Curbing the ridiculous

moving_forward

Worrying about the cost of living crisis is my new go to anxiety 😮‍💨 I'm also worrying over the poor folks in Ukraine and Russia who don't deserve any of this madman's fantasy. 
So to reduce the stress I only keep briefly up to date with the news and try and concentrate on what I can fix. Its not easy as you know as a fellow GAD and depression sufferer but I remind myself there's alot of peeps much worse than me which helps.

[Deleted User]

moving_forward said:

Worrying about the cost of living crisis is my new go to anxiety 😮‍💨 I'm also worrying over the poor folks in Ukraine and Russia who don't deserve any of this madman's fantasy. 
So to reduce the stress I only keep briefly up to date with the news and try and concentrate on what I can fix. Its not easy as you know as a fellow GAD and depression sufferer but I remind myself there's alot of peeps much worse than me which helps.

Yes, I feel like the world has got over the "covid anxiety" (even though I am living it at the moment I have been more ill with flu tbh - though I know I am lucky as it does hit some people badly) and now there is the potential threat of WW3 plus cost of living that there is to worry about.  I think your not watching the news so much and concentrating on what you can fix is a good strategy - it can take over otherwise.  

We will find it hard to shave anything off our "bills" (other than being a bit more careful with electricity, oil and water - but that only saves a few pounds really).  We could cancel netflix, prime and spotify but there are lots of shows we like on netflix, and prime is good for deliveries from a*azon given we are CI and DH listens to lots of podcasts on spotify (and will continue this whilst gardening) and I will use when finally start running again.  So, I think for us, the best savings to be made will be on food.  We've already cut down eating out massively (can't remember last time we did it) and so cutting back in the supermarket, meal planning, growing our own etc and cutting down booze!

joedenise

I think we're all going to have to cut back on the amount we spend on food and alcohol and try to cut down our usage of electric, gas etc.  Also trying to cut down on the number of times we need to use the car.  Was hoping not to have to use my car again this week but had forgotten I've got a physio appointment tomorrow so will need to go to the next town for that so while I'm there I'll pop into Lidl to get the few things that are on my list!  Kill 2 birds with one stone so to speak.  It's usually a special journey to go there so at least it won't be an extra journey this time!

Hope you and your family get over covid quickly and aren't too poorly with it.

moving_forward

We have started the cutting down car usage. We already share one car which is a nightmare as it involves a very large daily round trip (around 37 miles)and alot of walking for Mr M_F (2.5 miles) with alot of time in car for me 🥴. 
I usually pick Mr M_F up from nearer to his work on a Friday to save him one train journey but this makes it around 51 miles for that day. By picking him up from the train station it will save about 14 miles. 
We can't avoid his one walk as I work later but at least it means my later start allows us to take him in the morning. If I went straight home he would have another 2 mile walk!

[Deleted User]

moving_forward said:

We have started the cutting down car usage. We already share one car which is a nightmare as it involves a very large daily round trip (around 37 miles)and alot of walking for Mr M_F (2.5 miles) with alot of time in car for me 🥴. 
I usually pick Mr M_F up from nearer to his work on a Friday to save him one train journey but this makes it around 51 miles for that day. By picking him up from the train station it will save about 14 miles. 
We can't avoid his one walk as I work later but at least it means my later start allows us to take him in the morning. If I went straight home he would have another 2 mile walk!

Oh gosh that sounds tough.  We def couldn't do without our other car with the 2 DC but we are trying to cut down use where we can.  When we were in the flat we used to "go for a drive" just to get out so at least we don't have to do that anymore which is def saving petrol.  That said, we are now slightly further away from work/nursery so I think it probably doesn't save much.  Saving the £1.89 a week we had to spend on cat litter as he's able to go out here, so that's almost £100 a year.

Am def looking forward to when our veg and fruit have grown since not only should that taste better, but should save us a fortune (and hopefully force us to be more creative in the kitchen).

DH has made me reply to MIL saying we've all got covid.

Managed to sell my jumperoo for £20 - I've said collection next week - basically it is upstairs on top floor and hasn't been touched since we moved in because I used old photos (still in same condition as not been used since those were taken).  By Tuesday either I or DH will no longer be infectious (DH testing negative now and symptoms easing) so will get him to leave outside.  So will be £55 of stuff sold which is good.  Lots more to list but we won't touch anything or list until we are covid free.

[Deleted User]

ps moving forward - do the walks at least help with fitness?!

moving_forward

They used to keep him fit but now he's getting old and piling it on 🤣🤣
I don't get time to walk anymore so I'm unfit and fat lol.
We both enjoy our food too much to cut down.
Dog is nearly 13 and not happy to walk now but we try and take her out with her pushchair or bag at the weekend. Rain and snow etc are a no no for her so we stay in with her if it's wet or cold as they are left so much midweek. 
If it's cold and dry she will manage two mins walk with the rest of the time being wrapped up in a blanket snug in her pushchair. Yes I am still talking about the dog 😁 

QueenJess

Oh no - I hope you all get better soon. It’s impossible caring for sick DC when you are ill yourself. I’ve been caring for DD all week and got so run down that she’s given me her cold. I can’t win!

I think everyone is anxious with the crazy world at the moment. I’m limiting my news consumption each day so I am up to date but don’t wallow in it. I was already planning on cutting back this year as it’s likely I’ll be made redundant, but the cost of living crisis is now making it way harder. As with the news, I get overwhelmed with the bigger picture quite quickly, so I am concentrating on doing tiny little steps until they are habit and then finding some more. Hopefully they will add up to some savings. If not, then I’ll consider something more drastic!

I will definitely be planting more fruit in the garden and my salad seeds this year.

[Deleted User]

QueenJess said:

Oh no - I hope you all get better soon. It’s impossible caring for sick DC when you are ill yourself. I’ve been caring for DD all week and got so run down that she’s given me her cold. I can’t win!

I think everyone is anxious with the crazy world at the moment. I’m limiting my news consumption each day so I am up to date but don’t wallow in it. I was already planning on cutting back this year as it’s likely I’ll be made redundant, but the cost of living crisis is now making it way harder. As with the news, I get overwhelmed with the bigger picture quite quickly, so I am concentrating on doing tiny little steps until they are habit and then finding some more. Hopefully they will add up to some savings. If not, then I’ll consider something more drastic!

I will definitely be planting more fruit in the garden and my salad seeds this year.

Oh no - such a tough week when sick kids and either you are sick yourself or you get sick as a result - hope you feel better soon.

Sorry to hear about the redundancy - do you think you'll be able to find another job easily?  What do you do for a living?

I do think the more fruit we can all plant at home (appreciate not everyone can), the better - the carbon footprint of some of the fruit in the supermarkets is horrendous

[Deleted User]

Another awful night's sleep.  DC both up at 6am but coughing/crying a lot of the night.  DC1 also just would not go to sleep for a long time.  We just don't even get an evening together any more.  I don't want them to grow up too quickly but I am also looking forward to the days when they are a bit more independent so we get a bit of a life back.  

So, we just can't recover (though DH seems ok now apart from a cough and has tested negative last 2 days).  

Bored, poorly, tired, fed up - just about sums it up!

MIL rang DH yesterday - he said he was short with her but I heard him discussing what was in the shed at hers so I don't think he was.  Seems petty of me to carry this on but I am still very cross.