MeandO's money-shuffling

sudonum-mum

Just catching up again, sorry to hear you're in pain. Did you speak to your consultant?

Have you ever seen an osteopath? It would have to be private but I think it would be so worth it.

I saw one last year for the first time (my children had been previously for their issues) and she explained so much about my issues, did some manipulation of areas and told me how to keep the pain at bay which I've stuck to and its helped so much. When I don't do what I'm supposed to I get twinges and that reminds me to do what my osteopath told me!!

It was definitely worth it financially and I go to Pilates weekly and have found a very reasonably priced class. My health is worth more than paying down some debt quicker or saving more.

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hope everything is ok and your just busy with the school holidays and work x

Chrystal

Also thinking of you and hoping that everything is OK?

Sending gentle (((hugs))) XXXX

MeandO

Just a quick hello from me for now to say I am here and to thank you for checking in on me.

Apologies for going MIA for a while, life has been intent on knocking me sideways and it feels like I have taken 10 steps back both financially and personally.

I had to increase the mortgage to cover some work in the house that was meant to be simple enough but has spiralled as issues were found (story of my life!). It could have been detrimental to our health, so had to be tackled. I also incorporated the car loan to the mortgage as I was not coping well mentally with having that loan and the mortgage was a better rate by 3.5%, so will cost me less in the long run.

I have also used the credit card more than I would have liked after some bad luck with nails in tyres and a bad situation with accommodation for DS's recent comp away plus costs of several other things that were more than I anticipated, so there is a balance (under 1K) to work at paying off and my mortgage is now £15K higher than it was before. None of it's good, all of it's bringing me down but I'm trying my best. I do feel completely overwhelmed at the moment though.

Health issues have also arisen both for me and my Parents and we had news yesterday that my Dad is basically now living on borrowed time which has devastated me. We're off to spend some time with them next week.

Mid despair and desperate to make things better, I did something stupid and booked a holiday for next year for DS and I as something to look forward to, so I have that to pay for too. I'm regretting it now as I can't afford it but stand to lose money if I cancel it and DS is so looking forward to it post GCSEs as I've said he can bring a friend. It's my own fault, but now I have to deal with it and work hard at paying for it.

I am really feeling quite despondent and defeated in life presently but I know I have to pick myself up, dust myself off and start again.

I will update properly when I have a spare half hour, but just wanted you to know that I do appreciate all your kindness. xx

Mrs_Money_Penny

Lovely you have popped in. Sorry to hear about your Dad.Parents are such a worry as they get older.

Try not to be so hard on yourself money wise. How you manage and pay all you do on one wage is actually remarkable. You do so well. It’s not easy with everything being so expensive. Cars are a pain when they go wrong and getting any work done on a house is astronomical.Wishing you a lovely time at your parents and make some lovely memories. xx

foxgloves

Awww, so sorry to hear about your Dad, @MeandO, it's another thing to worry about & a sad thing too. I remember when I heard the same news about my own Dad. I'd never heard of the illness with which he was diagnosed, so of course I researched it & can recall how awful I felt when I read that there was no cure. I can understand how frustrating it is to see your borrowing increase too. I think it's difficult on one income as while your hard work keeps your head above water, it can often feel like you never get your shoulders out. Isn't it always the way that getting necessary work done on our houses inevitably uncovers another problem. Our re-roofing at the start of this year led firstly to £3k of extra timbers, then to electrical work, plastering, then builders & a decorator to sort out water ingress from next door & we still need a 2nd visit from the decorator who wasn't happy with the quality of the plasterer's work & is coming to have a repeat go at something he says he can easily improve! I was looking at a little problem with the skirting board this morning as I didn't notice at the time but it was damaged last week when a delivery driver tried to get an enormous package through the front door. I think I'm going to try & sort it out myself as feel sure that if I get someone in to look at it, they'll take it off & then some old plaster will jump off the wall, then 3 more jobs will suddenly be revealed.

Nice to hear from you anyway.

F x

Honeysucklelou2

Thinking of you MeandO…

Newstartforme

Sending best wishes , enjoy your time with mum and dad xx

debtfreewannabe321

Sending lots of love MeandO. 🫂💓I'm so sorry things have been tough for you lately x

MeandO

You are just the loveliest bunch. 💞 Thank you all for your kindness, understanding and for making me feel so much better. I was feeling like a complete failure; now I'm just frustrated at going backwards (again) but am dragging myself back up out of the hole again.

I fully intended to post again sooner but life got in the way again, as it does.

We've returned from my Parents' and whilst it was so lovely to see them, I found it really emotionally draining and am feeling completely exhausted, mentally and physically. I miss them so much already. I'm glad we were able to get some jobs done for them that they would have struggled to do themselves. I wish I was there so I could help them day to day. :(

I've knuckled down and paid off a lot of the CC debt now by shuffling some savings pots around, skimming bits from the main account and finally being paid money that was owed to me (no prizes for guessing by whom!). The spending card is now paid off, or will be once OH transfers some money owed to me this weekend, and the balance transfer card is now at £130 from nearly £1000, so I am so pleased with that progress. I will do my utmost to get rid of the last £130ish and then start saving to pay for next year's holiday.

There is £1K in the car maintenance pot and £1K in the annual household bills pot, so they are more or less fully funded. My 'repair/replace/renovation' pot will more or less be empty once the remaining work is done to the house within a couple of weeks so I'll have to try and build that one up again. The Christmas/birthdays pot is also where it should be for this time of year, so lots of positives which I need to remember when feeling a bit down about progress.

Two loads of washing have been done already this morning. Rain is forecast for the foreseeable so I've put as much as I can on the airer and am standing it outside in between showers! There is another load of heavier items in the dryer as they'll take much longer to dry in the house otherwise.

This week I was sent a 25% off all food voucher for deliveries so I ordered a shop to be delivered last night for when we came home. I was pleased not to have to go to the supermarket to pick up essentials as I was so shattered and the fridge was bare. Delivery was free and I saved £20, plus had £1 back for returning used carrier bags, so a win-win there. £59 was spent and we are well stocked up now with both freezers full. My lovely sister & parents treated DS to some steak & chicken from their local butchers too, so there is lots in the freezer to eat well over the coming month or so and it will save me a small fortune. My family are so very kind and thoughtful, we are so lucky. 💕

OH and I planning on having some fish, jacket potato and veg tonight for tea. Simple but lovely!
DS is supposed to be at his Dad's but hasn't been going there lately as they are not getting on and he has not wanted to go, so I may need to cook for him too. I have left some fresh chicken in the fridge rather than popping it in the freezer just in case.

You were all right - it seems the mask has finally slipped and DS is seeing his father's behaviour for what it is and is making his own observations and decisions to not put up with it. I have recently picked him up from there several times when he has not been happy and wanted to come home and has chosen not to stay. He doesn't want to go there or engage with his Dad at all at the moment and has told me he doesn't like who he is as a person.
Whilst slightly relieved that DS is seeing the truth and is able to make his own, very mature, statements about it, it makes me really sad for DS that he is having to go through this. I was trying to reassure him recently that his dad loved him and DS's reply was that his Dad loves himself more than he loves DS. Unfortunately I think that's true and it breaks my heart for DS. It must be playing on my mind as I had a bad dream last night about the whole situation and the ex.
In the meantime, I'm just trying to make sure our home is as calm (which isn't always easy considering I'm getting all the teenage moods thrown at me!) and as full of love as possible so that DS at least has one home in which he feels relaxed, safe and loved. Booking the holiday was also partly to give him something to look forward to after the months of this that he's been going through. It may not have been the right thing to do financially, but it's done now.

School shoes have been purchased this week (£95) and I've topped up the school meals account ready for next week. There was money left on it from last term so I was able to top up less than I'd allowed for, sending an extra £25 to the CC repayment instead.

This week I need to finish some painting in readiness for the work to be completed in the house soon and then I want to declutter again. The utility room and box room/office have become dumping grounds for stuff earmarked for the charity shop and clothing to sell on v!inted so I need to sort that. I also want to take everything out of the shed and throw/donate what is not needed before putting the garden furniture back in it for the winter. Some small garden items and garden paint were moved out there this morning from the utility but it could do with a bit more attention before winter. Lots to do…