Back filling the big hole I dug with my credit card

Piquant_2

PiggyBankShaker wrote: »

S

Because I've been a bit 'spendy' I've not added anything much to the savings - I haven't racked up debt, as I would have done in the old days - but its still not actual 'progress' either.

On a positive note, today we repaid £2457 to ATS credit card (the 0% has come to an end)

That's the bit that counts!! You have kept it under control, you still have control no matter what! Well done!

...oh and welcome back! It's good to see you!

PiggyBankShaker

Thanks Penny and Piquant - I know there is so much going on in everyone's lives/diaries, I feel bad about not keeping up.

Today I went to the Doctors and she prescribed anti-depressants, the same ones I was taking about 3 years ago. On the one hand it feels like a step back, but on the other it feels like a step forward too. I know I'm not coping and I need help, hopefully things will start to improve a bit now.

Work is awful, I'm trying not to give it any head space. Money wise things are just about okay. We can't afford any disasters, but disasters aside we should be fine for a while.

NorthernLas

Rightyho ... you do remember that you could well feel much worse until the drugs kick in don't you?

Also, do you eat porridge oats and cashew nuts/almonds/brasil nuts? Oats have triptophan in them (I think) which is a mood lifter and they are slow release carbs which is good for levelling blood sugar. Cashew nuts are high in Niacin (Vitamin which has been proven to help schizophrenia (not suggesting that this is you ... but anything to help mood is good )

NL x

PiggyBankShaker

Is it really two months since I posted? I haven't really felt like it to be honest. It took a month for the antidepressants to kick in, although I feel much, much better now. In fact it takes feeling better to realise how bad I was really feeling.

So what's occurring? I am now working four days a week (down from five, their choice not mine) I'm just letting things tick over and not getting stressed about it. I still hate my job, but I'm not letting it get to me. I have had 12 job interviews this year and they really took their toll on my confidence. I'm giving myself a bit of a break from it now. I let 3 jobs go by without applying, but that's okay.

The big news is that ATS has got a permanent job! Yay! He had a four month contract doing three days a week and they made in permanent on 1st Dec on four days a week. They might even be able to give him an extra day in a couple of months too. This is great news for us and is a huge weight off my mind. I didn't realise how much I was feeling anxious about it until he got the job offer. For the first time in about a year I feel like we can look forward optimistically instead of with dread.

Other news: Since my last update we repaid another £820 to ATS credit card, leaving about another £800 on 0% to pay off in February. I have updated my signature accordingly, including the extra money we made this year.

What I haven't reported on though is that this year I also overpaid the mortgage by £200 (not much but a start) and our savings now total £3800. I have also added £390 to DD and DS saving account.

The only other news is that I decided to take the bull by the horns and do something drastic about my horrendous work situation and my inability to get a job in my current field. So to that end, I have embarked on a career change and am applying to become a teacher. I have sent off my application, sat and passed the two skills tests and have two interviews lined up on PGCE courses. So watch this space...

PiggyBankShaker

So yesterday I rang Tax Credits to update our claim. I'm sure our payments will stop now which is fine and they may even restart in Feb when DS starts nursery. We have set aside all the money they paid us this year so if it ends up that they have overpaid us we can give it back without it affecting our cash flow. We might even have earned a little interest on it!

I need to write and post a letter to HMRC asking them to give me tax relief on a professional subscription and ATS needs to ring them to get his tax code changed from BR to 810L. He also needs to ask for tax relief of $4 a week due to his work from home contract. When those changes are in place it'll give us a good idea of what our income is going to be going forward for the next few months.

I'm going to keep going in my job as long as I can so we can build up a bit of savings. There's a full time pre-PGCE course I'm hoping to get a place on that starts in May for 13 weeks, so if I do get a place, that'll be the latest I can work until. That'll give us the best part of $5000 if we can manage on ATS income alone. We'll have to do a budget / forecast in the new year.

Aesop

well done on applying for the PGCE, we need decent teachers out there!

I was only thinking of you the other day and hey presto you popped up

good to hear you are being kind to yourself and feeling better.

Well done to ATS :T

and to you for overpayment on mortgage. :beer:

have a look at getjam.co.uk - if you have a smartphone, not major money but every little helps for savings.

PiggyBankShaker

Aesop wrote: »

well done on applying for the PGCE, we need decent teachers out there!

I was only thinking of you the other day and hey presto you popped up

good to hear you are being kind to yourself and feeling better.

Well done to ATS :T

and to you for overpayment on mortgage. :beer:

have a look at getjam.co.uk - if you have a smartphone, not major money but every little helps for savings.

Hey Aesop!

How are you? How are things going? Thanks for the encouragement as usual. My iPhone is kaput at the moment, but when I get iy fixed I will definitely check out getjam - thanks for the heads up!

PBS x

PiggyBankShaker

I've spent the last few days trying to work out a financial strategy for 2013. So far I have joined:

1. Make (extra) £2013 in 2013 (= make extra £5.52 a day)
2. Save £12,000 in 2012 (eek!)
3. Overpay mortgage by £2000 (can be included in savings challenge 2 above)

To that end I will be doing:

Swagbucks (new)
Mystery Shopping
TopCashBack
Surveys
Ebay

Aesop

Helloooooo

Things ok. Not brilliant but then don't think it is for evwrybody.

Take a look at gifthulk too. i win quite a lot of points using the searchbar too.

Aesop

Sorry I was rushing to pick up DS from school. There isa new application foe phones that involves cashback when you buy certain items. But it is limited timw sign up then becomes invite only. I posted ir on the make.ten pound a day thrwad.