Guest Post: Defying the Mask Dictate

Nick Everything Else events, health 3 Comments

Today I have a guest post for you from my old friend John Goss, who blogs at All the Goss.

John blogs about a range of subjects, including politics and media. In this post he writes about the government’s recent decision to make face masks in shops compulsory in England and why he believes this is a mistake. The post struck a chord with me, so I asked John for permission to republish it on PAS, which he kindly gave me. At the end of the post I will add a few thoughts of my own on the subject.

Over to John, then…

It is not for me to tell others how to behave. For myself, however, I am unable to wear a face mask because of a medical condition.

Maskaphobia is a lot more common than people may think. It can start in childhood, get further endorsed in the dentist’s chair, by horror movies and scary images – an example might be the image of an executioner or a “wild animal in a black mask” to quote one of my favourite poets, George Ivanov (1894-1958). The condition is serious.

It has been announced that the wearing of face masks in shops will be compulsory from 24 July. This will make it intolerable for maskaphobes. Other people wearing masks can only cause more stress for this growing sector of the population. Other illnesses as well as maskaphobia are made worse by the wearing of masks.

So is this directive from the government necessary? The graph below charts the falling number of deaths where Covid-19 has been reported from 1 May to 7 July. I think people can see for themselves that this sudden imposition of face masks is a simple test to see just how simple, gullible and pliable to government dictates the UK populace is.

People with disabilities, including deaf, blind and paranoid, may suffer adversely from mask apparel. Other medical conditions which are exacerbated by the wearing of masks include asthma and respiratory illnesses. People with high blood-pressure should not wear masks because added CO2 will increase their blood-pressure. Nearly everyone will have some condition which the wearing of face-masks will make worse.

Mine is not maskaphobia. Well not yet, though I do feel a strong aversion to masks, which is growing by the day. For me it is something else.

Medical conditions are private between you and your GP. You do not need to tell any third party what yours is. Explaining that you have one should be sufficient.

Many thanks again to John for allowing me to republish his post. You can read more of John’s work at https://johnplatinumgoss.com.

Regular readers of Pounds and Sense will know (e.g. from this post) that I am also opposed to the imposition of mandatory face coverings in shops and supermarkets. In my view any benefits they may confer are marginal at best. What’s more, if incorrectly used (as many do) they can actually increase the risk of transmission. On my last visit to my local Morrisons I saw several people fiddling with their masks and one actually hold it to his face and then touch items on the shelves with the same hand. If you were deliberately trying to transmit the virus, you could hardly do better than that.

I am also concerned that – contrary to what the government appears to believe – this measure will not encourage people to go out and shop. Indeed, the reverse is true. For example, a recent Twitter poll of over 43,000 people by Martin Lewis of Moneysavingexpert fame found that significantly more people said they would be less likely to go to the shops if masks are compulsory than those saying it would make this more likely.

Of course, PAS is aimed especially at older people and people with disabilities, and I am particularly concerned about the impact this measure will have on them. Here is one typical comment from Martin Lewis’s survey…

As someone who wouldn’t be wearing one on health grounds it makes me more anxious that I’d be subject to ridicule/online ‘calling out’ and abuse. So while it’s in force I won’t go to a shop unless life & death in a bid to look after my mh [mental health]

At a time when many of us are experiencing extreme stress and other mental health worries, it seems wrong to me that as a result of this measure many people feel they are being forced back into isolation.

I would like to close by endorsing again what John says in his article. If you have a medical or psychological condition that is exacerbated by wearing a mask, you do NOT have to wear one. Neither do you have to provide proof of the condition, or even explain to shop staff (or anyone else) what it is.

Although it’s not essential, if you would like a way of showing you are exempt from the requirement to wear a mask – for medical or psychological reasons – you can buy a badge/lanyard (see picture below) from.the Disability Horizons online shop. This has no official status (not that this is needed) but may reduce the likelihood of your being challenged.

As always, if you have any comments or questions about this post, please do leave them below.

Looking After Your Mental Health in the Coronavirus Crisis

Nick Everything Else events, health 7 Comments

At the risk of stating the obvious, the last few months have been stressful for all of us.

As mentioned in this post last month, a YouGov survey in May found that over a third of respondents (39%) reported a decline in their mental health since March 2020, when the lockdown and other anti-virus measures started. A month on, it’s quite likely that figure would be even higher.

I’ve certainly noticed that I am feeling more stressed and anxious than usual, and I’m luckier than many. Although I live alone, I do have a large house and garden, and also have the advantage of years of experience of working from home. How people in tower block flats have been coping is hard to imagine, particularly if they have young children they are home-schooling as well.

I was keen to find out what methods other people are using to preserve their mental health in these challenging times, so I asked some fellow UK money bloggers what worked for them. I was intrigued by their varied replies, so I’ve set out their comments below. I’ll share some of my own thoughts and experiences afterwards

What Are Other Bloggers Doing?

Emma from Bee Money Savvy says, ‘Writing lists has been my saviour these last few months. I get down if I don’t feel like I’ve achieved much in a day, so having a list of things I’ve managed to do (even small things like eating a healthy breakfast or putting a wash on) has helped me feel somewhat productive and more positive about the day I’ve had.’

Bex from How to B Welthy says her strategies include reading self help books e.g. Good Vibes, Good Life, along with breathing exercises, meditation, getting a good night’s sleep and going out for a walk. She adds that she suffers with mental health issues constantly, though, not just in lockdown.

Collette from Cashback Collette writes, ‘Ive been trying really hard to get outdoors at least once a day either for a walk or a jog – sometimes with my fiance or on my own to clear my head and get some fresh air and vitamin D. I’ve also found I’m in a much better mood and feel more positive on days I speak to friends and family, so I have been chatting to them as much as possible.’

Claire from Money Saving Central says, ‘I have been having an hour to myself in the garden or upstairs every day, once my partner gets in from work. I am not used to all this background noise of iPads, TVs, and children whilst I am trying to work. I really need to sit quietly for just an hour to let my head breathe.’

Blogging duo Joleisa from Joleisa.com say, ‘We have been doing two things really to help us keep sane: crafting, and checking in virtually on elderly friends. We’ve always thought that showing concern for others gives you a boost too.‘

Jennifer from Monethalia says, ‘What’s really helping me is exercising every morning. I’ve never been a gym person but since lockdown happened, I’ve started doing home workouts.’

Nicola from The Frugal Cottage says, ‘I’ve been trying to stay in a routine and focus on finding something positive each day. This is easier on some days than others!’

Pete from Household Money Saving says, ‘I have been watching old box sets on Netflix. I’ve found it comforting to watch something familiar that reminds me of calmer times.’

Charlotte of Charlotte Musha says, ‘Gardening and in particular weeding have been the best thing for my mental health during lockdown. It’s one of those small jobs that make a big difference, so you always feel like you’ve achieved something.’

Laura from Harley Counselling writes, ‘I’m a talking therapist and counsellor, and one of the top tips I’m giving to my clients is to actively build a positive structure into their routine. Designating certain days for activities which we know are good for us gives us a sense of rhythm and familiarity. Things like going for a walk or run, meditation, reading, journalling or gardening can be really restorative and give us space to order our thoughts.’

Katie from Student Skint says, ‘The first 6-8 weeks it was running errands to help give me a reason to get out of the house. But now since rules have eased a bit, it’s making plans to see other people. I find that if I have plans with a friend (or friends) a couple of times a week then it feels more ‘normal’ because I’m seeing and speaking to the people I usually would in person.’

Dan from The Financial Wilderness writes, ‘I meditate. Personally I use the Headspace app which is fantastic, but there are other great resources both free and paid out there.
I always though meditation was a bit, er, ‘woo-woo’ and was deeply skeptical, but I can honestly say after trying it for some time I really notice the benefits, feel calmer and am able to control my thoughts a lot better.’ Dan adds, ‘I am also really enjoying picking up my PlayStation again. I loved gaming throughout my teens but find life is often too busy to be able to – it’s been lovely to rediscover that pleasure.’

Zoe of Eco-Thrifty Living comments, ‘I wrote a blog post about how to deal with anxiety on a budget. I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks in the past and have found things that have helped me. They include doing CBT – I link to some free online self help workbooks in the post, running, drawing and doing a risk register. Not mentioned in the post, but I also find hypnotherapy downloads can be really helpful.’

Joseph who blogs at Thrifty Chap says, ‘Photography. I have a photography YouTube channel and have previous discussed how my mental health benefits from it.’

Bear from Save Like a Bear writes, ‘For me it’s a combination of things: 1. Spending 99% of my social media time on 1-1 conversations rather than anxious scroll holes.
2. Taking a time out to cook dinner from scratch every night no matter how busy I think I am. This has been a good way to get creative and use up what’s in the cupboards because of shopping very rarely too.
3. I’ll echo all the great comments above about what a difference a bit of daily exercise/fresh air/vitamin D makes. I use those walks to listen to podcasts so learning something each day feels like a productive distraction.
4. Having a shutdown routine at night because sleep is so important.
5. This is a very money blogger thing to do, but I had a financial audit and made sure my money was exactly where I wanted it/changed a few systems. It’s one way to feel in control when the world is out of control.‘

Si of Financial Expert says, ‘I’ve been using the Headspace app for 10 minutes each morning to gain a 10 minute window of calm before I begin work. It must be working, as it’s three months in and I now look forward to it.’

Nicola from My Savings Journal says, ‘I’ve tried to let go of my own self-imposed ideas on how productive I should be and the desire to maximise every moment of my time. Instead, I’ve let myself explore hobbies, enjoyed time working on my blog, and tried new ways of keeping my home organised. It’s definitely helped to keep my anxiety and stress levels at bay, as well as creating a new “normal” in terms of balancing relaxation with productivity.’

Michelle from Time and Pence says, ‘I have made sure that we, as a family, have gone out on regular long walks so we have plenty of time out of the house. I believe that has been the real key to coping. While at home, lots of gardening, video chats and games with family and friends. And also we bought my son a keyboard for his lockdown birthday so we’ve all enjoyed learning how to play using tutorials on YouTube.’ And she adds, ‘My mom is shielding due to COPD and she ordered herself lots of painting by numbers, with all the equipment. She set herself a little art studio up at home and she has loved it. It’s made a massive difference to her.’

Rhian of Rhian Westbury says, ‘To keep my mental health high during this period I try and maintain a routine. I need to maintain a good sleeping pattern to maintain good mental health so I wake up every morning at near enough the same time as I would if I was going into the office. And I don’t stay up really late and maintain my normal bedtime. The routine helps me to continue as much as normal during this time.’

Emma of TuppenysFIREplace says, ‘We moved to the Lake District last year so we could spend more time on the fells, only to find they’ve been closed since lockdown. We are not used to being together quite so much so decided we needed to plan our days to counter this. We have regular ‘date nights’ at home where we dress up as if we were going out, and we have at least one TV/internet-free night so we can focus on quality time together. Makes up for the little spats that happen during the day!’

Finally, Marie who blogs at Broke Girl in the City shared a link to her post titled Coronavirus: Top Tips For Coping With Anxiety and Stress. Number one in this is Be Kind to Yourself, a piece of advice I do very much agree with (see below).

Thank you very much to all my money blogging colleagues for sharing their thoughts. I do hope you found them as interesting as I did, and they may have given you one or two ideas for coping strategies you could try as well.

• One thing that did surprise me a bit is that nobody mentioned baking, which I know has been very popular during lockdown. I was also surprised that there was little mention of video gaming, as I hear lots of people during this time have been escaping into the virtual worlds of Animal Crossing (see picture below), Stardew Valley, Minecraft and so on 🙂

My Own Coping Strategies

So what have I been doing to try to preserve my sanity through this challenging period?

As mentioned in my earlier update, I am finding daily walks therapeutic. I especially enjoy a walk after breakfast, and intend to keep this going even after the crisis is over.

Like many of my fellow bloggers (see above) I find it helpful to have a daily routine. After I return from my walk, I generally do a few hours’ work, usually on the blog or any other paid work (writing, editing or proofreading) I may have. I try to stop at lunch time and do other things from then on, though – I am meant to be semi-retired, after all!

I aim to speak to somebody every day, if not in person then over the phone or (occasionally) via Skype. Living alone I think that’s super-important. In the afternoons I go for another walk, or shopping, or spend some time working/relaxing in the garden.

I have a love-hate relationship with social media nowadays. On the one hand, it can be great for keeping in touch with friends and family, and I also use it as a source of news and information. On the other hand, with Twitter especially, there can be a lot of negativity, rudeness and even outright hatred (especially when politics raises its head). If I spend too long there I can feel my stress levels start to rise. I try to limit my time on social media – and recommend everyone else does likewise – but that isn’t always easy, as it pulls you in insidiously.

In the evenings I usually make an effort to cook something nice rather than relying on convenience foods (though they have their place). As mentioned before I typically seek out some escapist entertainment in the evening. This often involves watching one or two episodes of a box-set, even if it’s something I’ve already seen. Recently I have been re-watching the detective series Bergerac with John Nettles which – as you probably know – is set on Jersey. I enjoy the stories but also the lovely island scenery, which reminds me of holidays there and in Guernsey with Jayne in happier times.

• Finally, when I am feeling particularly anxious, I find CBD Oil for Anxiety helpful for calming me down and helping to get a restful night’s sleep. Based on my experience it’s definitely worth a try!

Further Advice

I think my top tip to anyone who is struggling with their mental health at the moment is don’t be afraid to reach out for support if you need it. Speak to friends and family, and to health professionals if appropriate. There is also some great advice about looking after your mental health during the pandemic at www.mind.org.uk/coronavirus.

Money – or the lack of it – can obviously cause stress as well. The YouGov survey mentioned earlier found that nearly a quarter of people (24%) are avoiding talking about finances with friends and family, for fear of burdening them or making them anxious. The same survey also found that 36% of people said that the pandemic had already had a negative impact on their personal finances, with 35% trying to cut costs during lockdown.

As I have said before, talking to someone about your financial worries can be very helpful. Personally I’m a fan of having a personal financial adviser (here’s a link to my blog post about why – despite being a money blogger – I have a personal financial adviser). But even if you don’t, talking to friends and family about money matters can help you put things into perspective and reduce levels of stress and anxiety. You may also enjoy reading reading this article (in which i am quoted) about how to cope with common causes of stress.

Above all else, though, be kind to yourself, and don’t suffer in silence. And equally, if you know someone who may be struggling – or you just haven’t seen or heard from them for a while – reach out by phone or at least message them to check they are okay. It may be a cliche, but we really are all in this together. And pretty much everyone is struggling in their own way.

So that’s how I and my fellow UK money bloggers are getting through our days at the moment. But I’d love to hear what works for you. Are you baking for Britain or painting pebbles, writing your memoirs or tending your virtual island? Please post any comments or questions below as usual!

My Coronavirus Crisis Experience – June Update

Nick Everything Else events, health 4 Comments

A couple of months ago I wrote this blog post about my experience of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. Two months on, I thought it was time I provided another update.

As I said before, I live on my own since my partner, Jayne, passed away a few years ago. I am lucky to live in a fairly large house with a good-sized garden, so being mostly confined to home hasn’t been as big a challenge for me as I’m sure it has for some. Also, I am well used to working from home, having done this for the last 30 years or so.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the crisis hasn’t affected me in a variety of ways. As Pounds and Sense is primarily a money blog, I will (again) start off with that…

Financial

At the time I wrote my last update, world stock markets were in free fall. I was naturally concerned to see my equity-based investments – and in particular my pension fund – tumbling in value. Being 64 and semi-retired with my SIPP in drawdown, this was particularly worrying for me. But I tried to follow my own advice and avoid panicking and selling up.

Thankfully, in recent weeks stock markets have made an astonishing recovery. I am pleased to say that my pension fund and other equity-based investments are mostly back to near pre-Covid levels (and even in some cases above them).

Below is a copy of the six-month chart for my Nutmeg stocks and shares ISA. At one point this was down to just over £10,000 in value, but in just a few weeks it has climbed back to over £15,000. Admittedly I did put in an extra £1,000 when the markets were (as things stand now) close to their lowest point. Even so, it’s been an impressive rally.

Assuming there is no major second wave of the virus – and world-wide there has been no sign of that so far – I am hopeful that the recovery will continue over the longer term. Of course, there are likely to be bumps along the way, and in the short term at least we face the likelihood of an economic recession. Even so, I am keeping my fingers crossed for a recovery over the next year or so, and am continuing to invest cautiously where I see value.

As mentioned in this recent post, I did also decide to invest £7,000 – the proceeds of another maturing investment – in another vehicle for Buy2LetCars. As regular readers will know, I’ve had one (new) car with this car loan investment platform for about two years now, and the monthly repayments have been coming through like clockwork. So I decided to invest my £7,000 (the minimum investment with Buy2LetCars) in another car – a pre-owned one this time, of course.

I particularly liked the idea of investing again with Buy2LetCars, as they lease vehicles to key workers such as nurses and other NHS staff (along with teachers, prison officers, police, and so on). These people all need cars for their (essential) work. They are responsible individuals, and have every incentive to look after the vehicles (though as they are fully insured, investors don’t bear any risk from accidents themselves).

Unfortunately Buy2LetCars don’t tell you who has leased ‘your’ car, but I like to think the ones I have bought are providing transport and security for two hard-working NHS nurses at this moment 🙂

In May I received a modest but nonetheless welcome payment from the government’s Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). I was pleased to hear recently that the government is extending this for a further three months, albeit at a slightly lower rate. It does help a lot at this uncertain time, and I know for many self-employed people it has provided a lifeline.

Personal

Thankfully I have managed to avoid contracting the virus so far. I know a local family who probably all had it, but they are thankfully well recovered now.

I also know people who have been badly affected by the lockdown. One young man of my acquaintance was furloughed from his job and became depressed alone in his bedsit. He started drinking excessively and wound up in hospital, where he spent several days being detoxed and having his liver checked out. Thankfully he doesn’t appear to have suffered any long-term damage, but it does demonstrate the stress many people are under right now. As I’ve said before on PAS, it’s more important than ever to keep in regular touch with friends, relatives and neighbours, especially if they live on their own.

As for myself, I am doing my best to keep on an even psychological keel. Like everyone else, there are things I am missing. Top of the list is seeing friends and relatives, going for days out, pub lunches, and so forth. I am also missing swimming (which is probably affecting my fitness as well). And I am really missing seeing my hairdresser. For the first time in my life, I have been wishing that, like many men of my age, I had gone bald 😉

At least two concerts I booked tickets for were cancelled. I have also had to cancel two holidays this year (so far). I have just one other holiday arranged, a short break in Minehead in September. I am optimistic that this will still go ahead, though how exactly it will be affected by social distancing and other anti-virus measures remains to be seen.

I am very glad that the panic buying has stopped now, though certain things can still be difficult to buy locally. Supplies of flour, eggs and rice are still variable, and I found it more difficult than expected to get a bag of compost for the garden. Supermarket shopping – as I’m sure you know – is a very different experience these days. You have to allow time for queuing outside beforehand, and expect to be marshalled inside the store as well. But things generally are far better than they were, so I’m certainly not complaining.

I still take daily walks – sometimes even two now as the rules about that have eased. I particularly enjoy going out in the (fairly) early morning. The air seems fresher and there are fewer people about, so less need for zig-zagging to preserve social distancing. I also find it sounds more natural to say ‘Good morning’ or just ‘Morning’ to people I pass. ‘Good afternoon’ is a mouthful and makes me sound like the village policeman, while ‘Hello’ just sounds lame. It’s a shame English doesn’t have an equivalent all-purpose expression to the French ‘Bonjour’!

As the crisis has continued, I have been watching less and less TV. Partly there hasn’t been much that has captured my interest, and my attention span for things like films has reduced. In addition, I have found the endless debate about the virus – and especially the negative tone of much of it – depressing and demoralizing. Instead I have been watching a lot of catch-up comedy and drama, and DVD box-sets.

Among the latter, I am enjoying Deep Space Nine, a Star Trek spin-off series (actually seven series) that I mostly missed first time round. And for light relief, I am watching The Brittas Empire, a 1990s sitcom with Chris Barrie set in a leisure centre. I highly recommend this for a bit of undemanding, escapist fun!

I have also just finished re-watching The Singing Detective by Dennis Potter, again on DVD. If you haven’t seen this, it’s a brilliant, multi-layered, musical drama serial, superbly written and acted. Since I first watched it I have acquired a lot more experience of hospitals (where much of the action takes place) so that has given me a new perspective on the show. I was also struck that in the days when it was made, there was clearly nothing unusual about patients being allowed to smoke in their hospital beds. How times have changed!

Finally on the subject of media, as I indicated above, I have become disillusioned with much of the reporting around the pandemic, which has become increasingly negative and politicized. But I do enjoy following Professor Karol Sikora on Twitter. Professor Sikora is a well-respected cancer specialist with a doctorate in immunology. He offers a positive and generally optimistic view, informed by science and statistics. He doesn’t have a political axe to grind and is willing to give the government credit for things they have done well and criticize things they have done badly. If you want one person to follow for unbiased news about the pandemic with a measure of cautious hope for the future, I highly recommend checking out his Twitter page.

Moving on, one other thing I’ve noticed in recent weeks is that I’m not spending as much money as I did before. Obviously I’m paying less for stuff like petrol, public transport, meals and drinks out, and so on. But I have also become more miserly about buying other things, even online. I’ve cancelled all my magazine subscriptions, and also been actively looking for other opportunities to save money. From what I have seen and heard, I am not alone in this. I guess it comes down to the strange and uncertain times we are living through. I think that, both consciously and unconsciously, I am trying to save as much as I can to try to ensure that I have a decent financial cushion whatever the future holds.

And finally, I realized the other day I haven’t spent any actual cash since the lockdown began! Payment by card is preferred everywhere and in some places is the only payment option accepted. The pandemic has probably accelerated our progress towards becoming a cashless society.

So that has been my experience of the coronavirus crisis to date. I do of course appreciate that I am in a fortunate position compared with many other people. I hope you and your family are coping in these strange and worrying times as well. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. If you have any comments or questions, as always, please do post them below.