Mrs. P's Diary

MrsPorridge

The water bill has just sunk in - I can't believe how little it is compared to normal and its not an estimate it is a pukka SW water reading!!!!!

Maybe I'll see if I can have a bath once a fortnight now? I am spurred on by the savings - I can use the money to pay off CCs or buy myself something nice.

MrsPorridge

Thursday

Sold another 6 items on Ebay.

Made a list of other items to sell on Ebay.

Things to do over the weekend:

organise water to be paid on DD (just need to telephone SW Water)
organise oil to be paid on DD (have sent off for a pack)
list at least ten more items on Ebay
package up and post Ebay items sold
sort out other phones to sell to Fonebank (won't post till I receive cheque for ones I posted last week - apparently its on its way)
get spare room ready for Dad who's coming to stay for two weeks next weekend
Big monthly shop on Saturday
batch cook Saturday afternoon
all the usual household chores

MrsPorridge

MrsPorridge wrote: »

Things to do over the weekend:

organise water to be paid on DD (just need to telephone SW Water)
organise oil to be paid on DD (have sent off for a pack)
list at least ten more items on Ebay
package up and post Ebay items sold (DONE)
sort out other phones to sell to Fonebank (won't post till I receive cheque for ones I posted last week - apparently its on its way) (RECEIVED AND DONE)
get spare room ready for Dad who's coming to stay for two weeks next weekend
Big monthly shop on Saturday
batch cook Saturday afternoon
all the usual household chores

Had a lovely surprise tonight when I walked into fine the cheque for £45 had arrived from Fonebank.:j

Another job for tomorrow:

pay in Fonebank cheque

MrsPorridge

Saturday

Done water bill - paid over the phone and sorted DD to start in March
Still waiting for pack to come to do DD for the oil
Am in the middle of listing items on Ebay
Posted off Ebay items and Fonebank items
Done 1 load of washing
Done big shop
Batch cooked some sausage pies - sausages, toms and beans and put some mashed spud on top.
There is a loaf in the bm
paid in Fonebank cheque

Things still to do:

hoover
Dad's bed
more Ebay listings
double check garden for any glass from greenhouse as Dad has a dog

MrsPorridge

Saw a TV today in Sainsburys. LCD, complete with stand, Ipod dock, speakers, built in freeview etc., all for £400. Very tempted and in the old days I would have bought it on the CC without thinking twice. Our present TV is fine, good picture its just that its got a great big back on it and takes up loads of space!

Would rather pay off my CCs and then think about a TV.

MrsPorridge

Sunday

Listed more items on Ebay.

Dad's bed will have to wait till tomorrow as the duvet cover is not quite dry yet.

Hoovering has been done

Garden was done this morning by DS and DH First of all they emptied the wormery in the compost bin. Have had the wormery for over a year now and nothing ever happened. For reasons of economy I only bought a very small one (a junior one) and I don't think it was big enough. Anyway I am sure that the worms will be extremely happy in their new home! Around the greenhouse was checked for any bits of broken glass and they were removed.

Went out and bought two lock and lid containers each with three plastic compatrments in - I am calling them my Bento boxes as have wanted one for ages. I have had a fun half hour filling both of them ready for DS and my packed lunches tomorrow. In mine I have got one compartment full of cous cous (I bought a big bag for around 60p yesterday and its far cheaper doing that than buying the separate Ainsley Harriot bags I was buying). In another compartment I have got cucumber sticks and some tomatoes plus some ham and a hard boiled egg. In the remaining one is a satsuma and a small choccy biscuit.:D

I've sorted out my clothes to wear for the coming week.

DH is busy sorting more bits out for Ebay. He is such a hoarder and will not part with anything so I am pleased he has started to think about selling them. Most of his stuff is in the attic and hasn't seen the light of day for almost 20 years. As I said what is the point of having them stuck in a box?

I am over the TV now. We have a perfectly good one and any extra money will pay off the CCs. Hopefully this time next year we will be able to go out and buy something like that without having to worry where the money is coming from or having to use the CC.:j I am looking forward to that happy day.:T

MrsPorridge

Monday

Its just started snowing here and gone really dark. Looks like the snow is sticking.:eek: I don't care, it can do what its like now that I'm safely at home.

A couple of items finish on Ebay in about an hour and both have bids on so I am pleased about that.:j

MrsPorridge

Tuesday

Off work today due to snow. Have been very productive already and done the following

made up spare bed ready for Dad coming on Saturday
Loaf in bm
done a load of washing
done a load of ironing
had a general tidy round
packed up two Ebay items ready to post

MrsPorridge

Wednesday

Back to work today and back to normal - although it has rained non-stop:eek:

Felt a bit down today about the steep hill I'm climbing to pay off my CCs. However, chin up, some people on here are in a far worse situation. I am desperate to try and pay it off this year but its proving quite difficult. Some extra I have made off Ebay has gone onto bills.

On the plus side I have now organised or am in the process of organising to pay the following bills on DD (I used to pay them when they came in):

heating oil (in process of organising)
water (done)
Telephone and internet package (done)
electricity (done)
council tax (will do this when bill arrives)
my car insurance (done)

Also I mustn't forget that its only the beginning of February. These things take time to shake down. I haven't used the CC either and nor will I ever again if I can help it.

Regarding my diet I have lost motivation and haven't weighed this week because I know I haven't done so well. Am going to try and get myself back into gear with that tomorrow.

My Dad is coming to stay with me for two weeks on Saturday. Its lovely to see him and he is very generous - we will be eating out quite a bit and he will buy the food shopping for us. This is good news for the purse but bad news for the weight.:D However, it does mean I will be able to leave the house early in the morning (as he will be here to get DS up and out for school) so I am aiming to go swimming most mornings before work - that is the plan anyway:D Hopefully that will counter-balance any extra eating I may do.:j

Hopeful1

Mrs P - you are doing so well, please don't be down on yourself. Your organisation is fab!!

The swimming sounds like a great idea. Pre-child i used to go 2 or 3 times before work, the difference it made in a short space of time was amazing and a real confidence boost.

As for debt, well you only have to look at my signature to see i know what being in debt is like. I have down days and times where it seems to be a barage of bad fortune and more expensive. However, we have to remember that there was a time where we spent without a 2nd thought, but not anymore. Look how sensible you were with the tv. There will be a day when we can be frivolous, but with real money not with credit cards with a ridiculous interest rate.

Have you ever looked at the payment a day thread? There are some really supportive people on there. I am guessing you are already doing the things we talk about eg using extra earnings such as Ebay to put towards debts, saving loose change etc. Have a look anyway it's lots of fun.

Enjoy your evening.

Best wishes