The Mental Debt Struggle...

Makingabobor2

Been AWOL for a while and just catching up. So sorry to hear you are stressed, you do seem to always have a lot to deal with. Hope the kitten won't cause you too much stress. We used to have a cat, but after she passed away I vowed never to get another one as I was sick of hoovering up hairs and sick of the smell when she decided the plant pots were a good place to do her business....lol.  Also hated cleaning the litter tray as we didn't let her out over night. 

AntoMac

I would go with a vet fund over insurance Keedie. Rightly or wrongly, I think insurance is stacked in favour of the insurance company. Don’t forget to budget for injections/vaccinations etc. Will your kitten be a house cat? Would be difficulties with going in and out otherwise, with you living upstairs.

When things are tough and stressful you always find a way. I’m sure you’ll find a way through your latest challenges. 

Makingabobor2

Hope you are ok Keedie. X

Keedie

I'm still hanging in there, thank you for checking on me. Life has just been a bit difficult in the last couple of weeks. But some good news is that my agency contract was extended until 31 March 2026. I dunno if I said that already or not. But that helps with the finances.

But I've got into a little bit of debt (discounting what I owe for the bookkeeping course that I've not been mentally well enough to study for). Anyways, I got a few things on Argos in the Black Friday sales. Mainly new bedding because mine was shockingly old, and a new hoover. I got a Shark one. Still not 100% sold on it. I think I should have gotten Dyson. Anyways, I need to figure out what I owe on the Argos Card so that I can repay it before it's due in mid-June 2026. A bit upset with myself for doing that, but I figured I'll get back on track soon enough so it's okay. 

But I did top up my savings and sinking funds with the completed 50 envelope challenge and another challenge that I completed. I had £1,400 total and set some aside for the hairdressers on Friday and in general for myself and I funded Christmas and topped up my sinking funds and paid the balance on our Christmas Day meal at Harvester. I managed to put £1,730 into savings by reallocating the savings challenges and getting a start on some of the big savings goals.

I feel a little fragile at the moment, and so not making a lot of sense, but I am still plodding along. I'll check in around a day or so. I'm a bit frazzled and my medication increased on Monday and I am feeling rather confused and out of sorts sometimes and have a headache.

Makingabobor2

A new hoover is always a worthwhile buy. 
Hope you feel better soon. 

beanielou

Amazing savings. 

Keep plodding 🤗

Cherryfudge

To me, that's a lot of savings. And waiting for the Black Friday sales for the bedding and the hoover was a good move.

I'm sorry to hear you're having to adjust to the new medication. I hope it soon settles down and helps you.

AntoMac

Those are hardly reckless purchases Keedie. Sounds very much like needs rather than wants.
Often just hanging in there is more than enough. Tough times don’t last forever,
Great news with your contract extension

Baileys_Babe

Thanks for taking the time to update.

Sorry to hear you are feeling rough and changes to your medication are taking a while to settle down.

Brilliant news about the extension to your contract.

Well done on the savings.

The Argos spends sound like they were needs not frittering.

Sending gentle hugs and balancing vibes.

Keedie

Thank you all, I think I was beating myself up about spending as it took so long to get out debt, and I was only able to do so with help earlier this year. But it wasn't frivolous purchases, and I did also get a hairdryer brush that I had my eye on that became half price in the sale. I got stuff for the kitten on Amazon, but that wasn't on credit, as it came from my new pet fund.

The medication is helping me to sleep which is a good thing. So although I've been steadily increasing the dose and having to adjust each time, but I think it might start to work better soon for stabilising my mood in a few weeks. I have my first support group as lead facilitator today and I must admit, I'm rather nervous. It's a large group and I've not done it before, so wish me luck 🤞🏾.

I'm quite proud of the savings, as it was £1,275 from the 50 envelope challenge and £125 from another savings challenge. I hope that by December 2026, I will have £3,000 saved to set me up for 2027. So I've set up a savings pot on Monzo with 3% interest, so that I can drip feed the savings challenges into that once completed. 

I'm going to Norfolk tomorrow to see my friend and I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with her and her family. I've brought some fleece pyjamas from my spending money today, as I know that it's colder over there and I don't want my joints to seize up, and the damp cold gets quite painful at times. But it's nice to get out of London and have fresh air to look forward to. I'll be getting the train as it's way too far to drive, and I still haven't changed to an automatic. So I'm letting "the train take the strain" as my mum always says 🤣.

And my dad's headstone has finally been installed and it's so nice. My sister took pictures as I'm not mentally well enough to go and hang around a cemetery at the moment. My mood is quite low, but agitated at the same time as I'm creeping into a mixed bipolar episode and it's rather poor timing to be honest. I wouldn't wish bipolar away as it's just a part of who I am, but it really does annoy me sometimes 😤.

Anyways, I've just got in from the hairdressers and my shoulder is aching from driving there and back even though the drive wasn't long. I'm glad that they've offered me a steroid injection and I have that next Friday to look forward to. It doesn't seem to work for everyone, but I hope that I am in the subset of people that get a lot of benefit from it.