Mental health and spending

Bookowl · 5 December 2019 at 9:38PM

Hi
Hope this is right board to post on, if not can someone move it to the right post.
I moved to new area for a new job and dont know anyone in my new area. My office is quite quiet and so I dont get much interaction from them. I also have a disability which makes getting out to meet new people difficult.

I have been tracking my spending though....I've definitely noticed a link between me being lonely and isolated to me over spending. My overspending is on takeaways and eating out. I've lost my energy and enjoyment for planning and cooking meals.

I've read the mental health and debt guide.

Has anyone been through a similar situation that could offer advice or just advice in general?

jonesMUFCforever · 5 December 2019 at 10:36PM

Join the local library who will have details of loads of local interest groups or sign up for an evening school course?

Bookowl · 5 December 2019 at 10:54PM

My disability makes it difficult for me to navigate in new areas especially at night - which isn't ideal as most groups meet in the evening and I would have difficulty finding my way to those places.

I dont know how to break the cycle of spending money on takeaways etc.... I know I'm comfort eating because im lonely and isolated.....but can't get out because of my disability - catch 22&#55358;&#56614;!♀️&#55357;&#56874;

Ben8282 · 6 December 2019 at 1:50AM

I do sympathise with your situation but don't really know what else to suggest. If you can't go out you really need to focus your interests elsewhere and away from takeaways.
In your OP you say that your overspending is on takeaways and eating out but now you say you don't go out because of your disability and it has changed to just takeaways which presumably you have delivered? But you go out to work though.

gozaimasu · 6 December 2019 at 2:53AM

Plan some activities with the people from your old area to come and visit you. That'll give you something to look forward to and hopefully reduce unhealthy spending habits.
Takeaways are ridiculously expensive. Cheaper to just buy a ready meal and bung it in the oven for half an hour. No need for planning or cooking. Just waiting.
Try making new friends online and see if that makes it easier to go out and meet people in person.
Take up a new hobby to occupy your mind, like knitting or reading or doing jigsaws or painting, or yoga or some kind of exercise.

I'm assuming the disability is not physical, but psychological. Is there anything that could reduce the symptoms that might make it easier for you meet people in person?

Katiehound · 6 December 2019 at 12:30PM

If it's comfort eating and you find it difficult to go out in the evenings could you perhaps phone a friend or three- not always the same friend- and chat to them for a while.

Ready meals are cheaper than take aways. Another idea is to do some batch cooking when you have the time then freeze in portions. All you need to then is reheat and cook some veg.

I wonder if you might post this on the 'old style' board as well- you might get some more ideas that way.

Ergates · 6 December 2019 at 12:33PM

Bookowl wrote: »

My disability makes it difficult for me to navigate in new areas especially at night - which isn't ideal as most groups meet in the evening and I would have difficulty finding my way to those places.

I dont know how to break the cycle of spending money on takeaways etc.... I know I'm comfort eating because im lonely and isolated.....but can't get out because of my disability - catch 22��!♀️��

Could you look for social "things" that take place near where you work? That way it wouldn't really be "going out" again, it would be stopping off on your way home. This might make getting there easier (as you'd be close by anyway, and you'd be more familiar with the locale).

What kind of hobbies might you be interested in?

Bookowl · 6 December 2019 at 12:41PM

My disability is visual and so it makes it difficult for me to find my way in new places and identify obstacles. My disability has become worse since I moved to my new area.
Old work colleagues/friends and family could only visit if they took a plane journey- so not close by.
I eat out in terms of breakfast out and burger king etc to take out.
I enjoy reading etc.
The kitchen is small where I live so hard to store food or batch cook food. I would have to prepare food fresh and currently I dont have the energy or motivation to do so.
My old area doesn't have any permanent jobs in my field.
I guess it's also a question of what I value in life: a job that's not in my field but in my old area but offers community and familiarity or a job that's in my field but I'm unhappy in my new area.

JennyJukes · 6 December 2019 at 12:54PM

Are you able to do a Statement Of Affairs to see how much money you have disposable and agree on a takeaway budget so that if you use it up, you can't go over it? I'm not sure if that would help psychologically? For me, when I'm sad I tend to gamble and knowing I have a limit that I'm allowed to spend, that won't stop me from paying bills, eating and saving some (and therefore not feeling too guilty), does help as I now know I have that budget and I need to use it wisely.
For me, I also buy in cheap take-away type foods such as pizza and garlic bread but just one so when I do feel lonely/sad then I know it's their in the freezer to eat instead of calling for a takeaway.
I think it's the psychology of letting myself indulge but not too much.

Ergates · 6 December 2019 at 1:02PM

Could you look into groups you might be interested in, (near where you work, or near where you live), and see if an existing member might be willing/able to help you get to where they meet?

I appreciate that might not be an easy thing to ask, but from the sounds of it, any solutions to your situation are going to involve leaving your comfort zone to some degree.

born_again · 6 December 2019 at 2:24PM

Just where are you?

A idea. Try local facebook groups. I'm sure that your local are will have a group for visually impaired people. Might be worth while asking at your doctors, as many of these carry such info.

Mental health and spending

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free