Earthgirl's Final Battle

earthgirl

Hello Apple, Karma, Beanie and NHS!

Karma got in touch and as I popped in to check out Martin's Brexit advice, I got a couple of messages so thought I'd say Hi!!

All going well thanks Apple. Feel much happier, calmer and balanced with money! Still making extra money by tutoring - up to 4 per week now which is my max.

I'm really focusing on what I actually want to do - exercise is a daily walk on the beach, I've delegated some of OHs business work to him and trained him up so it's not all my responsibility. I've made my work for his business enjoyable only...I know I can't do this for every aspect of my life, but for the things I do every day, I want to make them easier or enjoyable.

I could still work a little harder at not spending money (e.g. I bought a really good robot hoover for £100 - best money I ever spent!) but I'm not going mad - that's the only thing I've bought really.

We have applied to do some charity work as a family which might involve a little cash, and I have been giving much more to the food bank and sadly to a family using this service to supplement.

Hope all of you are well, I think of you often and I will catch up soon!

beanielou

Blimey, I was only thinking about you yesterday.
Good to hear from you & that all is well
Take care

Cherryfudge

So lovely to see you again Earthgirl! I've been silently reading your diary for a while (you are very readable) and had nearly got to the end when I lost it and thought you had disappeared...
Welcome back.

apple_muncher

earthgirl wrote: »

Feel much happier, calmer and balanced with money!

I'm really focusing on what I actually want to do -... for the things I do every day, I want to make them easier or enjoyable.

Go girl! Soooo good to hear your news.:D


:rotfl:to the hoover!


And thanks for the reminder about consistently putting items in the foodbank x

Needhelpsaving

Welcome back! Glad to hear everything is ticking along and you're okay xxx

apple_muncher

Missing ya! Hope all is running smoothly in earthieworld x

earthgirl

Hello, long time no post!

Everything is so good at the moment. Everybody is happy and healthy. I feel like I have real balance in my life.

I've been looking through my goals for the year and I'm totally on track in some areas and a bit off track in others!!

The areas I'm off track with is giving time/money to charity, and not finance as such - just tracking it, and maybe a little lifestyle inflation occurring. I haven't yet achieved a big reduction in reducing our carbon footprint. As they go hand in hand for the most part, I think posting here once a week or so would benefit me.

Finances
The idea of working hard and saving cash was connected to travelling, but travelling (flying) isn't great for the environment. We have a couple of trips that we would like to do (Aus and NZ together to visit very close relatives whom we miss dearly, and also Italy) so we are working on making these carbon neutral. Italy by train - and probably a couple of other places as well, would be possible when the kids are a little older.

We have saved up enough for Aus so we can go ahead and book this in January. We don't know what the future will hold so I need to make sure we don't go too far off track with our spending so we can continue to put money aside for our projects and also to not be using up too many resources.

I think having too many students in the summer is really stressful, and the council have also stopped the lunch club that I used to work at - cuts - so I won't get to help, and my income will be cut too.

Charity
We have completed various charity events throughout the year, but nothing regular. I have had to help my MIL a lot and my friend a lot. I'd like to do more charity work, or give money regularly.
Edit: fundraising ideas for the food bank. Love the alternative halloween idea! https://northayrshire.foodbank.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/01/fundraising-booklet-web.pdf

Environment
Probably where I have made the least impact
Off the top of my head I need to:

- buy local - famerms market last Sunday of month. Could probably cycle.
- grow more garden veg, plant bee friendly.
- use appropriate wood(couple of sustainable sources in area)
- drive less, cycle and walk more
- Look at the recycling bins again
- reduce the amount of plastic coming into the house (buy in bulk, soap/shampoo bars, bring your own containers store etc)
Edit: Homemade shampoo:https://wellnessmama.com/3701/homemade-shampoo/
Homemade facial soap: https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-face-wash-diy/
- use washable make up remover cloth thing
pick up plastic on our beach walks
- use natural cleaning products
- charity shops/recycle items
- charity ecards (I'm asking everyone for an email address for birthdays and xmas next year)

beanielou

All sounding good then

earthgirl

beanielou wrote: »

All sounding good then

Yes really good Beanie, probably should have looked over my goals before now though :rotfl:

Hope you are well x

Karmacat

Hiya! Great to see you you sound like you're doing really well. Cleaning products, aieeee, I really need to get to grips with all of that - I need to sort out what I've got, what I need, and recipes I trust. And by this time next year, I might be down to the posting frequency you mention, once a week or so (once a day would be monumental at the moment ), once things are up and running, thats the level, isn't it!