Olive Oyls 12-month Countdown

OliveOyl_2

You need that McKenna bloke to hypnotise you into thinking that carrot sticks are what you fancy - not crisps Apparently it is very successful........

I'm off to bed now - tomorrow I'm getting up early to go to the aged P's and clear out their gutters what fun.

hypno06

My gutters need doing too.......if you fancy yourself a detour, I'll provide the coffee and biscuits

Karmacat

Sorry you've been miserable, Olive - I have too, maybe its the winter closing in.

Africa - you're still *really* worried about going out, aren't you. Will you be living way out in the wilds? There's big expat communities out there, and even more ordinary S Africans to get to know.... there's lolling by the side of a pool..... having swim in said pool whenever you want, courtesy of spf30....... cleaner gutters...... avocadoes and mangoes that literally grow on the garden trees.......

hmmm..... maybe I should look at moving to Africa......

beanielou

At least it will be warm.
Chilly here today.
Might have to put heating on.Gah.

OliveOyl_2

So, bitty update:

• survived October by pulling in belts and NOT spending. But it left Popeye and me miserable, and worse we were miserable separately which compounded it. It was doable because it was for only one month, but we found ourselves curling up on our (separate) sofas and not doing anything. Not socialising and not achieving anything. Obviously self pity is something we need to guard against. Maybe we could have been debt free sooner, but we'd have been dull and miserable too. So we have to budget for train fares out, nicer food and occasional treats. Some people can enjoy the DF journey, and sometimes I can too (todays lunch totalled 65p and is yummy ) But not relentlessly.
• And when pay day arrived I did NOT go and buy myself a reward, so I've learned something these last 3 years :rotfl:
• Mystery Shopping is fiercely competed for in this area, even keeping an eye on it, anything handy for me has gone by the time I log on. When Popeye was here we would travel out to some pubs and between us do a thorough visit. The nearest ones have ALWAYS disappeared recently I have one next weekend at a chemist :j, a little out of the area, but I was planning to go there anyway. And recent monitoring of e-bay seems to show that the bottom has fallen out of the play-worn toys market So the last of Popeyes toy cars are as yet unlisted.
• I saved £500 on renewing the buildings and contents insurance :money: There was an unbelievable hike in renewal costs. Did they think I would just pay up? Presumably people do. And DD's car insurance was cheapest staying with her provider They must have learned their lesson.:p
• Figures for this month look better than I thought they would. Just waiting to see what exchange rate Popeye gets, then I'll update my siggie.

off to mooch the diaries. Then I'll get going on yet another bucket of apples.

hypno06

I'm with you - my insurance quote for buildings and contents was more than Double this year, and I've not made a claim or anything.....needless to say I then went to quidco and moved, saving over £300 plus getting £80 cashback as a result......and took great pleasure in telling the original insurance provider what I thought of their price hikes

There is a definite lack of M/S for me too - I don't know whether it just disappears quickly, or whether there is not so much of it about. I have only done two in October, and don't think I did more than one or two in September either.......

And as for the debt free journey - everyone is different, but we still need to LIVE! We could be debt free sooner, but then the chances of over compensating when we reach the DFD would be greater I reckon.....so by taking your time and not scrimping every single day, you are learning better habits that will stay with you longer.....as you have proved to yourself by not spending on a treat on payday

beanielou

I so get what you mean about being dull & miserable.
Its so difficult to get the balance right.Sigh.

Karmacat

I third the not wanting to be dull and miserable - and I've certainly got the balance wrong at the moment.

OliveOyl_2

Tried the Bingo last night following Hypnos instructions. Already £10 up.
Logged ion this morning and there was my free £5.
Which I've played through and won nowt.

But it hasn't knocked my cheery feeling this morning, free money is always welcome

Leftovers for lunch

I've challenged myself to live on cash only (means I don't earn air miles, but also means I can't pop extras in my shopping trolley ) Took out £20 on Sunday, spent under a £5 in the supermarket, and have:
an £8 train fare tonight,
20p coffee Tuesday
£8 theatre ticket on Wednesday.......I may have to skip the wine at the interval if I'm to survive the week without taking more money out :rotfl:

Karmacat

Excellent, Olive! I didn't win yesterday, and haven't had time to look in on it today, but I'm confident :rolleyes: the very last word I'd ever apply to me..... I *will* be in profit - after all, the other one that Hypno showed me has given me about £100 in the last 5 weeks, and is still ongoing (tho now so many people know, its not so much).

Hope you're okay.