Improving my life during Summer 2010

Mags30

Irelands' finances are even worse than mine.:rotfl: The IMF (International Monetary Fund), ECB (European Central Bank) and the European Commission are all in Ireland today discussing an EU bailout of €80billion for Ireland. :money:has a article on here too about Irish banks. Definitely not good.


I've fallen behind with the 5-9 updates but I'm still conscious of the challenge. I've been back to the Alexander technique classes, (must do a separate post about that later) and I've done some study but as usual I've spent a lot of time on here and on various other websites. I've had a few duvet evenings too where I've taken to my bed because it was cold, raining, stormy and I was depressed. Finding it impossible to do housework on the dark evenings.


The broken speedometer on the car has turned into an absolute disaster. It's not the actual speedometer that's broken because the new one didn't make any difference. It's the electronics in the dashboard that caused the problem. Regular mechanics don't know how to fix electronics, only engine parts under the bonnet so they took out the dashboard and sent it somewhere else for repairs.

The people there couldn't fix it either so sent it somewhere else. I have no car while all of this is happening and it's going to cost at least €200 to fix:( It's so hard to accept this because the car wasn't broken down or anything apart from a dial on the dashboard not working. Even if I had the money for them this is turning me off fancy cars. All of the newer cars have loads of electronics so if they break it's very difficult to sort the problems. Just like my car the car could be in perfect working condition and you could end up spending loads to fix silly electronics problems. It just feels so wrong compared with buying tyres or a battery or timing-belt. At least they feel like essential purchases.

Health: I have laryngitis and I've completely lost my voice, can't say more than about 2 words just now. This isn't something I've ever been prone to before so hope it's a one-off as I'm fine for health problems as it is. Not sick or anything with it and my throat isn't sore but I can't make work phone calls which is very inconvenient but I'm still texting and e-mailing .

Mystery shopping: I've annoyed one of the allocaters because I cancelled a lunch job. Wasn't my fault because the lunch was for 2 people and my friend cancelled on me and I wasn't allowed to to the job alone. But of course I was the one responsible for getting the job done and it wasn't done so in that sense it was my fault. Mystery shopping is a low paid activity anyway so I'm not too bothered but I felt bad for letting the lady down and I know she was annoyed with me.

£30 on onepoll:TUnlikely to make it to £40 before Christmas but I'll try.

I'm on page 190 of the MG Matrix thread and there are 225 or so. I just can't keep up. There are so many other diaries I'd love to read too as there are just so many amazing inspirational people on here but I just don't have time.

Anybody got any tips on how to manage time spent on the internet effectively?

37 days to :xmassmile according to ebay.


I will be managing my life more effectively by Jan 2011.

Mags30

It's so strange, Ireland is all over the international media because of our financial and political crisis but everything is still really normal here. The protesters being shown in the media probably total 50 people out of the entire population. Everyone else seems to be sitting on the sofa watching the X-Factor and continuing to buy €3 cappuccinos and Christmas presents. No idea what's going to happen but the situation on the ground certainly doesn't correspond to the media representation. Not at the moment anyway.

I've spent more time than usual watching SKY news and other channels in the last few days to keep up with the situation but I'm choosing not to think about how the upcoming budget might affect me.

Most of last nights 5-9 was spent flicking between news channels on tv and having yet another argument by text with the ex. He sensed that I had zero enthusiasm for his dinner inviations. I'm actually really happy that I don't care anymore.

Mags30

According to the Irish 4 year ecomomic plan published today I could be down at least €30 a week from January. Money is really tight as it is so if it happens . It mightn't though because the General Election early next year will most likely bring us a new government. So I'll stick my head back in the sand for a bit about this.

Feeling so resentful towards a toxic "friend" today too. She belongs on the Mr Big Elimination list but she is so assertive and demanding it's just impossible to shake her off. We went to school together and she keeps in touch, I never initiate the contact and sometimes I don't return her calls but she doesn't get the hint. She lives off benefits and her parents goodwill (by choice). She decided I could buy her lunch as a Christmas present "because I'm working" so I went along with it, paid €31 for lunch and hoped I wouldn't meet her for months again. :mad:

Then I needed something to cheer myself up so I went to Boots and spent €18 on Christmas stuff. I got the Soap+Glory handwash/handcream set, a Celia Britwell fold-up shopper bag (really lovely) and a box of Lily O'Brien chocolates which I'm going to open in a minute and have a few with a cup of tea.

Lying on the sofa with a blanket and a duvet because I'm scared of the gas bill I could have in January if I have the heating on all the time. The electric blanket goes on every night though, it's my favourite thing ever:)

Mags30

Oh my God!! Just saw the pictures on SKY news of the student tuition fees protest in London with the burning bus shelter and the looted police van. I wish Ireland had some civil unrest like that, people here just seem to be tolerating anything that's thrown at us....might happen soon though. Protests are good but I don't like seeing the police in the danger they were in today in London. Hope none of them are badly hurt.

Mags30

Just saw a post on an Irish forum from a girl who said she's at home crying tonight because of being forced into poverty by the Irish government.

Mags30

The Age of Austerity begins. This was the headline on most of the papers today. I had to google it to understand what it means even if the context indicated that it had something to do with being poor.

It's the opposite of prosperity. It's a policy of deficit-cutting, lower spending and a reduction in the amount of benefits and public services provided. It involves a decline in standards of living and when you google it you get Ireland as an example.:mad:

I really am worried about all of this but I'm choosing to keep the head in the sand about the whole thing for a while longer, until the Budget in December at least.

I'm thankful that I've been learning MSE ways all year because they are going to be needed more than ever in 2011.

No snow here but it's cold and the forecast for the weekend says it'll get colder.

30 days to :xmassmile = 30 days of trying to avoid spending. It's always more difficult this time of year.

Souk08

Hi Mags, didn't know you had a diary lovey. You all snuggled up for the night too? X

Mags30

Souk08 wrote: »

Hi Mags, didn't know you had a diary lovey. You all snuggled up for the night too? X

Yes, the electric blanket is working overtime in this weather

Mags30

Irelands €85billion EU bailout was approved this evening. Spent 5-9 on the sofa flicking between news channels, X-Factor and the All Ireland Talent show. No snow where I live but most of Ireland is covered in snow so could get some by the end of the week. I'm not a fan of snow, it disrupted my weekend in Dublin and I don't like feeling cold.

butafli

Sounds like you are right in the middle of it there what with toxic friends (((hugs))). We have no snow here either (well there is a dusting on the paths but I don't count that). I LOVE snow - from a nice warm house . Been watching about Ireland money problems on telly (OH is from Roscommon). He was quite surprised at how little protesting there was. Hope the new year isn't as bad as predicted.

Bx