The Mental Debt Struggle...

daisy_1571

a manager I worked with many years ago insisted on this and finding how helpful it was I often use it. In the busy years I didn't always follow my own advice hence having to sort it all out now.

The irony is of course that in the busy years you have no time to set up systems to make life easy. Now I'm no longer full time working I have time to set up the systems. 😆

Keedie

Sorry for the radio silence, I have not felt very mentally well and I've spent a lot of time in bed staring at the wall. Or sleeping. Or getting agitated that it was too hot to sleep. My 95 year old Granny is still in hospital and we've been told a good few times to say our goodbyes, and then she somehow keeps pulling through. So that has been a lot of limbo, but she seems to be inching in the right direction, so I am really relieved. I can see the relief with my mum, as she's 74 and I worry about her as she goes back and forth to the hospital, it's quite a lot for her.

A massive thank you for all of the filing advice @daisy_1571. I will definitely implement something similar once I have waded through all of the papers and have an idea of what I am keeping, and what needs to be filed. My Reablement Worker is coming over on 24 July to check up on me, and she will help me to start creating a filing system. So I will make a note of your system and she can help me to replicate it based on the types of documents that I have.

I'm still not very on top of my finances, but it's getting a bit better. Having my food shop money weekly is helping. It's made us more conscious of what we are spending and what we are eating. My son got most of the food shopping money this week as I'm pet and house sitting for my East London sister. They've gone to Egypt for their family holiday, and so I am looking after their cat, bearded dragon, gecko and koi fish. It's been strange to be in their house with no one here, but I've had a good break from my normal life. And that's never a bad thing is it?

I've mainly just been feeding them on a schedule and stroking the cat who has been demanding attention from me. I think he's freaked out by the silence. They're a family of 6 so it's never quiet, and I'm one person and I don't make a sound unless someone calls me and I speak to them on the phone. But I have been watching YouTube and listening to music, so it's not been Museum Quiet. I've realised that I have never ever lived alone, but I do like it. I went from my parent's house with the 7 of us (5 kids and parents), to loud halls of residence at uni, back to London post uni and then into hostels and then eventually a flat with my son when he was 5 months old. So yeah, never had my own space before. But I must admit, I do really like it. I think my son and Silver are really missing me though.

My brother in law got me some meals from Thrive, so that I have not had to cook any dinners. The box arrived on Monday and it was all prepared and I just stuck it in the fridge and then the meals are ready in 3.5/4 minutes in the microwave. That's been very helpful and it's allowing me to get back into eating regular meals instead of snacks, so that is helpful. My carer is going to start cooking meals as well, so that will take the pressure off me too and help with food stability/meal times. And it'll be cheaper by meal planning as well.

But last night, I had some (common sense) epiphany about my budget. I realised that my weekly expenses and sinking funds should change depending on my budget threshold. So I've had the time this week to think, and I've worked out my 5 levels of budget, and it ranges from absolute bare bones necessities all the way up to a lavish (and somewhat fantasy) lifestyle and budget that includes more spending money and savings.

• Bronze Budget = £1,750 pcm
• Silver Budget = £1,875 pcm
• Gold Budget = £1,975 pcm
• Platinum Budget = £2,250 pcm
• Diamond Budget = £2,500 pcm

My income is the Gold Budget, but does not have any allowance for savings. So if I need to save for something, or there is an issue that impacts my income, then I will drop down to a Bronze Budget or Silver Budget. The Platinum Budget and Diamond Budget are based on fictional income, but gives me something to aspire to if I was to freelance and have some extra money. I've worked out the weekly amounts as I go up the income thresholds, and the extra things that I can fund/consider. It's made me feel less anxious now. So that's always a good thing.

daisy_1571

You are very welcome keedie.

If you can at least have a space for 'types' of documents ready, they can be quickly put in the correct space to maximise the time you have with a helper. A quick glance at a bit of paper will tell somebody is this from x institution, a bank, something health related, a job application etc etc they don't have to sit reading the whole thing. Then at any time you feel inclined, you can take one file, folder, box and go through it sorting first into years or decades if there's a lot. Just spread them around you, 1990s over here, 2000s on your right, etc. Then if you are disturbed you can quickly just pile them up back into the file, folder, box. But if you have time, you then start with the oldest year (or if a decade bundle separate into 10 individual piles) and start making the index sheet and numbering everything. Then again, if you are disturbed you know how far you've got next time you get it all out.

Hope you are having a lovely little holiday away. Sounds like a perfect reset time.

Dxxx

Makingabobor2

Sounds like time by yourself might be just what you need. I had been thinking of you and wondering how you were coping with this heat as I know you live in a flat quite high up. Hope having a house to yourself, and I presume a garden, is doing you some good.