Everything changes

itsthelittlethings

Awake early. Just listening to 6music. I’m tired but ok. Back to work on Monday.

I have launched a craft business. I’m working on it one day a week but of course I want to work on it every day. I have done this craft for twenty years so hopefully I can make a go of it.

Roll on the weekend.

Dakota_Rose

That sounds exciting! And it’s a good idea to start it as a sideline to see what works well or not while having the reliability of your normal income.

itsthelittlethings

Well it's the bank holiday weekend. I'm sat at the station waiting for my train. I have gone in Pret as I'm an hour and a half early (couldn't sit at home any longer). A cortado with an extra shot was £4.70! This is going to have to become a rarer and rarer treat. I was feeling extra tired as I drank grapefruit soda last night and I'm not supposed to have grapefruit as it can increase medication levels so I definitely won't have that again. I didn't think soda would have much in but I think it still affected me.

I rang up our employee assistance line this morning to try and get some support with my spending. I think I can get counselling which might help. The lady suggested counselling when I said "spending addiction". There was no counsellor available as it was too early but they are going to call on Sunday morning. I feel positive about this step. I also went through my spending record and highlighted every line that I felt I could do without. It was quite a lot.

Off to Scotland to see one of my best friends today. It's a long train journey as I got split save tickets. I get there at 7 30. My friend said she'd make something nice for dinner. Then on Wednesday I'm back and Thursday to Sunday I'm doing an art course. Then I'm travelling back Monday and then back to work on Tuesday. At my mum's the next weekend.

I had an email about a job I applied for yesterday. I only got the email at 10 to 5 and I was going out to get my hair cut so I emailed back and said I would call on Tuesday. The job sounds right up my street, a lot of what I enjoy from my current and previous roles and less of what I don't enjoy. Plus more money. So I shall have to impress.

Last but not least I got my hair cut yesterday. The last time I had it cut was in March although I had trimmed it (badly) as it was getting too long and annoying me. I get on really well with my hairdresser and enjoy going. She has done a beautiful job and I feel much better.

RhiBi

I’m guessing you’re on amlodipine? I used to love half a grapefruit for breakfast but since being on that I can’t have it which I miss!

South_coast

Good luck with the counselling x

Sun_Addict

Good luck with the job, it sounds good so hope you get an interview 🤞 Good idea to get help with the spending if you think it’s becoming a problem. Enjoy your trip to bonnie Scotland.

itsthelittlethings

Well it's all change with me. It's been a while since I posted and so many things have changed. The first is that I have decided to definitely take the job I was offered in August and am progressing through onboarding. There were a couple of things I wasn't sure about but the more time I have to think about it, the more I think the job is right for me in a lot of ways and I'm really looking forward to starting.

The second change is that the GP signed me off for a month. I was struggling so much with sleep it was badly affecting me at my current job. The GP has agreed to do blood tests to see if anything is causing the brain fog, but my sleep is resetting and I feel much, much better. I really hope the fact that I'm off sick doesn't affect my new job. My old job just wasn't right for me in so many ways. I don't think anyone can be blamed for this, it was just one of those things. I have told my old job that I have a new job but not handed my notice in yet as not quite at that point. I really really don't want to go back to my old job once my current fit note expires but I will see what the GP says. It should be about 2 weeks. It will only be SSP as my sick days will run out. I'm not sure old job want me back as my fit note said I may be able to work with support but they didn't question that.

I spoke to my bank about my overdraft on Friday and going to contact CAP on Monday. I don't think I want to enter any formal debt arrangement but I would like to talk to someone about my debt. I don't really talk about money with my family and friends and I really found it helpful to speak to the bank on Friday. They were very reassuring and helpful. I would urge anyone who is struggling to contact their bank.

I have developed a menu which will cut my food costs and started to allow myself £5 a day spending money, which rolls over. This seems to be a good way for me to think about it. I have £10 in the "pot" now. I need to post something tomorrow so will spend some of that. I need to save up for a haircut at the end of October. I feel optimistic.

Just away at my mum's this weekend. We went for a 4 mile walk and had lunch (which she very kindly bought) yesterday. We were going to go on the water this morning but it's going to rain so we are watching tv. I'm going to trim her fringe then I need to scan some documents for my new job. Later we will walk to buy some fish for dinner. Then home this evening.

So a lot of changes and I feel much better. Part of this is obviously being off work but I think a lot of the improvement will be maintained when I start my new job. Here's hoping!

itsthelittlethings

Well where are we? It's a little while since I posted. Have been off work sick but going back next week. I feel much more positive and in a good frame of mind and I can really see looking back what a bad state I had got in to. Hopefully the improvement is long term.

I got myself in a bit of a mess financially and ended up going over my overdraft limit and living off a credit card this month. Luckily my new daily allowance has really helped to curb the overspending and I haven't run up too much debt. I have done all my food shopping at Lidl apart from 2 Hello Fresh boxes which helped as I was struggling with daily tasks, so they took the pressure off the main meals.

I contacted the bank about my overdraft despite them not seeming too bothered and ended up agreeing an arrangement with them that they would not contact me or make any charges. This has really helped with my state of mind although I am concerned about the damage it will do to my credit file. They said it might make it difficult to get credit and I think it will have an effect for 6 years. Maybe I was a bit hasty in agreeing to it but it's done now. I get paid tomorrow and will be back within my limit and don't intend to go anywhere near it again. I think maybe I did need to hit my personal rock bottom to really make changes.

I have been volunteering at a charity shop while I have been off. I've done two shifts (it took a little while for my application to go through). I really enjoy it and it's been really positive to do something structured, and has really boosted my self esteem. Tomorrow when I go I'm going to see if they have any spaces at the weekend as I'd like to keep going when I go back to work. I also have a new job in the pipeline which I'm very excited about. I only have the provisional offer so I won't relax until I have the firm offer. I think it's going to suit me much more.

My mum is here this weekend as it's my great niece's first birthday party on Sunday. She's staying at my sister's ten minutes away as I don't have a spare room but my sister is busy on Saturday so we're spending the day together and having dinner. I've also been invited to dinner at my sister's tomorrow. A lot to look forward to.

I really feel like I have finally "seen the light" about sticking to a budget and it's making all the difference. It's certainly helping with my peace of mind. Thank you everyone for your support along the way. The onky thing that remains to be seen is how I cope with big purchases like footwear etc. Hopefully my idea of saving up the allowance will work. It seems to work for my brain.

I'll update all my debt totals tomorrow when I get paid. They're not too awful. The main one is the loan. I think I'll have to put that down to experience! I have already requested that the clothes website lower my limit so I can't buy anything else, which they did.

Thanks for reading.

itsthelittlethings

Had a lovely time at volunteering yesterday and a nice afternoon at home with my mum. Then we went to my sister's for dinner. She made stir fry with teriyaki salmon which was delicious and I had a Solero left over from the summer for dessert.

This Morning me and my mum have been out looking for a bike to replace the one I had which got stolen a couple of weeks ago. I've been walking everywhere which is doubtless good for me but just won't be feasible when I return to work as it's an hour each way. I chose a second hand bike which was old but rode well. It had obviously been a good bike when it was new and I decided it was a much better option than a cheap new bike which cost a bit more but rattled when I rode it at the first shop. I've named her Vera and I'm very pleased and relieved to have a new bike.

We went to my local pub for lunch which my mum kindly bought. They serve Nepalese food so we each had an appetiser and shared. My mum had a pint of lager and I had a sparkling water. Now we're relaxing at home with a coffee. There is talk of a walk later but we've already walked quite a lot today. Lasagne for dinner tonight.

itsthelittlethings

At my mum's until Sunday. Today we're getting lunch from the local sandwich hut and she's going to bridge this afternoon. Then we're cooking curry. Tomorrow we're maybe going on the water. Friday we're having a delivery of a mixed box of oysters and mussels which we will have for dinner. I expect we might find some time to go for a few walks. Saturday of the weather is nice we have a plan to go cockling.

I'm coping ok. I went back to work ok and am hopefully getting some kind of flexible accommodation to help me manage (who knows what).

Just curled up under a blanket I won. I've literally never won anything. It's so nice. That reminds me, I have started doing these sites where you get free stuff. You can either get totally free stuff (I have a pharmacy health heart kit coming which I rather suspect is part of a government campaign). I also paid for delivery on some perfume samples and took a discounted subscription to a beauty box which I will probably cancel soon. I thought about whether it was saving me money and it definitely was. The perfumes are autumn themed and autumn is my favourite season. In the beauty box you get about 6 things. It cost £6 which was half price and just one of the things was Rituals bodywash like you get in the posh hotels. I find that doesn't irritate my skin (I have sensitive areas). I look forward to going on there and seeing what's free. If you google "free stuff" you can find the site.

Hope everyone is ok.