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

belleandthebudget

Sounds like you're making great progress and staying positive, ABA. The very best for your journey!

Have you tried LinkedIn for freelance writing gigs? People tend to forget about it but it is a great resource for finding work as well as networking - especially in creative/media positions.

Having a portfolio ready to go or linked from your profile would help too. If you don't have one already that could be a small step to take, write a few spec pieces and craft a profile. That way your writing will speak for itself as I can see from your diary that you're clearly an excellent writer.

AspiringButAnxious

Belle — that's a good idea. I've been on LinkedIn for a while, but don't use it regularly. Never considered actively looking for work on there.

Received a £4 Amazon voucher from an online discussion panel today, which has boosted my gift card balance to £20.85. I should soon be able to buy a present for my friends' baby, which is due in October. Will be good to get ahead, because I've got 5 birthday presents to buy between October and December!

Still feeling a bit down, but c'est la vie. I feel like my life is moving too slowly and I can't change things fast enough, but I can't work up much motivation to take action. Feeling a bit useless

crazy_cat_lady

Don't feel useless, you're doing brilliantly. It does get hard going sometimes, and there are good days and bad days. Just keep plodding on and you'll get there xxx

belleandthebudget

Got to agree with CCL! All those little things you're doing everyday are going to snowball and get bigger and bigger. Just keep at it and be proud of yourself for tackling it all!

Bobarella

AspiringButAnxious wrote: »

Still feeling a bit down, but c'est la vie. I feel like my life is moving too slowly and I can't change things fast enough, but I can't work up much motivation to take action. Feeling a bit useless

That is a common feeling among those of us in debt I think. I have felt it so many times. Have seen loads of people complaining about the same thing too. It's the downside of wanting the big change of being debt free. Hang in there lovely. It will pass. Keep taking baby steps even when you feel you can't take any giant leaps. They all lead us in the same direction at different speeds

Bob

AspiringButAnxious

Thank you everyone I feel reassured reading your comments.

I got a £5 Amazon card from SB today, which meant I could buy the teddy I wanted to get for my friends' forthcoming baby. I had some gift card balance left over, so got one of the reduced novels I really wanted. It's great to buy an ebook without feeling out of control!

Next goal: save gift cards to buy a present for my other friends' daughter's birthday (she's 2 in October). My current balance is 40p

I've still been feeling a bit down today and really lethargic, but I'm coping. I think I will focus on creating a career action plan over the next couple of days, instead of bersting myself for not taking action. I've got an appointment at Working Links next week, so would like to have something in place to show my advisor I'm on the right track. So if you have any ideas or advice, please share!

Itsa_Longshot

AspiringButAnxious wrote: »

I've still been feeling a bit down today and really lethargic, but I'm coping. I think I will focus on creating a career action plan over the next couple of days, instead of bersting myself for not taking action. I've got an appointment at Working Links next week, so would like to have something in place to show my advisor I'm on the right track. So if you have any ideas or advice, please share!

I think many of us know the down-and-lethargic combo all too well, particularly with debts hanging over us. But just think ahead to the day you'll be celebrating and freeeeeeeeeeeeee!! :beer: It might seem a long way off (mine is!), but you're making progress so keep going!

I can't offer any writing-specific advise, but the very best of luck with your appointment! :j

Bobarella

ABA - ok how about a current CV and a list of 3 roles you would like to apply for? Would that demonstrate your commitment?

crazy_cat_lady

How about listing up your skills, strengths and interests? that will help to guide you towards certain careers...

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks folks My CV is already up to date, because that was the first thing I did with Working Links. I think I need to work on a strategy for getting paid freelance work. So far, I have:

1. Create portfolio (which will involve gathering what I've already written — I have a website with a blog, so need to make sure I've linked to my published writing on there too)
2. Use LinkedIn to find freelance opportunities
3. Come up woth ideas for articles and plan them out in some detail
4. Pitch these articles to newspapers, magazines and websites

Number 2 and 4 terrify me. I find it difficult to put myself forward and to keep confidence in my work. I suppose I need to focus on acting rather than getting caught up in my feelings, but that's one of the pitfalls of my mental illnesses — especially the BPD.

Plans for today:
• Gather more ideas/advice from books and the internet
• Earn as many SBs as I can without wasting hours watching SBTV
• Scout Amazon for ideas for my friends' daughter's birthday present, so I know what I'm aiming for when I earn gift cards
• Post on my blog
• Dye hair (might delay this until tomorrow)
• Scribble! Otherwise known as freewriting around short story ideas