Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

SandyShores

Trip to the smaller Boots today and managed to find three suitable gifts on the three for two offer, plus a half price one.  Pleased with my purchases and they've all been funded from the points with a few pounds left as well.  All cards written and delivered, I remembered I need to write one more which needs to go RM, so it may be something to do on boxing day when I can spend time doing a new year update note as well.  The decorations are out - just a few this year, and most shopping done.  Bit more shopping tomorrow when I can use either the Sainsbugs nectar points or the Asda Reward points - I just don't want to get stuck in the car park of either so I think it will be an early morning trip out.  My bank account feels a little sad, but there isn't any spending needed now for a while, so think we'll be fine.

SandyShores

Few last minute bits and pieces (and one present) bought today from the Sainsbugs - which left about a pound on the nectar points.  Still got around £20 of rewards to spend at Asda plus approx £300 for January.  Its probably the best position we've been in at Christmas, and I'm pleased with all of the gifts we purchased this year.  Feeling very grateful and looking forward to a quiet and relaxed day tomorrow.

savingholmes

Glad you felt in a good place. 

Hope you are having a lovely time.

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes, yes its been very quiet - so nice.  Its good that we are heading towards the new month with budget left over for January.  Its only a small budget but its enough and I'm glad that for this Xmas we've managed to spend only what we've got.  Its been helped by all the points and rewards we've been collecting all year - and by budgeting to that of course.  I'm still looking at savings plan vs overpayments at the moment.  Looking at £5k in a savings plan or overpayments, it depends on the account, but could be around £250 better off  over two years with a savings account.  It sounds awful to say its only £250 - but once its overpaid its gone and we don't have to worry about it again.  I'll have another think about it and make a decision before the end of the year.

SandyShores

SandyShores said (Nov'20):

Its great to look forward to this, but I sometimes (a) end up kicking myself over not doing it sooner and (b) wonder if I should be so strict about this as we're in our fifties and do need to enjoy our lives and (c) all this looking forward to paying off the mortgage means that I'm constantly looking towards a time when I'm at retirement age (!!!).  All three are sort of connected - (a) is where I beat myself up about things I've done wrong or things I haven't done, and (b) is about finding the things in life that are meaningful not just things that cost money and (c) means I need stop worrying and just enjoy life.  I've found a really good article on the internet about how dwelling on the past detracts from your present so I'm going to paste it here as a starter and a reminder: https://medium.com/swlh/forgive-yourself-for-everything-you-think-youve-done-wrong-eb932965bdec but I also need to stop worrying about the future as well.  So, my aims are to keep healthy, keep learning and to focus on the here and now (while paying off the mortgage as quickly as possible of course ).

I just looked back to the start of this thread over two years ago.  Things haven't happened as I'd wanted to in terms of the overpayments.  Mostly because covid took much longer than expected, but also because family took priority and we have helped with something more important than our overpayments.  What has gone really well is that I'm no longer kicking myself for not getting back on the housing ladder so late, and instead I'm grateful that we have had these chances to put things right for ourselves again.  We have 'cut it fine' but its do-able, and we have enjoyed ourselves and consequently relaxed a little more since 2 years ago.  I do worry about the future but I'm focussing more on health, wealth, happiness and the journey rather than trying at all costs to get to that point where the mortgage is paid off.  I had another look at the link I posted and it has helped me not to focus on the woulda, shoulda, coulda's:

"let your past “mistakes” serve as clarifying incidents that help you become certain about who you want to be and how you want to live your life in the present and the future — not incidents you obsessively replay over and over again in your memory."

savingholmes

SandyShores said:

  I had another look at the link I posted and it has helped me not to focus on the woulda, shoulda, coulda's:

"let your past “mistakes” serve as clarifying incidents that help you become certain about who you want to be and how you want to live your life in the present and the future — not incidents you obsessively replay over and over again in your memory."

If it helps I struggle with this too - I balance it however by regularly stroking my house or thinking of my kids and being grateful for what is in my life.

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes, yes definitely I am so grateful to have my job, a beautiful home, a family to love and our health.  Roll on 2023 and a great year!

Managed to read one of the book's in my waiting to be read pile today.  Plus have watched a couple of short series.  Its nice to have some time to rebalance.

SandyShores

So its NYE 2022 and my last goal review before the brand new year   I think I'm heading in the right direction but while I was reading yesterday I came across an extended list for a balanced life.  No's 5-8 cover interacting with people, environment (which covers my decorating/gardening goal), financial (of course ) and occupational (which I think encompasses my desire to learn and to use that learning for a really worthwhile career):

1. Mental
2. Physical
3. Emotional
4. Spiritual
5. Social
6. Environmental
7. Financial
8. Occupational

I'd like to use this list to keep on track - we'll see how it goes (new years resolutions and all that .  My immediate tasks are:

• To corale the food budget so that we can save as much as possible. 
• Get back to healthy habits, including exercising and healthy eating. 
• Focus on work-life balance so that I'm not exhausted (physically and mentally) from work.  

I think that's enough to be getting on with.

SandyShores

As part of the Mental goal, I'm spending some time on my crafting and hobbies today.  And I've also been out to Waterstones and bought a new book.

savingholmes

Happy New Year. Enjoy the crafting and the book. Both make such a difference to me too.