Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

ajmoney

I got the shopping, I didn't manage to complete the other jobs. I made a start in the garage, it looks better and won't take much more to finish but I got a little bit stuck and overwhelmed. I had intended to go back out this afternoon but I was so tired I could barely get off the sofa. I decided that, with a busy work week ahead, it was better to recharge my batteries a little.

ajmoney

Doing a mini evaluation of everything financially today, I plan to check properly in a month when we are at the half year point. I seem to be managing the monthly/annual expenses well and have more disposable money left after the bills have gone out. I am not sure if I have missed something so am going to keep a better eye on things this month to check.

I have paid a 50% deposit for the work to be done in the house. Hopefully this will start in the next 2 weeks. I have a little bit to do to be ready but I *think* it is manageable with the time I have. I am entering a pretty busy week with work but should have everything under control and will ask a friend for some assistance with a couple of lifting things next week. I had a panic on Thursday that this course of action might not solve the problems in the house but I know other people who have had the ventilation system fitted and are really happy with the result so I am going to trust that it will help. I am hopeful I can get most of the work I need done in my 2/3 rooms by the end of July so I can decorate throughout August. That is the plan anyway.

ajmoney

I had an appointment with the doctor this morning and went in with a list of things to check and try and sort out. I have a couple of prescriptions which should help. 

I decided to be brave and talk to him about the perimenopause. I have never really brought this up in a standard appointment before, only in women's health ones or when they have mentioned it. I have a website to look at that I wasn't aware of and a couple of options going forward. The way healthcare works here we don't always see the same person but I will definitely ask for him in the future. He asked my opinion on things and I really like his approach.

I am enjoying a leisurely lunch before an appointment in an hour.

Watty1

That sounds very positive. I ended up seeing someone privately after a doctor (male) told me  my symptoms were just part of the aging process and if I couldn't work full time I should consider giving up

I walked out of the appointment horrified naturally but decided to see a private clinic that specialised in hormones and credit then with continuing to enjoy live rather than being collapsed on a sofa like some tragic Victorian heroine.   I have since had a number of doctors at the practice apologise and a couple have said my private prescription was better than they could offer so it has worked out well for me but getting there was shameful.

ajmoney

Thanks @Watty1 I am hopeful that my first impression of the doctor is correct!

ajmoney

Back from work late last night and needed to be up early for someone to change my smart meters who arrived early! Luckily he didn't come in before 8 but I am very tired and have a bit of a headache so trying to make sure I am hydrated and may have a nap later. I thought things were meant to be changing so smart meters didn't stop working when you switch supplier but apparently that is what has happened. Let's hope I don't need to switch again soon!

I am at home all day today and while I will need to do some work, I am going to make the most of what might be the last fine day this week and do a little bit out in the garden.  I spent some time refreshing my pots and weeding the patio and the path to my front door on Sunday and it looks great. The plan for today is to weed the drive and just in front of my house, it doesn't look like much but will look so much better, especially as I drive up to the house. I also have loads of plant pots to wash.

ajmoney

Haircut day yesterday and I was a bit bold (for me anyway). I got about 6 inches off so I can embrace the waves/curls that my hair seems so desperate to have now. I straightened my hair a couple of weeks ago and realised I was probably fighting against my hair so am trying to work with it now. Having slept on it it isn't quite the same but instead of tying it up (there isn't so much to tie up now) I am using my working from home day to play about with it a bit.

I have a work list and a house list for today, neither is too overwhelming but all of it needs to be done. I am going to try and alternate a work task with 15 minutes of something in the house and will see how I get on. I have got a lot of work time away coming up. Luckily I can work remotely with my laptop but I don't want any extra pressure when we will already be pretty busy. Equally I have some things that need to be done ready for workmen etc and don't want to get overwhelmed by things so I am trying to get organised!

ajmoney

So much for alternating work jobs with a bit of the home list. I got stuck into the work ones and haven't done anything else yet, it doesn't even look like I have done much of the work list! I am going to stop and do a short blitz on some home jobs and try and make a last push for work before I turn my laptop off for the weekend. The weekend doesn't look great weather wise so I will be able to get some more of the jobs done here as I won't want to be outside!

ajmoney

I am currently away with work. I had the weekend off so had a lovely break away on Friday night and an enjoyable but spendy time catching up with a very good friend. Now it is July and work ramps up I want to keep an eye on my spending, it is either going to be a very cheap 2 weeks or potentially expensive and I know which I would rather!

I am not a fan of doing the money shuffle on my phone but I chose not to bring my laptop away so have made the most of it. One thing stood out to me which I hadn't noticed was getting closer... I am £9092.33 away from being mortgage neutral  this has made me very happy. It won't really make a difference when I reach it as I don't plan to decimate my savings but it gives options. With decorating hopefully on the horizon this figure is a little skewed as I will need to pay for carpets etc but the long game is paying off!

ajmoney

In money news, I have won something on the premium bonds but I am away without my login details so don't know what. It will be a nice surprise when I get back.

I am sleeping really badly at the moment, no idea why. Tonight is now not helped by the fact I forgot to pick something up after work yesterday and instead left it outside. It was very windy so I can only assume I didn't see it because it wasn't where I left it but I still feel I have done something wrong so have a sinking feeling that I can't get rid of. It should have been picked up so I will sort when I get to work. 

I need to get back on top of my sugar intake as it has risen again. It might not be affecting my sleep but long term it isn't going to help so I might try and go cold turkey from now until I go on holiday in 12 days. Being away from home doesn't make it easy though.

I hope I can get back to sleep soon but it seems far too far away at the moment.