The mindful MFW: A healthy, happy journey to a mortgage free life!

museumworker · 3 February 2018 at 1:39PM

Had a really lovely evening with friends, great food and good company, kids all played really nicely together.

This morning have had DS swimming lessons, kids playing happily with toys, I've sorted all laundry and OH is deep cleaning the fridge.

Ambitions for today:
* [STRIKE]visit new shop for character meet and greet[/STRIKE]
* get free key cut with token
* [STRIKE]get some more pink paint samples[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]meal plan[/STRIKE] erm, called 'winging it' :rotfl:
* [STRIKE]food shop[/STRIKE]
* reply to houseswapper
* reply to friend
* [STRIKE]Email @mazon to ask why pr!me membership suddenly stopped[/STRIKE]
* throw out bits stashed away from DS room when tidied it the other week
* watch film from charity shop

Courgette · 3 February 2018 at 2:53PM

Sounds like a nice mix of productive and restful! Excellent balancing there, mw!

museumworker · 5 February 2018 at 10:38PM

Theme of the year: the year of recovery

Exercise - integrate three exercise sessions into my week
started running club and ran twice, roughly 3K each time. I was away the other Monday. On target.

Financial - maximise our pension contributions for tax efficiency, restart overpaying the mortgage, start investing in the stock market.still have OHs pension contributions at 44%, waiting to find out pay rise so will be able to change ratio in April. Paid last years tax bill in full, almost all from savings :j. On target.

Relationships/family - deepen relationships with key friends and family Had weekend out with 2DSis, 90th birthday, anniversary party, dinner out with friend, drinks with DSis and hosted BIL + family for weekend.

Diet - reduce carb intake and quit sugar. Lose 2 stone 12lb lost since Boxing Day :j. On target.

Spiritual world - develop understanding and practice of self-care Bought a number of books on topic from Am@zon sale. Had one restful day off work. Been busy month and need to pick this up. Not on target.

Fun/interests - make the most of what we have and where we areVisited local beauty spot, nearby playground, and organic farm, all close to home and free. No expensive trips out. On target.

Home/Surroundings- make our home fresh and clutter free Tested paint sample for living room, decluttered DS bedroom, decluttered chest of drawers in bedroom and replaced with vintage bureau, recycled three bags of textiles, two charity drops. Konmarid DVDs. Not quite on target though.

Career/Skills - develop mentoring and coaching skillsTraining day allocated for this month. On target.

Positivity/Confidence - learn and practice CBT, develop a joyful mindset I have been in a good mindset this month, especially considering workload. However I have not set aside the time to focus on this.Not on target.

pinkypig · 6 February 2018 at 7:41PM

Hiya MW :wave:

Stonking progress Mrs :j:j. Best of luck with your February goals xx

museumworker · 15 February 2018 at 10:57PM

Hey all- quick update. Workwise I delivered my crazy project last week which has been exceptionally well received, better than I imagined. I can!!!8217;t say too much more without potentially outing myself but I!!!8217;m very happy all the hard work and team effort have paid off. Am still recovering as it was pretty exhausting (but fun!)

Money wise we!!!8217;ve had a few disasters. OH spent £110 on a train ticket home as he hadn!!!8217;t thought through a return journey properly for nursery pick up time. Our car wouldn!!!8217;tstart so £75 on home start service and another £75 on a new battery. I also still have nearly £900 of expenses to claim

.

House wise we!!!8217;ve picked our paint colour for living and dining room, and bought a new rug for £87 which looks lovely. Painting was due to take place this weekend but now postponed as am too tired to take kids away on my own.

The agreement for our summer houseswap has now been finalised. Bring on Amsterdam!

Weight loss slowed due to massive alcohol intake

but fortunately not stopped.

museumworker · 17 February 2018 at 3:26PM

Some good news - OH's work is going to cover the £110 train fare :j and remembered after reading a diary on here that we don't have to pay council tax this month so the money set aside for that almost covers our car battery costs

.

Did have to pay £16 on train fare to return DD1s friend home today, but can't complain as they had DD1 for a week a few months back for no cost to us.

Had beautiful day with kids yesterday, went to park and spent 3.5 hours there, really felt like first day of spring with mild weather and bright sunshine. And it was a NSD

.

I have a few things I'd like to get out the weekend:
* play at local outdoor playground
* buy paint for living/dining room
* food shop
* trip to IKEA to use up £20 voucher
* finish sorting out kitchen cupboards (have been binning out of date food)
* open all mail and return SMARTS
* drop unwanted in date food items to food bank
* read a book
* have some resting time

Courgette · 17 February 2018 at 7:01PM

You sound very busy. Glad you're building in some rest too

museumworker · 18 February 2018 at 9:22PM

Trying to Courgette but not always successful!

In other news:
* Fantastic family play in outdoor playground this morning. Three hours playing in beautiful spring sunshine together, plus saw a few familiar faces and met a few new ones. £6 well spent.
* Chair measured and details sent to reupholster
* Paint bought for living/ dining room. Tried a tester for the kitchen but too dark, back to drawing board there.
* IKEA trip made and a scary amount spent on home improvements :eek: Realised we didn't want to return next month for sofa covers so decided to buy now, although I hadn't budgeted the £190 to cover them. We also thought it High time to get a new set of plates, we have only 3 left from our set of 8 due to various accidents. We chose a really nice classic shape with a bit of detailing, which reminded me of a set I had loved in a restaurant we visited in Krakow many children ago. We bought in two sizes with matching bowls, and enough to sit 12 people (which is how many our table can extend to). Downside is these 36 items cost over £117 :eek: (and I've just found out they do a deep plate and mugs too - someone stop me!) We did use our family card for £10 off and our £20 voucher, but came only a few quid below £400 instead of the budgeted £150. I think I've just brought some costs forward rather than created new ones though

.
* Finally listed the furniture item on eBay and already one bid - IT WILL SELL! Starting bid of a tenner but every little helps, and at least we're being paid for someone to take it off our hands. And the app made the listing so much easier than I imagined.
* Freezer fish turned into a very good fish stew. Have one and a half empty freezer drawers now, and lunch for tomorrow. :j
* Enough baskets bought to start sorting laundry straight off racks and transfer into people rooms. Let's see if that avoids the clean laundry mountain in our bedroom!
* Have some decent money off vouchers from Mr W so plan to use these next weekend. Am hoping this will take the pain out of losing PYO offers :mad:.
* Realised I accidentally double booked a train journey, now have to print and return set of train tickets for £64 refund. Goes to show how tired I am

.
* Busy week ahead with overnight work trip, one and a half days of training, and two talks to deliver I haven't written yet.

On that note off to clear that laundry mountain and hopefully get to read a bit before bed. Night all!