First Steps to Solvency

ladyholly

Thanks alt. Feeling much better. I think it was just reaction to the flu and pneumonia jabs. My DH took collie out and I staggered round the green with the other 2 for all of 10mins but slept for most of the day with 2 furry  hot water bottles otherwise known as dogs. The third was on the floor beside me.

Lovely to hear you have had a good time and appreciating the simpler things in life. Also delighted to hear your wife telling you she is proud of you.

enthusiasticsaver

Lovely update and glad you enjoyed the RHS garden trip. We are doing something similar in a few weeks time at the Eden project. Nothing wrong at all in thinking about where you spend your money. I do too but as long as you are getting value out of your purchases and can afford it money is ultimately to spend on things you need and which give you pleasure. At some point when the cards are gone I hope you will see the value of saving/investing  but  your BTL are investments for the future. Diversifying is something to think about in a few years time. 

mark55man

Ha ha - we're of an age where Vicar of Dibley was one of our "must-watch" shows.  Probably nearer my neck of the woods than yours, but its all the same.  I agree with Lady Holly and ES, you've had a great few days/weeks.  YOu should use this weekend as a supporting memory if you start feeling bad or getting bored. 

Its a balance between not forgetting where you came from and what you have achieved, whilst not living in the past and fighting yesterday's demons today,  It is OK to look forward without feelings about the past swamping you.   

Enjoy the rest of the weekend

alt80

Day 171

Fairly quiet day getting home, Sunday roast, dog walk and few jobs around the house. Been a no spend day and AF. 

Didn't have the best night again last night. I am at least keeping my phone on wife's side of the bed - discourages me to be looking at it when I should be asleep. Managed to have a bit of a nap in the car on the way back lol. 

@ladyholly thank you. Glad it was just vaccine. I can book mine from tomorrow just do it online I think.

Ha furry hot water bottle made me smile. My golden loves to lie on us when we're sat on the sofa downside is he never stops shedding fur and he's heavy lol.

@enthusiasticsaver I've had a lovely time thank you just very tired. I have visited Eden project but my son would absolutely love it. Is your husband recovering ok?

I've not changed my mind re some interest in finding out more about non-property investments but it's for a few years down the line. Rn I need to focus on my business/ family and tbh my health. I'm struggling with sleep and know where it leads so keeping an eye on it and working with pros. Dealing with recovery feels like a full time job sometimes ha.

@mark55man thank you mate. It is indeed in one of my lists of reasons to stay in recovery - not joking I really do have a list lol.

You're 100% right about the balance. Covid really made me take stock of the direction my life had been heading in for far too long. I really dread to think where I'd be now if it hadn't been for that first lockdown tbh I don't think I'd be in recovery probably be staring at another 6 figures on the cards, block probably still hanging over me and no more refinancing moves to make. Sounds !!!!!! mad but I wonder from time to time if Covid happening actually saved my life I know I wouldn't have been able to handle things getting financially worse than they did get tbh I actually think it may have killed me. I cannot begin to express in writing how grateful I am to see a little light at the end of the tunnel and still have my family. Time to build memories with them and get to know my wife and son sounds nothing to someone decent but for me its lifechanging. Being able to have this weekend away again with my family was very emotional tbh haha. Tonight actually thought to myself I'm quite fortunate for things like this weekend to be able to happen regularly and reading some of the diaries on here even with my balloon payoff plans my budget is not too bad. Fwiw if you'd said that I'd be writing this this time last year I'm quite sure I would have told you to !!!!!! right off.

capuchin

@alt80 Just checking in quickly here as I'm also having a bit !!!! time! Thought I'd mention anti-histamines (heyfever pills) - many have a sedative effect which help sleep and aren't addictive at all! The epiphany is just the start, not everybody has the fortitude to see it through. So don't be hard on yourself for being a massive !!!!. Beating yourself up and looking back ain't no good! (and definitely no good for your family) Just build the memories from day 1 

enthusiasticsaver

Some of the things you say now in your daily logs are so refreshing to hear and strange to think in your case Covid actually helped you change your life and the path you were going down. The money turned out to be a secondary problem in the end. Budget reset this week isn’t it? 

My husband is recovering ok thanks from his surgery. 

RelievedSheff

Day 172. Not long now until it is a full 6 months

alt80

@capuchin thank you- I once read regularly taking antihistamines can up the potential of dementia though tbf if my brain is !!!!!! in the future the damage has already happened in all likelihood. I have taken them in the past but I do have quite the ability to push through and still be up ha. 

Luckily I’m fairly good at pressing on if there’s something I want to do and tbh I really hope this is the start of better times moving forwards.

@enthusiasticsaver good to hear that. Life is precious really.

Don’t laugh but my personal finances are actually really stable now. Sticking with plans, no spending binges. I bought that F-Type after a massive bender ‘celebrating’ finally trusting negative results from doctors. Possibly sounds odd as I spent so much time moaning about it being gone this time last year but I’m glad it’s gone. Know I wasted the money but it’s not there constantly reminding me of the !!!!!! crazy benders I spent too much of my 30s on. Wasted !!!!!! hundreds of thousands over the years and it’s a shame but I have got to move on or I never will. You’re right tbh I wasn’t going to get far whilst I was still in off my head up all night to look at spreadsheets mindset fml. 

@RelievedSheff not long at all, been an absolute game changer who’d have thought ha. 

alt80

Day 172

planned to look through finances ready for budget reset weekend but I’m whacked after work and really !!!!!! struggling tbh. Slightly better sleep last night but not amazing got my nighttime tea and going to go to bed earlier do guided meditation in hope it helps a bit. 

One of my staff is struggling with booze somewhat after split with wife. Been going on a while and he’s always been a big drinker but I couldn’t let it slide today. Spoke to him this afternoon, told him we just can’t go on like this, half suspected he wouldn’t take it well and he didn’t. Really not the !!!!!! one him telling me I wouldn’t be saying any of this if I’d had a line. He knows I’m in recovery so it was just a really !!!!!! thing to hear. I’ve been in bits tonight tbh despite him sending me a !!!!!! grovelling apology message. I know I can’t let go of my days no matter what been sat reading everything I’ve written about the positives of recovery - it helps and I have got through. Set reminder on my phone to do same tomorrow as I’ve added about 7 more things. 100% determined to stay on this road and thinking about the stability of my personal finances without the self destructive things in my life anymore is amazing tbh I’d never thought I’d ever be able to say I will feel I’m in a financially stable position no longer making stupid choices and overly risky decisions.

sarahevie1

I thought of your diary when I was reading an article about the son of my dad's best friend. He was in the NRLA due to his achievements in property. I went on social media to drop him a congratulatory message. What struck me about his social media is there was nothing remotely flash about it, lots of camping trips with his kids, he clearly likes value for money as he was saying he couldn't upgrade the camper as prices had gone silly, weekends at the park run (that was the only thing he was bragging about - his times.) It's a good reminder that not everyone in property is flashy, and pleasure can be derived from very simple things. 

You've got this - keep on with the recovery.