I have literally no money!

Daffykjs

Shame you're not closer! one has literally just come up today on my local one! how annoying! sure something will come up!

obviously i don't know you and didn't hear (read) you talk about getting it sorted the other times, but to me you really sound like you're set on doing it this time and doing really well so far already.

i feel i'm finally there too! but it started this month with friday's payday so we shall see if i can actually make it work this month like i think i can!

Mortgagefreeforme

HI, I've been following this thread, great for inspiring us all to manage on less in the run up to Christmas.
Anyway, I just wanted to say I once posted on freecycle as I had a load of milk bottle tops saved for someone who then reached the amount she needed. I had seven people who got in touch to take them! Just like katieowl says, it's amazing what you can offer that people want that you would otherwise bin.
Keep up the good work BIW.

Katy83

BIW, have you thought about going to the small claims court with the landlady? It's cheap and easy and only involves a couple of forms - might be worth looking into.

I know what you mean about worrying about falling off the wagon. I suppose all you can do is keep trying, keep focus on the end goal (being debt free) and don't beat yourself up to much if you trip up every now and then. That's what I am trying to do anyway...

Good luck with the sewing machine!

so_here_we_are

I'm new to this thread but had read it from start to finish it got me hooked, just wanted to say well done for making it to payday twice and good luck with the landlady x

katieowl_2

brokeinwales wrote: »

RE: The positive thinking thing. I think the problem is that I've tried repeatedly over the past seven or eight years to change various aspects of my life for the better, and it's never really worked out - I get all excited and enthusiastic about my brilliant future, and then a few months or a year later, I realise that nothing has really changed. It's easy to feel that this is just the way things are and there's just something about me that means I'm not allowed to have all the nice and exciting and rewarding things that better, cleverer or more gifted people have. It doesn't stop me from trying, but it does make me a little bit cynical throughout the process.

I have just requested a sewing machine on freecycle (although someone else had annoyingly requested one about ten minutes previously!) so we shall see what happens.

Still nothing from the landlady by the way. Looks like I'm losing the money...

OH I can SOOOOOO Relate to this!!! I've been doing the same positive thinking stuff for years. I've bought up 3 kids on a low income, as we opted for me to be a SAHM, we struggled to pay the mortgage for years, OH is self-employed (which doesn't help much when it comes to a warm cosy financially secure glow IMHO) and about two/three years ago it all started to look like it was going to go very pear-shaped. At times remaining positive has been very hard!!! (and I haven't always managed it!)

We decided our best option was to sell up and start again, as the kids were now reaching that sort of age where it was possible. Six months ago we sold up in London (at the height of the credit crunch) and bought outright in West Wales, clearing our mortgage and all the debts.... Phew great relief...we were one month off not being able to meet the mortgage when we sold.

But the thing is....all those years of struggle was what made it possible...not JUST the fact we'd been paying off the mortgage, and had that to cash in...but that we were ABLE to live on a low income, had become incredibly self-sufficient, picked up all sorts of useful DIY skills and life skills between us, meant we could choose a reasonably remote (therefore cheap) location and weren't relying on a 9-5 job to get by KWIM?

It's incredibly difficult to remain focussed and positive when the world is falling around your ears for sure, but in the depths of coping you are learning stuff that does come in useful! I know that some of the skills I've picked up have been passed on to other people too, so don't underestimate the value of what you learn in times of hardship.

I think the best writer on the remaining positive is Susan Jeffers....she does have a website.... You just have to trust that everything is working out perfectly (even if it isn't apparent to you at the present moment WHY or HOW that is )

Back to the sewing machine and a suggestion??? E-mail the other person who asked for a sewing machine, and ask them if they would direct any surplus offers made to them in your direction?

Regards


Kate

brokeinwales

I had a load of milk bottle tops saved for someone who then reached the amount she needed. I had seven people who got in touch to take them!

Er that's bizarre...!

RE: The landlady. I wrote to her about two weeks ago, threatening legal action. I was assured by so many people that the mere mention of legal action would make her pay back immediately - but I've heard nothing. I'm worried this means she knows I don't have a claim.
Not sure what to do - I can't get to the CAB because of work (opening hours obviously mean only unemployed people are allowed to get advice!). I'm pretty much resigned to having lost the money by now tbh - it wouldn't be the first time!

Katy83

brokeinwales wrote: »

Er that's bizarre...!

RE: The landlady. I wrote to her about two weeks ago, threatening legal action. I was assured by so many people that the mere mention of legal action would make her pay back immediately - but I've heard nothing. I'm worried this means she knows I don't have a claim.
Not sure what to do - I can't get to the CAB because of work (opening hours obviously mean only unemployed people are allowed to get advice!). I'm pretty much resigned to having lost the money by now tbh - it wouldn't be the first time!

My local CAB has a phone helpline - it might be worth checking the website of yours to see if they do to. It seems silly that you have to be free during the day to go in. Landlords are awful, they really have so little consideration for how much a deposit actually means to people. :mad:

I would say that it is worth continuing with the small claims court form. She probably has been threatened before and nothing has happened so is expecting you just to back down.

jen_a_c

Very well done on the weekly shop! If you're worried about breaking these good habits why not keep up posting on this thread, like a diary?

Don't give up with the Landlady!! Why should the money be in her pocket, not yours??? Could you maybe try and take a half day's holiday to go in and see the CAB? I think the potential financial gain is worth it?

Good luck :-)

Frugaldom

delain wrote: »

tell your friends... i'm always feeding people

apart from that i think it'll be a toast week for you. value bread is ok for toasting, and value beans are about 8p a tin x

I need to ask where I can find beans for 8p a tin? This would save me a fortune

On the moneysaving topic - I trade items through our local LETS scheme, perhaps you could look into getting involved with something like that? Our members trade in quite a selection of home made & home grown food stuffs. You can check for your nearest group via website at www.letslinkuk.org Hope this helps someone in similar cash-strapped situation.

kyh

Wow - haven't been on MSE properley for a while as really busy at work and don'y really get chance in the evenings. This thread really inspiried me to post - partly as a reminder that my OH and I have fallen off the wagon recently hence why I am having lunch at my desk to save money!
BiW - I wish you all the best on your journey - you will get there - believe me we have all been in a similar boat to yourself before (OH and I walking round Mr T shop with calculator and £25 for a family of 3 for a week to include nappies!)

We have just realised how much we have been spedning on his hobby recently (restoring LandRovers) and when I realised how much he had spent last month I decided we needed to go back to some of our old ways. We have been watching the Economy Gastronomy programme on BBC2 which was great - he managed to pick a copy up reduced in Mr T shop and we have been following that for 2 weeks. Don't know if we could have managed on £3 so well done you.

Just remember there are always people here to help - even if it's just a shoulder when you are down. If you need anything PM me - if I can help I will!