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Teetering on the brink
Comments
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Thanks all. I am feeling a bit more stable again but it has hit dd1 particularly hard and she keeps bursting into fits of unconsolable sobbing. I have been amazed at people’s the response to the news - even friends and family that we haven’t seen in over a decade have remembered him and said lovely things about him in their thoughts to us. Even dd2’s friend (who has just got back into the country), has come with a card, flowers and all our favourite chocolates for each of us, bless her. She even cut out lots of pictures of Big Cat and filled the card with him! Honestly, I know he was a special cat to us but I had no idea so many people would care so much.
As difficult as it has been though, I have decided that tomorrow I have to start focusing on the money again. Sadly the world keeps turning and somehow I have to find the money to keep paying the bills. (I was going to write ‘keep the lights on’ but then I realised that no longer applies since we still haven’t fixed the electrical issue and so are already sitting in darkness! 😬)
End ofSep-25Oct-25Brother 7,800.00 7,650.00 Overdraft owed 0.00 0.00 MBNA CC 11,481.53 11,504.06 Barclaycard CC 9,662.17 9,558.10 Fluid CC 1,046.44 1,036.29 NatWest CC 11,705.36 11,693.03 Aqua 1,127.94 1,107.94
Total debt
42,823.44
42,549.42Paid off in the month 211.33 274.02
Interested in my diary? Check out...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6580468/teetering-on-the-brink/p14 -
I wonder if DD1's recent operation is making her more vulnerable? But he sounds a lovely cat and it's a beautiful tribute that so many people are remembering him. And you have lovely friends.
I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/224 -
I agree, coming so soon after her surgery I am sure dd1 is indeed finding Big Cat’s passing extra difficult. That said, she has been his primary person for a number of years and he slept in her room almost every night so it makes sense that she is feeling his absence more acutely. I guess it is like me and the piggle - I was so used to him being the last one that said goodnight, first one to say good morning and my company all day whilst I worked, that it meant the silence left behind was deafening.
The remaining piggle is actually helping dd1 tbf. To stop him feeling alone after losing his cage-mate we brought him into our living room so he gets company all day and he has now found his voice and begs for his carrot and hay every night like his brother used to. Now dd1 is feeling that empty feeling going to bed, I suggested she take over looking after the piggle and it seems to have helped a bit. Obviously it is in no way meant as a replacement, more it just helps two lonely souls support each other through loss. dd2 has her cat and I have my two labs so we still have a pet to take responsibility for (and hug when we are sad). dd2 now has a piggle and I think that has helped.
End ofSep-25Oct-25Brother 7,800.00 7,650.00 Overdraft owed 0.00 0.00 MBNA CC 11,481.53 11,504.06 Barclaycard CC 9,662.17 9,558.10 Fluid CC 1,046.44 1,036.29 NatWest CC 11,705.36 11,693.03 Aqua 1,127.94 1,107.94
Total debt
42,823.44
42,549.42Paid off in the month 211.33 274.02
Interested in my diary? Check out...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6580468/teetering-on-the-brink/p15 -
Guinea pigs are wonderful company.
I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/223 -
Priority jobs for today:
- Lightly rewrap Musa Basjoo’s to protect from the cold wet weather that is heading our way
- Clear my desk/bedroom as it has become a bit of a dumping ground over the past week
- Hoover and wash the downstairs carpets - clean floors always makes my feel better
- Start listing lots more things on eBay
End ofSep-25Oct-25Brother 7,800.00 7,650.00 Overdraft owed 0.00 0.00 MBNA CC 11,481.53 11,504.06 Barclaycard CC 9,662.17 9,558.10 Fluid CC 1,046.44 1,036.29 NatWest CC 11,705.36 11,693.03 Aqua 1,127.94 1,107.94
Total debt
42,823.44
42,549.42Paid off in the month 211.33 274.02
Interested in my diary? Check out...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6580468/teetering-on-the-brink/p14 -
Step 1 Complete…
Time for a coffee and a lie down. That required far more work than I expected but will but worth it if I save the height on them.
End ofSep-25Oct-25Brother 7,800.00 7,650.00 Overdraft owed 0.00 0.00 MBNA CC 11,481.53 11,504.06 Barclaycard CC 9,662.17 9,558.10 Fluid CC 1,046.44 1,036.29 NatWest CC 11,705.36 11,693.03 Aqua 1,127.94 1,107.94
Total debt
42,823.44
42,549.42Paid off in the month 211.33 274.02
Interested in my diary? Check out...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6580468/teetering-on-the-brink/p13 -
Definitely worth it. I expect they are very handsome plants and might even put on an extra bit of growth while snuggly wrapped against the vagaries of the British spring!
I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/222 -
Well I am very slowly going down my priority task list - I sorted my bedroom and desk today. I am really rather disappointed that I didn’t get more ticked off but I accidentally fell asleep and missed half the day. 😞
I did do some washing too though so I do feel like I am a step forward compared to yesterday, but my gosh this is slow progress.
That said, there was one cause to celebrate today - I gave dd1 her final injection this morning! 🎉 I joked that since it was the last one I could just stab her quickly today and get away with it. 🤣 Obviously I was never going to actually do that but she was less convinced and it subsequently took quite a while to actually get it done because she didn’t trust me not too! 😬Oops. It was supposed to be funny after our 10 day long ordeal of both trying to get over our fear of needles, needless to say she thought it was too soon!End ofSep-25Oct-25Brother 7,800.00 7,650.00 Overdraft owed 0.00 0.00 MBNA CC 11,481.53 11,504.06 Barclaycard CC 9,662.17 9,558.10 Fluid CC 1,046.44 1,036.29 NatWest CC 11,705.36 11,693.03 Aqua 1,127.94 1,107.94
Total debt
42,823.44
42,549.42Paid off in the month 211.33 274.02
Interested in my diary? Check out...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6580468/teetering-on-the-brink/p13 -
All progress is worth celebrating. Slow progress is still progress, and you can count the unplanned sleep as progress, too. You must have needed it, and it will set you up for more progress to come.
It must be nice to have the injections out of the way. How is your daughter feeling?
I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/222 -
Ooh thats the kind of joke I'd make too to celebrate the end, sorry she didn't find it funny
Dxx
22: 3🏅 4⭐ 23: 5🏅 6 ⭐ 24 1🏅 2⭐ 25 🏅 🥈2⭐ 26 🥈 Never save something for a special occasion. Every day is a special occasion. The diff between what you were yesterday and what you'll be tomorrow is what you do today Well organised clutter is still clutter - Joshua Becker If youre not already using a thing you won't start using it more by shoving it in a cupboard- AJMoney The barrier standing between you & what youre truly capable of isnt lack of info, ideas or techniques. The secret is 'do it'2
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