Last week, as November drew to a close and the Christmas lights began to twinkle across the high street, I found myself sitting at home with an unexpected wave of anxiety rolling through my body. Normally, my husband and I are paid at different times — he receives his wages on a fixed date each month, while mine arrive every four weeks. But this time, our paydays landed on the same day, leaving us with a long stretch of financial limbo at the end of November.

And oh, how that final week hit hard.

Even now, standing at the start of December with a temporary sense of relief that there is money (finally) sitting in our bank accounts again, I can still feel the echo of those emotions. The reality is that the relief doesn’t last long. The bills are already lining up. The mortgage looms like a shadow. And the cost of simply living right now is exhausting.

Holding Ourselves Through the Struggle

Last week, the anxiety felt like a physical presence. My chest was tight, my hands were shaky, and I couldn’t understand at first why I felt so on edge. When I took a moment to check in with myself, the truth surfaced:
I was anxious about going food shopping.

Not because of the crowds or the cold, but because I genuinely didn’t know how much I could afford. I needed logs and coal to warm the living room. I needed groceries for the children. And I knew every penny had to come from the last fragile sliver of my overdraft.

My freelance work doesn’t stretch far enough, and my part-time retail job pays minimum wage. I am doing my best, and still it feels like we’re treading water in a rising tide. Our house needs repairs — a leaking front door, worn-out windows that let in more cold than they hold out — but those jobs keep getting pushed aside because survival always comes first.

And I know we are not the only family feeling this way.

Millennial parents across the UK are struggling.

We are trying to raise our children while juggling costs that rise faster than any of us can realistically keep up with — food, utilities, rent or mortgages, school needs, winter essentials. We want to give our children a future, yet half the time we can barely afford the present.

Today, on this first Mummy Monday of December, I want to hold space for that truth.
To acknowledge the fear, the weight, the exhaustion — and to recognise the strength it takes to keep going anyway.

If you have felt this financial pressure, the anxiety, the dread of simply checking your bank balance, please know this:

You are not alone. You are not failing. You are surviving something extremely hard.

From my Reiki heart to yours, I’m sending a gentle wave of warmth and grounding energy to anyone who needs it today. May it soften the tightness in your chest, ease the worry in your mind, and remind you that you are seen, valued, and supported.

If you want to share your experience — even just a sentence — please do so in the comments. This is a safe space. Let’s lift each other up as we move through December together, with honesty, compassion, and community.

You’re doing your best. And your best is enough.

With love, warmth, and Reiki energy,
Catherine
💚✨

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