Settling in for the long haul

Sun_Addict

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030721#Comment_82030721

Mr SA is exactly the same. He’s had a brain tumour, a brain bleed and 9 months of chemotherapy but the slightest twinge anywhere and he’s in agony 🤣

DancingInTheRain

Bravo to your eldest 👏🤣

Dakota_Rose

I am relieved that it’s Friday and that there’s a bit of a reprieve from work for a day or two. It has been a hard week with little downtime so the weekend is definitely needed.

Dinner was nice but ended up with tempers being a bit frayed after a poorly aimed joke upset someone at the table. Not a nice way to end the meal, which had been lovely. I think we’re all a bit over-tired and feeling more sensitive than usual.

There’s nothing much planned for the weekend and I’d like it to stay that way!

Chocolatefund

I've also had a less then stellar week at work. Here's to a chill weekend! 🍺

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033140#Comment_82033140

cheers to that 🍻

Dakota_Rose

Today ended up being busier than we’d planned but we enjoyed it. An impromptu visit to some pet and charity shops that we haven’t been to before meant we came home with some nice treats for Dakota dog and some T-shirts and books for the boys. Little Miss was happy with a new body spray and we treated them all to a mcds for lunch, although Mr D and I abstained.

My personal spends are now almost gone for the month, and my petrol needed topping up too.

I’ve chewed over a work conversation a lot today that I feel I could have managed better. I so wish I could leave it behind me at a weekend as worrying changes absolutely nothing and just detracts from what should be downtime. I’m sensible enough to recognise that I’m coming into my PMT window though, and am tracking a very strong pattern of migraines and anxiety this week of every month. Not much fun at all, but understanding it does help a bit.

In other news, I’m trying to decide what is a sensible amount to build up to as a buffer in our energy account. We have £500 in there today with £80 worth of bills due to come out for the month. We’ve reduced our monthly DD to £180 (from £220) but I’m loathe to have it sitting in their bank instead of our own.

Still checking TCB daily but there’s still no sign of the life insurance plan payout we’re waiting for. We opened it in January so it really shouldn’t be too much longer now surely?!

joedenise

Energy companies seem to like you having at least 2 months surplus on your account. I'm currently just over that so suspect that I will be asking for some back once it gets to 3 months credit. I've already had £150 back this year. I'd rather have the money in my savings account earning a bit of interest than having sitting in the energy company's coffers!

I think if you know that you'll save the extra and earmark it for the gas/electric then definitely worth putting into a savings account for the interest and paying a lump sum at a future date if necessary.

Baileys_Babe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034850#Comment_82034850

We keep less in our energy account but we put money aside in a savings account so we can pay a one off payment to our gas/electric supplier if needed.

Dakota_Rose

Thanks both. I share your thinking and have requested £150 back. Much rather it was sitting with us than them. I do want a healthy buffer there for when the weather turns colder again but it doesn’t need to be at £500 now.

Saying that, here I am sitting in knitted cardi and socks feeling rather chilly tonight!

We had a quiet morning at home. We enjoyed the slow start and bacon rolls for breakfast mid-morning. This afternoon saw us out again with a return home at tea-time. Mr D bought enough beef burgers and sides on Friday to do two dinners so that is what we had tonight, and very nice it was too. The food highlight of the weekend was our free Victoria sandwich cake from M&S. It was delicious and we all agreed made even nicer by being free 😂.

I had an early night fending off a migraine last night and am sitting yawning again now. I’ve got such a busy week at work and know it’s going to be my week of the month for hormones, headaches and tiredness so wish me luck! Really will need to power on through and remember that the doc prescribed me anti-sickness tabs for the migraines so to use one if I need to.

My car needs a minor repair (squealing brake needs cleaned/greased) so I’m hoping the resident mechanic can take a look at that for me when I work from home on Wednesday.

Tomorrow, eldest will be leaving high school after his final exam. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet but he’s very excited. His leaving gift will be a new suit and shoes, ready for a good night out at prom.

Wishing everyone a good, productive week ahead. My mantra yet again will be ‘busy, not bad’. Anything to try and keep my head in a positive space.

FootyFanDan

ha, free food often tastes better 🤣. I like that mantra, I am trying to aim to be more productive this week too. I spent far too much energy over thinking last week. I have managed to negotiate two days a week in the quieter office so I am convinced this will be a good step forward.