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Debt and Caring

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  • Cherryfudge
    Cherryfudge Posts: 13,216 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 24 April 2023 at 12:28AM
    Listening to yourself can be really tricky. I've only very recently realised that some things I thought I enjoyed are really time fillers or to calm my mind down. There are much more interesting and fulfilling things to do but I might be too tired or unable to concentrate.

    The question of getting things done is complex, too. I think I self-sabotage, and used to imagine there might be a psychological reason, such as being afraid of failing (so I don't let myself get to that point). Now I'm wondering if it's autism-related, but if it is, I haven't found out how. I'm interested in what you have going on, but I don't have any insights to offer. I do think that learning to listen to yourself is key, though.
    I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
    The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)

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  • It's a mix of things I think. I've started drinking more water/squash during the day and that helps with some of it. 
    I am guilty of overdoing it when I know I will have low energy, especially on work days. 
    It wasn't so bad today, there was no school run as such so I just stayed in the house with two sick kids 🤷 
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Two sick kids sounds fractious. Hope you're all doing okay.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • Only brief periods of fractiousness SH. Sick kids means less energy kids. All three of them sat quietly on the couch watching tv for an hour while I stayed in the kitchen avoiding the germs 🤣🤣🤣
  • I am currently learning feng shui principles. I m not entirely sure how this came about but it has drawn me in. There is something called the command position for rooms which aims to give you control of the space. 

    I have also started conjuring a fantasy budget in my head. Now, I don't mean how to buy gold toilets and Lamborghinis. Just how I would spend my money if I never had to defend my choices or debate whether they were "right" or not. And if I had money spare 🤣🤣🤣

    New carer has started and this means in theory mornings free. I'm not sure if I like how dad is at the moment, he seems more nervy than usual and his language is affected. But I also think it's good for him to have more people about. So swings and roundabouts as per usual. 

  • Payday! Hopefully. 
    I might have gotten accustomed to having no money though. Or just spent more of Teacups 🤷 Yesterday I discovered that I am entirely at fault for the expensive energy bills. Which was news to me. Teacup and time don't really mix though.
    Carer has not turned up. Which is pretty bad for only the second day. I am trying to be charitable though, perhaps his previous client exploded. Or something.
    And to be fair, the apple I gave dad seems to be doing as good a job 🤣🤣🤣

  • CRANKY40
    CRANKY40 Posts: 5,911 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Debt-free and Proud! Name Dropper
    My sister said that her last ESB bill was so high she thought they'd made a mistake. She's used to having to pay somewhere between three to four hundred euros. The last one was nearly a thousand. That doesn't cover heating as she has an oil tank outside for that. 
  • Yep ours was a thousand too Cranky. That was just gas. There was the discount on the electricity but it was high
  • No money. It was to be dropped off tonight but it has fallen victim to the scatterbrain. 
    Oh well. 
    Got as far as putting pancakes into two separate delivery baskets but didn't go for checkout. Ordered them on tomorrow mornings order only for teacup to change it to get free delivery in the afternoon.
    And dad won't sleep because she changed his routine.
    This is why it's easier to do everything myself. Things are clean when I need them. Stuff isn't piled up. 
    I Am Grumpy. I hate Wednesdays. It doesn't matter how little I have actually exerted myself I am always exhausted.
    Although in the name of strict honesty...
    I did do squats with a six year old on my back. 
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Love the image of squatting with a 6 year old on your back... Not surprised you're exhausted with all the other stuff too.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
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