Beating Lifestyle Inflation and Staying Mortgage Free!

savingholmes

Glad you have a new client and things are improving 

the_end_of_the_rainbow

Hope you are well earthie and that the health situation has sorted itself out x

earthgirl2

Hello,

I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated wow! All is well here generally I can't believe that the war in Ukraine is coming up to its first year anniversary and I've been so sad to see and hear about the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. charity giving has increased for us a lot lately.

I've completed my 50 winter swims challenge and along with two friends we raised £865 for autoimmune research.

I am a member of my local gym now it is lovely it has a pool and lots of classes and I've made friends there. I can take the children swimming there too, however, with the nights getting lighter they are now much more able to play out with their friends. So I'm in a bit of a quandary. It costs £82 a month which is expensive, but I do a class every day and enjoy the social side of the gym and I still get to take them every now and again swimming, but yeah, I could definitely pause this until the winter. 

Like everyone I've seen big increases in the cost of grocery shopping. It's ridiculous. I'm still doing my Olio collection for my local food bank so I distribute the items that need used that day and give the rest to the food bank for the next day. I get to keep 10% of the items if I want to but I just tend to take what's left. 

We have booked a glamping trip at Easter and a camping trip in summer in the UK and that's it. I really want to travel my children not so much and it's silly wasting money on foreign travel if they're not really wanting to do it. I'm sure they will reconsider this when they are older! 

Works really busy, and I got a bit of a promotion and have been working on really interesting projects. I feel a little bit overwhelmed with things sometimes and can't seem to get everything done.

My new clients for tutoring are great I think I have another two starting. I also had a homestay student for a week over February half term so I'm making extra money when I can.

I'm trying not to let lifestyle inflation creep in, but it's really hard when I get value out of things like going to the gym but it's so expensive. Same thing with groceries. I know that if I buy certain foods they're a little bit more expensive, but the kids will eat them and they will eat more protein and vegetables but my shopping bill is now at about £100 a week for a family of four. It used to be £40 a week.

I'm due to have some days off work due to my promotion and working extra hours. I can get some days back. I could use this for a holiday which will be cheaper than going in school holidays but like I said the kids are not that interested. I could use these days to declutter the house and sell things so that I'm making a bit more money and the house is a bit tidier. I could use these days for some of my hobbies - i've been trying to go hiking women's walking group recently. 

I just wanted to give a bit of an update and write about some of the things that I am pondering at the moment, with regards to money!

earthgirl2

Also health update. The neurologist has said that there is nothing untoward and that the leaking spinal fluid is now not leaking. This is great news. I have been discharged and just working on staying as healthy as possible with exercise hiking and swimming.

beanielou

earthgirl2 said:

Also health update. The neurologist has said that there is nothing untoward and that the leaking spinal fluid is now not leaking. This is great news. I have been discharged and just working on staying as healthy as possible with exercise hiking and swimming.

This is good news.
At £20 per week I would keep the gym~~worth its weight in gold.

savingholmes

Fantastic news on your health. So pleased for you.

On the gym - you seem a really frugal person overall - so I think if it brings you pleasure and you can afford it - keep it. The social and fitness side are both really important.

earthgirl2

Thanks beanie and saving Holmes. It does bring me pleasure and I can afford it now, and it does keep me fit and healthy and socialising a little too. Because I work from home it's good to go out and see people that are not connected to work. I shower there too everyday. I could get the kids to shower there too! 

I'll continue to think about it. In winter it adds so much value to our lives as the nights are dark and the kids football pitches are frozen, they would go stir crazy in the house! Or just be on phones etc which we try to avoid. 

I've accepted a bit more work, and I can be more mindful and frugal in other ways too, quite easily. Here are my current ideas 

 take the difficult to please in books child to the bigger library (I deleted a book today that he chose off mr As - it was £12.50!!). 

I cancelled our attendance at an event (oh will go it is his relative) saving £120! It would be boring for the children anyway. I bought a present with a £20 voucher I got for pet insurance. 

Kids can make mothers day cards for the grandparents. 

And we are having very frugal holidays this year! 

I'm going to read through your diaries and get some more inspiration. 

the_end_of_the_rainbow

earthgirl2 said:

Also health update. The neurologist has said that there is nothing untoward and that the leaking spinal fluid is now not leaking. This is great news. I have been discharged and just working on staying as healthy as possible with exercise hiking and swimming.

Great news - so pleased for you x

earthgirl2

I still get neck and shoulder pain but I know it's not serious which is good. I'm having to rest a bit today and it's so lovely to read pages and pages of diaries! 

It's been so sunny and bright here that I've been wanting to go out walking rather than to the gym. Why be inside sweating when I can be outside? Kids have also spent a lot longer outside too. 

themadvix

So glad to hear that your health issues have been resolved Earthie!

We too are having frugal holidays this year

Enjoy the sunshine - despite a brighter start, it has returned to overcast and damp here.