A few months and several questions

RosaBernicia

Catching myself falling into a very old trap of 'well if I just stay in for this month, that will make up for the unplanned expenses'.

Please kick my behind if I say or do this... it is a real problem. I end up resenting staying home and it messes up my social life which I really need. Must remember that it is more important to keep the debt progress in the right direction and have a life than to stick to plans.

I must arrange something fun to do next weekend as I feel like I've done nothing but housework and cat slavery for a fortnight.

Also noticed that work annoyances do colour my mood when they're not cancelled out by social life. Another reason it's necessary.


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Little mog has retreated behind the sofa after vet trip and is not speaking to me not even chirruping back like when she first arrived.

That's because you're the big baddie...

:rotfl:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

She's had her first vacc, a thorough check over - though I notice the vet wouldn't have checked her ears if I hadn't asked

Hmm...keep an eye on that.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

- and had stuff poured into her ears and massaged to loosen a lot of horrible black gunk (vet reckons from a previous ear mite infestation). Which was probably what was making her wash one ear and twitch every two minutes last night.

So she'll probably realise she doesn't have to do that any more.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

And they've confirmed she is a bit too skinny.

Doughnuts...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

She's come out to eat a bit of a tuna pouch

And tomorrow you'll serve the tuna?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

but gone back again. Hoping she will feel more sociably by tomorrow but am supposed to do the ear thing twice a day for a week poor scrap, it's going to undo a lot of her settling. They want her back for a check-up in a week but I don't think I'll take her unless she still has symptoms as she'll be back for another vacc the week after and clearly the trip rather knocks her sideways.

What she really needs is an older cat there to tell her she has it soft, and the old days were so much worse...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

MSE
£135 vet bill for vacc course and flea stuff. They had better have a good few cheap months coming up because the pair of them have cost me hundreds recently!

Pets cost. It's a fact of life.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Catching myself falling into a very old trap of 'well if I just stay in for this month, that will make up for the unplanned expenses'.

Please kick my behind if I say or do this...

Can't really tell if you do it though.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

it is a real problem. I end up resenting staying home and it messes up my social life which I really need.

There needs to be a balance in everything.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Must remember that it is more important to keep the debt progress in the right direction and have a life than to stick to plans.

No. It's important to have plans which encompass the need to have a life, and to have provision in for things that do not run smoothly.

Pets will cost. They will cost more than you estimate. You need to have your plans take account of this fact.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I must arrange something fun to do next weekend as I feel like I've done nothing but housework and cat slavery for a fortnight.

I first I thought "cat slavery!" but then doubt struck...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Also noticed that work annoyances do colour my mood when they're not cancelled out by social life. Another reason it's necessary.

If that's how you leave work at work - then that is what's required.

Otherwise your cats will start talking to you about taking your work home (and not in an approving manner ), and you wouldn't want that...

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

What she really needs is an older cat there to tell her she has it soft, and the old days were so much worse...

She has one. He's still not really speaking to her yet and is refusing to eat his wet food until he's really hungry.

(I refuse to join the ranks of the 'must find a flavour cat will eat this week/ this phase of the moon/ while I wear this colour socks.)

ZTD wrote: »

Can't really tell if you do it though.

There needs to be a balance in everything.

Well I have failed to exit the house so far today, though mainly due to sleeping really late which I obviously needed. Interestingly though, I am finding it much easier to get up in the mornings, even when I do go back to bed afterwards. Not sure if it's better sleep, or less face-the-day worries, but it's good.

Friend coming round shortly though and may be out later.

ZTD wrote: »

No. It's important to have plans which encompass the need to have a life, and to have provision in for things that do not run smoothly.

This is the bit I'm rubbish at. I suspect because definitely allowing myself a major life would halve my payments, and make my DFD look a very scary way away.

OTOH life is short and unpredictable, and I don't want to spend even the next year anymore sticking to plans that don't make me happy now as well as in the future.

ZTD wrote: »

I first I thought "cat slavery!" but then doubt struck...

Hey, that way I could have someone else clean the litter tray..

ZTD wrote: »

If that's how you leave work at work - then that is what's required.

Otherwise your cats will start talking to you about taking your work home (and not in an approving manner ), and you wouldn't want that...

It probably is, and I just hadn't properly appreciated it. It's also partly that I am getting bored at work and so the downsides are no longer compensated for by the interesting bits. Time to move on in both ways - new job and social life reinforced.


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

She has one. He's still not really speaking to her yet and is refusing to eat his wet food until he's really hungry.

(I refuse to join the ranks of the 'must find a flavour cat will eat this week/ this phase of the moon/ while I wear this colour socks.)

Ironically, I have a similar attitude towards children and their eating. There's probably good reasons I have none of my own... :rotfl:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Well I have failed to exit the house so far today, though mainly due to sleeping really late which I obviously needed. Interestingly though, I am finding it much easier to get up in the mornings, even when I do go back to bed afterwards. Not sure if it's better sleep, or less face-the-day worries, but it's good.

Less worries means better sleep, so it probably a mixture of both.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Friend coming round shortly though and may be out later.

:beer:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

This is the bit I'm rubbish at. I suspect because definitely allowing myself a major life would halve my payments, and make my DFD look a very scary way away.

Flexibility is the word that you heard, it's got groove, it's got meaning...

You don't have to put in "This month I will spend £128.42 on socialising and not a penny more or less." You know what your "normal" bills/payments are, so you have a slack. You then prioritise what happens with the slack. This will change month to month.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

OTOH life is short and unpredictable, and I don't want to spend even the next year anymore sticking to plans that don't make me happy now as well as in the future.

Well you certainly want to avoid things that make you unhappy, but having said that, you do need to think of the future as well. It's a balancing act, and there is no perfect answer.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hey, that way I could have someone else clean the litter tray..

Dressed like that you could have random people off the street cleaning your litter tray...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

It probably is, and I just hadn't properly appreciated it. It's also partly that I am getting bored at work and so the downsides are no longer compensated for by the interesting bits. Time to move on in both ways - new job and social life reinforced.

So start making plans, then start pulling things together. No time like the present.

RosaBernicia

MSE
Went to the city today for work and didn't spend a thing :eek::j:j - we got lunch in the meeting and I got a coffee on the way home with points. That's despite being in an area that relates to two very stressful periods on my life. It was actually really good to be able to wander around and realise that not only is that over, it's far enough in the past that I have forgotten quite a bit of it.
Have finally rounded up my receipts for expenses and that should make £33 next month.

MSE
Little moggie managed to sneak past me when I was letting big mog out :eek: - I caught her, but must watch her as she really wants to explore outside. This also means I'm about to spend £10 upgrading her microchip service to the lifetime, managed online version so that if I do need to put out an alert it can be done instantly. I also use the microchip phone number in their collar ID barrels so that I don't have to give out my own.

MSE
Think am going to have to seriously consider lowering payments and accepting that it will take a long time to get clear if I want a life in the meantime. I have moggie bills this month, scanner on payday, and need £200 of dental work. None of which can really be put off - the dental work should have been done months ago and I really want to tackle the paper mess to get the flat looking decent.


Still haven't finalised putting away summer clothes but am intending to get it done this week. I have done pretty well at having a clearout though - the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen have all been purged and tidied. Living room will be done as I tackle the paper mountain, as that causes most of the mess. Then Ebay... honest...


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

It's been a rather antisocial but quite effective weekend

Have finally caught up with all the washing after the extra caused by little mog, changed the bed, deep cleaned the bathroom and currently have conditioner goop plastered all over my hair. I wanted to also get the underbed boxes shifted and bedroom hoovered but will see what time it is when I finish with the goddessing

Must also sort out renewing breakdown cover - is already put aside in the car budget so just a case of paying and moving the funds over.

MSE wise doing OK - even behaved myself quite well in Lu5h yesterday and only bought what I went in for. Though that could be because the Christmas crowds are out already and I was just frantic to get out of there lol. Also behaved quite well in Waitro53 and already have soup for work lunches from M&5... so just need to pick up bread to go with it. Am a bit concerned that I've forgotten something as current calcs suggest £220 left til payday in 2 weeks time.

Little moggie is no longer stinky and looking much prettier now that we've got most of her mats out - only a few more to go on her back legs. She still really wants to go outside and I picked up a harness in Wilkos (a whole £2.75) as if she will tolerate that I can let her explore the garden a bit earlier and will worry less about her finding her way back when she goes out on her own. With typical cat contrariness big mog is ignoring the lovely new kennel it may be because the preserver smell still needs to wear off but guess he will discover it if he's outside in the cold. It is such a fab kennel too - it has a box downstairs with furry blanket in, a covered bit on top with furry blanket in, and I put it on the right side of the garden for it to get the sun so they can lie on the roof bit and sunbathe... but hey, there's no pleasing cats :rotfl:


Rosa xx

rising_from_the_ashes

ZTD wrote: »

Pets will cost. They will cost more than you estimate. You need to have your plans take account of this fact.

Yup ...... I couldn't believe how much mine cost until I tried to work out a budget for them last year :eek:

Rosa - anyway you could set up a "cats pot" - I put £50 away each month and it covers everything (food, litter, boosters, flea/worm stuff, unexpected vet trips, toys, treats etc etc) and I do have a bit of a surplus in it due to being able to bulk buy food & litter as the funds are there. Hard to get going, but worth it!

RosaBernicia wrote: »

This is the bit I'm rubbish at. I suspect because definitely allowing myself a major life would halve my payments, and make my DFD look a very scary way away.

OTOH life is short and unpredictable, and I don't want to spend even the next year anymore sticking to plans that don't make me happy now as well as in the future.

Snap! This is what I find really hard too ..... can't really afford to do much even now as budget is so tight (and now have this pesky OD again) and if I do get invited to something I just think of how much it'll cost and don't go

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Little moggie is no longer stinky and looking much prettier now that we've got most of her mats out - only a few more to go on her back legs. She still really wants to go outside and I picked up a harness in Wilkos (a whole £2.75) as if she will tolerate that I can let her explore the garden a bit earlier and will worry less about her finding her way back when she goes out on her own. With typical cat contrariness big mog is ignoring the lovely new kennel it may be because the preserver smell still needs to wear off but guess he will discover it if he's outside in the cold. It is such a fab kennel too - it has a box downstairs with furry blanket in, a covered bit on top with furry blanket in, and I put it on the right side of the garden for it to get the sun so they can lie on the roof bit and sunbathe... but hey, there's no pleasing cats :rotfl:

Glad to hear little moggie's making progress!

Chuckling at big cat and the kennel - I have one outside for my big cat (wee cat doesn't get to stay out when I'm not here) and, believe me, he will use it when it's cold / wet!;)

RosaBernicia

Thanks Rising

Little mog seems to have really come on in the last few days, her coat is starting to look glossy and she's got the idea about food happening morning and evening. I had forgotten how litter tracking can drive you mad though which is part of the reason for the under-bed sort-out!

I think you're right about the kennel... just remembered that he also ignored the previous bed in the mini greenhouse when I showed it to him, then loved it once he needed it


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

currently have conditioner goop plastered all over my hair.

Sexxy...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Must also sort out renewing breakdown cover - is already put aside in the car budget so just a case of paying and moving the funds over.

Yes, doing it ahead of breaking down is always good.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Am a bit concerned that I've forgotten something as current calcs suggest £220 left til payday in 2 weeks time.

Have a look on bank statements from this time last year - it should be on those...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Little moggie is no longer stinky and looking much prettier now that we've got most of her mats out - only a few more to go on her back legs. She still really wants to go outside and I picked up a harness in Wilkos (a whole £2.75) as if she will tolerate that I can let her explore the garden a bit earlier and will worry less about her finding her way back when she goes out on her own.

And if you tie her harness to the back door with a bit of bungie cord, she won't even have to bother to walk back...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

With typical cat contrariness big mog is ignoring the lovely new kennel it may be because the preserver smell still needs to wear off but guess he will discover it if he's outside in the cold. It is such a fab kennel too - it has a box downstairs with furry blanket in, a covered bit on top with furry blanket in, and I put it on the right side of the garden for it to get the sun so they can lie on the roof bit and sunbathe...

I can just image the scene of you explaining all this, and your cat going "If you like it so much, then you use it..."

RosaBernicia wrote: »

but hey, there's no pleasing cats :rotfl:

There is. Little squeaky toys/wildlife...

RosaBernicia

MSE

• Breakdown cover sorted, just need to transfer money over

MSE

• £14 on various bits and bobs... though it included lint roller, refill and moth repellent papers for the clothes sorting, and the rest was cards and little gifts to post to a friend who needs a bit of cheering up.
• Think am going to need to keep a second litter tray if I'm going to have friends feed the moggies when I go away for a couple of days in December. The mogs will be OK, but the friends in question don't have pets or children so may not volunteer again if asked to deal with litter trays. So may buy a second one. Am thinking of getting one of the little cupboard-style ones from Zoo+ as that looks a whole lot nicer than the hooded ones and I already have a tray that would fit. It is about £25 more than a plain plastic one, but would look better in the long term... dither...

MSE

• Was naughty and bought sandwich lunch - there wasn't time to do the shopping and sort out the soup I took in. All in a good cause though.

Little moggy is doing very well, she's been very talkative this evening and has come up to me a lot. Amazingly she also didn't mind the harness when I tried that, so hopefully we can get her used to it this week and explore the garden with her on the harness over the weekend.

Haven't done clothes sorting but as I'm no longer going to a lecture tomorrow night it can happen then. Apparently it's way oversubscribed and I just can't be faffed with getting there a half hour early and crowds, so have told them to cancel my registration.

And am trying to stop myself buying a book I really really want until I have a sort of excuse... it's £35 as is rare even secondhand, and only just went down to that from £50... trying to wait til I have something to celebrate with it so it will be special.


Rosa xx