Reining it in for retirement and sanity

RedLipstick

Lovely update and well done on keeping within the budget. Just want to say 28 days without alcohol is a great achievement, you should be proud of yourself! 

LillythePink

Hey

I am still lurking in your diary and good for you with no booze....friday meat draw beckons for me although I try to only stick to 3 pints and it's only once a week as I don't tend to drink at home unless we have company.

I think quite a lot of places over here are like that - there are challenges all round and definitely at my place, but like you, I like my job and the people I work with, it's the management politics and communication that really gets everyone down.

I need to crack down with our budget, it's a balance between living life and saving - which we are doing but could do better especially with food although I have cut out all crap but what i am not spending on that, I am probably spending more on fruit but that has to be a win.

As for your holiday - I think the kids club is a fab idea - and time to yourselves is good as well as the holiday isn't just for your children but you as well and as you say, if they don't like it, it's not the end of the world as free - they will get different experiences and meet different children so a win win (fingers crossed they like it)

At least the weather is on the up - although - what was that fog all about?  Good job boats are sailing to keep us stocked up

Keep it up

Blackcats

sorry about work.  If only we could just go to work, do our job and interact amicably and cooperatively with colleagues and stakeholders.
I had a catch up this week with a friend I used to work with and was surprised yet unsurprised that the senior team are still piddling about trying to agree on a piece of work that I started before I retired 18months ago.  It's not quite as petty as whether to use bold or underline for headings in documents but it really isn't much more significant than that.     Apparently they are now undertaking their third iteration of an options appraisal.  Easy to find it amusing when I'm not in the thick of it.

I think kids club on your holiday is a win win for adults and children.  The kids will love it.  

RebeccaPAgain

Thanks all!  @LillythePink which meat draw do you do?  I've not been to one in years!  Yes, this weather is a welcome surprise but that fog was SO odd.  It's also hard to reduce the food budget over here for obvious reasons isn't it!

@RedLipstick - thank you - make that 30 now (will be 31 presuming don't drink tonight which I won't).  Just less than 5 weeks to go before I can drink again.

@Blackcats - so so envious at you out of the workplace!  I guess it makes you even more glad when you hear things have not moved on even 18 months later!!!

Thanks for your views on kids club all - hopefully they will make some friends and have a bunch of fun.  DH is on about taking his running stuff - I will be annoyed if he takes it and doesn't run as his big clompy trainers weigh loads plus who is going to keep me company poolside?!

Weight is just meh.  I've lost around 5lbs since I started but my jeans are still super tight.  My arms just look yukky and I've come to the conclusion that it really is so much harder to lose weight when you're close to 50.  But I will keep going for the next 5 weeks.  Did an arm workout this morning.  Had set alarm to get up for run but DC2 wet the bed in middle of night so we were up hosing him down and changing the bed and so I just couldn't face it.  Will try again tomorrow!!!

Wish I had started earlier now but just have to keep going as no point giving up now - may as well try to lose a bit more before we go, even if I won't get to where I really want to be.

LillythePink

Hey

The point is that you have started and not just talked about it - don't put yourself down over 5lbs - it's 5 lbs less than when you started - I don't know if you suffer from water retention or not - even post menapause I can still be like that and it's nice when the scales just drop because you've got over those couple of days of feeling meh....and I am over 50 that's for sure....

If he does take his running shoes, then get him to wear them whilst travelling - easy fix for the suitcases but yes, I wouldn't want to be left alone poolside (unless there is eye candy )

I go to The Pony - meat draw and open the box - walking distance for me so an obvious choice - haven't won anything in weeks though so not happy

RebeccaPAgain

Urghhh. Fell off wagon with both eating and drinking after hurting my ankle (not a drinking related injury, no idea how I did it). Need to get back on it once this long weekend is over. Might try fasting for the last 2 weeks.

Money - just don't. We spent a ridiculous amount this month, mainly due to having to buy clothes for all of us for holidays/summer. I also needed some new sunglasses as (a) mine are falling apart and (b) need some with my prescription in for reading by pool/beach/outside. Plus the usual spending.  DH been out a lot, and we've had 2 x lots of DH's family over over easter so spent quite a bit on food and drink for that.  I would say we will draw a line now today is a new budget but looking at the month coming up, I don't think it's possible.  I don't think it's helped by having everything lumped in together rather than in separate "pots". But I don't think DH's account (he gets a better rate of interest than me) has an ability.

Anyway, DH also pointed out that I haven't adjusted our budget upwards for inflation any time in the last few years which is a good point but also because I think we spend too much anyway, I was trying to actually reduce it.  

I've also had to factor in dinner and breakfast at Gatwick as, with being on an island, we often have to do an overnight at least one way if heading abroad - hotel is already paid for but not dinner or breakfast so that will need to be paid for - plus taxis to airport and home. Friends have also booked to see another friend later in the year and I am going with them so had to pay for that flight which was a ridiculous price too.

Gosh I am full of doom and gloom at the moment!

Think I am just tired and need to get off the rock - I went across to uk in Jan but that was to see my parents and it was really quite stressful so doesn't count.  Otherwise, we haven't been off the rock since end August '24.

Work remains stressful - combo of quite a bit of stuff outside my comfort zone and other issues not talked about. Oh well, only 13 years to go!!!! (If I'm lucky). To be fair, I do normally like the place I work, it's just a difficult period I think.

Anyway, hope everyone else is well and isn't suffering the ill effects of too much chocolate!!

LillythePink

Hey

Don't beat yourself up about the indulgances or budget - we all have our "off" months and it's not the end of the world

I definitely feel your pain on flight costs - we have been costing a trip via Gatwick for June - ouch is all I can say on that one - it wouldn't be too bad if we didn't have to do the Gatwick/overnight stay - can't understand some people just winging it on the morning of the other travel and totally agree about getting off the rock.

I think all places go through their ups and downs - I know my place does but depending on how long you've been there, it may just be a cycle that you can get through until the next time.

Chin up - it will be your summer holiday before you know it

Blackcats

Hello!

first of all remember to be as kind to yourself as you are to others!

I try to treat all holiday costs as part of the holiday experience.  You need to stay at Gatwick and eat and drink so that's part of your holiday and not some extravagant indulgence.  For future reference though there are lots of quite nice guest houses in nearby Horley who often pick you up/drop you off at the airport.  There are a few restaurants and pubs in Horley itself that are probably more reasonably priced than those at the airport.

I completely agree about taking inflation into account with your budgets.  I recently worked out that I'm better with a higher budget and aiming to spend less than when I try to stick to a lower budget.  As soon as I can see that I'm likely to fail I think s*d it and let myself fail.

hope your ankle is improving.  

RebeccaPAgain

LillythePink said:

Hey

Don't beat yourself up about the indulgances or budget - we all have our "off" months and it's not the end of the world

I definitely feel your pain on flight costs - we have been costing a trip via Gatwick for June - ouch is all I can say on that one - it wouldn't be too bad if we didn't have to do the Gatwick/overnight stay - can't understand some people just winging it on the morning of the other travel and totally agree about getting off the rock.

I think all places go through their ups and downs - I know my place does but depending on how long you've been there, it may just be a cycle that you can get through until the next time.

Chin up - it will be your summer holiday before you know it

Thank you Lily. I was in a much worse place last weekend - a bit better now the hectic-ness of easter and having to entertain so much is over. 

Yes, the prices are shocking. Some are now recommending ferry to Jsy and flying from there - it's not the worst idea I've heard and might look at this next year if needed. Think this is why we prefer to take the boat/car than fly as at least you can then do a cheaper grocery/kids clothes shop in the uk and bring it back!

Holding on by fingertips at the moment - it's got worse, but at least I am off for a bit shortly.

RebeccaPAgain

Blackcats said:

Hello!

first of all remember to be as kind to yourself as you are to others!

I try to treat all holiday costs as part of the holiday experience.  You need to stay at Gatwick and eat and drink so that's part of your holiday and not some extravagant indulgence.  For future reference though there are lots of quite nice guest houses in nearby Horley who often pick you up/drop you off at the airport.  There are a few restaurants and pubs in Horley itself that are probably more reasonably priced than those at the airport.

I completely agree about taking inflation into account with your budgets.  I recently worked out that I'm better with a higher budget and aiming to spend less than when I try to stick to a lower budget.  As soon as I can see that I'm likely to fail I think s*d it and let myself fail.

hope your ankle is improving.  

Thank you blackcats. I agree that this is a "must" and part of the holiday costs so am not going to include it in this month's budget which makes it feel better.  Thank you also re Horley - we must look at that next time.  Our flight is super early so we thought Gatwick made more sense rather than panicking in case taxi or driver didn't turn up but noted for next time. We've even been down to Brighton once for dinner which was great. This time think we will be eating in Gatwick as we want to do the bag drop first so that we're not queuing in the morning (well, less queuing!).

It's weird isn't it this whole spending less if you give yourself a bigger budget - like you say, I think if you get to the point you are over or going to go over you sort of give up!  I am def going to have a re-work post-hols. From 1 Sept we no longer have nursery fees so that should be the time for a total shake up and probably more targeted investing.

Thank you re ankle - it is strange, it sort of just keeps "going" and then is ok again. It's bizarre. But I think having stayed off it has been beneficial.