Today is a tough day, but we’re getting through it. I’m sure many of you will have, at some time, experienced the pinch when money gets tight.  We’re being pinched quite tightly today…  Our cat needs xrays that are going to cost around £150 (though maybe a few pounds less the vet says, because that helps) and we got news from our electricity company that they made a mistake on our bill.  Instead of being £120 in credit, we owe them £120.  Frustrating. Add that to the looming holiday, we’ve £250 to pay for the second plane ticket, I’ve got to renew my passport for £75 and we’re going to have to buy some stuff.  I’ve only 3 pairs of jeans and one skirt that fits me right now; not great attire for the south of France in July.

It all adds up, but I am surprised at my rallying attitude. I let myself have a little internal sulk for a while and wallow a bit in my misery, then shook it off and started looking at things objectively.  I realised I was glad the electricity company had been in touch, because it would have been a nasty shock down the line.  And the cat is our baby, we took on that responsibility and we’ve taken out pet insurance so while it wont cover his xrays it’ll cover anything else later down the line, for only £7 a month.  And while I could give up my holiday, I don’t want to. This has been a hard academic year and I need the time to unwind before things kick off again.  We’re going with my parents, aunt, uncle and cousin who’s the same age as us so it is a family holiday.  My mum can’t get refunds on our ticket and we’ve already paid off one.  When my student loan comes in on Thursday I can give her some and whittle away at the debt.

I’ve also started looking for a job working with at-risk adults, dementia care etc.  While this sounds altruistic it isn’t totally.  I want to help people, but it’s also valuable experience that builds my CV and will increase my chances of getting on to a Clinical Psychology course in the future.  It’s also a little extra money.

So in short, I’m surprised at myself in how quickly I have shaken it off and dealt with it.  There would have been times in the past where I just would have given up. Isn’t it amazing how resourceful the mind can be when you coax it?  Positive thinking - it’s the key!  I won’t be beaten down because I don’t want to be.  I’m going to try and apply the same attitude to my weight loss.

And the good news?  154lbs today - 1lb down, 29 to go! (And that wasn’t sarcasm!)

Mango x