Champagne Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget - 2021

helensbiggestfan

Gorgeous day here, currently sat out in my garden.  Being thoroughly lazy.  Thankfully pain is a lot easier today.  Getting there.  

I have been to Aldi and stocked up on healthy paleo friendly foods, with just a couple of little treats for if family come at the weekend.  

Wednesday glad you're feeling more rested.  You're right, lots of rest, good sleep, fresh air and gentle exercise.  

SUgarbaby....ouch to the knee, so easily done  isn't it.  Hope you feel better soon. 

I'm definitely pacing myself now, from now on no more bull at a gate. 😂

 #Tortoise and the Hare.  😉

I read today that Tina Turner has said she feels tired and it's time to retire.  She's 81. 😂🤣

sugarbaby125

Positive thought for today:

Just because something is right for someone else does not mean it is right for you (Katie Piper)

savingfortomorrow

Life went super busy and had to take on extra family responsibilities caring for someone as a respite for a few weeks. I knew it has hard but honestly, I only get it now. But knowing I can do makes me and the family I took over feel more confident that it can be done and done well. 
I am still saving as much as possible keeping to a smaller budget if possible. I tend to do a massive shop once a month and stock up with dried goods in the Asian supermarket, a large shop in Tesco, and then the smaller shops every few days in lidl and aldi. It works but I want to really focus on keeping more money as this is my 3 expensive months- car insurance, mot, professional insurance, and household insurance. I guess the total will be over 2200 at least. I really hate having everything together but at least it is saved up. I have a separate account for this and save 60 a week so this ok.
No new clothes or online purchases this year and I just don't want to get more to just have. 

I interviewed for a new job today. I am down money with the covid reduced hours and trying to look at alternatives. The new role has a better variety and sounds interesting but it is a different sector and would be a massive wage drop. The hours are more antisocial and more travel. It is hard to realize that the negatives of less money, more commuting, and earlier starts are too much. It's difficult to admit my favorite dreamwork is impractical to go for. I just feel that the scrimping by is just not worth it. A nightmare is still a dream - I have to make sure any changes I make are fully intended and right for me. 

My spring project- Paint the kitchen and bedroom (with ensuite). I want to do something to the garden- maybe a few pots.
Champagne moment- I replaced and upgraded appliances in the kitchen with a new professional food processer and cooker

helensbiggestfan

Good morning my lovely friends.  

Quiet champagne moment.   Awake with the larks, sitting in bed drinking my coffee, looking at the sunshine, planning my day.  The weather looks ok and although I'm still stiff and sore, pain levels are a little better so hopefully I will manage to get out and about today.  A walk and potter in the garden if it warms up enough.  

Hoping to deep clean the kitchen/diner today.  Yesterday I did my bedroom, the lounge and the hall.  I used to be able to do a whole house in a Morning  but now I pace myself.  😉.  My aim this year is to completely declutter both the house, and the garden and sheds so I can make things easier to clean and maintain.  

SFT sounds like a nice project.  My main painting this year will be fence panels, there are a lot them.  😱😂

Re the job decision........It's difficult when your preferred choice of job means a huge pay cut, I guess you just have to weigh it all up.  I don't know what you do and what your skill set is but is there anyway you can work out a way of transitioning into your ultimate dream job without putting yourself under too much financial pressure. 

 Maybe you need to compromise for now.......

1.    take a better paid job and ease yourself into your dream job, either doing the dream job on a part time basis or as a sideline business, until such time as you can afford to fully transition.  

2.     Or, take the dream job and take the financial hit but then either set up a sideline business or take a second job to make up the short fall in income. 

It all depends on your attitude to risk.  How comfortable would you feel by taking a financial hit.  Would you be happy to take a leap of faith or would you feel more confident if you built up a little nest egg first to tide you over any lean times.  

We can make our dreams come true, but sometimes they need time to come to fruition and we might have to take a circuitous route.  Slowly, slowly catchee monkey.  😉. 

Maybe ask yourself where you want to be in 5 years time  and then you can map out a plan how to get there.  

Anyway, good luck whatever you decide.  

Apparently we are due some nice warm weather next week.  Wahoo.  I will be out there making the most of it.  

helensbiggestfan

Just checked my March budget.......could do better. 😂🤣.  

sugarbaby125

Positive thought for today:

The pain you feel today will become the strength you find tomorrow (Katie Piper) 

sugarbaby125

LL I hope that your pain will improve soon. 

I feel fortunate that I can use my right knee now without pain or without limping today   

Wednesday2000

It is a stunningly gorgeous day today. I'm about to sit outside and read my book in the sunshine. I had to bin my flowers this morning as they were starting to wilt. I will get my husband to buy me some more on his way home.

phoebe1989seb

Glad your knee is so much better, sugarbaby! Sorry you're still not 100%, LL.....

The weather was lovely here too first thing, but is now clouding over with rain forecast for later/tomorrow. Hopefully it won't stop me getting on with potting up 120 bulbs that will eventually go in the flower bed inspired by Sissinghurst 😉

Friday was windy and cold with some hail so I was happy to have stuff to do indoors and that I'd managed to get the four David Austin roses and a few more alliums planted out as well as potting six Sarah Bernhardt peonies and prepping the raised beds with fresh compost the previous day.

On Thursday I also took a stroll through our portion of the leat, mainly hunting for primroses but there were none to be found. Lots of wild garlic coming up though!

Instead of being outside yesterday I took the opportunity to order Easter gifts for the family and search out the Easter tree/decs, the box of which had somehow disappeared into an ocean of similar boxes in the guest bedroom aka dumping ground, lol! Will get that put up in the kitchen tomorrow 🐣

Today - whilst DH went for an early site meeting at the cottage he's project managing/renovating for his London clients - I had a leisurely breakfast in the egg chair before having a quick walk round the garden with the dogs, inspecting what's coming up (and what's not - I really need to learn what can tolerate a wet Welsh winter!).

There's actually loads poking through the soil including the three Eremurus that were a bit of a splurge last year, the existing SB peonies, Astilbes, Astrantias and Sarumas. Lots of cherry blossom too 😊

Here's a pic of my view of our trees through to a beautifully blue sky from the egg this morning....And my trussed up purple hyacinths that are still going strong (taken earlier this week when the weather was pants, lol!)....Have a good weekend!

Wednesday2000

Lovely photos Phoebe!