Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

FootyFanDan

Wow how good is that feeling of not paying the CC, and while i understand the dismay of spending money it certainly sounds like the spends were well enjoyed and you have worked so hard to get to this position so a few moments of enjoying will do you the world of good. I think over the course of the next few months you will settle back in a routine but it will be to build up savings and not to pay debt. Enjoy the rest of weekend  

DancingInTheRain

And in a whoosh the weekend has just disappeared 🙁
It really has gone in the blink of an eye. Yesterday morning I helped my Mum set up her new mobile phone before taking her to a nearby town to pick up some groceries and household supplies, I was pleased to see people mostly adhering to the face mask guidance and social distancing was pretty good too 👍
Mum treated me to a coffee and other than picking up some supplies for MIL (which were reimbursed) I maintained a NSD.
DH and DS1 spent the afternoon tidying the garden while I enjoyed a lazy afternoon inside on my own as DS2 had a massive nap (3 hours!!! 😱) We turned his cot into a toddler bed a few days ago so his sleep pattern has been a bit disrupted while he enjoys his new found freedom, has settled well tonight though so fingers crossed we've turned a corner 🤞
Weigh in today, I've lost 2lb and DH has stayed the same weight. He's going to be super busy at work and more focused next week so I reckon he'll win next week's weigh in.
We started reducing portion sizes and trying to make healthier choices at the start of July and we've lost 11lbs between us which we're both pleased with.
Between us we got the house dusted, polished and floors hoovered/mopped and 2 loads of washing done this morning and then I left DH to enjoy an afternoon of peace while the boys and I attended a small party for my Aunty's 80th birthday.
It was held at my cousin's house and thankfully the weather was lovely so all of us were able to sit outside in our bubbles and at a distance as she has a huge garden. The boys were fantastic and made full use of my cousin's trampoline and outdoor toys so were able to keep their distance from others.
It was so lovely to see my family, some of us hadn't seen each other since Christmas so it felt really special and my Aunty was over the moon to have us all there to celebrate 😍
Exhausted now so tucked up in bed, going to catch up in a few diaries and have an early night in readiness for another busy week at work for DH and I.
All in all, almost a 'normal' sort of weekend that I would have thought nothing of pre Covid but one I feel
incredibly thankful for in these strange times.
Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend, (((hugs))) for those that need them xx

Lookafterthepennies2020

Sounds like a lovely weekend DITR I think one of the things covid has taught us is how much was taken for granted previously and how it's the little things that are really important xxx

beanielou

Glad that you had a lovely weekend 

Bubblesmum

Lots of joy and happiness despite these strange times... 

savingholmes

Sounds like a fab weekend

DancingInTheRain

Definitely have not turned a corner with DS2 & the bedtime situation,
I've just been upstairs and given a demonstration of my best 'Mum Voice' 😩 he's settling for his afternoon nap fine but bedtime is in danger of turning into a battleground and it's been closer to 9pm each night by the time he settles, as he shares with DS1 this is having a knock on effect on him too.

Thank goodness it's not term time for another month, poor DS1 would be like a little zombie. I've just put him in our bed, I don't like doing this but the poor boy is shattered and DS2 is being left on his own to exhaust himself and collapse in a heap again. Oh the joys of parenthood!!!

I'm usually in bed around 10 so the amount of child free time I get is super small at the moment and I'm behind in my coursework for the work related qualification which is adding to my worries as I just can't free any time up to get it done.

Had a chat with my tutor yesterday and said I'd take some time during my upcoming annual leave to catch up, my Mum and MIL will hopefully take the boys as usual and I can crack on and get the assignments completed.

New mattress has turned up and is being left to settle for a couple of days, looking forward to sleeping on it tomorrow 🙂

Small top up shop today and bought some refillable hand sanitizer bottles to attach to all our bags as we're using so many bottles lately and want to reduce our environmental impact, our facemasks are already washable so at least they're fine.

Keeping up with scanning receipts but not bothered with any surveys recently. I think a combination of cashing out most of them recently and allowing myself to be more fluid in my approach to savings/extra income this month is having an impact and honestly I

just don't feel like I have the headspace and certainly have a lack of urgency now the debt is clear. 
I am however already thinking ahead to September, which I always think of as a form of new year/new start, where I plan to get back on the surveys and selling sites to drive up the savings pot - think this target will form part of my signature from next month as I always feel motivated updating the percentage achieved on there.

Anyway, that's enough rambling from me! Hope everyone else is well and keeping safe, I'm off to see if DS2 has collapsed in a heap on his bed/floor/wherever... 🤣🤣 xx

sashybo

Sorry to hear you're having problems getting DS2 to settle at night.

My DS has just started jumping out of bed like a jack-in-the-box as soon as we get him into it. He used to get into bed and stay there no problem but not anymore. He wants us to stay with him until he falls asleep but tends to carry on if we do. It's tiring and frustrating, so I feel for you as well. 

DancingInTheRain

Thanks @sashybo and sorry to hear you're having similar frustrations.

I've really got nothing to complain about but I've been very spoiled by usually having the boys tucked up and asleep between 7 & 7.30 so I'm feeling quite resentful that my child free evenings are diminishing at the moment, that downtime is so important to feel like me and not just Mum.

However today is a new day so we'll see what happens tonight...

Today will be a NSD, DH and I have both had work and the boys have been with MIL so no time for shops and nothing needed/wanted online.

August budget ticking over nicely, need to double check if I need any final pieces for the boys going to school in September and be prepared for a potentially bigger car bill than previously hoped when my car goes to the garage next Friday as it needs more work than the planned basic MOT and service but safety comes first.

Have managed to pick DS2's birthday gifts up 2nd hand from Facebook so saved a few pennies there.

Other than that, everything is a little boring at the moment!

Take care all x

ohdearhowdidthathappen

How old is DS2?  If 2.5+, it may be time to cut back the day time nap to an hour and make sure he's awake by 2.30pm.  I was very anal with my kids' sleep patterns as I found it necessary for my sanity for the, to be asleep by 7.30..... 5 hours of being awake after a nap seemed to be the magic number.  I was always very sad to lose their day time nap though !!