Let's get this sorted then!

FootyFanDan

good on you for getting that overdraft reduced.

LzzyIsGod

Missed ya face!

We all have weeks like that xx but great work on the things you've achieved!

Rhyddid2026

I'm up and out early, which never happens, but I think I need to get a few things done before I can properly rest so I want them out of the way.

I'm going to 'waste' money on bedding plants. I normally grow flowers from seed but I think my soul needs some pretties ASAP.

I should be back home by 11ish and I can start my relaxing weekend properly.

LzzyIsGod

Some "frivolous" spending on bedding plants I think is allowed 😂 my springbulbs are popping up although some of the winter pansies are starting to look straggly but I'm going to leave mine in a little bit longer .......

Rhyddid2026

I bought pansies and violas, not very inspiring but they were going cheap in morros. I also bought sweet pea seeds, because I had run out and I try to get them growing over the roof of the chook run. I bought a little bunch of daffodils for the dining table.

Then I went back to bed for a snooze.

I have cleaned the coops and put topped up compost in three of the plant hangers on the run. I've planted some sweet pea seeds in those 3. I've sown some tomato seeds (just 2 varieties this year, sungold because you can't go wrong with them and I always come back to them as a favourite, and black moon which were tricky to grow last year but looked and tasted amazing when they did finally fruit) I have one tomato plant that looks like it's survived the winter and might spring back in to life with a bit of TLC (an atomic sunset that I was given). My garden is still a bog so although the sun was briefly out today it wasn't very pleasant to be in.

I've started the money shuffle, I'll get the rest moved later today. I'm trying to remain positive that I was able to pay at least 725 off debts from these wages, but can't help but feel a little disappointed that I couldn't pay £1k off. I will tell myself to wait for a few payslips before doing anything drastic. The pay rise was still not worth the work though. I didn't get home until 7pm last night. I left work at 1pm, pulled over in the services for a 2h teams meeting then carried on the drive. It really wasn't fun in the torrential rain and I passed three accidents. I keep thinking the maths must be wrong, I knew I would have much bigger deductions but I received about a quarter of the amount my wage increased. Anyway, like I said, wait for a few payslips. Think about spring. Plant flowers.

I have also bought myself a new (Vntd) pair of black jeans for work. I really need some new work wearable clothes. I like the casual look but I'm looking more like a bag of **** at the moment. I've done well to rely on old clothes that I can get back in to for the last few months. I think I need a bit of colour though, I don't think all the black and grey is helping my mood. Also, I look like a floating head on Teams calls when I sit with a dark wall behind me 😂

ETA: Two friends who have previously been very avoidant of facing anything financial have made some small steps in recent weeks, so I'm going to take that as a win and believe that me facing up to things has given them the push to do it. Probably because neither of them could possibly be anything close to the position I'm in. Seeeeeee! It's good to talk about money. I'm very grateful for all of you in here that inspire me.

stymied

Do you have someone that you can ask to explain the deductions? That doesn’t sound right x

PennysIntoPounds

Was coming here to say similar to @stymied, is the tax code right?

Not surprised you've been feeling down what with putting all that work in and getting much less than expected.

Rhyddid2026

Hey @stymied and @PennysIntoPounds , not really, not from work anyway, they're useless. I know there's been some crazy things going on with my tax code for the last 16 months because I left the nhs, started the new job, but did bank shifts for the nhs for a while on top. I think if I just hold my nerve for a couple of months it might change again, or at least be a bit more stable so I can figure it all out. From April it will be my only job so that should make it clearer. 🤞🏻

FootyFanDan

It can be very demoralising to think you're not getting paid the value you feel you bring to the role especially as it seems work is bringing its own stress. I think you are doing amazing, 725 is still a huge amount to have brought that debt down by, you are making really positive steps to improve your finances and that can only be a good thing.

I also need to re-assess the wardrobe - I have one pair of jeans that I can wear, I have never really bought clothes for a while so I plan on some point going through things and seeing what is still wearable and then build back up. I don't need much selection but yes deffo needs sorting.

itsthelittlethings

Your debt reduction figures are amazing. Please don’t take this the wrong way but seeing your steady progress is the one thing that makes me think I can do it too.