We finally made it.....

Hi just dropping in to say hi & we made It here. We arrived 4 weeks ago . It was a very very stressful lead up to the move.  I said goodbye to my neighbours which was so hard for me. I know it's not like I would never see them again.  They were such good friends.  The day before the move Hubby suggested that I go and stay with my mum for the night. He knew I would be emotional. The joys of being emotional!.  

I am not really being Mrs No Spend as all we seem to be doing is spending on doing up the flat at the moment.   It's official we are mortgage free. It sort of feels like we are on holiday .  The pictures are from the balcony. We get lots of kite surfers going past, speed boats & lots of swimmers.  

I would have posted sooner but had no Internet and then my digital camera broke.  I invested in an ipad as I can use it for pictures.  

Thank you for checking up on me & thank you Mrs Sft for checking in on me xxx

It has been stressful and I seem to be permanently tired at the moment, but I guess I have to accept that I am a bit of a anxious person and I need to work on these things.  

But there is nothing like the smell of sea air and the sound of the waves. You can her the waves none morning and evening more as we do still have a road in front that is quite busy being a coast road.

The flat has just been plastered.     Xxxxx

Not having a good day today

I am not having a good day today.  I am feeling full of anxiety, headachey & feeling sorry for myself. Which is terrible as there are so many sad things going on in the news.
I am just thinking about stuff . DD to be honest she is staying with us a couple a days a week every week.  Everything is peachy & we are all getting on.  But I cant help but be sad, as it wasn't how I wanted my family to be . I wanted us all together. But no I couldn't cope with the challenges that  my very challenging daughter brought. They were extreme challenges  I think I will always have hang ups and sadness about it all.  Its the going over things that gives me the anxiety.  I was always nervous as a youngster about different things
Coupled with depression & anxiety I find it hard ......... Coupled with feeling like the worst mother in the world because I couldn't control my daughter & she wouldn't listen to me anyway. Its hard to explain it all.  But its like feeling like you have been in the washing machine for a very long time, you feel rung out.  I am finding it hard to be positive & move forward. 
   

Monday Mini Goals

Healthy Eating - Fail
I failed miserably at my goals.  I didn't keep a track of what I was eating whatsoever. I ended up eating too much chocolate & as we ran down the freezer the food choice was limited.  The scenario ran out of so many things. A birthday etc , pissed off etc

Tea drinking - Fail 
I ended up drinking way too many teas. The reason I cut back on tea was that I do have issues with anxiety. I  read lots of places to cut back on the caffeine as it can add to the anxiety even more. 
 
Water Drinking - Fail
Managed 1 litre on a few days

Tracking Spending - Fail
Managed one day . 

I don't seem to be very good at tracking anything. I do think tracking does make you more accountable as if you write something down it is written down!

Sometimes I wonder why I blog too. I look at my blog and think who on earth would want to read any ramblings on from me.  Think I am having one of those days. So much for my positive affirmations eh!.  I look at my blog and think gosh it sounds dull.  Its hard getting the balance of what to share & what not to share. 
I don't know ............

freebie

Grab a money saving freebie. I have just signed up for one as I don't have one! Sounds like it will help with water consumption!

http://www.soapandglory.com/blog/the-2-minute-rinse-2/

Be back later !

Monday Monday ....

Today I went swimming in the morning. Did my 52 lengths (small lengths!). The pool was quiet only two of us in there.  Went & did my after swim ritual shampoo/conditioner/lime shower gel & a nice slather of body lotion. I felt squeaky clean!

Spending for today

Raspberry still water x 4 pack                                           £3.96
Lucozade Revive Lemon grass & ginger 4 pack
Big bottle of Ribena
3 x bottles of oasis

Bus fare                                                                            £2.30

Sunflower spread                                                               £5.59
Nutty Superfood salad & apple,celery & walnut salad
4 pint semi skimmed milk

I Bought the drinks in the pound shop as you get so much more for your money.  I usually have my sports bottle filled with water . Mr No Spend likes a few drinks in the fridge. I think I have touched on this before that Mr No Spend is not always No Spend!
Later on when I got home my sweet neighbour knocked on my front door with a lovely little heart tin with a white musk solid perfume inside (looks like lip gloss but not!) Smells lovely.  She asked if I wanted anything from M&S which I did so I went along for the ride and got my bits.  I bought a lovely couple of salads.  I do need to learn to make a salad, as tasty as an M&S one especially the superfood one.
I made a date slice as am having a few friends over for a coffee morning tmrow & I had some dates that had gone a bit tough & chewy so date slice was the ideal choice!. I am very proud I didn't even try it!. I will have to take their word or see by the look on their faces (good I hope!!). I gave the place a good spruce up & hoovered up a few cobwebs ( hangs head in shame that they had even formed!). I don't live in a haunted cobweb house honest!.
Going to watch broadchurch tonight too!..

Food for today
Breakfast
muesli
banana
Lunch
apple,celery & walnut salad
pear yoghurt with a few flaked almond on top
snack
8 dried apricots & 1 babybel
Dinner    
4 small roast potatoes,carrots, broccoli & a chicken
  
Managed to stick to 2 cups of tea &  managed 1 litre of water today

x

Monday Week mini goals

This coming week I want to be a bit more organized & make a few "Monday week mini goals"

Health goals
With all this lovely sunshine I feel it is an ideal time to put some health goals in place so this week my main goals are
To keep a close eye on what I am eating! That means this week no cakes, biscuits or chocolate.  Just healthy wholesome foods, keeping check on portion control.
Drink 2 litres of water a day
Only 2 cups of tea a day (this is more for my anxiety)
To swim twice this week
Read my anxiety book & start practising techniques

Spending Goals
To keep a track of spending ,every penny this week. I have been a bit spendy lately
Send electricity & gas meter readings in online
Sell my wardrobe!
Find more things to sell on ebay! (less to move when moving!)

Do you find it helpful to have mini goals?....

H

Lovely swim

Today I went for a lovely swim. It was lovely & heated in the pool.  I pay a monthly membership which is £42.00.  I try and go at least twice a week, occasionally three times.  I didn't go for a fortnight so very cross with myself.   I blame the cold weather and the thought of coming out in to the cold air was too much!.  I am happy to pay this monthly membership with no tie in as it is my luxury & wellbeing.  Not to mention it has strengthened my back muscles swimming & I no longer seem to get that bad back I always used to get before.  Think the ironing was not helping. But no this swimming has helped.  To me that is therapy!  After I went swimming I went shopping & bought a lovely sunhat for £4.00!. Here I am in my sunhat! .

I bought a lovely  navy blue polka dot purse for £4.00 which I needed as my other purse was tatty & dog eared & had gone saggy . My bank cards kept sliding out

 

I have all my loyalty cards on one side ie  superdrug, boots, costa coffee, co op ,waitrose etc. My important bank cards on the other side. It has a safe place for coins & notes very secure too! . On the front there is a little zip bit. I usually keep two paracetemol in my purse. I usually cut them off from the pack.  Saves having to buy them If you are out somewhere & need one.  Luckily I do not get many headaches thankfully. 

 

 

 

 

I also went to the pound shops & bought a small shampoo & conditioner. I like to take full advantage of the showers at the swimming pool. These ones have 0% parabans in them.  I like to get the chlorine out of my hair.

 
 I popped into M&S & got my favourite super food nutty salad its delicious, has a real nutty flavour.  I also bought a seeded roll In M&S on its own toasted it & had some cream cheese on it.  A lovely cup of tea & a small piece of coffee cake. I am trying to exercise control round sweeter things. I find that if I tell myself I cant have something I crave it even more. So am trying to be controlled & sensible

I tried my new make - up out too.  They were doing if you spent over £12.00 you got a Bourjois blush pot free. My lipstick was £7.99 a lovely rouge colour to pucker those lips ups! A soft light gold eyeshadow £6.99, blush would have cost £7.49. Total was £14.98 for my 3 things.  I have bought cheaper cosmetics before & found that the blushers just break up and crack.  I love Aldi mascara. These will last me probably about a year!. I know there are cheaper cosmetics but I do like Bourjois.  I like to be careful with money but equally I like to buy things that I like & will use.  I go through stages where I spend nothing but equally sometimes I do like to buy a few things for myself. I bought Mr No Spend 2 packs of rice!  I sometimes feel guilty buying myself things too! & I know I shouldn't!

 Do you have an item or something you like to splurge on occasionally?! Please tell....! 

Loving this song....

I love the film PS I Love you & love this song. The film is so happy/sad . Wanted to share ! xx

30 ways to save a pound....

Thank you to http://onelifeand3kids.blogspot.co.uk/ .  I have done this as this lovely lady on this blog mentioned it on a blog post. Take a look at   http://www.moneysupermarket.com/30-ways-to-save-1-pound/.  It is quite hard actually putting it down! 

1. Instead of catching a bus home, walk home & save at least £2.00 if not more.
2. Use orange Wednesdays for the cinema (buy one get one free) & save one full price!
3. Shop for clothes at car boot sales
4. Use your local free cycle group
5. Check local colleges & hair dressers to see if they need a hair model, these can be free or considerably cheaper than paying full price as done by trainees
6. Check out your local health clubs for free trial days
7. Some beauty places also operate with a system if you introduce 3 new friends you will get a free treatment i.e. manicure.
8. When purchasing make up buy stuff on the 3 for 2 offers
9. Don't buy into big brand names try one down ; why pay for a brand name?
10. Take a pack lunch out with you when your going to work or on a day out instead of eating out
11. Book days out in advance as you can save money for prior booking
12. Buy a sports bottle & fill it with water instead of buying a bottle of water/drinks each day
13. Instead of paying to park close to your local city centre, park on the outskirts & walk the little distance
14. Join the library to have access to free books & internet
15. Do your weekly food shop late at night when food items are most likely to be reduced - they are a fraction of their price!
16. Evaluate your spending every so often to work out which things are essential & non essential
17. Keep a spending diary to make you more aware of your expenditure
18. Take advantage of when local eateries do special deals for an example dominoes on Tuesday have a policy where it is buy one pizza get one free. Do your research!
19. Travel off peak instead of during peak hours to save yourself considerable amounts of money
20. Withdraw money from actual bank atms to avoid unwanted surplus charges for an example my local convenience shop charges £2.00 to withdraw money!
21. Bulk buy things as this can be considerably cheaper than buying them individually (only if you need them!)
22. Have a loyalty card for when you buy petrol & look around at different outlets for cheapest price
23. Clip coupons & print coupons from the internet
24. Go to a clothes swish (like a swap shop) you could arrange a night in with your girls & have one..
25. Only put the heating on when absolutely necessary, make use of blankets & wooly socks
26. Having showers uses a lot less water than baths so instead of having a bath daily reduce it to a shower? Save money on your water bill! Also if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down (that's the toilet!)
27. Plan your meals in advance & batch cook, get a big chalk board & write it all on there
28. When eating out have table water instead of drinks or lime & soda as usually around 30p
29. Sell unwanted things on ebay such as outgrown kids clothes
30. Use money saving expert & money supermarket

This week I have placed a few things on ebay . I am shocked with how much postage has jumped up.  I have made some postage errors & ended up being out of pocket.  Before we move we are using the time to really prepare & streamline all our things.  Its a good time really take a look at things. This week I have

• Sold a pair of roller blades on ebay for £22.
• Sold my vintage scales for £20.00 ( the postage for these were £16.00 , I did the postage at £15.00 so only £1.00 down.)
• Sold a t - shirt for £4.99 (cost me £1.00 at car boot sale)
• Sold a replica vw campervan for £12.70 ( I estimated postage at £5.00 it was £8.00 yikes ggrr)
• Sold a small sofa for £80.00
• Sold a black top for £3.99

As I sold quite a few things I topped the emergency fund up by £100.00 .Making it to a nice round number of  £2000. 
I am not sure how long it will stay at that as things pop up but it feels nice for today!.  I still have a few bigger things I would like to sell like a cupboard & some chairs.  Things are being put into a pile for a car boot sale as I go along.  I have given a friend a tent & sleeping bag.  I am sorry to say I need a comfy sleep ! Cant cope with camping ( I am a wimp!).  I do need to track our finances better . I start doing it then forget to keep it up.
How do you keep track of your spending, computer or diary? or other way?
x

Been busy!

Well where shall I start!.  We had been talking a while me & Mr No Spend about selling our home. Well to cut a long story short we sold our bungalow which is in a quiet residential area , good local schools etc. Popular with families & elderly. It is We had an open hour ( 2 hours!). Thirty Six viewers in that space of time & 2 offers.  One for the full asking price to!. We accepted the full asking price from a nice older couple.  Anyway we had a talk about what we wanted to do ( it is still early days & as anyone knows chains break , fingers crossed).  Our main things are

•  Mortgage freedom - The thought of having no mortgage is a strong pull.  If we sell for the asking price we will be able to have no mortgage & have some money to pay car loan off (£5000) & have some money in the bank as an emergency fund
• Location - Currently where we live is close to DS school. It is very very quiet up my road!. I am not complaining.  In the daytime if you are in you would have 4 - 5 miles to see some civilization.  Of course there are more local shops & cafes (2) .  I find living further out it is harder for me to get motivated as its a bit like living in a sleepy village!  I yearn for more hustle & bustle. 
• Simple living  - Our needs have changed.  We are different to how we were when we were starting out .  We are not as spendy & not trying to accumulate stuff! The opposite less is more

We have found a lovely flat across the road from the seafront (the picture above is the view!). The floor space is bigger than our bungalow!.  It has concrete floors that was a must for us as we could not be doing with creaking floors.  It is on the top floor there is only ground, first & second.  The thing I love is it has a balcony where I can fit a table & chairs. I can see the beach huts & the sea rolling in. cannot wait to do some storm watching ( sun first please !). the next best thing is its twenty minutes away from my mum & dads house.  At the moment I am a good 1 - 2 hours away from them by bus.  Mum & dad are in there seventies now & I would like to be closer incase needs arise. The only draw back is it is further from sons school but we have that all worked out.  I will lose garage rental income & will not be doing my ironing service (Yay!!!) .  I have been doing ironing as my main source of income for over a year & it has made my arm ache so happy to stop doing it.  I will find work out in the new area & concentrate on ebay.
Looking forward to sea air & getting out and about & new beginnings.  Hopefully the sea will make me walk more & be good for those endorphins( there is no lift at this flat so hopefully be fitter !! .  I wish I would not get too excited . I am scared to! Anyone would think I was moving continents! the way I go on. I am leaving my good sweet neighbours that I love dearly. I will see them still but they have been the best. xx

Summer Clothes & mix & match outfit!!

 

I woke up to an overcast grey morning .  Days like this we all yearn for sunshine!.  I pulled my summer clothes out. I like the brightness the polka dot ,the floral, the tangerine & nautical stripes & not forgetting the bright yellowness!. I cannot wait to wear my skirts & feel the summer breeze & sun on my skin. I think I will hang the summer bits in my wardrobe now just to remind me, like a gentle reminder to let me know!

My jazzy gold pumps &  stripy socks

I wore this print skirt with my leggings underneath! & a cream lacy style top with a peter pan collar.  I said to my husband " does this look ok?" he chuckled & said " well its bright".  I went out today in a mix & match bright outfit. I chucked to myself to, as I know its a bit mix & match!.  I did it in the name of brightening up a grey day!.  Do you have a favourite colour that instantly cheers you up?. I love tangerine orange, red, white & apple green & not forgetting stripes & polka dots......!

Mr no spend is off half this week. He want to relax more than anything.  We went swimming yesterday I did 47 lengths (its only a small pool!). I also went swimming on Monday. I love swimming . I do the breast stroke & doggy paddle. It has helped my bad back no ends. Anyone who suffers with reoccurring back ache should start swimming.It really has done the trick & that's why I keep it up.

xx

 

Walking

Today I woke up a bit to early.I seem to always wake far to early 4.30 usually!.  I was feeling a bit glum at one point in the morning . So I forced myself  to go for a walk. I did not want to!. Anyway near to where I live I took the dog walking trail. I skidded twice through the sloppy mud(did not land on my bottom though, very nearly though!) 

 

 

I walked and walked.I managed to be gone for an hour .  Sometimes the things we know we should do that would help us are the very things that are hard to get started or even do.  I should embrace the fact that I am able to just get up & go for a walk.  Mental health can have such a hold over people & things that are nothing to think about for some people are huge things for

others.  I try not to think to far ahead & take little steps.

 

   

 

Lunch today was rocket salad,cucumber,cherry tomatoes, falafels a dollup of houmous & sprinkled with sunflower seeds. It tasted good & I like that it was good clean whole food.  Other things I am doing at the moment are cutting down on drinking tea/coffee as think it probably does not help anxiety . I have done this before & find my dark circles are not so prominent when I cut down to 2 a day (as opposed 6 - 8). I would love to lose 16 lbs in weight to take me to my healthy body mass index to. In time for summer time to! I am still carrying round that stoneI tried to lose last year!

 

Do you have any ideas for healthy daytime lunches? I am trying to steer clear of sandwitches as I fed up with bread

xx

I will be attempting to keep a food diary blog (link below!)

 http://2013kickmybuttintotouch.blogspot.co.uk/

Happy Bunny

I am going to make you a "Happy Bunny!". I was reading that nice mans website you know the one who is an expert with money! guessed yet!  . Apparantly if you go to the body shop & pick an item (sale stuff not included) You get £3.00 off & it does not mention a minimum spend, it was an offer to do with a newspaper & you do not need the paper voucher. Just say "Happy Bunny".  I did ask first that they were doing it!. Just incase I hopped up to the counter like a complete idiot & they did not know what I was on about!

The soap was £2.00 coconut (yummy!) and a nice lip balm £2.00 .   Grand total £1.00.   Also on the bottom of the receipt you get £10.00 0ff a £25.00  spend in Bodyshop, will probably pass that on. As I do not go in Body Shop very often to justify a big spend.  It only works instore.  Promise me you will hop to it!! 

I then went in to Boots as I was running out of my Toner.I had been using a Boots Botanicals toner which was in a spray bottle. I did not like spraying it on my face.I just  could not help quenching my eyes tightly shut & screwing my face up. Like someone was spraying a hose at me!.  I bought a Boots Traditional rosewater & glycerin for £2.32 & used  my advantage card points

I then popped to sainsburys as it was the closest one. Spent £10.32 on this stuff. A pot of Edamame bean & butter bean salad to not pictured as I quaffed it as soon as I got in as was so hungry. I did chop up some tiny little cubes of cheese and sprinkled on top. I was a discrace yesterday on the chocolate front!. So being good today for it!. I also bought 2 coconut showergels.I think they were 2 for £1.20 or  2 for £1.50. I have a thing for shower gel. I use a cinamon one , a vanilla one & love anything gingery or lime flavoured!.  I had run out of coconut shower gel. It goes perfectly with that soap.
Today I went on a open morning with a view to do a few hours volunteer work. The volunteer work willlead to accredited training which you undertake first.  Of course eventually I would like a real paid position, but hey experience needs to be gained first.It is a community role & would involve helping members of the community access services, & give advice as well as goal setting (think it would help me to!!) The kind lady reimbursed my bus ticket of £4.40 as well.With volunteer roles expenses like that can be paid for.  As you know I do ironing from home & it has & still does suit me but I would like to go fourth on to something that is more with people. I love to help people & feel I can as I know how low & alone I felt .I So want to give something back.  I always think if I won the lottery I would help so many people & it would be great as I would volunteer all the time & give my time freely as my time would not need to have a monetary value on it with regards to bills & stuff. I think Mr No Spend is a sweetie but he does despair of me ! as in his eyes he thinks just bread & butter earnings should be coming in. I bring in with the ironing jobs.  But want something more forfilling eventually.
Gosh I have gone on. Dont see me for months then I dont shut up!!! xxxxxx

Muesli & Affirmations!

 

I hope all mums had a lovely mothers day.  DD gave me 3 x bags of posh muesli . I did request for DD not to worry .  DD rang me from M&S & said she was stuck at picking me something.  So I said muesli!. I was very spoilt 3 bags full!.  Posher than the usual muesli I would buy.  But I do love it. DS got me lots of chocolate !. We quaffed that at the cinema.  Film was very sweet. In the evening we had steak & chips & grilled tomatoes.

Something I struggle with is low mood , anxiety & low motivation. I have suffered with it on & off for quite a few years.   So for quite a while I have just let certain things go.
I did not want to stop blogging but I just did not have it in me. I felt quite blank.   I am taking positive baby steps to try & pick myself up.  I sometimes wonder what makes some people different , we are all different. Some people can just get on with things & cope with life.  With DD I am trying to move forward even though situation is not the most normal.  Lots of ruminating comes into it, & lots of questions like could I have dealt with the ups & downs better.  But there are always going to be ifs, buts & whys.  I know we are a good family & that was not enough. But now we/I have to dust ourselves off & make the best of the situation the way it is.  I have to stop beating myself up . I am not a perfectionist but sometimes its hard getting your headround things.
In a bid to start being more positive ( like a little therapy for myself!). I have been reading about affirmations.  I made myself  some positive affirmation cards. The idea is that you say them aloud to yourself say ie each morning.  You have to say it with passion & conviction!(like you beleive what you are saying, you can say it to yourself in the mirror if you like). I picked some things like

• I allow myself to feel happiness & joy for no reason at all. Simply because I deserve it
• Every day I eat healthier & healthier
• I always take time to exercise
• I ask for help. I tell life what I want & then allow it to happen
• I love to focus on the good things in my life & I love that doing this brings me more blessings

If you are finding it hard to believe what you are saying ,then it will help if you can visualize what you are saying.  A lot of websites say it is good to keep them up all the time, a way of life. Some say 30 days at least as thats how long it takes to form a habbit.  Morning is a good time to say them. I made my ones with little pictures on the cards.  I am doing it as I have become negative & flat.  I am doing it as I want it to be a positive start. As a way to start noticing the smaller things that may go unoticed so it becomes easier like snowdrops popping up.  I think I need to give up watching & reading the news for a while as there seems to be so much sadness/disaster. I like to know what is going on but need to work on my mind.
Do you doing anything like this?,or do you have any good ideas /tips?.  I thought I would give it a go .  Think I am being a bit cosmic this Monday! Would love to here your ideas & a warm thank you for your comments
xx 

Cinema again!

Today we are going to the cinema again!. I managed to get 4 free tickets from mse. We are going to see "The Odd Life Of Timothy Green".  Jennifer Garner is in the film.  I am taking some chocolate & fruit bags with me!.  Fruit bags for me I have over dosed on chocolate this weekend!. I cannot face anymore.  We are all going to the cinema this morning.  We  have arranged to meet DD.  I do like going to the cinema  Its a form of escapism for a few hours! . It was a bonus not having to pay for tickets. It would cost a small fortune for a family to go to the cinema nowadays.  At least if kids are little you can choose saturday morning kids clubs, or orange wednesdays or if older senior rates. I know at the senior one this week it is "Great Expectations" .
.

 

This weekend I have been listing some things on ebay as it is free listing weekend.  Since I have been absent from blogland & the world!, I have neglected lots of things.
I have got into eating much more healthily and eating more wholefoods not that it has resulted in weight loss!( do have chocolate blips!).  I now swim at least once or twice a week. This makes my body feel supple & has helped my back a great deal & do not seem to get that frequent backache I used to get all the time.

Will be back later let you know if film was good
x

Where do I start....

 I did not plan to take such a long blog break.  I think I found it hard to write about anything .I just could not see anything positive & rather than just being negative I removed myself  & wallowed  in a lot of negativity & self pity.  Found myself really quite depressed & with a lack of any sort of motivation.  I think its safe to say I have generalized anxiety disorder.  Anxiety that I cannot switch of, its with me quite often & I haven't succeeded in kicking its butt yet!. That mixed in with the blues.  There is a little flicker within within me that is trying to fix things & do the best I can.  I tend to go into a shell & hide away.  I say no to doing things or make excuses as to why I cannot.  I find it easier to hide so people do not see the real me. The one who is up & down. The one who gets emotional easily.  The one who beats herself up mentally and ruminates. Turning the same old stuff over in my mind. The one who feels like a failure. Who views herself as a failure   But I have got to a place now where I know I cannot go on with that continual thinking pattern it is time to

Try & kick some butt!!

To stop the internal negative self talk & to try & start loving myself  ...     

 

Does that make sense?! 

 

 

On a happy note !. I went to the cinema today with my mum & sister to see " Silver Linings Playbook".  We accompanied mum to the senior screen to see this film. It was very sweet & we all loved Bradley Cooper  x (see if you get chance).