Taxis back to basics...debt and mortgage free before 50(feb 2014)

Karmacat

Oh drat, thats a real pain :mad: I hope it stayed fixed, Taxi.

hypno06

I think, once Monday is out of the way and you know where you are healthwise, that you really do need to prioritise getting an emergency buffer, to cover slack periods. Also, much as I know how much it means to get things paid off quicker, I think that you have to seriously consider not overpaying all the time. There are so many times that you are becoming stressed because you have paid off too much early on in the month, then panic because the loans or other stuff needs to be paid - that stress does not contribute to good wellbeing, and more than offsets all the good feeling that you get when you overpay.

Hope that doesn't sound harsh, but it is a recurring theme, and being self employed you know that income is not regular, so make it a priority to get yourself into the situation where you don't have to get stressed if you have a day sick, or if the system goes down, or the car is off the road.

Good luck tomorrow x

Wol2

Hi Taxi

Just started catching up with the diaries and have read all your news.

Well done on the not smoking and the debt busting - massive massive achievements :T:T. Hope you manage to find the money for the loan and think Hypno's suggestion is a good one - stress is never good and particularly not at this time for you in view of what is happening atm.

Very sorry to hear of your impending hospital visit and know how anxious you must be - sending you big hugs (and piggie cuddles). The good thing is you have spotted it now and action is being taken. Fingers and paws are all crossed here that it will be nothing serious - and wishing you luck for tomorrow. I'll be at home most of monday if you fancy a chat.

Hope you have a chilled out day and you get a good night's sleep tonight.

xxxx

taxi73

Thanks all....it didn't stay fixed as it broke down again at 4am..lol...can laugh about it usually but not at the moment.

Hypno...there will be a buffer emergency zone..if I hadn't found the lump I wouldn't have been off work so the money would be there...DH said I had to have time off work as I couldn't concentrate most of last week.I see where you are coming from though.

The mortgage overpayment pot will be emergency buffer once all the CCs are paid off as can get money back straight away from there.I do have an emergency CC with £9.5k available....so it's just the next few months to cover....if I'm ok there won't be a problem as I'll be back to working 6 days a week all month....it is so against the grain putting money away for next to no interest when I pay 6.9% on CC..lol
Wol....glad everything is getting better for you and may take you up on the call xx
I am trying to relax but my heart keeps pounding and I keep feeling faint...is that a panic attack?...just want tomorrow over as this last week seems thelongest of my life

hypno06

**nag alert**

Yes, I know that the intention is to GET a buffer zone, but you yourself typed the magic words....."if I didn't find the lump, I would have been at work".

Exactly my point - you never know when you will be off work and you have to take time out when you need.....and you have to account for those "down times" workwise.

You had the money in the bank saving to pay off the loans. You chose to pay the credit card off with it, wiping out your savings, and at the same time you are not working, so not earning, and now you are stressing because you haven't got the money to pay the next lot of bills.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, perhaps, but that WAS a buffer zone - you could have dipped into it to cover this time away from work, and at least reduced a bit of stress.

Like I say, I know I am nagging, and I know that it is easy to look back and say "you should have done", but I have "known" you a long time on here and it is not the first time this type of thing has happened, and I think you need to have another LBM type of thing!

Hope you don't mind me saying. I just don't think you need this type of stress going forward and you need to acknowledge in your own mind that there are big changes that need to be made in order that you avoid that worry when the unexpected happens.

Wol2

Not a panic attack per se - these tend to come out of nowhere when there is no perceived threat. You clearly have something that is concerning you, and until you visit the hospital tomorrow, you won;t know where you stand so the whole thing atm seems completely outside of your control and of course is very frightening :grouphug::grouphug:. Disempowerment is a very very stressful feeling....and it is perfectly OK for you to feel scared in this situation :grouphug::grouphug:. The symptoms you describe are a reaction to this very real stress/fear - so would more likely be classed as anxiety....still involves the release of adrenalin and the fight/flight principle so symptoms are similar in respect of heart racing, light headed etc.

Can you occupy/distract yourself by focusing on something nice that you enjoy - be it listening to music, watching a DVD, doing a crossword, gardening etc ( I find ironing in front of Pirates or Harry Potter very soothing as it keeps me concentrated on something ).

[STRIKE]If[/STRIKE] When your mind starts wandering and the heart starts pounding, sit down in a comfy chair and try to relax. Take deep measured breaths and think yourself somewhere nice (I think about lying in the sun on a tropical beach....or wandering through a wood full of bluebells ) until the physiological effects calm down. (Alternatively I also find cuddling a piggie helps enormously;) And if you know any yoga, I understand that can help too)

Big Long Hugs Hun.....you WILL get through this. Courage ma souer, us DFW's are made of strong stuff ......we will deal with tomorrow when tomorrow comes. You are NOT alone :kisses3:

xxxx

milann

fingers, toes and everything else crossed for a positive visit tomorrow. I'm hoping you don't have to wait too long for any results.

Milan

Karmacat

Wol's right about this being a real fear, and about distracting yourself too - don't have any stimulants like caffeine either, you're releasing too much adrenaline into your system right now cos of the anxiety, and stimulants just give you more. Something you like thats non taxing is good - and I go for Harry Potter too, by the way, or Stargate - the visual imagery Wol mentions, or a pet (I don't know if you have pets, Taxi, do you?) is great too. If you feel like it, some kind of physical activity that will mop up some of the adrenaline - a stiff walk, a bout of cleaning, a session on the Wii, whatever feels right for you.

What you eat - I'd say, keep it to complex carbs and veggies, not too much fat or sugar. When I'm stressed like this, the adrenalin gets to my digestive system somehow, I don't know the precise interactions, but fear is known to do that - and you get diahor....wotsit. And keep posting! What you've done, what you plan to do, in the next 2 hours, the next two years, what vows you've made to change your life. Anything at all, really!

Lots and lots of hugs.

dizzy_lizzie

Just sending a big hug
Luvz Dizzy x

taxi73

hypno06 wrote: »

I think, once Monday is out of the way and you know where you are healthwise, that you really do need to prioritise getting an emergency buffer, to cover slack periods. Also, much as I know how much it means to get things paid off quicker, I think that you have to seriously consider not overpaying all the time. There are so many times that you are becoming stressed because you have paid off too much early on in the month, then panic because the loans or other stuff needs to be paid - that stress does not contribute to good wellbeing, and more than offsets all the good feeling that you get when you overpay.

Hope that doesn't sound harsh, but it is a recurring theme, and being self employed you know that income is not regular, so make it a priority to get yourself into the situation where you don't have to get stressed if you have a day sick, or if the system goes down, or the car is off the road.

Good luck tomorrow x

Thanks ..if you classed the savings towards the loans that I paid off the Barclaycard then I already have a buffer zone.I can drawdown on my mortgage if needs be as I have a few thousand there.
I will manage anyway one way or the other.
Funny enough it has only been a recurring thing for the last few months..all of this year and time to put a stop to it