The 'I'm less money-idiot more money-savvy' Diary

TheMagician

Stop worrying about things you can't control and start focusing on the things you can - that's what I see in your last post.
I like the segregation - home, kids, work... It's easier to cope that way rather than feeling overwhelmed because everything is falling apart - it isn't.

So you cannot change the end of year for kids and the dissertation. That's what I would focus on right now.

Work - just do the minimum that you need to still do your job well but do not run yourself to the ground. Sounds wrong but you need to look after yourself and in 4 weeks once your studies are done you can again focus on work.
Cleaning - go for the help. Don't even think twice about it. You have to do what will make your soul feel good and a clean home and garden will.
Diet - please read the Harcombe - it's your answer. You'll never have to worry about your weight again. Your daughter will follow your example. But again, leave this until after dissertation.

Whatever you do, do not feel guilty. Attaching negative feeling to something that's supposed to help you out is of no use to you at all.

Good luck x

judi24

Thanks The Magician - your response is very helpful - I will definitely look at the book you suggest (after the dissertation of course!)
Work over the next 4 weeks will need to just tick over as you say - I have several days off (a mix of study leave and holidays) to get my dissertation done so will be in and out of work like a yoyo! I also have a conference in 2 weeks which will be good even though it will be a bit of a stress at home with childcare etc (planning military style will be required!)


We today we had a lovely day - we took the dog and went to a place called Aber Falls in North Wales. It was an amazing day! Took a picnic. What a lovely walk (took abut 3 hours but that included kids playing in the water for an hour!) It meant no house work, shopping, gardening or dissertation got done!!! But it was great and just what we needed!


We passed some gorgeous little cottages so I have now decided if I can't retire to France I might look for a little cottage in Wales! (shame its not next week though!)


DD3 goes to school residential tomorrow - she is so exited! I will miss her but it is lovely to see her growing up!


There is a real lack of food in the house! Tomorrow I will go to al*I when DS is at Cadets and going to try to keep costs to under the £78 this week so hopefully can keep the food shop to under £40 leaving enough forDS bus fares and dog and rabbit food as we are about to run out of both! (Dolly dog will not be impressed!)

Moneywhizz

With the amount of stuff you have going on just now, you should definitely go for the cleaning and garden tidy up. It will be well worth it to lessen your workload and make you feel more on top of things so that you can get on with things that only you can do. Will be money well spent.

Fizzy11

Really impressed with climb to Aber Falls that's some climb.

You will never get this time again leave the house & concentrate on dissertation then the kids. I know that's the wrong way round but you are doing all this for the kids & yourself & you've worked so hard to get to the stage of dissertation. Regardless of paying for a deep clean or not if you live in my world the house will be filthy again in months or a year depending on stuff so personally I would leave it. Garden I would pay for purely because it's uplifting to look at whereas a clean house will get dirty quite quickly.

If I were you I would even take my mind off the debt throttle & just get through these four weeks & extend your debt by four weeks. Do whatever you can to get the dissertation done.

Have you been to the hut at Llanfairfechan for a coffee? It's right on the beach overlooking Anglesey? Those cottages on that road down are gorgeous.

Most of all look after yourself.

judi24

Thanks Fizzy - Aber falls was lovey! I am trying to do at least one decent adventure that includes a good hike with the kids - it is far to easy to stay home then Monday comes and we have done nothing! I only have the kids 2 weekends in 4 so like to make the most of the time although its always a challenge to move them from screens!


Not been to the hut at Llanfairfechan but will add it to my list of places to visit!


Not planned the house clean or the garden tidy - main reasons are simple lack of organisation, the fact that I totally grudge paying for something I know I can do myself and I worked out my money and have managed to overspend over the last few months so really need to refocus! - I have been using my Tesco CC for weekly spends but not quite cleared it last month (tyres plus a few other expensive bits were added) - mission for the next few months is to get rid of the CC totally as it is clearly not working to use it at all!


I wondered how many people on here actually use cash - so withdraw the weekly budget and only use that - no bank cards etc? Not sure how practical it is bit was just thinking about how to stop the little spends on my card that soon add up over the month!




Now only 3 weeks until my dissertation is due - I am around 3/4 of the way through the first draft - but need not to be too complacent as still lots to do! - I am a last minute girl and really wanted to try to be slightly less pushed for time on this but its so hard changing the way you work after 20 plus years of study!


Off to a conference tomorrow until Friday night- work in the morning though so all a bit frantic! I have written lists for everyone so at least everyone knows where they need to be and when - just need them to not kill each other now!

sick_of_being_in_debt

Hi Judi
Good luck with finishing the dissertation, studying while working full time is really difficult but you will feel such as sense of achievement when its all done and handed in. You are doing so well paying off you debts and with budgeting and I love keeping updated with your diary:D.

judi24

Hi Sick of Being in Debt - welcome to the fun!


Not a lot to report MSE wise - spent a little on taxi's and train fares at the conference but can claim it back. Took part in a Dragon Boat festival with the staff from work on Sunday - it was such a laugh and very MSE Just £1 for a coffee! We came last - but definitely worth it for the team building experience!


Tonight was a practice for the Big Catwalk - again for work - its in a few weeks and its a record attempt for the most people down a cat walk! Now I am not standard model material but who cares!!!! All for a good cause!


Dissertation is slow going and really getting me down - but it will get done!!!


I think I need to review my finances this month - and maybe pay a little less to my CC! I need my car serviced and MOT'd and I need to get the new drive sealed which is £200 I had not planned for!


The speed of debt payment is self inflicted and I could slow down without incurring any cost in interest - maybe this would be a more sensible approach than trying to go hammer and tongs every month! I just want it gone as soon as possible!


Today has been a down day on many fronts - not made much progress with dissertation despite being off! Just wanted to curl up and sleep! Feeing totally overwhelmed again! to the point my head was banging! Going to the cat walk rehearsal was the last thing I wanted to do - but so glad I did!!!


Had no coffee today (oh just occurred to me that might be the cause of my banging head!!!) as I am not sleeping again! So hopefully will sleep better tonight!


Just need to get through the next few weeks!

Bobarella

I think it's normal to want the quickest route through. I know I do. But I physically can't afford to pay more than I do most months so have to just be pleased for the progress I do make. We will all get there and when we do we won't ever go back because we know how the long slog feels. You are doing great Judi.:T

Butti

You need to keep grinding on Judi. Hard, not very exciting but a few weeks all in all. I found the last weeks on the dissertation hard going but ultimately worth it.

beanielou

Keep plodding