Budgeting by the beach

DaisyCheerings

Thanks doingitanyway.  It's always good to find recommendations.  I have subscribed to her YouTube channel.

savingholmes

Hope listening/watching the channel helps.

DaisyCheerings

How the time always flies by.  It's still feeling like winter though, so that's my excuse!!!

Lots to catch up on!

The booked holiday - this was amazing.  I had such a great time.  There was just 2 of us, and we get on great, so it was a lot of fun and wasn't too high paced.  We had a couple of relaxing days and a couple of high adventure days (we made a chocolate bar at Hotel Chocolat HQ and hired a driver for a day to take us on a guided tour around the island).  One of the relaxing days was spent at the beach and as we arrived this local man ran up to us and asked if we were ok and then said "are you sure you're ok, you two look brand new". Ha ha.  It still tickles me when I think of it.  What a lovely way to put how our skin colour resembling the tone of milk makes us look like we're brand new!

The next holiday they went on I missed and although it looks fantastic based on their photos, I'm mostly glad I didn't go.

I've scheduled a weekend trip away for everyone in the UK in October, which is different to the main October trip that could happen.  So I'm currently frantically saving up for that big holiday so if it's a trip I really want to go on, I can without any issue.

While on my trip away, it kind of reset me.  It sounds dramatic but that holiday feels like it was life changing for me.  Being away from the hustles of life, I got to just sit on a beach and on a marina and think and plan.  My friend is an avid book reader, so when we sat quietly he read and I was really able to get into my head and figure some things out (I was listening to an audio book which didn't block my thought process).  I realised that I have put myself on call for anyone who asks and that I actually need routine in my life.  I need set times each week which are mine to plan my own needs around.  I didn't have that because I was always trying to keep everyone else happy on their time and schedules which was making me unhappy without really realising it.

Since arriving home, I have worked out what hours I can dedicate to others and when I need to prioritise having my own space, which is working out so well.  It also means that my time with others is much more quality, as we've lost that "I may call on you tomorrow if I need to" mindset, and it's more about the here and now.  So, instead of asking others if they mind if I don't do anything with them for a few days so I can concentrate on my stuff (I actually did that and then would rush around trying to get everything I needed done, which was virtually impossible and would leave me feeling overwhelmed), I now know each week that I can plan in my home and health routines.  Based on this, I am creating better home habits, better mental habits and better health habits, and have even started doing some studies too, as I also want to feel like I'm still growing for work.  Studying has always been good for my mental health too.  I'm nowhere near where I want to be, but I'm at least on a good path.

Financially is good in some areas and not great in others.  The good is that the weekly shopping budget is working out so well.  Usually I have money left over, but that soon gets swallowed up by sporadic shopping needs (laundry detergent, cleaning products etc) so I think the amount I've put aside is correct.I withdraw the cash for the monthly budget and just move my weekly budget to the front of my purse on a Monday when my week resets.  The areas that aren't so great are that I'm not pacing my spending when I'm out.  I'm still too much of an impulsive spender.

Other areas of life I've been working on are mostly my garden.  I've bought a lot of pots and have been planting flowers etc in those.  I'm even dabbling in cuttings!!!  I have a large hydrangea in the front of my house which is so bold and pretty, so I've taken cuttings from it, which I have been adding to the pots in my garden.  I'm a terrible gardener and can't figure out weeds from flowers, so by adding flowers to pots, I know what's meant to be in there and I also love that random look of potted flowers scattered around.  Cutting the grass outside has been a challenge with the constant downpours, but on the plus side I have a lot of dandelions which the bees are loving.  Oddly I rarely see butterflies here, so I'm wondering if I could encourage them.  I've just looked online and there seems to be a massive decline of butterflies in the UK, so along with encouraging bees, I'll start looking up more about what I can do for the butterflies too.

I have a little trip into London planned for next weekend which I'm hoping will be a fun day out.  I haven't had a fun day in London since before the pandemic, if my memory is correct.  So I'm hoping the weather will be kind and I can just potter around and soak in the atmosphere that I've missed.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

doingitanyway

Pleased the holiday went so well and you have another to look forward to in October.
The trip to London will be fun too.
Well done for doing well with your weekly budget.
All in all a very positive post 

savingholmes

I can related on letting others plan my diary - good that you've found a way to reset. Lovely you have friends you enjoy spending time with and going away with. Don't underestimate their benefit in your life. 

Good luck with the budgeting. It remains a challenge - as does working out which spends give the most value. My recent holiday spends felt very worthwhile - as does my NT spend as I'm rediscovering or discovering some gorgeous places.