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

museumworker

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

The house swap thing sounds brilliant and a great way to see other parts of the world.
Not sure anyone would want to swap with us even though we are only five mins from the coast. :rotfl:
Well done on making a start on the christmas shopping. Not my favourite time of year now we have no young children in family.

It is brilliant, we've had three amazing holidays already with it and it really feels like you're a welcome guest. It's interesting to know why people might want to swap, they could have family or friends near you.

I dislike Xmas due to the stress of it all, and it can be a bit overwhelming for the littlies. Hoping that attempt to be ready super early will mean we can actually enjoy the festivities.

Downshifterella wrote: »

Hi Museum worker
Well done on such a huge reduction in your mortgage! I'm looking into mindfulness myself as been struggling a bit the last few months with work stress and anxiety , mindfulness and more exercise both on the cards!!!

Feel your pain on the pack lunchers....I can start the week with good intentions but five days a week here a bit much! Good luck with the flexible working plans and enjoy the house swap holiday! Had never thought of that as an option ..may have to do some research!

Look forward to following your diary

dSE X

Hi Ella, thanks for stopping by! I can totally identify with where you've been and hope you start to feel better soon. I really recommend the headspace app - first ten lessons are free, then join anxiety uk for free membership (half the price of buying directly). Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube is free and excellent. My most life changing book ever is The Happiness Trap, which is based on a form of mindfulness called Acceptance Commitment Therapy. Keep me updated on your progress and please let me know what works for you as I need to stay focused on this goal too.

Glad it's not just me who has a (nearly pathological) hatred of packed lunches!

Totally recommend house swapping, let me know if you want any tips.

Twigged last night that if we house swap within driving distance of UK (Belgium, France, Netherlands) we can use our Tesc0 club card vouchers to get free Tunnel tickets - meaning a completely free holiday for us! :j We have one swap lined up with Denmark for Easter next year but after that think will look at holidaying In those countries for a while whilst we concentrate on OPing.

Courgette

House swapping sounds like a great idea. Not sure whether personally I could manage having strangers in my home though even if I know logically it's more than likely to be absolutely fine

Downshifterella

Thanks for he recommendation museum worker I will look into the book for sure. Have subscribed to Headspace (did get a deal!) but can be a bit more sporadic so need to be a bit more dedicated! Exercise is a big help (when I can motivate myself!) and tends to keep things on a bit more even keel! Been on a 5 mile run earlier ( I'm not speedy but quite determined!:rotfl:)

It's frustrating to feel so panicky at times , there is a part of me that knows I'm being "irrational" but can't seem to convince my brain and body of that in the moment.

Am thinking about cutting down to slightly shorter working hrs next year ( can't at the mo) ....maybe something to start exploring with the powers that be! ....maybe having a bit more me time would stop things feeling quite so hectic....

Anyway thank you for the tips, shall take a look into them . Hope things are getting better your side. May well look into house swap too sounds great!!

Ella x

museumworker

Courgette wrote: »

House swapping sounds like a great idea. Not sure whether personally I could manage having strangers in my home though even if I know logically it's more than likely to be absolutely fine

I was nervous about that but actually feels fine whilst away. You build up a bit of a relationship in advance so they don't feel that strange by the time they come! I wanted to do it for years but was worried about state of my house, houseswapping was the goal that motivated me to properly have a clear out and get the place in order (well, mostly!)

Downshifterella wrote: »

Thanks for he recommendation museum worker I will look into the book for sure. Have subscribed to Headspace (did get a deal!) but can be a bit more sporadic so need to be a bit more dedicated! Exercise is a big help (when I can motivate myself!) and tends to keep things on a bit more even keel! Been on a 5 mile run earlier ( I'm not speedy but quite determined!:rotfl:)

It's frustrating to feel so panicky at times , there is a part of me that knows I'm being "irrational" but can't seem to convince my brain and body of that in the moment.

Am thinking about cutting down to slightly shorter working hrs next year ( can't at the mo) ....maybe something to start exploring with the powers that be! ....maybe having a bit more me time would stop things feeling quite so hectic....

Anyway thank you for the tips, shall take a look into them . Hope things are getting better your side. May well look into house swap too sounds great!!

Ella x

Will happily do a headspace challenge with you this week if you fancy it as I tend to leave it last on my list so don't always have the time.

Well done on the run, I have disordered breathing at the mo so can't do much in the way of aerobic exercise. But hope to be able to do so again in the not too distant future.

In terms of the panicky feeling, The Happiness Trap talks about the struggle switch, where we argue with our thoughts and feelings and feel like we should feel a certain way. Its a really helpful concept to start moving towards acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings.

I'm getting better but not out of the woods yet. Just looked after the 2 little kids for 3 hours at a party - was a lovely party but lots of challenges in terms of kids behaviour and social type stuff. Still, I did it and enjoyed it - that would have been impossible for me a few months ago. :T

museumworker

Kids in bed, dinner eaten and have finally worked out OH's pension contribution <drum roll please>

41% contributions over the next 7 months :eek:!

It will be a tight few months as his take home will reduce by £1,300pm but we'll be adding over £16K more than before to his pension pot this year, and reducing his adjusted net income - meaning less tax liabilities. Will concentrate on savings rather than OPs during this period to make sure we can meet all of our financial commitments - of course any left overs :rotfl: at the end of the financial year will go to an OP then :T Next year we're looking at a more reasonable 25.5% contribution :rotfl:, so will be £600pm better off. And of course, if we've been able to manage on the current income, all of that will be earmarked to OPing!

So there will still be lots of MSE thinking needed, and of course your support to help us through the next few months.

I've also plugged the figures and it looks like going to 3 days a week will reduce my salary by £520pm :eek: :eek:. Now I'm worried.

Downshifterella

Well done on all those sums! I wonder if what you'd save in childcare/free time/ time to cook etc/food spends might go towards cancelling out the £520?
I know with 2 of us working full time , there are lots of times we are shelling out for "convenience" because we are time-poor.

Just a thought?

Absolutely up for a headspace challenge . Gonna put one on before bed and try and do 10mibs every day this week to see if makes a difference. There are definitely some practical things I can do to, in terms of getting a bit more organised plus some slightly more difficult conversations to have!

Well done on the kids party! Hope you got a well earned cuppa after that!
X

wishingthemortgaheaway

Pleased you've sorted all your calculations out. I'm sure it will all be fine, you seem so good at structuring everything. And it's not like you are losing money, just 'paying it forward'

When are you thinking of reducing your hours, immediately or once hubby's pension bits and bobs go down again? Because some of the £500 ish could be absorbed by that.

Have a restful mindful night.

Wish.

museumworker

Will be back later for proper chat, but just coming on to record something momentus...
I SUBMITTED SOME EXPENSE CLAIMS!
Yes, they are late but glad I finally got my head out of the sand and submitted. Worth a total of £226.65 so fingers crossed they will all go through in the next couple of weeks.
Back to work now!

wishingthemortgaheaway

Woo hoo well done.
Sounds like a nice little pot of bonus money.
Are you going to treat yourself?

museumworker

Quick jump on again as at work but wanted to record my MFW ambitions for today:
* Headspace
* apply for 30 free hours
* finish BT registration
* finish H$BC paperwork
* check accounts and tidy any leftovers to savings
* cheap lunch from supermarket
* reply to houseswapper

Will reply to you all later this evening (if I don't fall asleep at 7.45pm like yesterday!) :rotfl: