Less Alcohol - APRIL 2020 - One Day at a Time

Doxmum

@forestdweller1: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well."

I almost forgot this shout-out. Thank you!! I've been using this as a mantra for awhile. Credit to Julian of Norwich, Catholic FEMALE mystic circa 14th century? Near as I can tell she lived a monastic life and was credited with being the first woman to write a book in English. In the 21st century we would say, "You go girl!"

helen_goldthorpe

1 - AF
2 - AF
3 - 3 glasses of wine on 2 different 'virtual pub' video calls
4 - AF
5 - 1 glass wine
6 - AF
7 - AF
8 - AF
9 - AF
10 - beer and wine. Virtual pub.
11 - beer in the sun in the garden after my bike ride.
12 - AF
13 - wine and beer at Street lockdown festival
14 - AF

9/14 AF

whitpauly

5:45 am in Vegas another 24, trying to decide if I should pay some credit cards or just let them go, I was self employed so am not eligible for unemployment, the few bucks I do make from Postmates and instacart need to go into groceries and utilities, any advice? I couldn't pay 2 cards already so they'll go into collection so my near perfect credit will be crap anyways 😒 I just don't understand why they're not cutting some slack? They KNOW the world is basically shut down right now, kitten kittens! (I'll let you fill in the profane words🤣)

globalhiker

10 AF days/14 days done....when we're immune to Covid, I would gladly stop in Whitefish @doxmum, and visit you and @dawnbgethealthy if possible....a celebration will be in order for sure! You guys bring the bear spray, OK?

On a separate note, you know I am watching too much news when Donald Trump shows up in my dreams. Need a break....

dawnbgethealthy

whitpauly wrote: »

5:45 am in Vegas another 24, trying to decide if I should pay some credit cards or just let them go, I was self employed so am not eligible for unemployment, the few bucks I do make from Postmates and instacart need to go into groceries and utilities, any advice? I couldn't pay 2 cards already so they'll go into collection so my near perfect credit will be crap anyways 😒 I just don't understand why they're not cutting some slack? They KNOW the world is basically shut down right now, kitten kittens! (I'll let you fill in the profane words🤣)

I am in a different country, so I don't know the rules there, but I was able to call the bank yesterday and they allowed a deferral and dropped the interest rates of credit cards. Possibly worth a try?

dawnbgethealthy

globalhiker wrote: »

10 AF days/14 days done....when we're immune to Covid, I would gladly stop in Whitefish @doxmum, and visit you and @dawnbgethealthy if possible....a celebration will be in order for sure! You guys bring the bear spray, OK?

.

Wouldn't that be fun!!

karenesg

Working on 3 day run AF and thinking of reasons why I deserve a drink. Ha! My family deserves me to stay sober why more than I deserve anything. Staying strong 💪

shorepine

Hi everyone, I love this thread. It's so non-judgmental. I love that I can come here and admit that I drank almost two bottles of sparkling wine and I get commiseration and support. You guys are the best.

@whitpauly I'm in the same place wondering about the credit cards. I saw I can request a deferment, but I know interest will still continue to build. It's hard to find the energy to think about my finances right now, there is so much uncertainty.
@Doxmum it feels good to know you had a similar 1.5 liter day, and thanks for acknowledging that we are still working hard at this.

I'm feeling better now that I've had two AF days in a row. I have binged on sugar both nights though. Tonight my goal is not to binge on sugar, and still remain AF.

Apr 1: AF
Apr 2: AF
Apr 3: 3 drinks
Apr 4: AF
Apr 5: 3 drinks
Apr 6: AF
Apr 7: AF
Apr 8: 2 drinks
Apr 9: AF
Apr 10: 2 drinks
Apr 11: 1 drink
Apr 12: drank 1.5 bottles of sparkling wine over the course of the day
Apr 13: AF
Apr 14: AF

So far in April: 8/14 days AF

Ke22yB

@whitpauly I am semiretired but self employed and was told I could file for unemployment because of the Covid crisis under the new CARES act that was signed. I do not know from state to state but in NJ I have been trying to file and unfortunately the volume is so high I cant get thru to the site. I know under the SBA there are some loans available for sole proprietor business owner and there is also the $1200 relief check that are starting to be released this week to almost all taxpayers who are in your income bracket.
The SBA loans should be forgiven after the crisis.

helen_goldthorpe

1 - AF
2 - AF
3 - 3 glasses of wine on 2 different 'virtual pub' video calls
4 - AF
5 - 1 glass wine
6 - AF
7 - AF
8 - AF
9 - AF
10 - beer and wine. Virtual pub.
11 - beer in the sun in the garden after my bike ride.
12 - AF
13 - wine and beer at Street lockdown festival
14 - AF
15 - AF

10/15 AF. Planning not to drink before Friday.

dawnbgethealthy

As usual, I am going to try for 16-20 AF days for the month.
I had 18AF days for January
I had a surprising (and record setting for me) 21AF days for the short month of February!
18AF days for March
Onward to April : - )

Wednesday April 01 - AF
Thursday April 02 - AF - Felt like having drinks, but really determined to get back to at least 2AF days in between.
Friday April 03 - AF because I have a webinar in the morning that I want to be sharp for. Planned wine with a friend for her birthday - yes, we will stay 2 metres apart and likely outside.
Saturday April 04 - Drinks
Sunday April 05 - AF
Monday April 06 - AF
Tuesday April 07 - AF - My Tuesdays have changed, no longer working my tail off and stressed out for the first Tuesday "off". Normally my drinks day. I am really battling to get off the March weight gain, and I know that being more AF helps.
Wednesday April 08 - 3 drinks
Thursday April 09 - AF - I need to be AF again tomorrow so as to have at least 2AF days in between. It has been warm and beautiful here, but it is supposed to drop drastically for a week starting Saturday with more snow. I have done work in the garden hoping to get planting soon, but apparently I need to wait.
Friday April 10 - 3 drinks, broke my own rule of always 2AF days in a row. Just didn't have the willpower today I guess.
Saturday April 11 - AF
Sunday April 12 - AF
Monday April 13 - AF
Tuesday April 14 - AF - Tuesdays no longer stress me out because I don't go out to work anymore. I have time to work out more, prepare healthy food, get out on the trails everyday. I do work on my little Amazon business at home and have a learning seminar tomorrow morning early, so AF tonight so that I hopefully absorb a bunch.
Wednesday April 15 - AF - Planned drinks tomorrow. Hey, that was 5 AF days in a row!!

12AF days out of 15 days so far

Womona

9/15 AF days. Hugs to you all, and thanks for all your support!

Doxmum

Check-in Day 7: a bit late in the evening but had to make sure I was going to go all evening without an adult beverage. And I did!

MissMay

More than half way through April. A bit bumpy at my start of the first week, but it has smoothed out and is much better. Hey, just goes to show I am on the LESS ALCOHOL thread exactly for this reason. Would have been worse if I was claiming total sobriety for life.
My down fall was trying to process a GF of mine contiplainting a stupid decision in her life during a global crisis.
12AF out of 15

Nice job those 5 consecutive days @dawnbgethealthy 👍👍👍👍👍

globalhiker

11 days AF/15 days.... @whitpauly, possible to call the credit card company and request a freeze on escalating interest/waive late fees, maybe for a 3 month period? If they say no, maybe ask to speak to someone senior? If they say no, can you move your balance to a credit card company that offers more favorable terms? It would be favorable for the creditor to bend the rules and keep you as a client IMO.

Here is a recent link from bankrate.com, a trusted source, listing out companies waiving fees etc, if helpful:

https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/issuer-assistance-programs-amid-coronavirus-fears/

whitpauly

6:16 am in Vegas another 24,hope everyone has a wonderful day 🌺

Beka3695

I felt like I held it together in March very well. Mid April feels like I'm hanging on by a frayed string.

2 days AF... let's start this streak over!!!

shorepine

Hey everyone. I'm feeling it too- April feels hard to me. Not sure why it has been the hardest month for me so far in this commitment to drink less. @MissMay I'm glad too I'm on the LESS alcohol thread! That's the whole idea. While I think total sobriety wouldn't be a bad thing for me, I'm not really at that all-or-nothing type place.

Another day in the books for me, happy about that. Happy to put some space in between now and my binge drinking episode this past Sunday.

Apr 1: AF
Apr 2: AF
Apr 3: 3 drinks
Apr 4: AF
Apr 5: 3 drinks
Apr 6: AF
Apr 7: AF
Apr 8: 2 drinks
Apr 9: AF
Apr 10: 2 drinks
Apr 11: 1 drink
Apr 12: drank 1.5 bottles of sparkling wine over the course of the day
Apr 13: AF
Apr 14: AF
Apr 15: AF

So far in April: 9/15 days AF

Doxmum

@whitpauly Agree w/ @Ke22yB and @globalhiker (See link below). I believe you qualify for unemployment + the CARES act supplement. It may take awhile to get through the application process but at least you can tell the banks you've been laid-off, you're applying for unemployment, and ask them to defer the payments. You can point out your credit score as proof that you have every intention of making good on the debt. If the link doesn't work, the article was in the NYT, April 13th, "Here's What the Relief Packages Give Self-Employed Workers."

https://www.nytimes.com/article/self-employed-workers-unemployment-coronavirus-stimulus-package.html?campaign_id=12&emc=edit_my_20200413&instance_id=17606&nl=your-money&regi_id=62003215&segment_id=25000&te=1&user_id=47e33ce59422f41cf3470d35174ec11e[/url]

helen_goldthorpe

1 - AF
2 - AF
3 - 3 glasses of wine on 2 different 'virtual pub' video calls
4 - AF
5 - 1 glass wine
6 - AF
7 - AF
8 - AF
9 - AF
10 - beer and wine. Virtual pub.
11 - beer in the sun in the garden after my bike ride.
12 - AF
13 - wine and beer at Street lockdown festival
14 - AF
15 - AF
16 - AF

11/16 AF