The Golden Goose's Quest For The Golden Egg - AKA A Debt Free Life!

The_Golden_Goose

The Latest Update

I agree Happy, the snow can make the ugliest of places look beautiful. It's like when it's raining, I love looking out the window and watching the rain fall. I find it relaxing in a strange way. Well until a plastic bit of tat gets thrown in my direction by Gosling#1. That child has a great aim. Some days I really do go to bed feeling battered and bruised.

MrGG has had to work today and got there safely. Hopefully he will be just as fortunate on his journey homeward. He has taken lots of layers and a snow shovel with him just in case he gets stuck. The main roads are pretty good, it's the side roads. Plus of course the muppets driving as though they are invincible. Typically the muppets will make it home in one piece whilst causing chaos and possibly tragedy all around them. I really dislike selfish people.

We haven't been out anywhere today so haven't spent a bean. So I guess there is a silver lining. MrGG took my car to work so there goes my diesel. Luckily I only ever have local trips to do so my fuel lasts a fair while anyway.

I need to clean the bathroom. I could do that tomorrow whilst the goslings nap, assuming that both manage to sleep at the same time. Won't hold my breath mind you!! However during their nap earlier today I did polish off a third of a box of Celebrations. Left over from Christmas. They were splendid. Washed down with a cup of Kenco's finest decaf. I had to eat them during their nap cos I didn't want to share them with G#1. Notice that I have completely contradicted myself regarding selfish people and I go and tell you all about my selfish non sharing choc fest!!

I really fancy a bath. But there isn't any point as G#2 will probably wake up just as I get in or something. Perhaps I should just chance it. Naff all on the tv. Nothing new there then. I should really look into changing gas supplier but I'm still faffing over it.

I heard Pamela Anderson got paid a small fortune to take part in Dancing on Ice only to be booted out in the first week. The media are saying that she is allegedly skint hence doing the show. I guess it just proves that your level of income or wealth at any one time means nothing if you don't manage it well.

I'm signing off for the night. Hope you are all being sensible in the snow and looking after yourselves and your wallets.

Til the next installment.........

Happytogetdebtfree

Hi goose, what is the age gap between your little ones and what would you say your monthly spends are on the little ones ?

Im feeling a tad down beat just about amount of negative wealth and what we could have saved for had now if we had been sensible ! I just feel like at the age of nearly 29 i wanted abit more stability! Im not pressuring myself to be debt free by my 30th in 2014 im aiming however to be free completley of it all by dec 2014!

Im too much of a what if kind of person bla bla bla ive done my own head in lol xx

The_Golden_Goose

The Latest Update

Happy, they are about 21mo apart. At times it has been very tough and I've thought "should have had a bigger age gap" but Tbf all age gaps have pros and con. I did nearly weep when the Health Visitor told me that the the first three years would be the hardest. I was thinking three years woman? Three years? I'll be lucky to survive three weeks or months if I'm lucky!

In terms of cost, breastfeeding is free! Well apart from the initial appetite you get and a few packs of breast pads. Nappies we get from Asda or Lidl. The older they get the less nappies you go through a day. Did consider reusables but felt it wasn't for me. Food wise G1 is pretty straightforward and cheap to feed even if he is a fussy wotst. For clothes, toys, nursery furniture there are nct sales, free cycle and many people are very generous congratulating you on the birth and we only bought two packs of vests and sleep suits! Obv G2 is getting use out of those same clothes now. The only thing you must buy new if you get a secondhand Moses Basket or cot is a mattress, which is to reduce the chances of SIDS. Then buy a new one every four years or if you have another little happy.

MrGG has taken G1 to the park. In the snow. I'd lay money that they come back minus a Wellington boot. Lets not forget that G1 doesn't really have any winter/ski clothing. We've conjured up some effort at a winter outfit including a ton of layers. Hope he doesn't freeze.

In the meantime I'm left home alone in the peace and quiet with G2. Well, that peace will be broken if I attempt to leave the room as G2 will quack like mad. It's lovely to be wanted but there are limits! A goose has gotta keep her nest clean and tidy which is hard now there are two goslings to entertain. I've often read that housework can wait as your children are not small for long and they don't give a rat's butt what the house is like.

The no money situation has got me down today. We desperately need baby wipes and fruit. MrGG has borrowed a few dollars off OldNanaGoose. So hopefully weather allowing MrGG will head on out west and purchase said essentials tomorrow. MrGG is being positive and upbeat and has told me off for being negative and all doom and gloomsville. I am allowed an off day or weekend! I haven't had anytime away from the goslings and it does make me go slightly doo lally on occasion.

I can't believe it is still snowing. All day now. Feel for those who have to get to work in the morning.

So this week I will:
1) add up my current debt
2) write out all the APRs / payments / dates and end of promotion dates
3) meal plan
4) tackle the bathroom
5) sort out my filing

If I haven't done all this by next weekend feel free to give me a good kick in the feathers!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, those venturing out into the cold and snow tomorrow please be very careful.

Til the installment..........

Enchanted21

Oh I remember the heady days of the first three years..... They are not all life and laughter, although the cuddles and smuggles are fun. Fun, fun!!

I'm in a state of down today, even though for the first time Hubby and I have acknowledged our situation and have decided on a step forward call the advisors..... I'm happy he is not Targums hair out over this, but I'm feeling completely Blahhhhhhhhhh! It makes sense, but im stressing..... It could be a lot worse, he could reproach me for our spending, but he is totally on board..... I don't know if that is freaking me more kwim???

I live in the N/E and the forecast for tomorrow is dire.... Not sure if with of us will get to work? Not duly worried as I'm in a school in the same distict as my munchkins, so it means I can stay off with them :-). But Hubster needs to show he has made an attempt to get to work :-(.

My day looks a lot like yours if I'm off......current debt totals, apr, ring agencies, clean bathroom and meal plan........

Ahhhhhh the life of a mother..... I wouldn't change it for the world Xx

Chin up, Buttercup, we are here for you.

Enchanted Xxx

Enchanted21

Targums???? Predictive text.... Tearing his hair..... Lol x

Happytogetdebtfree

Hi goose, maybe its this weather thats wearing us down. Me and oh have done our food shopping to last us till the month end i went round calculator in hand and came £1 under budget. You can see why things creep up in the supermarkets. Everything is so damn expensive !

I hope you had a productive day, Dont worry too much about the cleaning. Its true cherish the moments cleaning is there all the time lol lol ..

Im having a lazy evening , hi enchanted i wondered what targums meant lol, whats your plan of action for the £43500 ? we can support each other through it xx

The_Golden_Goose

The Latest Update

Welcome Enchanted! Thanks for stopping by and feel free to drop in as and when you like ! The lightbulb moment is truly eye opening but it is then the strategy that you decide upon to combat the debt mountain that is really the scary bit. Particularly if you need help to sort it. We are trying to do it ourselves. MrGG has paid a large molehill to the tune of £14k off his CC's so it is getting better. Like a lot of debtbusters we don't want to wait a few years to see the results. We want it NOW! It's like gaining/losing weight. So easy to put on but yet soooooo tough to get it off again.

The goslings are both having a nap. A rare treat. Yet it poses a dilemma. Do I :
A) surf the web, do some FB, MSE stuff
tidy the lounge that looks like Santa's grotto, only messier
C) put another wash on and put away the load that has come out of the tumble
D) watch tv
E) polish off G1's tube of smarties
F) bake some of Twink's hobnobs
G) all of the above
H) none of the above and put the kettle on?

Hmmmmm....... All so tempting. Why is there never ever enough time? I've eaten my lunch, which was basically last night's leftovers plus some freshly sizzled cous cous. However, last nights meal was one I've not done before and it tasted terrible. Not sure what I did to it but MrGG and I looked at each other and just winced. Don't think we will be repeating that one again any time soon.

Money wise today I've done nothing. Actually that is not true. I decided not to go to one of regular activities as it costs and MrGG has been using my car and no doubt left me with no juice. Lets not mention the potential ice and I felt it was safer to stay put. Will definitely try and get out this week if the roads are safe enough. I know the goslings will be going stir crazy if we stay in much longer. I fear my framed photographs will bear the brunt of it as G1 takes his frustrations out on them.

I've decided I drink FAR too much coffee. But it is decaf. So that's ok isn't it?

I found a stash of cotton wool in the nursery so that will come in handy for nappy changes until MrGG comes home and rescues us from the lack of baby wipes situation.

I've put three more items on Eb@y. I suggested putting my mountain bike on there but MrGG says it wouldn't fetch very much and he likes to think we will use them come the summer. We've not used our bikes in over two years. I will mention it again another time. Oh I've just thought if another item! Oh and another! The only issue is flipping postage. How do I work that out?

Have given up on Music Magpie and Green Metropolis. The amount of effort to list everything for £2 and then to find I need to print a label and we don't have a printer at home. Complete flaw there. Not sure how easy to sort or how expensive.

Tonight's meal is sorted. Doing a fave recipe except I am missing some spring onions. I don't think it would be the end of the world to not include them. Would using regular onion work or would that just be nasty?

A short, sharp and not so sweet update from me. If I don't get my backside in gear, the goslings will be awaking from their slumbers and I will be trying to do my chores around them and it will be one step forward, 72 back. If anything it teaches you patience and a sense of humour.

Have a good week everyone, keep those spends low low low low low.......

Til the next installment......

Happytogetdebtfree

Yaaaay oh has managed to get a 0% cc for 20 months ! finally after slogging some cash into the negative wealth we have been given some reprieve from the intrest rates that have grinded us down, it doesnt so make a difference to the target of sept 2014 for all negative wealth to be gone what it does do is let us start paying the secured loan off earlier. I dont want to trim the budget to the point of no life i spent 4 years doing that! but im tempted at the same time but i dont want to build myself up to fail!

Good luck with the list xx

mooomin

Do you have a local Gumtree/Facebook selling page? Often that's easier/cheaper than Ebay and you don't have to faff about with couriers.

I need to get meal planning for the week. I've been living off a massive batch of bolognaise since Saturday I'm thinking of roasting a chicken tomorrow and then seeing what I end up making with the leftovers. Mr Mooo only leaves enough chicken for one more meal though and I can stretch it to two

The_Golden_Goose

The Latest Update

Just as we thought the snow was on its way out, it's turned into a blizzard out there. Typical. Oh well, benefits of maternity leave is that I don't have to leave the house.

Happy, that is bonza news! Really really good news. That offer must have been received with a HUGE smile. So very pleased for you and glad that it will make the next few months a touch easier.

Hello mooomin, I feel we have met before but you appear to be a touch different. Unless I am mistaken! I tried GumTree without any success. Nothing sold on eBay. Though we have had a few enquiries now the sales have ended. What to do? Couple of people are really interested in a couple of items. No different to having someone see your ad in the classifieds I guess. Appreciate the safety net you have by going through eBay.

I've been baking like a goose possessed. MrGG and G1 have already been enjoying the delights. Tomorrow if I get a chance I will have a go at making something else. I've already made lunch for the goslings for tomorrow as I just know the morning will run away from me and there are only so many days that G1 can have peanut butter sandwiches/toast. He would eat it everyday without question but its not ideal even though it is a great addition to his diet. It just should not be his entire diet!!!

Anyone been watching the Comic Relief British Bake Off? It's brilliant. It's given be some inspiration to do more. And I will. It's cheaper and miles more enjoyable watching your family tuck into something you have made yourself.

So I can strike baking off my list. Oh. Well that is a fail right there. Baking wasn't even on my list. I really must crack on with completing my list. I should have added writing thank you cards on there too.

Had to borrow £20 off the goslings today for fuel. Get paid soon so will pay them back.

Why does this cat insist on sitting next to me to conduct his full body wash down? *holds nose*

I managed to pop into town today enroute home so that saved an extra trip out and I parked in a supermarket so no charge there. I made my birthday gift purchases with my gift card and managed to bag a 3 for 2 offer plus a free gift. So now I have the dilemma of giving everything to one person or to split it into two as there is another birthday coming up in a few weeks? The MSE in me says split it. However my friend is having an extremely tough time at the moment and I would like to spoil her. I guess that is what has always got me into trouble in the past, my generosity and inability to rein in my spending.

Happy Hump day! Pay day is creeping closer! *celebratory dance*

Til the next installment......