MeandO's money-shuffling

MeandO

Thank you Mrs_Money_Penny. xx
I'm actually feeling a bit better for the first time in over ten days and the cough seems to be going now so have had a few more hours sleep the past couple of nights. I've finished the course of antibiotics this morning so I'm just hoping it doesn't make a comeback.

I've been quoted £230.60 to fix the radiator and the part in the boiler, and over £200 to put the new radiator in DS's room. I'll just get the essential work done for now and perhaps the new radiator can be done later in the year. I can't really afford it at the moment, especially if the temperamental roof leak starts to come through again (it only seems to leak in certain wind and rain conditions so I've left that for now in the hope I can have a go myself in the Summer). 
I'm using a dehumidifier in DS's room most days as the humidity seems to be in the 72%-79% in the mornings in there even when DS hasn't been here. I've no idea why it's so high but the dehumidifier is helping to reduce that. 
I've not received the quotes for the windows yet and am not chasing them for now as I don't really have the money spare to pay for it without emptying the savings.
 
Yesterday, I went with OH to look at some new houses being built that he's interested in buying and moving to. If it was down to me I would also like to buy one there too (buying individually, not with OH!) as it's a nice setting, energy-efficient and has none of the stress and cold of an old house! DS loves our house though and more specifically the location of it as it's close to a park I let him go to play football with his friends in, so he would be gutted if we moved. I would also have to increase my mortgage which I don't want to do and the journey to school would be a bit more of a pain as we'd have to go through an area which is known for being traffic-heavy in the mornings. I'm telling myself to wait it out until DS has finished school in 3.5 years and then I'll think about moving. 

Whilst out yesterday I picked up a couple of reduced clothing items to put away for OH's nephew's birthday later this year - two T-shirts reduced to £6.50 for both from £13. I also paid for breakfast out for OH and I at a 'spoons' in a town a little drive away from us at a cost of £11.83 (OH paid for dinner last time). I think we had 6 or 7 refillable cups of tea/coffee/hot chocolate between us and a lovely breakfast wrap each, so can't argue with the cost.

I've just sent £1.85 to the mortgage to round my total overpayments for January up to £400. I won't be able to keep that amount up every month as £165 was from money kindly gifted from my parents and £100 was from the sale of some jewellery which will be a one off. I will keep chipping away at it though. If I can OP £200 next month I'll be really pleased, but it's one of the most expensive months of the year for me (other than December) as I have both DS's and OH's birthday, plus DS and I are going away on a mini break shortly and then later, a weekend away as OH's birthday gift. I'll certainly try my best though. 

MeandO

Tough day today. Felt completely isolated, down and struggling to find a reason or purpose for anything. I don’t even seem able to look forward to things we have coming up soon either. I hate days like this.

DS has been amazing for months and months now, but today came home full of attitude directed right at me for some reason which I really could have done without today. We had words but have managed to turn things around and had some fun and laughs together too. He then decided to sort out his bedroom and wanted to get rid of the last of his remaining childhood teddy bears which really got me tonight. He absolutely adored his bears up until very recently, he wouldn’t go anywhere without them for years when he was little. Just makes me a bit sad that my baby is growing up so fast. So an emotional day all round really. I’m hoping an early night will make me feel better. 

In money news, I spent just over £13 in Asda today on cooking stuff DS needs for school tomorrow, two packs of reduced low fat mince for the freezer, a pack of cookies for DS, some dry shampoo and two bunches of £1 daffodils to cheer me up. I always buy daffs at this time of year as it’s the anniversary of my dear Grandad’s death in a couple of days and he loved to see the daffodils in the spring and always planted lots. I was really close to my grandparents and still miss them both dearly even though they’ve been gone so long. 

I’ve sold something of OH’s on eBay for him for £59, so I need to package that up and send it off soon. 

There was also a cheeky low offer on a vinted item which I’ve declined. 

I’ve listed one item of DS’s on marketplace and may try a couple more tomorrow. 

Hopefully tomorrow’s a better day xx

Elisheba

Sending huge hugs your way @MeandO 🤗🤗🤗🤗. Some days are just rubbish. It's a dark, dreary time if year as well which doesn't help. Hopefully an early night will help a bit, and tomorrow will be better. I'd put aside at least one or two of DS's bears for your memories, and one day he'll appreciate being able to see them as well.

twiggy86

MeandO said:

There was also a cheeky low offer on a vinted item which I’ve declined. 

I am guilty of making cheeky low offers - but only if I can see something has been on there a while! 

Hope today is a better day x

MeandO

Thank you twiggy86 x

Two loads of washing are done and on the line, hopefully drying. I was going to use the TD but it's actually stopped raining today and the sun is out a little. 
I've taken mince out of the freezer to make bolognaise or something similar for tea for DS and I, I'll start chopping veg and get it cooked this afternoon if I can persuade myself to do so. Motivation for anything is still lacking presently.

I've been on a webchat with sky for over 3 hours today so far, that's THREE HOURS, trying to get the cost of my broadband/phone/TV down as it's all up for renewal. I've been trying since last week and they won't budge. I even cancelled it but had to re-instate it a few days later as I found out several providers won't/can't supply to my address, there were two others that would and both were more expensive by quite a large difference. I've finally managed to get it to around the same price as I have been paying for the past 18 months, I'm annoyed I can't get it any lower but I've spent enough time trying to sort this now. 

The sadness is still loitering today and I feel like there's no much point to everything, but am trying to wade through it. This is going to sound odd, but I'm craving company and less isolation -  but I also feel like I don't want to see anyone. I just want to curl up under my duvet and sleep. Everything fees like such an effort.

At the weekend, I got in touch with a friend I haven't seen for years and have made plans to meet up with her later this week when I would have been on my own for the evening. Now I'm talking myself out of it, but I won't cancel I know I'll enjoy and definitely need to get out more and get a bit more of a life for myself. It's not easy when you feel like hiding though. 

enthusiasticsaver

Sorry you are feeling so low.  I don't think this time of year or the weather helps with it getting dark early and it does not sound like you have a particularly supportive OH. I hope you enjoy your meet up with your friend. Having things to look forward to may help your mood. 

Elisheba

I think that sounds very normal for depression, @MeandO, at least for how I experience depression. There comes a point when you feel like you can't cope with the things you actually want and might help. If you can, do go and meet your old friend. It doesn't always work, but sometimes a nice social activity can stop the downwards spiral. 
Occasional downturns are normal, but if this low mood happens often, or persists then it will be best to consult your doctor. I found medication and counselling helped me tremendously. Situations may cause unhappiness but our brains can get stuck there and need help to move forwards.

MeandO

Thank you enthusiasticsaver and Elisheba, your kindness and support is always appreciated. xx

So I've had one really rough day since posting last (so bad it frightened me ) and the rest have been fairly ok. After some chats with a couple of similar aged friends I think my low mood may be a symptom of perimenopause (I'm close to mid 40s), as I have been having some symptoms for a few months now. Talking to a colleague of a similar age yesterday, it seems she is going through exactly the same with low mood, tearfulness and lack of motivation etc. I did a bit of research and have bought some supplements tailored specifically for perimenopause with good reviews so I'll see how they go.

I did go and meet my friend and I was really glad I did, as was she. She has been having a really rough time and said my text came at the right time for her which I interpreted that she was also feeling low and lonely. We had a lovely catch up and have agreed to do it again soon. I paid for a cheap bite to eat for both of us as felt she needed a treat. Hopefully it cheered her up a little.

It's been an unexpectedly expensive week with DS needing new uniform/shoes which came to £140, then my tumble dryer threatened to go up in smoke so I've had to buy a new one. It's not coming for a week so I'm struggling to get washing dry at the moment and the house looks like a laundry but I have no choice as the weather is not playing ball for line drying. I managed to get £10 off the dryer with some nectar points but it still cost me £210.   I did get £10 for the old one from someone who buys them locally and it was also taken away free. The same day, the YNAB fee for the year came out of my bank account which was just over £70. I need to look at a cheaper alternative as that's a lot of money to be paying every year. 

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hope everything is ok with you as you’ve not been posting for a few days. xx

Aimingforthegoodlife

Hi @MeandO, thank you for all the advice about vinted, think I may have a go this weekend. I am so sorry you are still feeling so low, it definitely could be perimenopause/menopause related, it has such a huge impact on so many women and society is only just starting to take it seriously. May be worth discussing with GP/Nurse, they can check hormone levels and this will inform if that is the problem. My mum became very anxious with the menopause, as well as low, which was such a change. She has settled a lot more now, but still has anxious moments at times. It is just awful!

So glad you reached out to a friend, so many people are struggling, isolation is the low mood talking, it doesn't want you to socialise, as that is what you need. I hope that you are doing ok, thinking of you xx