Prosperous soul in the making

Fortune_Smiles

Brilliant progress SH - well done 👏

Fortune x

MovingForwards

Made great headway in reducing the debt, we will all need to get the champagne on ice soon.

Lots of positives to focus on too, sometimes we forget the small things and only see the ones which drag us down.

savingholmes

Thanks HSL, Jwil, MF, INOD and Fortune

Blooming Update
Also have yellow Kerria Japonica in flower - very pretty. 
Need to prune and water plants this weekend. 

Self Care
Finished mid afternoon today and used up some flexi. Thinking of trying to resolve PIP for DD and possibly me. That could give us a lift financially if they were accepted. Will see. This weekend want to try and organise contact lenses for DD and make a claim before she turns 18 so can get £20 towards them. Ideally want to get a pair of my glasses re-glazed and then can claim that back (or part at least) at the same time.

DD took dog for a walk then I took DD shopping - mooching mainly. Got a few bits from personal spends and grocery pot. Nothing outrageous. Managed to get a £3.20 discount on stuff I was buying anyway and signed up me and DD for loyalty cards at H0bby... t and so will both get £5 on our birthdays in May. I suggested she use it towards my birthday present. I've offered to pay for her to out for a meal with friends for her birthday so she's thinking who to invite - I've given her a max budget. I'm hoping it will also have the side benefit of giving her a focus for after her exams. She's not liking the uncertainty over what comes next. Doesn't go well with ASD.

Did some self care earlier - as moisturised using a spray on most of me followed up by using some Cl1ni1que on face... Also used hand cream for several days in a row. Skin feels all silky now. It's the little thinks...

I'm thinking of going out for a walk briefly with the dog and then possibly having an early night - as I've had a low grade headache for a couple of hours now. It might sound weird but I think it was very bright outside this afternoon - which I like the idea of - but I think the lack of sleep is making my light sensitivity worse.

Grogged

Great progress there SH, and good to see you enjoying quality family and you time after the recent long hours at work.
Take care, G.

lucielle

Self care sounds good.  I'd love to go on a spa day
L

MovingForwards

Definitely go for a short walk, have a pamper do something just for you and then set aside you time every day, even if it's 10 minutes in the week and an hour weekends. It's the only way you can recharge.

Blackcats

Glad that you are taking care of yourself.  Micro moments of self care such as hand cream or keeping hydrated soon become habits. I'll be heading off to find my hand cream shortly.
I think your extra 10 days leave will make a real difference.
what are your plans when you are debt free?  

savingholmes

Thanks Grogged, Lucielle, MF and Blackcats

Well had a reasonably relaxing weekend. I made some art but must confess - it isn't as good as what I did last weekend. Therapeutic still though and I have paint mixed still to have another go another day. DH and I walked the dog 1.8 miles yesterday which was the best for a while. DD has her exams this fortnight. She starts easy with a 1 hour exam tomorrow. Hopefully she will be okay.

DS has done a few more hours this month - ironically most of them this week - but they are late paying his last invoice which is frustrating. 

DH gets paid Tuesday - then we will make another dent in the debt situation. I am currently over-spending due to work related stress. I have to just be grateful that the earlier part of the year we were so good financially and not beat myself up... I have to keep reminding myself of what we have achieved instead of focusing on what we haven't. 

Blackcats - Once we are debt free we have a list of things we want and a list of things we want to save for:

Wealth

• 3-6 months basic EF (and then on to save 1 year)
• Retirement savings - particularly for DH - so we have choices from 2025 onwards when we are both 55
• Mortgage repayment

Health

• DH wants an electric bike
• Re start gym membership
• Consider personal trainers
• Regular massage?

Holidays / Days Out

• Experience days
• Weekends away (2 of us)
• Family holiday this country
• Holiday just the 2 of us - this country and abroad at some point
  

Education / Business / Writing / Art

• I would like professional cover design for my books
• Possibly writing training / mentoring programme
• In an ideal world I would have an art / craft studio of my own - failing that it would be nice to regularly attend a craft group

Home improvements (if we think we are staying for 4 years or more)

• New windows (front window & preferably kitchen window) - energy efficiency
• New front door - energy efficiency
• New back door - energy efficiency
• Get house decorated
• New hall, stairs and landing carpet
• Consider bathroom / ensuite / downstairs toilet upgrades (or minimum new vanity/wash stand)
• Widen drive (DH wants this) 
• Replace main bedroom carpet and curtains
• Replace living room curtains
• Replace guest bedroom curtains / blind
• New shed
• Consider kitchen upgrade

Thanks for the effective reminder that "this too shall pass"

Busy_Mee

Loving your lists and plans SH. Being debt free is going to give you a lot more freedom to choose where your money is spent.

Blackcats

What a great list - I should know by now that you will have a great plan worked out and not respond to my "what will you do when you are debt free" question with a vague answer ! 👏