2016 - a year of change

lulabelle

So, made it to a new pay day (today) without spending anything! Took sandwich and supplies from stores to work yesterday then last night we had a team night out paid for by the firm. Managed to forget to get my perfume yesterday so didn't spend anything! Meant I had £578 leftover from last month's spending budget (though in reality I "owed" myself around £314 I had "borrowed" to pay the 10% deposit on my leasehold extension so paid that back into the relevant account and then chucked the rest into savings. Then gave self a new budget from this month's pay and whacked rest in savings. Trying to save save save for new house.

Spent £3.42 on way home on some sandwiches for me and the boy tomorrow (he has an exam and didn't think we had enough in for making our own lunch tomorrow plus I'm off tomorrow so more handy) and cheesecake to watch last night's bake off with. It came to £6.83 but boy pays half so £3.42 for me.

Tomorrow will be expensive as having hair cut in afternoon then taking the boy out for dinner tomorrow. It's one of those restaurants you really only go to as a treat as its pretty pricey, but he has worked really hard on the spare room so he deserves it.

Loving only working 4 days and the fact that when I get home on a thursday it's my weekend! New boss is pretty good - have taken on an extra external role at his request and it's quite a busy job dealing with the public/other lawyers. As I don't work fridays/go on hols a lot, asked him if I should be getting those emails sent to my phone and he said no!!!

lulabelle

So far today have spent nothing as haven't left the house! We were trying to get Phil Collins tickets this am but despite logging on at exactly 9am when they went on sale, they were sold out by the time we got through! In some ways good, as was looking v expensive!

The boy is off work today as he has an exam at 2pm so is revising in kitchen. We have had breakfast and lunch from stores (the sarnies I bought yesterday) though the boy has spent some of our loose cash on more milk and 2 bags of crisps!

Off to get hair done shortly, not been to this place before. Has been set up by a bloke who used to do my hair so hoping its not toooooooo expensive! Then have to nip into town to get new phone. Been trying to make do with old one but it's coming up to 3 years old, I dropped it in a pool last summer and it's not rung since then. Also only vibrates for text, whats app, alarm etc and is v slow so thinking it's time. I nipped in last week to see what contract I could get and with new contract they reduced it by £9 and new phone will be £19 a month so only £10 more a month so think should get that.

The boy and I were just discussing our house sales/purchase. Think I said before but we are now basically discounting selling his flat from the sale and aiming instead to (a) keep that rented out and (b) squirrel as much cash as possible away towards purchase. His tenants are in there until start of Feb 2016. They pay £1115 a month at the moment. With his mortgage, tax, service charges, insurance etc, he has about £115 profit pcm. They are willing to stay if we lower the rent. But we obv don't want to lower the rent too much as we do still want to sell, and then it will put prospective purchasers off. (as mainly BLT investors buy these flats) Estate agent has suggested £1,000 pcm which will mean no profit BUT important thing is its rented and washes its face. So think we will go for that.

If I can knock freeholder down re my leasehold that should really help. And jeweller has offered me £5500 for my old engagement ring. He had valued it at £11,200 but that was, I think, for full replacement cost if stolen. I think idiot ex paid around £6500 for it in 2007. It was on market for 2 years at 10k but no proper bites. Took it to auction house and they didn't put it much higher than what jeweller is offering (though they did get the metal wrong and said it was white gold when its platinum). Thinking will say if he can go to £6,000 I'll take it (and if he moves to £5750 I'll take it anyway) as that should help.

Just feel so stressed all the time. If we hold onto boy's flat we can sell it at a later date (it has about £100k equity in it if it goes for current price) and pump that into new house later/boost savings but I constantly worry about money. I just want us to have a really nice house in a nice area (we currently don't live in the best area) which, where we live, is astronomical!!!!!

lulabelle

So, hairdresser cost me £50!!! For a cut and blow dry. !!!!!!. I am sure that is more expensive than it should be. And because I have alopecia it is not a pleasant experience as I spend the whole time stressing about them pulling on it. After I got over the shock of that, went into town to get my new phone. The bozo in the shop told me he would transfer everything across. I told him it hadn't been backed up since august and I didn't want to lose anything and he said I wouldn't. Lo and behold, only my photos up to 11 August are on there. He was going to sort it for me on their computer but there's loads of private stuff in there and I don't trust this particular person to delete it. So tried to come home and do it myself but can't. Will have to wait until the boy is back. Am pretty stressed now. Really annoys me this cavalier attitude of these youngsters working in these places. They never tell you the right information. Had it with mortgage provider too not that long ago. These employers really need to train their staff properly.

Then spent a fiver on some tights and 50p on a can of diet coke. Good news is phone only £17 pcm rather than £19 so is only £8 more on what I was previously paying. AND he'd not added a cap to my roaming account like I asked him last week. What is wrong with these people?!!!!

Am in thoroughly bad mood now and very stressed and need to get out of my stress as the boy doesn't like it when I'm like this. There were lots of lovely pjs and sexy underwear in m&s but avoided after the £50 hair do! Quite proud of self for the only non-essential thing I bought being a diet coke as when I'm hacked off and stressed I tend to splurge. So glad I came home. Oh, got some face wipes from b**ts which were on offer at £1 and used my points for that. So I can wipe face before putting make up on for tonight as don't want hair to drop in shower.

Sorry for rant/brain dump - just can't stand incompetent people!!!

Seasidegal58

You've had a rotten day yesterday lullabelle but I hope you feel more cheerful. At least you didn't splurge!

lulabelle

Apologies for my rotten mood and rant on friday! Went out with the boy, he paid for drinks and cab home. Meal was lovely but set me back £130! However, he did deserve it after the hours he put in decorating and also the revision for his exam. Yesterday we didn't do anything during the day. Boy's sis and her hubbie popped round for a cup of coffee in the garden. Boy nipped to co-op and got some soup and we already had a ciabatta in freezer so only £1.25 each. Last night we went for dinner with friends then drinks after. Spent £46 each so not too bad as we had 3 courses plus lots of drinks with dinner and 3 after dinner.

Today we are doing "big shop" but we don't need that much. Going to get the 3 dinners for £10 plus veg and stuff for lunches, cereal etc. I normally budget £75 (each) for weekly shop as we do tend to spend a lot on food but this week it should only be around £30 each. I do think we could do with cutting down on the food shop.

Hopefully we will not then spend anything for rest of week though we are off on holibobs on thurs night until following monday. For me, that will come out of the money in my holiday account which I stick money in each month. But I only got paid on Thursday and have already spent almost £250 - that is scary and shocking. I will, from now, rein it in!!!!

lulabelle

So, we did "big shop" on sun which came to a shocking £42 each - not quite sure how. However, after that, I came down with a really bad sore throat, I was so cold even with pyjamas, socks, a robe, a hat and 2 duvets on me. Then I'd warm up but be sweating profusely and unable to get cool. Was like swallowing glass and ear ache/joint pain. Spent all sunday pm from about 230 in bed unable to get up. Mon morn was terrible. Couldn't get out of bed, couldn't really drink or eat anything and couldn't wee. Went to docs and almost collapsed. Acute tonsillitis, temp sky high. Prescribed 10 day course peniciiln and throat spray. Had started to feel a little better in self (i.e. not sweating as much though still doing so, no joint pain) but still felt like swallowing glass, ear pain and not sleeping. Went back to docs yesterday, took a swab for strep throat and said to carry on with treatment.

Thing is: I now don't know whether to cancel the holiday. We are due to fly tomorrow night and the doc said I really had to be better to go. I am better than I was but not better and worried if I go I'll not be able to enjoy it, the boy won't enjoy it, I might need treatment for which I won't be covered as flown whilst ill/on a sick note. But am scared won't get money back. Have travel insurance but everyone knows insurers try to avoid that where they can. Boy thinks we should cancel as I need to rest. I know he's right as we would want to be out and about seeing things and eating nice food and at the moment, I don't think I can do it.

If I cancel I suppose it's only money if we don't get it back and my health is more important but I really don't want to miss the holiday.

heeeellllppppp!!!!!!

lulabelle

So, went back to docs this am and she said I'm not well enough to fly. So we've cancelled everything. That, in itself, is a right b*ll ache but it's done now. Hopefully we will get back everything bar £100 which is the excess.

So, rest, rest, rest for me now. Am literally going to lie on sofa all day/have a bath/read/watch tv and do nothing but chill. I can still barely eat or drink (suppose silver lining is I might lose some weight!) but hoping will be a bit brighter by weekend. If so, the boy and I are going to try to make up for not going away by cooking lovely food here and getting a nice film to watch.

Though disappointed, I am somewhat relieved now as think if we'd gone I would have really struggled and we want holidays to be fun right?

So, a weekend of rest and recuperation for me.

I have also made a decision to try very hard not to drink until we go to nyc mid-december. I love the taste of wine and beer but the problem is it affects me so quickly and I don't sleep well even if I have 1 glass. I drink much much less than I used to and usually now only on a friday or saturday, rarely both, but I just feel like I'm always playing catch up with my sleep if I have a drink.

Reckon if I do that and try to eat better I will feel much better in myself generally. Plus will save cash and lose weight!

Can't wait to get better. Want to run again!

Seasidegal58

It's a shame but I think you've done the right thing lullabelle. I would think you should get reimbursed if you produce a doctors note.

lulabelle

Thanks my lovely. Of course, I am feeling almost 100% today (isn't it always the way?!) however, I think it was right decision since, if we were going to sit on a beach or in a spa for a week, I think that the doctor might have been supportive of that as it is relaxing and can only be good (bar the flying), button course, on a short city break you are trying to cram in as much as possible so early mornings/late nights/rushing around and reckon though I am feeling almost normal, would be so easy for my body to tip the other way if I put it under any pressure. Got all the paperwork we need for a claim so will put that in and see what happens - fingers crossed. We will lose just under 1k if we don't get it back but sometimes these decisions have to be made.

I am a bit annoyed with the boy however, but maybe I'm being unreasonable - any thoughts on the below? So, I've been signed off since Monday. On Monday the boy was really good and drove me to docs, sat with me and then got me lunch after. It took a good hour and a half as doc running late and he was meant to be at work. He's been home late every night this week (past 7 when he finishes at 5) though he did say this is a busy time for next few weeks. We had planned to try to make up not being away this weekend but we prob can't go out anywhere until sunday as I was signed off (even though today is a non-working day for me anyway) but we had planned to cook nice food and get film. Bear in mind I've been on my own all week as poorly.

Last night he says he's going for a couple of beers with work people tonight but will be home about 7/730 as the others have dinner plans anyway (couple of weeks ago we had a massive row as he went out after work and was a complete nightmare - unlike him) and was going to get take out on way home for us. I said that was fine as long as it didn't turn into a massive session which meant he was home later than that as I have no food in the house and can't go out. Then a bit later he said one of his mates had asked him to go for a few drinks sat afternoon but he'd come back and cook dinner. Again, I said I didn't mind but hoped he wasn't going to come back hammered and then not want to cook dinner/go to sleep as I've been on my own.

He wasn't particularly happy with my responses.

Then this morning he said he's not going to go tonight and will do the shopping instead (as otherwise he was doing it tomorrow morning).

Past experience makes me question whether he is meeting some girl. I know that is wrong because he really is (as far as one can ever be sure) not that kind of guy. I think even if he could do that, he would be so caught up with guilt he would just have to come clean. So I have to discount that from my mind even though it's hard because as some of you know, I have been cheated on in the worst way before. I think he is probably just being a bit insensitive and then realised that this morning so decided to change his plans. I guess it's he's just been out with work a lot recently which is unusual. That said, I also wonder if he's sort of trying to enjoy his "freedom" now because we have decided to try for a baby at some point next year.

I totally over analyse everything and need to stop as I do drive myself mad. I do ultimately trust him. He's not perfect (who is??) but he's a good egg, but it's hard.

lulabelle

Did big shop last night. Spent £98 between us. Noticed the boy had put a toothbrush in trolley which was £5.56 (!!!!!!?!) and also some beef jerky at £3.30. I really do have to keep an eye on him as he doesn't look at the price of things at all, just throws it in the trolley. Anyway, we also needed some beef and chicken and didn't get that last night so he's just nipped to butchers for that (as find the supermarket meat is not that good - some are but not the one we go to) and he is cooking for me tonight but hadn't thought about what he was going to do so he's sorting ingredients for that too. So another expensive shopping trip.

We also got chinese last night £38.40. It is an amazing chinese though and we were supposed to be away so thought it wasn't too bad. I am going to try to make some savings this month though we are out to dinner with friends on 12th and it's my friends who have all got expensive tastes so that is going to be pricey. I will just have to rein it in for the rest of the month though I do need some winter clothes. Then of course it's christmas. and buildings and contents insurance need renewing on this place mid-nov and on my uk place end dec Grrrr.

Has anyone been watching criminal minds btw? I only discovered it this week whilst I've been off so starting from series 1 and LOVE it.

Boy is also buying some clothes in town. Someone at work made a comment the other day and he has taken it he is not smartly dressed enough so has gone to get some. I probably should've gone to help but I just can't face town with all those people! I have become a bit of a social recluse in recent years. I also feel that I just don't really have any friends anymore. Our group which was close has fragmented because me, my best mate and one of my girlie friends are now all in relationships so have other things on with them/their family/their friends but just feel I have no friends. And particularly no girl friends. I have a group I hang out with but I never really feel part of it as always feel like the fat ugly one. Also, I have always been able to get on with boys much easier than girls. Oh I don't know, but I'd just like to have some close friends again.