Bum-In-Gear Diary!

MonteBarlow

Hey everyone

Felt a little left out seeing everyone with their wonderful diaries, so thought I would start one for my own sanity if that's OK :j :j

This is how I'm starting:
Have been self-employed (web designer) but have become too unwell to continue working. I'm blessed with Vasvogal Syndome (heart/nervous system condition) and Schizophrenia, and I've had to accept I cannot do the work I'd like to right now.

Have just applied (and been accepted!) for Employment and Support Allowance, and am planning to ask for Disability Living Allowance too. At the moment, apart from £12 at DooYoo, this will be my only income (extreme budgetting required!!)

As for debts, I owe around £1000 on a loan with HFC Bank, who I have been totally unable to pay for 5 months, as food took priority. They wouldn't accept £1 a month.

My main motivation is to make sure my beautiful girlfriend of 7 months is treated and made to feel special as much as possible, while I still get to eat.

The "big plan" is to do DooYoo reviews as much as I can (whilst keeping them quality!) and keep checking for latest deals and offers on MSE so I can treat the special one without being too out of pocket.

Any other ideas VERY much appreciated, thank you and hello again everyone :beer: :j :beer:

MonteBarlow

For my own awwwwwful memory, I just wanted to add:

I've set up a fresh Co-op Cashminder account (and joined the Co-op membership!) to keep things simple. I have an old account with another bank owing £100 overdraft but didn't want the benefits paying off the charges straight away...!

MyLastFiver

Good luck dude.

Sorry to get personal but I've never known anyone with schizophrenia before. How does it manifest itself, ie how does it stop you from designing websites?

MonteBarlow

Thanks MyLastFiver!

As for Schizophrenia, there's two main categories of symptoms called positive and negative. Positives are "added extras" to life, such as hallucinations (visual, audible - hearing voices etc.). Negatives are things like social reclusion, lack of day-to-day common sense in regards to keeping myself doing "normal activities". Memory goes to pot too!

It isn't the main concern at the moment - the vasovogal syndome is taking precedent as it's causing lovely faints 2/3 times a day! The lack of blood flow does seem to kick off schiz symptoms also though..!

No biggy

Would just like to add that I forgot about one other debt I owe a mobile company, £58... just rang them after avoiding for so long. Will be paying £5 a month hopefully, seems to make so much difference if you approach them with a smile on your face and talk like you would to a friend... always hated them but new outlook now woo!!

Thanks for your comment again MyLastFiver!! :beer:

SiannieLaz

:T Hiya Monte,
Just wanted to say good luck with your journey, there is soo much good advice on this site, as well as loads of supportive and inspirational posters.
There are loads of fantastic, frugal recipes on the site too, many of which would make your gf feel special if you cooked them for her and added candles!!
Keep posting xxx

Damita

Good luck

MonteBarlow

Wow thank you everyone!! All your comments are wonderful and much appreciated!

SianneLaz - fantastic idea on the recipes. I do cook as much as possible, but a slight problem is her...."fussy eating"! If it isn't sausages, or reminiscent of a kid's meal, she won't even try it! Maybe I'll have to start coating "adult" stuff in breadcrumbs to trick her lol!

Thanks for the wishes Damita!

Mozkowitz - great idea. I did have a blog some time ago where I talked about the schiz, I was planning on doing a podcast reading my many and varied hospital notes... but I chickened out as I was scared what employers (at the time) and girlfriend would think... it isn't really "dinner conversation"!

Book deal idea is great too - I believe you can self publish through LuLu.com , I will look in to it, thanks!

As a side note, I've just written out a "financial statement" for one of my creditors, and done up a nice spreadsheet with what I'm going to pay when. Feeling so much more positive - but a while to go!

Thanks again! Love you all x

Tixy

Hi Monte

Just read your thread and want to wish you good luck. Well done for facing your creditors and trying to tackle things. Its not easy to focus on financial matters whilst your dealing with any illness.
On top of the dooyou reviews are there other ways you could earn money from home from your computer? I'd recommend you check out the up your income board or the make £10 a day thread on the DFW board for any ideas.

MonteBarlow

Hey Tixy!

Thank you for your kind words, to be honest it is a relief to have the financial crap to take my mind off of what the next pill is!

Before the heart decided to become an annoyance, I was a freelance web designer so used my iMac here at home all day everyday. I still consider myself a designer (have been doing it since before I left highschool 5 years ago) but I don't want to do anything that would look like "work". Right now I'm unable to concentrate enough to do a design to the standards I expect, so that is slightly out the window (I'm going to try and do bits for charities or open source software companies).

Will certainly check the board you mentioned (there's so many isn't there!) sso thank you very much for the recommendation. It's a bit nerve racking sitting waiting for my first payment without a penny to my name, but I can see light!

I've flogged two old blackberry handsets I had laying around for £26 on envirophone - not a lot, and could have probably got more somewhere else, but £26 is a meal out for the special one and I so it all helps!

Also have a lil bit of news... I'm forcing myself to budget perfectly to enable me to take the special one to Dublin for a few days in a couple of months time! It will be her first flight ever, and our first break away, so exciting stuff!!!

Whoah, sorry for the long windedness peeps! THanks so much again x

MonteBarlow

Oh, by the way - I've started a blog / general site where I'll be putting my creative writing and possibly accepting donations. Do you think the donations are a good idea?

Would I be allowed to post the link? :rotfl: