Spirited's SOA & Diary

Spirited_2

Update.

I bought a new bike. In my defence, it less than two months bus passes (£60 each), it was the cheapest in the shop and I did check freecycle, freeads and the local papers first. It cost £79.99 plus the cycle helmet, bike pump and lock. I also think my jeans are a little looser

I still don't think I've got a great handle on things. I know that OH's basic salary doesn't cover the rent plus the payments on the two debts let alone anything else. We are eating into the savings, and it can't last much longer. On top of this, we have a property inspection on Thursday and the house is a mess. I only feel able to do small bits - today so far, one load of washing, clearing the bedroom of junk/rubbish etc, weeding the front garden and attempting the grass (we don't have a strimmer/lawn mower) harvesting it for the guineas - but it hasn't dented things much. DH gets home in two hours, he sorted the kitchen (to his standards, not the inspectors ) last night and I think I'll just be able to finish off the bedroom and make a start on the bathroom before he gets home. I suppose once I've done that, the main job is vacuming, and removing clutter (temporaly to the loft and car) but it will need to be sorted out before we move. I'm just stressing, it's more than I would have been able to do a few months ago so I ought to be content. Before I'd try and do one thing 'perfectly' and burn myself out for the rest of the day (or even several), today I've done several jobs with little breaks.

I spent £140 today, it was repayment of an overpayment by the SLC/LEA. I reckon I should have haggled it to be added to my loan or repayed in sections, but the letter was intimidating (murmers of handing it over to a debt collection agency) and I didn't have the strength to contest the assumption by the lady on the phone that I was about to pay it all off at once.

A letter came through from Scottish Power saying that as costs were going up our bill, and therefore payment would be too. Lovely, however I have contacted South West Water who will be lowering our bill from August (we were over paying).

On Saturday I went out with DH into town, visited the library ( ) and visited a free craft exhibition. There were some lovely members of a local stitching group there and I've decided to join (it's £2 each time you go for refreshments etc, but you don't pay if you don't go, it's fairly informal, and I'll go there by bike). I don't get out much or find it easy to meet people, so I think it's worth it and I can just not go when I can't afford it.

I made a meal plan for 11 days, did a shopping list and looked at the prices online - the estimated total was £24.33 The actual total (went around with list and calulator) was £20.88 - briefly. As I had said to DH I needed £25 for the shop, he reckoned that coming in under budget was an excuse to spend up to the £25 and coerced me into 'treating myself because I deserve it'. Worse still, I fell for it and came home with crisps, chocolate spread and sweets. I know it is better to do it this way than to go out without meal planning/shopping list and spend £35-50, but I still feel disappointed. I suppose it means that our food bill is down to £75 a month though, which isn't bad - if we stick to it.

There are some things I still can't believe. I can buy four tasty wholemeal loaves from Asda (smart price 28p each) for LESS than we sometimes paid for a single loaf - Warburtons Seeded Batch ~ £1.20. I mean - Why? If I want a 'special' loaf I can enjoy a homemade one (still haven't got the bread making consistant/cheap enough to be our regular loaves as we love lots of toast and sandwiches.

Still feel a bit insecure as we are due to move out at the end of September, and we don't have anywhere lined up to move to yet. But typing about things has helped, thank you.

The money situation has to be sorted out. I suppose I'm still better off than I was a year ago living in so-called-blissful ignorance and spending £1.20 on a loaf of bread and we are making headway. I just feel a LOT guilty that if I just got a job I could say double our income and make us comfortable again and get these debts tackled. But I'm so afraid that I'll make myself worse again.

Love to all you lovely, inspiring people.

Floss

Why not keep your eyes open for a cheap or freecycled breadmaker? a 3kg bag of flour is abut £1.65, and makes about 8-10 loaves, and it's scrummy!

Also, if you have been overpaying on your water, ask them for the cash back, and then start with a clean slate to pay for your usage. Its your money that they have been "saving" for you!

And I know it may seem a smart !!!!!! statement, but maybe a small session in your garden every day (you can pull quite a few weeds in 10mins ) will help with your health? I know that when I was suffering with anxiety & depression, doing a little bit in the garden when it wasn't raining helped - it's free too, and fresh air is good for you! You may find that you can do a bit longer after a few sessions, and the garden will benefit from a bit of TLC, as will you. You can see what you've achieved when weeding or dead-heading flowers or tidying plants up, which is a great boost to self-esteem.

Well done for all you've achieved so far...and chin up, you will feel able to work again when you're ready to - it maybe a little too soon just yet.