My Debt Free, Lose Weight & Be Super Frugal Diary 2009

Bambywamby

Awww Sharron I am sorry to hear about your puddy tat. It's so sad when our pets who really are part of the family near the end of their lives. I lost one of my dogs a couple of years ago to cancer and I still well up thinking about her, but she was loved and cared for very much and she knew it. She had the best life possible while she was alive and that is what matters. Try and keep your chin up hon. X x

You will both definately see an improvement in sales once you start using the dummy, also ensure clothes have been ironed too. I have noticed that creased clothes don't sell as well either.

Well done on your weight loss Sharron, :T ...I am not going to bother getting weighed this week. I have had a bit of a shocker. I shall start again tomorrow and get back on the healthy eating wagon.

I shall have a nice few days off thanks Rags, I intend to study, Ebay and chill in that order.

Me and my friend were chatting over a coffee today and she said she had watched a programme on TV and it was stated that one day last October, the whole country was only three hours off going bankrupt. :eek: Very scary thought isn't it?...and what can we do as a nation to support Britain in her time of real turmoil?? Buy British goods apparently. :T

I have just made the most yummy flap jacks using oats, marg, golden syrup and two bananas that had gone black. As I said, I will start my diet again tomorrow lol.:rotfl:

Have a great night folks, I am off for a hot bubbly bath and then flick through a magazine in bed.

Take care

Bams x

Bambywamby

Two members of staff at my work place have been sacked today, I haven't heard why (it's rumoured they were caught stealing washing up liquid & coffee) but apparently it was a matter of instant dismissal. I didn't really work with them, so I don't know them that well...but it's not a good time to lose your job. Fancy losing your job over Fairy Liquid and Nescafe ...however it means there is even more overtime for the other staff at the moment, but they will struggle to cover all the extra shifts.
Some of the girls (myself included) already do 50 hrs plus a week...I think our boss may have to turn to an agency until the vacant positions are filled.

My wages went straight into the bank today and as I am only £56 pounds away from paying £1000 of debts, I am going to pay it off one of the cards today so I can reach that magic number before the end of the month.
Now myself and the O/H have got out overdrafts straight, I hope we can pay a bit extra in February...I shall aim for £1200. I am also hoping to lose 14lbs by Feb 28th, I only managed a dismal 5lbs in January...better than nothing though.
January was a productive month...but February will be even better.

I was given a big box of choccys today (a late birthday present from a friend that knew I was dieting) ho hum, people do not want me to lose weight!
I gave them to one of the old ladies at my work, she doesn't have any family so gets very few treats. She was so touched she had big tears in her eyes bless her.

I am back to work tomorrow...I am working Friday night, Saturday afternoon, all day Sunday, Monday night and then Tuesday afternoon. 50 hours in all, so I will be pooped but I keep looking ahead and see nothing but being debt free. Plus I can eat for free at work...so that will save some cash too.

I planned to get some Ebaying done today but I ended up stopping for a coffee and a gossip at work. There was much speculation about the sackees and I couldn't be rude and leave the table mid-gossip. So I will be Ebaying tomorrow...I have now got to my excess shoes, time to sell those. Nine pairs of heels, never worn, brand new in boxes...what was I thinking when I bought them?

Bambywamby

Tis very chilly here today in East Yorks, so I have had my dressing gown on over my clothes most of the day, I don't want to put the heating on until later on. I have had a productive morning so far, walked the dogs early morning and notched up 5000 steps on my pedometer. I had a wholewheat bagle for breakfast and for lunch I have just had brown rice and tuna salad...very yum actually.
I have hoovered through the house, cleaned the kitchen and wiped down the U/S bathroom. I have a really nice bathroom cleaner which is mainly water, orange oil and vinegar. With a bit of elbow grease it cuts through the dirt and leaves the bathroom smelling yum.

My poor O/H has come down with a bad cold, he looks rough bless him. He is even thinking of taking a day off work tomorrow if he doesn't improve...and that is very unusual as he hasn't had a day off for illness during the eight years I have known him.
After spending most of the morning in bed, he has managed to crawl downstairs and is sat at his computer watching Top Gear repeats.

After paying various bills, we have £20 to live on until next Thursday when I get paid again. Fortunately we have a kitchen full of stock, we should only need fresh produce such as milk & bread.
However O/H car is low on petrol so we shall only use that if we really need to. He gets to work on his motorbike and that's fully tanked.

My son has got himself a small part time job, it's as a handy man. It's not ideal but it will help him with petrol money and spends until his engineering apprenticeship starts. He is only 17 and is getting paid £7.50 an hour so he can't grumble at that.

Today should be a no spender...don't think we need a thing. I have entered five competitions, filled in two surveys, listed three dresses on Ebay and checked all my CC balances.

I have been good today keeping my temper with a pain in the a$$ Ebay buyer. She bought two items off me. One, she decided that she didn't want it as soon as the auction had finished, the second item she has received but said the colour wasn't the shade of red that she wanted. She has demanded a refund and extra postage for the return of the item to me. Jezus...I ain't Asda, she can bog off and resell it on Ebay herself if she doesn't like it.
I should have known really....she has very poor feedback...and tends to leave bad feedback too. I careth not. I am fed up of bending over backwards to inconsiderate buyers, buyers that don't pay, buyers that don't receive things in the post (even though recorded delivery says they have) and buyers that winge, moan and wail to try and get a discount.
Maybe I have been Ebaying too long...I am getting quite jaded about the whole bloody thing. Still I do like the extra cash it brings in. :rolleyes:


Rant over. :cool:

ragstoricheswannabe

the buyer doent really have a leg to stand on......cant demand a refund coz its not the right shade, the photos show what colour things are!!!! and as for not wanting an item when the auctions just finished........ shame ebay doesnt do more to stop this sort of thing, very good at protecting ar**y buyers. (sorry, hoping off my soap box now....)

big yay for paying over £1k!!!!!! i have just knocked a grand of mine but that was just through cancelling the ppi on my loan so not as grand as you. Paying that in such a short space of time, think you will meet your target no problems. puts my £4k by the end of the year to shame really.......

sharronloves2spend

:T Good news on the jobfront for your ds, £7.50 an hours brilliant pay for a 17 year old.

Re- EBAY, doin my head in aswell. The lady who won my radley bag deceide she didn't want it:mad: I've now had to re-list it, and i sold a jacket from next and i described it as 'fleecey', but would lend itself to day or night. The person who bought it e-mailed me the other day asking for a refund as it was a wool mix and not fleece that she wanted for the gym. From the picture it did not look anything like a gym jacket. I refused and she said she would report me, and you know i don't care. Sellers can't leave neg feedback anyway, i am so diillusioned (SP) with it all.

Can i ask you bambywamby, how much do you roughley get for your stuff??? and when do you have your auctions ending (early evening etc)?? I am curious as i don't seem to be getting good prices for stuff anymore. I am going to get the dummy out of the next lot of proceeds, but just trying to see what else i can do.

Really fed up today, ds1 is really getting me down at the minute, he's really cheeky and full of attitude. He's gone to do archery with the air cadets today, good job he's outta my hair or i may just put my hands round his throat!! It's days like these where i want to spend.......

Poor mr bamby, hope he's feeling better soon

Bye for now Sharron

Bambywamby

Morning all,

Not much to add today, too busy working to do much else.

Thank you Rags, I am hoping we can do around £1000 a month until the end of the year, we would be just about on target then. Don't knock your £4000 target, if that's what you can afford that's great. At least you're not adding £4000 of debts and think of all the interest that £4000 will save too. Keep up the good work. You'll get there.

I think it was a shame Ebay took away the ability for sellers to give negative feedback, it means we get messed about something chronic.
I don't know if it is the credit crunch or what but I am getting quite a lot of people asking for a couple of weeks before they pay for the goods, they are having to wait for pay day.
What can you say but ok?

I sold my first pair of shoes today, they went for £10 (I paid £50), brand new, in a box never worn. Hmmmm, I will never spend like I have done in the past again. I have literally thrown thousands of pounds away.

I know how you feel Sharron, my son is a typical gobby teenager, he either has me close to tears or shouting in frustration. Thankfully (I have been reassured) it does pass. Try and remember that when you're feeling so low, this phase in his life will change to the better...eventually.

Prices on Ebay vary Sharron, obviosuly good labels sell better. But say you're selling something cheap, like a nice top from George, you may only get 99 pence when it's laid on the floor...stick it on the dummy and your price may go to £4 or £5.
I would say whatever you got for an item, the price probably trebles with a dummy...on average.
Most of my auctions go off at 8.45pm to 9pm. This is a peak time for people using the internet and all the soaps have finished at this point. Obviously I am trying to appeal to ladies, and a heck of alot of us watch soaps, so I don't want to miss a bulk amount of possible buyers by listing when the soaps are on.
I also find Friday and Saturday evenings are slower, best nights are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I think people stay in mid-week and surf.

Well I gotta dash, back to work at two and I have a Sunday lunch to cook before then.

Have a nice Sunday

Bam x

Lemon_Tree

well done for clearing off £1000, that's a huge sum

your son is very luck at his hourly rate, my OH is a carer and is on minimum wage. I never really realised just how bad that was until i saw his first pay packet.

I got sick to death of ebay and the buyers messing me around. i sold a load of dvd's a few years ago and had somebody mess me around on postage and other bits. Its just put me off, and i see others complaining now the rules have changed and just can't bring myself to start listing again. Well done to you for keeping it going.

sharronloves2spend

Thanks Bamby for the tips:A dummy's on order, all my clothes are next, river island and shamefully some designer:o i don't tend to shop at cheaper shops, god that sounds snobby, but that will defo have to change that, i have to start shopping strategically (thats a big word) instead of aimlessley, i need to go and sit on the naughty step and think about my actions lol

Think thats my trouble i have all my auctions finishing on a weekend and around 7 p.m, so thanks for that tip!!1

Have a good day at work, speak soon Sharron

ragstoricheswannabe

Hey sharon, i have been a bad girl this weekend and fallen off my wagon in good style!!!! feel free to join me on the naughty step...........lol!!!!

does everyone do 10 or 7 day listings on ebay????

sharronloves2spend

ooo, what have you done rags...... please tell all