The Quest - 2

[Deleted User]

Morning Lula,

Hope that your head isn't too much like cotton wool this morning.

It sounds like you are going great guns with the decorating, I love the idea of obtaining samples and putting them in picture frames.

Well done on the decluttering, this is something I plan to do once DD is at pre-school, we have so many toys and other bits that could really do with being got rid of and if I can clear the conservatory the remaining toys can disappear in there thus freeing up the lounge/dining room.

Tea
xx

Horace

Morning Lula - sounds like you are coming on in leaps and bounds. Fishing was good whilst it lasted but I couldnt do it - all those maggots and hooks..ewww:eek: At least you will be able to tend your allottment now that you no longer have that distraction:D

Red shoes always turn heads, my grandma used to say that wearing red shoes meant that you weren't wearing any knickers:eek: She would say: Red Shoes No Knickers everytime I wore my red shoes (I no longer have them) but I never did find out how she knew unless she was the voice of experience:eek::rotfl: Unless red shoes were worn by the women of the night

It sounds like a cunning plan visiting the posh charity shops - you might find some posh clothes too:D

Hope you are not nursing a sore head this morning though.

Lula-Hula

Morning all,

with a thankfully clear head this morning ( I know my limits & gosh isnt my spelling/typing awful when tipsy ) I have taken steps to keep on the right track :

1) Checked online banking - not pretty but always in credit even if just by £20 - still reisting the temptation of new current account with OD facilites

2) Cancelled the 'cosmetic' dentist appointment - it was going on the 0% CC but what with car insurance, shopping, decorating equipment & the odd pair of shoes etc there is a very real danger that it would not be cleared before its 0% runs out :eek:

3) tried on beach/swim wear - about as pretty as the online banking :rolleyes: but again necessary to ensure that I keep on with the not stuffing my face plan & dont buy anything new.

This holiday could become a really costly event but I am reminding myself that the priorities are to get some sun, relax & enjoy the break from routine & for DD & I to spend time with my auntie & uncle. I am not going there with the intention of hooking another fishy maggot so having perfect teeth is not essential & neither is having a suitcase full of new clothes.

DD1 has news of her situation & is due to visit later so will update if anything dramatically relevant occurs.

Hollyberry

Yay you! All that effort sounds very worthwhile for a lovely sitting room. If you have problems acquiring sufficient "samples", you could always send us out on various UK-wide missions to assist... OH's mum seems to have loads of picture frames available via her jumble sales, so your local jumblies might be worthwhile if the charity shops don't have anything for you.

That holiday is sounding lovely, and I would remind you that I did meet OH when a) in a v unflattering work suit and hauling two large bags, b) v irritated by Virgin and c) simultaneously scarlet and puce in the face. So if you decide to hook something more scrumptious than offered by POF, I'm sure you'll manage.

Hx

Shoe_Gal

Hi Lula

How long until your hols now :j

Glad your head's Ok

Lula-Hula

Evening all,

holiday is now a rather worrying 13 days away but I am frankly beyond caring about my size. The pleasure of staying with family means it really doesnt matter :rolleyes: thanks for the support Hollyberry, I am wondering whether family have any eligibles lined up for me a rather wealthy type with a yacht would be quite acceptable then everyone here could come & crusie along too( wearing red shoes of course )

DD1 called to say she wouldnt be over today but that lloyds had decided to completely ignore her in-person-at-the-branch instructions to cancel all direct debits from her account as she was now dealing with the CCCS. She had withdrawn all her wages in order to pay rent & mobile bill as was told that her account was now 'with the collections department' but for some inexplicable reason they decided to put throught the cancelled direct debit for both her rent & her mobile bill . Her overdraft is now beyond ridiculous & no doubt they are going to try to issue more charges :mad: but she is now a month ahead on the rent having already paid it herself :j& now has enough cash to last the month & was planning to repay me for the fuel & shopping ... but forgot to take any cash to work so didnt have enough petrol to get over here :rolleyes:; visit rescheduled for later in the week.


Had a disastrous evening so must need to top up my karma again

G'night

xx

makeup

Gosh, that all sounds really complicated. I hope that you / she are able to sort it all out.

I had a lot of problems with Lloyds TSB when I was with them. They once cancelled my student loan for no reason. I hadn't asked them or anything....and it was so hard speaking to them over the phone...not a clue!!!

Then another time they cancelled all my standing orders, I'd asked for just one to be cancelled and they did all of them...including my rent....:eek: Luckily I had a very understanding landlord and I didn't have any troubles that way, but could so easily have caused a ton of problems!

Hurrah for hols! Everyone always looks lovely on the beach! I bet you'll look fab!

Lula-Hula

Hello all,

I quite agree with makeup when it comes to lloyds, I'm probably still a bit miffed by them as years ago ( & pre debt) I tried to open a normal current account but was told by some nerdy 17 year old that it wasnt their 'criteria' to give people like me current accounts. I think he meant single women with children who work part time & also receive some tax credits/benefits to enable them to work :rolleyes:.

A trip to Tatco this morning set me back £35 - would have been £40 but I used my clubcard voucher . Ten pounds of the shopping was on toiletries, cant seem to get that down although I always buy stuff on offer ... flipping razor blades at £5.65 doesnt help :mad:. I still buy far too much stuff in Tatco every week- still seduced by offers & have a cupboard & fridge full of food. Visiting a friend who's just moved into his new place put things in perspective. He had onion rings & fries in his freezer, sausages & milk in the fridge, ketchup & cookies in the cupboard, tea, coffee & sugar on the side & was quite happy. No wonder I'm such a fat old trout :rolleyes:

I put another £15 of fuel in the car- have done a lot of local motoring in the last couple of weeks & the 12 miles to playscheme & back each day is taking its toll. DD is keen to go again next week but I'm not sure I can afford it. I've scraped the minimum in earnings this week & havent put money into any funds other than gas & electricity - upped to £25 weekly from now - & DDs clubs & hobbies. There will be £25 to pay for Brownies when she goes back to school + another £50 for the January trip & of course any clubs she wants to do after school.

I havent done anything about booking new swimming lessons yet either . As she has a 'key' which is free entry to local pool I may just have to force myself to go every week _pale_, the cost will be the same, & much as I loathe public pools it will do me good :rolleyes:.

I've also just realised both DDs birthdays within the next 8 weeks :eek:. Have already broken it to little that there'll be no party this year & she's happy just to have bessfriend over. Her birthday falls on a friday so can do a sleepover & maybe a trip to Chessington/ Brighton Sealife Centres ( I knew those free tickets would be very useful ) - Tea - if you're reading that doesnt affect my offer , can only use one at a time :rolleyes: DD1 did say she would prefer to repay the insurance money & have birthday presents - No, it will not be anywhere near the same value - in fact about £350 cheaper :rotfl:


I really have lost the plot regarding money & am going to have to start a completely new budget when we return from holiday. I need to make life much harsher for myself if I want to succeed on this Quest. I'm already considering including shoes & accessories in my £100 clothes challenge for next year just to get me really focused. I'm sure I said that I didnt need any shoes but amazingly I've managed to buy 4 new pairs :rolleyes:.

I did manage to get a new bra & pair of knickers in the M & S sale today - £5.88 total .

Right, now I need to work out if I have enough money in the bank to cover all the rent & direct debits while I'm away. I've been putting this off for about a week now in case I dont like the answer & also because I may get a reduction in the rent as I wont be earning any money Still waiting to hear back from the Powers That Be ... would be handy as I could then up the CC payment.

bye for now

lula
xx

[Deleted User]

Hi Lula,

You have been a busy bee haven't you? You sound really upbeat.

No worries about the voucher, sorry I didn't get back to you but things have been hectic here with a few surprises thrown in at the same time. DH can't get anymore time off work until he changes over to the new site which is looking towards the end of October as a lot of managers off before then, so highly unlikely that we could use it. Thank you heaps for the thought and if you still want to carrot seeds let me know, they are collecting dust.

Tea
xx

Lula-Hula

Bonsoir mes amis,

The money continues to trickle through my fingers & September the 1st cant come soon enough if my finances are ever to improve :rolleyes:.

Dropped DD off at playcamp this morning & as it was raining I couldnt get on with the hedgetrimming that I'd planned so I picked up a friend & we headed off to do some charity shop foraging. I was very disappointed that they all seem to be charging about £5 for old pictures/frames. That is not cheap enough for me. Feeling fed up we then headed to nearby town & yet again I found myself in the TK Maxx dressing room with a pair of jeans . Fortunately they were way too long which is handy because they were £30 & would have sent me overdrawn on my own clothes challenge . Parking cost me £2.20 but lunch was free .

After collecting DD from playscheme & paying another 313 for her to ago 2 days next week, we whizzed to nearby Tatco & I got her some new socks - £6 & had a quick whizz around the charity shops near there & found a frame for 60p :j

I have tried on a few of my summery dresses & have now almost convinced myself that I really dont need any more clothes for the holiday. I just need to spend some time putting a few outfits together to be absolutely sure :rolleyes:.

So, although in my mind I havent really bought anything, in actual fact I have spent nearly £20 today ... the sooner I put myself back on a NSD challenge the better. I'm back at work on September 1st so will be counting that as Day 1 of my renewed efforts.

Time for bed now, I'm shattered

G'night
x