Living well on one income

After picking up Kate Singh's Homemade Housewife last week, I had a look online to see if she was still working or had written any more books - well it turns out that she has been incredibly prolific and has written many many books and also has a youtube channel called coffee with Kate. Her mannerism's and way of speaking are uncannily like my American Stepmother's, who I adore, and her videos are charming and soothing. Hour long rambles about her homes, habits, tips and general musings. I wish I had found it ages ago as it would have been wonderful company during these bleak months working from home. 

Listening to one of her videos yesterday there was something that especially jumped out at me. Talking about the current cost of living issues, perhaps impending recessions, hard times for all, her main advice was not to worry, hunker down, prepare where you can by budgeting, keeping things simple, live a good life. And a surprising piece of advice was that she really emphasised the importance of making your home charming and cosy. This is where you are going to be spending your time. This is where you put your love. You should put all you can into it. And this doesn't mean spending lots of money, as she demonstrated by giving a tour of her home and all of the things that she has found, been gifted, bought from the thrift store, had for years, or made. It needn't be something you through your money at, but your time - that's important. 

Having this time where we have both been working has really confirmed something for me, that I already knew, which is that a house doesn't run itself. And in these last few months this house has been like a ghost ship, and the people within it have become neglected and rudderless. When I took the job I was feeling a bit rudderless myself. After the move it was so difficult to feel like there was any point in me being at home, without the garden to look after and with both girls in school. How could we justify being so poor, when I had all of these hours a week I could use to make money? I see now that's its just a case of 'you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone' and that there's a lot that this house is wanting for without somebody caring for it. I am truly sorry for the harm it's done, being away, but so grateful to feel so resolved about the decision to go back to being Just a Housewife. 

I thought I had more to say this morning but I don't. Time for me to go to work now - one day left this week, and two next week, and then that's that. 

I was shown these pictures on my phone today from 3 or 4 years ago of our hold house, when it was spotless and had someone really cherishing it. It makes me feel so warm, remembering that time. Our house isn't like that now! We had absolutely no money, but we knew why we were there and were grateful.