scottishspendaholic May update

lynzpower

You may be able to word it like " babysitter available around "myvillage" on gumtree, as its free, worth a try? or have you tried a) seeing if you can put a flyer round nurseries and primary schools b) speaking to your local Childrens information service at your council, as they manage childminders and such liike and record where vacancies are. Maybe see if they keep a record of babysitters as well?

I'll be having a go at this once my dust is settled, cheers for your PM btw, couldnt remember if Id replied x

In_Search_Of_Me

Sorry you're feeling cack...look back though & see what you have achieved (which if you look pre lightbulb is I am sure nothing short of miraculous?!!) but also recognise that you need to look after yourself (she says absolutely shattered herself but I'm learning!!) and taketime to chill..if you dont you'll e ill & what kind of money making maniac would you be then eh!! You'll get there & of course you'll have times when you struggle to stay on course (as we all do!) so dont be so hard on yourself. You're doing your best (possibly overdoing it?) so be gentle with you & remember its not the end of the world if your DFD is a bit later...much better that you get there late but sane eh!! Big hugs & agree with the above; bath, bubbles, glass of wine & early night plus hugs if yo can get some, will do you a world of good...good film also helps! Give yourself a rest & then get back on the wagon!

beanielou

HIya SS
I think that you are doing sao so well.
Sometimes I think we maybe need to just take a wee step back from being too foccussed on becoming DF.
For me(hope this makes sense)I was starting to get really stressed and agitated that I wasent paying extra off my debt.
The reality is actually that I now pay min pays by DD and live within a budget which for me is a big step forward.So actually Im doing ok.
SS you ARE doing so well, take a step back and give yourself a really big pat on the back.
Thank you for all your inspiring posts.
Glad you enjoyed your4 day off

pixie1

Hey Chick,

Im half way through a huge email to you, I will get it finished by the end of the weekend. But stay strong, youre doing so well but you cant burn yourself out!! Look afteryourself!!!

Keep smiling

Pixie

homersimpson_3

I've also been using my own money to be a real greedy pig and have been buying breakfast and lunch most days (even when I've brought my own!).

Stop being so hard on yourself!!!- I have bought lunch (not breakfast) some days even when I bought my own lunch. It wasn't because I wasn't greedy just hungrier than other days or just fancied something e.g. bar of choccie or cream cake. Some people tend to eat more when they're stressed & the types of food and amounts some women eat vary with their monthly cycle.

I am really with myself as I started off so positive and determined and just can't get back to that happy-go-lucky mindset.

There are tens if not hundreds of threads on forum saying the same thing. You will have good periods and bad days. My enthusiasum for money saving goes and up down like a yo yo- it's just being human and depends on other priorties/commitments & time constraints. Don't beat yourself up.

I feel resentful that everyone else has nice clothes (I seriously have like none and they are all so cheap and nasty), everyone has holidays planned and just feel generally down in the dumps.

We all feel it

So it means I'm spending money on sh*te I don't need - usually for me, that's junk food and household cr*p.

rather than spending monet on junk food or household rubbish why not shop around and use the same money to buy nice clothes. you can get really nice clothes -even new one- quickly cheaply if you shop around & there are some bargain holidays. i recently bought a shirt for a few pound and everyone in work said how lovely it was. It can be done but takes time & effort.

have made a decision to start afresh and wipe the slate clean. If that means putting my DFD back a month or so then so be it.

It's all you can do and even if DFD is put off a month or two, so what? It's not the end of the world. It's flexible - you may be able to move it forward again- no one what the future holds.

I am hoping to plan some nice things to do in the summer as I am off for two weeks at the end of July, beginning of August.

best approach.

Just keep chipping away and eventually you will get there.

In_Search_Of_Me

How you feeling today SS?

LookingAhead

HI SS, hope you are feeling a bit better today.

If I were in your shoes I would stay in the job you love too. I have been forced to leave a job before paying >£25k to go temping at £6 ph before becase the stress and back stabbing and general nastiness/bad atmosphere at work was on the verge of making me ill. If you are happy in a job and you are managing your debt.....then stay there. Sure the extra money would always help in bringing down debts quicker, but if you are miserable then the temptation is always there to spend more money to cheer yourself up.

Also, don't beat yourself up about spending extra money on food. It's done now, you can't go back & change it. But if you make a decision now not to do it anymore then that is taking back control.

If you are genuinely hungry, or even comfort eating, then make more food at home and take it with you....it'll be cheaper!

Finally, I know what you mean by losing that momentum. I did after the break in. It's taking time to get it back but it is coming back slowly. I haven't lost my grip totally but I am annoyed that I was going along and doign pretty well/making in roads and then it happened. Big wobbles!

Not meaning to turn this into a post about me...just wanted to let you know that it will come back. Keep writing things down in a little book, take small steps and you will find your passion for saving will come back.

Good idea about the mission to get your OH the inexpensive but meaningful presents. You could spend £50 on something flashy but it would not mean a lot. Yet pennies on something he is in to will mean the world. Enjoy looking for them!

tesuhoha

Sorry to hear youve been having some setbacks. Have you got any old mobile phones lying around? Envirofone will buy them off you for a reasonable price although I am still waiting for my cheque after 3 weeks. Are you using the snowballing technique. Thats what I would do but im fortunate enough to have my debts at 0% at the moment but plan to do that in the future if i cannot get any more 0% deals.

LookingAhead

Hey SS, I haven't looked deeply into this site but look what I found!

http://www.hebegifts.co.uk/shop/cheeky-chimps-c-156.html

You may be able to pick up one or twe CHEAP things on here for OH?

Now remember......cheap things...cheap things....cheap things....!

scottishspendaholic

Hello everyone,

Thanks for remembering about me! I am feeling so much more upbeat than three or four days ago and feel positive and sunny about the world again (sorry, that's a bit cheesy!).

Today, we did a car boot sale. Ok, we only made £21 profit, but it was good fun, everything is looked out, the car is all loaded and we'll go to a bigger and better one next week. This one was just a practise run!

I have been pottering around today and got some wee jobs done and I'm just about to get started on some glass painting for eBay and get that out of the road. I sold 7 items on eBay last night - so the money is dribbling into my paypal account as we speak.

I'm babysitting tonight - should be an easy one. 8 month old who should be in bed by the time I get there and doesn't (normally!) wake up. Going to take my receipe books and get some cheap meal ideas and do a shopping list for tomorrow!

I got my Barclaycard statement today for the first time after I balance transferred and its definitely on 0% (you know how you wonder?).

My OH and I have also had a silly dance round the house today! Got those endorphins going!

Tomorrow I am hoping to get up early and do a big clean and tidy, do the food shop, go into town to watch my OH do an acoustic session at a bookstore and do some weeding and watering in the garden!

A really good weekend - I already feel on top of the world again.

Next weekend my mum and dad are coming down and will bring more boxes of cr*p (oops I mean high quality items at low prices) to sell at next weekend's car boot - which is my teenage junk from their attic. My dad (who is a bit of a handyman) will also do lots of wee jobs around the house including fitting a new front door (reclaimed from a skip and we did ask first!) and replacing light fittings - no electrician required!

I feel really happy about not going for that job. It definitely was the right decision and it has refocused my mind on what I do want out my my job and my career and made me want to achieve more in my current position!

Thank you all so much for your support

scottishspendaholic x