*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

EssexHebridean said:

LOL at listening to podcasts, agreeing with every word, and then doing the opposite - I reckon we've all been there in one area or another! I listen to podcasts a lot - when I'm walking or running, and at the gym. I love Gabby Logan's "Mid Point" - she's great to listen to anyway and she's interviewed some fascinating people. The Good Medic Podcast also has some interesting stuff although you do have to pick and choose a bit with hers. 

On the sleep thing by the way, I've found that it's best to not assume that solid sleep means good quality sleep. I can have nights where I sleep right through, lots of deep sleep, but the overall quality wasn't good according to Garmin. (I am well aware by the way that these devices can say al sorts of things but I was surprised how accurate Garmin's "body battery" thing was when I went through a couple of weeks not looking at it first thing but instead consciously analysing how I felt when I woke - rested, wide awake, still drowsy, low in energy or whatever - then once I'd noted that comparing with the device app.) And there is unquestionably (in  my mind, anyway having seen the evidence in the app over more than a year now) a link between a lack of "recharging of body battery" and having had a drink which really cannot be coincidental. (It explains why while working at the beer festival even on mornings where I felt I'd slept really well, my energy levels still fell, and fell, and fell through the week until by the saturday I was essentially running on empty!) It's quite fascinating - some things that I'd always assumed would mean a worse night's sleep barely affect me at all, yet others have a real effect! 

That's a good point re sleeping EH, I'm not good at sleeping wearing watches etc so never get to analyse my quality of sleep.  There could definitely be a quality vs quantity thing.
Sometimes there's a denial element, I don't want to hear the negatives about the vices I like but the more I read around the subject I am realising there are no real positives of drinking alcohol.  Sad times...

ohdearhowdidthathappen

savingholmes said:

I think recognising your traits is a good first step to dealing with them. It sounds like you do a lot of good things looking at your bmi etc and your overall home equity - but need to redirect in others. I think definitely trying to find a healthy obsession sounds a good call...

Thanks SH....
I think I'm realising it's more about being mindful - I'm not a fan of the term, but it makes sense.  Being aware about the decisions we make and seeing if the trade off is worth it,
I think most adults have a weakness... some eat too much, or smoke too much, or drink too much.  Then there's overspending, gambling etc.  Adulthood is a minefield!  I'm middle aged and still feel clueless  

ohdearhowdidthathappen

EH... I'll add Gabby to my podcast list to check out, thanks for suggestion

ohdearhowdidthathappen

So, in my new quest to find more healthy addictions:

- I've signed up for a course that will keep my hands (and brain?) busy... it involves wool and a hook.  We'll see, I've never been overly craft activity minded
- I haven't cancelled my gym membership (it's been frozen for months).  The latest freeze ends next month, so I'm going to identify some classes that appeal and schedule them in my diary
- have downloaded a couple of books that I think will help with shifting my mindset

Money wise
- renegotiated my internet with my provider as they were quoting double the going rate for broadband, they've brought their renewal down to what I wanted (no monthly saving against what we pay now, but no increase)
- rejigged our sims and switched to a new provider (same price as current, but more data)
- water bill has gone down £10pm, not sure why, but ok
- gas/electricity has reduced our DD by £40pm as we had too much of a credit ( I was deliberately building a credit, but whatever)
- have decided not to renew merl!n next year.  We've definitely had our money's worth this year, but have hammered the passes and want to do other things next year
- we're committed to not doing any house projects next year

EssexHebridean

Great planning there - and some nice work on the financial side there too. On the energy thing as long as either you have SM's sending regular readings, or you are providing readings monthly and have been for some time then their picture of your use should be fairly accurate - although whether they have taken into account the sharp increase in costs is going to be another question. On the other hand, they may well not have taken into account the EBSS payments from the government either, so...! 

I think the booze thing is one of those things where yes, as an absolute there is no "benefit" to drinking it (apart from the possibles around a glass of red wine a day, and I believe a small beer daily has also been shown to have some positives over someone who is teetotal - don't quote me on that one though!) but then again we do lots of things in our lives which probably don't have absolute health benefits. I've said previously - if when one of those months where everyone is encouraged not to drink comes along, and you find yourself wondering if it might be a good idea to do it, then it probably would. If you then struggle to give it up for just a month, then bigger alarm bells might perhaps be rung. 

Good call on the Merlin passes - the evaluation that you've "been there, done that", got your money's worth but that it won't work so well on the moneys worth front next year is very clear cut and makes the decision remarkably easy doesn't it.  I wish we'd reached the point where house projects weren't a thing...I think our bedroom might well be next! 

savingholmes

Sounds like some great redirection there. Let us know how you get on.

Drawingaline

You sound very positive. 

I hear you on the adult thing. I definitely eat too much. I can take or leave alcohol. Sometimes we will get a case of cider, its gone in a week. Then other times it takes sox mo the to go through it. We tend to only drink with friends, also as the only driver if the teens are out at work in the evenings I can't drink as I need to collect them. 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

We've been discussing our cars over the last few months as they're one the most obvious weaknesses in our budget, after the mortgage and food bill, they're our biggest outgoing.
Currently, we have a 7 seater on lease at £245 a month and the other one on finance at £220 a month.  Ouch.  
The lease finishes Nov 2023, the other car we're 6 months into the deal.
We've been talking about going down to one car as DH now works from home (thanks covid).... when our lease runs out, we'd get a second hand 7 seater and get rid of the little car which is the one that is currently financed
I pointed out to DH that we could get rid of the little car now, but he isn't keen  

mark55man

I got a 7 seater 54 plate Zafira a couple of years ago for £4K - done my fine.  You may prefer something a little newer so that would get more expensive but still doable!

Aspiration

I’ve always gone in cycles with cars. 

Justifying why I need a nice one, then have a reality check and go with something sensible. 

We’re changing cars and this will save us nearly £400 a month. Whilst we’ve enjoyed having a nice car, the reality is it’s such a big cost it’s just not worth losing that amount of money. 

Good luck with whatever you decide and either way, it’s great it’s a lever you can pull if you need to.