Looking To The Future With Hope

RhiBi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81906371#Comment_81906371

I’ll look for it, thank you!

RhiBi

Evening! I’m in bed with a cuppa tea! Judging by this diary you’d think I never get out of bed! Work today and it’s was an office day, I’m struggling with them a bit, but it is getting easier. My GP prescribed anxiety medication for r me to take when I feel particularly anxious. Even on days I feel like I’m wading through mud, I need to remind myself that I am getting there, the last week I’ve only taken the medication on the 2 office days I need to do.

Today was a no spend day, and tomorrow should be too, so that’s good. I’m not in work Wednesday so my plan is to catch up on some housework, and try and get my head round this pots thing!

It was my birthday a few weeks back and I had some vouchers for Look Fantastic. I placed an order last week and asked on the Royal Mail tracking for it to be delivered to a neighbour as I was working. Well they’ve tried to deliver it 3 times to my house, not taking notice of the request, so I need to try and find where the parcel is, or if, as I suspect, it’s been sent back. I need that make up to look half decent on holiday next week! So that’s another thing I need to sort out on Wednesday. I know if it has gone back I’ll get the refund, but I don’t want to use money in the EF to reorder, plus I suspect as it was paid in gift vouchers, it’ll get refunded in gift vouchers.

RhiBi

I think I’ve had some sort of epiphany today, or at least, my brain is working on top form. I’ve been thinking about these pots, and I see the sense in it but I couldn’t get my head around the organisation of it. Then I suddenly thought, I essentially have a monthly bills pot. My pay goes into NatWest, and I transfer enough on payday to cover my monthly household bills to Santander where they all come out of. I’ve been transferring money to the emergency fund, leaving enough in the NatWest for groceries, pet food and petrol. So I’m seeing that as another pot. So, if I set up pots on the Chase account for car insurance (which I want to change to annual when it’s due for renewal), haircuts, health, entertainment etc, then it’ll be far more organised. I get paid on the 15th of the month, so I’ll set it all up then and hopefully it’ll work. I’ve seen the saying make every £ have a job’ said a lot, and now I finally get it.

In other news, I finished work late tonight, I got a homemade minestrone soup out of the freezer this morning so that’s on the hob warming up.

I’m not in work tomorrow, so it’s a day of cleaning and chasing up a parcel!

Humdinger1

Marvellous @RhiBi! I think this shows that you're taking this on board at a deeper level. Is that how it feels? Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx

RhiBi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81908407#Comment_81908407

Yes that is how it feels. I’m in this for the long haul. Obviously I’m not paying anything towards my debts yet. I’m waiting to hear about write offs then plan to self manage a DMP once defaults happen. Then in a few years I plan to look into settlement deals. I know that when I do set up the DMP, money to the emergency fund will be less, and I am going to make sure I don’t see that as a failure, it’s another step to getting finances, life, and myself back on track.

Through speaking to the counsellor, I realised that at 54 years old this is the first time I’ve lived alone and I’ve struggled with that, but I am starting to enjoy that time, doing things (or not) for myself. I feel at the moment that I am taking baby steps nearer to that light at the end of the tunnel. I’m sure there’ll be steps back at times, but every step closer has got to be a good thing.

Dakota_Rose

This is so lovely to read. Have a lovely day off and keep finding those moments to cherish - however small they may be.

daisy_1571

Such lovely posts to read. In time organising your money will become 'boring' and that when you know you've really got into being organised 😆

Dxx

RhiBi

well I located the missing parcel. I phoned the sorting office and it was there, this meant a 20 mile round trip which I wasn’t best pleased about. However, maybe this was meant to be. I was listening to the radio on my way there and Ruth Langford was talking about a book she’s released. I’ve no real opinion on Ruth Langford either way, and who was talking is irrelevant really. She was talking about things she’s been through and difficult times and then she said something that is fairly obvious, but made me think. She said “try and find joy in something every single day”. It got me thinking, we all go through tough times in life and wonder at times what is the point, but there is always a point, and there is always a glimmer of joy.

So my joy for today is hanging the washing on the line and seeing some blue sky. Putting the washing out could have been just another chore I have to do alone with no support or help. I’m going to make an effort to find joy every day. So thank you Royal Mail for not delivering my parcel and thank you Ruth for making me think and seeing things from a different angle.

Sun_Addict

Re the pots they build up as you go along. I started with the obvious one for bills then another pot for everything else which I kept splitting up as time went on. It took me a long time to get to the stage where I am now with a pot for everything (I think!). This level of organisation didn't come into place until I'd got the debt paid off though. I still keep refining my budget and pots but I think I've pretty much cracked it now - only taken me 30 plus years 🤣

RhiBi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81909127#Comment_81909127

I think it will be work in progress. At the moment I’m going to have one for all car expenses. I can see that being split into insurance/MOT/maintenance in the future. I’m going to simplify if for now though just while I’m getting to grips with it.