Budgeting and Planning

11/10/2025

Fear of managing her home economics alone had cost her financially & emotionally.

Together we unravelled her life admin. Set up a fresh simple system of paper filing, email filing, unsubscribing and diarising renewals.

With absolute shame, she told me she didn’t even have the passwords to her bank accounts.

Separation from her husband had floored her in every way.

Everything is figureoutable (Marie Forleo)

So we did. Step by step we revealed each piece of the jigsaw and connected them together.

The result?

Complete relief that she wasn’t too stupid to manage a house, she did now understand how this stuff worked and she was one more step closer to living her new independent life.

The practical stuff was no longer the monster under her bed. She could sleep.

If you know someone who needs a financial & life admin declutter to get them straight on their new life path connect with me and send them my website details.

one to one mentoring👉

Have you lost your way with managing the complexities of your income and outgoings? Or maybe you never found it! That's what I'm here for, to be your guide.

28/09/2025

Knowing full well that throwing money at the problem is not only unsustainable but infuriatingly wasteful.

Her flexible friend wasn’t being so flexible these days.

She tells herself, “It’s fine, I’ll sort it next year, let’s just get through this one.”

She put a lot of pressure on herself to craft the perfect homemade festive season, then would berate herself for having to buy everything in.

She hated going deep into her overdraft for the sake of a few days, but was also determined that her smallies, husband and extended family would have the best time.

She’d forgotten she should be included in that.

So how early is too early to plan for Christmas?

How about this weekend?

25/09/2025

How early is TOO early to start planning christmas..🤔

Depends if you love feeling frazzled, overspending, never doing the things you always want but never do, and end up feeling like the cook, cleaner, PA, VA, waitress and the party pooper all rolled into one.

https://budgetingandplanning.co.uk/how-early-is-too-early-to-start-christmas-planning/

21/09/2025

Today, a rainy Sunday, was the day, you were going to have a proper sort out of your money.

🫣 Somehow however you’re now scrubbing the insides of your kitchen cupboards like your life depends on it.

🫩 You’re getting on your own nerves now but actually getting laptop, notebook, bills is just all too much.

Would it be helpful if I helped you do it?
Step by step
Listened to your frustrations
Nurtured your rising emotions
Guiding you to make it make sense.

Take off those marigolds
Make coffee
Read this page on my website.
https://budgetingandplanning.co.uk/mentoring/

And let’s connect.

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

16/09/2025

Don’t go broke trying to have it all - it won’t make you feel more loved

Why Wanting Feels Better Than Having

Psychology explains why that “wanting” can feel more intoxicating than “having”:

🧠 Dopamine spikes in the chase, not the catch. Anticipation lights up the brain more than ownership.

🧠 Scarcity makes things sparkle. Out-of-reach feels like treasure. Once owned, it can often lose some of its magic.

🧠 Fantasy vs reality. We imagine the item will change our lives. Reality rarely matches fantasy.

🧠 Adaptation kicks in. Humans adjust quickly; that new bag or car soon blends into daily life. And then you want something else.

🧠 Lifestyle Creep = you get a pay rise, you buy more. You barely notice that extra £5k a year, your life is just the same as it was. Are you happier? Or still feeling like you’re living month to month?

This is why buying to fill an emotional gap leaves us flat once the buzz fades.

Appreciating luxury, art, beautiful homes & gardens is one of life’s many pleasures. Recreating your version at home is a wonderful way to spend your time and money.

But don’t go broke trying to have it all.

You don’t need it. At least, not in order to belong or feel more loved.

(Picture of my maison cash nostalgic cooking bowls I just bought for €2 in a brocante. A basket of peaches my neighbour handed me over the garden fence - I’m ready to make a peach 🍑 tart)

09/09/2025

New email incoming this afternoon with some big ol truths
Are you on the list?
Link in the comments to get fortnightly goodness to your email door
Lucy x

07/09/2025

Another lovely Sunday morning, September sun feels gently magical don’t you think?

It’s the blood moon tonight, will you be looking out for it?
It’s pretty significant to our energy levels, the ending of some things - a period of 2 weeks in the messy middle - then a breath of fresh air awaits.

Do you know lots about this? I know Collette Corcoran does.

So what are you up to today?

I’m really chuffed to find 2 Maison Cash bowls for €2 at the Vide Grenier.
And we knew the seller - how funny!

And our neighbour exchanged some of our tomatoes 🍅 for these peaches 🍑 fresh off her tree
I shall endeavour to make a peach tarte and some jam this week…

Lucy x

04/09/2025

Each week we check our accounts to see they’re running as they should.
It’s a habit I never used to have.

Years ago I’d sigh, feel anxious and use the view mini statement printout at the ATM. No banking apps then.

I’d always worry even though I looked after my money well.
Fear is one of the biggest emotions we all feel about our money.

It taps into safety.

The ability to have a roof over my head, food to eat.
The fundamental needs we all have.

❓What’s a new habit you’ve created that you could share to be helpful to others?

❓OR what makes you feel anxious that you’d love the answer to?

Thanks for commenting
Lucy x

01/09/2025

Our many layers of finance. Practical and oh so emotional.

What we do every day, every month, every year with our money is driven by our thoughts.
> Are your thoughts helpful & inspiring to you?
> Or do you say f*** it I'm too tired, too stressed, too busy, too scared...?

What you think creates your feelings.
>Do you feel peaceful, secure, hopeful?
>Or all over the place?

What you feel drives what you decide to do, or not do.
>Do you feel good about your decisions?
>Or are you making them w***y nilly?

What you do creates your results.

What are your results every month, every quarter, every year?
>Do you cross your fingers & look one eyed at your banking app?
>Do you even look at all?

Your results create your beliefs that you carry into next month, next quarter, next year.

And around we go 🎡

>Want to get off & stop spinning?

Say hello & I'll send you the free DO ONE THING pdf

30/08/2025

Each layer of a trifle is delicious on its own… but together? Wooooohooooo! 🙌 (Yes, I’m back with another food analogy, I can’t help myself).

The layers of finance aren’t exactly “delicious,” but they are essential.

Each one adds depth, stability, and flavour to your financial wellbeing.
When you’ve layered them up from base to top, it becomes a beautiful thing.

But here’s the truth: layering takes time.
It takes support. And expert help.
That’s where I come in.

I help you with the base layer. Sherry soaked madeira cake mmm
The solid foundation of a budget and a plan so you can confidently build the next layers with other specialists.

We can explore:
✨ Managing debt (or signposting to the right support)
✨ Why & how to check your credit score & files, and what they mean
✨ Better Budgeting. Flexible, loving plans, not restrictions
✨ Building your emergency fund
✨ Creating saving plans that feel achievable
✨ How to use your budget to flex with your life.
✨ How to manage your money when it feels hard.
✨ How to combine good old fashioned Home Economics with automations

And most importantly, everything is underpinned by you.
Your feelings. Your life.
Whether you’re navigating a big upheaval or a gentle seasonal shift, your financial trifle needs to reflect what is most meaningful to you. 💛

My nan's trifle was the best, could get seriously sozzled on that thing!!

23/08/2025

WANTS vs NEEDS - and The Grey Area...

When you've not got a large income, or the COL has squeezed the gap too tightly, your needs will likely be those to "keep the lights on".

Keeping you fed, watered, transport & a roof over your head.

Survival mode. Or frugal living, there's a lot to be said for simplicity.

When you've built a business, a career & wealth that has evolved your lifestyle, there will be wants that have magnetically slid towards your needs.

They're in the grey area.

Have you got one?