Tales from a country cottage

ani*fan

Not long home from our holiday and it was FAB! We had a lovely time, the hotel was great, the food delicious, the weather...could have been better but never mind. And all within budget. :T I could get used to this 'planned spending' business. But come to think of it, I probably better not.

I had a friend contact me today and asked to borrow some cash until the end of the month. She's my oldest friend and I know she wouldn't ask if she wasn't desperate so I said yes and transferred some cash. I have no doubt that it will be returned and if for some reason that can't happen I'll cope without this money for a while. Trouble is I'm now really worried about her. I've told her about this site and offered to sit down and help her with a budget, explaining that I'm constantly obsessing over ours and do it all the time. She said thanks but no, she's too embarrassed. I don't know what to do to help. OH has told me to stop worrying and mind my own business. Probably the way to go but still, she's my pal. Any advice anyone?

Igamogam

Glad to hear your break was a good'n! Hmmmm about you friend. She knows you are there and that you have 'knowledge'. I'm with OH. Dont worry too much. However your finances are tight and you have tried very hard to get yourself on track so maybe you need to have a time scale of when you expect it or some of it to be paid back,even if you feel very strongly that you will get it back. I would give her a couple of weeks then try to approach her again with some time scale/repayment schedule, I know its really hard when its a good friend in need.

How arethose essays Ani - bringing you back down to earth!

Igamogam

Our Food - a programme on BBC2 (I think) - probably get it on i player .I have recorded it but haven't watched it myself yet - just sounded interesting:)

ani*fan

Think I'll have a look at that. Though I'm worrying much less about it since I became vegan. And feeling much more energised too.

Anyway, just had a Mr T delivery and it looks like it'll have to last us 'til the end of the month, payday, 2 weeks away. The food budget took a hammering this month cos me and OH decided on a whim to go out for tea. It was yummy and worth it, but I'm looking at the shopping and wondering how to make it last. Think I need to tighten the menu plan.

I have got a date to get the cash back from my pal. Payday, the 27th. And with faster transfers at the bank it should appear in my account that day. I'm not really worried about it, and trying hard not to worry about her. She's had such a hard time lately and a financial crisis would just add to it.

Anyway, I think this may be a diversion against my essays so I'm going to get started today. Honest. Just as soon as I've lolled around for an hour or three and made some soup and pottered in the garden...

Igamogam

ani*fan wrote: »

Anyway, I think this may be a diversion against my essays so I'm going to get started today. Honest. Just as soon as I've lolled around for an hour or three and made some soup and pottered in the garden...

Diversions galore here! Any excuse to do anything but what actually needs doing. Although in a strange way niggly jobs are getting done but they are not the most pressing important ones IYSWIM:o

Knitting_Nora

ani*fan wrote: »

I have got a date to get the cash back from my pal. Payday, the 27th. And with faster transfers at the bank it should appear in my account that day. I'm not really worried about it, and trying hard not to worry about her. She's had such a hard time lately and a financial crisis would just add to it.

Have a couple of friends that have been in similar positions. I've offered help, and signposted the MSE forums and site etc. but without any obvious luck.

Except, I now know that both friends had felt too ashamed to talk their problems through properly (both married and there's something there about 'speaking outside the family'), but you know what? Both turned to the website and have been using it a lot. So you may find that your friend uses this moment as her very own LBM, and finds your MSE signpost a huge help.

I know it's really hard not to worry, but you know yourself that MSE-ing is something you have to come to in your own time, and on your own terms, so rest assured that you've done right by your friend, and just be there with a cuppa and an ear should she need it.

Nora.x

ani*fan

Thank you for your words of wisdom Igamogam and Nora. I think you're right. Everyone needs to find their own way. Just wish everyone could experience the relief of having all the finances under control, getting the debts paid off and not having to worry so hard.

I just made a dozen chocolate muffins. They are scrummy, if I say so myself! I could spend my whole life just pottering around at home and be so happy and content. Back to work on Monday and dreading it. I'm trying to figure out ways to keep the relaxed holiday mood going when I'm back although I'm fairly sure it'll all kick off the second I walk in the door. Maybe I should book my next annual leave and start counting down the days.

I just got a call from a mystery shopping company asking me to do one fairly close by. I need to go there anyway to spend my birthday vouchers so agreed to it. So that's the petrol covered and an extra £7 or so in the pot. Fab.

Igamogam

ani*fan wrote: »

Back to work on Monday and dreading it. I'm trying to figure out ways to keep the relaxed holiday mood going when I'm back although I'm fairly sure it'll all kick off the second I walk in the door. Maybe I should book my next annual leave and start counting down the days.

Me too on Monday - meh! But we have 2 training days and then I have a half day taining on Wednesday and I dont see the frogs on a Friday - well only if there is a crisis and no doubt there will be:mad: So I am treating next week as a 'semi holiday' and then there will be only 6 weeks til the next one and one of those weeks are short..............hell I am wishing my life away here........and next term is going to be really difficult for all sorts of reasons:(

ani*fan

Think I may be wishing my life away too Igamogam. It's nuts eh? I'm off uni for the next 4 weeks so will have a day off every week but still. I can't be bothered with any of it. I'm dreading the stress and that overloaded feeling all the time. And it's not the frogs at my place that cause the difficulty, it's the crazy people who try to work with them!

Think I'll try my hardest to forget about it for the next couple of days.

ani*fan

And when do I get my little bronze star?!