To be debt free by 30 I need to start now! - Gingernutbizkit's 2010 diary

MessyMare

Hiya I posted a few times on your old diary...so glad to hear that the third of your foster kids settled in well! I started my job at the children's home and have seen so many kids that I would have loved to foster..really made me want to up my efforts to get a house deposit in place so I can! Well done on your debt busting and organisational efforts!

gingernutbizkit

ColleenPamela wrote: »

Hiya I posted a few times on your old diary...so glad to hear that the third of your foster kids settled in well! I started my job at the children's home and have seen so many kids that I would have loved to foster..really made me want to up my efforts to get a house deposit in place so I can! Well done on your debt busting and organisational efforts!

That's great CP. How do you find working in a children's home? Is it private, charity or local authority? - I found that made quite a difference in term of quality! I'd love to hear how it's going.

Ging x

MessyMare

gingernutbizkit wrote: »

That's great CP. How do you find working in a children's home? Is it private, charity or local authority? - I found that made quite a difference in term of quality! I'd love to hear how it's going.

Ging x

It's private; we've had some rough times in the past couple of months but we're getting it sorted now As of tomorrow we're back up to full capacity, can't wait to see what the new lad will be like! But still..I see so many kids that should be in a family, that would thrive in a family that can give them the attention they need. I worked at another home nearby the other day and got called Aunty C all shift and she said that she wished I could be her best friend It's just all gone to make me more determined that I will go and foster kids; not for the money but to give kids a chance...too many are getting written off as unhelpable if that makes sense...

gingernutbizkit

ColleenPamela wrote: »

It's private; we've had some rough times in the past couple of months but we're getting it sorted now As of tomorrow we're back up to full capacity, can't wait to see what the new lad will be like! But still..I see so many kids that should be in a family, that would thrive in a family that can give them the attention they need. I worked at another home nearby the other day and got called Aunty C all shift and she said that she wished I could be her best friend It's just all gone to make me more determined that I will go and foster kids; not for the money but to give kids a chance...too many are getting written off as unhelpable if that makes sense...

Hi CP. Fostering is definately great and I believe that all kids are better off in foster care than in residential. Unfortunately there's just not enough decnt families out there for them.... plus the LA's aren't prepared to do enough early intervention or emotional support work - but don't get me started on that :mad::D:D.

I hope the new lad settles in ok.... it's amazing how one new person in a unit can have a a huge effect on the overall group.

Keep going and you'll soon be in a position to foster, but in the meantime you are still making a difference :T.

Ging x

gingernutbizkit

Hi all,

Just to report that I have (finally) managed to come in under budget for groceries this month :D:D. It's only £7 but I think feeding a family of 5 for £243 is pretty good going (I'm sure someone on here could do it for 50p!!!!)

Off to make more bread.......

Ging x

MessyMare

Well done Ging I think it's a no mean feat to feed three kids and two adults for that much!

Double_Trouble

Stupid me didn't realise you had a new diary just thought you had given up posting

A very positive start to 2010 well done :beer:

All this and farming too :A

DTxx

gingernutbizkit

Double_Trouble wrote: »

Stupid me didn't realise you had a new diary just thought you had given up posting

A very positive start to 2010 well done :beer:

All this and farming too :A

DTxx

LOL. If only I could organise my life as quickly as I organise my farm!!!

Like I have said this is the year I want to get super organized and I do think that having a well functioning home is going to help with the debt repayments too. In fact it already is. In the front of my house file (still a work in progress) are three files clipped into the ring binder. One for things to do (not urgent stuff that is now being dealt with immediately), one for things to file and one for bills to pay. All these are then dealt with every wednesday... which should mean I never miss a payment again .

My big task now is to start the big declutter and organising my house is in need of. I thought that if I set myself some tasks on here it would commit me to achieving them, so here goes....

MY BIG LIST OF JOBS TO STOP PROCRASTINATING ABOUT!!!
1) Clear the junk out of the porch
2) Clean out our shoe cupboard
3) Ebay the playroom sofa
4) Set up the kids doll house
5) Sort my wardrobe
6) Sort bedroom drawers
7) Sort out boxes of [STRIKE]junk[/STRIKE] precious items hidden behind the conservatory sofa .
8) Sort bag of clothing for charity collection
9) Sort sewing cupboard
10) Replace toilet seat in boys bathroom - 4th one in 18 months, toilet training is such fun .
11) Organize loft room shelves
12) Sort through photo albums/boxes
13) Organize computer desk
14) Finish house file
15) Organize fostering files

Ging x

gingernutbizkit

Hi all,

I have been thinking about this diary and about how I may be making life too complicated for myself. I know where I would like to be but I think I'm trying to run before I can walk. I have loads of different goals and am recording my results in three different forums!!! To simplify things I have decided to focus on three main goals for 2010 and record the ups and downs of my journey all here... so forgive me for not focusing entirely on financial matters?

My three goals are to pay off £50k from my debts, to lose 5 stone in weight and to have a clean decluttered house. I will use this diary to monitor my progress and to set small tasks to do each week (mon-sun) or month.

Here goes.....

Pay Off £50K from Debts
Total to date: £5564.11
Tasks this Week:
Organise finances on wednesday (pay day)
Pay off homebase card
Pay off barclaycard
Make NI payment
Total shopping receipts for grocery challenge

Lose 5 Stone
Total to date: 0lbs
I attended Paul Mckennas seminar at the weekend and I'm really motivated at the moment. My goal for this week is to follow the 4 rules everyday this week and resist getting on the scales!
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:

Clean Decluttered House
Kitchen:
Clean surfaces, microwave, oven, floor, fridge
Wash linens
Empty bins
Lounge, Playroom, Conservatory:
Clean surfaces, floors, sofas
Shower Room and Bathroom:
Clean surfaces, floors, mirrors
Empty bins
Porch, Hall and Landing:
Clean surfaces, floors, mirrors
Sort recycling
Declutter porch
Kids Room:
Clean surfaces, floors, mirrors
Empty bins
Our Bedroom:
Clean surfaces, floors, mirrors
Empty bins
Sort underwear and sock drawers
Other Tasks:
Wash bedding/towels
Do filing
Water plants
Check fire alarm
Throw away 20 unwanted items
bag ready for charity

Ging x

gingernutbizkit

Hi all,

Really busy day today as I had a review meeting for our youngest foster child - which only took 2 1/2 hrs!!! Ended up feeding two social workers for lunch and then one back for tea . The good thing though is that there is nothing like knowing a social worker is going to turn up to get me off my @rse and cleaning my house :rotfl:.

So, here's where I am in relation to me goals at the end of today....

Pay Off £50K from Debts
Total to date: £5564.11
Tasks this Week:
Organise finances on wednesday (pay day)
Pay off homebase card
Pay off barclaycard
Make NI payment
Total shopping receipts for grocery challenge

Lose 5 Stone
Total to date: 0lbs
I attended Paul Mckennas seminar at the weekend and I'm really motivated at the moment. My goal for this week is to follow the 4 rules everyday this week and resist getting on the scales!
Monday: Could have been better but not too bad either. Need to slow my eating down more and focus on eating consciously. FOund it hard to know when I was full and therefore when to stop. Did manage to eat what I wanted though .
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:

Clean Decluttered House
Kitchen:
Clean [STRIKE]surfaces[/STRIKE], microwave, oven, [STRIKE]floor,[/STRIKE] fridge
Wash linens
[STRIKE]Empty bins
[/STRIKE]Lounge, Playroom, Conservatory - All done
Shower Room and Bathroom - All done
Porch, Hall and Landing:
[STRIKE]Clean surfaces, floors, mirrors[/STRIKE]
Sort recycling
[STRIKE]Declutter porch
[/STRIKE]Kids Room:
Clean surfaces, [STRIKE]floors,[/STRIKE] mirrors
Empty bins
Our Bedroom:
Clean surfaces, floors, mirrors
Empty bins
Sort underwear and sock drawers
Other Tasks:
Wash bedding/towels - one lot done
Do filing
Water plants
Check fire alarm
Throw away 20 unwanted items
bag ready for charity

Ging x