2024 - slowing down, simplifying and saving up for a more intentional life!

zcrat41

Hey, I’m so sorry to hear about your dog. I do think vets these days can talk us into prolonging life at great expense that isn’t fair on animal or human. A friend of mine wasn’t eating properly to afford vets fees for her cat that was going to die soon anyway. Not good. 

I also hear you on the plodding, diet and declutter things!! I used to be 1.5 stone lighter, relaxed and enjoy life and run 5k 3 times a week. I think peri has hit and I feel in a general sh*t fog most of the time! 

So no answers but solidarity!! 

Taking_back_control

Thanks @zcrat41. Fortunately it’s only really been the last year where his health significantly deteriorated- other than that we’ve been lucky enough to have 16 years of relative low maintenance, other than NSAIDs to help with a touch of arthritis. The house is definitely an emptier place without him. 

I think peri has a lot to answer for here too. I have periods of complete brain fog where I just feel absolutely stuck in the mud and unable to complete the most basic of admin tasks. I’m also suffering from spells of intense anxiety that are knocking me. 

Not a lot to report MSE wise. Returned a couple of pairs of shorts I’d bought for my holiday and reported a Vinted scam seller I’d fallen for - hopefully I should receive a refund there soon. Only £10 but frustrating all the same. Not sure how they benefit from these scams as the money doesn’t get released until the buyer accepts the order but it must somehow be profitable to them 🤷‍♀️.

I need to get my pots back on track. Have just emptied DS birthday party pot as the place he wants his party had a Bank Holiday offer on and I’ve ended up saving £100. His birthday isn’t for a few months yet but needed to get it booked sooner rather than later anyway as it gets booked up quickly.  The other pots are also looking a bit depleted as I’ve been robbing Peter to pay Paul in light of recent car / animal / appliances / summer hol related expenses. 

missymoo81

Oh I’m so so sorry to hear about our dog. So sad for you all. Big hugs.

Im not surprised things have slipped. It’s hard when you’re trying to get everything on track and something major happens and all concentration goes on that. I’m much like you trying to get life on track in the same way. But school holidays just throw everything off!

I have loved reading your diary, and I hear you on the brain fog. Some days I am literally in a daze trying to start something but ending up doing nothing! 

I hope you have a good rest of your BH weekend.

Taking_back_control

The countdown to the start of term is on! We are all so ready, however I have serious concerns about how I’m going to get DS there on time. He has fully embraced holiday mode! 

Payday yesterday, pots have been added to and payments to debts made. I’d got my Next account and 2 x credit cards each with a couple of £100 on (left over from Balance Transfers), so I’ve paid these all off to reduce the number of lenders. No time to get focused on the remaining 2 x cards - the race is on to get them paid off ahead of the end of the interest free periods. 

Energy tariff switched and fixed in an attempt to protect us from the raise in the price cap. Only increased payments by £10 a month, although we are already £250+ in credit, so it should all even itself out. Also got £36 in my cashback account for switching. 

It’s beginning to feel very autumnal here. Despite the warm days we’ve had this week, the temperature is dropping in the evenings and it’s definitely getting dark earlier and staying dark later. I need to have a look at getting pony rugs clean (do I risk my washer 🤔) and get DS to try on his winter coats. I did buy slightly on the large side last year so fingers crossed it may still do him.

Once DS is back at school, I need to get hyper focussed on getting back on track with everything. I’ve had confirmation of my London Marathon place for next year, so really want to throw myself into it. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for 15+ years and will be a one time experience so need to give it my best shot. However, in order to do this I need routine, structure and the rest of my life to run smoothly with minimal distractions 😂 wish me luck! 

Taking_back_control

Morning,
First day back at school yesterday- the return to routine and normality 😊. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t an easy task getting DS up and out, but we did it! 

House is currently looking like a bombsite - tumble dryer has packed in so there’s washing everywhere, it just doesn’t seem to be drying at the moment.

Non working day on Friday, so I’m hoping to blitz the house and set myself up to my return to running next week. I’ve not run consistently all summer. I fell quite heavily out on a run just before the holidays started which put me out for a week or 2 and then with being away and losing my dog it’s all kind of taken a backseat. So I’m using my time this week to set myself up for success.

2 small Vinted sales totalling £7 - not groundbreaking but a step in the right direction. 

Need to sort collection of the old car - I’m hoping I’ll get £100-£150 for it. May need this cash to help ease me through until payday as the budget is looking quite tight this month. 

Right best spring into action. Have a fab day x 

Taking_back_control

Morning,
I feel a little calm and control may finally be creeping back into the house at long last!!! Tumble drier got repaired yesterday (complete shift in mindset there - previously I’d have just replaced it 🤦‍♀️).  I can’t believe how much I’ve missed it. 

Managed a couple of runs over the weekend, just short ones (3 miles on Sat and 1.5 Sun) and am currently sat in my running gear as I have a cuppa writing this. Feels good to be back out there and conquering the mental block I seem to have built up. 

Listed a few items on Vinted yesterday - a little bit of interest so far so 🤞🤞🤞Also sold one item @£6.00
Had a £30 off £60 spend with very so ordered some bits for DS birthday. Need to collect today and then pay account straight off! 
Jobs for today……
1. Post vinted
2. Take lunch to work
3. Look into collection of old car
4. Make wider to do list (all the niggly jobs that need doing around the house)
5. Dare I mention Christmas??? Start to get my head around the gifting list

Scott_Weiland79

Vinted sales are awesome are you doing anything else to boost your income?

Ziffit
Ebay
fb market place
Surveys
Top Cashback
Store Rewards?

Taking_back_control

Morning,
@Scott_Weiland79 I’m currently using TCB and will post on FB market place to get rid of larger bulkier items. In terms of store rewards, bulk of the food shop is a Tesco so use the club card points to pay for days out during school holidays with DS. I’ve also got a couple of schemes through work which give points through an app which tracks wellbeing e.g exercise, mindfulness etc - you can then exchange these points for giftcards. I probably average £10 per month. I also buy gift cards through work scheme which give cash back, so buy these to cover weekly food shop. Currently have £100 built up there which will help towards Christmas. I used to do surveys but hit a bit disillusioned with them as kept getting screened out after completing 50% +.

Scott_Weiland79

Taking_back_control said:

Morning,
@Scott_Weiland79 I’m currently using TCB and will post on FB market place to get rid of larger bulkier items. In terms of store rewards, bulk of the food shop is a Tesco so use the club card points to pay for days out during school holidays with DS. I’ve also got a couple of schemes through work which give points through an app which tracks wellbeing e.g exercise, mindfulness etc - you can then exchange these points for giftcards. I probably average £10 per month. I also buy gift cards through work scheme which give cash back, so buy these to cover weekly food shop. Currently have £100 built up there which will help towards Christmas. I used to do surveys but hit a bit disillusioned with them as kept getting screened out after completing 50% +.

In regards to surveys try these I have being a bit like that its frustrating getting kicked out intermittently

Curious Cat is a good one 

and so is Qmee both are apps and kick out rates tend to be quite low

Opinium research is another quite good one but thats responding to emails only

Taking_back_control

@Scott_Weiland79 thank you I’ll take a look 😊

Not much to report here. I currently have £24 waiting to be payable in Vinted and a further £75 in TCB (although probably won’t see that until the other side of Christmas!) 

Really really need to get the food shop down. Currently spending approximately £150 per week which seems extortionate! Will sit and do a thorough meal plan either this evening or tomorrow. 

I’ve had a big sort out of coats and clothes that don’t fit or are surplus to requirements - all those suitable will go on Vinted. 

Running is getting back on track, although I’m finding it a fine balance between doing enough and doing too much. It is good to be out again and I even returned to running club last week after quite a break, which for me is a big step.

Anyway, better get cracking. Have a great day x