Investing in Us: Holidays, Health, and the Road to £150k

debtfreewannabe321

misstara said:

Happy solstice dfw321 and I hope you are feeling better soon.

Thank you @misstara 🥰

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all, 
I slept much better last night 😊 only two or three coughing fits that passed much quicker than ones I'd had in previous nights. I think taking an antihistamine is helping ease my sinuses too with an added bonus of knocking me out (because even the non drowsy ones make me drowsy 🤣).

Today my cousin wants to pop over so I need to run to the shop to grab some bits for her daughters... just a small selection box or something and a card. I will also grab fresh bits DP didn't get. 
The restful weekend will hopefully see me through the week now 😊 I am making plans in my mind going forward for managing my energy as it's ridiculously low lately (this time of year doesn't help though). Meditation is featuring heavily in my plans, this has really helped me in the past with managing stress which in turn has an impact on my health and energy.

I'm currently in a queue for the Dr reception to make some blood test appointments but once I've sorted this I will get on with my day whilst I have a bit of energy ☺️. Hopefully won't spend too much 🤭♥️🎄

debtfreewannabe321

By some small Christmas miracle the drs didn't keep me waiting for more than 15 minutes 😆 AND said I should come in today for blood tests/ ECG so my results should be back for the Dr appointment I have new year. Unbelievable I thought I'd be waiting weeks! 

debtfreewannabe321

Spent way too much in Mr T getting festive 🫣 had to put It on my cc because I had money scattered in accounts and didn't have time to pull it all together when I put it through the till and went slightly over what I knew I had for sure. Managed to get two small gifts for the family members who I just met up with, and a nice card, and the rest of the stocking fillers I needed as well as some meat bits for DS because by the time he gets here it will be Xmas eve now!
I didn't want him feeling like he was missing out with just veggie options, even though he'd said he'd be okay with it. I feel like he was just saying that to be kind 😉 so he's got some bits for himself now.
I'm officially done and ready. 🎄🎁 AND Mr T was not horrendous! It was busy but no pushing and shoving and rudeness people were smiling and happy 😊 and the queue was bearable with small talk about Christmas and it felt stress-free which was fab. Even in the carpark on the way out people took it in turns to let others out - usually in there no one lets anyone out. So that was nice and we all left the carpark within about 6 minutes even with the traffic lights taking forever 😱 unheard of even on a usual Saturday nevermind Xmas traffic. Very grateful for this.

My cousin (plus one child) and aunty and doggy came to visit us as I did take longer than I should have in there because I decided to pick up extras. So I didn't really have time to get across town to them. I was stressing about the dog coming in, but actually he was lovely and had the same temperament as my FLD that I miss dearly 🥰 it was nice to have him pottering around (and he's hypoallergenic so I didn't need to stress about allergies). Lovely catch up but felt choked and tears in my eyes when they queried me about DS2. I just replied with, I don't think I'll see him this year. My aunty knows my ex and had a little rant about him to which I have to admit I did join in 🤣🙈. 

My cousin, it turns out, is a driving instructor!! She had done it as a bit of a side line years ago and just hadn't renewed her licence. So she's agreed to take DD out before her test to make sure she's ready for it and also said she will stay over the night before and take her to the actual test! How did I only just find this out! Fab news huh 😃👌🏻

They've just gone and I'm chilling, there is nothing like a spontaneous visit to get the house hoovered, polished and cleaned in no time is there 😃👌🏻🥰 so the house is cleaner, last wash is on (some bedding for DS as it's been in a drawer for months so thought it could do with a freshen up).

DD has offered her bedroom to DS and she will sleep in DS2 old room. So she's actually cleaned her room, emptied the bin, picked up the floordrobe and polished 😱😱 who took my DD and replaced her with this version?? I didn't even need to moan 😎🤣 amazing. Best Christmas present ever 🤣😉.

Dinner is pie n mash so not much effort. Can't wait for this cold to leave me as I am feeling tired again already. Need to stay up and dressed for the doc appointment later on..so might sit and watch something on TV whilst I peel and cut some veg and potatoes for dinner later. If it's all prepped it won't take long to cook when we're hungry. 

Watty1

Just caught up with the lovely new diary and your next year sounds so exciting.  I'm cheering you on.   (BTW I used the snowball approach to get my vet fund up, then the next one and so on.  It motivated me more to see one fund growing solidly rather than lots of little pots so far from their target)

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all,

@Watty1 yes I've done the spreading the money across accounts and it doesn't have the same motivation factor for me 🤣 I'm all about a bit of motivation to keep on going.

I went to bed really early again yesterday, about 8:30 🙈 really struggling with my energy this last week or so. Lazy mornings are helping me though. 
Blood tests and ECG done last night, and I waited for around two minutes in the waiting room. Can't quite believe it's the same surgery with a same day appointment and no delays waiting 🤣 but I'll take it 😁. I'm hoping they will find something on the blood tests so that I can fix it... because surely this lack of energy is not normal, I went complaining about this nearly a year ago now and I still feel the same. Determined not to spend the whole of 2026 the same as 2025- tired!

I'm aiming to see some friends today as I've put them off because of this cold. It's nearly gone now though and want to see them both. So just arranging when and where. Both know each other but don't necessarily like each other so I have to arrange different times and places which is a pain.

DS1 should be home tomorrow and the spare room will be ready by then (DS2 old room) we managed to move the piled up boxes into a cupboard in there so nothing has actually been sorted, it's more, hmmm, been moved out of eye sight 🫣 so it looks tidy(ish) still random bits of furniture in there from the dining room and DS old desk which needs tipping. But it's presentable enough and will do a few days 🙈😁.

I realised in the craziness of work these last few weeks, and sorting Christmas out that my probiotics had run out and the new order has gone missing. It said delivered on the 9th Dec which was ages ago and I cannot find it. I was getting into the habit of collecting parcels and chucking them in a corner until I was ready to unpack and wrap immediately as most were presents. I've been getting acid reflux a little the last few days after taking that yukky tincture 😁😂 and the probiotics usually stop that hence I noticed it never arrived. I've sent for another box of them and also got a refund on the way for the missing ones. I'd usually miss things like this in the busyness so I'm glad I noticed. 😁

Not much to do today aside from some socialising, very happy about that. I aim to make the most of my two weeks off by doing as little as possible 😎📚📖🎞️🎥📺💤🛌🏻🍉🍕🍰 😁 doubt it will be a NSD but hopefully not too spendy. 

I was paid today as was DP which is dangerous as we need it to not be touched now for a whole week 🙈 Jan will be another month of struggle as it's a long one so we have decided not to put much away in the way of savings or paying debt etc just so we can comfortably get through January. 

edinburgher

Well done to the Mr T customers, Mr S is feeling a bit feral these days 🤣 

Mrs E got paid today as well. We feel temporarily rich but I have to remind myself that £2k will go on bills the moment the new year arrives 😅

debtfreewannabe321

edinburgher said:

Well done to the Mr T customers, Mr S is feeling a bit feral these days 🤣 

Mrs E got paid today as well. We feel temporarily rich but I have to remind myself that £2k will go on bills the moment the new year arrives 😅

@edinburgher I couldn't believe it either and to think I nearly went to Mr W where I would have paid double just so I could avoid the feral ones 🤣 glad I didn't bother!

debtfreewannabe321

What a long day I've only just got in, and as soon as I did, shower and PJ's 🤣 priorities eh. 
Met my friend, it was every bit as stressy as I thought it might because she brought her dogs. I'd forgotten my antihistamines too 🙈 so trying to get over enthusiastic dogs to stay away from me for two hours was fun. I managed to get the last space in the car park too which was lucky so I sat waiting for her, and when she arrived she had the cheek to say I should have walked so she could have the space 🤣 I told her four cars had been in looking since I parked so she wouldn't have got it anyway but it fell on deaf ears. She then moaned about her new job, we used to work together and she had moaned about that too. I think she just likes to moan. She is lonely after her hubby died which is why I always try to fit her in on a holiday but omg I'm beginning to dread every meeting now. She nearly cried from stress of her horse dog trying to eat someone elses sandwich so I gently suggested for about the fifth time, do you want to put them back in the car as they've had a walk, it's cold out and they will be fine. She decided at that point, yes I will do that. So the last half hour or so was okay. But my gosh I was drained afterwards. I said goodbye to her in the car park where she commented it was now half empty and she was peeved she hadn't got a space 🙈🫠 ah my gawd get me outta here. So I left and drove straight to town to meet my other friend, I may have accidentally walked past Roman (ahem. It is actually out of the way but, well, you know, sales and all). My IBS which, btw, I rarely have now, was flaring hugely due to stressy meeting with friend. So I treated myself to a new skirt that had stretch in, and perhaps three dresses 🫠🫣 all in the sale! So MSE sorta? Right? 🫠 They're nice...ah I felt guilty buying it but they are really nice so I will forgive myself I think. £100 spent on all four items 😬👀. Met my other friend and we had a nice catch up, put the world to rights together rather than one sidedly (that's a word right?) and I had to admit she was right when she said no to a meeting altogether with the other friend because she is so stressy. I feel so guilty saying no though so I still meet these friends who moan and pity party every time 🙈. Anyway we had a drink then wanted food, decided on quick and easy fast food because every restaurant was rammed and honestly I was knackered by this point and my cough was really playing up from having to shout over music. Well, the IBS played havoc with the fast food and let's just leave it at, that was a total waste of money. 
As much as I think I'm a stress head my friend today proved I do keep my stress levels to a much better place than she does. I've not had regular IBS since being with my ex! 
Back home DD and DP were about to leave for the gym so I joined them, and spent almost an hour or so in the sauna and steam room and did half a dozen laps. 
My sofa break is much deserved and welcomed now 🤣💓.
Resting and chilling and getting ready for DS1 to come home tomorrow 😁🌹.
And trying to reduce the stress I've taken on from my friend - that chat is going on mute!! 
Oh I also bought a Xmas jumper - £13. 🫣🎄

daisy_1571

I wonder if (once xmas day is over) you should try to find a little time to jot down your friends names and put a few words against each to reflect your thoughts.

Then think seriously about what the source of this 'guilt' is about not seeing any that drain you.  'Girls' shouldn't say no or state what they want?  'You' shouldn't say no or state what you want?  You don't feel you should stop seeing this person as its something difficult therefore you don't 'deserve' to drop something difficult?   You just feel sorry for these energy vampires and feel its your responsibility to be their friend? 


You are clearly a lovely person.   I'm certainly not going to advise you to cut them off.  But I would say look at your diary and decide how many times next year you want to instigate a meeting.   Once a month? Once a quarter?  Never?  If they contact you sooner than the amount of times you are willing to see them you have the choice to see them more than you decided or you can dodge/avoid/tell them thats no good but suggest a date within your timescale.   If they don't contact you, then force yourself not to contact them and the friendship may naturally peter out?

Just a suggestion, because its really not worth upsetting your health to see any person that has such a physical effect.

Dxxxxxx