Financial Freedom + Self Care

MeenaM

Happy New Year Bunny!

rice and beans rice and beans ! we can do this !

doingitanyway

Happy New Year SnowBallBunny

Lauralozzle

Happy New Year Snowball :j

SnowBallBunny

Happy New Year to each and everyone of you. It's a New Year good people. Something good can always happen. :j

Progress:
It can be easy not to recognise the progress I've made so here's a quick update:

Debit Card There was a point when I was living off my last credit card and my other accounts were maxed out. I'm working, all transactions are being made through my debit account and I've lower my expenses as much as possible. My credit cards have been in an envelope not being used for over a month and that's a step forward. I look forward to paying them off.

Paid a friend back £15 - I paid a friend back who donated to a group art project I was planning to do. I've decided not to do it so I paid her back. Really appreciate her support, I was really touched when she donated.

Homeless Shelter: I'll go back to the shelter to volunteer next week. I took a break over Christmas so it'll be good to help out again.

Realisations: I think that before my LBM I was in a rut. Very outwardly 'busy' and productive but really I was unhappy, harboring the debt and putting other people and their happiness before myself. I think this is a chance for me to take a step back and to look at my life and career and to build something better, to focus on my happiness in a way that I wasn't doing before. It's scary, because the prospect of change can be scary and it's also necessary. And in the long run this will help me moving forward.

My career path. My job. What I should do creatively, these things have been so unclear and I'm unsure of what to do moving forward inorder to benefit me in the long term. In all honesty, the lack of certainty has been frustrating and depressing. I know that when I improve my wellbeing (exercise, sleep, meditation) things will become clearer. I also just need to not place so much pressure on myself. Small steps are the way to go.

Snowball Pressure
While temping it's challenging to budget and to successfully complete a debt Snowball. This is because you are paid hourly for your work. If you're ill or there are bank holidays you don't get paid. This is tough to deal with when you're in debt because it makes budgeting challenging. I have budgeted monthly and weekly and regularly check my balances but having one salary, one amount you can count on each month is a LOT easier to monitor and manage. I'm proud that I was able to put aside £400 from mid November - December but I know that I'll save much more when I have a fixed salary to look forward to. So the key here is that I know that I'm doing my best.

Fun I'd like to have some this year. So I'll do my best to keep you updated on that. :rotfl:

Job Search
I'm finishing off a job application tonight. It's a Junior Project role within another department in the uni. If I secure the role, I'll be able to clear the debt within the year and gain more experience. I'll start calling recruitment agencies again tomorrow.

SnowBallBunny

Self Care Update:

I've decided to do small acts of Self Care rather than pressuring myself to make massive changes or to measure up to what I did pre LBM.

I cooked a healthy meal on Monday Chickpea and soya chilli, brown rice and savoy cabbage. In all honesty I'd been living off Christmas left overs until last weekend - my Mum froze some of her amazing cooking. Such a treat to have her cooking.

Elevated my feet today to boost my circulation. It's a quick exercise that helped in the past. I haven't had circulation issues for years but this exercise will help.

Yesterday and today I've blended essential oils for aromatherapy using my oil burner.

Going to bed earlier to try to improve my sleep.

doingitanyway

Hi Snowballbunny,

When I get money in irregular amounts I pay a set percentage of whatever I receive towards debt before I decide what to do with the remainder. You might want to do that until you get more permanent employment.

I use essential oils loads. I have a huge selection that I use according to what I need. When I am feeling unbalanced or anxious I burn geranium in an oil burner.

Cooking something healthy and tasty always helps me to feel better about myself too.

Keep on keeping on

SnowBallBunny

doingitanyway wrote: »

Hi Snowballbunny,

When I get money in irregular amounts I pay a set percentage of whatever I receive towards debt before I decide what to do with the remainder. You might want to do that until you get more permanent employment.

I use essential oils loads. I have a huge selection that I use according to what I need. When I am feeling unbalanced or anxious I burn geranium in an oil burner.

Cooking something healthy and tasty always helps me to feel better about myself too.

Keep on keeping on

The percentage idea is one worth considering. Thanks for that suggestions.

Geranium smells gorgeous. It's great for mental clarity. I've included Lavender in my blends lately as it's very calming.

SnowBallBunny

Self Care Steps:

I bought a bottle of my favourite olive oil. It's the only 'treat' I've bought myself in months. It's £3 for 500ml. It makes food taste better.

In bed by 9pm - To improve my sleep last night I'm doing my best to be in bed by 9pm so I can unwind and try to sleep more/earlier.

I'm walking a bit more each day.

I went to the Careers Service at the Uni today. I've been feeling down, confused and frustrated about my career path so I decided to talk to someone who could help. Whichever job I secure next, I want to have more clarity about this area so I know what to aim for and work towards moving forward. I don't see myself making money from writing or photography or any of the creative things I enjoy, however, maybe I can use these skills in other career fields that pay well - in time. I already have some Project Management qualifications so I'm looking for jobs in that field simply to make money.

But I also find that these fields keep coming to mind:

Marketing, Commnuications, Branding - I enjoy writing, learning about brands/businesses and recommending them. I've also had some success with a social media account I run for my art group.

Law - I'm a confident communicator, Intellectual Property Law interests me, this is a well paid field and perhaps this is a field I could work in long term.

My sister and Mum have asked me what I want to do. And when I'm asked this question, my mind goes blank. I think it's partly because I feel so dissappointed in myself already, it's hard to know what's best. I had/have a business idea for a haricare business but I've shelved it to focus on securing a permanent role.

If there are any Careers Advisors who have some good practical advice for me, please do let me know.

As always, thanks for reading, I really appreciate it.

SnowBallBunny

As I didn't work over Christmas, I'm not getting paid today. I'll start getting paid again next Friday.

Self Care Update: I went swimming today for the first time in months. Yes it was windy and freezing outside and I just go on with things and went, glad I did.

Going back to the homeless shelter this weekend to help out.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

SnowBallBunny

I have a job interview! It's for the Junior Project role I applied for just before new year.

I'm preparing for that interview. I was also called about another role tonight so I'm working on a Personal Statement.

Thanks for reading.