First Steps to Solvency

katsu

@Alt I was struck by you talking about everyone really wanting more. I don't think you really think we all want that. Maybe this article about right sizing is from an interesting perspective for you? 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/11/michael-sheen-knowing-when-you-have-enough-rare-trait-age-of-avarice?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other 

alt80

Happy Christmas 

Day 205 and also by some !!!!!! real miracle of Christmas kept it alcohol free. If you’ve have told me this time last year I wouldn’t have even had a drink this Christmas I’d have told you that you were crazy but here we are and I’d only gone and !!!!!! made it. Unfortunately don’t feel amazing though, my son was up at 4.45am - new record?? - anyway he’s had a brilliant time and it seems his faith is restored in Santa after being a bit more cynical. Years past he’s been told he doesn’t come into my bedroom especially not at stupid o’clock to tell me Santa has been. This morning he practically took my door off its hinges already been downstairs so him and the dog were jumping all over my bed only the Mrs made some totally pathetic attempt to say back to bed tbh it was magical I had tears streaming down my face and my Mrs !!!!!! videoed it lol. Don’t know why I’m saying this on here I know it’s embarrassing but lot of people on here been really supportive re family becoming a lot more important in my life and I’m very grateful for that.

Didn’t manage all the cooking I got half way through the roast before MIL told me to just go and get some rest, been coming down with something all day. Did LFT this morning and yesterday in anticipation of my guests arriving, both negative. Always !!!!!! happens get to shutting down the office and the next day I’m ill. Actually slept most of the evening in front of TV, managed to eat a little of each thing. Guests left earlier than anticipated for me to get some rest fml I told them they could stay but they said they’d rather know I felt I could rest fml become like some !!!!!! 80 year old relative ha. 

Respond properly in the morning, need to get to bed but no spends (of course) and thank you if I wasn’t on here I would have maybe just made another half arsed ‘attempt’ to sort out my personal finances and tbh has helped me to start to be better for my family. Son told me before he went to bed he’s had the best Christmas ever that !!!!!! broke me again but seeing how happy he has been today has made my year and makes me believe in carrying on down this path. Sorry probably a bit sentimental haha read this back tomorrow and wonder why the !!!!!! I’ve admitted to some of that and stone cold sober too but hey ho said worse things on here and seriously big thank you to those on here you know who you are.

Legs21

Glad you all enjoyed Christmas. Don’t be embarrassed by tears, millions of other parents would have been the same with their kids on Xmas morning too. They were probably tears of relief as well as joy as you were so stressed and anxious in the lead up to Xmas.

Enjoy the rest of your break.

RelievedSheff

Glad you enjoyed Christmas day.

 Hopefully you can chill out and relax for a few days now the pressure of the big day is gone.

No shame in crying Alt. It shows how much you truly care about your family. 

Willowtree222

Hopefully now the guilt will lessen about the presents. He said it was his best Christmas ever yet you’ve cut back. Think you’ve witnessed what a lot of people have been saying, it’s about the time and memories. Hopefully now you’ll see that for birthdays and Christmas 

sorry you’re not well though Alt. Take care 

maggiem

Sounds like a wonderful Christmas Day, even with a very early start. Wait til he's a teenager and you are banging around in the hall trying to wake him up.

Hope you slept well last night and feel better today. 

Sun_Addict

Glad you enjoyed your Christmas. Getting yourself clean and spending time with your family are the best gifts you could give them, can’t put a price on that. Get some rest today, no working. 

vampirotoothus

Glad you all had such a wonderful day. Maybe you could suggest a walk today with the PIL and have a picky lunch from left overs x

alt80

Thanks all 

Only just got up after going to bed straight after writing on here last night. Feel absolutely terrible, done another LFT and negative again idk can’t just have the flu or something these days without wondering if it’s covid or not. Don’t even know whether to trust the tests but on the third one. Anyway don’t think we’ll be going for any walks / food with parents-in-law which was the plan tbh. Had people who came here yesterday ringing my wife up asking if I’m ok fml really do feel old before my time lol. 

My wife and son both don’t want to do much after him getting us up at 4.45am keep reminding him might guilt him into getting up a bit later next year lol really he knows we don’t mind. 

Anyway I worked out Christmas spends this year totalled £1.2k that’s including food. No one disappointed to any great extent and I said I wasn’t doing gifts for wider family as we were doing the food tbh a lot of them we never have a clue what to get them and just wind up spending stupid amounts for no real reason. Gave in-laws the framed photo and they gave us one. Son didn’t get his phone and knows what he needs to do to get it for his birthday next year. We’d have always given in but whilst he is usually very kind to others tbh I think we were creating a bit of a brat. Mentioned on here he often hit my wife and I over not getting things he wanted. We’ve leveraged the fact he’s 8 and gone into the junior school told him if school found out he’d have to go back to wearing his infant uniform wife thought it was !!!!!! hilarious but worked ha. Not woken up even thinking about this Christmas being another load of money we’ve spent stupid amounts on and will need to be paid. Nice feeling tbh. 

AntoMac

I used to follow this diary without actually posting as never felt I had anything much to offer. Lost track of it as I didn’t bookmark it and have only just rediscovered it. What a transformation from where you were.
I recall you seeming to me like something of a lost case back when you were in denial but you’re really turning it round. Well done to you and the several people on here who have continued to support you and at times give you some much needed tough love.
Your Christmas Day post made me unexpectedly emotional. You’re definitely getting there. Keep going and hope your bug/cold clears up soon.