Debt and Caring

WelshmansDaughter

Thank you both for your kind comments. It is nice to have it put into perspective as that generally is the first to go out the window.
Well second, it follows energy out.

WelshmansDaughter

Today has been a relatively low key day. 
Yesterday went a bit mad on the spending, a bit last day of school after this latest overdose of responsibility.

Today however I have bought a cup of tea and brought a packed lunch as Teacup is looking after Dad until 4pm.

Since starting this diary I think I have almost been looking for ways to spend money 🤣🤣🤣

twiggy86

WelshmansDaughter said:

I don't really like budgets as my memory is bad and I always end up leaving something vital out. My plan is to take the next two months, get the hideous expenses out of the way and arrange some sort of organisation system for my money so that I don't get to the end of the month and wonder where everything has gone.

Just wanted to say that I've been back here since January and just realised a "pot" that I was missing from my spreadsheet - so don't think it's just you! It takes time to work out a system which works for you, so don't be hard on yourself. 

WelshmansDaughter

Passed a sign for a car boot sale yesterday. Looked it up and they charge €20 per car! 
I have no experience of car boot sales but that seems quite steep.

My life here in Ireland is pretty pared down so not much to sell off for extra debt pennies.
I have only made two three day trips back to Scotland since last April, on the last one I listed some items but only sold one in the time. Which just about covered my food delivery bill...
I have the stuff in my flat earmarked for future sale.
Not a fan of FB sales after I listed some insulation for sale. The only messages I got were all around 2am.
I started thinking that it was some sort of code I'd inadvertently stumbled upon. Which is better than the odd reality of people shopping for insulation at 2am.

doingitanyway

I like your take on life and sense of humour.
Wishing you well with organising your finances.

WelshmansDaughter

@twiggy86 being hard on myself has rather been my M.O. Weirdly sometimes I enjoy it. But then there is a difference I suppose between digging up my entire lawn with just a mattock and my life these days.

@doingitanyway thank you very much. I have the same quote written in the back of my bullet journal I wasn't aware I had a sense of humour so that's some good news.

In bad news, I recalled that Ikea and Decathlon were on my way home today. €3 on a dish rack to store my art supplies. And €32 on a weighted skipping rope for me Heavy and a Suspension training kit. I can't even blame the magic tills for my spending. 
The suspension kit will save me trying to find the time to go to the calisthenics area in the park. Which is full of people and their germs. 

I have rinsed off my soggy wet suit after an attempt to swim in the sea today. The amount of seaweed in the water meant the water was tea coloured. Now googling swimming pools as it appears I am more fastidious than money saving. Just have to overcome that pesky fear of germs. Or rather, passing said germs on to somebody who tells me he is delicate

WelshmansDaughter

Had a window in which my brain decided it could tolerate maths and realised that I could transfer the mortgage payment today. Dentist appointment falls awkwardly on the 30th so need to keep the money aside for that. 
It looks like I will be late with CC payments but I think there is enough in the UK account already to meet the regular outgoings. 
I am in that awkward stage now where I am behind, waiting for money to come in and catch up. Its times like this I miss doing deliveries where I could see the money coming in and request to be paid if I needed it.

WelshmansDaughter

Some positives:

Planted oregano, poppy and leaf beet.
Peas and kale growing away nicely.
Made a list of all the seeds I have

Bought pens

Finished putting the pull up station back together
Saved money on aids by just buying a Starbucks reusable cup

WelshmansDaughter

Dad has a chest infection so sent Teacup to the supermarket. This is a money saving exercise in itself as I'd spend due to stress.
Other money saving activities today include actually using the food already bought. Including a sheaf of kale which is usually the main victim of my toddler attitude to vegetables. 
Making a fish curry with all the infection busting herbs and spices I could find in the cupboard. 
Money problem (and life) no 1. I know what to do, I just don't do it. I did five years of home economics at school, I could cost a meal plan down to the cent/penny. 

WelshmansDaughter

€45 earned this morning that I had forgotten to account for. I have added it to the pile for the Horrifying Dentist Bill.
Being unhealthy is tiring and expensive. 
It appears that the Support Grant will remain at last year's levels so it will be approximately £1500. This will pay off CC1 and leave me with £400. 
Plenty of time to think this morning while cleaning Teenage Girl 1's room. Every week there is something mysteriously sticky which takes an age to remove. Very contemplative job cleaning.
I have finally acknowledged the strain that the last year has put on me and how it has made me think more in black and white. I cannot afford the debt I have- as in I cannot make the minimum payments every month. But it isn't the end of the world. It will be paid off eventually.
I do have to plan for the future. Even if aspects of that future are too difficult. If I'm honest, my ideal income is Universal Basic Income. And in some ways being in receipt of CA is a version of that. Albeit doing 24 hours of work for €30 a day. 
After this year, I doubt I can go back to caring about 'work' in the mainstream sense. I got more excited that constipation showed signs of ending (like Tensing and Hillary spotting the summit of Everest) than I ever did compiling reports or figuring out SQL. 
And I'm not sure that Chief Putter On of Slippers in Awkward Places is a valid CV entry.