Three choices in life; Give up, Give in or Give all you've got!!

Nicky_Noo_Na

Happy New Year Lucky!! Sounds like the last couple of weeks have been a bit of a mix but I hope overall you've enjoyed the festivities. We've enjoyed our first Christmas as parents and had a lovely few days off work together but we were in bed at 10.30 on NYE!

Was also checking in to see the new debt calculation - not bad at all and you'll soon be sub-2k, sterling work. Sorry can't remember but is I it all just left on the one card now and you can pay extra as and when?

mummytogirls

Wowwee PLMBL you've done so well with getting the debt down, you put me to shame! Sounds like you've got a busy start to the year, enjoy it and try not to think about the money xx

poohbear59

Happy new year. I hope you have a great year xx

Well done on getting your debt so low. A little blip at this time of year is to be expected. I hope you and hubby and your lovely boys had a great Christmas x

StressedSteph

Hi PLMBL

Happy New Year xxx

I am the same as you, determined to have my Christmas pot saved for for 2016. I just didn't manage it in 2015 and it was a horrible struggle to afford Christmas without adding to the debt.

I managed it by working my tail off but it wasn't fun

You have such a tiny amount of debt left, I am super jealous.

Hope 2016 brings you lots of debt free happiness xx

please-let-me-be-lucky

Afternoon all.

Nicky, the debts are across 2 0% cards, both of which I have set minimum direct debit payments on as £50, but pay more each week too. Hopefully they will be cleared before the 0% runs out. Glad you had a lovely first Christmas as a family Xx

I'm pretty miserable today so sorry for this next rant and feel free to skip it!! DH woke up drenched in sweat at 3am, like literally soaking. He put a towel down on his side of the bed and said it was fine. About 15 mins later, DS2 came into our room wanting to sleep with us and wouldn't go back in his own room. DH then said he'd go in DS2's bed and seemed very confused when I said it would be better if I did because of the sweating incident. He walked away from me midsentence and got into DS2's bed. I therefore put DS2 on my side of the bed and tried to lie on DH's side, only to discover just how wet it really was. Short version of a long story is that I got no sleep, had to lie on top of the quilt with a onesie and dressing gown on, shivvering. I felt like a homeless person trying to keep warm . I've now had to strip both beds and I had only done so and remade them on Friday :mad:.

On top of all that, DS1 is behaving like a prize idiot. For example, he said he wanted to eat healthier again after the over indulgence of Christmas so I made a pan of soup for lunch. You would've thought I'd tried to feed him a bowl of manure instead!! He had a massive (think toddler!) tantrum. I took his Xbox away for the rest of the day and said it was soup or nothing. He ate it.

Headache is back with a vengeance.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Sorry Steph, Iwas already typing my whinge when you posted. You should be really proud of yourself for managing Christmas without adding to debt, and also for clearing such a lot of debt since 2013. Well done Xx

*Robin*

Oh Lucky!
..Was going to wish you Happy New Year, but given your post above I doubt you're in the mood for such fripperies, so let's pass over that for now (although longer term, the sentiment still applies of course!).
Instead, how about you find yourself a drink, some paracetamol and something to munch as you wash down the painkillers, preferably in peace and quiet if there's a room in the house free of occupants?

It does sound like DS1 is ready for more responsibility! His desire for healthy meals was - please forgive me for saying so - an opportunity missed. I would have agreed, then asked exactly what he thought would be healthier options? Sent him off to research calories, balanced ingredients, recipes he thinks he can prepare, etc etc. Reminded him that he must work with the contents of your store-cupboards, and been prepared to assist with any potentially dangerous procedures that are new to him. Your DS1 has the internet for looking up recipes; Jack Munroe's are usually great, not too complicated but healthy and economical. My lot had a book called "Poor Cook" which did much the same job. Letting him know that cooking includes cleaning up afterwards may save you some frustration later - he might as well understand the whole process from the start, because it does add to the satisfaction of the experience.
Also, I'd have given the young man a reminder that anyone with an upcoming birthday would be well advised to avoid upsetting their main source of gifts by ranting foolishly - and then walked away to let him think it through!

I'm sorry you've had yet another interrupted night. Is there space in your bedroom for a beanbag or small mattress on the floor for DS2 to use instead of giving in and letting him displace either you or DH? So he can be near-by, but not as comfy as in his own bed - it's a half-way measure for now, until he gets used to the idea that he's lucky to have a bedroom of his own and should stay put until morning?
If DS2 is plagued by bad dreams, the technique we used for our DS3 might help: He was allowed to put the night-light back on [after going to the loo - always easier to sleep with an empty bladder ], and listen to story-tapes in bed until he fell asleep again (although as he always had to share the bedroom, his cassette machine had to be under the pillow to avoid waking his companions - these days it would be CDs rather than tapes - in fact that's something useful DS1 could do for his brother; record stories off the radio or internet for DS2 - ha, you'll have to check that they're appropriate first if DS1 is in 'demon-mode' though! :rotfl:).

As for DH.. Am guessing you didn't get around to trying him on the Turmeric GP yet? Don't want to nag, but I honestly think that could be well worth a three month trial - with his doctor's approval of course, and being aware that the allopathic medications may need to be reduced as DH's dose of GP increases over time.. The effects will be subtle at first, but really have a good chance of making your life easier long-term.

Lecture over; sorry.
Thank you very much for your kind words on my thread..
(((many hugs, dear friend)))

please-let-me-be-lucky

Thank you Robin, practical advice and sound words of wisdom as always!

Great minds think alike and I have already asked DS1 to write down a list of foods he deems healthy. DH and I are back on track with Slimming World and normal meals in the household are healthy anyway, but DS1 is so fussy it's hard to please him most of the time. Getting him to help me plan, prepare and cook is a definite from now on.

Unfortunately it's DS2 with a birthday this month not DS1 so no bribery there!!

GP fell by the wayside again sorry. Really don't know why I keep forgetting about it sorry .

Sun_Addict

Sorry to hear things aren't good in your world today Lucky. It's a shame you can't go out for the day and leave them to it.

Good idea to get DS1 involved in the meal planning/cooking.

Hopefully things will pick up tomorrow xx

beanielou

I don't know how you do it. I really don't.
Keep plodding xx