Beating Lifestyle Inflation and Staying Mortgage Free!

earthgirl2

Thanks Beanie and Karma. I really need the positive tutoring vibes as I am not sure if we will have summer homestay students this year. Karma, I used to put off things and then let them build up but I've been saying to myself "that'll do" a lot more, my dad used to say it, and just getting things pretty much done ok instead of perfect. If it's pretty much done it's much better than not done at all!

earthgirl2

I am sat waiting outside football. I am feeling quite determined to make my life a bit more in the realms of how I want it lately just in terms of things I do have control over like health and how I spend my time.Maybe it's a lockdown thing or a turning 40 thing, I'm not sure! Anyway, I always wanted to be fit and healthy, and I'm well on the way now, about a stone lighter than I was. I feel like I can carry on with these habits, hopefully for as long as my body allows.  I also wanted my son to feel a lot happier, mentally stronger and t the moment anyway he seems so much better.  It has got me thinking I wonder what else I could improve, things I never thought possible...
I want to be more active as a family. The kids are still at an age where they will do things with us and want to do things with us.
So, every week on my weekly list I have "plan something outdoors this week". It could be a fire on the beach, watching the sunset or hiking (when these are allowed). Once a month we are going to go camping in summer when it's allowed. In autumn we could do a pony trek or go glamping somewhere. Maybe a snow trip up north in winter. OH and the kids are onboard with doing all this. But it will cost and I think being active outside regularly is important, more important that savings for a holiday. I can't  get these times back! I will think about setting a little budget for this going forward.

Karmacat

That sounds lovely, earthie.  You can't get this time back, it's the most precious thing there is.  Good for you  

apple_muncher

Karmacat said:

That sounds lovely, earthie.  You can't get this time back, it's the most precious thing there is.  Good for you  

Absolutely what karma said!

Kittenkirst

Being more active as a family sounds like a wonderful thing to want to work on. Last year during shielding I wrote a list of the things i missed or things i never got round to doing but would love to. The plan is then once we are able to move around a bit more freely to try and incorporate these activities in and make them social for example, rather than just another meal out with friends do a home cooked dinner with them and use the money to go to laser quest (As I love it but we never go!), or try out scuba diving which I’ve always wanted to do but never looked into!

Your kids will definitely have fond memories of these activities with you, and as Karma says you don’t ever get this time back, so its important to enjoy it together  

earthgirl2

Oh thanks for your encouragement! You are all so right - time is precious. And building memories isn't that expensive - just needs a little effort.

earthgirl2

Quick update, all going well. I have been down in the beach log hauling, got the kids playing outside and then they helped me inside with a few jobs. I tutored for 3 hours whilst the kids were playing with friends and then we had a heat through meal. It was s very relaxing day! 
I also tried olio app again and there was a lot of fresh food so I've arranged a collection tomorrow morning and it's also a beach walk away which is just great. I can do a beach walk and come home with veggies! 
I'm going to plan out a weeks meals tomorrow with all the reduced meat and fish I have to start making some space and saving some cash! I feel really confident now that I won't drink alcohol again, so I just need to cut down my love of fake Prosecco as a "treat" and come up with something sugar free and still treat worthy. 
Id like to be more confident in my sugar free ness. At the moment if someone offers a cake or biscuit I just eat it and don't even hesitate!! 

apple_muncher

I just love your log dragging!

earthgirl2

I made it totally obvious to the olio lady that I was not in need of food and if someone else requested the food that was fine. She said that she has to bin most of it and that it was nice to have a local person enquire, and I should do it regularly. There was also a table full of other food to take that no one had claimed. I feel a bit better about it. 

Anyway, it was a lovely walk there and back along the beach, and I collected another log. If I do this every day, by next winter we should have a pretty good supply. And I will have great biceps!
I've planned out our meals with what we have in the fridge or freezer. I will need to top up for fruit and some vegetables, milk and eggs. Should be able to do this for £15.

Beanie was right about my totally unachievable odds and sods budget of £0. DS2 went to the dentist and due to having pitted enamel, she has recommended a specific type of electric toothbrush - £50. This could actually come out of the grocery budget this week.

I have come up with the idea to 'pay' myself £5/30 mins of work on OHs business, up to a maximum of £200/month. This is multi functional. I need to motivate myself to do this work regularly, it's fun to see if I can 'cross off' every day, and I need a budget for 'getting outdoors'. For example, I needed to get 3 sleeping bags - we don't have any for the boys and mine is on it's last legs. So that will be £65 - if I work for 13 half an hour sessions I can pay for it. My idea is that one day OH actually does pay it into our home account! At the moment I'll syphen it off from the holidays budget.

earthgirl2

So some great income news, my tutoring has picked up, and I am now quite busy again. I have also been offered the same student to say with us for 3 weeks at Easter, which is a mixed blessing.
On one hand, there isn't anything open, we can't go away anywhere and I haven't been able to find a lodger for our room, so it is a 'good time'. Also I know him and we can be flexible with the tuition times. Also the pay is good.
On the other hand, I had just got our lives really so much better. This student hates going out even for exercise, and I had just started really focusing on exercising outside and exploring the hills. But really, the advice is still 'stay at home' so I can't go mad either.
Also, I had just got our eating really healthy and we were starting to see the benefit, I have lost 16lbs. So what are the opportunities here? What do I need to do to keep us on track - or improve?

1. Keep our routines going - make them really strong until then
2. keep to our once a week outdoor hill walking exercise as a family when the student arrives. Carve out this time and ask MIL to stay with student for a few hours - we can't go far anyway due to restrictions.
3. Plan quick regular walks and excursions for him - walking and talking as part of his speaking lesson for example. Fit this is with other things that I am doing anyway - it seems to motivate him if I say 'I need to go and collect xyz will you come with me?'
4. Keep going with the healthy eating when he is here. Supplement with side basket of chips or heat through baguettes so he always has something to eat. Have another cupboard clear out and use up during his stay - but I don't have to eat it.
5. Print off all the extra teaching resources I need to make things easier for me.
6. Think of a plan for the first week of the Easter holiday. The student will be here, he hates going out, nothing is open, and for part of that week 'stay at home' is still in place. My children are allowed to play with other kids outside though.  I could ease back on the students tuition this week if I do more when the kids are at school. Then I could do some combination of 'a daily walk' with the kids and student, a craft activity if raining, or playing in the garden. The children could have some kids to play outside or go and meet others at the park in the afternoon. My MIL could stay with the student 1 afternoon if we wanted to go a bit further for a walk.
I think we can manage it, and it is a good time to do it. I currently have the money coming in for savings for February, March - this would give me April and May's savings too.