I signed up to Pot Gang this month because I want to start growing some of our food...not in a dramatic “we’re now off-grid eco-warriors” way, but in a slow, sensible, realistic way that actually fits family life. The goal is to gradually supplement what we eat with home-grown bits and pieces, build skills over time, and not overwhelm myself in the process, which, frankly, goes against most of my ADHD tendencies. When I want to try something new, I go ALL IN! What appealed to me about Pot Gang was the monthly rhythm. One box, everything included, clear instructions. Small scale. No doom-scrolling seed catalogues or half-remembered YouTube advice and trying to figure out what to plant and when. I liked the idea of learning steadily, planting little and often, and letting progress build naturally instead of going all-in and burning out by week three. So far, I’m really impressed. Everything I’ve planted is growing as it should (a minor miracle). At the moment I’ve got garlic, shallots, peas, rosemary, orange peppers and chocolate chillis on the go. I’ve also bought their Seed Sauna and portable greenhouse, both of which are good quality and very reasonably priced. Setup was genuinely easy, and each plant comes with its own care sheet so I don’t have to keep everything in my head - a big win for me. The pots and saucers included in the subscription are sturdy and well thought-out, and the greenhouse feels like something that’ll actually last more than one season. Pricing feels fair too: around £27.36 per month with pots and saucers, or £22.99 without, and you get three plants every month. You can also switch to seeds-only later once you’ve built up enough pots, which feels sensible and appeals to anyone who wants to avoid unnecessary waste. I also really like the branding - it’s cute without being twee. You get a little plant passport and stickers to track what you’re growing, which sounds silly but is oddly motivating. There’s access to one-to-one support via WhatsApp and a Facebook group as well, which I haven’t needed yet, but it’s reassuring to know help is there if something inevitably goes floppy!

You Need A Budget (YNAB) is a popular personal finance app and method based on zero-based budgeting, teaching users to give every penny a job to control spending, reduce stress, and achieve financial goals like saving or getting out of debt. It requires active participation, syncing with bank accounts to track transactions, and offers a proactive approach to money management, unlike passive tools, helping users prioritise spending and build healthy financial habits. I’ve been using YNAB for over 10 years, and at this point it’s less a budgeting tool and more part of how our household runs. We update it daily with spending and income, and that consistency is a big reason it works so well for us. As an ADHDer, I can often miss payments, impulse buy and lose track of my spending but since I've made YNAB tracking a habit, I can see in real time where every penny of my money is and analyse where I'm spending it. YNAB’s biggest strength is clarity. You always know exactly where your money is - not just roughly, but to the penny. Every pound has a job, which makes it much easier to understand your real income versus expenses and to guide spending and saving decisions. It’s brilliant for planning ahead too: holidays, Christmas, big purchases, and the inevitable unexpected costs (like when the washing machine breaks!). We also use it to pre-save for annual expenses like car insurance, which makes those bigger bills feel far less painful when they arrive. It’s particularly useful for shared finances. Multiple family members can access and update the budget, so everyone is working from the same, up-to-date picture rather than relying on assumptions or memory. There is a learning curve. YNAB has rules and a specific way of thinking about money, and it can feel complicated when you’re just getting started. It really only shines if you’re willing to engage with it properly and use it regularly. There’s also a safety consideration - if coercive control is an issue in a relationship, shared financial visibility could be difficult or unsafe, and that’s something to approach thoughtfully.