Happy Friday! Have you had a good week? It feels like this week has gone by so slowly. Not entirely sure why! Pleased it’s the end though 🙂 I’m hoping the weather is better next week as it’s been so awful. Wet, cold, miserable.
The No Spend Year is going okay still. Although I have a confession to make… one of the rules is no eating out. However, we went to soft play on Wednesday and you aren’t allowed to take any food or drink in with you. The entry fee includes lunch for a child but nothing for an adult. I got both a hot drink and then lunch whilst we were there… so have I failed already? I’m not seeing as that; I couldn’t take a packed lunch with me as you’re not allied your own food there. I totally understand why that is. So yes, tiny hiccup there.
The other thing I am getting more and more desperate for – however sad that makes me sound – is a good, takeaway coffee. It’s so sad, I know. But, it’s one of the only things I am missing so far. I used to get them as a little treat but obviously I am now not doing. I didn’t think this would be the thing that I would find the hardest. I honestly thought that when we started the No Spend Year that takeaways would be the thing I would miss the most. We would get them fairly regularly – perhaps too often for a frugal lifestyle blogger – but nope, I haven’t missed them at all. How strange is that?!
It’s half term next week for us so we’re actually going away for a few days. I am looking forward to the break! And hopefully we might get a bit of sunshine – fingers crossed. This is where it might get tough with the no eating out rule. I need to be strict with myself. Packed lunch and hot chocolate in a flask is more than adequate! That message is for me if no one else. Hopefully we’ll get out for some walks and to the park. All being well. It will just be nice to have a break from the rushing around routine we seem to have in the normal day to day life.
I’m also still enjoying my YouTube channel and working really hard on things for that. It takes a lot of time behind the scenes! I am slowly inching towards the 1,000 subscriber mark which is exciting 🙂 to be able to monetise your channel – which means to add ads at the start and make some money – you need to have 1,000 subscribers and have 4,000 watch hours. I am nowhere the amount of watch hours needed but this is one of my aims for this year. It is great to see the upwards motion of that 🙂 slow and steady wins the race.
Finally, I am just trying to take it easy. It can sometimes feel like I am trying to juggle far too many things and it can show sometimes. Work, home, blog, Youtube, VA work and other bits interwoven too is a massive juggling act which I can sometimes find overwhelming. Some of the things I am doing in order to make sure I don’t burn out is getting to bed at a reasonable time, turning my phone off on a night and reading before bed. I find these three things combined really help in terms of relating and generally well being. I know I could be eating better, but one step at a time.
Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂
What has happened in your life lately? Let me know!
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Hi Nicola
We bought a Lavazza coffee maker for the house last year and have saved a fortune on takeaway coffee and it is good stuff. The pods are now biodegradable, which is good as originally we worried about the environmental impact of disposing of them. OH takes a coffee to work. I just don’t buy it outside anymore as I can have one when I want at home.
Liz x
Hello
I’m only 2 months I to frugal living and the savings lifestyle. However, a lot of the principles I seem to have already been doing. It’s great to read your blog and be inspired to keep going. I’m 43 and hope to be mortgage free at 45. I’m making a huge effort over the next 2 year to achieve this final push.