So here's to you, Mrs R....

In_my_dreams

Good to see you back here, wondered where you'd gone!

It's good when you can see where it's all going, back in control Very good man you married there, cardigan et al.

mrs_robinson_3

Thank you Hypno and IMD for your replies.

We too have been to CP before, in fact many a time, but not for the last 5 years. We've even been for Xmas itself, at vast expense. But that was pre MSE conversion, natch.

Besides, it very nearly gave me a breakdown, going for Xmas, as had two toddlers and a 6 week old (can you believe, truly was mad) and had to do all Xmas shopping, packing and wrapping before could leave, and hide presents in car as "Santa brings those".

And had developed a thyroid problem, which made me half mad anyway as overactive, and got a virus when there.....and with the 6 week old, had to do the broken nights as well as the mad cycling up and down hills with my poor broken post-partum body.....and to top to it all, MIL, who came with, insisted Mrs R should drive to a supermarket to buy turkey,and baby was crying in back, and was generally dizzy and spaced out on a/c of the thyroid, so got lost in fog....and am not good in the country....and when we got back, MIL who had forgotten items, went to the on-site supermarket, and said "Oh, they weren't any more expensive here anyway (she's v MSE), needn't have bothered" . The expedition had taken all day, can't think what Mr R was doing but know he wasn't involved in this, as he obviously should have been, chuh.

Still, that was then, this is now, bound to go brilliantly.

PS: oh yeah, thrift news. So, cut first coupons ever and achieved some ebay sales today. And a NSD and none planned for later, as am in tonight. Might treat myself to a few surveys. Rocking!

Ciao for now

Mrs R

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi Mrs R, how are you?x

mrs_robinson_3

In which Mrs R posts a bijou update and confesses her sins......

Hey BTD, am fine thanks, just a little quiet on the debt-busting front, and only really like to post when have stuff to report. Do plenty of reading on others progress though, something believe is known in these parts as lurking?

So, it's the 8th today, and so far this month Mrs R has paid £464 off her CCs - see new sig below. Pretty pleased with that, but sadly won't be able to maintain at that level as commitments to the usual things - mortgage, school fees, groceries, you know the score - mean there's not enough liquidity in budget. Still, on track to achieve main goal, which is clear Tesco card in January. And if can drum up another £91 from ebay sales, it will be clear in December. And that would be a great way to end the year, n'est-ce pas?

So next month, it will be back to my normal sort of level,of repayments, which is about £350. Currently have about £40 sitting in pay pal from ebay sales - I've made £70 so far, in total, and paid the other £30 off the Tesco debt, so all good there. Going to pay the rest to the big T next week, just to give me a little thrill to look forward to.

But amazingly, have more stuff to list - a couple of good dresses, and a few paintings and other stuff don't need/want anymore, so photos and listing tomorrow (maybe).

But the confession - well, there are two .After pledging 20 NSDs, having got 17 under my belt last month, am doing really badly and have hardly had any so far. Slack. There again, suppose depends on your definition of one. But trying to convince self it doesn't really matter as all has come out of weekly personal spending budget - just really use the NSDs as a way of making up in the week, what am inclined to spend on a Saturday. Even so, it's not like have gone wild, but feel really absurdly guilty that twice this week forgot to provide for work breakfast, so one day bought milk, another a bun, and then today, £1.62 on sweets for DSs. So maybe need another category - the Minimal Spend Day? By which measure, am doing fine.

So, sin no 2. Have spent about £50 on clothes! On other hand, was not spontaneous purchase, oh no, had planned it into budget for month, but still feel bit guilty. Not even fun purchases, they were things like to think of as "utility items" for work, as was really starting to stuggle to put outfit together for each day, and felt "my look" was becoming a bit too casual. Again, on other side of debt coin, all were reduced or super cheap anyway. Gerraloadathis:

Grey patent leather bag, Japer Conran at Debenhams - originally £65, Mrs R snapped it up at a bargainous £13.50. Now that was a bit of a frivolous purchase, admittedly, as it wasn't in buy plan for the month. But it is useful, and classy to boot. And Mrs R does like a bit of class.

Black peg style trousers, Principles Petite, all mine for a fiver, yeah, that's right. Were originally £39. Seriously great buy and work with heels, flats, dressed up and down - gonna get some wear out of those babies!

Very useful black cotton shirt from M&S - not reduced, but a reasonable £9.50 and it's a style have worn and liked before, so again, gonna work it.

A dark charcoal boyfriend-style sleeveless cardigan, £15 from £25. Check if your branch has them, highly recommended (by Mrs R) as good wardrobe filler and can do double duty out of work too. Loving mine over....

One black and one white long sleeved stretch T shirt, £2.96 each in Primarkus. Could have got away with £1.96 each but the sssstretch is worth the extra pound, IMHO. Also go a size up - don't buy a lot of stuff there but is great for this sort of basic, but must go up a size as they cut them meanly. And like my stuff to skim, not squeeze, whatever the price.

Yeah, so, all good and useful and making my mornings much easier, so earning their keep.

Remember my success with the contact lens claim back? Well, realised missing a trick here as DS1 and OH both also wear them on monthly scheme, so depatching OH tomorrow to D&A for more letters, then will be able to put in more HSA claims. Way to go!

And pursuing bank charge reclaims. Always thought had not paid that many, but having got statements back following Sir Martin's advice here, did a totting up, and since '02, Mrs R has paid £492 and the R's joint a/c has paid £792 and Mr R has paid.....well, not done his yet, but you can see we're going to be getting in the queue for a nice pay out. Maybe.

So that's me done then, catch you peeps layda

Mrs R

In_my_dreams

That's some damn fine shopping there Mrs R! I bought some clothes and felt that guilty I returned them but mine weren't budgeted for and I was just being naughty!

Agree with you about Tesco, nice way to end the year

Onwards and upwards!

scrooge2008

mrs_robinson wrote: »

And pursuing bank charge reclaims. Always thought had not paid that many, but having got statements back following Sir Martin's advice here, did a totting up, and since '02, Mrs R has paid £492 and the R's joint a/c has paid £792 and Mr R has paid.....well, not done his yet, but you can see we're going to be getting in the queue for a nice pay out. Maybe.

Mrs R

That's a very interesting point Mrs R, thanks.

I don't think we have paid many charges over the years, as if we have ever got caught out, I have fought tooth and nail to get them re-instated. But I didn't realise it went back as far as 02. A few may have slipped through the net.

You have prompted me to read Martin's advice and submit a claim, if there is any money to be had. :beer:

mrs_robinson_3

Thank you Scroogey, hope you're successful. Just got to tot up Mr R's tonight and that letter's going in the post before the w/e's out! Also note to self - must do ebay, must do ebay......

Mrs R

PS: Given a load of magazines and a free hair treatment by my hairdresser today, and a Dove sample came in the post, and started taking my free Imedeen skin tablets again (4 months free tablets which I think are normally about £40 a month, for taking part in a trial, wich I found on here) - and had my hair done, so Mrs R's a happy bunny tonight.....

scrooge2008

Good on you for keeping yourself presentable while you debt bust.

I'm afraid I let myself go a bit, but I have just got my hair cut and dyed a much more modern style and colour, and mystery shopped a spa treatment today too, so got manicure and pedicure for free, and chose pillar box red varnish. Add to that the rather nice new bra and undies that I got on a mystery bra shop last week, and, for the first time in ages, I feel hot to trot, and it feels so good!!!

Just had to share that with someone!

mrs_robinson_3

Hello again peeps

Got those items listed on ebay last night, in a fairly rough and ready fashion, so not the best in terms of marketing my wares, but they're on, and off my list. And totted up the bank charges for potential claim. Total of £1552 across our three accounts back to 2002. So tonight's job is to get template letter in post.

Onwards, upwards, etc

Mrs R

hypno06

I lurrve Primarni stretch t-s......long sleeved, short sleeved, scoop neck, v neck - you name it I have it. Great with jeans or under a suit - can't go wrong for the price, but I agree on the sizing - always buy a size bigger!

Scrooge, your mystery shops sound a whole lot more exciting than mine usually are. I feel like I have hit the jackpot if I get to visit Pret :rotfl: