Earthgirl's Final Battle

earthgirl

Thanks beanie!

Last few days of the first full month of a lot of things - namely exercising in some form every day for 30 mins, and a very balanced budget, so I thought I'd update.

Health
Great with exercise, I've spent nothing on it, I'm mostly walking and then 3 days per week I do a yt video. My eating is better - my new approach of taking my breakfast with me and having it about 10.30 (porridge or a smoothie) having lunch at about 12.30 (wrap or salad and palm of fruit and nuts) and then a fairly big healthy snack at about 3.30 (egg muffin or humous and veg etc) has meant that I am not feeling the energy lull in the afternoon. I then eat the protein and veg from our main meal so I am not making any special diet food just eating better really, and it's not expensive.

In my smoothie I'm using more of the cheaper ingredients - bananas and baby nettles from the veg patch, and less than a handful of frozen berries. So satisfying to use the nettles!!

Wealth
I may reduce grocery as we don't spend £400 per month. Under budget for all categories this month apart from 'other'. The area to watch is things for the kids - no more just buying them something. Also taking a flask as when it's cold I like a hot drink - spent £6 on this.

I don't know how to budget charity giving/charity shop buying. I like the idea of buying things from charity so I don't really want to limit it, but can't go totally mad. I spent £13 this month so I guess I could set a budget of £15 and carry this over if I don't see things we need.

Environment
Enjoying picking up plastic from the beach but it's so sad that there is SO MUCH. I'll just keeping doing my little bit. Loving the eco friendly products like dishwasher tabs, they are just as good as non eco and some good deals to be had. I use vinegar for cleaning.

Life well lived
Enjoying spending time with friends, and OH. This is much more regular and enjoyable now we have a little budget for it. We did a restaurant ms last week which only cost £4 but was nice.

themadvix

It sounds like everything is going really well Earthie!

Love the nettles in your smoothie, although I'm surprised there are any about at this time of year!

earthgirl

themadvix wrote: »

It sounds like everything is going really well Earthie!

Love the nettles in your smoothie, although I'm surprised there are any about at this time of year!

I know, me too - must have missed them at the end of last year! In the islands they grow them in veg gardens as they survive the winter better than most (all??) green veg.

Full of vitamins and obviously they don't sting when you eat them!

themadvix

Perhaps it's the Gulf Stream that keeps them alive? (*Sounds like she knows what she's talking about, but highly likely to be making it up!* :rotfl: )

apple_muncher

Hope those nettles are still thriving... And you too!

earthgirl2

Hello, 
This is earthgirl, due to some admin problem I have to have a new username, but I am not going to let that stop me!
I really hope that you are all well. The pandemic really knocked us for six here, we had a very early death in my village and really went into lockdown mode quite early. I won't bore you with all the details but I managed to carry on face to face working in a slightly different role, and now I'm doing a merge of the two roles at the moment. 

Lockdown made a lot of people really focus on their priorities and I have a lovely image of my priorities all stacked on each other. To make sure I have the means to achieve all of our goals, pay off the mortgage (money is in savings at the moment) and do some other things like make the house presentable, I want to push back at the lifestyle inflation - and pandemic inflation - so that I don't spend money on the little unimportant things, but have money for the important things in the future.

I am going to post every week  - a review and a plan for the week ahead in terms of saving money. I think I should focus on the big ways to save/make money at the moment for the first few weeks.

Goals / areas I am working on:
- Cheaply have quality time with DH
- cheaply have quality time with kids (they are 7 and 10 and soon may not want to know me!!)
- Look after our health whilst being mindful of cost - e.g. don't get a personal trainer!
- reduce stress but try not to over spend on convenience
- make sure time management is good - again without over spending on convenience - so that I can do a good job at work.
- do some decorating
- stay in contact with family despite not seeing them much
- Use what I have to make sure I look presentable!

themadvix

Hi Earthie, good to hear from you! Glad you're all OK, although it sounds like the pandemic has had an impact on your village. I think we've all suffered from pandemic inflation and are just beginning to get things under control, so you're not alone!

apple_muncher

So pleased to see you again! Missed ya!

Like the goals/aims list x

beanielou

Good good to hear from you. 

Yes do make those memories before your kids go the phase of not wanting to know you. 

Karmacat

So good to see your post!  Yes, absolutely, if your village got hit early on, it would have a huge effect

Three things really struck me though - your image of the priorities stacked up, thats brilliant   The lifestyle inflation with the pandemic - great phrase, that, and so accurate.  And your last sentence, about looking presentable - omg, I'm such a failure with this, my skin looks like sandpaper, in spite of the Liz Earle presents I've got from my SiL. 

But never mind that.  Earthie is back