Flying solo

twiggy86

Weekend was quite spendy - too much eating out to be honest. However it was nice and festive between meeting friends at the festive market, buying some Christmas decorations, and pooch getting her photo taken with Santa Paws!!!   I have started updating the spreadsheet but I need to do a bit of working out - I sent bf some money for things he'd paid out for and need to work out what should be allocated to each budget/ pot. 

I spent the afternoon yesterday wrapping all the presents I have so far - a couple left to arrive or that I need to make Feeling the pressure now that we're in December and there's two that I haven't even started!!! However, in terms of buying and wrapping, I'm not sure I've ever been this organised! I got a "black Friday" deal on something for bf to do with his son instead of some tickets I had been considering buying for me and bf - worked out about £30 cheaper and I think it's a better decision. 

The other thing I did over the weekend to benefit my finances was to post off the thing I sold on Etsy - must message the buyer! Also need to go on and see how to withdraw the money, been so long since I sold on there that I can't remember! Think it's about £15 after all the fees! 

This week should be a quieter week than last week as don't have too much planned. I am going out on Saturday for brunch for one of my best friend's birthdays, but other than that I don't envisage spending so much this week. 

Today's bits and pieces...

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Two loads of washing on 30 degree wash 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Shuffle money 
• Order Christmas present for me from my mum as she's sent me the money
• Start crochet socks for mum at lunch 
• Hang washing on airer
• Dinner from stores 
• Work on crochet blanket - nearly at the end of the 8th ball, there's 9 for the main body and then I need to make sunflowers all around the edge 

twiggy86

Weekly tasks... 

• Make a start on socks for mum 
• Finish main part of blanket 
• Put now empty Christmas boxes back in the loft 
• Get old Christmas tree down to take to work to give to boss (already gave a few bits to them) 
• Declutter something whilst up in the loft! 
• Start considering goals/ approach for 2025 

twiggy86

Quiet and productive evening last night. Took the pooch for a walk and then when I got back I got bf to get the loft ladder down (I'm too short to reach!) and took the empty Christmas boxes back up there so that they are out the way. I also got down the spare Christmas tree so that I can take to work for boss (ended up with two as a result of bf moving in) and also grabbed a couple of small boxes to sort. My mission is that each time I'm in the loft (which doesn't happen often tbh), I am bringing something down to sort so that I slowly work through all the rubbish up there! 

After that it was dinner (gammon steaks and chips followed by apple crumble!) and then crochet! I am making progress on the blanket but it feels slow going as the rounds are so many stitches now!!! Finally on the 9th ball but now I'm panicking that I'm going to run out of the main colour! I think it's another quiet night planned tonight so will carry on working on the blanket. 

Today's bits and bobs...

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Finalise money shuffle
• Give Christmas tree and a few decorations to boss 
• Work on socks at lunch 
• Dinner from stores
• Sew button back on my jacket 
• Work on crochet blanket 

twiggy86

I realised that on Sunday it was a year since ex moved out. That was a horrible time, both emotionally and financially - at the time I was doing jury service and wasn't being paid by work, so I had no idea how much money I was going to get. So everything felt very uncertain for me a year ago. 

Whereas a year later, everything feels so much better and brighter....

My house now feels more like a home - especially with all the Christmas lights everywhere! (Yes I am forgetting about electricity bills this month!) There's a few projects that still need to be completed (such as a downstairs loo) but maybe that can be a goal for the end of 2025 to have that job completed... it's only been 11 years that I've been waiting! Obviously completing that will factor into the finances as will need to save for it! 

Financially I have security as I know I can manage everything on my own and have made good progress on paying down my debts. Last month I cleared just over £600 of debt and also spent over £400 on Christmas presents! I've currently cleared 42% of the debt that ex left me with (so in the past 17 months). 

And life wise, obviously I now have a new bf but despite that I feel more independent. This year I found acro which I absolutely love! Between that, netball and seeing my friends, I still have my own things going on - so it means both me and bf still have our own space. 

Basically, I really didn't think my life would look so different a year on! 

dawnybabes

That’s such a positive post 🥰🥰🥰

we’re doing the loft thing, every time we go up we bring at least three things down to sort 

foxgloves

A lovely positive post, @twiggy86. Last year showed you just how resilient you can be & that's something you can take forward, knowing that you can be independent & get through difficult times.
F

twiggy86

Thanks guys! Unfortunately despite my positive post my "time of the month" anxiety resulted in a bit of a melt down last night. Not very good at being vulnerable so try to bottle it up but I "popped" last night and there was tears! Bf was very supportive and lovely, but in some ways opening up makes me feel worse. I do feel a bit better this morning, helped by bf doing his upmost to make me laugh! 

I did manage to do some crochet after said meltdown - on to the last ball of the main colour, although now I'm worried I won't have enough! I did buy enough according to the pattern but didn't gauge swatch, so now I'm just trying to get through the last few rows so that I can work out what to do if I run out (don't really want to buy more as it will be a minimal amount!). I am making good progress on the socks for my mum though! Think I'm going to get one made and then work on the rabbit for bf's daughter - I don't really want him seeing it, so will need to be a "work project", whereas I can work on my mum's socks in front of him. 

Little list for today... 

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Finalise money shuffle
• Work on socks at lunch 
• Pay lowest amount at acro 
• "Dinner" from stores
• Work on crochet blanket 

_Dolly_Rocker_

Hope you're feeling better.

twiggy86

Thanks @_Dolly_Rocker_ I know it's something that I need to "ride out" as it passes within a day or so. Feeling brighter today! 

I have finally done my money shuffling fro the weekend - was a bit confusing but I got there in the end and everything matches the spreadsheet! My head instantly feels so much straighter so it's silly that I was putting it off! I also snapped some receipts that were hanging around in the bottom of my bag and annoying me each time I had to get something out of there! The other thing that I haven't done yet is sew the button back on my jacket - so must tick that off my list tonight! 

My credit card statements have come in now, so at the moment I have just paid off the minimum (well a little bit above the minimums). I have a further £150 budgeted for overpayment to be MBNA card, but will hold off paying that until I see how the month goes. I'll probably get impatient and at least make some small payments!!! I am now at 43% of my total debt paid off - with 27% of that being paid this year. 

I have one row left on the crochet blanket (before I move on to the sunflowers) and I only have 15grams left of the main colour which I strongly doubt will be enough! So I have snipped an end this morning and will stop at Hobbycraft on my way home to see if I can get a match - annoying that I need more for just one round! I checked my stash but don't have enough of anything else that might work. 

Plan for today...

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Cut end so that I can try match the yarn 
• Make CC payments 
• Complete money shuffles!!!
• Update spreadsheet
• Work on crochet socks at lunch  
• Pop to shop for yarn on my way home 
• Snap receipts
• Dinner from stores
• Sew button on jacket 
• Work on blanket 
• Park for free at netball 

twiggy86

I had a couple of extra spends yesterday as I decided I wanted to put Christmas bedding on the "kids" beds ready for when they come today! By kids, this does include the 15 year old teenager! No doubt he will roll his eyes but I can't leave him out! Bf did offer me money (as they are his kids) but this was my decision as I wanted to make it feel special for the kids. I was stuck for time and choices so one set was more expensive than I would have liked but I'm happy with it. 

I did also pick up some yarn on my way home from work for the blanket but it's not quite the right colour, so I ended up ordering some online instead. I have now completely run out of the main colour with about two thirds of the last row to go! However, I have come up with a plan on how I can still make progress before the yarn arrives - I can start completing the sunflowers for the part of the row I have managed to make. Although as the kids are here and I'm out tomorrow, not sure how much time I will actually have to work on it! 

My boss has offered me two bikes - he has said that they need a service/ some tinkering but will have a look at them later and potentially take them home. I kind of want a bike as I don't have one but have been loathed to buy one as 1) I don't have anywhere that they would be completely weather-proofed; and 2) I have no idea if I will actually use it! So this seems like a good option for now provided they can be fixed up - will possibly ask my dad to have a look at them for me. 

I'm out for a friend's birthday tomorrow for a bottomless brunch, so will be some spends there. However, nothing else planned at the moment for the weekend. 

On to today's list...

• Make beds up with Christmas bedding that I washed and dried overnight
• Make lunch to take to work 
• Load of washing on 30 degree cycle 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Work on socks at lunch 
• Hang washing on airer
• Dinner from stores
• Sew button on jacket 
• Work on crochet blanket