Attention Deficit Debt Free Wannabe

AntoMac

Lovely photos. That looks like a really uplifting start to the weekend

ArtyJ931

sounds really positive 😊 I am interested to hear more about the adhd meds as you carry on. I’ve never taken or been tempted to take them - probably for the worst lol

DaedricPrince

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931809#Comment_81931809

Honestly, i'm at the very start of titration on a low dose, but the difference is amazing already. The racing thoughts are quiet enough to be ignored, the constant tensing and fidgeting (which i wasn't fully aware of at times) has really decreased, attention is waaaaay better and executive function seems to be massively improved so as to just do the thing instead of taking 3 hours to get started. I seem to be able to finish a task much better as well, rather than start, stop and leave half finished to start something else. I've noticed i'm much more able to listen to others without fighting the urge to interrupt as well. The feeling of calm and peace is still a bit unnerving at times, like something is missing that you can't quite put your finger on. As my walk this morning proved, being present and not stuck in your thoughts is so much easier.

A side effect, but a welcome one, is the quietening of food noise. I've always struggled with binge eating and then drastically restricting food leading to yo yo weight. If anything, I don't feel hungry at all and don't really even think about it, which is fine by me as I could do with getting back to a healthier weight, maybe 20/25kg less.

The downside at the minute is the effects noticeably wearing off around 2/3pm and then everything comes rushing back with force. And this brings a low level headache and a slight nausea, but it's easy enough to deal with for the hour or so it's there. Hopefully the higher doses to come will sort all that 🤞

I know everyone is different and responds differently to each medication available, but if it makes life more manageable and more of level playing field with neurotypical folk, I'd certainly say it's worth exploring. For too long I saw it as a failing to take anything just to do things folk find "easy" but now I see it as a leveller so we aren't doing basic life things on hard mode compared to everyone else. The adhd tax alone is such a penalty and it isn't our fault. You wouldn't shame someone for using crutches to get around on a broken leg, so why shame ourselves for using medication to survive in a world not designed for neurodivergence and ease the negative impacts of a differently built brain? 😊

ArtyJ931

I'm hyper sensitive to medication generally so I'm always scared to take anything but I'm interested to hear how you get on for sure. My daughter recently had her ADHD diagnosis and she is going down the medication route so I'm watching it all with great interest!

DaedricPrince

A bit of an over cast morning this morning. The sun shining through the thin cloud cover gave a lovely effect though. Lots of birdsong again. Nice calm way to start a Sunday.

Not much planned today, so will hopefully be a NSD. Tea today will be piri piri chicken pasta with onion, sweetcorn, and peas. Using some left over frozen chicken, so the aim to reduce food waste is off to a good start 😁 I'll get the slow cooker out and whip up a batch of chilli so there's plenty in the freezer for easy meals after work (or for lunch at work). Other than that, a chilled day planned and hopefully the cloud clears so that chilled day can be spent in the garden sunshine. If not, I may escape into the world of Skyrim for the afternoon (single greatest video game ever made).

Here's to Sunday relaxenings folks ☕️

DaedricPrince

Nothing much big happening now debt busting wise. In the lull between paydays and waiting on more pot action! The T cc has racked up 20 extra points on everyday transactions, so hopefully by December I should have some points worth exchanging for double rewards 🤞

The grocery budget is going to need a rethink. Almost empty, but I've had DS and DD more than usual. There isn't a set arrangement. They're teenagers now (one almost an adult 🤯) so we let them pick and choose where they stay when they want. Although the average on the SOA is fairly accurate, it's difficult to pin down month to month. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Will work out how best to do it. Maybe on quieter months, there'll be a surplus to roll over for when they're here more. First month though, so nothing major to worry about. The freezer and cupboards are well stocked mind, so other than bread and milk, I probably don't need anything for the rest of the month.

Interest earned is now at 41p! I also like that Monzo show you overall personal balance. Although the current account looks low, overall over £600 sitting in pots and savings is a much healthier position than previous months. Obviously some of this is sitting waiting to be used (diesel, yearly budgets, groceries etc.) It's amazing to have it stashed ready rather than being spent mindlessly, wondering where it went and then scrabbling to make up debt payments. EF is still receiving roundups and the odd being tidied from non round numbers.

Early in the month yet (paid 15th) so the end may tell a different tale, but so far, happy with the new system. Half term may skew the picture a bit but we'll see. If so, there's at least a small savings pot to cover a trip out or two rather than resorting to overdrafts. If needs be, some personal spends can used to cover anything above that pots balance.

Right, off to work. Have a great Tuesday all.

in_need_of_direction

loving the positivity

DaedricPrince

Finally saturday. A windy one at that!

Nothing too exciting happening with the debt busting mission at the minute. Broadband switched over and final bill from the old supplier received. This has been sent to the new supplier for payment as part of the switching deal. Interest is now at a whopping 58p!! 😃 Today's task is to sit down and fine tune one or two things in the budget spreadsheet, but on the whole, so far so good at the half way mark between pay days. T points are at the 500 mark with using the CC as well and that will keep rising with everyday spending.

Very very windy put today, so not sure if a walk on the beach will happen. A few household chores have been ticked off already and DD is too ill for gymnastics, so it may be one of them chill out Saturdays watching films under a blanket on the couch while the patient recovers.

Happy weekend all

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81940602#Comment_81940602

How is everything going?

DaedricPrince

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958071#Comment_81958071

Its been a while since I posted hasn't it?

Things have been ticking along. Car MOT is due and I've had a couple of trips out over the half term with the kids. The best part? Having some money set aside to pay with 😁 The car pot won't cover the whole car bill with it being just less than 1 month old, which means having to shuffle some across from another pot. BUT the money is there regardless of which pot it came out of, which is a huge win for me personally! Payday in 2 days and no credit used for the whole month 🥳

I remembered my home insurance renewal and got some quotes. This has been purchased ready to go and has gone from £47 pm to £231 for the year!! I paid it outright using the T cc and will pay the balance monthly, so fees saved, money saved on the total cost and lots of lovely T points 😁

Overall, incredibly pleased with the first month of budgeting and creating pots. A couple of tweaks needed here and there as to what's realistic in terms of budgets (looking at you diesel and groceries) but nothing major and having money in an EF and a few small pots at the end of the month is a major turnaround. Hopefully things should improve further very soon as I now have a start date for my new role at work, which will bring a very welcome payrise into the coffers.

All of this is underpinned by some success with ADHD medication. The difference in being calm, clear headed, less impulsive and able to focus is amazing and helps massively with being more responsible with the pennies. Still in titration, and at the minute, it wears off a little too quickly, so still have to really make an effort to keep an eye things, but having that 5 or 6 hours of the day to be able to just get stuff done has been a real help.

Here's hoping for a successful month number 2 🤞

Have a great Sunday all 🙂