The Mental Debt Struggle...

vampirotoothus

Hi Keedie, I think if you phone Barclaycard they will refund the overpayment. V x

Keedie

I didn't know that was possible regarding the refund, so thank you @vampirotoothus, I'll look into it.

Keedie

I've been inspired by @LittleMissDetermined, and I've had a slightly different approach to my sinking funds and savings.

I was getting a bit demotivated trying to fund multiple things and not really seeing much progress but also not having a lot of spare money available. But I'm going to have a generic savings pot to cover a range of things like birthdays, Christmas, car maintenance, new glasses etc, and not worry about saving for individual things until the new year. By that time, I'll have completed by 50 envelope challenge and that will help me to establish my sinking funds for 2025. 

And so the money that I was drip feeding into those individual pots, will help me to reach my actual 2024 savings goals easier and have more breathing room. I feel a sense of relief now. Like I've given myself permission to not have such a tightly controlled plan, and ironically that is helping me to actually have more financial freedom and disposable income to react to life where necessary. 

Can't seem to reach Barclaycard, and their app and website won't allow me to log in, so a bit confused by that. There must be some system issue I'm not aware of, so I'll try again tomorrow.

Keedie

I met up with a friend today and we went for lunch at a Thai restaurant in Rochester, Kent. I'm now officially knackered but happy. I met my friend in South East London via the tube and got to use the fancy new Elizabeth Line, and then she picked me up from the station and drove the 40 mins into Kent. Managed to get a nice 2 course lunch set menu for £15.50. Can't eat those prices in London!

And she was very excited that we could park for free on the high street straight outside the restaurant with my blue badge 😂. After lunch, we slowly walked around, and I had a bit of trouble navigating the steps up to Rochester Cathedral my crutches, but it was so lovely! Turns out it's the second oldest cathedral in England (if I read that correctly and I'm not misremembering as I'm bone tired), as it takes back to 604 AD. It was a bit creepy in some places inside the cathedral though, lots of shrines to previous bishops from the 13th, 14th century etc and some little alleyways and narrow doors that don't look like they could possibly go anywhere that leads to safety.








My son put my electric blanket on for me, so I'm all toasty in my bed and won't move for the rest of the day if I can help it. But having a nice economical day out, spending quality time with my friend and knowing that for once, I am under budget but still able to socialise, has been nice.

AntoMac

What a lovely day Keedie, and some lovely photos - all within budget too. Priceless! Enjoy your well earned rest and recuperation.

beanielou

Lovely to socialise. 

Makingabobor2

Sounds like a lovely day & great photos. 

Cherryfudge

Beautiful photos. It sounds like somewhere to return to - and a lot of cathedrals have a good café attached!

PennysIntoPounds

'little alleyways and narrow doors that don't look like they could possibly go anywhere that leads to safety' 

Yes please the rest of this book when you're up for doing more creative writing please 😊

Keedie

I absolutely zoned out last night and had the deepest sleep and still woke up exhausted 😂. I had a really good time yesterday and we're definitely going back again in the summer. Funny that you say that about the cathedrals and cafes @Cherryfudge, as this one had one that looked like it was rather popular. At my first job at St Martins-in-the-Field in Trafalgar Square, I was a concert usher for the evening classical music concerts. But sometimes I picked up a Saturday shift in the box office, and if you did the box office and an evening concert, you got a free two course dinner and a drink from the cafe in the crypt. Not gonna lie, I was rather motivated by those meals as they were absolutely delicious and did the best apple pies (and it was all free) and I earned a better hourly rate on the box office.

I've been trying to get my motivation back to start writing again @PennysIntoPounds, so there may well be a novel in me yet. The creative writing groups I go to on a Monday are really helpful in terms of remembering that I can write, and why I like to write. Didn't enjoy the poetry ones that much to be honest, but it's still something to do and I think I need to develop the consistency/habit of writing again.

But anyways, it's the first Friday of the month, so I'll be going to my bipolar group today so I am looking forward to that. Also, I need to wash my hair as it's in a terrible state and requires a hot oil treatment. I didn't realise how tired I was from returning to work, but since I stopped last week I've been rather run down and I've got a not so cute stye in my left eyelid. But the bit that stings the most if the look of wincing pity my son gives me when he's talking to me 😬.

I've decided that on the days that I go to my bipolar group, I'm going to have a nice meal by myself. I love going to the group, but sometimes I can become rather exhausted by it, depending on the topics we discuss. And I also get rather hungry as we go to the pub afterward, but I am not spending £18/£19 on a burger! Recently I've been munching a meal deal on the break within the group and then finishing it between the end of the group and on the way to the pub. But this time, I'm going to Zizzi and using my clubcard vouchers. I'd redeemed them for my son to go on a Valentine's date and then (as typical teenagers do), decided to go elsewhere and that left me with unused vouchers. I worked out that I can get a main, side and a drink and it'll cost me about £8 to top up the voucher value. Then I'll stick to my one drink tonight in the pub and I'll be okay for that budget wise.

I'm meant to be going to Lidl to get some burgers and french fries for my son's dinner, but I'm currently lazing around in my bed instead 🤦🏾‍♀️. And I need to get up and wash my hair. Oh the burden of parenthood and not looking like a yeti... 😂😂😂.