Living in the present for 2022

makingmehappy

Oh dear, I haven't been back here for a month, and my spending in February was totally out of control. I had my head in the sand for most of it, but I'm working my way through receipts and having a guess at the rest, and I'll come back here with totals as close as I can get. I want to do this for at least a year so that I can be honest with myself about how much I spend and how much I need.

I'm trying to get my head back in the game, and keeping better records in March. The main focus for March is spring cleaning. I've been here a year now and I'm still not properly unpacked, there's stuff all over the place and I don't know what I've got. I want to be calm, clean and organised

makingmehappy

Oh dear again another tired, exhausted, chaotic month, Covid this time on top of everything else and only just starting to feel better. Luckily I'm on annual leave now until after Easter, so hopefully I'll have a chance to rest and also get on top of other things that need to be done. 

I spent too much money again last month, and again I didn't keep a check on it so don't really know where it went. Some was because I was ill, so fair enough, but I could have been a bit more prepared for that, but some of it was just silly mistakes like subscriptions not cancelled because I just forgot. 

So now, back to the spring cleaning, getting organised and keeping a note of where spending is going.

makingmehappy

A couple of weeks rest over Easter and I actually started to feel a bit more normal. Of course that's gone after a week back at work, I'm just starting to feel ok again today before going back tomorrow. 

New month so renewed promises to myself to track spending and focus on £10 a day challenge. I really want to get into a routine and know where my money is going, so that I can I make some sensible decisions about budgeting. It's still all chaotic at the moment.

I must also start to take a bit more care with my own health. I start with all good intentions but of course busyness and tiredness take their toll and healthy stuff goes by the board. I've put half a stone back on over the winter - no exercise and too much stodgy comfort food. So it's small steps at the moment and I'm starting with drinking more water - I'm hoping this might help with the tiredness. 

makingmehappy

It's been a while since I was here on this diary. My mother's been in hospital after a bad fall, and I've been looking after my dad. It's all been a bit stressful and tiring, and I'm again now trying to have a rest and at the same time, catch-up with all the things that didn't get done.

I've read back through this diary and I think I'm going to say the same things. I need to find a healthier way to deal with the stress and worry and look after myself more. There was a lot of stress eating and drinking over the last few weeks. I'm having a dry June!

I also need to find a way to deal with the job I've got and the travelling which is adding hours to my day. I've been though every different scenario in my head, but all the bad news about the economy and inflation is making me think twice about any changes at the moment. So plodding on it is.

Obviously all spending, and keeping track of spending, has gone out of the window recently, so I need to get back on top of things. I had a food delivery yesterday and, apart from some milk, I'm  trying for a no-spend, rest of the month.

Sunshine_girl2

I am sorry to hear your mum had a fall , hope she is on the mend now. It is stressful looking after elderly parents and working at the same time . 

As I said previously I have now gone part time , probably at the worst time ever. I have been saving though for the event as my pension doesn't kick in until December . 

I take it your job doesn't allow you to work from home which would shorten your days . 

Don't worry about the spending , you can rectify everything over time . Could you have a couple of days away to recharge your batteries or even a ride out somewhere nice ? 

savingholmes

Good luck on your journey 

makingmehappy

Thank you @Sunshine_girl2 and @savingholmes.

Work seem to be having a "whip them back into shape" policy at the moment, and we have to be back in the building all the time, even if we could just as easily wfh. It would really help me to not have to travel, but I'm actually liking being back with people again.

I've upped my spending money budget for the time being. Half the time I think I should be being as frugal as possible so I can save as much as I can, but realistically keeping on working will give me the most money both now and in the future in terms of extra pension and savings. So I need to make it easier to keep on working, and I think that I need to make things a bit easier and a bit nicer for myself for the time being.

makingmehappy

So one step forwards, two backwards continues. I had a fall myself, miles away in my head, startled by a noise and tripped and fell off the pavement. I'm a bit bruised and battered and achy, but fingers crossed nothing broken. Still haven't managed to do much of anything this weekend and have fallen  behind again. Silver lining is that I've had to rest.

Other good news is that I break up for annual leave in 2 weeks, and work have let me take some extra leave all together, so I will be off for nearly four weeks. I'm hoping that this might be the break that lets me have a proper rest and also get more organised with things to help going forward. Keeping everything crossed that nothing else happens in the meantime.

makingmehappy

I'm finally on annual leave from work and I'm feeling very lucky that I won't have to be out and travelling on the bus in this weather. My flat is actually usually cold, so this heat has just brought it up to a nice temperature. 

Focus for the next couple of weeks is cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, at home and at my parents. 

vampirotoothus

Hi make sure you get some rest. I find I am more productive in short periods, so book some appointments with yourself that you can't break and do stuff at yours or theirs and then get out in the sun (shade) with a book and some cold water. Enjoy some downtime. Now would be a great time to do some batch cooking so you have healthy ready meals to hand, when days don't go your way. I appreciate it's a bit hot to be cooking at the mo, but if you are cooking anyway, maybe do some then. Have a lovely break V x