Money and Me - A Love/Hate Story

Magsnoodle

Hi Skinty.

Sorry to hear your news - (((((BIG HUGS)))) to you and the family xxx

skintygerlinky

Hiya Divas xxxxxxx

Thanks for all lovely comments! Nice words on here mean lots xxxx

Well I'm not doing too bad. Sooooooo much to sort out after this bloody burglary. Phoning around, telling the story, re-telling when people don't phone back and we speak to someone brand new, dealing with two different police forces, hearing good news then getting more bad news.......Also, my dad received a letter through the post from the party that took him to court and lost (for the second time) last week. They seem to be ignoring these outcomes and are demanding even more. Its so frustrating, especially trying to deal with that when every now and then thoughts about the burglary pop into my head.

Still though.

Could have been a lot worse. I really mean that.

Keeping a close eye on myself...feeling pretty de-motivated at the mo which can lead to tricky road of black dog depression which is last thing I need. Familiar symptoms of restless and antsy yet listless and lacking in energy. Weird but familiar combination. But am acknowledging this and trying to remember that feeling like this is natural and to understand its a reaction to a horrid experience. Not all negativity has to lead inevitably to depression!!

Just feel the feelings Skinty!

Financially I'm all over the place at the mo. Meal out with work on Thurs which I really want to go to as it will be a laugh and I need that at the mo. Nice tea out and theatre with mum and dad tomorrow which we all really need. Meeting friend on Friday for coffee as she wants to cheer me up. Brother in law's birthday on Saturday and then family meal on Sunday for Mother's Day.

And you know what? !!!! the money!! Really looking forward to spending lovely time with lovely family and friends. How lucky am I to have such a full week as this? Bring it on! I'm paid on Monday so can start again. For now I need some good times to re-balance the rubbish and these get togethers remind me perfectly how lucky I am to have the best family and friends.

So. Feeling a little emotional, a little bruised, definitely philosophical. And addicted to After Eights. Neighbours, family and friends brought lots of cards, flowers and wine over and ohhhhhhhh so much chocolate.

So a gentle tune to suit this evening - but we're getting there Divas! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtROvkmq1iw

Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

skintygerlinky

Hi Divas xxx

My laptop has died!!!!

Only bought it last October - on Friday it simply refused to go on (think we all know that feeling so could only sympathise with poor laptop).

Bought it online at Arseda, was advised to take it back to local shop which I did - had no idea there was utterly no facility in the whole of the Arseda world that could even have a go at fixing laptop!! COuld only take it off my hands and give me refund!!

Have a smacked gob. Is this right?! If so I feel sooo stupid as I clearly haven't read the T&C properly. Thought it would be 'sent off' to 'the man' and he would fix it (am also clearly very sexist).

So am laptop-less and waiting for refund to appear in my account (probably won't be until Friday) and then will have to buy brand new one.

Aaaargh!! Where do you recommend I shop Divas? Where can I buy a cheapish laptop that will try and fix it if it has a strop?

Am currently typing in local library so can't swear
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girlatplay

Don't know where you can buy a cheap one but remember, John Lewis are never knowingly undersold I'm sure they would be able to fix it too.

Don't let the black dog get you. Keep an eye on yourself and if you see it coming, go for help.

Hugs sweetie xx

mothernerd

Glad you are okay but yes keep looking after yourself. I always find old films helpful - the ones that make you laugh and the ones that make you cry - sort of !!!!! the bubble and let all the tension out.

DS1 took me to CEX to get this laptop (2nd hand). I am not very techie so he asked me some questions first to see what I needed it to do and then we went to look - I think there were some other places he was going to check but he got very excited about this one and went to get the money (he owes me, so was buying when he got his wages and it came off what he owes) as he thought I was getting a lot of machine for the money. It came with a 12 month guarantee - any problems you take it back, they fix or refund/ money off something else. I had to buy a new battery before Christmas (consumables not covered by guarantee) but I had had it for 9 months by then (DS3 needs a new battery about every 2-3 months).

I like it a lot and am gradually getting more confident. The old computer was 6+ years old and I think it was second hand when we bought it. It was dying for at least the last 3 years and by the end it was taking me a week to get my e-mails off it. I used to switch it on, computer says "No, tired today" and switched itself off again. Only recently started putting cds in this one as it was so long since the one on the old computer functioned (I think my copy of bejewelled was trapped in there) that I had forgotten they had them, what you used them for and how to do it. Was using the tv + PS2 to play cds and went the tv broke I sat there in the dark (third light bulb on light fitting went and I wasn't upgrading to energy saving bulbs as I think the wiring is faulty and they blow frequently - if you change one, the others go as soon as you do it) wondering what to do and then - oh does this have one of those drawers thingies (it did) and can I press this and put this in here (yes) and which bit do I press to make it - oh!

And then you introduced me to Utube. Did vaguely know about it but as I say the old computer struggled with e-mail so trying to get it to do anything extra / more time consuming and it's years since I had access to college computers, so now re-learning. Can't get through to DS3 that he has always/ only used one computer system - I've learned about 6 (anyone remember the BBC apple - nothing to do with the other fruit co with the same name - project to put a computer in every school, think that was when DS2 was a baby 1987) and then a couple of years later I go on another course and it's something completely different. When I was at school, our Deputy Head (a maths graduate) had to go to the local tech once a year to use their computer to do the timetable (every class, every lesson) for the year.

Buffythedebtslayer

Hey up Slinky XX


I am shopping for similar and looking at ones on PC world, as I have always had good service from them and they do the fix thing


I am only looking at spending about 350?


http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops/laptops/703_7006_70006_xx_xx/_xx-criteria.html


and know sod all about laptops so asking my sister to research


hang in there my love, a wise person on my diary (In Need of Direction I think) reminded me that however bad you feel IT WILL PASS.


Love you lots XXX

skintygerlinky

Mooooorrrrrrrnnniiiiiiiiiiin Divas xxxxx

Oooh thanks for all info re: LaptopGate its appreciated! Feel as though I'm armed with a bit more info re: guarentees and prices etc now so thanking you xxx
mother nerd - keep on keeping on and it's always good to learn something new isn't it? So glad you're loving youtube! You have fab taste in music so am glad you're finging all sorts on there.

Buffster - thanks for the chin up!! You and the wise person are absolutely right - all things will and must pass.

Had a lovely weekend and indeed much better week all round last week (does that make sense? I seem to be kind of inverting time there. Get me Prof Brian Cox on line 1 to discuss these issues. And maybe he'll fancy going out with me too? Love Brian Cox. Love him being a keyboard player in D:Ream then being big brainy brainbox. Brain Cox. And he has nice hair and a good walk....)

Soz, what?

Yes, last week - went to see Twelfth Night at the re-opened Everyman in Livercooooool which was fab. Meal out with lovely workmates, also met old, one of my best, girlie mates for coffee and then Mothers day meal on Sunday which was a right laugh - my niece showed us loads of old footage she's recorded on her mob phone over the last few years. One section was a family Xmas about 4 yrs ago and we all see to be talking posh when she interviews us. Anyone else do that when being filmed?!!

Also - bit belated but can I just give a huge hug to all Mums on here - you are completely ace and the world is a better place for you.

Here's to Diva Mums! xxxxxxxxxxx

girlatplay

Ahh, I see some of the [STRIKE]old[/STRIKE] former skinty returning! I snorted a bit at the Brian Cox part. Luckily it is lunchtime

Rollercoaster_Rach

Haha that post made me laugh Skinty! Brian Cox and D:Ream....love it!

RR x

skintygerlinky

Hiiyerrrr Diva-y-doos,

Am at uni and should be studying but oh well here we are!!

Yes old Skinty back on track, a bit. Crrrrrrap night's sleep though.

Hmmmm. Money, then.

Counted up all purchases over March and it was pretty horrific. Not by usual spending standards of days gone by/yesteryear/days of yore but by the budget I'm on at the mo...yes, pretty horrific.

Realise sat here right now that once again I lost the run of myself just like in bygone times because I had a pretty rubbish month on the personal front - burglary, bereavments, court cases, some friends really p**$ing me off....so, it would appear then, that the best way to combat this is to announce to self that I can't possibly stick to a budget, how can I, I'm UPSET CAN'T YOU SEE???!!

Ohhh its yesterday once more isn't it!!

It's all quite clear now. I'm honestly not beating myself up here - I really needed to spend quality time with lovely people last month. But it just cost money I don't have right now.
I'm not including Mothers Day or loved ones birthdays here - I have actually budgeted for those. But its the other bits...

In a nutshell - it seems that when we need cheering up or want to cheer someone else up, we inevitably spend quite a lot of money.

I also wonder if this attitude of 'ah blow it out the water for now' is present in me because I'm single and don't have kids...surely if I had those responsibilities I wouldn't feel like this??

Enough. Square the shoulders, we are where we are. Lets do April!!

Any thoughts, Divas??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTaWayUE5XA

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