Five Year Fix, Five Year Plan

Merlin's_Beard

It's a mix of pension at higher tax rate + the fact that my boss doesn't pay for any transport/accommodation to courses, any professional subscriptions!

South_coast

Well done on getting HMRC to process it, I'm still waiting on a claim I submitted on 6 April 🤦‍♀️!

Merlin's_Beard

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82069461#Comment_82069461

It's the mind bending power of logging in about once a week for the last month or two and staring at the "still being processed" and then logging out with a sigh.

South_coast

I'll diarise to give that a go 🤣🤣🤣

Merlin's_Beard

Okay, so two weeks on HRT and… it might be helping? My head feels a bit clearer, I'm slower to snap. I woke up this morning not drenched in sweat? Less panic attack type episodes and the ones that are happening are smaller and easier to snap out of.

In other news, everything else keeps on pottering on. I'm doing an online free photography course to try and learn how to use the camera, and I'm keeping up with that (very MSE!). I'm starting to pick the piano up again (another sign that the HRT is working? To have that energy?)

I haven't really done a lot of silly spending this month either, so that's good. I've booked our regular talk and a musical with a friend (but being more social is a goal, so that's good use of money!) i managed to drag myself out to board games as well, against my will. I've signed up to a years subscription to the club (£60/year gets me entry to every thursday, not just the monthly big meets, and it means I don't have a barrier to going, so I'm figuring it's worth it to try - and it gets me free rental of any games that I want from the club. And again, a move towards being social and building community here so thoughtful spending!)

Still put a huge amount towards the car goal.

The teeth continue on - everything seems to be going okay, and I have a check up on Tuesday.

I do need to think about booking flights to Sri Lanka for next January, but all the flights at convenient times are connecting through the middle east so I don't really know what to do with that. More thoughts needed.

bellevie

It's good you've noticed a difference so quickly. I did too, such a relief!

Very thoughtful spends on social activities, a good goal to have being more sociable. I do need to take a leaf from your book....maybe next year!

rtandon27

Popping in to see how things are going with you!?

Merlin's_Beard

@rtandon27 thanks for checking in!

Been a bit up and down healthwise - they had to adjust other medication to help with pmdd type symptoms, and settling onto that has been a wild ride (but maybe this week feels better? I don't know). Have a review at the end of the month so I'll see where things are going then. It's really drained my energy though.

Work is more down than up in terms of survivability - but changes are coming. No one in power has said anything but the signs point towards a sale in the next few months so I'm trying to hang in there and see who my new overlords will be.

Housewise it's four years since I moved in! Will do a financial roundup at the end of this month, but this month I've bought a drill and then stared at it for six weeks, but last night I finally took the brave step of drilling into the actual walls unsupervised (it FELT very brave - I've only ever been in rented so everything else I've given a go at various points but power tools feel like a big step).

Anyway I have two whole toilet roll holders in the wall and I'm very proud of them.

I had a friend staying this weekend which was lovely to catch up and it also prompted me to replace the broken toilet seat, which I've been procrastinating on for months.

Also ordered some thin cheap storage cupboards for the bathroom as well, only one of which has arrived. Have sent an email chasing that up!

Still need to book flights.

Also hitting the point where I need to arrange travel injections as well!

KajiKita

I have asked Mr KK to be allowed to use power tools before. He's tried and very promptly taken them straight off me again! 🤣 I would be very proud of your two toilet roll holders too 💖

I'm sorry work is so sucky … I hope the new ownership at least brings a few more staff!

4 years in your house already - blimey, that HAS flown! 😊

KK

Merlin's_Beard

Okay I have booked the travel clinic and I've booked the flights as well.

My dilemma was:

Do I pay £600 and fly through the middle east, with everything going on and knowing that it could escalate into a hot war again at any moment and January is 4 months away. Also knowing that my travel insurance won't cover a flight that is a) disrupted by war and b) doesn't start or end in the UK.

Or

Do I pay nearly £900 and do a direct flight and eat the £300 extra and potentially have to arrange my transfer back to the airport for an early flight (£100 extra because the last hotel is a long way away)

Still not convinced I've done the right thing but I've made a decision and now I have to stick with it.