Sashybo - Back Again

sashybo

It's been so cold for the last week 🥶 and we had snow yesterday, although not much and it's gone today thankfully. It's warmed up a bit now but will get cold again later in the week.

The kids were very excited by the snow and wanted to put the Christmas tree up so we did that even though it's quite early. I'm quite glad to get it done actually as it's one less thing to worry about. DH will do the outside lights in the next week or so.

I had a busy day on Friday as went into town for my varicose vein consultation, the price was about what I was expecting, in the region of £3k. I've decided to go for it as I have some money saved and will get a 0% money transfer for the rest. If I pay £150 pm it will be paid off before the 0% offer ends and I will have legs that don't hurt any more and look a lot better (hopefully). I know it's a lot of money and I'm not thrilled about having CC debt again but it will be worth it to me not to have painful legs. The veins are just going to get worse if I leave them and I don't really want to let them get that bad as they're already sore and look horrible.

I also collected some tops I'd ordered as part of DH's christmas and saved myself £5 in postage and then went and got my bellybutton pierced. I think it looks lovely and I don't really care that I don't have a perfectly flat toned stomach, it still looks nice. 

I then went over to my friend's house for dinner with another friend and we got a Chinese takeaway. It was nice to see them both and my friend has a new kitten so we were playing with him as well. Will hopefully see them again between Christmas and New Year for a lunch or dinner.

Have made an appointment to get my eyes tested in just over a week, I think my prescription has changed as feel I'm squinting more again. I try not to wear my glasses too much, mostly for driving at night and sometimes screens. My work health plan should cover most of the cost of new glasses so I don't need to worry about that.

I need to try and finish my Christmas shopping as well, I think I'm probably about 70% done but would like to get it finished soon. 

Housework wise, yesterday I managed to get a few washings on and hung up, put a load of washing away and minimal tidying plus the Christmas tree went up along with the lights over the patio doors and some stickers. Also made lentil soup which we had for lunch and there was enough left over for another day.

Have fed my sourdough starter this morning so will hopefully get the dough made up later tonight. Two washings have been hung up, one put away and another is in the machine atm. I need to clean the bathrooms, hoover upstairs and the couches then clean the floors downstairs. Just going to get the kids lunch sorted then I can do a bit of yoga before getting started on the cleaning. DH is working day shift today so will probably get home around the kids' bedtime.

jwil

The vein work is worth it if it stops you being uncomfortable.

dawnybabes

The less your legs hurt the better you will be - a future worthwhile investment ! 

sashybo

Thanks both, it would be great not to have achey legs after standing/walking/running and to be rid of the massive bulging vein & smaller lumpy one in my right leg. The ultrasound also found a new varicose vein starting in my left leg - I had noticed the vein was more visible over the last few months although it's not sore or bulging yet - there was also back flow on another vein too so actually more going on in the leg with less visible issues. The Dr said it would progress if left so better just to sort out both legs with laser treatment as well as the foam. Just hoping the 0% money transfer goes through okay. 🤞 

Had a productive day on Sunday and got all my cleaning done so that meant I could relax a bit more the last two days when the kids are at school. I baked my sourdough loaf last night and got the best rise I've ever managed, I think I was over proving the dough previously.

DH handed in some bottles of alcohol he wasn't going to drink to school for the raffle at their Christmas fair at the weekend and I need to check if the kids christmas jumpers still fit or if they will need new ones. I can hand any too small ones into school for the Christmas fair as they sell them on and then hopefully I can pick up more in bigger sizes if needed. Christmas jumper day at school is next week so good timing.

DD also has a Christmas show at school in a couple of weeks, I'm working early shift that day so will need to ask to get away 30 mins early. DH is off work that day so he can go too, DD will be happy. She has been practising her Christmas songs already. 😂 

DH & I are planning on painting DD's bedroom next week, she might need to spend a night in the spare room, not sure if she will settle there. 🤔 Hopefully she will be tired out from school and just fall asleep quickly. She has been getting up at random times from 1am to 4/5am most mornings and running in to stare at me until I wake up (I usually hear her as soon as she gets out of bed!) then wants me to come back to her bed and get in with her for 5 mins. Of course this usually ends up being half an hour. So my sleep has been pretty broken the last few weeks although she sleeps through about twice a week.

I made myself get out for a run after school drop off today and managed 6.5km, still only managing one run a week due to time and my various injuries/niggles. My hip has been feeling a bit better but my ankle is playing up a lot more, I've been limping about today since going for my run. 😭 Physio hasn't made much difference to either and I just can't afford to keep going now that the company paid sessions have finished and there's no real improvement. I think I'll look at the osteopath my sister recommended as maybe he can help me, again will cost money though.

sashybo

Finally got DD’s room painted and it looks a lot better. It took us two days but most of the first day was taken up prepping the room and painting the ceiling. Painting the walls was actually fairly quick. Second day was the second coat then drying time and moving everything back to its place.

Need to get some posters/pictures for the walls as she previously had stickers. 

DD slept on a mattress on DS’s floor for one night and it went surprisingly ok. There was a bit of bickering over DS listening to his stories on the yoto but she slept through the night. She’s still waking most nights and I’m exhausted.

We just have DS’s room to paint and the gloss to repair in a few places then we will be ready to get new carpets down. Hoping to do the last of the painting in January so hopefully new carpets in Feb or March.

We took the kids ice skating yesterday and DS really enjoyed it. It was DD’s first time and she was less keen, she lasted about half of the session. They were both well behaved though which was a relief.

My ankle has been so sore I haven’t been able to run for nearly 2 weeks now. I’m really struggling going up and down stairs putting weight on it and any pivoting or sudden stopping is very painful. I have booked in to see a podiatrist next week as they also deal with muscloskeletal issues in the feet. I can claim the money back through my work healthcare plan.

Also had an eye test and got new glasses, the frames I got come with 2 magnetic attachments that go over the lenses to turn them into sunglasses or a night driving tint. They’re not bulky and were a reasonable price, I’m very impressed. Again I can claim the majority of the cost back through my healthcare plan thankfully.

sashybo

Still around, just not been in the mood to update.

Christmas day was good but exhausting, DD was up at 5am and was a screaming mess by the afternoon and in bed for 6pm! She was quite badly behaved when my our relatives were in visiting. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Think she was getting quite overwhelmed as my brother & sister were in with their kids. DS was very good all day.

DH was working Boxing Day but I was off until the 27th. Went for a run but otherwise had a lazy day. My ankle is a lot better but still not quite right, podiatrist gave me orthotic insoles to support my feet better and they were very painful to begin with but I’m a bit more used to them now. Not sure if they’re making much difference and they cost £30!

DH was very good yesterday and used the leftover turkey to make a curry. The kids loved it and ate really well. He’s off until 2nd Jan now, I was back yesterday for 2 shifts then I’ll also be back on 2nd Jan.

Moneywise my 0% money transfer went ok and I’ve already paid £200 off it. My laser procedure for my legs is in 3 weeks, feeling a bit nervous but glad to be getting it done.

We have booked a holiday to Greece for next June and have already paid half of the balance. The kids are very excited as it will be the first time on a plane for both of them. DH & I also looking forward to it as haven’t been abroad for at least 8 years.

dawnybabes

Xmas day can be so stressful for some kids, all change, noise, expectations etc 

sashybo

Starting Debt Totals 2025

Car loan 1 - £231.38 pm interest rate 3.9%, 5 years left
Jan 2024 starting total £14,686
Current total £12,230, paid off £2456 over the last year.

Car loan 2 - £310.26 pm interest rate 6.3%, 6 years left
Starting total 2024 £16,000
Current total £7,891, paid off £8,109 over the last year

CC - 0% until May 2026, aiming to pay £200 pm
Starting total £3105
Current total £2900, paid off £205 since December 2024

Debts paid off in 2024

Old car loan £1421
CC1 - £2135
CC3 - £1905


Total paid off in 2024 £16,231
Current debt total £23,021 - £20,121 in car loans & £2900 0% cash transfer for my varicose vein treatment

Last year's debt total was £20,147 so despite the amount paid off the debt has gone up! This is due to getting a new (to us) car and taking the 0% cash transfer for my varicose vein treatment this month. The payment for the 0% CT isn't coming out of the household bills but will be a mixture of my spending money/savings and any spare cash I come across that isn't going towards our holiday.

Despite the debt total going up I think we've done pretty well as we have stayed out of the overdraft for another year and have managed our money much better (most of the time) by using savings pots. We've been away twice with the kids in the UK and went away twice ourselves for short breaks with money we saved towards it. We have booked our first holiday abroad with the kids for June this year and have already paid for half the total holiday cost and all of our passports and new suitcases. We just need to save for the last half and a small amount of spending money as the hotel is all inclusive.

We have also painted a few more areas of the house, have money put aside for new carpets upstairs and have a few more things we'd like to upgrade/improve in the house. But we will actually save for these things rather than just getting into debt. Our main priority is paying the holiday then we will probably split between saving for improvements to the house and paying off debt. I'm hoping to pay off my 0% CT within a year rather than the full 18 months 0% period and would also love to pay off the higher interest, smaller total car loan but I think that might be a stretch!

beanielou

Great round up. 

jwil

That's a huge amount paid off, well done!