Building The Burrow!

Pearla*Merle

Weekend/start of the week lost to a migraine. Thankfully, I feel normal again now. :j Just in time for holibobs!

So this is just a quick update before I disappear off again for a bit. Had to buy emergency shoes (non-discounted - I won't lie, I wept), stupid really as of course I can't wear brand new shoes on holiday (read: they've already given me a blister). I somehow thought it would be fine as they're just the same shoes as I have already (they are darn good shoes, when not giving me the inaugural blisters), so oh well. I need them anyway really so at least it's sorted.. I guess. Really hope I don't get an email telling me about any sort of discount or offer any time soon.

Emergency haircut - I wasn't going to bother but then Mr M mentioned I'd probably end up being in some photos on holiday and my mind quickly changed. There were no appointments at the college but I found someone locally so it only cost me a little bit more than the college would have cost - plus she was lovely and has some contacts that may well prove useful in future. :T

Updated my budget/spending diary a little ahead of time so I'm all sorted and uptodate when I get back. Pots all looking ok despite the above spendiness.


:www:MFW Wonderment: 53p into the kittybank, £40 into savings, resisted a lot of temptation while going in and out of the shops yesterday.

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: cosy lamplight in the living room, winter evenings can sometimes take some beating. :T

:heartsmil Burrow Building: we finally moved the furniture in the living room, it looks much prettier and homely now. Finally it's all coming together :T Still need to building the dining room table though...

newgirly

If you do give the matched betting a go can you explain it to me properly pretty please

greent

newgirly wrote: »

If you do give the matched betting a go can you explain it to me properly pretty please

And me!!:D
(please!) xx

Pearla*Merle

Lol, I can but try - though by the looks of things, edinburgher is well on his way to becoming the expert in that field!

Pearla*Merle

Ok, so - oops. I didn't mean to be MIA this long! I came back from holiday and there was endless craziness going on. Some family bits, more friends visiting, and then utter nonsense occurring at work that still hasn't died down and rather wore me out. Ah well, I'll see what happens after New Year and go from there as far as that's concerned!

Just had to pop on though as it's been a year since starting this rambling! A whole year! Despite awolness, I'm impressed I've kept it going this long - go me! And there's been such a turnaround in where I am, especially with all sorts of money-related stuff. Must do an end of year review soon

I shall return anon to catch up properly. But a couple of snippets...

* Have been v. good with spending habits (including during holiday!)
* Made interesting discoveries re: future work possibilities. Lots to think about, but nice to have such things to ponder.
* Have bought loads of Christmas munchables from Aldi! So impressed with what we've got/general cheapness!


Urgh, feel like whole life has been work to roast while though - off now for a good long stint so I'm looking forward to being normal again. Got to tidy the house tomorrow though as visitors are about to descend!

Hope you're all doing well out there :wave: - I've really missed you all! Can't wait to find out what you've all been up to xx

gallygirl

Pearla*Merle wrote: »

* Have bought loads of Christmas munchables from Aldi! So impressed with what we've got/general cheapness!

I did a mahoosive shop there last and I agree :T. Plus no queuing at the tills (to the extent I let someone go in front of me :A). Need to go elsewhere to get some bits'n'pieces they didn't have (no shelled pistachio nuts or dried cranberries in Aldi - the country has gone to the dogs :eek:).

kansaskitty

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Pearla, looking forward to your end of year review! Glad to hear that despite things kicking off at work you are feeling positive about future possibilities.

Pearla*Merle

gallygirl wrote: »

I did a mahoosive shop there last and I agree :T. Plus no queuing at the tills (to the extent I let someone go in front of me :A). Need to go elsewhere to get some bits'n'pieces they didn't have (no shelled pistachio nuts or dried cranberries in Aldi - the country has gone to the dogs :eek:).

:rotfl:

Strangely, my Aldi had dried cranberries. I must be near one of those posh ones... :rotfl:

Pearla*Merle

kansaskitty wrote: »

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Pearla, looking forward to your end of year review! Glad to hear that despite things kicking off at work you are feeling positive about future possibilities.

Thank you KK! I hope you had a lovely Christmas & new year. I see a new arrival is imminent - many congratulations! :T


Right, once I can find my Bluetooth keyboard (laptop has decided to stop letting me type certain letters for reasons unknown & I can only tippy top so much on the Pad of I), I shall be back with that long overdue update.....

Pearla*Merle

Ah ha! Found it

I still need to do an end of the year review ponder, but maybe another time as I've got another migraine floating about which will no doubt lead to all sorts of delirium. But I'll see if I can get at least a general update going so I can get back into the swing of things here.

Didn't expect to disappear off again but Christmas ended up being busy and then New Year was actually rather awful - a close family member was taken ill and passed away very suddenly. It was all quite shocking, and still hard to really come to terms with considering how tragically it occurred. As if I needed another reason to get my health/finances/life in general shipshape, this really brought everything into stark relief.

So I've picked the pace back up on all fronts - diet is back on track with many vegetables being eaten (It's taken a lot of determination to think of food as fuel, rather than good feelings and that every vegetable consumed - especially as a snack - is taking me closer to my goal of being fit an healthy again). Yoga is helping with general peace of mind and calming my body down (I'm far too emotional for my own good), so I've been averaging around 20 minutes a day which is enough to do wonders. I want to try and clock in another 10 minutes in the morning if I can. I also have plans for more hardcore walking and exercise which will commence asap.

Monies have continued nciely, spending is back to their low levels and only going on needs rather than wants. I need to pay off some housey stuff that cropped up but hopefully that'll be all sorted in a couple of month at wich point it will be Full Steam Ahead on saving.

I can't remember if I went into detail on job-related things, but there are certain roles within the company I'm with that earn A Lot Of Cash, thought it comes with Shocking Work Life Balance. It's one of those things that's tempting to do for even a year or so, make a load of cash then get out. Hmmm. I don't think I'd make a move on it for at least a year or so, but it's nice to know it's there if I ever felt like giving it a whirl.

It looks like I can take a few more hours doing what I do now though, and it should be fairly easy going, so I'm going to trial that. It should mean at extra £300ish a month (not to be sniffed at), which actually might work out fine and dandy anyway (retaining Happy Work Life Balance). It'll take a little bit of time away from my own self employment plans BUT, not actually that much, and I've been rethinking and simplifying these anyway, so I'm getting quite excited about the year ahead now.

I've been on a Mister Money Mustache binge of late, I'm not sure why I hadn't read much before (maybe always coming across hardcore investing articles and not quite getting them?), but oh my word - the man actually thinks rather like I do. It's been quite a kick back into action (espesh where exercise/eating is concerned) and is probably the reason why I've been ponderating Crazy Job But Lots Of Cash option. Nice to have the thinking shaken up a bit really, you start to realise how many options there are out there (it's so easy to get stuck in a rut before you know it).

So I've continued with The Great Decluttering, working my way through layers of Nice Stuff But Is It My Heart's Desire? now, and I'm really feeling the benefit of making space, it's so much easier live in a smaller space now - room in the kitchen to cook more easily, no ill-fitting clothes taking up space in the wardrobe etc etc.

Good giref, this is a bit long! Time to end it there I think! Anyway - MWF/Financial Independence Ahoy, is what I'm trying to say.