Beating Lifestyle Inflation and Staying Mortgage Free!

apple_muncher

You have done the best that you could with the circumstances that you had. You are so right to keep looking forwards. Go earthie!!!

earthgirl2

Hello all, 
Long time inposting an update. I think I might be having a mid life crisis
I have been working very hard at actual work which is good I like to be busy but I have reached saturation point, even my boss thinks I am doing too much, so no more will be piled on which is good.
Im also so mad at myself, being talked in to doing extra tutoring, because the company I work for have some difficult children to teach, apparently no one else would take them I am not very good at saying no. I have negotiated that I will finish on 17 June with them, so It only a month. I just really don't want the work - I want the time in the sunshine with the kids. I must get better at saying no!
Anyway, speaking of which, I have purchased an inflatable kayak and wetsuits for the kids, life jackets for all. We live right next to the beach and can just go kayaking for an hour. 
This is my joke about the midlife crisis - others get sports cars but I have got myself a kayak.
I still want to beat lifestyle inflation and be 'good' with money, but be mindful about eating healthy food, being active, making memories for the kids, reducing stress, and enjoying life too.

In terms of money making, I have almost saved up the total amount I wanted by the end of the year, and should have this by the end of July. I have set up an auto investment for our spare cash. I have ebayed a high value item, and sold the rest as a job lot.

In money saving news, I have finished my gym membership and DS2 has dropped one of his football membership things. I have produce growing in the garden which will save up money too.

To do:
Say no to more work, and yes to life, at this stage of my life I need to do things with the kids before they are not interested!
Finish closing last bank account opened for introductory reward.

apple_muncher

Hope all is going well with you, earthie x

beanielou

Hope you are enjoying the holidays 

earthgirl2

Hi apple and beanie! How nice to hear from you! Yes I'm having a good holiday thank you. 

I had my second vaccination yesterday and my face has frozen again but it isn't too bad!

so much news that's I really don't know where to start!  I completed some training and it had a profound affect on me and I realised a lot about myself. I have changed quite a few things and I want to achieve so much but I also don't want to burn out. I think I was heading for a burn out so I asked the agency I work for to look at finding another teacher for the homestay student I was due to have. I also was already cutting down online work, so I have only about ten hours online work per week.

Im spending my time a lot more deliberately.

In terms of money in, I'm going to try to change my model so I can put my prices up or earn more per hour. 

In terms of saving I'm being sensible with everything and living as frugally as possible. Luckily both me and the boys have birthdays coming up so any little things we need will be saved for then!

Karmacat

Blimey, earthie, that sounds fantastic, a real turning point for you!  

earthgirl2

Things were going so, so well! I was healthy, fit, still frugal and enjoying life. 

Some hard things happened, but I feel I'm turning a corner, so you could skip this section if its a bit dreary!!

Sadly, my dad had a fall which resulted in a brain injury in July. All sorts of things happened and my life was literally turned upside down. In hindsight, I could have handled things better, put my health and mental health first, but I didn't, I let it turn my life upside down.

I needed to buy lots of things for him to return home and I couldn't get social services to work with us, but they did after I took legal action. My lovely dad is at home and continues to improve and I am so grateful that I am getting this 'extra' time with him, so that he knows how much I love him. I had been travelling up and down to him when I could but it was a 5 - 6 hour drive. For the last month I have been trying to get myself back on track up here in Scotland, with his encouragement.

In September we all got covid, and whilst I don't think we have long covid, we were left totally exhausted by it. I rushed back to work and caring for my dad which wasn't perhaps the best idea in hindsight.

Other little things have been happening as well, the cat got ill, my car broke down. I just had to spend on these things. And then I lost the plot - buying things I could stick in the oven for the kids to eat rather than cooking from scratch, and then both kids had birthdays and I just bought them everything they wanted. I stopped exercising, put on all the weight again, and was the opposite of how I was in July.

So now I'm keeking around the corner of all of this rubbish, and taking small steps forward - not looking back.

beanielou

Sorry to hear about your dad.
Sometimes life happens & we cant be frugal all the time.
Dont beat yourself up about buying ready meals & the kids birthday spending.

earthgirl2

Thanks Beanie! I know it is what it is, everything is preparing me for something else on this journey. I don't feel bad, just don't want to stay in this position.
Over the last few days I have had a big declutter and tidy. I felt much more positive today and had a lovely walk and a work out. I am going to slowly get my s * together this week, and get my health and our money back on track.
This weeks aims are:
schedule a mortgage review
organise where to keep other money
shop from home - just get a top up shop
think of a way to get 2 teenage boys presents without just giving cash/voucher.

Karmacat

Good grief, Earthie!  So sorry to hear about your dad, most of all, but you yourself have had a hard time of it.  I don't think there's a single person on here who *wouldn't* have gone the ready meals etc route - I did that just yesterday, half a packet of microwave rice with a tin of butterbeans and a scatter of chutney and feta.  

Hope your cat's okay too.  xx