Debts, Diets and DIY.

Scottishmummy

Got fantastic news in the post yesterday and today. Yesterday we got a letter from one of our ppi claims saying they had recalculated and were sending us another payment of nearly £1,000 :j I hoped it would be paid direct into the bank account like the original payment but we received a cheque today. It means having to make a special trip to the bank to pay it in but at least we haven't needed to wait up to 28 days like the letter said it might be.

Our DD has an end of Primary school trip coming up which we did not think she was going to be able to go on because it costs £240 and DH needs new protective waterproofs for going on his motorbike so that's where part of it will be spent.

Scottishmummy

Well all of us have been ill so no-one has been out of the house to bank the cheque but DH finally had to leave the house on Thursday so got it banked then. He also got a tax rebate from the tax that had been charged on his PPI interest so that has been set aside to pay for his accountant.

Older kids seem to be over their virus or whatever this is but it definitely hit DH and myself the hardest and our youngest DS is still not right. DH went back to work last night as being self-employed if he doesn't work there is no money but he is suffering for it today. I think I only have a three day week this week so shouldn't be too bad, hopefully.

Scottishmummy

Well I worked my three day week but felt awful the whole time. Still running a temp most days and DH is no better. Even a neighbour has been telling him to get a doctor appointment asap. He has lost a lot of weight since last April and does not look healthy for it. He probably needed to lose it but he has lost it too suddenly and his whole stance has changed. He now stands with a stoop and looks like skeletor. I might just have to make the appointment for him.

As for me my get up and go has got up and gone. I've been sleeping later the last three mornings but still end up falling asleep on the couch or going to bed earlier. I haven't been able to finish a full meal for a few days and I just feel miserable. I am due my hypothyroid blood test so lets see if that has got worse again. As well as this temp I seem to constantly have I have a horrendous cough which has not improved in over a week. My youngest also has this cough and it's horrible watching him trying to clear it. Ugh! Viruses - just ugh!

Kids are off school Wed, Thurs and Fri so I've taken those off too. Hopefully I'll feel a bit better and we'll be able to go swimming or something.

Scottishmummy

Well I've had my annual bloods taken so just waiting on the results of those. Still have this horrible cough but at least the youngest kid seems to be improving. DH has an appointment on Thursday to see if there is anything behind his rapid weight loss. I think they will probably take blood from him too.

We managed to take the youngest one swimming. Oldest doesn't like swimming and middle kid wanted to go to a friends instead so just had DH and myself to pay for as youngest was free. Rest of last week's days off were spent at home drawing pictures, gluing and sticking with craft stuff we already had in so a cheapish few days. Kids all went back to school etc. yesterday.

My various collection pots are looking quite healthy and haven't needed to dip in to any of them so really pleased with that. Still waiting to hear from tax credits after updating them with DH's self-employed earnings in January. We are due a payment this Friday but don't know if it will have dropped or not. There is enough in the bank account to cover the rest of the DD's for the month so how much we get won't affect that but if it has dropped it might make a difference once we have to pay council tax again in April. Just wish they weren't so slow with the paperwork.

Have decided to start looking for work elsewhere. I am just not enjoying it anymore and keep looking for excuses to get time off. The trouble is I get quite a good wage for what I do and I don't think I would get as much elsewhere so I would need to think of doing something completely different or be prepared for a paycut I'm not the only one like this just now. There are a few at work that think it's going downhill. Some changes need to be made but they could make things worse before they get better.

DIY stuff has been on hold while we have all been ill so we need to get back on top of that.

Diet stuff - I haven't weighed myself since before xmas. Bit scared to, to be honest. I keep thinking jeans are fitting better then I have a day where they seem tight so not sure where I am at there. Must get weighed!

Need to start lists again. I do much better with lists.

Scottishmummy

Got my blood results back. The increase in thyroxine at the end of the year has brought my levels back to a more normal level for me. I definitely feel better when my TSH levels are on the low side of normal. DH had his appointment and he has to go back next week to have bloods taken - as I thought.

Still haven't had updated paperwork back from tax credits but the payment that went in today was more than normal. We had overestimated DH's self-employed earnings so I presume that's why but considering our estimates for this year have gone up because of my increase in hours last year I would have thought they would have left it so that they don't overpay us. But then we are talking HMRC here who never seem to get things right when it comes to peoples tax credits.

Have decided to swap to a self-managed DMP once our March payment to SC goes out. Having looked at the way they divide the payments it just seems too odd. One company have been getting £32 when they should only have been getting £7 when you work out what percentage of the debt they are. :mad: This will also be easier for managing F&F's and since we originally were of the mind - we spent it so we owe it - I never questioned CCA's so I'm also going to start asking for them.

Diet - going to go back on the 5:2 with Monday and either Wed or Thurs as my fast days. Thursday is also DH's day off so might not work that day. Will see how I feel Tuesday night. Will step on the scales for the first time since before xmas on Sunday.:eek:

Scottishmummy

Going to spend this afternoon showing DH the figures SC use and what I think they should be. Have also downloaded various template letters. Wish SC were open today so we could make a start now but could just email them I suppose.

Scottishmummy

So DH had one concern about F&Fs showing as settled on our credit record but on asking others here that has been confirmed as wouldn't happen so we are definitely going ahead. Will let SC take March's payment because we are still waiting on paperwork from Tax credits with our updated figures since DH updated his self-employed earnings in January. We expect our estimated payments for next year to go down so no point in working out our new payments to creditors this month if it is all going to change again next month.

Diet - stepped on the scales this morning for the first time since xmas :eek::mad::( Really not happy with the numbers. If anything, going by the way my clothes are fitting I thought I had actually lost a pound or two this month but no. I am now heavier than I have ever been by four pounds So tomorrow will be my first fast day back on the 5:2. I will eat nothing after 6.00pm tonight until an apple at lunch time tomorrow then a light meal at 5.00pm.

DIY - the list has just got bigger Dampness on the floor in the bathroom which we thought was just from condensation gathering on the cistern turns out to be a bigger problem. The downpipe outside has been leaking and soaking through the bricks, cavity insulation and next layer of bricks at about three quarters of the way up the wall. So the whole wall behind the toilet is damp. We found this out because DH was scraping the paint back to get rid of a small mould patch that had started and went right through the plaster So downpipe needs fixed/replaced and the wall will hopefully dry out without needing to replace all the plaster but what came away was like powder so we may end up needing to replaster too :eek:

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi I too am hypothyroid. After 30 years I have discovered that dieting is not the answer. Cutting back on carp yes but dieting depleates my energy levels x

Scottishmummy

BEAT_THE_DEBT wrote: »

Hi I too am hypothyroid. After 30 years I have discovered that dieting is not the answer. Cutting back on carp yes but dieting depleates my energy levels x

That could be why I often feel even more tired than I already am when I diet. Trouble is I get joint problems and have to watch what sort of exercise I do.

Scottishmummy

So day one of being back on the 5:2 and it has gone well so far. Have had less than 300 calories so room for something small later if I feel I need it. Mondays are a day of doing reports and other assorted paperwork so not particularly active. The rest of the week at work is a good bit more active so it will be interesting to see how I feel on my other fast day.