Adventures of the Boy & Me..

Chandelier.

Afternoon,

So I've spent the morning running round after the boy and getting the jobs done on my to do list. I'm up to the last job now which is to take the boy to his presentation evening.

My car is nice and clean after a good wash.. It ended in me cleaning all the car whilst the boy had a go at the wheels. I always get stressed washing the car and say next time I'll take it to a car wash but I still wash it at home for some reason. Doing the interior definitely stresses me out as I want to get it immaculate but it's not always achievable. I expect it to look like it's just left the show room :rotfl:

I'm currently sat relaxing now for half an hour before I need to leave for the boy's presentation evening. It's in relation to his football. However I'm becoming more and more annoyed with the running of the football and the way the boy is treated. They have a couple of friendly matches next weekend and the boy asked if he could watch (too old to play apparently) and was told no. Now this is what he's told me so I'll ask the coach later. It's not like I want to sit and watch them myself but it's not the point. It's the way they're handling it that I'm not impressed with.

Anyhow,

I best get off

Chandelier.

Morning

So the boys presentation evening went well. He got a trophy then enjoyed playing around with his friends. I forgot to take cash for me to get drinks and I only had £2.00 on me. Thankfully the drinks were quite cheap so I was able to get myself and the boy a drink each. I was pretty embarrassed at the fact I'd forgot so I've decided in the future I'm going to leave an emergency £10 in the car for if I ever get myself in that position again.

I'm working today 7.30am until 6pm. At least I'll be kept busy. I think I'm going to get my manager a present for all she has done for me and to say thanks for believing in me and encouraging me to meet my full potential. I think I'll get a card and maybe a bottle of gin as I know she drinks that. Or I may discuss with my colleagues who know her well to see what she likes. This is someone who took me under their wing when returning to work (new setting from previous workplace which couldn't support a return to work) and has helped build my confidence back up. I don't know I'll figure something out.

My direct debits are yet to come out of the bank as the 1st fell on a Saturday, so hopefully they should come out tomorrow.

I've yet to write the actual budget down but I've arranged my bank account to suit my needs for the month. I've put £250 into my savings account, paid £450 off my debt so far and the rest is sat in the bills account. I need to withdraw money for extra curricular spends and petrol spends for the month ahead.

I also need to get sorted with arranging childcare for the week, seeing if I can swap days to watch the boys production and attend a meeting on Monday regarding afterschool club for the next school year. I also need to message my support worker.

I'm slowly becoming more organised as the days go by. I'm taking my meds again which hopefully I'll see some improvements in the future. I'm a lot less jittery these days and becoming more laid back and calm. Alot of people have commented on this.

Recently I've struggled with accepting the diagnosis of Bipolar and often feel I have a black cloud over my head that won't go away. Since around March I have struggled to take my meds consistently each night but I hope this is to change now I have a blister pack. I need to change my total outlook on bipolar and my life. I cannot let it define me. I know I'll have good days and bad days but it's all about being able to manage it. I have a good support network and hopefully this will continue.

My friend has also asked me to attend SW with her and we can do it together. I'm in two minds with it at the moment as to what I want to do. It will be extra spends each week but may encourage me to be accountable through attending groups. We'll see.

On the whole nothing more else to say that's exciting. I seem to be quite reflective this morning about a lot of things.

Happy Sunday everyone.

Chandelier.

Income: £1630.00

Outgoings:

[STRIKE]Debt payments: £450.00[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Savings: £300.00[/STRIKE]
Board: £200.00
HTB Isa: £200.00
Extra curricular: £120.00 (I have money left over from last month to add to this).
Petrol: £50.00
Phone: £25.93
Union fees: £16.40
Gym: £12.99
Denplan: £11.99
Insurance: £6.99

Total: £1394.30.

Income - Outgoings= £235.70.

That surplus is sat in a separate account ready for the month ahead. I should easily manage to within that budget for other spends. I've already allocated my debt repayments and savings for the month. I just need to withdraw the cash for petrol/extra curricular budgets for July then I'm all set and raring to go for the month.

I've finally done my budget :D:D

I forgot I have to do my time sheets for work or else I'll be told off.. I have about four weeks to catch up on :rotfl:

What am I like?

Chandelier.

Just a quick one for the afternoon.

As my fixed term contract ends today (although I've shifts booked for here), the people I work with handed me a card and a lovely bunch of flowers to say good luck. It was such a thoughtful and lovely gesture. I've never received anything like this before. So I'm sat here with a big smile on my face on my lunch

All I can say is onwards and upwards for the future, no matter what it holds for me.

UncannyScot

Good luck Chandelier
The very best of luck to you for the future (have a feeling you will be absolutely fine)

Chandelier.

You know what UncannyScot? I think you're right

I'm now home and just about to eat tea- yes it's late but it's worth the wait... hot beef and onion barms, mmm :rotfl:

Then for afters we have strawberries, meringue and cream.. not sure if that's called an Eton mess ? Maybe I'm wrong.

I've popped my flowers into a vase and arranged them nicely.

All is well in our household.

Chandelier.

Outgoings:

[STRIKE]Debt payments: £450.00[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Savings: £300.00[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Board: £200.00[/STRIKE]
[[STRIKE]B]HTB Isa:[/B] £200.00[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Extra curricular: £120.00 [/STRIKE](Cash withdrawn and put into envelope).
[STRIKE]Petrol: £50.00[/STRIKE] (Cash withdrawn and put into envelope).
[STRIKE]Phone Bill: £25.93[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Union fees: £16.40[/STRIKE]
Gym: £12.99
[STRIKE]Denplan: £11.99[/STRIKE]
Insurance: £6.99

Budget updated to reflect which direct debits have come out, which is most of them bar two. The other two are mid month direct debits. However I think I'll possibly look into cancelling the insurance. The insurance is for my phone which is 18 months old. The contract ends in January and I think I'm going to keep the phone I have and go onto a cheap sim only plan. I don't use my phone half as much as I used to. Most of the time it's connected via WiFi and I use apps such as whatsapp instead of texting. I refuse to pay out more then £30 for a phone contract and would much rather save up to buy a handset then to enter another contract for a fixed period.

Anyhow that's enough moaning about phone contracts

Chandelier.

Morning,

So today is going to be spent catching up on jobs here, there and everywhere.

I started off the day to remind my brother about paying his car tax for him to have a go at me for not reminding him sooner as it had just run out- no thanks or anything. I turned round and told him maybe he should have registered it to his new address so it goes directly to him. I don't even remember it coming to the house but saw it in passing and when I thought about my own car tax it reminded me. Last time I do him a favour :mad:.

As mentioned in previous post, all my direct debits bar two have come out so I've updated and aligned my bank accounts to reflect this. The child benefit for the boy has also come through so that's been swept into a savings account. I tend to put child benefit, child tax credit and child maintenance all into a separate account and to use on the boy when needed (clothes, day trips, general living costs etc).

I have a lovely big to do list for today. I hope to get most things done.

List of things to do
- Try and rearrange to watch boys show on Wednesday instead of Friday.
- Sign the boy up for breakfast and afterschool club for next school term.
- Buy my niece a birthday card and post it.
- Write out new time sheets, phone up and see if I can scan them.
- Check old time sheets against wage slip.
- Drop my mum's phone off to her at work.
- Put petrol in car.
- Text support worker regarding seeing her this week.
- Put boy in breakfast club on Friday.
- Pay July fee for the boy's show and email to confirm this.
- Fill out order form for hooded jacket for boys show. That's £20.00 gone there.
- Fill out diary regarding upcoming dates/shifts.

So my to do list is looking pretty busy for the day but I hope to get most of it done. I may feel a bit more organised then.

I always buy myself pretty diaries and then never seem to be able to use them. I'm going to make a big effort to be more organised with this and maybe my life won't feel as confusing.

I do have a slight urge to make further debt repayments using savings but I'm going to hold off for a while. I also may look into FD saving account if they still do the 5% interest account. I need to look at the terms and conditions though.

I really need some ideas and tips on how to become more organised so if anyone has any please post and share because I'm driving myself mad :rotfl:

Chandelier.

Evening..
I've accomplished quite a lot today considering..

List of things to do

[STRIKE]- Try and rearrange to watch boys show on Wednesday instead of Friday. [/STRIKE] The boy has been given two tickets for Wednesday performance. So I'm able to go now.
[STRIKE]- Sign the boy up for breakfast and afterschool club for next school term. [/STRIKE] I went this morning to register him for next term and have put him down for three days a week. It's more outgoings but will be easier on the childcare front. I may apply for the childcare element of tax credits to alleviate some of the cost. I'll have to await a reply to see if successful in next few weeks.
[STRIKE]- Buy my niece a birthday card and post it. [/STRIKE]Cards signed and posted.
- Write out new time sheets, phone up and see if I can scan them. Still to do either tonight or tomorrow.
[STRIKE]- Check old time sheets against wage slip.[/STRIKE] I've checked these and it's correct. I'll phone the lady tomorrow as she wasn't in today about dropping new ones off.
[STRIKE]- Drop my mum's phone off to her at work.[/STRIKE] Done just before lunch.
[STRIKE]- Put petrol in car. [/STRIKE] £20 petrol put in.
[STRIKE]- Text support worker regarding seeing her this week. [/STRIKE] I've texted and still awaiting a phone call back.
[STRIKE]- Put boy in breakfast club on Friday. [/STRIKE] I've done this so my mum can drop him off before work.
- Pay July fee for the boy's show and email to confirm this. Still need to do this, have plenty of time left yet. It's not a big priority.
- Fill out order form for hooded jacket for boys show. That's £20.00 gone there. I need to print of the form for this and send it off along with the money.
- Fill out diary regarding upcoming dates/shifts. I still need to do this. I have been using diary on my phone but I need something more visual and have a pretty diary waiting for me.

I've had a rather productive morning for me. I did most things on my to do list plus more. I bought a thank you card and a bottle of gin for my manager to say thank you (I compared prices online before I bought :money:) and dropped it off into work.

I've also sorted out for the boy to join beavers and he will be starting next Monday. He's been asking to join these last few weeks and kept reminding me and I finally heard from the lady today. The first week is free and then it's £2.50 there after. It falls on a night the boy is at his grandparents but I'm sure they won't mind him going. Well I hope not as it's organised now.

I've also just made Yorkshire puddings to go with our roast beef dinner. They smell absolutely devine

I'm not too bad at cooking when I'm in the right mind frame to do it. This isn't always doable when I'm in the mix of highs and lows I tend to become careless, leave things on which then burn, end up burning myself or I have no motivation and would rather go without eating something proper.

Anyhow, I hope I manage to complete what's left on my to do list, if not it can go on tomorrow's list. Although I'm working 4pm till midnight tomorrow.

Happy Monday :)

Chandelier.

July's Goals.

NSDs- Aim for 14 NSDs across the month.

WEIGHTLOSS- Aim to lose 7lb through making healthier choices and exercising more. I'll aim for 16 days of no chocolate/crisps/junk food.

DEBT REPAYMENTS- I'll aim to find ways to overpay the debt by a further £100. If it's more then this then it's a bonus.

POSITIVITY- Make someone smile each day and also smile at each person I come across. Smiling and laughing is contagious

WORK- Aim to work at least 22.5 hours each week. My work situation is explained in previous posts. My shifts are now as and when I choose and I have been given some shifts to see me through until mid August. I need to possibly pick up some more where possible. I'll be paid weekly this time so will set that money aside in a separate bank account each week.

ORGANISATION- I need to become more organised in general. I'll start by utilising a pretty diary I have and by working through my to do list. I think once these are set up it will give me the kick up the butt I need.

BAD HABITS- I really need to quite smoking. I'm going to quit on 5/7/17. Although I can afford it at the moment, I'm just thinking about what I could do with the money spent. I think what I shall do is put the money aside each week and use it for days out with the boy and maybe use it for overnight stays when we venture out this Summer.

MOTIVATION- I'll find a quote each day which sums up how I'm either feeling or one I find motivating/inspirational.

SELF CARE- I will make the effort to do my hair/makeup each day so I don't look a zombie :rotfl:.. this will most likely help with my confidence.

SOCIAL MEDIA- I have pretty much deleted all the apps from my phone and only have a gander on the book of face if I'm bored. I need to limit the time I spend on my phone and become more productive.

HEALTH- I need to continue to take my medications and start looking at some self help ways of managing. I've requested some CBT which hopefully my CPN will organise as I feel this will be beneficial to me.

That's pretty much it for July