The Little Cottage by the Sea

BrimfulofSascha

In all my sorrow I forgot the positive money news for the weekend.

I had my pet insurance renewal come on Saturday, They wanted to put it up to £27.69pm for each cat. I said no thankyou, went via TCB and got new insurance for both cats for £27.32...and £65 cash back. Although the referral hasn't registered on my dashboard for TCB, I shall be miffed if it doesn't pay out.

rachmac3

You can totally do this! 
It's all part of the learning I reckon. The guilt won't get you anywhere but the learning will. 
We definitely need to have some nice days in amongst all this hard work or we'll give up or lose the will.
Fantastic news on the pet insurance! 

BrimfulofSascha

Good morning loves,

Still feeling a little maudlin today. So I don't think it's just the over spending. Maybe the rain, or hormones, or a little bit burnt out...or maybe this is just what it feels like being a 30 something solo parent with a mortgage, long commute and a busy job. haha

It will pass.

I've got a couple of money things in the pipeline, but not guaranteed. It's hard not to spend my wins (on debt) before they materialise. I wanna see those numbers change so much!

Yesterday was a NSD, but today can't be, toothpaste has run out and that's a definite must spend. Will pick up milk, potatoes, cheese, and tinned tomatoes to help make something out of what is left in the kitchen. I had my breakfast at work today (hot cross bun, nice coffee and a banana), why does free stuff taste so much better?! Last nights slow cooker curry was disappointingly bland and lacking in texture, beggars can't be choosers, we have the same for dinner tonight.

One whole month back in diary land, it feels like longer. It has made me focus very strongly on every financial decision and force myself to be more honest with my choices, but I feel like it has me wishing the months away. Hopefully as I get in the swing of it I'll find my rhythm.

Thanks for the words of support. Here's to more cheerful updates to come.

Love and light
Sascha

doingitanyway

Sorry yesterday was a bit meh. You have a lot to deal with but you are progressing well.

Haha to free food tasting better, so true

My tip when making curries in the slow cooker is not to add water. It won't burn if you have veggies in there and even meat has a bit of water.
I used shaved coconut block. You can disturb it halfway, give it a stir and if you are worried about moisture add it in then.
Also, even in a slow cooker, don't overcook.
Hope the next one is better

You'll find your rhythm!

BrimfulofSascha

Good Morning Loves,

MIA for a couple of days a s there wasn't much to report. Still not much to report, but I likely won't log on over the weekend. 
I am so glad it's a long weekend. I'm feeling a bit done in.

Tonight I have a run and a training session. I've been lazy so far this week, all I've done was a vinyasa class on Monday.

Not many plans over the weekend, tomorrow we have dinner out with a group of DP's friends. It is his turn to pay as I paid last time. So should be no spends (good! I have no money).
Saturday is my usual sports training session. Should probably do a long run Sunday.
DD has smashed her phone screen completely, despite a case and a screen protector. I will have to scrape some funds together for a repair this weekend so she doesn't end up with a hand full of splintered glass.

We do have a voucher for an activity that I got for Christmas so might see if DP wants to book that so we can have a date night, it's been a while. No idea what DD's plans are, most of her friends are on holiday this week. The joy of living in an affluent area and two income families. Must not be green eyed about it, we do ok. Better than most in fact. This debt situation won't be forever. It's payday less than a week away. Progress is within reach.

Feeling a little more joyful than earlier this week, not 100% myself though. I guess it's just the 'waiting' feeling of debt repayment and the secrecy of it all. I feel like I'm just waiting for my next chapter to start. I am trying not to compare myself to others. It's pointless, I don't know their full story.

Here's to a restful weekend.

Love & Light
Sascha

rachmac3

I hope you're doing well Sascha, and you're quiet on here because you're off doing fabulous things!

BrimfulofSascha

Good afternoon Loves,

Where does the time go?
I couldn't even tell you what I've been up to the past 6 months. We have had a couple of trips, a week in a sunny country my mum used to live in May half term, and a rather soggy Scottish wild affair in the summer. both seem a long time ago. Work has been intense (mentally) and other than the two weeks mentioned above I've had no time off. In fact I've only taken those two weeks of leave since August 2024, and I'm exhausted. The truth is I just don't know when I can fit in my annual leave between now and Christmas with my current workload. That alongside an 80 mile round trip commute each day and I'm struggling. Only 31 years until state retirement age, haha!

The debts are going down but I don't have a tight grip on it. Spending is not in control. I'm spending on convenience because there's only so much one person can keep on top of, and treats because I'm I just can't cope with the responsibility without something to keep me going. It has to stop.

I'm currently at the end of the remortgaging process, I can't believe I've been in my little house 5 years this month. I've still not got around to all the things that need doing to it. I get a new front door finally fitted in a couple of weeks (leaking into the hallway), paid from savings, but the boiler and bathrooms window are being pushed out to when I have the budget. Both are ok, just not I deal, the boiler is OLD! I'm also pushing my luck with my car, it's 11 years old and on 169k miles, thankfully diesel. 

A friend died recently, just 2 months before their 50th birthday. I'm straddling between F*** I* tomorrow isn't guaranteed, and wanting to also give myself the best future. As usual it's the balance that I struggle with the most. DD is in her final school year now. It means nothing to me financially, the poor youth are totally screwed in this economy. She will probably be my little housemate for another decade or more. I can't stand the thought of her paying keep, although it was expected of me. I feel it's my job as her only parent to make her life as easy as I can. With turning 16 comes loosening the apron strings though, and oh how impossible it is to meal plan when I don't know how often she will be at friends for study and dinner. Ironically feeding one person is just as expensive as feeding two if plans mean food waste. 

I promise it's not totally gloomy, but if I can't have a good moan here then what can I do? 

Will update at the end of the month with Financials once the mortgage is sorted and I've gone through where I'm at. I've transferred my spending budget into another bank account, so this month all I need to do is not spend more than what is in there. Simple (I hope). The freezer is full, all other plans this month are paid for. It's also the start of my "go to bed at 9pm with a book so i don't have to put the heating on" season. So, here is to hibernating so i don't spend any money and try and make it through to spring. chin chin!

Sascha

Scott_Weiland79

Just had a read of your diary — sorry to hear about the passing of your friend.

I know what you mean about the purse strings. My son’s 23 now, and I often think, where did the time go?

Today I was watching one of the Toy Story movies with my mate and his 4-year-old lad, and it felt like just five minutes ago my own son was watching them on repeat. Crazy how fast it goes.

I know you’ve been doing a fair bit of decluttering — you’re doing really well with it! Are you working on anything else alongside that?

I also noticed you drive a diesel. Have a look at this — you can put in “Diesel / your location” etc., and it’ll show you the cheapest petrol station nearby. Every little helps, right?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=apposing.petrolprices

Check this out i cant standing petrol companys. I have a petrol station next to my work a Jet Station petrol is £138.9, same company 1.2 miles away on my way home from work £129.9 gerrrrrrrr

On the subject of cars, what are your long-term plans? We had a similar situation with a 10-year-old “Fix It Again Tomorrow” (Fiat 500). Getting rid of it and leasing a new car was the best thing we did.

• 12,000 miles per year limit
• Brand new
• No car tax
• 55–60 mpg on motorways, 40–45 mpg around town
• £225 pm 

Humdinger1

Dear @BrimfulofSascha I've read your diary and subscribed.   You're doing brilliantly though it's hard to see from the inside! You're turning round the Juggernaut and that takes time.  Imagine how much debt you'd be in if you hadn't had your light-bulb moment.  Some treats are necessary in a long process and you're really cutting through.   Keep going love Humdinger xx 

joedenise

With regard to your DD and meal planning can I suggest that you do some bulk cooking and freeze things in individual portions?  That way if it's just you for dinner then you take out one, if you're both there take out 2.  Or maybe do a combination of some portions for 2 and others as single portions.

Doing things this way means that if you want different dinners you can which can be another way of saving money as food won't be wasted because you're defrosted and reheated 2 portions of something and one of you really doesn't like it!