Viix's Journey

Viix

After many months of anonymously lurking the forums I finally made a Forum account and planned on starting a diary.

After some time trying to convince my anxiety (which from now will be referred to as Anxiety Viix, or simply, AV - I'm honestly not insane I have just always found it easier to refer to my mental health as a separate entity to me) that a diary was a good idea, I gave up trying to reason with it and here I am anyway.

To begin I would like to give a little bit of background as to why I am starting this diary...
Up until mid January I had my life figured out. I knew where I stood emotionally, educationally, professionally and financially. Life was great and I couldn't really have asked for anything more. Then I had my car accident. Due to not remembering what happened and with no obvious cause of the accident I had to surrender my driving licence and undergo testing to determine if health was a factor of the accident (blackout/seizure/etc). My job relies on my having a driving license as I spend my working hours outside of the office visiting clients. There is absolutely no way I could do my job from within an office so until I was deemed fit and safe to drive I could not do the job I was contracted for. My GP (who is amazing) is sure I have retrograde amnesia which accounts for my not being able to remember what happened and that I may have skidded on ice or swerved to dodge a cat and lost control of the car (only me involved thankfully), and that I would be deemed fit to drive and return to work in no time. Ace!

To cut a long and tedious story short my employer, erring on the side of caution, decided to hold off allocating me alternate duties until they were sure that I was fit and well. I have no problem with this decision at all and understand their decision. So once I had testing done and met with Occupational Health, HR would be satisfied I was well and would put me to work. A grand plan which put both myself and my department at ease. All very straightforward.

Except it wasn't...It took 5 months to even get the appointments through for the medical tests that the consultant wanted and even now I am still waiting for the results. As a result I have been on sick pay which helped but it wasn't enough to meet my outgoings. So every month I have have been using my credit cards to make sure bills were covered and needs were met. It was fine because "I will be back to work soon and be able to pay it off". Ugh.

So anyway, I met with Occupational Health without my test results and they say that they are going to recommended to my employer that I return to work in a role that does not require a driving licence until I am deemed safe to get my licence back. As a result,I start my temporary role on Monday (same contracted hours and rate of pay, yay!) along with my new "pay credit cards off" plan.

I have so for been fortunate enough to have not missed any payments and, therefore, have no defaults or threats of CCJ's so I don't have the pressure or fear of bailiffs, courts, etc. But I do want to use this diary to help monitor my progress and keep me on track.

I want to include my credit card balances in this diary but AV is winning that debate at the moment and I dare not look at it all written down in one place right now anyway. I admit I should not have been so complacent thinking I could bridge what I thought would be a small gap in my earning. I had no idea it would take so long to get the all clear and get my life back...The lesson is very much learned.

Anyway, that is my introduction. I know from lurking in the DFW area that everyone is really nice and not judgemental and I hope that remains true in this diary.

I have signed up to a few survey and shopping sites and started to accumulate a little bit already which will go towards making additional payments towards my credit cards when they can be cashed out. I am also considering a second job help pay off the cards quicker but I'm taking it 1 step at a time and need to get back into the swing of working again.

Feeling a little positive but very anxious.

Viix

Debts as of 24/062018

Barclaycard £1814.04 (26.5%)
Tesco CC £4053.61 (2.99% monthly balance) - unsure of APR % taken from account details
Clydesdale CC £458.54 (18.9% but still on 0%) - unsure of date 0% runs out
Curry's Acc £722.85 (19.9%)
MBNA CC £866.21 (0% until July 2019)
Scott&Co £2450 (0%)
Plus historic CT arrears from over 10 years ago that wasn't taken over by Scott&Co of £1187.94 (including remaining balance for this years CT bill as I keep a running total of what is owed in its entirety to my local council) 0%

Scott&CO and historic CT is what is left of a parting gift from an ex...

Total as of 24/6/18 = -£11553.19

mark55man

wow that sounds dreadful - and the anxiety of your situation would test the strongest, so well done for hanging in there

I drive a lot for my job, although mainly to the same office/site for a few months and then a different one, and I just don't see how I could work that without a car - so having to start a different job on account of a medical something that may not have happened is harsh

It feels that your employer must really value you, as I can imagine one who didn't would have found a reason to be much more unhelpful. so that's a positive

as for the debts - plenty of diaries on here to give you ideas, and plenty of posters to give you support. sometimes they get going quickly sometimes it takes a while, but keep posting and you'll find a few like minded souls before too long.

everyone will ask for a breakdown of debts - amounts interest rates etc and a breakdown of spending (inthe form of a soa) - so when you are ready that will be helpful. if you read some other diaries they will have the links in - I don't have them at the moment - I imagine thats what you plan for your reserved post.

anyway I'll stop blethering on and just say I'll pop in and out most days,. You might just consider amending your first post to expand out OH to occupational health rather than Other Half which is its usual meaning here :-)

Puddleglum

Subscribed in support. Good luck and best wishes.

mark55man

Love your signature Puddleglum - although a candle bulb moment is a bit retro for me xx

Viix

Mark88man - Thank you, I will be posting my debts in the reserved post once I have built up the courage to do so and once my income has stabilised in a couple of months following the SSP I will also post my SOA. I edited my OP as you suggested, thank you for pointing that out

Puddleglum - Thank you very much

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary
Hope all goes well in your new role.
Take care & dont be to hard on yourself.
Anxiety is horrid

Viix

beanielou - Thank you very much!

Okay so after a few days of playing about with some survey sites I have just cashed out £5 Paypal from Swagbucks and £1.50 coming from Shopmium. Nothing amazing but that is £6.50 that I didn't have this morning and will be going straight towards a credit card bill when it hits my Paypal account.

I have also started sorting out my book and DVD collections both of which are quite extensive. Those which I don't keep I will run through the Ziffit/WeBuyBooks apps. I don't have suitable packing boxes and material at the moment but when I do I will run each item through both apps and see where I can get the best price.

I am excited to be going to work tomorrow even if it isn't my normal position but fingers crossed it will only be for a short time. AV has been quite tame today but suspect she will rear her ugly head when it comes to settling down to sleep tonight - strategies are already in place should that happen.

Viix

Well my first day in my new temporary post was exhausting! I have lost so much fitness (and gained a little weight) since January but I am so glad to be working again.

One of my cats has become unwell so off to the vets after work today and that means an unexpected bill that I am not prepared for. As long as my cat is okay then I am happy to pay it.

Right, I better get my lunch made and get off to work!

UncannyScot

Hello and welcome Viix

So glad that your employer has been patient and that you have been able to return at same rate of pay. Fingers crossed that you are able to return to driving soon.

One of the (many) things I have learned in my time on the forum is that it really is essential to establish and build an emergency fund. I am currently trying to build one up aiming to have at least £5k in there when done, will take a while but once there I will maintain it at that kind of level.

Surveys are a good way to supplement your income and I use a few myself, most consistent ones for me are Prolific Academic and Panel Base. Prolific takes a dip during the academic / school holidays though.

We are indeed a friendly, supportive and non-judgmental bunch on here
If you need any advice or info on anything, just post up and someone will pop in to help.

Will follow and support on your journey

beanielou

Hope that work goes well & that your cat gets on ok at the vet.