Getting out of my comfort zone

savingholmes

Hi we spent the day with family today too - my kids saw my brother's house for the first time ever - not been invited before!!

gilligansyle

Could just have screamed!
When arrangements had been made, brother said it was sorted that I would pick Mum up. Spoke to sister on Saturday and she said 'you're picking Mum up and bringing her here' spoke to Mum and she said ' you are picking me up to get to XXX for about 7' - no problems there then.
Except that got to Mums and there was no reply. Bearing in mind my sister lives 10 minutes away and my mum lives 20 in the opposite direction. Tried ringing house phone, no answer, mobile, no answer. Son went round back of house and couldn't see anything, let myself in with key and she was obviously out. Rang sister, BIL answered 'your Mum's here we're waiting for you'.
She didn't want me to have to travel in the ice so she thought she'd just get a taxi! Thanks Mum.

All presents now bought, except for the bits and bobs that I like to get on Christmas Eve. Got £12 in tips over the weekend, so they are going in sealed pot. Son still hasn't got his new bank card, but he can do internet banking, so he has put money in my account, and then 'borrows' it off me, so working out were I'm up to is a bit difficult. Will leave it now until after Chrimbo and have a proper sort out of money once all the DD's etc have gone out.

Blinkin' xbox is broke again so will have to email company and complain.

Off to have shower etc. as going in to town for interview at agency. So no actual work today. Wages are going to be rotten over Christmas, but on the plus side, don't need to spend anything either.

gilligansyle

Ok this is the very last time I will be going to a supermarket before Christmas. And hopefully for a long time after, but don't really do the shop till you drop thing, am too used to shopping weekly. Just don't fancy the slippy roads. Working later today, last minute courier stuff, may well have work tomorrow as well.

Get paid later, so need to do sums.

savingholmes

Hi gill

Hugs - so frustrating with family sometimes isn't it.

Hope you have a really good christmas. How much did you make on your xmas craft stuff in the end?

gilligansyle

savingholmes - thanks for reminding me, forgot to mention it, not sure what I'm going to do with it - there is still a tenner to come in, from one of the girls in the office but the extra bits and bobs I did for manager etc. have netted me £35 so far. Not bad for stuff bought from home & bargain for silly money. Not much left thats made up but have the beginnings of more stuff, so thanks for the tip.

Its all in a separate bag at the moment, I'll probably see what cash I've got left after Christmas and work it out from there.

Haven't been on any other diaries for a while, so hope you are now up and about a bit more.

Will be up at sparrows f**t tomorrow as DS is working and will have to give him a lift to work, so may well catch up then.

Enjoy your Chrimbo.

savingholmes

Glad you made some extra money Gill - it all helps. Hope you have a lovely day tomorrow!

Double_Trouble

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
DTxx

gilligansyle

Back to doing the sums. Found this nifty little display thingy so will use that to help me.




State of play is:-
Lump sum from previous employer has enough left to pay next months mortgage and that's it, but PPI etc kicks in, leaving that money there as emergency fund.
Have paid £768.46 off debts in 2 months! All thanks to PAD!
Thats more than I paid in a year on DMP and managed to do Christmas without credit, reasonably cheaply too.
Have got nephews 18th to go to today, meal in restaurant. Using tips money (£28) so hope that will be enough for meal.

Money in Purse £150 (how?)
Wages owed £38
Quidco money due 31st £20
BB money to come £9
So will start new year with around £200, and no big bills due in January so a good start really.

Amount of debt left £3796 (but need to double check Vanquis as doesn't appear to be reducing)
By April, even with normal payments some of the debts will be gone, so will have more money to throw at the rest, have done the calculation and after April will be able to pay over £250 off Egg which should clear it by next Christmas. Its looking entirely possible that barring disasters I could be DF in 2011!

In the New Year need to chase up Council Tax as they have not made reduction yet.

savingholmes

Hi Gill hope you have had a relaxing time - good summary above! Nice to be more than half way there!

gilligansyle

Meal out last night cost £44 for self and DS, but he is transferring his half to me today as he still has no proper banking, so only £22 really, so £6 left has been padded to cc's. Had a lovely time, first time all the family have been together in a very long time. ( well except for ex SIL who obviously wasn't there) - in fact we couldn't work out the last time we were all together including kids.

Over half way there is really good, and most of it is this year, because was paying mortgage arrears before that.

If I get a job soon, it will start to make a big difference.