MeandO's money-shuffling

MeandO

Thanks vampirotoothus, another great idea! I wouldn't really need many units but a diagonal wall (old fireplace) makes it a tricky shape to fit things in. I suppose I could always adapt them to fit though or at least have a go.

MeandO

PAD for to the debt today was £2, sent over from my spends pot. Will update the signature shortly.

I’ve been busy for the last couple of hours, cooking a big pan of caramelised onion & chicken pasta for DS (and the freezer). DS is tucking into it as I speak.

Whilst that was simmering I put everything back into the utility room cupboard and put the big tubs of paint and car screen wash out in the shed. There’s much more room in the cupboard now, so all of the candles and tea lights have been stashed in an empty storage crate and now live in there too instead 6ft up on top of the boiler cupboard and spread across the window sill. Much tidier and also easier to reach and get to if needed in case of a power cut.
I’ve put a screw in the wall to hang the mop up alongside my new table top ironing board (which I absolutely love btw!). I’ve put a bigger spray mop with removable, machine washable ‘mop head ‘pads’ (which was free to me some time ago) aside for OH as he may want it, if not it’ll be advertised for free. A very old half tin of paint has been earmarked to be recycled next time I’m passing the tip. It’ll never look perfect in there but it’s a lot better than it was.

I took some cake over to some elderly neighbours earlier in the week and had a lovely chat with them. They returned my plate today with a 5 star review of my baking skills! I love to bake but I also love to eat cake and am very much trying not to, so I’m grateful to have willing cake-recipients on my doorstep. :)

I was freezing and feeling rotten earlier so had a really hot bath which made me feel so much better. I cleaned the bath and sink afterwards and wiped the shower cubicle and tiles down quickly, so just the loo and the floor to clean in the bathroom which I will do later and then that’s ticked off the list.

I’m just having a cup of tea and a sit for 10 minutes before finding the next job to tackle. I might sit and read some of my book this evening, I didn’t feel like it last night and missed doing so.

Have a lovely evening all xx

foxgloves

I've done similar with a power cut box, @MeandO. I had lots of those glasses, usually gifted to me with a scented candle inside & they were dotted all over the place. I've just chosen 4 for our mantlepiece & put all the others in a box in the settle with a tealight in each. I can find those by torchlight, matches at the ready & have them lit with the minimum of faff.

Newstartforme

Hi Meando , hope the mice problem disappears quickly , well done on getting the debt down , what a great feeling getting down to the next thousand. Sending positive thoughts for your mum , try not to worry too much , easier said than done I'm sure xx

MeandO

Let's hope we don't have to use them too often! @foxgloves
Thanks @Newstartforme. It is a worry. She has been through so much and has so many life threatening issues that I don't know how much more her body can take. :( I just want to be there with them at the moment but I can't. I had a nice long chat and a few laughs with them last night on the phone though which I think cheered us all up.

Happy international coffee day, or so OH told me it was this morning. Apparently his work place has offers on coffee today in 'celebration!' My Xray appointment later is close to his workplace so I've told him he can buy me a coffee then! 😄 I'm just enjoying my first of the day in my new 30p glass cappuccino mug. Simple pleasures are the way forward. :)

Another stressful and emotional evening last night with DS. It was made worse because he got a situation completely wrong and out of context and the more I tried to explain and show him what something actually meant, the more wound up and argumentative he got and the more it was my fault, of course. Then he threw everything I ever do wrong at me and how I'm failing as a Mum.😞 Teenagers can be brutal and they know exactly how to make you feel like such a failure.
He was panicking as he thought he'd missed something important and I was trying to explain how the process works and that he wasn't late to it, in fact it was too early (college applications). He went to the gym and came back calmed down and apologetic and we've had a lovely morning this morning before school. I just need to learn to walk away before I make the situation worse, take a breath and let things pass before getting so upset. I really was just trying to help and reassure him. He can be so cruel though at times and so loving the next.
Anyway, draw a line. Another line. I'm going to need a new pen and ruler soon…

I found £1 in the car this morning so that's been paid off the debt as today's PAD. Was amazed at how much finding £1 to pay off boosted my mood! 😁

It's currently sunny after a heavy but brief downpour this morning, so the washing is on the line to dry. I've checked the weather and no more rain is forecast so fingers crossed that's correct.

Despite everything, I slept more last night, but woke up feeling a bit unwell and shaky. I wasn't sure if I wasn't going to have to call in sick but a cup of tea, a hot shower and a laugh and even a hug (yes, I got a hug from the teenager!) from DS put me back on track.

I don't think I've mentioned on here, (apologies if I'm repeating myself), but there's a strong possibility that I have MS. It was myself and my GP friend who put two and two together and realised lots of symptoms point towards it, my GP agreed and has referred me to a Neurologist.
I'm lucky in that my boss is being supportive as his teen daughter has a similar condition so he knows how debilitating the symptoms can be. I don't know how I feel about it at the moment, I think I'll just be glad to be able to put a name to my symptoms and to know what I'm dealing with. So, this morning I was shaky and felt very weak but told myself it was just temporary and to get on with things and I'd feel better - and I did. I take a lot of inspiration from my wonderful Mum in 'just getting on with it.'

It was indeed a NSD yesterday, other than the PAD, I'm aiming for another today.
The mortgage, water bill, council tax and TV licence have come out of the account today. The energy bill, life insurance and other regular bills were paid a couple of days ago, so just the sky bill (internet/landline/basic tv) (£54🤨) and mine & DS's mobiles (£13.50) left to come out of the bills account for this month.
The credit card is clear and there's £230 left in the grocery budget so I just need to make that last the month and all will be well.

the_end_of_the_rainbow

sorry to read your post @MeandO

Sending hugs.

Newstartforme

Meando , sending you good wishes and a big cuddle , you have so much going on and always so positive throughout . Really do hope things improve soon xx

debtfreewannabe321

I found one pound yesterday and ended up giving it to the air cadets who were on packing duties in MrT 😁. It made him and me smile. He'd been stood there redundant whilst several people kept saying no to his help so I packed the conveyor belt in order of packing my bags thinking he can't go wrong with that and gave him my £1 🙈 I wish I had more cash actually as he was so sweet and chatty.

Keep going with your DS and do learn to walk away, let him calm down then approach...I absolutely know easily said...but having had two head strong boys myself it would literally get to fisticuffs sometimes with them. DS1 especially he was a little monster when in a mood. Good job I was younger and could restrain him! They do grow out of it, my ds1 would never dream of lashing out or shouting at me now. And as we know DS2...at 17 yo, well I'm still working on just being able to talk to him 🤦🏻‍♀️. Kids....who would have them... 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣. Big big hugs x

Skint_yet_Again

Hi @MeandO I hope you don’t mind me popping in after you were kind to me on my diary. I’ve just read a lot of pages on your diary, I confess not all of them, but I just wanted to let you know how much I recognise what you are going through with your DS. I struggled as a single parent all through DS’s school years with various battles and challenges but thankfully it did get better as he grew older, left school and got a job and started to pay his share. I found it difficult to back off and try not to over explain myself. Added to health issues it can be exhausting. I too am a just getting on with it person. I just wanted to say be kind to yourself and send you a big hug xx

MeandO

Thank you for your kindness, support and words of encouragement @the_end_of_the_rainbow, @Newstartforme, @debtfreewannabe321 and @Skint_yet_Again.

£1's that bring smiles to two people must be worth at least £2 @debtfreewannabe321 🙂

I really appreciate you posting your experience with your DS @Skint_yet_Again as you seem to have such a lovely relationship with your DS now he's an adult. This gives me great hope for the future! I need to remind myself that the ups and downs of now are only a phase. I may be wrong, but I think it's harder not to take it so personally a single parent when it's just been the two of us for so long and he was always my best buddy.
No doubt you and I have inherited our stoic 'just getting on with it' stance from our parents too. Your tales of your wonderful Dad reminded me so much of mine. You must miss him greatly, but he is with you in every little job you do and every little bit of DIY you tackle. No doubt he was sending intuitive advice of how to seal your fireplace recently and is looking on proudly of what you achieve yourself and have learnt from him. 💞