Quick note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Following my recent revelation about the goal of buying our dream home, I wanted to address a side topic I think may be of use to other people.
There is a perception poor credit can impact your chances of getting accepted for a mortgage loan. I want to discuss this in more detail below.
We were definitely in the category of a family who had a slightly reduced income, and over a prolonged period of time, and this led to financial difficulty. Shame is the main feeling I had when we were struggling to make ends meet each month.
Disclaimer – I am not a financial adviser. Please do not use this post as a substitute for financial advice.
Information for anyone impacted
Experian provides practical tips about how to show you are able to maintain payments, even if you have bad credit. They also include useful information and links to other organisations offering help.
Show lenders you’re a responsible borrower by meeting all your regular payments – e.g. utility bills and credit card payments – on time and in full.
Review your spending – try to reduce costs where you can, and keep your monthly outgoings consistent. Aim to have money left over at the end of each month.
Try to review your credit report regularly – make sure it’s up to date, and that the information on it is accurate. If you do find anything that needs correcting, contact the relevant lender and ask for an amendment – or get in touch with Experian, and we’ll speak to the lender for you.
If you have a good explanation for past financial difficulties, such as redundancy or ill health, consider adding a note of correction to your report for lenders to see.
Only set your sights on a property you can realistically afford, as there aren’t too many mortgages around at 95-100% loan to value.
You may need a guarantor, typically a parent or an older relative, to reassure lenders that monthly payments will be covered if you can’t keep up with them.
You can check your eligibility for a mortgage with Experian. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving house or looking to re-mortgage, we can show you which lenders are more likely to accept you.
Remember, you’ll also need a decent deposit in place – at least 10-20% of the property price.
Source – Experian
Our financial situation and the difficulties we faced
With the global pandemic, many families found themselves struggling financially through no fault of their own. We were definitely in the category of a family who had a slightly reduced income, and over a prolonged period of time, and this led to financial difficulty. Shame is the main feeling I had when we were struggling to make ends meet each month.
Financial planning was previously a passion of mine. I was great at managing finances. Therefore, money worries hit me hard. Especially as this happened during recovery from a mental breakdown and when I was facing redundancy from my job. Everything that could go wrong did.
This experience taught me life doesn’t always happen according to the plans you have in your head, or the ideal vision of how you think something will pan out. You might have to face an incredibly bumpy ride before you achieve your dream.
For us, it’s almost like the rollercoaster is just about to stop. We need to recover, regroup, do some financial planning, and then make our next move in life. Because we are just on the cusp of making some future financial decisions, it is an exciting time for us.
House goals
I’ve talked in my recent post about house goals. I currently enjoy searching Pinterest for home decor projects, how I want my garden to look, and whether I can reasonably afford the items on my home wishlist.
Speaking about house goals, check out these houses for sale in Toronto. When we first got together, the hubby and I talked about relocating to a big city. We loved the hustle and bustle. We also wondered about moving abroad and asked ourselves whether it would be an easier life. I think its human nature to believe the grass is greener somewhere else. For the foreseeable future, we are hoping to buy a house in the UK, but who knows what the future holds.
Summary
I wanted to write this post today to assure people, having bad credit doesn’t mean you cannot proceed with obtaining your financial goals and live out your home buying dreams. It’s healthy to have a goal in mind and to look at homes, in order to manifest it in real life.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading about my goals and the roadblock along our home buying journey.
AD – Today I wanted to let you in on another important aspect of my life. We currently rent our apartment and obtaining a mortgage and buying a family home is high on our list of priorities.
But it isn’t as simple as just wanting to do it.
Pre pandemic, we heard people talk about ‘saving for a rainy day’ and ‘unexpected circumstances’. Well, those circumstances happened to us all. Everyone around the world was impacted in some way. I must say I feel lucky our situation wasn’t worse financially and my thoughts are with anyone who was seriously impacted by financial worries or Ill health over the last few years.
Disclaimer – I am not a financial advisor and none of the information contained in this post should substitute financial advice.
Barriers in our the way of us buying a family home
With current house prices in the UK soaring, it’s a difficult time for first-time buyers buying a family home. But obviously, it’s an amazing time for sellers at the moment.
This Guardian article gives an overview on how the housing market reached this point and it’s quite grim looking at the historic decisions which may have led us here.
Money or lack of it is the main reason why first-time buyers struggle to place a mortgage deposit on a house. The current schemes out there to help are designed to address this upfront cost. We will talk more about this later on in the post.
Time to get personal…
Our current financial circumstances
Many people are reluctant to discuss their financial circumstances and there can be shame around struggling financially. I believe it’s a personal choice about what information you disclose and I’m more open about money since we’ve learned the value of it recently.
It’s no secret we’ve struggled financially over the last year. I’ve talked about it a lot on the blog. Looking back, I think difficulty arose from reduced income, due to maternity leave and then the pandemic. The UK lockdown was announced about three weeks after I returned to work following my maternity leave.
Pre pandemic, we heard people talk about ‘saving for a rainy day’ and ‘unexpected circumstances’. Well, those circumstances happened to us all. Everyone around the world was impacted in some way. I must say I feel lucky our situation wasn’t worse financially and my thoughts are with anyone who was seriously impacted by financial worries or Ill health over the last few years.
The numbers don’t lie
For us, the mortgage deposit is something we can now realistically achieve over the next few years. If we work hard to save money and set out our priorities. Then stick to them! It feels great to finally be able to say we can afford it, without worrying about how we will pay our bills. Things are finally looking up for us.
One of the goals we have is to never financially overcommit ourselves monthly again. We did it just before the pandemic and it was the worst thing we could do. But hindsight is a wonderful tool. We didn’t have the privilege of it back then.
From now on, the plan is to save a percentage of our income each month and pretend it doesn’t exist. I’ve lived frugally over the last year and I enjoy saving my hard-earned pennies. The goal of obtaining a mortgage and buying our dream house is something I’m passionate about achieving. Therefore I am motivated to ensure I don’t spend the money on other things.
We must calculate our payments and continue to assess exactly what is affordable and achievable for us. House buying, just like anything else in life, can cause you to get carried away. But it’s important to stick to a budget and only make financial decisions within our remit.
How I will use the numbers to inform my financial decisions when buying a family home
I frequently use a mortgage affordability calculator to work out what we could potentially afford. Because I also want to achieve a work-life balance, we may have less monthly income to work with. All of these factors need to be considered and I will pay attention to the numbers before making future home-buying decisions.
Another significant factor open to change and we need to keep discussing, are calculations for the deposit, interest rates, and what the mortgage loan would look like over several years. I mean nobody can predict the future. My parents were hit with an interest rate hike of 10% when we were kids and almost lost the house. We must plan for all eventualities when making the biggest financial decision we will probably ever make.
Schemes in the UK to assist us
Although buying a family home isn’t always easy, I am happy there are certain schemes in the UK, such a Help to Buy, which helps first-time buyers achieve their mortgage goals.
We also both have a Lifetime ISA and we now intend to pay significant amounts of money into it, to reach our home buying goals.
The market
Naturally, when dreaming of buying a family home, I frequently check out the housing market and Rightmove is my preferred website. As a couple, we regularly discuss the area we would like to live in.
Because life with a toddler brings certain responsibilities, we also have to consider schools and how it will be for a little one growing up in the house. Where I lived in my younger days became the focal point of growing up, and it’s where memories were made. My friends were those who lived on the same street. My parents still live in the area and we’ve known people who live there for years.
The downside was, I lived in a village, which meant access to a town centre and amenities involved planning travel. Ideally, we want our little one to grow up where we live now. In a town, with transport links, cafes, parks. But the price tag for such amenities is high. For us, this means higher mortgage payments. The reality is it may come down to a decision of fewer amenities and lower mortgage payments. These are the compromises we are currently weighing up.
Future goals for buying a family home
Once I am eventually settled in my new home (I literally have a list of house goals, including a wine fridge!), I dream about being financially savvy enough to overpay the mortgage and get to a great place financially by doing this. We just need to get one foot on the property ladder first! And save for the wine fridge. I am finishing up this post to check out #housegoals on Pinterest.
I am sure you will be hearing more about our home buying journey on this blog. Stay tuned!
Final thoughts
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my post and getting to know me a little better.
This is one of my main personal goals and I wanted to share it with all of you. A house of my own, to decorate how I want. How wonderful.
Do you own your own home or are you looking to buy one soon?
Like me, do you check out Rightmove and work out different variations of calculations?
I would love to hear your experiences in the comments below.
We’ve all been there, right? You forgot someone special off the Christmas list and it’s the 19th of December. No retailer will deliver, but you need a special gift to say you’ve thought about the person in question.
These are some of the online Christmas gifts I’ve bought for loved ones in the past and would love to receive from someone.
A voucher or a last-minute tailored online gift doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. I’ve sometimes intentionally opted for this type of gift if I didn’t know what to buy someone.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
I’ve created a list of great online vouchers you can purchase straight to your inbox. For the special person in your life.
An online course
If you follow the blog, you all know I love learning and frequently do free and cheap courses.
Is there a person in your life who loves learning? What a great idea for an online Christmas gift.
Centre of Excellence currently has the following offer on courses. Their online courses are user-friendly and I have bought several in the past.
Offer – 70% off for all courses
Until 30th November 2021
CODE: SKILLED70
When you get to the checkout with the discount code, there is an option to gift this to someone, as shown below.
Easy peasy.
English Heritage Membership
We loved our year of English Heritage membership pre-pandemic and fully intend to sign up again. Now our little one is a bit more active and needs entertaining, it will be the perfect day out for us.
They have a discount offer at the moment.
15% off Gift & Annual Memberships – T&C’s – Only for use on Membership purchases.
Code – EH2021
31-12-2021
A romantic meal in the local pub
We have a few pubs near us where the food is upmarket and the drinks are fantastic. You pay a little more for your night out, but you have a lovely time and feel like you’ve been to a restaurant.
One year we didn’t have a clue what to buy for family members and we got them a voucher for a night out. As it turns out, we ended up all going together for mothers day the following year, but their meal was paid for and it was a lovely night. What a treat.
You can buy a voucher for the pub chain we visited here. Gift cards can be emailed to your loved ones. Simple.
Village Hotels voucher
We love an overnight stay at Village hotels. They have everything you need all in one place and it’s an affordable treat.
Even better, you can purchase a digital voucher for someone you love. The recipient can look forward to a relaxing stay at a time of their choosing.
The perfect online Christmas gift.
Buy a Gift
I have used this company many times in the past. Not only for online Christmas gifts but also birthdays and anniversaries.
We once bought a weekend away voucher for my parents and they loved the experience. The beauty of it is most vouchers you buy, provide a range of dates and hotels you can visit. Meaning your loved one still has a choice about where they go and when.
Final thoughts
I hope these ideas have inspired you if you’re struggling to buy for someone, or you need an additional voucher to add to their overall gift.
Feel free to use this list as a last-minute purchase, if you’ve forgotten someone. I am sure I will forget a lot of important tasks over Christmas.
Let me know your thoughts on vouchers in the comments below.
If you’re following my blog, you’ll know Halloween is my favourite occasion of the year.
Unfortunately, I was a bit last minute booking a pumpkin picking event this year. However, I was happy with every aspect of the place we visited. And of course, I had to share my thoughts with all of you lovely readers.
Cue me dramatically demonstrating what would happen with a toy tractor on the morning of pumpkin picking. Yes, a very animated portrayal of exactly where in the trailer we would sit. Hehe.
Read on to find out where we booked for 2021 and my thoughts on the event…
PLEASE NOTE – This review is solely based on a day out with my family and all views and opinions are my own. Photos were also taken by me.
Booking online
What sold me on booking this pumpkin picking event was the tractor ride to the pumpkin field. I knew our little one would love it. Cue me dramatically demonstrating what would happen with a toy tractor on the morning of pumpkin picking. Yes, a very animated portrayal of exactly where in the trailer we would sit. Hehe.
Another huge selling point was the great value for money. The price for an adult ticket was £2.00 and you didn’t need to pay for young children.
When we arrived, the car park was signposted and there were marshalls telling us where to park and how to get on the tractor.
The tractor ride was from one field, over a main road to the adjacent field. But honestly, my little one loved it and it was a great addition to our trip out.
Every single staff member we met on the day was helpful and friendly and they made the whole experience a lovely outing.
Arriving in the pumpkin field
Upon leaving the tractor, someone gave us a talk on directions around the pumpkin field. We were also given useful information on which types of pumpkins you could use for cooking. What impressed me was they had grown their pumpkins. Some of the events we’ve visited in the past have clearly bought them in and placed them in a field.
Wheelbarrows were parked up ready for us to collect. At other pumpkin fields, we’ve had to stand in a queue and pay for a wheelbarrow. Not really what you want with an eager toddler who is raring to go. This was a great system. It made it easy for parents to manage unruly toddlers.
There was a one-way system around three fields, with an astroturf walkway all the way around. Helpful if you don’t want to get muddy. Luckily we were dressed for the muddy fields because the places we’ve visited before were a bit like a mud bath.
As you can see from the pictures, the decorations around the pumpkin fields were great and there were a lot of opportunities to take photos. The sun blessed us with its presence and it made our photos even better. I was also impressed with the open space. You could go off on your own and take pictures without anyone else in them.
Amazing memories.
Paying and leaving the pumpkin field
We collected our pumpkins. The wheelbarrow was particularly useful for housing our little one when we wanted to get moving. The prices were great and we got a lot of lovely pumpkins for our money. £13.50 for the collection you see here.
Upon paying we were directed to a staff member handing out bin liners. We were given a generous pile and were easily able to transport our haul.
Back onto the tractor and to the car park. Of course, my little one had to stop to go full Peppa Pig mode and jump in the puddle. As she was fully suited, with wellies on we let her have some fun.
Facilities availible on the day
Although we didn’t use the facilities, there was a large gazebo, a snack van serving drinks, face painting tents, and toilets (the portaloos were very clean).
There was ample parking, plenty of signs directing you where to go and clear instructions.
The whole process was easy and it’s exactly what you need when you have children to entertain.
Final thoughts
All things considered, this is now my favourite farm for pumpkin picking and we will be booking next year.
Until next year, fellow Halloween lovers.
Let me know in the comments below whether you went pumpkin picking this year. Where did you visit?
What other celebrations did you have for Halloween?
Struggling with what to buy a partner or a loved one? Look no further, I got you covered! Here are my trusted No 7 essentials.
In time for Christmas pressie purchases, I wanted to share with you some of the affordable No7 products I’ve been using for years. Products I wouldn’t leave the house without.
I love No7 products not only because they are affordable, but the Boots points system also allows you to take advantage of offers and eventually spend your points on future purchases.
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
Product images courtesy of Boots.com
Why does looking after ourselves make us feel better
I don’t wear much make-up, but I do make a little more effort when I go out. It makes me feel special and glamourous. Especially when my normal life is spent tidying up toddler mess and being lucky to have 30 seconds in the car throwing on some concealer.
It’s no secret that the older we get, the more we need to take care of our skin. Having a good skincare routine is a form of self-care and it’s one I intend to stick to.
However, for me and I am sure lots of other families. It has to be affordable.
We can’t talk about my trusted No7 essentials, without, of course talking about the Boots Advent calendar. These are the three bundles currently on offer at the moment.
What an amazing way to countdown to Christmas. By taking care of yourself and having some me-time each day, revealing a new product. Such a treat!
This is first on the list of my trusted No 7 essentials.
When I visited Boots recently, they didn’t have my usual concealer but I am glad because I came away with this amazing product.
Because of the ingredients, the coverage is great and it blends so well on your face. However, it also feels light, like you’re not wearing makeup. As I have fair skin, with a lot of blemishes, it makes me feel more confident to lightly cover these when I go out.
I discovered make-up primer a few years ago and honestly, it transformed my life.
When I go out, it takes my make-up from looking not too bad to absolutely flawless and I would recommend it to anyone. I also find it works well with the addition of the concealer. Meaning I get a flawless finish, but my face still feels like I don’t have much make-up on.
I’ve had the same nude lipgloss for a while now, but I love it. It got me through some work nights out, transforming from day makeup to night makeup. It added a little sparkle when I was having a down day and needed it most. It needed throwing in the bin.
Therefore, I treated myself to a slightly darker nude shade and I love it. I’ve had lipgloss in the past that makes your lips feel dry and you get clumpy bits after a while. Not with No.7. I am so happy I’ve got a new shade to last me through the festive period.
I also treated myself recently to a new lip balm. I previously had the nude colour, but got a slightly darker shade. It goes on like a diluted colour and is very moisturising, but I love the stuff.
When I am pushed for time and can’t spend long with a face mask on, this product works wonders. The mix of mouse and gel textures leaves your skin feeling fresh.
I buy this product as a little treat now and again. If my skin is feeling particularly tired, it’s great to have what feels like an overnight boost and wake up feeling a little brighter.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading why I love these products.
Do you have a favourite No7 product? Something you just can’t live without or an item that makes you feel a little better on a down day?
I hope this post will allow you to get to know me better.
Because I struggle with control issues, due to my anxiety, I’ve realised my love of baking is possibly about a total loss of control: causing mess, chaos and the final outcome is always uncertain!
Maybe I just need some time to completely switch off and let go. I think my mind is glad of the rest. I enjoy the process and get seriously creative with ingredients and decoration.
In my real life I like everything in order, lists are my best friend. But when I bake, I don’t stick to recipes, I’ve tried many vegan alternatives in the past.
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
I just love experimenting.
I firstly need to explain I believe I’ve Inherited this talent. About 5 years ago I gave it a try and was strangely amazing at baking. Even down to the small details. I would randomly know when my items were baked without setting a timer, and self-taught decoration tips very quickly, using YouTube videos.
It’s time for me to tell you all about my baking journey…
I firstly need to explain I believe I’ve Inherited this talent. About 5 years ago I gave it a try and was strangely amazing at baking. Even down to the small details. I would randomly know when my items were baked without setting a timer, and self-taught decoration tips very quickly, using YouTube videos.
For years I was on a mission to practice my skills by baking for every occasion I could. The only problem with baking as a hobby, or attempting to turn it into more, is you need a lot of time. Which I don’t usually have!
There is also a lot of debate about whether turning a hobby into a full-time job is beneficial, or whether you would take the joy you experience away from it. I find baking therapeutic, but would I still find it therapeutic if it was my main source of income? Here at some tips, if you feel like becoming a pro-baker. I decided a while ago, it’s something I want to do for fun.
Someone say The Great British Bake Off??
There was talk of me applying for GBBO at one point and I actually read through the application and almost started practicing. Imagine that! Maybe one day.
I’ve even experimented with ingredients and the science behind a baked product. I don’t need weighing scales and I’ve substituted a lot of components to focus on healthy baking or using cheaper ingredients.
Why I stopped baking
It’s difficult to gauge exactly when and why I stopped baking. I previously booked annual leave from work to make amazing creations for family members’ special occasions. Maybe it was my all-or-nothing mindset, telling me if I couldn’t make something fantastic there was no point.
Then life got in the way. The lead-up to my recent breakdown meant I struggled to find time to do anything enjoyable in life. I listened to my anxiety brain and told myself there was no time for baking or anything else I enjoyed in life for that matter. I’ve said goodbye to the negative thoughts now and you can read more about that here.
Has the baking spark come back?
Since my breakdown, I’ve made an effort to bake, in order to restore some part of my sanity, which was lost in this whole sorry mess.
It made me feel whole again and took my mind off the severe anxiety I was experiencing. I enjoyed giving out the baked goods and sending them to family and friends. This was one of the main motivations for baking in the first place. You can check out the other techniques I used to recover from my breakdown here.
Who made the cakes during my hiatus?
During my hiatus from baking, there were times I needed baked goods for special occasions but just couldn’t bring myself to be the baker of these items. The thought of it made me stressed, instead of excited.
For these times, I enlisted the help of online sellers. I ordered a tray of brownies for my partner’s 30th birthday and put them on a very expensive cake stand. This is his fave dessert so they went down a treat! I think they were all gone within an hour. Lesson learned. Next time I will hide the baked goods until later in the party. I think he managed to squirrel some away before the party-goers descended. He isn’t the sharing desserts type, haha!
Where should I seek out these brownie sellers, you ask?
For those times you’re just not feeling creative, need something as a gift or treat for a friend, or just want a Saturday night in and a box of brownies (no judgment here), look no further….
Today I need to tell you about Bake Me A Gift. They are offering 10% off your first order, using code: AF2110. Valid until: 31st Dec 2021.
Grab your brownies here and make someone happy this Christmas!
For the times I simply can’t be bothered to bake, or I’ve got my fill of self-care elsewhere, online brownies will be my only option.
Final thoughts
Are you a bake-off potential candidate or maybe never baked anything before? I would love to hear your stories in the comments below…
During my anxiety years and especially during down periods, I told myself I couldn’t go out do things and it was the worse thing I did to myself. A travesty. I cut myself off from happy times, spending time with people I love, enjoying the little things in life, all because I subscribed to black & white thinking and had a script full of self-limiting beliefs constantly running over and over again in my head. And I let it happen…
It’s time to carve out a new healthy path and ditch the old way of thinking. It previously damaged my mental health and I must avoid this ever happening to me again in the future. You can read more about when my mental health struggles began here.
Want to know the secret to living a happy and fulfilled life? Read on…
It was also nice to shop without the little one running around. There is a perception parents shouldn’t leave children out and I feel guilty when I do! But it is so important, we as parents, take time for ourselves. I breathed a sigh of relief in the first charity shop because I had images running through my brain of the little one grabbing every item off the shelves and me telling her off. It was reassuring to know I didn’t have to contend with this today, she was at nursery being entertained instead.
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
Today, my mum suggested a trip to the charity shops and some breakfast. A simple activity I would usually be inclined to say no to due to lack of money. She kindly treated me to a coffee, sandwich and gave me some spending money, because she knows money is tight for us at the moment. I’ve told her I visit the supermarket and walk around adding up what I’ve spent. My parents know what this feels like to count the pennies and we are so lucky to have them helping us out. Shout out mum & dad if you ever happen to read this!
Our trip and why outings work wonders for your mental health
Because we are still on holiday as a family, I had the family car today, which made the trip easier. I usually travel around by public transport or walk, which I don’t mind. It does me good. We ditched the second car years ago because it wasn’t cost-effective. Today, having a car, was a luxury I am not used to.
Wandering around, without a care in the world, not knowing what time it is, and browsing the shelves, was therapeutic.
It was also nice to shop without the little one running around. There is a perception parents shouldn’t leave children out and I feel guilty when I do! But it is so important, we as parents, take time for ourselves. I breathed a sigh of relief in the first charity shop because I had images running through my brain of the little one grabbing every item off the shelves and me telling her off. It was reassuring to know I didn’t have to contend with this today, she was at nursery being entertained instead.
We had a chat about loads of topics I can’t even recall now, catching up about life and you know what, this time is much more valuable than worrying about money issues. Yes, we all need money to live and you can achieve wellness by managing your money correctly (I don’t want anyone to have the worries I’ve experienced over the last year due to financially overcommitting), but you also have to live life and ensure you get out of the house to do activities that fit within your budget.
There are plenty of free and cheap things you can do and I am passionate about sharing my tips with others. You can read more about how you can have fun on a budget in my blog post here.
My mental breakdown this year has shown me you have to set aside time to spend with family, spend a little money, and enjoy your life. If you take the time to do this, all the other parts will fit into place and surely you will be in a better place to tackle difficult issues you may be going through.
My charity shop haul
Living a happy and fulfilled life means doing something you love! And I love shopping.
As I am so excited and refreshed following my outing this morning, of course, I had to write a blog post about it. I’ve even become one of those bloggers taking pictures of everything (well roping the hubby in with his great phone camera, IT skills, and photoshop knowledge). I am no expert (I will leave the flatlays to a professional website, like Canva), but here is the picture of my haul:
The items I bought and why I loved them
Of course, I had to get the little one some toys and activities to entertain her. We are the stage where we need constant entertainment to reflect the experience she gets at nursery. It’s so much fun, but also hard work.
She loves Peppa Pig and now has a Peppa Pig torch which was £1.25. I know she will be overjoyed when she comes home from nursery today and sees this toy, and the look on her face is well worth £1.25.
I also got her an activity book for 50p. She isn’t yet at the stage where she can work through the activities, but she loves colouring books and drawing all over the pages. She will get endless enjoyment for 50p. Winner!
The Meccano set is parts only and I didn’t realise this in the shop, but for £1.99 I am not going to moan about it and she can do some building. It’s also an excuse for us to add other Meccano parts to her Christmas list.
I got some home decorations to spruce the place up a bit, ahead of my larger autumn purchases (a future blog post will cover the topic of what I purchased!). We needed a fresh bowl of Pot Pourri and it was just sat on the shelf as if it had been waiting for me, because I’ve been talking about it loads this week! £2.00 – bargain!
The little gold pot will be an addition to our rose gold decor (I previously bought the other items from Poundland). It was 40p.
We all need body lotion in our lives and I love seeking it out in charity shops. There are so many unwanted gift sets given away. You get a cheap item, whilst also raising money for charity. Win, win. 50p for this lotion. I can’t wait to try it.
On winter days, I love wearing these headbands. They keep the hair off your face and also cover your ears. I haven’t got a light coloured one, so had to purchase this. £1.99. Can’t go wrong with something so useful.
Books – these were 50p each and I will be adding them to the stack of books I intend to read. I might even do a before and after blog post, to encourage me to read them all. Lack of reading isn’t because I don’t love doing it, it’s getting the time with a toddler who believes every physical item in the house is hers.
Why I’m now happy and fulfilled
I’ve spent years shying away from some activities out of fear, lack of money, or lack of time.
My mental breakdown this year has shown me you have to set aside time to spend with family, spend a little money, and enjoy your life. If you take the time to do this, all the other parts will fit into place and surely you will be in a better place to tackle difficult issues you may be going through. You can read more about how I recovered from my breakdown here.
It would have been easy to say no to going out today, due to money worries, but it’s exactly because of the money worries why I needed to get out of the house, get some fresh air, spend some time not caring about a thing, and having quality mummy daughter time.
The point is, don’t live such a busy life you need to pay money to feel somewhat normal. How about living a more mediocre life and having quality time to spend with family and friends? What’s the point in earning so much money anyway, if you’re always too tired to spend it?
Simplify life
In the past, my mum & I might have visited Village Hotels for a spa day. Whilst we will return at some point, I am now looking for cheaper alternatives to get out of the house and still have fun.
Having fun and finding fulfilling activities is simple, we as human beings tend to overcomplicate it. These are some of the things I used to say to myself when working 12 hour days:
To feel better I need a spa day
I am so stressed from working 12 hour days, I need to treat myself
Work hard, play hard
I deserve it
I am too tried to spend the money I earn
I previously equated living a happy and fulfilled with spending money. This doesn’t always bring you happiness. I would much rather do something free with my loved ones, like sitting in the park.
Don’t get me wrong, if you want to do the above activities and have luxuries in your life, go for it. I will resume cheap spa days when I can afford it again!
The point is, don’t live such a busy life you need to pay money to feel somewhat normal. How about living a more mediocre life and having quality time to spend with family and friends? What’s the point in earning so much money anyway, if you’re always too tired to spend it?
To read more posts on mental health, see the other blogs I’ve written below…
What steps are you taking to live a happy and fulfilled life?
In the future, I want to create a life where quality time with family is balanced with working enough to pay bills and live comfortably. It is clear to me now, the type of job I was doing in the past and the long hours I worked, damaged my mental health. It’s time to prioritise happiness and the big secret is actually that it’s very easy to do, with a mindset change.
Here’s to a happier and more fulfilled life for us all.
What are you doing to balance family time with work-life? Do you think your views have changed since the pandemic?
I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
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