I dream of a MF home for my plants

Idreamofplants

Feeling much more myself this week thanks.  Half way through and the weekend is in sight.  I have been doing really well on the toiletries no spend front.  I cannot believe how far my stash of various moisturisers, samples, perfumes and make up is lasting.  I have pretty minimal make up and I think usually I have been in a habit of replacing things way too soon.  I have 2 Charlotte T lipsticks that I am determined to get through before buying another one.  The huge pot of face cream I got for Xmas is lasting ages and I have at least 6 random bottles of perfume on the go.  I have run out of gradual tanning lotion so ordered a new one of those (£25), and will need another shampoo (3.50) this weekend.  I also bought a dry shampoo (£4 on offer) last week which I burn through as I have zero time to sort myself in the mornings and it's worth the spends to save time. The main spend this week so far has been a gift for a lovely colleague who left work.  I have £215 left in my spend account and get paid in 2 weeks.  The bills account is looking healthy too and so was able to book the mini break from this account.  Hopefully next month I can send more to the mortgage. I would like to put aside money for some days out over Easter as well.  Looking forward to the weekend as some friends are coming over and we are cooking them Sunday lunch.  Having visitors will also motivate me to clean the house.  Hopefully the sunshine will reappear so I can finish some DIY jobs out in the garden.  I made a start on painting the fence and deck last week but run out of steam after a few hours at it.  It was lovely being out there in the sunshine - unlike today where it was like the middle of winter again. 

Idreamofplants

Not sure where the past 2 weeks have gone.  Worked about 60 hours last week and now my body has finally said no more so I have taken a couple of days off sick.  I am totally run down and full of my existential angst about all things money related.  I haven't felt up to running which hasn't helped my mental health.  Not good on the money saving front either.  Spent about £90 on make up whilst out with DD and then about another £200 on clothes -half of it on work stuff and then I bought a very expensive and fancy pair of wellies - they make me very happy so were worth the spend. I walk the dogs twice a day often across muddy fields so will spark joy often. I went into savings to cover the shortfall in my spends account. The bills account made it through to pay day with some cash to spare so was able to get some bit and pieces for the garden.  I'm going to take myself off to the library in a bit to try and find a book on slow living. Also downloaded a mindfulness app with a discount code - 30 days free then £30 for the year. Am going to try and spend 10 mins a day practicing mindfulness to see if that helps my mind to stop spinning so much.  Also want to focus on things going well on this diary rather than negative. I am also going to get all the bits DS needs for school that I have kept forgetting to sort - like PE top, home ec ingredients, a reading book - I feel guilty that when I work so much I don't remember all the basic stuff he still needs sorting. OH still not bothered about us having a family holiday this year so that will be quite a saving as long as we don't last minute book something we can't afford.  

Things that are going well:
- Eldest back from Uni this weekend
- I have some AL over Easter
- I have managed to take time off work to rest today
- mini break in summer paid for
- kids are all healthy and ok

Idreamofplants

Feeling like today has been a good reset kind of a day. Got 3 books from the library and just started on 'the things you can see only when you slow down' which I've been wanting to read for ages.  Went to yoga then got some bits in so I could cook a healthy tea for OH and DD - salmon broccoli and rice - yum.  Youngest refuses to eat most things so he was happy with soup and a bagel. Also got myself some non alcohol drinks in as have been drinking less this year.  Going to try sort out budget tomorrow/Thurs - need to factor in garden things we want to do this month but should still have enough for a decent sized OP.  Need more paint for the woodwork in the garden and we could do with some new planters.  Also most of the solar lights are a bit past it so might get some new lights too.  Also returned some sandals I bought on a bit of an impulse that changed my mind about so that was £24 back into the account. If I am still feeling under the weather tomorrow I will take the rest of the week off.  I haven't been off work for a long time but I know I need to get my energy levels back up before returning as it will be full on catching up with the couple of days that I've missed.  

debtfreewannabe321

I hope the mindfulness works for you. When my MH is very low I will often self sabotage before kicking myself up the butt and returning to gratitude lists, avoiding people who drain me and are overly negative and then meditating/ eating right/ exercising to boost my energy/ MH wellbeing. Sounds like you are doing all the right things, just need some patience with yourself whilst it all kicks in.  

Idreamofplants

Thanks debtfreewannabe. I've been out for a long walk by myself and listened to some podcasts on my mindfulness app. Stopped for a hot choc on the way back and enjoyed the peace of 2 hours to myself.  Already feeling like my mind has settled back down. It's amazing how much benefit I find there is to spending time by myself.  Day to day I have very little time on my own as work is a busy environment and home is pretty hectic with all the kids and pets.  I even usually go to the gym or run with friends so not much time to just focus on calming my mind.  Enjoying the "things you only see when you slow down book" - there is a comment about the world reflecting your mind, not being your mind, which I found very thought provoking.  I often feel as though the world is crazy busy around me but actually it's me that is busy. I am on a mission to SLOW DOWN. 
 
Since getting back in I have revisited this months budget and sent £1500 OP to the mortgage.  I think I will be under the 165K mark once the monthly payment goes out too.  Very pleased with this.  Also done a meal plan for the whole month.  Eldest will be back so food shop will increase.  I've written out the plan for next week on the whiteboard so they will all know what we are having. The past 3 weeks we have thrown so much food away because the dates have been terrible and so this meal plan is based on fresh food the 3 days after the shopping is delivered then more store cupboard or freezer based meals.  
This afternoon I plan on researching some soup recipes and updating the internet shop. The sun is shining and the dogs are sunbathing in the light, they look so peaceful  

Idreamofplants

another week done and now finally off for a couple of weeks.  Have booked on some activities to take the youngest to at the local gym.  I think we will have a couple of spend days out so trying to think of free/cheap activities too.  We have loads of jobs to crack on with in the garden. Still haven't finished the fence painting and then lots of tidying up to sort.  Have no idea how the food budget will stretch. Failed miserably at sticking to the budget plan.  Spent £70 over budget for mothers day lunch out (cocktails for me, deserts for all) and had a take out one night. Then stopped at the shops for a £41 top up so approx £500 on food for one week (take out, meal out and food shop). That is crazy! On the positive side tho we are at home for Easter so any spends are less than a holiday!

Idreamofplants

Zero money saving activities occurring here.  Holiday booked for the summer (3K) paid for from savings but need to replace the money as the savings already put aside for Uni rent next year.  Estimate that will be a couple of months to save so no mortgage Ops for the foreseeable.  Another £70 on random garden bits and pieces. I have that sense of dread that there will not be enough to cover us this month as my budgeting is out of the window. Tomorrow is a new day and will get my head around the budget again then.  

Idreamofplants

Nearly made it through the month, under £50 left in bank account but fridge has plenty of food in it and pay day is Friday.  Had the most amazing couple of weeks off and it has cemented in my mind getting the mortgage gone ASAP so I can work less.  Most of the spends this month have been on the garden and on a couple of days out.  We also ate out at the start of the month and had a couple of take outs.  I have £170 on TCB to claim and am going to send this off to the mortgage. I will do this tomorrow after work.  Agreed with OH that the next 3 months I will save £1000 towards repaying Uni savings (to cover holiday money taken out) & OP £500.  Enjoying a chilled day reading on the sofa with the dogs.  Trying to put into practice holding all thoughts of work off until tomorrow when I'm getting paid to think about it.  Loads of diaries to catch up on here too.  Plus still got half a chocolate egg to finish off.  

Idreamofplants

First week back at work was hard. I’ve lost all motivation plus a contract for additional hours has not worked out - I think this will actually be a good thing as it means I will be reducing my hours from next week. I just need to amend my savings plans as it will reduce about £750 from my income a month. Pay day also happened this week tho so was able to put back some of the money for holiday into savings. No OP on mortgage u tip I have double checked all my figures for paying the holiday off with the decrease in pay. Took eldest out for lunch today which was lovely and well worth the £35. Tomorrow I have a day trip with a friend planned so budgeting about her £30 for coffees cake and lunch. Only another 4 weeks until half term and a few more days off to look forward to. 

debtfreewannabe321

Idreamofplants said:

First week back at work was hard. I’ve lost all motivation plus a contract for additional hours has not worked out - I think this will actually be a good thing as it means I will be reducing my hours from next week. I just need to amend my savings plans as it will reduce about £750 from my income a month. Pay day also happened this week tho so was able to put back some of the money for holiday into savings. No OP on mortgage u tip I have double checked all my figures for paying the holiday off with the decrease in pay. Took eldest out for lunch today which was lovely and well worth the £35. Tomorrow I have a day trip with a friend planned so budgeting about her £30 for coffees cake and lunch. Only another 4 weeks until half term and a few more days off to look forward to. 

I am also on countdown to the next half term. And there's a bank holiday in there too to look forward to off work 🙈. Hope next week is easier.