Mortgage Free ASAP

Queen-Bee_2

Hello All,

Smlsave – I love my birthday cake! I was trying to find one to put in my message – where do you find all your text-thingies?

Greent – are your talking about Converse sneakers? How amazing! Mind you, the item I’ve got on E-bay with most watchers at present is an inexpensive but pretty bracelet @ 99p!!

Uzubairu & Jellie – it was writing down the difference between this time last year and now, which made me realise how all the small MFW changes we make can add up!

Anyway, thanks to everyone for reading my diary and taking the time to comment… I’m slicing up SML’s anniversary cake right now, so please help yourselves to a virtual slice!
QB

SmlSave

Smlsave – I love my birthday cake! I was trying to find one to put in my message – where do you find all your text-thingies?

This one came from this site If you click Post Reply or Go Advanced there's a [More] option at the bottom of the smilies. Or I just google what i want and copy the piccie across - bit hit and miss sometimes!

Glad you're enjoying your cake

[Deleted User]

QB
happy one year diary birthday!!
it is heartening to know that you have achieved so much in similar circumstances to me (at the moment!) and you should be really very proud of yourself!!
how are you celebrating your year of success?...
tyo

Queen-Bee_2

Out of idle curiosity this afternoon - it’s been pouring for most of the day, so I’ve been fiddling around on my laptop - I decided to see whether the house price assumption I’ve been using for my monthly update is still correct, or whether it needs to be up (or down!) graded.

Currently, the house price figure I’m using to calculate the % of my house owned outright is based upon an estimate from Zoopla as at January 2010.

A quick check suggests that in the intervening seven months, my house has increased in value by a further £45,000. This seems completely loopy given the market and given I’ve no intention of moving, is also somewhat academic…

However, what is does mean is that my update for July 2010 was slightly incorrect. Instead of owning 96.27% of my house outright, I can actually lay claim to 97.12%
QB

Queen-Bee_2

Only four out of twelve items sold on e-bay this evening. Funny what goes and what doesn't. Maybe it's too late in the summer to sell shorts and sleeveless blouses... or maybe I just need a heatwave!

The cheaper things attracted the most attention, but as OH commented, it's hardly worth the postage and packing, and the trip to the post office for something that's only raised £1.70!

However, I'm trying to stay focused on the big picture. Items selling at £4.99 plus £2.50 P&P gradually build up a reasonable pot. And my two unused bottles of perfume netted a few pence short of £60.

Mind you, once something's been sold, it's gone... I'm a natural hoarder and find it difficult to part with my possessions, especially those given as presents.
QB

greent

ebay and buyers on therre will always be one of life's great mysteries, I think, Q-B! I don;t think it's too late for shorts and sleeveless things - and sometimes these go late in the year when people have booked a holiday to somewhere hot and there's no summery stuff in the shops. Sometimes you get no interest on an tem, relist and get a bidding war and it sells for much more than you anticipated... there is no rhyme or reason!

Little things - yes, a lot of my recent ones have been at 99p starts and might make it to £1.50 if I'm lucky. Actual net money received after costs is minimal - but trip to PO gets combined with trip to supermarket and as few trips as poss (hence listing lots on one day and then ignoring it - and my listings have will post within 3 days to try and minimise trips) - but I *am* taking money out of paypal every month for the mortgage - and it's relatively painless (except for the tedium of listing) - and these £50 here and ther do add up....

Lol re hoarding tendencies! Clearing things out can help to get rid of these in that you can realise the space you achieve and the 'lightness' of having less 'stuff' - but not necessarily!! As to presents, I used to be like that, but now am of the view that if it's not a good present for me then it may as well be a loaf of mouldy bread for how useful/ beautiful it is....:p it's just 'something' - I'd rather have the space/ money raised from selling (if applicable) than something getting dusty. Quite harsh, I know... but I have a large family (both in my house and externally!) and can get a heap of 'stuff' come Xmas from cousins etc. I am not averse to re-gifting, either - particularly when it comes to neutral items like candles/ smellies etc....:o

That's not to say taht I don't appreciate presents - I do - especially if thought has gone in to tehm - I'd rather have something thoughtful and cheap than expensive and bought without thought (the Xmas before last my OH rushed through John Lewis on Xmas Eve and spent a fortune on 'stuff' - no thought involved, just flashed the cc... most of it is still in boxes, unused or unloved - I point this out to him as to how cash spent does not = thought spent....)

Queen-Bee_2

Greent - you made me smile with this... I am also guilty of 're-gifting', but usually only amongst friends who don't know each other, and only with things that I think are lovely and am proud to pass on.

Birthdays etc are a particular problem, because like you, I have a huge family (10 nephews and nieces, plus 2x goddaughters), most of whom take 3x foreign holidays a year, ski-ing lessons and every form of technology known to man, for granted.

I suspect these children think I'm stingy - I limit myself to a £10 present limit per child - as I don't always get a 'thank you'!!

As well as the perfumes from my ex BF, I also have a couple from my OH, one of which is brand new and the other a very, very expensive one that I've had a couple of squirts from, but is rather sweet and not really my style. I'm thinking of putting them both up for auction.

I'm trying to steer clear of sentimentality... The sales of the two unopened bottles from my ex have paid for a water-butt and chiffon wrap for a 'new' evening dress I bought on ebay last week... both of which are treats in their own way...
QB

gallygirl

Queen-Bee wrote: »

I'm trying to steer clear of sentimentality... The sales of the two unopened bottles from my ex have paid for a water-butt
QB

Em, I think you've steered well clear QB :rotfl:

greent

gallygirl wrote: »

Em, I think you've steered well clear QB :rotfl:

lol!!:rotfl:

I will only re-gift to close family/ friends something that I believe they would truly like. There are some family, though, that we present swap through habit - and no thought is exchanged really on either side:o When re-gifting, I try and ensure that if it was from one of my friends/ family it goes to one of DH's family and vice-versa I also use unwanted gifts for those ocasions when school want something donated for the Xmas/ Summer/ whenever Fayre... (neverending!)

gt x

Queen-Bee_2

gallygirl wrote: »

Em, I think you've steered well clear QB :rotfl:

Gallygirl, you've had me chortling all evening with that one. I hadn't realised how stark my actions seemed till I re-read them!

Greent, yes, I only re-gift if it's something I'd consider buying as a present for that person anyway - and I'm super careful not to get rumbled. No one knows that I do it... at least, I don't think so!!
QB