Dot's Diary - MFW as part of simplifying my life!

Dot_Common

Gold star to me! And to Mr Common - he got the things he needed without much angst along the way!

Just about to plant up some strawberry plants.

Dot_Common

<creeps back in>

Ahem, it's been a little while (5 months!!) since I last posted on my diary, but I'm keen to get back on the wagon. I've had my head in the sand a little in the last few months over finances and the realities since leaving my job - have been struggling with anxiety issues (which was what triggered the resignation), and although things are a lot better, it's not been straightforward over the last few months. I've spent too much on kindle books, it's easy to feel like its not real money somehow - but have stopped that and joined the local library. Daft really, I used to take the kids and then not look for things for me.

I have picked up some freelance work in the last few months, and have an associate contract with a company to do bits and pieces for them as and when, so that has been good. I could do more to find more work, I'd taken it easy whilst the school holidays were on, but now need to crack on with revisiting contacts.

Budget has been replanned - the aim is to live on OHs basic income, then overpay / save any overtime he does and my income. We hadn't cut down our outgoings enough to balance our reduced income, and going on holiday in August meaning that OH earning next to nothing has also made things a bit tight, so we have spent some of our buffer money. Which is Not Good with both of us being self-employed.

I have finally got round to doing utility switching, now need to sort out mobile phones. I will switch my work one to PAYG, then need to change my personal one - but need to get onto the electoral roll before trying to get a new contract, so the forms are on their way to do that.

And I've just completed a four week rotating meal plan, no mean feat when I have a fussy three year old to deal with. And I was thinking through what leftovers there would be and how they could then get used. Pretty pleased with it - starts tomorrow!

Dot_Common

But I still haven't cleaned that grimy freezer!! :eek:

Dot_Common

Plan for the day -

- Mr C getting his hair cut and taking son 1 with him for a trim (they do it for a couple of quid if they're doing an adult too)
- bramble picking, before I cut the branches that are taking over our hedge
- Sort out the compost bin, add shredded paper
- cancel Which subscription
- put in an order with naked wines to use up my £50 voucher (got after I spent £50 at Lakeland)

Eggy bread for lunch, using up some bread, then lamb pittas and couscous salad for dinner.

Dot_Common

Brambles still there, I took a nap this afternoon instead - I am still getting over the tail end of a virus, in fairness. Mr C has mowed the lawn, so I need to get out there and mix in some shredded paper into the cuttings in the compost bin.

But Which is cancelled, along with a couple of auto-renews for some house magazines on my ipad. And antivirus software renewal for my computer, as I've found a well-reviewed free one. I've also checked through all my direct debits, and there's a couple I will cancel as not needed any more.

And good news :T - some friends that we passed on a load of baby stuff to (car seat, pushchair/pram) and some nice curtains we couldn't make use of in our new house have come back and insisted they give us some money for it all - £200 to add to the pot!

newgirly

Hi Dot , just spotted your diary and wanted to say hi. You are very brave to quite your job but with a bit more time comes more opportunity to save money, I have only just started to work again after being a sahm for many years. I hope to all goes well for you and I will try and keep up with your diary, best of luck

Dot_Common

Hi newgirly, thanks for dropping by - now I'm a few months on, despite the financial pressure it's created, I know that leaving my job was the right thing to do, my health was definitely suffering. I'm hoping that freelance will give me the right amount of balance, plus, as you say, time to save money. I definitely used to throw money at problems because I had no time or mental space to sort things properly.

Hope the return to work is going well for you x

edinburgher

Hi Dot

I'm enjoying reading my way through your diary and I'm just a little jealous that you were able to quit your job! I'm afflicted by anxiety fairly frequently (although not to the extent of it being debilitating, just feeling terrified)

What anti-virus did you go for? We use all free products at the moment, Avast! is very good if you have a reasonably modern computer.

Dot_Common

edinburgher wrote: »

What anti-virus did you go for? We use all free products at the moment, Avast! is very good if you have a reasonably modern computer.

Hi edinburgher! I went for AVG Free, though I saw good reviews for Avast! too. So I've now cancelled my Kaspersky subscription.

Anxiety is rotten, isn't it? I've been having some CBT sessions which have helped quite a lot. But yes, I'm lucky that we can just about manage on OHs income, though I'm keen to build up more work - just more on my terms!

Dot_Common

Yay! Quoting worked! :j:j