Battling Debt and Mental Illness — and (hopefully) Winning!

AspiringButAnxious

Busy day today — delivered presents to a friend whose birthday is today, went to Waitrose and bought vegan ice cream, walked dogs, helped cook cheese biscuits, then went out for dinner (my first proper meal out since I became vegan!). Bought 4 tubs of ice cream, because I can't get dairy free ice cream in the 2 Tesco stores I regularly shop in. So now I'm sorted for at least a few months.... Bit disappointed that they had sold out of the chocolate flavour though! Also bought a few bars of chocolate with salt, which I love but have trouble finding without it containing whey or milk fat. So I spent quite a bit today, but at least the dinner was free and I had s lovely time.

I'm quite exhausted, because I haven't been sleeping well lately and it's been a busy few days. The stress of the past few weeks has also taken its toll. Spent all of yesterday afternoon doing Xmas baking, so have sorted everyone's presents except the pets' and just have to make a few bits and pieces, like fudge and honeycomb crisp (a type of toffee). Also thrilled that Andy Murray won SPOTY and happy to fit into the jeans I bought in Tesco the other day (wasn't sure I would, since it's my time of the month and I'm a little bloated), so it's been a great day despite the spending!

AspiringButAnxious

I sold my bangle! That's £10 made, plus I won 50p on Luckyphone this morning

Going shopping later; hoping not to spend too much. After I get the pets a present, I need to ask my mum how much I owe her this month so that I can budget for when I get my ESA on Monday.

Still loving the Allen Carr book — wish I'd bought it sooner, especially as his approach is in line with what I did when I finally faced up to my debt and committed to reducing it.

AspiringButAnxious

It's been a really up and down couple of days; suffice to say that my depression is worse again.

I received £25 of Amazon vouchers yesterday, for keeping a diary and a 30min phone call survey (which was scary, but went well last Friday). I spent £7 on ebooks today, £4 of which was on a book ai'm hoping will help my depression or just stop me feeling so alone. Also sold the bangle, so it was a good day MSE-wise, but awful emotionally/health-wise.

Today, my ESA has been paid into my account (I thought it would be early, due to Xmas bank holidays), so I topped up my rainy day fund and... *drumroll*... put £40 in my EF, which means I have hit my target for this year! I'm glad I hit my goal, but it's just the first step of many and I'm too depressed atm to feel happy or even appreciative.

My next goal is to save £1000 in my EF by my birthday, which is in May. It's ambitious, but not outside the realms of possibility. I also want to save £500 in my rainy day fund, to give me more freedom and so that I can do things I enjoy without putting it on the credit card.

12_month_challenge

Well done on exceeding your EF. Thats one goal you have achieved so far.

Wishing you well
12MC

scubaangel

You might not feel great emotionally or health wise but the steps you're taking now with the debt, savings and budgets are setting the foundations for when you are feeling better to keep things improving - after all if you can stay this focussed when you're not on top form just think what you can achieve when the health is better too!

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks guys

Hit the £50 payment threshold on YouGov today, so hope to add that to my EF soon. Bought the pets' X,as presents this morning, which wiped out my savings pot. So relieved that I didn't overspend — my instinct is to grab loads of stuff and not consider the cost, but I stuck to my budget. I now have no spare cash whatsoever, but I have paid everything I've spent this month.

Been really busy over the past few days and my mum has given me a cold... Feel rotten, but a bottle of cider mellowed the aches and since I got everything done earlier, this evening is pretty relaxed (for once).

Merry Xmas everyone!

misstara

Merry Christmas ABA have a great day tomorrow x

AspiringButAnxious

Hope everyone had a good Xmas Mine was okay, but I've got a bad cold so have been feeling pretty rough. Wish I could think more clearly, but never mind. At least being ill means my depression and anxiety are forced into the background most of the time.

On the money front:
• I have spent loads on ebooks, but still have a little left on my Amazon balance.
• I hope to add to this, so that I can buy my brother a birthday present. Though I could use Boots Advantage points instead/as well.
• I haven't been out much, so no other spending.
• I have a big bag of treats to see me through the start of the year so won't need to spend much when shopping.

Happy New Year, if I don't post again before Friday

crazy_cat_lady

Thinking of you ABA - take care of yourself. Read your book, and take small steps x

Bobarella

Happy new year to you ABA. You've done so well hitting your first EF target.