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

efes_shareholder

Sounds like a very productive and fulfilling day well done

crazy_cat_lady

That's all brilliant news. Congratulations!

UncannyScot

Great news on the grant success and on your short story being published.

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks, guys I'm so glad that good stuff is happening at last! It won't solve all my problems (and part of me is warning myself not to get too excited, so I don't get disappointed), but things seem to be moving in the right direction.

AspiringButAnxious

Paid my mum rent for the past 3 weeks and a little extra. Now owe her £155 from recent spending.

Paid £60 off cc -- now balance is £60.

This week seems to be going very slowly and I'm not being productive or achieving anything. Think it's the depression, though I'm also a little anxious about my Arvon course next week. Hope I feel better soon, so that I can actually tick stuff off my to-do list if nothing else!

AspiringButAnxious

My Arvon course was fabulous It had an unexpected outcome, because I have decided to abandon my novel. It sounds mad, since I have spent so long working on it, but I don't believe in it. Our guest speaker was an agent and he said he won't take on a writer unless he feels he can fight for their novel; I can't fight for mine. Not this novel. One of the tutors helped me realise this and it's a huge relief. Also means I can focus on the new novel without feeling guilty!

Paid off cc balance at the weekend :j
Paid my mum rent plus £76 today, but still owe her £125 from recent spending.
Ordered £5 Paypal from GTM today.
Spent £13 on ebooks yesterday, one of which was £7 and highly recommended by my Arvon tutor, so that's my excuse. The rest were deals, so only 99p apiece.

Been exhausted this week, after not sleeping much at Arvon. Hoped to catch up over the weekend, but got up earlier than intended. My mum has a new puppy, so that's pretty tiring when I'm home alone. However, got several hours of decent quality sleep last night, so feel more human today. Managed to get quite a lot done (so far) during the puppy's naps, so submitted a short story to a comp and posted on my blog.

Also printed 5 stories which might have potential, so I can address them with my new editing skills. I think at least a couple will be worth reworking. I need to submit 12 more stories to hit my 2018 goal of 20 submissions, which should be doable -- especially as I doubt all of the ones I'm waiting to hear about will get placed in comps/be published.

Despite the tiredness, I'm feeling a lot better this week. My course has inspired me and I'm more motivated to take action, plus I get to play with an 8 week old springer spaniel:D

crazy_cat_lady

Sounds as though it's been really good for you, and you've thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm pleased for you - good luck with the all new novel.

scubaangel

Sounds like the course was really good for you.


Glad you've decided the current/old novel attempt isn't right, and good luck with the new one - its entirely possible that the old one is something you might decide to go back to in the future and you will want to fight for it.



And paying off the CC is incredibly good news, means you can focus on the loan, and building the savings funds.

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks, guys I certainly feel more positive and less pressured.

Have been thinking about my priorities for the rest if the year:
1. I want to lose more weight. I almost certainly won't hit my 130lb ultimate goal, but I will be very happy if I reach 150lb. Currently 183.5lb.
2. Completing the half marathon. The training is stepping up several gears now and throughout September-- race is 14th October.
3. Finish drafting the new novel.
4. Submit stories 12 more times, to hit target of 20.
5. Repaying the £500 I took out of rdf and hopefully adding another £400 to hit my target for this year.
6. Getting loan down to £18,000. Not sure if this will happen, but I will try.

I knew this year would be pretty expensive, thanks to the Arvon course and skydiving, but I'm disappointed I haven't earnt more. I have also let myself spend too much on random stuff when grocery shopping, so that needs to stop. I don't spend impulsively/compulsively like I did in the past, which is a sign that my mental health is much better, but owing such a lot of money is frustrating. I know it makes sense to prioritise my health atm and not stress about finances, but I wish I could just wipe it out. Between the loan not getting repaid and my weight loss slowing down, it feels like I'm being punished for past mistakes made when I was very ill and couldn't cope.

My OU materials for the module I was worried about the loan covering arrived yesterday, so that's an excellent sign. Website still says both modules are covered by the student loan, which also bodes well -- I guess the letter was a mistake and sent to test my resiliance!

Feel as if I have achieved very little over the past week. Looking after my mum's puppy is exhausting, although she is adorable. My writing isn't flowing as well as I had hoped -- mainly been editing old stories, one of which I submitted to the comp for which I was given free entry -- so I would like to do more drafting/freewriting this week. Also got a few niggling tasks to get out of the way.

I hope my lethargy will lessen soon, so that I can get on with putting my plans into action and generally being more productive.

scubaangel

Although you don't feel like you've made progress I think you have! Aside from anything else puppies are worse than children for being a tiring time vaccuum (and much much cuter :rotfl:).


Can't see if you've said anywhere but which half marathon are you doing? I'm doing one the same day in London, if by chance you're also there would be lovely to meet up before the run (I refuse to call it a race as I'm racing noone but my own desire to stay in bed that morning ).