My Intentional Journey to Debt Freedom

jwil

Great result for the month!

PennysIntoPounds

Well done on your fabulous February, I'm really pleased for you

Budge up in the handbag @Cheery_Daff 😁

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

Thanks everyone. 

It would be fab to have you all in my handbag.  I do have a tendency to carry around lots of items so you would all fit in very well 🤣🤣.   I could have you on the front seat in the car saying do you really need to spend £5 on coffee!!!! 

But seriously, I do hear people saying in my head - do you really want that/haven’t you already got five of those/ etc etc. And it’s been a massive help.  Nothing spent on credit cards for 2 months is little short of miraculous.   And I know 100% that the insurance would have been on a credit card if I hadn’t started this process.  

Still haven’t settled on a face cream.  The ones I’ve tried have been okay but not as good as I’d hoped so I continue with that quest.  I’m a bit hit and miss with skincare - always do everything in the morning but not always at night (have even been known to go to bed with makeup on 😱😱😱😱😱).  As I’m off next week I’m going to make an effort to get a good nighttime routine in place and see if being consistent with that makes a difference.  

Tomorrow I’m catching up on all of your diaries  - that helps to embed my consistency as well.  I’m in awe of you all and the time you take to share your thoughts, tips and advice so generously.  You only hear from people like me who have decided to start a diary but there must be thousands and thousands of people who read your diaries who take heart and realise they’re not alone and take the first steps to sorting things out.  When you always hear of everything wrong with the world and it seems such a hateful and fractured place,  this corner of the world restores my faith that most people are good. 

L x 

Cheery_Daff

And now people are reading YOUR diary and being inspired by you too! 😊😊

Chrystal

Less_Talk_and_More_Action said:

 I’m in awe of you all and the time you take to share your thoughts, tips and advice so generously.  You only hear from people like me who have decided to start a diary but there must be thousands and thousands of people who read your diaries who take heart and realise they’re not alone and take the first steps to sorting things out.  When you always hear of everything wrong with the world and it seems such a hateful and fractured place,  this corner of the world restores my faith that most people are good. 

L x 

This (((hugs))) XX

foxgloves

@LTMA - It'd be worth you getting a really consistent night time skincare routine in place as I think that might inform what your skin likes in terms of new less costly products to try. I know my skin would soon feel dry if I didn't remove my make-up religiously every evening. I am usually tired by bedtime, so make a point of getting it all taken off with a double cleanse earlier in the evening, often just after we have eaten & are getting ready to settle down for the evening. I have tried various wipes (before I stopped buying them because of environmental impact), also micellar waters, to try & get everything off in one, but I have gone back to a by-phase eye make-up remover (well-known inexpensive brand - in fact my last one was free on my Advantage Card points), then a double cleanse, usually a chamomile cleansing balm as only need a little & a washable muslin cloth followed by a gentle face wash, I don't use toner, though I have bought expensive ones in the past, just a splash of cold water, followed by a rich moisturiser. I am using Skin Food as a night cream atm, but use others as & when. Then my moisturiser has the rest of the evening & night time to sink into clean skin & do its thing. In the morning (which was very useful when I was still working), I just do a quick freshen up of my face with cold water & muslin cloth, day cream & on with the make-up so I don't scare the horses (not that I know any horses......). 
I agree with you about how helpful everyone is on here. I find that on my own MSE diary, with people posting their comments, contributions & ideas and it does help with our own individual financial goals (mine is now based on not wasting money to enable saving, something Mr F & I have come to rather late in life) to share thoughts, experiences & like-mindedness. I am also finding that my diary helps with our household goal of living more sustainably. It is certainly a supportive, pleasant & often very entertaining community.
F x

Sun_Addict

I’m the same as @foxgloves I just wash my
face with water in the morning then put on moisturiser. Early evening I use eye make up remover, a wash off cleanser with a face cloth, then serum and moisturiser, that way it’s done way before bedtime so I won’t be too tired to bother later. To be honest once I get home from work I’m desperate to remove my “face” 😆

I had a very traumatic time 11 years ago when Mr SA became extremely sick and almost lost his life. Keeping a diary on here and the support I received kept me going. It really helped me cope. 

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

I think everyone on here is amazing.  

Thank you @Sun_Addict and @foxgloves for your thoughts on skincare.  I must admit that I have still not arrived at a routine I am happy with.  I like the idea @foxgloves of taking my face off earlier.  I often work from home and finish around 530.  I could easily take off my make up then.  I don’t have terrible skin - dryness is the main issue and inconsistency on my part (I don’t always take my make up off 😱😱). I am off this week and have committed to trying to follow a routine and I have to admit it is making a difference.  

I am still using up lots of bits and pieces and probably a proper routine is more important than the actual product.  

@foxgloves - do you think double cleansing makes a difference?  

I think it’s quite liberating to have so many different opinions. I am blessed with having some great friends in my real life but inevitably they don’t always see things with fresh eyes given that they are so enmeshed in my life.  I love the fact that all of you are just taking a question or a comment and offering a view or an opinion with no agenda.  So many of your comments have pushed me to look and re-look at things.  Sometimes I think - okay that’s a good point but it doesn’t suit us, or I’ll see what Mr L thinks.  But other times I think - wow, that’s a great idea. Why have I never done that before.   And some of them are so simple and obvious.  But it shows me that I have just got into doing things a certain way and never taken a step back and considered any other options. 

Thanks to you all.  I will be back at the weekend- having a lovely week off seeing lots of people.  

L x 

foxgloves

Morning @LTMA,
I do personally find that double cleansing my skin at night is better. My thinking is that as I wear make-up, I need a  cleansing balm or similar to dissolve that, but however good the product, & my chamomile one is very good, there is always going to be residual balm/make-up left on my skin. As I always moisturise well at night, I would rather this sink into my bare skin where it can do the most good, rather than sitting on top of cleansing balm residue, so I do double cleanse with a gentle face wash or even a very gentle organic/natural soap. Then it's a splash of cold water for free toning & on with the moisturiser. It takes a few extra minutes & the trick is not to leave it until bedtime when I am tired. It's defo all worth it in the morning when, as @Sun_Addict said, all that's needed is a wipe with cold water. I wouldn't want to be laundering pillowcases with make-up stains either - I only like cotton bedding & have a lot in pale colours so for me, that's another advantage, if I needed one. As an experiment, perhaps you could try taking your make-up off/evening cleansing routine earlier, & see if you can detect any beneficial differences in your skin?
F x

jwil

I find all the hints and tips on the various diaries invaluable, it's amazing.

I'm currently fascinated with all the skincare routines.  I just wash my face and slap on a bit of moisturiser   I don't wear makeup though so that probably makes a difference.