Let's get this sorted then!

Rhyddid2026

I received my £25 switch bonus from coop, so I've paid it straight off my loan. That might be the last of the additional overpayments for a while, although I think I'll increase my regular overpayment by a fiver in the new year.

Rhyddid2026

Oof! Busy week!
My works do was good, I enjoyed myself just enough. I got to meet lots of colleagues who I've only ever seen on screen over the last year. I can claim mileage and parking back, so I spent a grand total of £35. I could have gotten away with spending less, as food, three drinks, and hotel was paid for, but I don't mind spending that. I wore a jumpsuit I bought 10 or 11 year ago, and the very expensive shoes I bought for an event in the summer. I'm pleased to report that they were still very comfortable despite the 4 inch heel and the fact I haven't worn any kind of heel since June. Is this what happens when you buy more expensive things? Are richer people walking around in more comfort?
I am a little sluggish as I'm not used to drinking and traveling and socialising and having little sleep. I've got no major plans for the weekend though and I have Monday off too. I had acupuncture today so that should help my recovery. 
I've got an interview for the new job/promotion, and everything I've heard so far is making me more pleased that I applied. If I get it, it will still be hard work and will definitely impact on my health at times, but I am more reassured that I can manage it as long as I keep some boundaries and don't forget to consider my own needs. 
The weekly finances are looking pretty good, although I know Christmas will make a bit of a dent. I still have to buy many many presents. 
This weekend I plan to drink plenty of water, eat nice food, maybe make a stew, and declutter some more ready for a trip to the tip on Monday. It's the last push for my seasonal shed - sorting and decluttering as much as possible before the end of the year.

Rhyddid2026

I'm still feeling lazy, but I have got a few things done. 
I made the stew and used up loads of bits of veg. I also used potatoes, rosemary, chard, and spinach from the garden in it. The last few tiny unusable potatoes have gone to the compost so that feels like a declutter as they were causing me guilt every time I saw them but didn't use them.
The odd job man came to fit coving but he'd bought the wrong size. Nothing in my house is standard, but unfortunately he'd bought the standard size. We'll try again mid week. 
I have not cleaned the coops because the weather has been vile. I have a stream running through my garden and onto my patio again. I've had to clear the drain yesterday and today. I'm not sure the weather will be any better tomorrow but I decided to take the chance. 
I've finished decorating my tree and gone for rainbow colours on it. There are some original 80s baubles on there, the ones that are covered in cotton strands. My sister said it looks like a child decorated it. I'm taking that as a compliment. I love it. It's the first time I've bothered in about 5 years. 
As I moved the dog crate in the living room for the odd job man I realised there was a lot of paper and cardboard stored there for starting the fire, but I don't really use it, so I had a big burn to get rid of it all. That feels like a massive declutter that I hadn't even noticed needed doing. I reckon three large bags worth. 
I've also decluttered a few other bits while I've been pottering around the house. There was one handbag a friend had given me which I loved, but was peeling. It had a lovely bronze beetle on the zip so I took the beetle off to keep as a memento. Another larger peeling handbag became a temporary bin bag while I was in the spare bedroom. 
I've also gone through the last (hopefully) of the relatives stuff in my house, so I just need to itemise and pack it into a third box for shipping. 
I think instead of decluttering my house and doing a tip run on my day off tomorrow I'll go get the last bits out of the storage unit. It will feel really good to hand that back over and not have to think about it any more. Plus most of that stuff has to go to the tip anyway so I might as well go get it first. I will try to get it straight to the tip and not bring it in to my house first, but that will depend on how long it takes as I'll have to leave the dogs at home and can only leave them for 3-4 hours.
Getting rid of that storage unit will feel like another massive step of letting go of past things weighing me down. Then I need to start prepping for my interview on Friday and working towards my future goals. 

Sun_Addict

Well done on getting through to interview 🥳 Fingers crossed but I bet you’ll smash it🤞

Rhyddid2026

In other news, since I started overpaying my loan in August I have overpaid £304.27. It will be under 8k at the start of January. 
I'll still keep the rounded up payments from 205 to 220, but any extra cash will go off a credit card from the new year. 

jwil

Good luck with the interview!

Rhyddid2026

Quick update - busy few days in work again. My house and boot is still full of boxes and 'stuff', I've had no time to sort it. 
I've been keeping a cold at bay - drinking berocca daily and having naps. It's been staying at the level of an annoying cough and occasional sore throat. Fingers crossed. 
I have coving up finally after 5 years. Let's just politely say it needs some further attention. 
I woke up to a baby slug infestation in my kitchen this morning  - not what I needed when I had less than half an hour to get ready for work. It briefly made me consider a loan to get the kitchen sorted. I put everything that was covered out on the patio and reframed it as free chicken treats. 
I have not revised as much as I'd have liked - see earlier comment about lurgy. 
I have however tidied up my desk and the area around it in my attic office. I haven't used it for about 3 months but plan to start again tomorrow. It is not healthy to be working off the dining room table all the time. It's also easier/cheaper to heat the attic. 
I still have loads to do for Christmas, presents to buy, things to post, but that all seems like a problem for weekend me. As does the de-slugging. 

BeachSiren

Yuk! Don’t envy you having to deal with the slugs….especially when they get to the size of a sausage 

Rhyddid2026

My berocca got me through, I have been offered the job. I am a little worried that one of my main requests (that was verbally agreed, which is why decided to apply) has already been altered slightly. I'm having a talk with them on Monday to clarify the further details but not celebrating too much yet. 
I have done my weekly finances. I really need to get the Christmas shopping finished so I know where I stand with my remaining wages and pots. Money is looking tight but I genuinely have no clue what I've bought for who and what is outstanding at the moment. Everything was on hold last week as I was full of cold and conserving my energy for the interview.
I have definitely missed the last post for oversees but that's nothing new. 
I haven't bought a single card yet. 
Today I need to stock up on pet food, and get enough to last me until the new year. 
I must resist the urge to buy nice things for myself as a reward and because of the magical thinking that this new job (that I might not actually accept now) will make me suddenly rich. 
On the plus side I usually hate the Christmas period and have many struggles with my mental health, but I have done ok so far. Next week will be solstice and the days will start getting longer again. 

jwil

Congrats on the job offer, it's a success even if you choose not to take it.