Risen from the ashes ...

slowlyfading

Good luck on making things last til the end of the month

SOT2011

Hi Rising,

I've been AWOL for ages, but found myself back on here whilst avoiding finalising another assignment

Sorry to read that you have been so poorly. I hope that you are starting to feel much better and that the amended diet helps to settle things down.

It sounds as though you are taking a pragmatic approach to the financial issues that have arisen as a result of your health problems, and it has been great to read through the posts since you came out of hospital to today and to see how much more positive you are sounding now.

Take care & hope all continues to improve

SOT xx

rising_from_the_ashes

*waves* hi SOT lovely to see you popping in ..... glad to hear the assignments are still going well

Well ..... another Saturday night of absolutely wonderful tv ..... errrr not!:(

Have a bit of a craving for a glass of wine :eek: (honestly, I very rarely drink) which is probably down to the fact that I actually can't have any due to the drugs I'm on atm ....... tempted by the cigs today (no, haven't had one ) but it's still tough .....

Probably got cabin fever tbh ...... did have a wander around the garden for 10 mins earlier & put some food out for the birds now it's getting colder - but that totally tired me out and I've slept just about since then!:eek:

Loads of fireworks going off so actually relieved Maisie isn't here as she'd be totally freaked out - wee cat is on the sofa doing her owl impression with big, flat upset ears IYKWIM ..... big cat hiding upstairs.

rising_from_the_ashes

So ...... a lovely afternoon here - saw on the news there's snow in parts of England :eek: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20197064 ..... winter is on it's way.

On that front, had a hunt on e*bay for a few more thermal bits & pieces - really like the M&S ones I got but they weren't cheap (£14 for leggings & £14 - £17.50 for 2 tops - various sleeve lengths).

Really pleased with them as they're a good fit, warm and wash & dry really well (also important when we're coming into the winter months!).

Found some BNWOT & got leggings for £6 and 2 x tops for £9.60 so quite pleased - shouldn't really have spent the money but I get so cold due to medical issues and can't get warm.

I can have layer after layer on and the heating at 30 deg & still be freezing ..... once I get like that the only way for me to warm up is to have a bath - which gets to be a pain when it's your 3rd one (seriously!) of the day ...... so I need to stop myself getting cold in the first place!

The thermal underwear seems to be helping so adding a few more stocks makes sense & should make washing easier as currently having to do every other day.:) & will hopefully reduce hot water & heating costs!


Other spends of the day are a new clock that DMs picking up for me when she goes to Ar*gos @ £7.99 - not fantastic but it'll do (still looking at the gap on the wall several times a day ) and she's also going to pick me up some loo rolls at Farm*foods (Nicky ones are great if anyone is interested .... £2 for 9 and nice & quilted!) so will need to update spending diary.

Having a bit of a worry ...... usually I pay things on cc and pay in full each month - but DM has been doing bits & pieces of shopping for me :T but will need to pay her :eek: so OD level may rise :eek::eek::eek: - but I guess it'll be off set as next month the cc bill should be a lot less than usual :cool: (currently saving £25 / week on fuel for starters ......)

And ...... I've been out!:T

Not far as TBH by the time I got dressed & outdoor clothes on I was pretty knackered but had a wee wander up the street - took my stick and had several breaks :o but made it .

Honestly, really short walk I usually take Maisie on for a last widdle at night that normally takes max of 10 mins ..... took 1/2 an hour:o and legs are now like jelly blocks (it's amazing how quickly muscle wastage sets in - I was a pretty fit person and after only 2 weeks I feel useless) but it's a start and if I can try to build it up a little every day .....:)


Sorry .... rambling a bit ...... cabin fever setting in!:o

beanielou

Glad you have ventured out but dont overdo it
Take care xx

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks Beanielou ..... will be careful.:) Have ventured out again on the rubber legs ..... didn't get quite as far as I'd have liked but I guess it's a case of slowly & surely.

Really missing Maisie and want her home (even though it sounds as if she's having a fantastic time at DPs and isn't missing me at all :eek:) but just wouldn't be fair on her just now ... tbh the cats are about all I can cope with just now

Have OH work referral tomorrow :eek: - know it's routine but still dreading it - not great at describing how I feel at the best of times & it's also over the phone (which is good as there is no-way I could actually get there as can't drive) which I'm not good on either ...... Can't make it up the 12 stairs to upstairs in one go without a rest so can't see how on earth I can go back to work yet :eek:

Have 2nd infusion at hospital on Thurs ...... dreading that a bit too. DM has offered to take me .... she's been an absolute :A and feel so guilty as she's got enough on her plate looking after my DF ......

Need to find a way to get big cat to vet as his booster is way overdue and starting to worry that I'll end up having to get them both done again if I can't get him there soon :eek:

Carp that's a down post pull your socks up woman!:o

Positives ..... have been out ..... it's sunny and was lovely & crisp this morning ... love frosty mornings - it really was beautiful at 4am

Have ordered new litter tray for cats (their budget so NSD for me) - current ones struggling with weight of new litter (which is fantastic & very economical:)) and lids have broken with extra weight :eek:. Unfortunately can't use current ones as sides too low as they're a covered tray and the litter would just go everywhere!:eek:

Have gone for one larger (unfortunately more expensive) one rather than 2 smaller ones - big cat has had issues with constipation in the past if he doesn't feel comfortable / able to turn around as he's very long & they can share again .... a) it will save huge amount of room in their room and also b) save on litter used! (which can offset the cost of the new tray). Hoping it'll be a lot easier to clean out as well as really struggling with the lids / weight with the current trays.

Ohhhh and boiler due it's inspection for new contract tomorrow (all day call out - really hope they don't come at the same time as OH tel referral:eek:) - keep your fingers crossed it passes!:cool:

rising_from_the_ashes

Quick SOA update as have changed a couple of insurance things ...... not much change overall & TBH struggling to find areas to make more cuts as already on deals with utilities ......

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1325
Total monthly income.................... 1325

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 276
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Boiler insurance ....................... 12.90 Waiting for inspection - tomorrow (keep everything crossed)
Estate maintenance charge .............. 11
Council tax............................. 94
Electricity............................. 35
Gas..................................... 35
Mobile insurance..........................6 Have looked into this & unfortunately most policies say you have to take out before it's 6 months old (mine's older) - can only save £1 so have left as is
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 12.49 Pay in advance - due May '13
Mobile phone............................ 21 Cashback brings this down to £8.50/month payable around every 5 months (need to try to put towards emergencies!)
TV Licence.............................. 12.5
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 22.5
Internet Services....................... 6.49 1/2 price to May '13
Groceries etc. ......................... 150
Clothing................................ 25
Petrol/diesel........................... 120 Estimate - new car does lower mpg
Road tax................................ 8.5 New car has higher tax
Car Insurance........................... 20 Due Sept '13
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 30 Service due March '13
Dog insurance .......................... 17.32 Saved £7 / month by switching :T
Cats insurance ......................... 13 Just changed & saved around £10/month
Dog costs .............................. 50
Cat costs .............................. 50
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 20
Window cleaner ......................... 6.5
Buildings insurance..................... 10 Due May '13
Contents insurance...................... 10 Due May '13
Income protection insurance ............ 23.5 Stuck with this as already redundancies where I work so can't start new policy
Bank account fee......................... 6.5
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 8.5
Entertainment / anything else........... 50
Holiday................................. 10
Emergency fund.......................... 25
New boiler fund ........................ 25
Charity................................. 8.5
Total monthly expenses.................. 1242.20


Assets
Cash New boiler fund .............300
Savings redundancy fund......... 1000
Car(s)...........................7000
Other assets....................... 0
Total Assets..................... 8300


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 0........(276)......0
Total secured & HP debts...... 0.........-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-
Need to clear the pesky OD ...... £620

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,325
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1242.20
Available for debt repayments........... 82.8

Really need to get things sorted & re-start the "others" pots as these have been absolutely decimated trying to balance the books the past couple of months.

I guess trying to set up pots for everything at one (and to have to overpay them to get them to where they should be when needed) in one year is a bit ambitious .

Pets and the House & Car ones (the really important ones.....) are doing OK :T

beanielou

I think you are ticking along nicely TBH.

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks ........ feeling a bit better now .... you know how I can get a bit obsessive about things at times when I'm stressed:o.

Need a chill pill I think!

Going to sit back and relax about it (try anyway!) and concentrate on getting better (which is probably where a lot of it's coming from).

Chilll .........

Had my OH work referral thing today (by phone) which I've really been worrying about as not good at a) talking about how I am and b) talking over the phone but I think it went OK and feeling better about it now.

It's a routine thing so nothing to particularly panic about but still worry about it IYKWIM:o.

Have 2nd infusion on Thurs .......

beanielou

Glad your OH thingy is done & you feel it went ok.
I take it you will be off for a wee whille?.
Your SOA looks good, you have a credit figure & your OD is manageable but dont worry I'll chuck you some of my kalms.