Easter 2025 I’m coming to get you!

Hettyhound

Thanks savingholmes!  The problem is remembering where I put it 🤣.  I spent most of the day in the garden yesterday sorry if your weather was bad but surprisingly it was dry, mildish and sunny with me (North Yorkshire).  I did my winter tree pruning and gave one bad boy a lockdown haircut 💇‍♀️ it was sold as a patio variety of an apricot but definitely isn’t as it had got to about 7ft.  Well now it’s about 4ft.  It can either grow or not and if it doesn’t I’ll take it out later in the year; there’s no love lost between us as it just gets leaves.  My other patio varieties are fine and about 4.5ft high and do produce fruit.  I also planted a third of a packet of sweet peas so spring is on its way.  I chatted with a lady on the allotment yesterday and asked how long they were on the list as they got theirs last spring.  They were on about 3 years after being told the wait list was about 4.  We have been on the list just over 2.5 years and we’re told the wait list was 4-5.  It gives me an idea of where we might be.  I also sat the the garden later on wrapped up with a cuppa and thought about where things might go and what seeds I might need so best make a plan before I forget.  As a result I had a really good nights sleep 💤 

savingholmes

Sweet peas are so beautiful and flower for such a long period

Hettyhound

Morning everyone.  Not much happening around here at the moment (obviously 🤣).  I’m really pleased with my shopping budget this month as I’d reduced my monthly amount from £220 to £200 anyway.  Went shopping on Friday so ok until next Friday which is payday so new allowance.  This month I’ve spent £153.09 on groceries so dead chuffed.  OK so there was no pet food this month as I buy bigger bags so didn’t need any but that comes in around £25 so would still be under budget.  I got a notification on Friday to say my raised beds have moved to dispatch so might get those for the end of the week.  Behaviour wise we are both behaving ourselves, I’ve been meditating for 10 mins every morning at 6am using my Headspace app before he gets up for the last three weeks.  I don’t know if it’s that or whether I’ve just developed a “it doesn’t really matter in the bigger scheme of things” attitude but I have definitely felt calmer.  I’ve also sorted my sleep out (I’ve reread The 4 Pillar Plan) and get more of it although I am still conscious of waking in the night and then going back to sleep.   So now I’m no tech after 7pm, no food after I’ve eaten tea (which is generally 6pm), only herbal tea in the evening, in bed around 9:30 and read for a bit til I’m sleepy and get up at the same time everyday (about 6am).  I’ve got a sunrise alarm which I’ve had for about 15 years and it’s a gentler way to wake up.  One of his teachers told me I was too hard on myself and that I was doing a brilliant job and I actually took that on board.  Long may my calmness last 😇

savingholmes

Glad you are getting positive feedback and are feeling calmer. Long may that continue.

Hettyhound

It was payday for me yesterday so I’ll sort finances out today.  I went and did some food shopping yesterday so cupboards filled until next Friday and the fruit safely hidden.  Still feeling amazingly calm, fingers crossed this the new me 🤣. I ordered some seeds, raised beds still not here and I’ve also treated myself to a heated propagator which I’m very excited about.  I’ve managed to do some exercise in my lunch breaks and just chilled on an evening once the boy is in bed.  I’m not letting the state of the house and garden bother me, they’ll get sorted eventually and it’s too wet anyway to do anything with the garden.  I should be able to move a bit of money to my savings over the next couple of months.  I never got my roof done so I’ll have to chase that up in a couple of weeks and get him to put me at the beginning of spring list; that will deplete my savings.  Also my income will reduce in April so I need to balance my various pots for the year 🙂

savingholmes

Glad you are feeling calm. You are not alone with your house and garden being in a state. We can't do everything - and need time to relax too. Sounds like you've got positive plans for the garden...

Hettyhound

Afternoon All.  Been away a bit as not quite feeling the love for lockdown!  I’ve managed, hopefully, to pull myself out of the fug and have started looking forward.  My heated propagator has seedlings poking through, my raised beds are made although I need to dig over patch and place them properly.  I’ll order some compost this weekend to get them filled and on their way.  I’ve got washing pegged out (which is always joyous in my world) and the beds have been changed.  Payday on Friday so serious meal planning is required for shopping as we slipped a bit this month.  It’s my son’s birthday two weeks today so cake will need making and I’ve no idea what to buy him; his suggestions are not acceptable 🤣. My mortgage is now just under 47k which is pleasing to see and my overpayments are on track.  So looking at things logically not bad really!  

savingholmes

Laughing at DS's present suggestions being unacceptable. Too expensive? Too noisy? Too big?

L9XSS

Pretty much on the same trajectory as you! My mortgage is around 46k remaining with 3 years 11 months to go. I think your in an excellent position and doing really well. Yes you are doing a brilliant job, be kind to yourself. No way could I have achieved this when my children were so young!

Hettyhound

Thanks Guys!  The unacceptable presents are an electric guitar or a motorbike; he’s going to be 8.  He did ask for some more police cars or fire engines so I think that’s what he will get.