Have grasped the nettle..........now to deal with the ensuing rash

Igamogam

Spent a very hot long weekend at a Music Festival - now home cleaned and put away only to start packing for another week away next week - its not been a frugal month but I have spent years thinking I couldn't do these things - due to financial constraints - only to realise over the last couple of years the rest of my family think other wise and I have been effectively subbing them!! Bit of a slow burner......but its also been part of the the autoimmune disorder I have, that I now treat myself, that was left unrecognised/undiagnosed/ignored or just explained away by a series of GPs for YEARS - crippling exhaustion,memory problems ( really thought I has early onset Alzheimers at one point) an lots of other issues which meant I just 'existed' to go to work and keep house and home together and I think has gone a long way to explain how the debt almost got out of control..........so I am making up for lost time:D:rotfl: Going to pay for when when I look at the bank balance and the bills! However no CCs have increased - the one I have used is being paid off tomorrow. I am still managing to keep to £60 a week for food and household stuff.........we are not wanting for anything. when I get back we will be eating out of stores and freezer for a couple of weeks until payday!! Speaking of which rumour has it we have finally been awarded a pay rise....hmmm will believe it when I see it!

So nothing really to report other than I am plodding on. Filling the change boxes and hammering down the debt as much as possible:)

Igamogam

Back from a few days away - couldn't really afford it and put half on CCs but I had to get away and feel as if I have had a holiday. All my holidays have always been almost exclusively self catered - in that I catered,washed, cleared, tidied,packed and unpacked and kept everybody happy making sure they got to do what they wanted. I have got to a point in life that I would like a bit of luxury! Anyway good time was had and also caught with DD2 at same time Going to do a mad Eb*y purge now and various other selling streams to get some of the money back.........will pay CC out of EF in the meantime

Igamogam

So today is the day........hmmm. Spent the weekend recovering from hitting an energy sapping wall! Decided to give in and not do much. OH starting with a cold and being miserable about returning to work - I still have 2.5 weeks off and he should be really use to that by now. DD2 and her BF are self sufficient so they have been out working hard or out playing hard after work - outdoor types with boundless energy..think I was like that once which left me to just look after myself over the weekend:) Caught up with life admin and a friend who I haven't seen for a long time and who is having a bit of roller coaster time ATM but other than that, just did NOTHING all weekend!!

Everybody out at work now so once I have seen to the cat who is fussing round - obviously no one gave him his 'breakfast' and caught up with the local paper I am going to start on the post holiday/ pre return to work purge :rotfl:

Igamogam

Found a chque for £20 when going through some paperwork. A year old but I have banked it...every little helps and all that. Have got back onto the PPI trail after the TV reminders last week of only a year to go. I was turned down 12 months ago on 3 but I have got back in touch and told them I was not happy..........they said I only had six months to complain of outcome but I pushed the point and they have reluctantly started the ball rolling again........we will see......nothing ventured nothing gained. Also found in paperwork some old WH Sm!th paper vouchers £20 worth. Rang customers services and they said that I can still use them - must be 20 years old! Going to treat myself to a decent academic diary

Igamogam

September always heralds a New year for me.........and this year I am kinda looking for inspiration! I shall keep on plodding with all the things I know need doing but I really need a kick up the arris to speed it up a bit. Maybe something will happen that will 'be a sign'or indication of what I need to do next. Feeling a bit pfff........on going knee issues not helping. Have a hospital appt this week so I hope to have some answers and or solutions!

Igamogam

OK. So I added it all up......that was the kick I needed!. No better no worse than 12 months ago - which means I have over spent.....there have been some hefty expenditures this year. However If I pay off at the rate I am doing now, and I over pay everything, then it will be gone in 4 years.........hmmm. I am going to work on getting that figure down so that will be my new focus Its focus that I need really.........I know what to do:)

Igamogam

Been away from posting here... RL and all that. Still 'on it'. Home alone now for 5 weeks.......OH on his annual 'trip of a life time' pursuing his extreme sport. DD1 may drop in 'en route' to her next plan...things havent worked out how she would have wanted and she is feeling a bit sore about it...told her not to beat herself up about it, but that is easier said than done when your plans that you had pinned so much on ( too much IMO) are looking a bit tattered. She is coming home for a bit of TLC and we will have some frank talks and take it from there........

I am glad to have some head space - work is pressurised ATM. Nothing I cant cope with or use to but, the more I think of early retirement the more I resent it!! I am concentrating now on reaching that ER goal which means looking at finances, the house, health all with a fine tooth comb. ER is going to have to work for me.

Doing a big 'life laundry' whilst I have the house to myself. I have done it in fits and starts over the last few years dont want a house full of 'stuff' and TBH there has been a net flow out of the door rather in I have dealt with all the reasons why I have hung on to things. No dramatic reasons.... but I have turned the corner

Just had a huge car bill to deal with.... not as big as it could have been as I stood my ground with the dealership. In the old days I would have put it on the CC and worried about it later. Paid it out of the current account and although things will be tight this month because of it I am working on the basis household bills will be smaller without OH around! I am using one CC to pay for fuel at the end of the month when things look tight and am paying it off every month....6 months ago I would pay most of it off and then let it carry over and then wonder why after 6 months the balance was in 4 figures again........even after all these years on MSE...........*roll eyes*

NoOneAround

Morning Igamogam,
I'm having a short treat browsing here rather than slowing drowning myself with UK/US depressing news over a cuppa...
Sounds great to have 5 weeks on your own, and some head space to actually think things through!
Hope DD is Ok? nothing like a bit of TLC at home to get back on track, my DD is feeling a bit "lost" wondering where to start with jobs etc.
Glad to managed to fir in some breaks over the summer period, we didn't manage to book anything.
Good luck with the life laundry, I'm still struggling with that bit, think I've laundered some of the wrongs things out though. Trying to do a blitz this week because next chunk of time will be mid December!
NOA
x

Igamogam

Thanks for dropping in NOA!

The Life Laundry is stuck on the rinse cycle. Its lovely to have DD1 home for 2 weeks but its been emotional and stressful! That head space I planned has not happened.....I am not going to let it get to me though - Life happens and I am haemorrhaging money ATM so she can follow her dream. Not very MSE and it may well put on 6-12 months on my retirement date.......I know... and if people read this and want to judge I respectfully ask you to keep your opinions on your side of the screen At least she is talking about 'when I come back' which fills my heart with hope. I dread the thought of either of the DDs being the other side of the world but I would never stop them....conflicted doesnt come into it. I have my reasons and they are all deep seated in my own childhood!! I know you are supposed to let them go etc and in no way do I expect them to live "next door" If DD1 decided to make her home in Europe, where she spent the last 12 months, I would be more than happy In the meantime I am helping to get her luggage within the required weight:eek::D

Sorry all a bit confessional.

Need to crack on. House is a bit of a pig sty as in the middle of the Life Laundry so there will be some rapid sorting/throwing out ( probably the best way) as tonight I have my closest friends round for the traditional "OH is away. Come round for fondue cake and wine" we love all 3

brizzlegirl

Just catching up. Cake fondue and wine...sounds blissful. Hope it was enjoyable.

I know what you mean about supporting ones kids. Even if it means delaying ones own happiness, it’s got to be done. All power to you and hope it works out for her. X