DFSD's motivational ramblings...

debtfreesomeday

So, tonight after work I am going to go through all of the Christmas, (yes, Christmas! :rotfl:), presents I have bought already and make a list of what I have for whom and wrap them (with the bargain posh 20p a roll Christmas paper I bought last year after Christmas in true DFW style! ).
I'm thinking of shoving them out of the way in the loft until nearer the time, but I don't know if this is a good idea or not (will they get damp? I'm not sure ).

Also going to wrap all the Amazon parcels, ready to be sent tomorrow (not my favourite job!).

I have actually spent a bit of money today - on a diary / organiser thing for myself. Lately there is so much going on in my head that I feel I need to write things down -I'm using the calendar in the kitchen but find I'm forgetting pre-organised things, birthdays and such and it is not helping me keep the orgainsed house and mind and financial goings-on I am striving for! This should sort it. :cool:

Have also paid my lottery / savings club at work (£1 a week. Money back at Christmas type thing).

That's my lot - also off to cook risotto with leftover chicken from yesterday.

DFSD

debtfreesomeday

Ok - so managed 1 out of 3 last night - I wrapped the Amazon parcels and hubby has taken them to post today.

I didn't get the pressie list / wrap done and I didn't use the leftover chicken for tea, but hubby took it for his lunch today so it's not gone to waste. I'm ashamed to say, we got a takeaway last night :eek: - something we very rarely do now - but it was just one of those nights, without going into detail. It has been listed and included in the 'spends tally' this month though so has been accounted for within the budget!

Today is one of those annoyingly impatient days when I have no real progress to speak of and nothing much is in the pipeline. Just have to sit and watch and wait for some more pennies to come our way... :whistle:

Talking of pennies, I might raid our loose change tin at the weekend and take it to one of those change converter things. I know they charge a fee but I'd never convince hubby to take all the bags of change to the bank to pay in for me if I counted it up and I rarely ever get anywhere near a bank!

DFSD

Raini

Hello DFSD :hello: (I'm coimg back to the fold - it was cold out there!)

Yay you with you're debt busting ways!

I heard a rummour that some backs have those penny counting machine thingys but they don't take a cut! I wonder if it is true ... I need to find one!

As for the takeaway everyone is allowed a little treat every now & again ... off I pop to the chocolate machine ... again! :rotfl:

debtfreesomeday

Hi Raini :wave:

Ooooohhhhh - that would be good if they do have them in banks... hmm, in that case I'll instruct hubby to check out the banks in his lunch time today, after he's posted the Amazon stuff! If there is a machine in there, I'll send him to work with a big huge tin full of pennies tomorrow, he's gonna be pleased! Might cost me extra in packed lunch contents though as a bribe... :rotfl:

As for chocolate - that's not a treat, it's a necessity for life...! :EasterBun
DFSD
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Raini

Glad you understood by backs meant banks!! :rotfl:

debtfreesomeday

One of the higher priced albums sold on Amazon last night - with a profit of £11.63. Has been paid off the egg card, so balance now stands at £131.82.

The other day I realised I could add these little payments to my saved snowballs on 'whats the cost' as extra payments which is quite motivating, so off to do that next.

12 watchers on our ebay stuff and a couple of low bids so far...

DFSD
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Chocforever

Well done on the album sale.

My local Barclays has a change machine where you put the money in a tray, it disappears inside the machine to sort and count and the money is credited into your bank account. It's a good idea as many banks won't accept part bags of coins these days. Not all branches have them; seems to be random which ones do.

Have a great day,

CF

debtfreesomeday

That's a great idea CF - I'm off into town tomorrow so I shall check out our bank and see if they have anything like that. It's a brilliant idea, they should have them in every bank!

debtfreesomeday

I'm feeling so down this afternoon.

I have held back on putting too much detail on here about my family situation before for fear of being recognised through this, as my family do not know about our debts and they would be upset and try and pay them for us, which is the last thing I want. But, I am struggling to cope lately and feel I need to write this somewhere.

My Mum's health is not good once again. She has a chronic autoimmune disease with many many other problems and complications. She is not an old lady, and wants to live her life to the full and have fun, but she suffers with a lot of extreme pain and complications which can get serious extremely quickly. She is one of the most positive and determined people I know, and has no regard for herself, putting everyone else before herself, which means sometimes she doesn't get treatment as quickly as we all nag her to. Lately she has been ill nearly every week and rushed in and out of hospital numerous times the past couple of months. She is in extreme agony a lot which is so distressing for everyone. I live a 4 hour drive from my parents and family and don't get down as much as I'm able to. She has a good GP but the NHS beyond that has pretty much failed her.

I am struggling to hold it together lately because of this. I fall to pieces now when things get bad and struggle to get through the days. When she is in hospital, I ted not to leave the house for fear of missing phonecalls and not being able to face anyone really. My way of dealing with it is to shut myself away and close the curtains and wait; usually imagining the worst. My close friends know about Mum's illness and they are very good, but it means I don't get to see many of them much and I can't commit to doing anything with them as I have let many people down in the past due to emergency situations.

My husband is amazingly supportive and misses out on doing things because he is supporting me; many would have walked away by now I'm sure, but he doesn't seem to realise that this is with me all the time. He only sees it when Mum's really ill. Every day it is the first thing I think of and last thing at night I just hope and pray she has a good night and wakes up well.

I just don't know how to cope with it anymore. It has taken every little bit of confidence from me that I had; I have put on weight because I comfort eat and don't like to spend a lot of time out because I feel safer and 'more reachable' in my house. I don't really take much pride in my appearance any more whereas once I used to be fit and dress nicely, and my health is going downhill rapidly. I don't go out or phone my friends much at all in case my family are trying to get hold of me on the phone. I feel like a shadow of who I once was.

I'm not looking for any replies, I just need to vent this somewhere really in the hope that it may help.

DFSD
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boredofbeingathome

I don't know what to say DFSD, except you are not a shadow. From what i have read you are an organised and proactive person who is doing their damndest to get out of a hole.For that you should be proud of yourself.:T

As for the rest, well doesn't this site cater for everything? So whilst none of us are being perfect we can do something about tackling all the bits we hate.Look at all the challenges on here, a lot of things can be done from your own home..and i see you do the competitions quite a bit.:D

Someone a lot wiser than me once said..are you a mind reader? Can you tell the future? Err no, was my answer..so she said, stop worrying about what you can't control.:cool:

Easier said than done, but we can't control other folks thoughts, can't guess what is going to happen in the future and we really can only live and plan a little for the future. Hence the Kung Fu panda bit in my sig.:D

So are there any ways of reducing the stress for you as in agreeing a time for phonecall updates re your mum off other folks? That way you can give yourself permission to get out a bit. What about visits? Would finances allow a trip at weekends?

Your mum and hubby sound wonderful folk and i am sure would be upset if they thought you were feeling like this.:o

Oh and our diaries have a mention in Martin's weekly e mail, so take heart that your journey will and probably has inspired a lot of folk. Most people will just get Blackadder references on mine and the odd turnip obsessive post.:rotfl: