Beginning my journey...

daisy_jean

Happy New Year all!!! Quick update...

Nothing much has changed in terms of debt and the DMP - all ticking over at the moment and living okay.

Christmas was lovely! The husband booked a trip to Spain for a few days so spent Christmas over there, and it all worked out cheaper than staying over here (he paid for flights/hotel - I wasn't going to say no!) thanks to the cheaper cost of living over there - we had an apartment so self catered quite a bit and we used Christmas money from family towards euros. But it was just lovely to have time together, especially as at Christmas our arguments tend to be based around visiting our families and time spent with each one! None of that this year (and yet both families surprisingly supportive of this!). Potentially considering it again for next year, budget (and Ryanair cheap flights) dependent.

Eldest cat has developed an overactive thyroid problem however. So far this has cost nearly £300 in vets fees (as uninsured... D'oh!) and is now on meds for life. Husband covered this on his credit card but has made it clear he expects to be paid back... Bye bye any emergency funds for now. Have, today, managed to get the cat's vets prescription and buy the meds online at half the price though, and will continue to do this! He's doing well on them though, and if needs I'll adjust my budget, but I'll see how it goes for a couple of months and will only do this if really necessary.

Uni - first proper assignment submitted just before Christmas. Lots of work gone into it, but not overly optimistic on the results (due 1st week of Feb!). First one though, and hard to know what to expect. Regardless of the result, all feedback will be taken onboard for the next one!

daisy_jean

Been a lovely but hectic weekend. Spent Saturday up in the city for a friend's book launch, and somehow spent a small fortune of £80... Luckily I'd sorted this coming up, and eBayed a load of stuff to pay for it all!! Was a lovely lovely day but unfortunately spent today suffering for it (this wasn't all spent on drink.... A Harry Potter gift for the daughter for abandonment to the grandparents, and a Superdry sale featured! Plus the hubby paid for the evening meal out! :beer: )

Had a quick lookie into my creditors today just to make sure everything is ticking over nicely... And realised On Stride are still charging interest :eek: At quite a rate (almost double the PayPlan payment some months)… Tomorrow they will be getting an email about this, and requesting a default. Practically everyone else has defaulted by now (even the infamous Barclaycard!), so I am curious (and slightly peeved off) to realise they haven't.

Affordability claims were also sent into Satsuma a fortnight ago, as I realised I've forgotten them in my last claim batch. Fingers crossed for that one!

Uni plodding along nicely.... First assignment grade due back on Friday, there may be tears... (and gin!). :rotfl::rotfl:

anita55

Hi there just skimmed through you diary will read in full tonight, ah you poor cat, I do love a cat but our 1 year old cat got run over and couldn't cope with loosing another one. x

anita55

So read through the diary, your a very busy person and then some, hope your enjoying Uni stretching the mind, something I could do with. Glad you husband got a better job makes so much difference. Good luck with your grade on Friday. x

daisy_jean

Realised this evening I hadn't done an update for quite some time...

Firstly - Uni is done for 1st year!!!! 3 main assignments passed with 65%+ grades - just awaiting my portfolio grade (which is 50% of the year!) this week!!! Uni has been very trying, both on the brain and family logistics, but overall has been very very much worth the effort and despite a couple of hiccups at work, I do really feel it has benefited me professionally!! Bring on Yr2!!! Work is paying for Yr 2 but I'm tempted to self-fund the top-up to full degree (this is only foundation degree) with student loan... Maybe then considering a Social Work year on top of that, brain power permitting. I've never been ambitious so not sure where this will of 'bettering myself' has come from!!!

Satsuma rejected all affordability complaints. On Stride got a complaint about the interest still being added but rejected it - this is on the way to the ombudsman right now, partly for inaccuracies in their "complaint upheld" email (it was mostly !!!!!!!!!) and the fact that they are STILL charging interest, even now.

I adjusted my budget back in Jan/Feb as it wasn't breathable (I dropped hours at work due to Uni) but even now I can feel myself tilting back to old ways (except its not payday loans, its the 'Bank of Husband'). I'm tempted to go self-managed and reduce it again but with so many creditors it's a very daunting task.

daisy_jean

Another quick update....

Uni year 1 passed properly - got an overall 68% so 2% off an equivalent of a first. Pleased but determined to crack that 70% mark for year two, which starts tomorrow!!!

Health has took a turn.... Suffering with my back majorly - always have since the birth of my daughter many moons ago, but it took a turn around a month ago and has been bad ever since. I'm on Tramadol and Naproxen but I'm still not good - numbness down a leg/foot and the inability to walk properly is beginning to take its toll now. Work have been fantastic but I'm on reduced hours which has affected my pay somewhat - Payplan are informed of the situation and have been helpful, and monthly payments are reduced for a few months until I get a proper prognosis (with permission to share this info with creditors given). Physio begins in 2 weeks, and I've exercises to do in the meantime (the words beached whale spring to mind...). The pain isn't so bad, more of a dull ache but the cramps down my leg are unreal, particularly in the morning. Oh and the fact that my left leg isn't working properly right now. Always fun it's been getting me down a bit the past fortnight but I'm trying to remain positive and make the most of what I can do, etc.

Cat is back at the vets for his hypothyroidism blood tests tomorrow and meds prescription.... It's been a while since his last one and they won't issue another prescription without the test. Unfortunately he's an awkward git and needs to be put under sedation for the test... Bye bye money. Thank god the husband can cover it to be paid back, this will be almost £200.

daisy_jean

Cat didn't actually need blood tests this time, as the vet decided he looked well enough so another prescription was issued - this saved almost £100! Although the cat did get very stressed this time and peed everywhere, which he's never done before and I found worrying. Sign of his age maybe...

Had my first physio appointment - I didn't realise the full extent of the numbness in my leg and foot until they started testing my reflexes with sharp pokey things - could barely feel a thing in my leg, yet it really hurt the other one. They're 90% sure I've slipped a disc, but I've been referred onto a senior physio for further checks and they'll decide whether I need an MRI or not. Unfortunately, I have been in complete agony every since this.

Year 2 of uni has started - my god, if I thought last year was hard, this year is going to be extreme!! Kind of glad to be back, but already stressing with the workload. I guess it'll be worth it in the end though!!

daisy_jean

Another quick update...

MRI scan occurred approximately a month ago now - results confirmed a slipped disc and trapped nerve. I have been referred for spinal nerve block injections and my first consultant appointment is the first week in December - absolutely terrified but realise it's a better option than actual surgery. I have good days and bad days - the past couple of days have been very bad and there's been a lot of tears, but I've got through it - the cold has been making it worse definitely. I'm still on reduced hours, and I need to email PayPlan regarding my future spinal treatment as I'll apparently need a week off sick leave once these are done (I'm hoping it'll be in the christmas break but I don't have that kind of luck!), but hopefully I'll have an end in sight soon.

Year 2 of Uni - not going to lie, I'm really struggling to get my head back into it, esp with all my back woes going on. I've completely forgotten how to Harvard Reference. Research is just a nightmare. I just feel like giving up at the moment. I mean, I won't, but I just need to refocus.

Oh and our boss sold the company to a big multi-national chain and let's just say, they're not easing us in gently. Steamrolling more like. I've cried more this fortnight than I care to remember.

daisy_jean

Forgot to add in terms of the upcoming big C...

Husband bought DD's main present when Amazon were price matching somewhere else (she's still HP obsessed!)
I saved each month into Park Vouchers so that paid for DD's other big present (Barbie!) and all the nieces/nephews...
Parents got some eBay bargains. Myself and the hubby don't buy for each other anymore.

We (as a couple) receive money from both sets of parentals for Christmas which has paid for a sneaky weekend away (health permitting) in January, with the parentals also offering up childcare. The last time we did anything like this, just the 2 of us, was 6yrs ago! :eek:

daisy_jean

Big update from the last couple of posts...

I had my consultant appointment where he made it clear (by showing me my actual MRI scan) that surgery was the best option. Yes I could have had the injections but the way the disc had slipped meant that the pressure would still be on the nerve. So my option was a lumbar discectomy.

I'll admit, I had a near breakdown the day after at work to my poor manager (who has previously suffered with her back too but only had to have the injections). I have had to opt for the surgery but recovery period is anything from the initial 6-8 weeks to 4-6 months, depending on my recovery. I only get SSP so needless to say this isn't great.

Anyhows, spring forward and my surgery is on Monday. I'm hospitalised for 2 nights and then home and off work for the minimum of 6-8 weeks. My husband is kindly supplementing my pay for the time I'm off as obviously I would never get credit anywhere.

Needless to say our weekend away is cancelled but I don't actually care if this surgery is going to give any form of relief. And SSP - well it's all only money isn't it? Health is much more important. Although I'll be honest, I am actually petrified of the general anaesthetic - I've never been 'under' before. And knowing that my mum has previously had allergic reactions to it isn't helping the worry! Had my pre-op appointment today though, and the nurse was lovely (having previously had the surgery herself too). It's at a local private hospital (NHS patient though) so private room and perks.

Oh well, hopefully all goes well on Monday!