2020 - 'Nothing in your life will change until you make the decision to change'

savingholmes

Hope you feel better soon. Ending the month £200 up is great

Kitten868

More clear floor and £200 left over is great. Especially in January! 
Sorry your anxiety is rearing its head. I'm sure it's normal. Mine has done the same. It's the schools being shut I think. I can cope with the restrictions and the kids can too but to take away the most central part of their routine and development is so truly awful. I'm not blaming anyone or angry at anyone because there's no one to be angry with. But I'm still just so angry. Maybe yours is the same. Plus it just loads so much more onto your plate which doesn't help. Maybe pin point what yours is? I asked my friend what hers was and she's missing shopping. It was good to hear her be so honest about it. Another said it was just how many people refuse to stop doing what they want to do and how it impacts us. 
Maybe split the money between savings and you and the kids? I've bought some crafting kits from Baker ross for mine. They're Easter themed though but never mind. We might do them early. 
Keep going. We all think you are amazing. I hope your book helps xxx

jwil

beanielou said:

I think lockdown is really getting to everyone.
Everyone seems to be on edge & struggling to deal with everything & it's gloomy January & we are all skint......................

Yes, this lockdown is so much harder than previous ones.

jwil

savingholmes said:

Hope you feel better soon. Ending the month £200 up is great

Thank you,  It's the first time ever, I'm so pleased

Kitten868 said:

More clear floor and £200 left over is great. Especially in January! 
Sorry your anxiety is rearing its head. I'm sure it's normal. Mine has done the same. It's the schools being shut I think. I can cope with the restrictions and the kids can too but to take away the most central part of their routine and development is so truly awful. I'm not blaming anyone or angry at anyone because there's no one to be angry with. But I'm still just so angry. Maybe yours is the same. Plus it just loads so much more onto your plate which doesn't help. Maybe pin point what yours is? I asked my friend what hers was and she's missing shopping. It was good to hear her be so honest about it. Another said it was just how many people refuse to stop doing what they want to do and how it impacts us. 
Maybe split the money between savings and you and the kids? I've bought some crafting kits from Baker ross for mine. They're Easter themed though but never mind. We might do them early. 
Keep going. We all think you are amazing. I hope your book helps xxx

Thank you   I'm sorry your anxiety is bad too.  I agree mine is mostly related to the schools being shut.  The kids desperately want to be back with their friends, and it's removed home from being a place of relaxation and an escape from everything, to a place where everything has to be done.  Then it's the added pressure of home schooling on top of work.  It means I'm essentially on one screen or another between 6am and 7pm and then any breaks I manage to get are generally feeding everyone or sorting something else out.

I think the events of last weekend have tipped over my health anxiety as well - I've always been worried about it as I am vulnerable, and it's been worse this wave, but now it's extreme.  I was reading my book today and it definitely fits me, and it's opened my eyes already to some bad habits which I thought were helping me but actually exacerbate the situation.

I really want to go to the beach and get some seaside air!

jwil

I've decided to put the £200 in a 'house improvement' fund.  Just something I can dip in and out of whenever we need something for the house.  This might be some plants whenever I get round to it, replacing our sofas which are now holed and so uncomfortable, replacing damaged curtains, buying a new dining table that's big enough for us all - that sort of thing.  We've been 'making do' for so long, it would make a big difference to have stuff we like and that is comfortable and decent quality.

Obviously the pot will need to grow, and I'm not going to rush out and buy stuff, I definitely want it to 'spark joy' and also last, so will wait until we find something we really like.  I'll still be keeping an eye out for second hand bargains too!

jwil

Updating this to add my house improvement fund to it

Debts:
1. £8,153/ £8,144

2. £3,754/£3,750

3.  £1,856/£1,854

4.  £4,726/£4,720

Total: £18,489/£18,468

Car - £1,000/£900

Mortgage - £108,099.83/£107,296.00

Savings:
LISA: £352.24/£426.50

Premium bonds £175/£200

Emergency fund: £13.18/£82.90
Cash Buffer: £120/£190
House improvement fund: £200

jwil

Payday today, hurrah!
All payments have been made, and I've put lots away in various savings pots. I've upped the payment to DH for the car to £150 as it would be nice to clear that, especially as he might need it for his car.  There's a lot bad about this lockdown, but I'm saving on childcare and swimming etc, so I can bump up the pots with this money.

I'm feeling a little better today thankfully. I feel disappointed that it's essentially been a waste of a few days off, but there's nothing I can do about it.  Looking forward to the weekend with no school work and we can all properly relax!

beanielou

Enjoy your weekend

Kitten868

I love ikea sofas and they are no way near as expensive as the dfs version plus you can custom them to fit and suit your space which I love. My mum thought it looked custom as it exactly fits my front room. 
I'm glad it's not just me that's upset with the schools being shut. 
Go get yourself some fresh air lovely lady xxxx

savingholmes

I get what you mean about home not exactly being a tranquil, relaxing space during lockdown. We have DS home with us - and I'm glad for his safety but it was a big adjustment after him mostly being away at uni (including abroad one year). He originally planned to go down to London. I think we just have to - as you are doing - look for the good. The good is that we're spending less and can send more to debt. The good is that it is getting lighter - so we can all get back outside more again. The good is that it should get warmer soon and we'll be able to spend more time in the garden... The good is that we're building memories with our kids we might not have had if things had been different.