Flo's Debt Free Diary

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

Why not set yourself a few challenges each day to help keep you motivated? Something that is MSE for example like using up leftovers for tea, something to help with the job hunting like getting signed up to temp agency or start a job application, something to help with your mental health like going for a walk, listen to music, declutter a drawer or some such thing?

Thank you ES, those are some good ideas.

I'm concerned there aren't enough hours in the day, somehow time seems to be escaping from me and my OH seems to think I should be able to keep the house tidy, apply for millions of jobs and do exercise each day. Maybe I should be able to, but somehow my days don't work like that. And bizarrely my OH wants my day to be absolutely filled so I am free to watch endless TV with him in the evening, which seems a bit counter productive.

Each day he asks me what I've been up to when he was at work and even if I feel like I have been really productive, somehow he makes me feel that I have failed.

Naturally I agree my number one priority is getting a new job, but just what would quantify as a good amount of work to do towards that each day? And where do the other chores fit in?

I can see that OH would be !!!!ed off if he comes home from work every day and all I've done is sat on my bum watching Netflix...

Aargh!!!!

And I'm not even allowed to get up early (I like getting up between 5-6am in an ideal world) as the alarm would wake OH and he is enjoying having a decent amount of sleep now that I don't have to get up ridiculously early for work.

So...that's the way things are at the moment.

On another note I did some great money saving today. I took advantage of the Sainsbury's double up to get some new clothes. There was a massive sale on so I got clothes with a before sale price of £64, for a sale price of £22, which I used my £10 of points doubled up for, so in conclusion I got 4 items of clothing for £2. 2 Skirts, a long sleeve white shirt and a yellow sweater vest. I then went to Morrison's on the same industrial estate and used my £5 More voucher to get 2 sandwich tins, a baking sheet, and some bramble jelly.

A good day, I caught up with my blog, now relaxing on here with Stranger Things 2 on in the background. Might make a cup of tea.

Good news is I woke up naturally at 5am today - so I didn't wake OH up with an alarm, and I am going to get a good head start on the day. I only have a few hours in the morning before my friend comes round as we are going to make a cake to celebrate and commemorate me clearing my overdraft (unusual way to celebrate I know, but I thought it would be low cost).

I am also celebrating as Martin's credit club emailed me to say my rating had been updated - I checked and for the first time I am in the 'good' rating. Previously I was extremely high in the 'fair' category, so this is another cause for celebration.

As if the stress of living in a damp house wasn't bad enough, things are getting a bit worse on my street.

I don't live in the nicest area of Cardiff, but I also live far from the worst areas of Cardiff. I live very close to the city centre-about a 20 minute walk away-in the student area of Cardiff, so because of those two factors my street can be a bit 'lively' (there is also a pub halfway down the street).

We seem to be getting an increase in the old 'knock on the door and run away' type of people on our street, it's not like it happens every day (or even every week) but it is annoying and it's loud and disruptive and it means I will not answer the door after dark if my OH isn't in the house.

And last night at about 9pm, so not late late, our neighbours car windows were smashed in and she had her possessions stolen by thieves. She was distraught and was going up and down the street with her flatmate asking if anyone had seen anything, and it seems it may have been guys in bikes. I am pretty sure she was a student so I feel really bad for her as that will be a huge financial burden to her and/or her parents.

I've lived in this house for 6 years, and things like this didn't happen in the past but they seem to be getting a bit more frequent. I know this is the price I pay for living in the Centre, but I don't drive, so I have to live in the centre, I don't really have a choice.

Ok, so I don't drive, so my car is never going to be smashed into, but it sure puts me off ever investing in anything on this street.

Because of my anxiety and lack of self confidence, I am never going to climb a corporate ladder, my earning potential is limited, I wonder if I will ever get out of this mess. I wonder if I can ever afford to have children. I wonder if I will ever live in a nice area or have the things that so many people take for granted....

Ah, I'm rambling. I just want to somehow future proof my life, which is impossible, that will never happen.

Howdy do everyone.

Today was quite profitable. Applied for 2 jobs, called a temp agency which seems promising, went on a walk with my job spotter app and made £7.64, and finally was able to cash out a £5 voucher on shopprize, so all in all it was a good day.

Managed to cross everything off my to do list, it was a NSD for me as my OH bought the milk we needed, it was an economical day as well as had leftovers for lunch and dinner.

I feel very content. The only thing that could make my life better at the moment would be a job, obviously.

Seasidegal58 wrote: »

Hi Florence - you very kindly posted some excellent advice in my diary so I thought I would find your own. I’m enthralled and have subscribed! You write so very well. I’ve only got halfway through at the moment - and also read the latest page.:)

I’m was so sorry to read of your anxiety problems and do hope that the job applications turn up trumps. Your OH sounds lovely as well. Here’s to your landlord getting his finger out and doing something about the damp. Fingers crossed for a job in Cardiff so that you can make a move there.

I’ll be back to read some more.

SSG x

Thank you, you are too kind