Second Time Lucky

in_need_of_direction

I wish there was something I could say or do to help. Just know that we're here if you need to vent.

Pushkin

amycool wrote: »

My lovely husband bought me a Folio, which I have always wanted.

HI Amycool - I'm intrigued - what is a Folio?

Hope thing get better for you soon. xx

amycool

Thank you for your support everyone. I know this is meant to be about money but having real humans to share with is very helpful. It was a really tough weekend as I was feeling really ill and DD had remembered something horrible from her past. We tried to go out yesterday to play in the snow but it was a disaster and I ended up having to go to my Mum's to have a cry!

I'm hoping this week might be a bit better.

A Folio is a fancy beautifully bound copy of a book. My in-laws have lots and I love them. Coincidentally, the book is by Pushkin!!

I keep dreaming about driving, although it tends to end up with me crashing! I started researching instructors but haven't made any enquiries yet. If we get through the week without any calls from school, maybe I'll be brave enough to do more.

I didn't get my free £1 birthday pudding! The chap at the shop said I had to do something on-line, but that's wrong so I have complained.

The birthday chocolate is all gone so I can stop binge-eating now.

I just had to pay my first £5 fee to Santander and it smarts! Still works out the best for us as we have savings but I wish I didn't have to pay it.

I have pretty much stopped doing surveys as I don't seem to have the time but I'd like to start again.

I had to do the 50 minute round trip to get my prescription (again) today and I was very tempted to walk an extra few minutes to buy cake, but I resisted. :money:

amycool

Lots of illness here - 2 members of the family ended up in A&E this week and we've had 2 sleepless nights from coughing. And it's only Thursday!!! I'd quite like to sleep the rest of today but housework gets in the way.

OH just got paid so I've decided to overpay another £500, which brings January up to £1500. I know I should probably be saving more for the car but it's not earning any interest where it is.

I'm in so much credit with the gas and electric that we're paying £5 a month at the moment, which is nice.

I spent £10 ordering some veg and flower seeds for this year. The compost always costs the most money but scrimping on it never works. We do try to make our own but it's a slow process! Tiny garden means not much to put in it!

This week DD asked why we don't have a bigger TV. I had hoped we'd have a few years before those kind of questions began! She constantly asks for stuff but luckily hasn't had a full on tantrum yet. I don't remember ever asking my Mum for anything but I guess I wasn't bombarded with adverts like kids are now.

Not much else to report - a bit fed up and negative at the moment.

Muser1

We are very lucky where we live. No one has big TVs. Lots don't allow their children to even watch tv. I'm very grateful for our bubble. I guess your LO is still adjusting and 'things' will start to mean less as she settles in.

I'm so jealous of your energy bill! x

debtfreeoneday

Wishing you all better soon! x

amycool

Bleurgh. Still ill. Mum still ill. DD still ill. OH not ill! Hooray! :rotfl:

Spends this week have included £18 for a Minecraft game as DD and OH like it and it keeps them fairly quiet. £20 on dinner out as we had a big journey to meet some of DD's family. £20 on a birthday present for OH. £20 on buying future gifts in a sale.

OH's travel costs for work were huge this month.

My next clothes arrived and I love them, so definitely worth the £5.99 (plus a £25 voucher I got last year). On Saturday I curled my hair, put on my new shoes and jumper with some of my Christmas present perfume, and actually felt quite nice and smart for the first time since DD came home!!! I was hoping we might have a family photo but it didn't happen. Typical! I always get snapped looking messy.

Due to the big overpayment made this month we were £200 down so the savings took a little hit, but we did knock another 4 months off the end date, which is now at May 2026. It still feels like forever away but if I could find £150 a month that would take us to about November 2023, which still looks like a crazy futuristic date, but is definitely nearer.

So, to February.

Goals:

Sow some vegetable seeds
Buy some compost to improve the raised beds
Sort out doctor's appointment
Sort out dentist appointment (mostly dreading this one so may end up being March)

Not many but realistically just keeping the house in order and surviving is enough at the moment. We have 3 parties to attend for DD this month, which will no doubt bring anxiety, and a few social worker meetings/visits, which will definitely bring lots of anxiety.

Right, off to colour in my mortgage house...

amycool

About £22 spent on Friday to save my sanity. After a horrific week of illness and appalling behaviour from DD, OH took Friday off work and we went for lunch in a lovely pub and really stuffed our faces. We also watched 2 TV programmes at normal volume and without being interrupted.

Compost has been bought but the weather is really horrible so I'm not sure when I'm going to brave the elements to get the pots and everything sorted out.

Dentist is booked.

Doctors is booked.

More spends today as my nephew has caught head lice and my head was definitely in contact with his at the weekend so a nit comb it is! I've been itchy all day but it's almost definitely in my mind. Also more calpol as the cold and cough have turned into sinus pain for DD.

Also spent £5 on photographs, although they were 50% off.

Still not getting any good sleep so I'm exhausted.

Need to buy:
Mum's birthday card (going to give her money)
A gift for a birthday party DD is going to

debtfreeoneday

Hope behaviour has been better of late

amycool

£11.23 cashback as amazingly the National lottery cashback was resolved, plus another small amount. I've added it to my Argos/Homebase card as we spend a small fortune in both.

Spent £50 on clothes for DD as she is now in size 6-7 (she's just 5!). Got some really lovely stuff so hopefully won't need to shop again for a while.

Had a trip to a NT property at the weekend, which went okay and cost us just the petrol. DD not massively impressed...the day after we walked round Homebase whilst we waited for Morrison's to open and she said, "This has been the best day ever". Kids are weird.

Lots of birthday parties coming up, which means lots of gifts.

£18.80 for the dentist - no work needed for me this time.

We've all had a very stressful and upsetting few days so DD's behaviour has been insane, I argued with DH, and lots of crying from everyone. It's actually very calming to finally have time to look at the banking and spreadsheet. I'm listening to sad music really loud. This afternoon I should be doing lots of jobs but instead I shall be watching TV and reading and psyching myself up for hometime.