't earn any interest, but every month, you get to be picked as the lucky winner to win between £25 and £100000, and they are tax free. Perhaps I may put some in there to try my luck.

Today I also met up with my friend, AH in Nottingham for lunch. I gave him a treat this time, as AH was made redundant recently, but was determined to set up a simple business in his local market place based in "Long Eaton". We had a great time in this Chinese Restaurant, May Sum. It even serves chocolate fountain, and we had a fun time trying out different things with the chocolate, including Marsh Mellow. We went for a walk after that, and it was an eye opener, as I didn't quite know Nottingham. We walked around the busy shopping area and I then had an idea how the various streets were joined together. It now appeared it is a lot easier to get from one place to another than I originally thought. We even passed by the  City of Caves in Nottingham, which was really cool. I didn't know this exists at all, as the only thing legendary about Nottingham is Robin Hood.

Anyway I was quite full after the buffet lunch and fell asleep on the way back in the bus, and still felt full during dinner time and decided that I would just have some fruits.  As I began to think of my tasks for tomorrow, including the discussion of exam papers with WF, and some of the stuff I have to do for lecture notes preparation, I felt I will be able to do them at ease. I supposed  I have had "enough" when I "relaxed" since I was "focus", so the same should apply to the work as it is a "flow" that float around from one segment to another. I am really looking forward to see how this is going to have an impact on productivity, be it work or leisure :

Buying what you need or what you like?

"..this is hard, especially facing attractive bargains!"

I had never been this relaxed. I have been enjoying myself over the past few days. Finding myself on top of things and able to focus on doing light hearted stuff in an organized way, and not letting too much work stuff get in the way, which is unlike me, but it's a good thing. I am relaxing and I am also focused. At least I had tried and I achieved an acceptable level of mindset. So, today I carried on with my list of unfinished tasks following from yesterday. Well, now I am looking at bargains.

I collected quite a number of shopping vouchers of a few high street stores, amounting to more than £100. Among these vouchers I have, Tesco has the most creative way of appealing to the customer. You can actually exchange for 2 times the amount of vouchers you have on hand. For example, a £5 vouchers might qualify you to purchase something worth £10. I thought it's really brilliant. Obviously, Tesco restricts on the type of goods you can buy and also there is a deadline for doing so. I have about £15 worth of vouchers from Tesco and find that it might be worthwhile to get a new mobile phone. I have used my current one for about 4 years now, I think. I didn't feel I want a smart phone, but don't mind a new one with a QWERTY keypad, and also have some Internet usage. I found one known as T-mobile Unity Black, which I like, but found that I can only use £10 of my vouchers, instead of the total £15 I have. This means that I need to pay another £19 in top of that to pay for the price of £39.07. Then I remember I have some gift card worth about £20, but then didn't feel I want to use them, since the gift card has no expiry, and I can wait for more interesting offers later on.

I was struggling today because my vouchers have an expiry date and they must be spent within the next one year or so. Then I tried to look for other alternative T-mobile phones. I didn't find very many that suit my needs. At the end of it, I seriously asked myself do I really need another mobile phone afterall? Honestly, the current one is usable and what I really need is for my phone to be unlocked, so I can use SIM card if I visit Singapore next time. After some quick soul searching, I decided that I maybe will spend my vouchers on footwear. For example, sandal that I can wear in the flat or a watch, since my current one is not working anymore. I can go on without a watch, since the mobile phone has a timer too. Therefore I can wait, the watch is an option. Finally, I decided that I will go to Tesco tomorrow and look around for potential valued bargains and see how I would like to spend my vouchers.

If you like shopping, you probably confused what you like with what you need sometimes. However, if you like a bargain, just like me, it will be even more confusing, if you know what I meant. Well, let's just make sure we manage out finances well and not let it go out of hand too often, especially when facing bargains.

Marginal Tasking

".... If it concerns personal finances, take one step at a time, step by step and marginally, never go one step too far. Be ready and then you go, but plan early.."

It's the Easter weekend and this year there are two long weekends because Prince William is getting married next Friday. So, for most people, there are two weeks that you only work for about 2 days per week. It should not make any difference because this is also the University's Easter Holiday anyway. So, I made use of the relatively freer time to do some unfinished tasks I set to do. This is in line with what I considered to be the time that I "felt settled down". Since I got my double bed mattress, something I meant to get it sorted quite a while ago, I have been looking down the my list for others that need to get organized. This includes my personal finances. I have been looking at them closely, asking questions like, which bank account should I know allocate my saving to? what proportion of it? Should I consider a regular saving too? What about the MP AVC from prudential? should I consider that first before sorting out my saving plan?

I found these tasks increasingly become a chore the slower you get them sorted. You have to get them sorted as soon as you can, if not, you end up procrastinating them. I recently found a way to overcome that. I defined that as "Marginal tasking". This is a very simple method. What it requires of you is that, you need not sort things out all at once, give it a thought each time and do it bit by bit, and remember to follow up and eventually you will complete them. Today this is actually what I did. I plan this carefully, especially if this concerns your personal finance. For example, today I was not sure about what proportion of my saving should I put in a 3% online saver, should I put all or should I put lesser. I then find that what concerns me is the MP AVC scheme from Prudential. This is because I am not sure how much I want to put in that scheme. As MP AVC allows me to deduct my monthly contribution every month before tax, this affect your post tax disposable. However, I am also not sure about my financial commitment and urgency, etc, so if I put some amount in a 3% online easy access saver, and some in a fixed one year account, it may not be as sensible as it seems. Therefore, I am still thinking about this. I do feel like putting all 100% of my saving in the 3% online saver though. I feel "more secured" that way, though the interest will be lower than the fixed rate account.

I also planned to invest some in a regular saver. This will come out from the monthly post tax income, where the amount is dependent upon the amount I invest in the MP AVC scheme, which I guess I can decide a little later.At the end of my tasking for the day on this personal finances matter, I stated that my next task following on will be to read up the information about the MP AVC Scheme and what investment options they provide, and then sent email to the rep and ask for contact details if I am interested. I guess I really should not make decision too fast too soon, should be one step at a time, and the more the idea of "marginal tasking" rule applies. These are the things I spent part of my day thinking about. Saving in this case is a long term plan that has an effect on the final pension. I would rather be conservative and stable than being risky and taking one step too far. Sticking to the rule of living by the amount you get and be happy about it. I guess I can live with that, as long as it is stable and not too uncertain.

My double bed orthopaedic mattress

".... I am perhaps quite used to simple living, to the extent the meaning of "living standard" does not actually mean anything."

My double bed mattress arrived. This is really a "Big step" for me. I have moved to Loughborough for more than a year now, and have been sleeping on a thin but soft mattress. I was too lazy to get stuff sorted around the flat. One former colleagues told me it took her about one year to get settled down when she moved from Australia to Aberdeen. I guess for me, this felt like a time that I can consider myself "settled".

I did think for a while before I bought anything "bulky", just in case if I moved to another flat, be it rental or ownership of a new flat, I don't want to have too many baggage. Now I am more convinced that I probably will stay here for a while before I move again, so I go ahead to make some "bulky" purchases. Actually this should not matter. We can always ask mover company to help with the transport. However, I seem able to tolerate living with less. I am perhaps quite used to simple living, to the extent the meaning of "living standard" does not actually mean anything.

I had a chat with a good friend KA the other day. Like me, KA loves a bargain, but he understands the "quality" of life better than I do, and he knows when not to compromise on prices and when one should really just go for a bargain. He often shares with me what sort of stuff he considered as good quality and often proud to share with me his successful hunt. I really "seriously considered" the quality before I bought the double bed mattress. Now, I went for a double bed orthopaedic mattress. I did have a strange obsession to go for the bottom of the price for anything I buy. I need to remind myself time and again, I can live " a little better" and I still won't bankrupt. Perhaps that was a habit I picked up when I was little.

However, I didn't let this obsession affect me this time. For this orthopaedic mattress I bought, I could have just gone down to the bottom list of the price and get the cheapest, but I didn't. After some thoughts, I consider the quality and pay a bit more, and still a good bargain given it cost £99, compared to some on tescodirect for example, which could be as high as £120. This double bed mattress took up lesser spaces than I thought. It gives new opportunities to rearrange my room, and made me love it even more. I even tided up the little corner that I placed my baby laptop and bring in a huge stand-alone lamp from the living room and put it next to my mattress, so that I can read with the light on before I slept sometimes, without having to get up later and switch the lights off whenever I want to sleep. In any case, I felt "whole" again, as if I had cleared some of my "clutters".away.

There are a few things I should really get it sorted out, including personal finances and my pension. Purchasing this double bed mattress took one item off my list, and now I am looking down the list to clear some more......