NST: May the odds be ever in your favour!

stewby

So... since I had a bad time at work the yesterday, I decided to re-look at Apple Muncher's mini-challenge.

1) Make a note of your passions, hobbies and new activities you would like to try.
To be honest, I don't have any. I am sadly very work orientated.
I play on the internet a lot (not games), go to a music festival once a year and try to campervan when we can which is not easy due to work.
My latest geek thing is cooking. I want to learn how to cook more from scratch. I also want to do more wild camping which is taking the bongo out into nature and just relaxing.


2) Imagine your life 5 years from now.
Well, in three years from now we will be married.
I hope that in five years time, we will have very little debt and be the proud parents of two young children. We hope to adopt as I don't like pregnancy (can't help it, it's one of those weird things) and we both like the idea of giving someone with a rough start in life a chance.
The only problem I see with it is that I want to be a stay at home mother. I hate the idea of missing milestones because of work. However, with our current situation, one wage just won't be enough.


3) Consider the following categories and write down where you are dissatisfied, or hate it, or it drives you mad. Then note down 2 realistic solutions and 2 fun alternatives.

a) Job/work:
all of the above. I have one of the most rewarding jobs I could imagine but it is so stressful and demoralising at times that I just want to give it all up and work in a supermarket. However, even just a small thank you or something makes it all worthwhile (not talking about money or anything just the words "thank you").

b) Money/wealth:
Incredibly frustrating. I can see our future but it is just out of reach. I want to do so much more with my life, but it's just not possible. Hopefully, by the time five years are up... it will be a different story.
I was hoping to have my credit card paid off and to have started saving for the wedding which adds to my agitation over money.

c) Home:
Home and family is amazing. I love my family to bits and they mean the world to me.
I bought my first house when I was 17 and this house when I was 21 so I am fiercely proud of where I am in relation to the property market. Had I waited until I was older, I wouldn't get on the property ladder here with my wages.

d) Health:
My anxiety bothers me a lot. I have this stupid rash that I think is stress related as it cleared up whilst I was in Rome (yet came back after two days at work).

e) Spare time/play/fun:
I find this drives me mad. I want a hobby, even a rubbish one but I struggle to focus on anything too much.
I used to be obsessed with a computer game called the Sims (don't know if any of you know it) but I haven't even played it in years.
I keep trying to start something to stop me from being so work orientated but it doesn't work. I am going to have to try harder and push myself more.
:undecided


This sounds very negative and I apologise. It's difficult to sit here and try to think of answers that don't make me sound like a workaholic who is stressed for no reason... but I guess I am that person.

Might try to learn a foreign language again or maybe start my wii-fit stuff again. I just need my mind to stop being so fluttery (if that makes sense).
Right, just going to post this and hope it doesn't clear the room so to speak.

Hugs to all you turtleys.

P.S: great to see you posting mothernerd. I have missed you long speels.

Bobarella

Slow morning at work so I've started planning the challenge month I'm running. August. How does this grab ya ' Bob's Bucket & Spade boogie, to financial freedom! Too cheesy??

Calling14

Sounds fun Bob can't wait. Do I need to get a bikini as well:eek:

Reasons to be cheerful:)

My debts now stands at 4990.00 a whole 8049.00 less than when I first started this journey. UNDER 5K:j

Today will be SFD 10/20 halfway there. Not going out lunchtime, cold out there especially with bare legs.

Will catch up on everyone's posts later just a quick one from excited me - can see an end in sight now:cool:

Caeraugirl

So, have had a quick reread of most recent posts, still not 100% I'm completely up to speed so apologies to anyone I've missed...

Stewby, big hugs - sounds like you're really going through it at the moment. A massive WELL DONE :To:Tn getting under 5K Calling not surprised you're excited!!


OnlyGirl, they are stinkers with this policy of phoning to cancel / automatic renewal - seems like more and more insurers are going down this route, hate having to run the gauntlet of the hard sell when you do ring, and think Stewby's suggestion would be the one I'd try first...


Dr Carrie, well done on the bikini - wear it proudly!! And Academia, can't wait to try out the bingo at my next meeting - wish I'd had it for the big study day I had earlier this week... lol! Welcome back Mothernerd, lovely to "see" you again,and you too CEW and Bob already looking forward to August - not cheesy at all, but like Calling, won't be wearing my bikini either - gonna nominate DrCarrie as my bikini representative...


Hope OH is successful Fmess, and that once he's sorted you can make progress on what you want. Takeaway is just a teensy blip when you consider all you're dealing with at the moment.


Right, on SFD #10 here, and have given myself a very stern talking to this morning - had a wobble due to a trivial event I took as a slight last night / this morning, before thinking it through and realising the only person with an unreasonable perspective in the scenario was me . I didn't let on to the other parties how I felt (and am very relieved about that now), but can't believe something so small could floor me for hours. I really thought I'd become a much stronger person lately, but guess this is my brain's way of reminding me I'm still a work in progress. Still, am out the other side in a much shorter time than I would have been a few years ago, so guess that means I'm gaining more perspective as I get older, at least !


Wishing you all a good day, despite the weather.

wishus

Awesome health news, Stewby. And good luck to TOG with phoning the insurers. Hope it all works out for you.

Well, I had some news yesterday that inspired me... you know, the way poverty does.
OH had a back-to-work talk, and the news is all really positive. Apart from one teensy tiny thing... he may need to take a cut in hours and subsequently wages as he eases back into a work routine.

Can we cope, he asked me.

Of course, of course, of course. Meaning, we have no other option. If all the debt was repaid this would be a doddle. As it is, we can survive. We can sell things. We can try our darnedest to live within our means... and boy has Martin's free leaflet come at just the right time this week.:money:

Depression and money-handling problems are so interlinked it's not a joke. Yesterday OH bought me a flower basket - he had got it into his head he had to buy me one because he had managed to get out of the house and knew I would quite like one. It's a nice basket, but as he was about to tell me that we might potentially be a bit poorer in a couple of months, I was not as appreciative as I might otherwise have been. :think:

Positives:

• OH doesn't go out very often, so mad spends are not at all an everyday occurrence.
• He will be able to go back to work soon, and is getting lots of support. We were so worried he wouldn't.
• A routine would be just the ticket! He doesn't have much of one beyond sleep and TV at the moment. He can't even help round the house. I am hoping that will improve as he recovers.
• I have a lovely hanging basket!
• Because he has been pretty housebound, I would have had NSD 5, and I think I'll keep it as that makes me feel better. :A
• I got us a free session of cardio tennis booked for Saturday afternoon. A bit of exercise will do us both good. :j

Inspired by MSE and my new basket, I got out into the garden yesterday and planted some rocket, bulls blood lettuce and red mustard leaves in my patio container. I sowed some sweet basil and butternut squash outside under cover, too. Lots to do, and the garden is a mess, but with a bit of effort, it will help sustain us. This weekend I would also like to fit in some foraging for nettles, as I quite fancy some nettle-pesto pasta! :eek: Not sure OH will go for that, but hey!


I also notice that RSPB are opening up some of their reserves over the next month to My Waitrose Card holders to visit for free, so I think a walking sojourn to a lovely nearby reserve next weekend will be great.

Calling14

Wishus thanks for the RSPB tip will check if my local one is doing that.
Great news about OH going back to work, flower basket as well how sweet.

Stewby glad everyone seems to be on the up. Good luck getting a hobby, keep saying I need one but finding the time. Day seems full, lucky if I sit down by 9pm in the evenings. However joined the National Trust so now I can wander off few hrs over the weekend so relaxing going on my own around local garden, my plan is try and explore somewhere new each weekend, even if new walk with the pooch.

Tonight I am heading for the bubbly bath which I never got last night. Friend came over she had bad news and was sobbing her head off, her son has cancer(oral). Stopped me feeling sorry for myself with this cold. Hopefully op will go well.

Looking forward to hug off grandson today and see how he has got on his school boat trip.

Catch up later folks x

Bobarella

Wishus - Sorry it sounds like things are going to get tighter before they get better. Its good that you can still find positives though. And well done on planting your lovely salads.

Calling - Enjoy, dont hog the rubber duckie now will you

Stewby - Thanks very much for sharing all your goals/aims./ A very personal & heartfelt post.

Bobarella

So NSD 9 here. Hard won. But I made it. I dont know whats different in me this month, but I really feel I may hit the 20. The bit is firmly between the teeth!

Son & I got utterly soaked to the underwear cycling home, but as I said to him, if thats the worst thing that ever happens to us, we are pretty fortunate people.

Right, off to get warm.

Bob

DrCarrie

Bobarella wrote: »

Slow morning at work so I've started planning the challenge month I'm running. August. How does this grab ya ' Bob's Bucket & Spade boogie, to financial freedom! Too cheesy??

...totally awesome, got my bikini at the ready! Caeraugirl...thank you!

Bob, are we gonna have a dance off on the beach?


So today, Breakfast and Lunch packed and with me, and a lovely NSD, I htink that is 9

I didn't take a coat today, and got relaly wet and cold on the way home; didn't go my usual way home (which involves walking across London Bridge, which is glorious. This also meant that I didn't go into zone 1, saving a few pennies as I am on Pay as you go for travel at the moment.

Made it to yoga, and very glad I did, but feeling tired after finally feeling like I have a bit of a handle on my new job.

academiablues

Evening turtles! Today was a slightly spendy day, I went out for a drink with friends after work - only spent a fiver though, and had budgeted £10 so I'm not complaining
Stewby, thanks for sharing that with us all. I do remember the Sims I think hobbies are important but it's so hard to find something to stick to - I tend to try things for a few months and then they fall by the wayside as I find something else to do! Bob, love the August title! Mothernerd, your "GO TURTLES GO!" at the end of your post made me laugh out loud - just the motivation I needed today