Not that long ago, it seemed as though Christmas was ages away, to the extent that I felt slightly ridiculous, buying presents so far ahead. But all of a sudden it feels as though it’s just around the corner, and despite my best intentions, I may, once again, end up buying a lot of last-minute gifts in December.
This week’s major purchases are almost all Christmas gift-related (almost), along with an absolutely sinful grocery shop total (what is happening and will these prices ever go down again?!) and the monthly payment to our cleaner.
On which note, a question: do you want me to keep in the “household” expenses, like the cleaner and the groceries, or should I keep the money diary strictly to kind of discretionary purchases? (I ask because I’m very aware that Brandin and I have shared finances, so any of his purchases are, technically, my purchases, but I don’t include them here… so maybe I shouldn’t include the family ones, either! Let me know what you think.)
Monday
Atlas was sick at the weekend, so I decide not to send him to Robin’s today. Even though he seems to be feeling a lot better, he’s still a bit moany and things aren’t quite back to normal with his little tummy (the less said), so I clear my calendar (more like, I transfer my to-do list items to tomorrow) and settle in for what’s basically a long day of nursing on the couch.
I’m thinking more and more lately about giving up breastfeeding, for no reason other than that I’d like to have my body back to myself – which is, obviously, as good a reason as any – but the hassle of weaning him, and then dealing with my boobs swelling up and being sore for a few days, just feels like too big an obstacle to overcome right now.
Maybe that’ll be a problem for future me (along with my credit card debt, questionable tax payments – questionable because I suspect I’m going to owe more than I’d accounted for, not because I’m trying to defraud the IRS, to be clear – and the sheer disrespect I’ve been showing my digestive system for years now).
When Atlas goes down for his nap – a blissful 12.30-to-4.30pm wonder – I sit down at my desk to do some work and, of course, to get entirely distracted by social media / the (awful) news / online shopping…
During one of my many breaks from work, I stumble on to Sur La Table via, I think, an Instagram ad, and order a few Christmas presents, including some melting chocolate snowmen for the boys’ stockings, a nutcracker tea towel for Bea (which I already gave her cos I have zero chill) and a big Christmas ornament holder, for us, that’s reduced by 50%. ($171.17)
When Brandin and the boys get home, he starts on dinner and I head up to the office to do a bit more work. I had been getting better at not working in the evenings (I thought!) but I feel like I’m slipping back into the habit now, which is annoying.
Once everyone’s gone to bed, Brandin watches TV and I read my book – I’m on to book one of The Bonds that Tie series by J Bree, which is a bit Hunger Games-y with a hint of X Men and a smattering of group sex (once you get past book two anyway).
Dedicated smutty books post coming this week!
Daily total: $171.17
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