Sashybo's Random Waffles

sashybo

Just looking at my figures and thought I would do a quick 6 month update as it's 6 months since I started this diary.

We started the year with two credit card balances totalling £1,516 and we are now down to one credit card with a balance of £478. :j So paid off £1,038 cc debt in 6 months. :j

Our Northern Rock loan is sitting at £9,205 and was at £9955 at the beginning of January, so now nearer 9 than 10k. :T

Our DMP is now at £4,438 and started off at roughly £5,209 in Jan. A couple of balances in the DMP are very close to being paid off meaning more will be paid towards the remaining debts on the plan. :j

My student bursary that is being repaid is sitting at £1,652 and started the year at £1,712. This is 0% and I'm not overly worried about it atm.

So altogether we've managed to pay off £2,619 from our debts so far this year and our debt total is now £15,773 (including student bursary debt) or £14,121 (excluding bursary debt). I don't know whether to count the student bursary debt or not - any ideas?

I think we've done pretty well, especially as I've been out of work for the last couple of months. :beer: Just need to keep it up, hope I get a job soon and not get back into bad habits.

I'm quite pleased as we started this year with £18,392 of unsecured debt and are now at £15,773.

gilligansyle

Well done on the figures, especially as you've been out of work too.

Hopefully something will come from the assessments.

sashybo

Thanks gilli. :beer:

Not up to much today, waiting on a parcel for OH, no doubt it won't arrive until 4pm. :mad: My mum wants me to go to the cat and dog home with her today - she gets notions every so often that she wants a cat or dog, don't know if she would seriously get another one though as she was very allergic to her last cat and had to be put to sleep as she had cancer. My mum was very upset by it and the wee dog she adopted before that died after a few years with similar health problems.

Have a few jobs to do round the house though and don't think the parcel will come before my mum wants to go out, think my sister will go with her anyway.

Nothing much else going on.

sashybo

Ended up going out with my mum, sister and twin nieces to the cat and dog home. Saw some lovely wee animals and felt sad that I couldn't take one home with me. I think three cats are enough for now though! :eek:It was a lovely sunny day yesterday and was nice to be out and about.

The parcel I was waiting on - well - I think the postman must have knocked the most quiet knock ever at the door as I didn't know he had been until I saw the "Sorry you were out" card sticking through my letterbox. :mad: I was in!! And I live in a flat so it's not like I wouldn't hear the door! :mad: Last week we had a similar problem when the postman just sat outside in his van and didn't even attempt to deliver the parcel. :eek: Got the card in the next post saying we were out when they tried to deliver (when we were in all day and saw the guy drive up our street, sit outside for a minute and then drive away again!!). So had to collect both parcels from the delivery office. :mad: So annoying!

When I found the card yesterday I phoned OH to rant and he couldn't get me off the phone quick enough. When he got home he said he was in the library at work fixing a computer and I had been on speaker phone f-ing and blinding about Royal Mail. :rotfl:

Have had a washing on and hoovered today so far, which sent my nervous cat into a panic, commando crawling on her tummy to find somewhere to hide from the hoover. Poor girl really hates it and seems to think its alive as she has tried to attack it a couple of times. :rotfl:

savingforourfuture

Hi Sashy
Glad to hear the news about the online assessments - fingers crossed for you. Well done on how much you have managed to pay off your debts so far this year! :T

Me and OH went to Edinburgh over the long bank hiliday weekend - had a fab time and spent way to much money, although none on the credit cards! :j

Went to the cinema and for dinner with a friend last week and managed to use a MSE voucher so am chuffed for myself
xx

sashybo

Hi saving, thanks. :beer:

Glad to hear you had a good time in Edinburgh and well done on not spending on the ccs. :T

It's good when you find a voucher and can save money but still do something nice so well done for that too.

It's been a lovely day here, just relaxing with some coffee and chocolate cake. OH brought his friend home from work, who brought cake with him. :j They're playing about on the computer doing geeky things while I have peace.

sashybo

Had a nice day in the sun as went round to my mum's for a barbecue. My sister was there with the kids so was fun to see them running about as well.

Think I have had too much sun though as feeling very grumpy and woolly headed. Had to have a lie down when I got home as well, still not feeling great. Think I'll have something to eat soon as didn't eat much either.

Still lovely outside - this is the kind of weather when I really want to live in a house with a garden. Doubt that will happen anytime soon due to our debts and my lack of work. My family are all going on holiday together as well next year and we can't afford to go with them.

Got an Argos voucher through the post from Valued Opinions today which will be going towards a decent iron when we have enough. Also won an Amazon voucher in the GFK Media survey prize draw and was sent another £5 Amazon voucher randomly from another survey panel I'm on. :j

sashybo

Still not feeling great today, went to bed with stomach pains and woke up with stomach pains. OH and I are just relaxing for the moment.

I'm doing some reading and rating on Ciao and Dooyoo as have been a bit remiss on there for a while. Need to try and write more reviews to get a bit more from the sites.

The weather has been dull and muggy all day - finally started raining now, so hoping it will be a bit cooler.

Not much else to say as haven't done a lot so far today!

sashybo

Well, still nothing much to report I'm afraid - apart from the fact that we are seriously skint this month and will soon be in the O/D (already). Still heard nothing back from jobs and am really feeling down about it. It's a real struggle even to apply now as I just don't feel there's any point. Hate being so negative all the time.

Trying to make the food we have in the house last as long as possible so will have to make dinners from what we have in. I've already managed to think of quite a few dinners with stuff we have but will need a few extra things like potatoes and possibly more meat for the cats. Seem to be shopping weekly for the cats now but only really spending about £5 a time, so still fairly reasonable prices.

Thinking of chicken stir fry tonight so will have to marinate the chicken which is defrosting just now. Also bought a bag of frozen sliced peppers as they are so much cheaper than fresh - hoping they will taste ok in the stir fry.

sashybo

Just got an email inviting me to an assessment day for the job I had to do the online tests for. :j If I pass the assessments on the day I will have an interview with a line manager. Sounds a bit scary. :eek: Assessment is in two weeks, should be getting practice material for the assessments so I'll know what to expect.

Trying not to get my hopes up but this would be a really good role for me and quite a lot more money after the six month probation period (the wage is significantly lower for probation). It will involve some weekend and shift working but am used to that as worked in retail for years anyway.