Time to Take Control

wannabee_in_credit

Naughty me, sneaking on at work.
Day 3 following Scottish Slimmers, and one of my Year 9 girls has just given me a piece of pizza she's made in food tech, and I REALLY want it. It's still warm... how kind yet cruel of her.

Today I am working on chanting a new mantra to myself.
'Let go of the things you can't control. Take control of the things you can.'
Repeat, and repeat and repeat again.

wannabee_in_credit

So, I took control of one of the things I can. My DMP. Had a letter from CCCS last week reminding me that I was due for a review so I finished work as early as I dared and came home to ring them. With the reduction in chilldcare costs since ds turned 3 I was expecting my payments perhaps to go up to just over £300 a month (paying £274 at the moment). Anyway, once we factor in my reduced tax credits, increased fuel and car repair costs, and a higher recommended monthly spend for clothing, my payments need to come DOWN to £239. I feel like I could pay more, and want to but the lovely lady at CCCS says my budget is 'far from extravagant' and I should stick with what I have.
Fair enough, but I was so sure that my payments would be going up and that dfd would be getting closer - I'm devastated to see it getting further away.
BAH to debt management. I'll continue to live as frugally as I can and squirrel away anything I have spare. Just quite upset that I feel I'm working hard and making little progress.
I suppose it might be a good thing, with the uncertainty of OH not being at work at the moment. We might end up needing to cut back even more.

Lemon_Tree

the last thing you would want is for the payment to be more than you can afford long term, and you can always save up money for lump sum payments i'm sure.
well done for resisting the pies and pizza, pies are ok to be frozen, you can often buy them frozen so i'd think you'd be fine. I'm trying to resist chocolate at the moment, Mr LT is eating maltesers where i can see him (it's so unfair)

BlushingRose

I agree with the CCCS lady - bring your payments down for now and either squirrel away the extra as you've suggested, or up the payments again in a month or so...I assume they'd let you do that?

newroadahead

wannabee_in_credit wrote: »

Today I am working on chanting a new mantra to myself.
'Let go of the things you can't control. Take control of the things you can.'
Repeat, and repeat and repeat again.

Hi I hope you don't mind I have subscribed to your diary. I really like this mantra you have given and keep thinking it would be a good one for me to try to adhere to.

Hope you have a good day

NRA x

wannabee_in_credit

Hi nra
Welcome aboard.
Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not. Today has been another shocker at work that's for sure.
I've been debating taking things up with the union I'm so fed up, but people are warning me not to... apparently my management are not fair fighters.

wannabee_in_credit

Well, OH has been signed off another fortnight. No real surprise there, but another fortnight of no money, and another fortnight of my stressing about what might happen next.

newroadahead

wannabee_in_credit wrote: »

Hi nra
Welcome aboard.
Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not. Today has been another shocker at work that's for sure.
I've been debating taking things up with the union I'm so fed up, but people are warning me not to... apparently my management are not fair fighters.

Thanks for the welcome.

Sorry things are not good at work, I understand how you feel as I have had problems with my work since being off sick, and we don't have a union!!!

Hope things seem better tomorrow.

Sorry to hear about the pressure re OH, Is he still helping around the house or doing the little jobs you leave him?

Take care

NRA x

wannabee_in_credit

He is trying to sort himself out this time - still doing little things for me, although I might have to properly bully him into cutting the grass. It's embarrassing looking out into the garden.
I know he can't help being ill, but I really hate it.
He's had his medication doubled and the doctor has asked him again to consider contacting the mental health team (he's refused so far).
I'm at the docs this Friday - have no idea what I'm going to say. I will most likely cry.

newroadahead

wannabee_in_credit wrote: »

He is trying to sort himself out this time - still doing little things for me, although I might have to properly bully him into cutting the grass. It's embarrassing looking out into the garden.
I know he can't help being ill, but I really hate it.
He's had his medication doubled and the doctor has asked him again to consider contacting the mental health team (he's refused so far).
I'm at the docs this Friday - have no idea what I'm going to say. I will most likely cry.

Maybe a good cry is what you need.

I have been both side of the fence, I had a breakdown a few years back and when it was at its worst it felt like a bottomless pit. I worked through it with meds and CBT not easy and very hard to admit I had "a problem". 2 years on still have to catch myself sometimes from slipping back

On the other side STBEOH (Soon to be ex other half) also had depression, expected everyone to help him and really didn't want to help himself. In fact he believed he was the only one who had ever been ill (still does sometimes lol).

I know from reading your diary you both love each other and you will work through this. It is so hard when you feel that you are alone but you have all the people on here to vent to and that helps.

I wish you well and hope tomorrow is a better day


NRA xxx