My diary... becoming debt free whilst still having a life!!!

rubydoiwannabee

Blimey this thread has been read over 16,000 times!!!!!!!:eek:

tigzem

Hi Ruby,

Just stumbled across your diary, so took a peek. Haven't read all of it, but you sound very motivated and organised. You remind me of another MSE'r on here and she's fab!!

I love this site and most of the people on here are so helpful and give great advice and support. Looks like you've found that out too.

Am really interested in your meal planning. I have to really cut back on food shopping as that is the only way I can throw more at my debt, mainly it's just me and my DD (3) but 4 nights a wk my OH is here, he eats most of those nights and does help with money but not always! I run out of ideas and I'm hopeless at shopping... Beyond spag bol, chilli & pasta bake I run our of ideas!

Anyway, all the best with your debt clearing, am sure will be clear before you know it xx

savingholmes

Hi all just popping into to say "hello". I'm doing okay but a bit tired. I still don't know whether I am keeping my job or not and that is getting me down a bit today... Just have to stay on track and out of the shops for now and just see what happens. I don't feel ready to apply for other jobs yet as once I've emotionally left this job, I will want to leave even if they give me the opportunity to stay on. Need to start applying soon tho - feel free to prod me now and again.

rubydoiwannabee

tigzem wrote: »

Am really interested in your meal planning. I have to really cut back on food shopping as that is the only way I can throw more at my debt, mainly it's just me and my DD (3) but 4 nights a wk my OH is here, he eats most of those nights and does help with money but not always! I run out of ideas and I'm hopeless at shopping... Beyond spag bol, chilli & pasta bake I run our of ideas!

Hi Tigzem, thanks for reading and your comments.

The meal planning can become very repititive so we do try to include things that are different for us, for example, we are quite traditional in as much as having meat/fish and something so we have started having some vegetarian meals as well and I started making soups and love it!! The kids aren't that keen but DH and I can have a meal of soup and bread and love it. I also found a really good site (think it might have been recommended on here) you put in the ingredients you have available and it suggests a meal. If you would like to give it a try here is the link:
http://www.cookingbynumbers.com/frames.html

Good luck!!

x:D

rubydoiwannabee

We had some good unexpected news today, I have been really fretting about the review date of the OD we have left behind especially because a condition of the account was that you paid in £1000 each month and since July we have only been paying £70 a month in to try and clear the OD. Anyway, the review date is Feb and I have just come home to find a letter saying it has been agreed for another year!!! This is just brilliant because it means we have breathing space to keep paying everything we can towards it. Very unexpected because I thought this was going to be a big hurdle to get over!!

yippee!!!!

irishchick_3

Happy Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rubydoiwannabee

Morning everyone,
How are you all? Sistercas and Yorkshire Belle, how has your first week on 2009 been?

It is my day off today and I am feeling pretty lazy!! Need to stop eating because it is making me sluggish...!! Can't find the brain power to focus on it though.

Going to write a list to try and get me motivated:

1) Make cottage pie for tonights meal DONE
2) Set up a a spreadsheet for Feb banking - carried over until tomorrow.
3) Do some online banking - DONE
4) Menu plan for next week - DONE
5) Shopping list and go to supermarket - DONE
6) Washing - DONE
7) call builders about coming to fix the ceilings - DONE


What I would like to do is get into bed with a really good book and a constant supply of hot drinks!!

Signing off so I don't spend another hour browsing!!

xxxxx

sistercas

afternoon all
Ruby its my day off too. I am having to stay in for a parcel. So I am currently making crumpets , will let you know how I get on, I am no Nigella though :rotfl:
I have tidied round and hoovered, cleared a cupboard out done a pile of ironing , stripped the beds and scrubbed out the bedroom ,3 loads of washing, breadmaker is on.
think I might put my feet up this afternoon.
Its MIL's birthday today so we are going for tea tonight.

I have been trying really hard with eating healthily this week and I have done really well. (until I eat all the crumpets dripping in butter :rotfl: ) the girls have been doing it with me as well bless them. buts its not easy there is so much xmas stuff about. and we have about 50 boxes of biscuits and chocs at work.as soon as one has been eaten out comes another :eek:

on a financial point it is just going to be case of plugging at it for another year. DD1 needs a brace but apparently she doesnt qualify for free NHS as the problem is cosmetic and not bad enough. they have said it will cost about £3000 :eek: :eek: I dont know how we are going to manage that. but I want her to have it so her teeth are perfect and she wont be self conscious as she is now

hope everyone is ok x

rubydoiwannabee

Hi Cas,
Wow you put me to shame, all those things you had done by the middle of the day!! Home made crumpets.... YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
How did they turn out?

:eek: :eek: £3000 for dentistry, god I am so in the wrong profession. Is there not anyway you could appeal against the 'not on the nhs' decision on the grounds of emotional distress for your DD. What a lot of money!!

Well done on the eating better, I can feel my motivation to start gaining momentum because I felt horrible in my clothes today and I figure if OH can give up smoking I can lose weight. Have you cut out anything particular?

Hope you enjoyed your tea at MIL.

How is everyone else?

xxxx
(Time for a glass of something I think.... diet what diet??!!!;) )

sistercas

had a lovely time at MIL's she is 84! SIL made a beautiful chicken curry. chilli, rice, bhajis and naan bread it was yummy followed by birthday cake, diet went right out of the window :rotfl:
all her family were there including her great grandchildren 1 of which is only 8 weeks old. we have had a good old knees up

crumpets were delish, took a long time to cook though cos I only had 1 metal ring to cook them in , worth it though will post a pic later sxee what you think
hope SH YB 1step IC are all ok x

here is a pic of the crumpets