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

scubaangel

So glad you got the most from the grant that you could - and sounds like the appointment was incredibly positive for you too.

RE the swagbucks stuff, funny how different methods work for different people isn't it! Main thing though is that we're earning and putting it to use in a way that works for us.

Bobarella

Well done on getting your grant that's great news!

AspiringButAnxious

Aww, thank you everybody Still can't quite believe it!

I met a fossil hunter yesterday, as research for my voluntary work, and spent over an hour on the beach with him. It was fun, but now I ache all over! Also had to pay £2 parking so that has come out of my savings pot. Also plundered £10 from my fun fund and put it towards the deposit I put on the credit card. I'm hoping I will be able to pay for the course without taking anything out of my rainy day fund, though I obviously won't be adding anything.

Got an appointment at the eye hospital tomorrow, which is in Bristol so eats up most of my day, and counselling and working links on Friday so need to do as much as I can today.

What I would like to achieve today:
• Draft 350-450 word article
• Start drafting big article
• Work on short story
• Post on blog
• Work on essay for upcoming comp

Hopefully I will be able to make a lot of progress, because I want the articles to be finished by early next week and the comp deadline is 6th March. I also want to enter the short story in one of the comps that have deadlines over the next couple of months.

catriona79

:beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:

Well done on getting the grant!!

:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T


Super! Xx

Orange_Ena

Yay, that's brilliant news ABA, very well done :T:j

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks Catriona and Ena still can't quite believe it!

I haven't managed to do everything I set out to do on Wednesday, because I have been exhausted all week. Anxiety really takes it out of me — worrying for literally hours takes a LOT of energy. I have drafted the 350-450 word article and worked a little on the big article, but haven't had time for my own projects. I got home from my eye appointment last night to be told a small piece — an advert reslly — was due today :eek: so I got that done last night. I wish I were being paid for all this voluntary work!

Also found out that my eye operation will be on 9th March. Glad it's not sooner — I need a breather next week! Had my last counselling session this morning and my counsellor was very positive. She thinks I'm on the right track (as do I) and will continue to improve. Also had Working Links appointment this afternoon and my new advisor continues to be fabulous — especially in comparison to the last one. I don't have to see her again for 3 weeks, which will give me time to explore the links the Business Champion emailed me.

Money-wise, my only news is that I kept most of my WL travel expenses (minus parking) thanks to my parents' generosity, so added £5.70 to my savings pot. I plan to use this money for my trip to London in a couple of weeks, so shouldn't need to budget more. Just as well, since every penny is going towards my course until that's paid in full!

Going to a friend's new home tonight and finagled lifts from my parents, so I can drink and have an evening off. I tend to work in the evenings, since I don't wake up properly until at least 1pm, but even when I'm not doing anything, I tend to worry about what I need to get done. My to-do list is ridiculously long atm. It will also be great to catch up with my 2 bffs

Going to opticians tomorrow morning, which I hope won't be too expensive. I get an allowance because I'm on esa, but it sometimes goes over. I will try to stick to the cheapest frames and bog standard lenses, but I need to choose the ones which are best for me — I wear glasses all the time, so it would be stupid to scrimp on them.

Feeling stressed but happy!

AspiringButAnxious

Received £8.68 in Amazon royalties this morning, which went straight to the credit card. It almost covers the 2 ebooks I bought on impulse while watching the Oscars last night...

Too tired to make plans or goals for today: any progress would be good. Especially on my own writing, as opposed to the voluntary stuff.

Olliegami

Hey ABA!

It really sounds like things are going so well, it's so lovely to hear. xx

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks Ollie — and good to see you back! How are you doing?

Got a cash boost yesterday, with £30 from GTM and £2.75 from OpOp. It all went to the credit card; I want to make another payment towards my writing course soon.

Meanwhile, I have working my @rse off for my voluntary writing stuff over the past few days. Stressed out over issues with photos... On the good side, an editor of a local glossy magazine was impressed with my writing. Really hope doing all of this leads to paid work opportunities.

Olliegami

I'm very good thank you (all things considered, I'm sure you know what I mean.)

I'm so inspired by reading your blog, I definitely need to keep visiting! I've been neglecting my survey websites.

I'd love to know more about what writing you're doing. I'm thinking of doing something similar and offering articles to charities and things. How did you go about doing it?