Chica's gonna get a house! (hopefully)...

ChicaBonita

I'm debating getting health insurance, but not sure if it's the right way to go....

Long story short, I have my bladder issues, and IBS, but I have other issues that are going on. I decided enough was enough on Friday and went to see a GP. The condition she told me that I might have would explain my bladder issues, my bowel issues, and other issues I've got going on at the moment....and it's quite scary. Now, I don't want to completely jump the gun as I might not have this condition at all, but just having a name is both a relief and a new worry. But she won't refer me until after I've seen urology next week....

The reason I wonder about health insurance is that it's taking me long enough as it is to go through the NHS for urology....if I have to wait for referrals and diagnostics for this other condition, it might take years, and quite frankly I've been dealing with the symptoms for years as it is, and it could affect my fertility.

Do any of my readers (if there are any!) have experience with private healthcare, and the best way to approach it? I'm not happy with how the NHS is dealing with my bladder problems either, but feel I need to stick with it, at least until I hear what they say next week when I go back to the hospital.

But I'm also conscious how expensive it may be, and we're looking to buy soon.......:(

I'm conscious I always seem to be moaning about my health :think:

ChicaBonita

So an update...

The past week or so has had many ups and downs. I had last week off work as it was my birthday. I spent time with my mum on Monday, Tuesday I spent with my nephew, Wednesday I went to the hospital and finally got a proper diagnosis for my bladder problems. It's not a curable condition, but it is treatable, so while I am upset that it is not a nice condition to have I am relieved that I finally had someone listen to me, and not brush off my problems as other consultants have. Thursday was my birthday, so I spent that with my bf having lunch in a nice London restaurant using a voucher his sister had got us for Xmas. Friday we went to see the mortgage advisor, and in January we will be in a position to start putting offers on flats. We need between £6k and £8k for stamp duty, fees etc, but the £8k would be if we were going for a £300k flat, which we aren't. So the realistic figure is another £6 between us, which we can easily do in another 5 paydays. Feel happy and excited. Saturday I had my birthday night out, which I do every year. Was good fun, was happy with the turnout and didn't drink *too* much which was the plan!!! I can't handle my drink very well any more

My mum and me have caught a cold off my nephew, so today I ended up coming home from work as my glands are so swollen, and I feel fluey. Hoping that I can force myself in tomorrow (and stay there!)

I've sold a pair of shoes on FB, so waiting for them to be received so I can put the money into savings. Also sold a skirt on eb@y but have a feeling the buyer won't pay, as she asked a question after she'd put a bid in, and now hasn't paid that the auction is over. Waiting game on that one.

ChicaBonita

So I'm going to adjust my signature as I will most likely need £14k by January for the house deposit. So as it stands, I am 73.87% torwards my goal I've had a few eb@y sales and managed to claim money from PA, so even though I couldn't put any money towards my deposit fund from July's payday, I've still managed to send some money across that I've made in other ways.

ChicaBonita

Well thought I'd update as I've had a bit of a success with a retailer...

When I had the week off for my birthday, I went with my mum to a designer outlet. To treat myself (look away if you're sensitive!) I bought myself a backpack that was reduced from £350 to £219. I was happy with that price, and had been looking at these backpacks for ages. When I got home, I found a tag tucked inside that said £189. I didn't think anything of it, as there had been other tags in other shops there that were slightly wrong, so I just ignored it.

My mum, love her, was being nosy and looked in the bag, and found the tag. She messaged me to say that they shouldn't have charged me £219 if the tag said £189! So I emailed the outlet with pictures of my receipts and the tag, and they have come back saying that I was overcharged and they will be refunding me....now I'm chuffed with that, as I liked the bag at the price I paid anyway, but how many other people were caught out by that, and like me originally, didn't think to follow it up!?

When that arrives in a couple of weeks (has to go via international banking as the store is a couple of hours away so going back for a refund would negate the refund!) I will pay that off the CC that the bag went on originally.

I always feel awkward posting about spending on this kind of thing as it seems to be frowned upon here (rightfully so for most MSE people I guess) but this just showed to me that all retailers try to pull fast ones, be they normal or "designer".

Orange_Ena

Hey, well done about the refund. And well done CB Senior Nice little bonus.

Have a great weekend

ChicaBonita

Well I was having a lovely BH weekend until Sunday evening....

I decided to empty my pound/2 pound pot that I've had for a couple of years. All money in there was going to be added to my house fund as a little boost. As the pound coins were all old (so due to expire in October), I decided to get them out, count them up, and then cash them in this weekend.

When I started to empty it, I realised all the coins were 1ps, 5ps, and 20ps - no pounds or 2 pounds.

As it turns out, my 15 year-old brother since January has been taking my money, and replacing it with change that I had in another pot in my room. I was so angry, hurt, and upset, because I can't even say for sure how much was in there (the pot holds up to £1k), and he wouldn't be able to say either as he was taking it on an ad hoc basis. But the worst part for me is that he spent it all on sweets.

I'm still hurt over it, and he has not apologised to me yet, and I'm not sure I can face him! It's such an anti-climax now because I was excited to count up my money and be able to put a not-insignificant sum into my fund to boost it.

Who needs enemies when you have family like that

ChicaBonita

Update time - my refund came through for the overcharge on the bag - they sent me the £30, but they also sent me a separate payment of £60 :eek: chuffed with that lol. I've treated myself to a face powder that I've wanted to restock for a while but didn't want to pay the money, and the rest can stay in my account as a cushion for my every day spending.

I'm going to Brighton with the girls from my bf's social group in October, will coincide with the Halloween celebrations so should be good fun. Was £123 for the airbnb and £32 for return tickets. I don't really make much of an effort with them so will be good to have some time away from the men! Means I have to look for a costume as well (I love dressing up )

I don't normally talk about my bf on here but I need to get this down...
he's really desperately unhappy with work, and it's making him depressed (although he doesn't see it as depression). I'm trying to be there as much as I can for him, but it means that when I have something I need to talk about I don't get much conversation back. All he wants to talk about is work, which I understand, but it's so draining and I don't know how I can be there for him while still protecting myself. I don't know if that makes me selfish, but I'm prone to low moods myself as sometimes I feel like I'm wading through mud with every day life. My boss talk to me like !!!! today and I needed some comfort but just got an emoji. I can feel myself pulling away from him, which upsets me.

Orange_Ena

Hope all is ok CB

ChicaBonita

Hi Ena, thanks for checking in with me, I've been around but have neglected my diary!

My savings is currently £11,085.47. I don't think I'll be at £14k by the end of the year but bf has managed to get a couple of bonuses AND a payrise so he will more than cover my shortfall.

I've been really quite unwell the past couple of months - it seems that after being diagnosed with my bladder condition in August and trying out different meds it's been worse than ever. But, I'm on a different medication now which seems to be doing something, and I'm not in so much pain day to day so I think I'm turning a corner. Part of this I think is I'm on a special diet for my bladder, which is awkward in some ways but if it's the thing to keep me pain-free I'll have to do it.

I've done my neck in somehow, it's been bad the past 5 weeks but last week it got to the point where I couldn't turn it to the left at all, and my shoulder also hurts. I'm going to the osteopath tonight with the hope they can sort me out either with one or two sessions (£49 for the first and then £38 thereafter - ouch). I don't really have the funds but the CC has caught me, and I'm working on reducing that to £0 by the end of Xmas (£200 on there at the moment).

As my mum said to me - If I was a horse they would put me out of my misery!!

I have a trip to Brighton with a group of girls at the end of the month, which I'm hoping won't be too costly - just some food and a night out on the Saturday. The airbnb and train tickets are already paid for. Then Berlin at the end of next month (with a nice few days off work after as I had annual leave to take up). I'm looking forward to the downtime and spending some quality time with my bf, who has been very busy and stressed with work.

I will try to check in more often to keep me on track, although I was planning for 16 NSD's this month and already have 10 in the bag (11 if today goes right!)

ChicaBonita

Well had a nightmare morning, going to note it here in case I need it in future....

I'd just left my road to get to work, and the rubbish truck was blocking the road, and there's loads of parked cars there. There was a white car (won't say the brand just in case)....and the driver put the reverse lights on and started reversing. I couldn't work out but why but thought they just needed a bit more space. They were getting closer and closer, so I beeped to let them know I was there. And then they hit me! And then they rolled forward, and then hit me again! I got out my car to check and there was no damage, the other driver told me "sorry my clutch is bad"......

So I'm a bit shaken, and angry, but hopefully nothing will come of it. I didn't get her details because I've never been in this situation before and I needed to get to work. There's no damage on my car so doubt she can say anything as it was her fault. Just want to start today again...

In other news I've been doing well with spending, I'm up to 12 NSD's and an average spend per day of £8.47 (my goal for month is £10). I do have the weekend away in Brighton this week, and not sure how much I will spend as there will be dinners and a night out involved, but I can just try my best. I've got £90 to last until payday, here's hoping I'll be able to make it!