Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

beanielou

I gave my DS money towards his OD earlier in the year. 
No point in him paying 40%.

MovingForwards

Your travel plans sound fantastic, I'm looking forward to hearing about them.
Is there any way of adapting a thinking period before buying something, it will save money and your time to return things.
Sorry to hear you've burnt yourself again, hope it's cooled.

Blackcats

A September trip to London sounds lovely.  Have a look at Heritage Weekends in September - there is free entry to many places and places open that aren't usually open to the public.  Next year I'd recommend London garden square open weekend in June - access to usually private beautiful gated gardens in v posh areas. 

I woke up today thinking about you (no need to be too scared) and I wanted to say that your PIP can help you live your best life and that I can see from your posts how much you benefit from your cleaner, your counsellor, your hobbies, your days out and your short breaks away.  Of course, be sensible with the money but it's important to use it just for you, just for now and for what you need!! 

savingholmes

Today's plant

DancingInTheRain

Gorgeous plant, London trip sounds like a good plan too. I haven't been for years but would love to go back some time, it's a bit of a trek for me though as I'm about as away from it as it's possible to get in England  Pleased the extra hour from the cleaner was productive too x

Humdinger1

Beautiful plant @savingholmes.  If the scent matches, it must take you to the other place?  So glad to hear that your PIP payments are already doing their job and making your life so much better.  Re the comments upthread, I agree that treating children fairly can mean quite different things at different times for each of them.  EXH's input (or lack of) has an impact here too.  Love Humdinger xx 

savingholmes

Thanks. 

I have a busy day today. I have a blood test and then have to go into the office for a bit. I then have a Mr A delivery. 

DD is hopefully going to carry on painting my wall tonight as part of paying off her holiday.

I haven't been in a financial position to help my children much financially since the divorce (and prior due to paying off my own debt) so it's lovely to be able to do so now. Ex is hopefully about to complete on his house so has no spare funds currently.

Overdrafts at their current fee level are evil. There's very little justification for the high rates given the base rate. I keep trying to remember the teachings of the richest man in B@byl0n and only offer help in a way that doesn't move their burdens disproportionately to me. I'm also only willing to lend what I could afford to lose. It's a difficult balance to get. I know when I first started living independently we had lots of help from both sides of our family - although it was mainly in the form of meals. That's hard to do when your offspring are geographically distant.

Right - off to get dressed and out for my blood test! 

savingholmes

beanielou said:

I gave my DS money towards his OD earlier in the year. 
No point in him paying 40%.

I agree - the rates feel like extortion.

GAP - hopefully I'll find out if the stairs are fixable tomorrow.

MovingForwards said:

Your travel plans sound fantastic, I'm looking forward to hearing about them.
Is there any way of adapting a thinking period before buying something, it will save money and your time to return things.
Sorry to hear you've burnt yourself again, hope it's cooled.

MF - I think the influx of £ went to my head slightly - and I over-spent on things that don't add enough value. I also returned some clothes that I liked the look of but the in-store changing rooms were shut - so had to bring them home to try. In the end I concluded I had enough nice options already and didn't need the new stuff.

My hand was much better by the next day. Prior to that I had to take ibuprofen and try and use a wet cloth etc to try and sort it.

Blackcats said:

A September trip to London sounds lovely.  Have a look at Heritage Weekends in September - there is free entry to many places and places open that aren't usually open to the public.  Next year I'd recommend London garden square open weekend in June - access to usually private beautiful gated gardens in v posh areas. 

I woke up today thinking about you (no need to be too scared) and I wanted to say that your PIP can help you live your best life and that I can see from your posts how much you benefit from your cleaner, your counsellor, your hobbies, your days out and your short breaks away.  Of course, be sensible with the money but it's important to use it just for you, just for now and for what you need!! 

Thanks for those suggestions BC. I need to make more use of my NT card too. I promise I am prioritising my wellbeing in this too.

• I increased my cleaner by an hour a week. She makes a big practical difference to me and helps with the social side of life too.
• I'm keeping my counsellor at fortnightly for now but will keep that under review. She is changing where we meet as it's too expensive and wants to move outdoors from August or to virtual appointments (e.g. over winter) - which I'm upset about. Virtual appointments would be cheaper though. I may suggest that I pay more for one appointment per month so she can book a room by the hour - and have the other virtually to compensate. I don't see many people face-to-face so it's something I'm reluctant to sacrifice. Where she wants to meet is also further away which is a pain...
• Hopefully from August I'm going to pay £10 a month into a health scheme at work so that I can claim £100 more towards opticians and up to £350 towards a chiropractor. I then intend to book some sessions. I'm in a basic scheme currently. Just waiting for HR to sort it out. I'll chase them tomorrow.
• I've spent a lot on my hobbies this year - much more than normal - so need to use some of my stash rather than keep buying more at this point. I have one art course I'm part way through online and two I've yet to start. 
• This month I diverted some hobby spends to garden, beach & outdoor items.  I still plan to do days out and short breaks away - I just want to cut back on some of my fritter spends. My bedding plants are looking lovely for not a huge amount of spend. I need to declutter rather than add more stuff. 
• I'm buying more annual leave - but can only apply in September and then will start paying for those from October.
• I've put some money away for future holidays. I don't want to go abroad at this point.
• I allow a monthly amount for eating out - but have pretty much used up this month's with DS graduation meal and my trip to the Italian yesterday. 

savingholmes

DancingInTheRain said:

Gorgeous plant, London trip sounds like a good plan too. I haven't been for years but would love to go back some time, it's a bit of a trek for me though as I'm about as away from it as it's possible to get in England  Pleased the extra hour from the cleaner was productive too x

Thanks Dancing. It sounds like you live somewhere beautiful then... I'm not keen on London but DS is a big draw. There's still a risk he may move abroad again at some point so I want to programme in seeing him regularly. He also can't afford to keep coming up to here. He is a very calming person to be around - so great for going to places I'd otherwise find too overwhelming.

Humdinger1 said:

Beautiful plant @savingholmes.  If the scent matches, it must take you to the other place?  So glad to hear that your PIP payments are already doing their job and making your life so much better.    Love Humdinger xx 

You made me check the scent. It's beautiful up close but subtle enough from a distance that it doesn't set off my hayfever. More of the buds have opened up today. An orchid my kids gave me last year is also in flower which is beautiful.

While at the GP's today I sorted some frogs. I got an activation code so I can sort out my stuff online which will hopefully make things easier. I booked a review with my GP for a few weeks time. I also got a form to synchronise my meds - but they want me to count what I have and report it which feels a bit OTT. I'll have to go back when I've done my count (roll eyes). 

To Do

• I still need to sort my company tax thing. I need to try and ring tomorrow.
• I also need to return the parcel via the PO.
• I need to sort a couple of financial frogs that could make life easier.
• Sort the painting in my room. DD said she would but I've a feeling she hasn't so need to see what I can get done before the guy comes.
• DD wants me to take her in a bit to Ald* so she can get her shopping.
• Still waiting for Mr A delivery. 

Last week I found a beautiful bench arbour for £200 that I am still debating whether or not to buy. I'd then need someone to assemble it for me - which is my bigger reluctance.

beanielou

Your DS sounds like mine~~he is a calm influence on me.