Let's get this sorted then!

Rhyddid2026

After all that effort getting a doctor's appointment to get them to prescribe meds that I've been paying privately for.... There's a shortage, the pharmacy can't get it. I've just had to book a private consultation to get the meds prescribed privately. £200 I hadn't accounted for this month and that's before I pay for the prescription and the meds. Sigh.

PennysIntoPounds

That is so shoddy Rhyd, I'm sorry. Is there a way to absorb it into the budget? And while it doesn't help budget, maybe email MP and local councillors to highlight it

Rhyddid2026

It was in the budget originally, but I got brave and tried to get it on the nhs to be mse. I can readjust the figures and absorb it over time. I just got excited that I might be able to get it for free.

Rhyddid2026

I made it to the weekend. I'm hoping this weekend will be more successful than last weekend.

I got my ensuite shower fixed today, that's been broken for 6 months. It means I can finally shower upstairs and the ducklings can stay in the bath downstairs. Although they are going to be too big for the bath any day now. They are growing like fluffy triffids!

I've done my finances for the week. My 2 Natwest credit cards now total 10k, so they are ready to be transferred hopefully onto one card in the next couple of months. The first 0% doesn't run out until July but I don't think I can wait that long. I might do it in May and then I'll have a clear 6 months to get my credit score back up before the other runs out in December.

I need to find £230 for my appointment on Monday, I think I'll have to take it out of the emergency fund. I won't have much spare cash out of this months wages as I need to pay for my holiday accommodation and spending money. I'll then need to find the money for the yearly prescription and the meds. I have less than a weeks meds left so it needs to be found ASAP. Hopefully I'll get the wages I'm owed from Jan/Feb soon, I've chased it a few times now. It won't be much but it will help.

I've also got to pay for the chimney sweep and dentist next week. I've put £150 aside for that so hopefully it will be enough to cover them both.

I think I'll get my summer clothes down tomorrow. It's 2 weeks today that I fly so I need to see what fits. Hopefully I won't need to buy anything new. I'm going for 3 nights and only taking hand luggage so I need to pack carefully.

stymied

Did you check with the NHS pharmacy that if they have a shortage you’ll definitely be able to get the meds privately? Wouldn’t want you to pay for the private consultation only to be stuck in the same position anyway. Also did you ask about any alternative formulations. We have one med that we couldn’t get as a liquid for months but the dry powder version was available easily.

Rhyddid2026

I've had them privately for a few years, they are delivered to me. The pharmacy have suggested I ask the doctor for an alternative medication, which I will try as a back up, but I'm really sensitive to meds changes. I'd rather pay for what I know works than be reliant on swapping and changing different alternatives and dealing with side effects. Especially as getting a doctors appointment to do it takes weeks and my doctor is overly cautious to say the least. I'll get them privately, see if the doc can prescribe an alternative, and maybe when I'm not working two jobs and not about to go on holiday I'll see if I'm brave enough to risk it.

I'm going to take a joint of pork out of the freezer to roast tomorrow. It's quite big so I might slice up half once it's cooked and freeze them. I cooked some bacon that was about to go off and froze it last week. It worked surprisingly well in my quick carbonara on Wednesday.

I've just realised I have a small vnted balance so if I do need something for holiday I could have a look on there.

PennysIntoPounds

Great work at least trying to be mse with meds! Hopefully it'll work out in future if you can find out what the actual issue is. As @stymied said make sure with pharmacy/private provider there are any available before paying private for nothing, if its all stuck in strait of hormuz etc then no-one's getting owt, £200 or no £200 pounds

Also, putting on mse hat, think really carefully if you 'need' to buy anything for holiday. All you actually need is yourself, the planes, and the destination. That vnted money can go towards your meds pot, it all adds up quicker than we realise!

Rhyddid2026

My day started with a lovely shower. Both showers are ancient and basic but at least the one in my ensuite is from this century 😂 I've washed my hair, given it an apple cider vinegar rinse, and now it's being deep conditioned while I potter around.

Big bag of summer clothes brought down into the bedroom. Today me is very happy with past me who put them away so well (easy to reach and easy to find in a clear zip up bag with handle).

The ducklings in the bath have started dunking their heads in their water so I've given them a big pyrex dish of water to splash in. Unfortunately the battery on the camera died so I can't watch. It's on charge now so maybe I'll catch them tomorrow.

I've spent an hour or so in the garden tackling nettles. I'm having a little rest now before I go do a bit more. I'd like to prepare one of the raised beds ready for planting tomorrow. The overnight temp tonight is forecast to be 1 degree.

Chicken coop has been scrubbed.

Pork joint is defrosting, I forgot to get it out last night.

Mands

an out-of-left-field thought …

I've had them privately for a few years, they are delivered to me. The pharmacy have suggested I ask the doctor for an alternative medication, which I will try as a back up, but I'm really sensitive to meds changes. I'd rather pay for what I know works than be reliant on swapping and changing different alternatives and dealing with side effects. Especially as getting a doctors appointment to do it takes weeks and my doctor is overly cautious to say the least. I'll get them privately, see if the doc can prescribe an alternative, and maybe when I'm not working two jobs and not about to go on holiday I'll see if I'm brave enough to risk it.

Are the meds OTC where you are going on holiday? If so, are they in stock and at what price?

A lot of uk prescription meds are not controlled in the same way in Continental Europe. A little googling might be worth your time.

Rhyddid2026

No, definitely prescription world wide. I might stock up on some strong ibuprofen while I'm out there though!