The Mental Debt Struggle...

Debsnewbudget · 11 August 2022 at 10:17AM

You have so much going on. Please make a list and tackle it one frog at a time, might ease the overwhelm feelings.
Please look after yourself, sending virtual hugs.

IndiJonesi · 11 August 2022 at 2:54PM

@keedie the pain is a pain isn't it. I'd definitely keep the car, if I were you. I wouldn't give mine up as I've been on public transport and had to stand for the whole of my journey as it was a midday train and packed. So I use the train outwith peak times and then drive to work when I know I'll have no chance of a seat. I do shift work so travel at various times of day. Good luck with the rejigging of the budget. Indi x

Keedie · 11 August 2022 at 4:23PM

I've managed to book a callback via the eConsult with a GP by tomorrow at 7pm so that the re-referral can get sorted. Fingers crossed it won't take too long to get another appointment and I will take your advice @LittleMissDetermined and actually call the pain clinic to book in the appointment this time. I was just so excited to pick up my referral letters and do them online to quickly get an appointment, it never occurred to me that it could all go wrong.

I definitely got a reality check regarding keeping the car @AntoMac and @IndiJonesi! I hate driving, but I'd be a fool to lie and say that in terms of getting around it wasn't easier to do that with a car. I really underestimated how much harder it would be to mobilise whilst being so unwell, as usually I just stay in my house if I'm struggling. But needing to get to the hospital and to get to the shops etc and see my mum and it was all just so hard. So I have lot to think about and definitely need to re-jig the budget.

I'll take your advice and make a list @Debsnewbudget as I'm feeling incredibly stressed at the moment. I've gone back to not sleeping that well. I've lost sight of why I'm doing anything anymore, and so those 0% balance and money transfer options will make a big difference. I don't have an offer as great as the one AntoMac got with Sainsbury's, but I definitely need to find a way to make the Barclaycard offer work for me...

badmemory · 11 August 2022 at 4:31PM

The ownership of a car can be a great timesaver too. So if you are pushed for time you can probably get there & back in the time it takes a bus to get there. It doesn't come cheap but with age related mobility problems I would hate to be messing with taxis etc & am dreading the day they say sorry you need to stop driving, that was the day my mother really started going down hill (84).

Keedie · 11 August 2022 at 6:23PM

Cars definitely have frenemy status at times. Very quick in comparison to public transport but so expensive to run. I think the independence I have with the car really helps with my mobility. But I feel more free on public transport when I don’t have to worry about trying to follow a map or sitting in traffic.

I’m sorry to hear of the impact on your mum @badmemory when she lost her independence. I think sometimes people underestimate how much autonomy keeps us thriving and having something to focus on. I overestimated my ability to cope without a car, and now I’m having to rethink a lot.

abaka · 18 August 2022 at 12:48AM

Hey Keedie,

Sorry I haven't been around much lately, but had a brief look at your diary since I've been away and got caught up.

Interestingly, I also had an offer from MBNA hit my account.

On one card, they're giving me a normal balance transfer at standard rate, and then on another card (the one that has money on it, they're offering 0% @ 12 months or 4.9% for 48 Months.

Interestingly Halifax are also offering me a balance transfer on an empty card of 30% for the remaining life of the balance(no thanks!!!)....But I haven't had any offers on those cards for at least 12-18 months so even having those offers is a sign of progress.

I don't think I need to do any just yet, but it's good to know I'm making good progress!!

LittleMissDetermined · 18 August 2022 at 9:14AM

Just checking in to see how you're doing @Keedie? I hope that you managed to get sorted at the pain management clinic?
LMD x

Keedie · 18 August 2022 at 3:02PM

Hey @abaka, thanks for stopping by. I think Halifax are absolutely mad if they think 30% is going to entice you to come back and have a debt with them - maybe they've got delirious with heatstroke or have simply gone made with the recent heat 😂! But yes, getting offers is always a good sign that you're managing the credit well.

I used my 0% interest with MBNA for 12 months to reduce my Barclaycard balance, so that I could a money transfer with Barclaycard. I couldn't get a loan and the transfer fees are cheaper than paying interest on a loan anyways. So I've done a money transfer with Barclaycard until February 2024, and I'll use that to clear up a few things and reduce the balance on MBNA. I figured that getting rid of as many creditors as possible, frees up my disposable income and gives me less to manage. As trying to find £900 a month for repayments was crippling me and making me ill. If I've done my calculations right, I should be able to get it down to £550 a month. Which will make a huge difference.

Once all of the transfers have gone through, and I've sat with my mum to sort out my son's school fees (I'm still waiting on the invoice), then I'll be able to update my signature and see what the total damage is. I've created a new spreadsheet, as I have to completely restart as my debt is completely different from when I did my initial restart on 01/04/2022. I'm a bit sad that all my little percentages have been wiped out by restarting, but at least I get to colour in another debt free chart. So there's some fun in financial failure... 🤦🏾‍♀️😂.

Luckily I managed to get another appointment with the Pain Management Clinic @LittleMissDetermined and it's even the week before my original appointment! So now, I have a telephone appointment on Wednesday 12/10/2022 so I'm happy. I'm still in a lot of pain and really knackered all the time, but knowing that I am getting help soon, has made all the difference in terms of mindset.