retrocircles' DFW diary

ElizabethJH

Oh a trip away is well deserved after all the hard work!! My Motto for October is "must try harder" as well!! It's just not going down quick enough for my liking - but if you look at your signature and see how much you've paid off already! And you didn't even have a job for the full year!!

Are you still thinking of reopening your shop? Or is that on hold for the moment? Have a lovely trip away - Devon will be so nice and not expensive at all!!!!

ragstoricheswannabe

your doing so well retro, and 4 years is a long time......something good can happen between now and then!!

yeah to overtime!!!!! and 4 nights in devon!!!! we are thinking of doing a week down there next year..............................

chin up hun, all good things come to those who wait and all that!!!
love rags
xxxxxxx

retrocircles

I tend to only come here when things are against me. I need to change that, to keep me on track every single day.

The boiler situation got worse this evening. Tried to have the old one fixed after I realised we would never afford replacing it this year. Thought it was something simple, turned out to be a £300+ job. Once we'd swallowed that news, on his way out he was going to tighten a very slightly leaking pipe in the heating system for us. Turns out pipe was corroded, turned it with a spanner, the whole thing broke off. Luckily gas man fixed it (for free) to slightly leaking status, and said he would not recommend fixing the £300+ problem as putting hot water through those pipes may end up with a flood on our hands.

I don't know what to do really. We get rejected for loans (I've applied for another tonight - let's see what they say), I can't lend any more money from family, and I can't make the money quick enough via other means (eg Ebay). It's really cold at night. Our front door needs replacing, that's another £350 that's urgent...

Wit's end again. Don't know how we get into this mess!

ElizabethJH

Take a breath and work out how much you'll really need to sort out the problem. Then once you have a target in mind I'm sure you'll find ways to make the extra money - it's suprising how inventive you can be! I'm doing work at ICC and NEC at the moment are you still working full time? Could give you address to get some extra work if you like? Also think of the money you'll save from not having your heating on? Can you get a portable one in the meantime if you're really cold?

Hope you sort it all out though x

retrocircles

Elizabeth - Yep still working full time. Would love to get some extra work. It would be extremely helpful!

Had N Power round for a quote today, £3071. They accept credit cards & Mum has said I can put it on that card she saved me with a few months back (that already has an awful balance on it)... so we might be doing that.

Should have the garage finished this weekend, plus am off work Mon/Tues. Finally! Photos to come when it's done.

ragstoricheswannabe

hey retro, hope all is ok???

retrocircles

Still plodding along. Things are tight as we got the boiler fitted & heating system changed at the cost of £3000. Went on Mum's credit card so am frantically trying to get by & pay off the balance on that which is around £6k.

Car tax is due at the end of the month. Had a night in London booked from a while ago, so need some train fare & spending money for that. Iceland break for Mum's b'day in August is only about 5 weeks away now & have NO spending money saved. I don't want to let her spend a penny, so need to crack on. £150 due to the accountant at the end of the month also. Eeek.

Started Ebaying last week. Have made:

£44.01 + £46.25 = £90.26

Have lots left to list & have around 70 auctions on at the moment. Fingers crossed!

Capital One is being bumped up to 39.9% interest in January so our Christmas present to ourselves may be to clear that debt! It's nearly loan shark amount!

retrocircles

Determined to restart this diary with a vengeance in the New Year. We're having a few 'family meetings' this week regarding our plans for 2010. I started my debt free diary at a time when I wasn't working, and my motivation was soaring. Now I have a secure position 2010 could really be a massive change for me debt-wise. I think I need a plan to stick to & that's what we're working on.

There are little things that the house needs to be completed (so much half-finished decorating) & there are some things we need to purchase in 2010 such as windows/doors, and I would like to take a proper holiday with my husband for the first time ever!

I will be making an anniversary post to see what's happened over the last year, and state my plans for the future. If anyone does still read this, I hope you're well & having a wonderful Christmas period. I hope to meet new friends with the New Year! xxx

lilmissmup

Good luck for your 2010 plans!

retrocircles

Thanks Lilmissmup!

So, debt stands about at the same as 1 year ago since I now owe about £6k on my Mum's credit card from when she saved me around March/April '09 and when she paid £3k for the boiler installation in November.

Plans for 2010/what I'm doing now...

- Need to do a new SOA.
- Doing lots of research for new 'business'.
- Finish garage (minor things left) & sort storage out in there for new 'business'.
- Finish decorating jobs to 'normal' standard.
- Pay off Capital One ASAP since they've bumped the interest up to 40%
- Look through the freezer to see what meals can be made without buying more food (it's full but we never eat from there?!)
- Plan for shopping before we go & stick to it.
- Buy more gifts (when needed) online, way in advance. We saved a lot at Christmas by doing this.
- I do need to pay Mum's CC off asap, but it's a good interest rate so I need to balance this with other things.
- New windows & doors by next winter. That gives us time to get some savings, plus do some research on who we want to go with, or wait for a sale etc.
- Hopefully take a 2 week holiday in around September. Otherwise trips will be limited to camping I think!

I'm easing myself into the routine of checking MSE daily. I'm starting to do all the little things slowly. Today I spent the day hanging a door curtain that I made from scratch in front of the kitchen door that leads to the porch to stop cold coming in. The difference it's made is immense. It cost a grand total of around £8 & 2 hours of my time. I imagine it will save lots more than that in gas!