A new chapter, An empty nest, Drama school & Last year of Uni

Spendless

Payday for Mr S today. Ended the month with not much left in the bank account than I did 2 days earlier.! So we made it into triple figures of money leftover from wages but only just! This is now the 4th consecutive month that there hasn't been a huge amount of spare cash left over, which co-incides with youngest studying abroad and both associated and unexpected costs, some of which we've had to put under the heading 'Christmas present'  Not long left now though as she is home in around 3 weeks. 

I haven't put the £60 left over into any savings this month, I've moved it to pay for Xmas gift shopping. Normally I don't save because I buy all year round and spread the cost that way but I hadn't been prepared for no bedroom since early October and consequently nowhere to store anything. I am now trying to get as much bought on BF deals as possible.

Last night we were able to sleep in our bedroom again. No curtain pole or curtains up yet and we still need to buy a few bits for it. My parents have offerred to pay for something as a Christmas gift. 

As it's Friday £10 has been moved into alternative universe savings. £5 into  extra rent making it £50 total. £2 each into the lost and stolen pots making them £39 each and £1 into jabberwocky as this now has a total goal of £170 until everything is paid back.  

There is an update re Nan but until some t's are crossed and i's dotted, I'm unable to say on a public forum. I'll say more when I can. 

I have another rare weekend off work. Today I have the dental hygienist (fun - not!). Mr S goes to his works Xmas party but as it's not round here he's away o/n and returning tomorrow. We are at friends for drinks and a takeout tomorrow and we have Sunday planned as a  'tie up all the loose ends' days. 

Have a good weekend everyone. 

KxMx

After what I previously said about no NHS rehabilitation facilities locally, I found out there are actually still a few because Mum is now in one for continuing care, after a fall as an inpatient (admission 11) resulted in a fracture needing an operation to put right. Her second op in 6 months! 

Spendless

Sorry to hear this @KxMx. Definately your Mum needs her ongoing care looking at since shes on her 11th admission. Does your Mum have a social worker? I cant remember who on here said that to me, but Nan having one (only since she went into assessment centre) has made a huge amount of difference. Finally someone is listening to what parents have to say about it all.
Keep firm and stay strong. 

KxMx

I know there was a lady who was checking in every few weeks about the last temporary care plan (discharge 10) that's obviously ended now. 

Trying to get it increased in the run up to admission 11 proved impossible, so I'm very keen it's either right or too much (guessing it's easier to decrease) this time.

Making my first visit tomorrow, so I will speak to staff about involving myself in the discharge care plan, when the time comes.

Unfortunately I don't even get a break from the main Hospital as I have new abnormal cervical cells under assessment - I had some removed in April and was very ill afterwards with infections 😬

Spendless

KxMx - Sorry to hear this. You need to be able to take care of your own health needs. Keep speaking up. It's definately the SW that has made a difference in my Nan's case and we only got there I think by consistantly fetching up that this couldn't continue - and even then there was literally a last minute change of plan from sending her back home again!  

Spendless

Happy December

Productive day yesterday. Paid the CC, we'd already worked out which item was coming from which account last week but didn't pay until the end of the month due to time constraints and also maximising interest on our savings.

Then we went Xmas shopping in person and later followed it up with some on-line purchases, so the huge majority is now done. I wanted to take advantage of any BF deals running. 

After that we returned home, and set about getting the house straight and tidy. More progress has been made on getting our bedroom back together, not fully there yet but the end is in sight.  Had put a beef stew in SC yesterday morning so that we could just dish up and eat since we knew we had a busy day ahead.

Saturday after Mr S returned home from his Xmas party we went to friends for drinks. Intended ordering something in, but then friend said she'd found all ranom bits they had in the freezer and decided to make what she dupped an 'Indian tapas' with bits of everything. Really enjoyed it, healthier and cheaper than getting a takeaway.

Today I have work and afterwards am going with a friend to watch Wicked. Tomorrow  me and Mr S are going away to another city overnight. It's a freebie with hotel loyalty points though not the usual chain we stay in. When DD had the h&s issue in her first apartment, DH looked through all the hotel  loyalty points he had from working abroad to see if he could use them to put her up for a night or two in a hotel whilst  apartment management dealt with the issue. Once that had been done he spotted that he still had some points left and was enough for me and him to go away overnight as some also had hotels in the UK. This was around the time of Nan's hospital admission and though one destination appealed to us, neither of us had ever been before and it was a lot further away. With what was happening up in the air and Dad also now ill we just thought a nearer more famililar city would be better given the circs just in case we needed to cut the trip short.

SW rang parents over weekend. There are a step closer in what is happening. Having a SW has been an absolute game changer.

We also have a thank goodness we missed that bullet. Mr S is due a new company car next year. Had the discussion with his bosses about how much he can go to. He had 2 favourites, 1 I wasn't keen on - mostly cos the dealership is in another city so a pain when it needs to go there. The other is a replacement for the same car he now has. Fortunately he looked at the tax he'd pay, then rechecked the figures when he believed he'd one it wrong (cos it was so high) that's when he found out about a different rule that's come in on certain cars and the tax you pay. The 2 he was considering woul be a staggering £500 per month in tax for having them! That's £6k a year over 5 years (the time he keeps the car) = £30K. Considering these are our last working years before we retire and ais also the timeframe in which I wish to repay the student finance costs we've had since 2018 I'd have gutted to discover that he had a far lower net pay cos it was going in tax. Phew - and back to the drawing board for his next car! I'e not replaced mine yet, it's a struggle to find free time. I don't need it for work fortunatey so think it will be some time in the New Year when I get another.

As it's  first of month interest has been paid into my alternative universe saving s account. The interest disperses itself over all the different named savings pots but my priority is  fully getting rid of jabberwocky by the end of the year, so I moved all interest there and topped up to athe next £ from my current account, meaning there's now £4 sat in that pot.

Spendless

Discovered I get paid earlier in December. 1st time I've had a job where that happens. This means I am able to do a straight 6 week run of paying DD's London rent without dipping into the reserve we build up from DH'S wages. It will be mid Jan before that needs to happen. Have adjusted spreadsheet to account for this.

A lot of my online shopping turned up yesterday. Really happy with the purchases especially since they were bought on BF deals. 


My work rota for the remainder of December has come out and I am more than happy with it. Over the 2 week period that Xmas and NYD fall in, I'm just in 3 times and not working Xmas Eve, NYE or NYD. I have a few hours to do on Boxing Day and another day inbetween Xmas and New Year but then nothing till early Jan. It's far better than what I had last year and that workplace closed all BHs. Downside is prior to that I can't accompany DH to the airport to pick DD up as rota'd in that day  but I'd rather be able to be off when she gets back.

Spendless

Spent yesterday not realising it was Friday whilst at the same time being aware the previous day had been Thursday and the following one Saturday! Not sure how that works! I had woken up with a stuffy nose that worsened as day progressed so putting it down to that.

Consequently the £10 alternative Universe savings didnt go in until today. £5 went into extra rent. £1 each into lost and stolen fetching their totals both to £40. Then the other £3 into jabberwocky making it £7.

Me and Mr S had an overnight stay earlier this week. Freebie due to hotel loyalty points from when hes worked abroad. Let us check in early and both received a complimentary gin cocktail, which was nice, very fruity. Could have done with an extra shot of gin - lol. Then it was outside where both a regular and Christmas market was being held. Bought a couple of Christmas presents, had a drink in a pub, street food and a cream tea. Back to the hotel with our shopping then out for a meal.

Following day we went to the supermarkets looking for items for DH to take abroad to DD (choc advent calendar). Was going to go onto shopping outlet when Mum rang to say Nan unwell so cut trip short went home to see her. Assessment centre had raised some concerns so it may be a case that where Nan goes next which was due to be finalised this week has to be revisited as her care needs may have changed. 

A weekend of working lies ahead of me. At least after that I get a run of 3 days off. 

Spendless

NSD yesterday except fare to work. Still got a cold unfortunately. 

Hows this for money saving though. Mr S travelling abroad for work (so his employer paid the flights) got upgraded to Buisiness Class. No idea why. Hmmmphh - how come that's never happened when Ive travelled with him - said he'd better fetch me the amenities pack back - lol. 

Anyway thought Id give an update re Nan. Last week my parents were called to a meeeting with her Social Worker to discuss what happened next. After listening to parents SW said she had to take into account both my parents ages and Nan's advanced age and therefore Nan wouldnt be returning to her home and would need to go into care. The following day parents found a care home they liked (Mr S has a close relative in same one) informed SW. What should have happened next is Nan to be told, Care home staff visit Nan and arrangements made for her to transfer there probably next week.

 Earlier this week before any of this could happen, the assessment centre raised concerns re Nan's breathing which is linked to heart issues. Long story short, eventually she was admitted to hospital where she still is. She's a bit up and down. I was able to see her before this cold took grip. 

warby68

A sensible decision for Nan although I expect her response will be challenging to say the least. My mum always responds best to the 'professionals' telling her something she doesn't like rather than me so I would at the very least arrange to have them there when she is told. So far with my mum all the decisions she didn't like have proved to be the correct ones.

Its clear that health regions all operate slightly differently but I found they tend to go back to the drawing board after each hospital admission and the discharge people this time can be completely unaware what was planned last time. Hopefully that was just an inefficiency for us locally but it becomes very time consuming and confusing especially when they tell the elderly person a different plan. 

I'm sure you will stay on the case as necessary but so many things have happened that I never expected to in the world of care for the elderly that I thought anything is worth a mention.