These things take time.....

There_Is_a_Light

I feel like I need a bit of an update. Have spent quite a lot of time looking around DFW and MFW diaries this weekend, came across some old friends from the DFW daily chat thread and I am delighted to see that some of them they have their own diaries still. It makes me feel like part of a special community being part of these forums and I actually started using them around 7 years ago.

Decoration of the sun room has had to be put on hold as the wall still seems really damp due to recent leakages so I guess it will take a little while to totally dry out. Also we have a pretty scary infestation of wood lice in the beams:eek: Oh sprayed some insecticide and the basically all came out of the woodwork...pardon the pun. Seriously it was like a scene from a horror movie:eek: There must have been over 300 and we are still finding dead or dying ones.

Had a lovely Skype call with DS1, he is doing so well in his new job and was asked to be a guest speaker at a local university. So proud of him. I just hope he gets a permanent contract in April.

Friday we drove out to a North Yorkshire small town for an explore and despite being cold it was bright and we had a good walk around. Saturday we had a lovely visit to Mum's and my brother and nieces were there so we had a good old catch up.

Pay day tomorrow :T OH has been paid his 2 extra days for January so we have a little bit extra this month and it is also a no council tax and water rates month.

Plan for tomorrow morning is to post some £bay sales off, apply for a PO CC for OH to get £25 cashback and divvy up savings accounts. I have been working on spreadsheets to calculate how much savings we need to be truly financially free. Interesting........

There_Is_a_Light

Beautiful sunny day here at the North East coast. Monday I do not need to be at work until 12.30pm so I am enjoying a few extra cups of tea and catching up on some diaries and little jobs.

Haven't done my health, wealth, happiness thing for a while but feel as spring is (almost) upon us its time to crank up the motivation and positivity.:)

Health
I really need to focus on this more, I have stopped going to Yoga class as the room was just too cold to enjoy the sessions and I ended up with cramp in my feet the majority of the lessons but Yoga is something I do love. I need to get back to doing some online sessions as at the moment I am just doing a few stretches at the end of the day and using my foam roller.
Walking could definitely be increased.
Weight is neither going up nor down, I am happy with my body at the moment but need to ensure that the lbs don't creep back on.
Goals for today is to drink at least 3 cups of water at work and enjoy my healthy lunch of avocado and mixed bean salad. I love fruit so I find it easy to hit my 5 a day fruit and veg (it helps being a non-meat eater too:D)
In terms of my mental health, I am feeling much more positive and can now separate work from home life. This is a massive achievement for me which I am proud of. It funny that now I do not reply to emails when I am not at work I seem to get fewer........connection maybe?:rotfl:

Wealth
I have concentrated much more on this lately, in particular the curtailing of spending on holidays and luxuries. I must continue with this once I hit my DFD on 31st March.
£uidco payment is ready for payout in OH account from a bingo site but due to a copious amount of ad blocks and security software OH has recently set up I have been unable to apply for the PO CC so will wait until tomorrow night when he can turn them off.
Survey sites have been quiet although I reckon PA will pick up soon as it is dissertation term coming up.
I gave up taking any money to work for lent and am continuing with that. It means I need to be much more organised but it seems to be working well.
I have pledged to not buy any new clothes this year, I have loads and it is unnecessary to buy more.
I now have 2 x T$B accounts for the 5% interest and a FD regular saver. I need to hit a savings target of around £28k by the end of the year for my financial freedom plan to work.


Happiness
Things that I know make me happy
Seeing my boys, often I have to settle for Skype but it is as close as I can get sometimes.
Spending time with my family, I am making an effort to do this more regularly.
Spending time with OH exploring new places and walking/talking with a sneaky pop to a local pub.
Spending time with my friends, I only really have 2 close friends and 1 set of couple friends but they are worth a million.
Keeping on top of the housework and managing my time in my day job. Both of these things are still a work in progress but I am definitely much less chaotic.
Feeling health and feeling like I look good. This is linked with my health goals but I also have decided to ensure that I have a decent haircut and colour when I need it. I have booked for Friday:D

skint_spice

I tried to post earlier but lost it - think this is the gist of it...

Sorry you have had a bit of a tough time recently but glad you are finding your way back to a more balanced life. I think moving away from DFW and MFW is good in some ways as it can become a bit of an obsession it seems to make it way too easy to spend money, I need to pull reign it in a bit too

I like MMM but hadn't heard of the Frugalwoods so have been having a wee read at that too, amazing how much I can read when I am trying to avoid an essay...

crazy_cat_lady

Just never give up. That's my motto - ride the bad times and enjoy the good. I need to learn to separate work and home again as well so will follow your lead there...

There_Is_a_Light

Welcome Skinty:beer: pop by any time you fancy a bit skive from writing

I hope that you start to find a balance soon CCL:)

Another payment made to CC which leaves me a balance of £333 I am really excited to be making my final payment at next pay day.

Had a mammoth spend at hairdressers yesterday of £111, I really need to find a new hairdresser:o I was a bit miffed as she told the assistant to put a treatment on as my hair looked thirsty and then charged me an extra £10 for it. I can't go back to my old cheap hair salon as I was not very happy with the cut last time and I feel that she rushes. Thankfully I don't go very often.

PA survey site has been quite busy this week so have made around £5 from that so far this month. £13 in the pot towards Christmas. Sold some books on Ziffit for £5.40 and had Fleabay sales of £4.00 after fees. Quidco has paid out £30 from a previous bingo offer.

This weekend I am focusing on catching up on jobs in the house and looking for extra free bits of income. Still need to do the £25 CC offer for OH.

Waiting for £100 switching bonus and £25 CC offer from my bank.

Loving this free money:j

Off to a big band festival tonight and as one of our friend appears in the show we get free tickets :money: £20 saved.

There_Is_a_Light

Just braved MrT as I had a £5 orchard voucher off fresh flowers. Bouquets were a bit of a rip of so I chose 2 x smaller bunches of cut flowers for £10 (- £5 voucher), some lovely Chrysanthemums, Iris and Roses which Mam can arrange to her liking. Mother's day for £7 including card I will also spend some time with her tomorrow which I know that she will appreciate. Hopefully my brother who lives close by and nieces will be there too.

Also used a £7 off a £50 shop voucher, then applied the £5 flowers voucher resulting in £12 off! Ta MrT

There_Is_a_Light

Late start for me today. I love the quiet time so I can sort stuff out and have a mooch on the diaries.

Health
I have made a healthy lunch of spinach and feta with olive salad and have a chickpea curry all ready for dinner, just need to cook rice. Will whip up a chicken and mushroom curry for OH as there is a chicken breast to use up.
Cut down on cups of tea at work and drink water instead.
Get out for a walk with OH, he is having back trouble so I think that this may help him as well as me.

Wealth
Had quite a spend free weekend but still managed to get out once or twice. Surveys are plodding on nicely these last few days with another £1 done this morning for 8 mins. Christmas savings are doing well, in summary:
Prolific Ac £62.95
Isay £10 voucher
Proplus £8 (£50 payout threshold)
£uidco £47.78
Selling stuff £65.80
BP cashed in (from FIL) £21
Total towards Christmas = £215.53:T
This should be well over my £400 target by the end of the year I hope. I still have a hoard of car boot stuff and more things to sell. PA is by far the best survey site for me.

I also have £4.50 in clubc@rd vouchers but I am saving these for the summer holiday as the 4 of us are planning to go to a wildlife park in the Lake District and they will be worth 4 x their worth. Entrance is £15 per adult which means I need £15 in vouchers.

Happiness
Spoke to both of my boys yesterday, I felt sad that I couldn't be with them but it was the next best thing. Visits are planned over Easter :j
It was lovely to catch up with my Mam yesterday and also see friends over the weekend. Something is really bothering me at work, a friend and colleague was called into a meeting last Tuesday and hasn't been seen since. Lots of rumours going around which are upsetting so have decided to ask outright when I go into work today. I feel really uneasy about the whole thing as we worked very closely together at one point.
I need to get outside more, have been feeling a bit meh the last few days but that may be due to the above.

beanielou

Have a good week Light

There_Is_a_Light

Week from hell thankfully over. I have been interrogated twice and dragged into something totally hideous but thankfully I have been reassured that I am not under suspicion. Colleague has been suspended and I feel sad and angry at the same time. Can't really say any more but things like this really make me feel uneasy and I realise just how easy it is to have your career gone in a heartbeat.

OH has been particularly supportive and is being a darling today and we are off out for a nice day somewhere. Budget is under £20 though

I will update again over the weekend with money stuff once I have a good old mooch around.

crazy_cat_lady

Oh my goodness - all sounds quite serious. I hope that you're ok xxx