Single mum - sink or swim!

MeandO

Hi Sellotape,

We definitely deserve a medal!

I don't blame you for taking a break from the dating scene, I had done exactly the same when a mutual friend introduced OH and I. I'd had enough of the dramas of the dating scene!

I feel your pain with the cold too. I moved from a new build to a really old house 15 months ago and I'm certainly feeling the difference in keeping it warm, especially my kitchen as the window hinges have gone and it doesn't shut properly so there's a constant breeze blowing in. I have some of that spongy insulating tape, I might just put a load of that around it later to see if it helps. Shutting doors of unused rooms and a rolled up towel at the bottom of doors for draughts helps a little.

My son's school is closing early today due to the snow forecast. He's supposed to be with his Dad tonight, but his Dad lives further out and it has been affected by snow more so I'm tempted to just keep him with me. Guess it'll be movie afternoon if we do.

Keep warm and good luck with the homework nagging! x

selloptape

Thank you MeandO - my spare room is freezing, I’d not thought of popping a rolled up towel at the bottom of the closed door. Am actually going to run up and do this now before I forget

I’ve also thought of trying those heat reflector flappy things (I think that’s the official name ) for the upstairs radiators but not sure if they work or if it’s a gimmick.

pennystretcher

The heat reflectors on the radiators do work you don't want to be heating the walls instead of your rooms

Also, I use electric blankets a lot - warms you right up and no need to have the heating on in full blast. They are really cheap to use too. (Cheaper than keeping your hot water bottle warm in the long run..)

selloptape

Having a quiet night in watching trash tv and eating snacks

It!!!8217;s a lot toastier at chateau selloptape this eve - the doors to the two colder rooms have been shut and draughts blocked. Possibly also helped by my teen having a snow day and having the heat on full blast all day.l.

Now busy googling heat reflectors and electric blankets - thank you pennystretcher

selloptape

Had a very quiet and non-spendy weekend. NSD on Saturday and just a small shop at Mr Ts on Sunday followed by a two hour ironing sesh and then scrubbing the mould patch off my bathroom ceiling. Good times! Told my son that I used to be fun and go out at weekends but he wasn’t entirely convinced.

Mini goals for the week

• Get some sleep before work on Monday (why can’t I sleep :mad: )
• Stick to meal plan
• 10k steps per day
• Don’t spend any money apart from essentials

MeandO

If you find the sleep secret, please send some my way... I have the same issue!

x

selloptape

OH no - sorry to hear that MeandO - in my case I think it!!!8217;s just thinking about work on a Sunday night I might try giving up caffeine on a Sunday to see if that helps x

hiddenshadow

selloptape wrote: »

OH no - sorry to hear that MeandO - in my case I think it!!!8217;s just thinking about work on a Sunday night I might try giving up caffeine on a Sunday to see if that helps x

I haven't tried it, but I'm intrigued by Deliberate Worry Technique

Basically you set aside a set time (far away from bedtime) to encourage your brain to dump all its thoughts, so that at bedtime you've conditioned it to be in rest mode as the worry part has already been done.

I should give it a go soon, as I think my sleep habits have gotten worse lately.

Tropically

I didn't know there was a name for it, but I have successfully done the Deliberate Worry Technique for years. It does help but you also have to turn your mind off successfully after you've finished worrying.

selloptape

Oh wow! Thank you so much!! That sounds amazing!! I haven’t ever thought of trying to force all the thoughts out earlier before trying to sleep but makes so much sense that it would help.

Pity it’s late, I want to try it now :rotfl: will have to wait til tomorrow

Yesterday and today weren’t NSDs but were LSDs (low spend days - need to think of a different name :rotfl:) only bought a snack yesterday and a couple of cards today. Tomorrow doesn’t look too spendy either, just need some stir fry veg for dinner.

Tried to make my first OP of the year this evening... And all the bank systems were down :mad: will try again tomorrow. I’m aiming to pay off £300 a month this year, taking a year and five months off my term.