Adventures in Living Frugally

DedicatedDFW

Hi All,

I will do a full update later - I've not been able to post recently for a few reasons - journey to & from work is long and tiring - by the time I'm home washed and fed and watered it is getting on for midnight - my new hours are not working as well as I thought they might :think:

Also I have been neglectful of OH lately whilst rushing around trying to fit everyone and all jobs in. I have been a very tired bean of late.

In good news I have done some MS's and more lined up, I still haven't purchased any clothes, stuck well within grocery budget and working on usual daily things of scratchies etc. I've also got to apply for a freebie from my Anchor vouchers I *love* butter and *love* freebies and there's so much i want from them... ponders the frugalness of bulk buying butter

I have also purchased all birthday and xmas gifts except for the special birthday gift for mum and OH and special xmas gift for mum. So am very pleased - equally pleased that I got £25 of vouchers for boots No7 and Ruby & Millie so used 1 for a pretty new nail polish and got necessary cleanser etc. - i was anxious as was on last bottles so used £20 vouchers and spent £5.25 bagging me said nail polish, eye make-up remover, cleanser and moisturiser and have a free voucher left too! I was given 1 voucher and others were from my gift purchases.

Lots of tasks to complete today which includes the washing and washing up but task i will report back on is the separating into bags each persons gifts then I am organised.

Back later - have a good day!

DedicatedDFW

Time for signature update - My £40 winnings were paid out from Bingo earlier in the week :j I'm deducting £6 off groceries as my Mum purchased a lot of the whoopsies off me. 1 p/t shift £34.50.

Now for the spends I spent in total £56.07 :eek: but this money has purchased all outstanding gifts so I now only have 3 main special gifts to purchase. The £56.07 was all 75% off from a few stores so. (To make me feel better) that means I would have spent £224.28. Also a few of these gifts - approx £15 were picked up on behalf of my sister so when I see her I will get the money back and this means I spent £41.07 which is alot but a fraction of what I'd usually have to spend. :T

I have MS's and p/t work for a lot of next week. Tonight is a movie on the tv and tomorrow we may go for a walk. Though I'm now thinking if its raining I won't go as I still can't shake this sore throat that I've had for 1 whole month.

I have checked e-bay 2 bids out of 14 listings and watchers on 7 items - hope I can clear some of this clutter and collect the pennies in the process

DedicatedDFW

Hi All,

A quick update from me as tons of jobs I'm trying to avoid but really must do :whistle:

Income


£44 - from a free bet yesterday! Owe OH still so thats gone straight there
£10 today on free bingo - this has been paid straight to credit card - I must've deposited with that
£4 MS - completed and written up

Good News I have bids on some of my e-bay items :j meaning todays total can only increase

I have spent £25 on a new phone as this will net me mucho Tesco points and I may sell this or sell the very old and unreliable one I have...


Back Later peeps x

DedicatedDFW

Hi Everyone!

A quick post from me before its sleep time. I am very tired of late - I think this isn't just due to having f/t and p/t work but down to the fact that I haven't had a proper holiday in 18months - Most I've had off is 2 days at a time and then I've been trying to make money to make ends meet. It would be lovely if I earned enough in my main job not to have to take on so many money making ideas - but then I still think I would do it - First step Debt Free Next step Mortgage Free... *sighs wistfully*


Ideally we'd love a bigger house but have soo much work to do here first and with my income being minimum wage at the mo. there would be no chance if my ideal home popped up.


Anywho's money bulletin from me - sadly no new MS's picked up. I am going to do a very short review at end of each month and try and bear in my mind that there will be months where I'll do much better to make up the shortfall.

I purchased a new mobile for the tesco points so will list this for sale so hopefully will not cost anything Did sell a few bits on e-bay and have had requests for re-lists from various watchers who didn't bid so we'll see after postage how that goes. I also spent £15 on gardening stuff - awaiting this with a free gift woo! I didn't buy a dvd today but am now umming and ahhhing £2.49 and goes through sewing techniques - I'm thinking it would be good as a bit of a refresher for me.

Night all

DedicatedDFW

Hi All

No real money news on Tuesday - no spends and no additional income. I'm off to the post office with e-bay parcels tomorrow so once I have deducted postage and fees I'll know the income - 2 items sold over £10 so should be ok.

I was using today to catch up on tons of paperwork but got swamped in MS's p/t job and general faffing when something that should take 1 hour takes 2 yikes! :eek:
So here I am £45 up with p/t work and MS and used purchase from MS for a gift too Me likes the savviness.

So now its paperwork all the way - oh grocery spends too £19.61.

DedicatedDFW

Hey Everyone! I didn't post yesterday as I simply had an epic work day but this has netted me a very cool £70 after p/t work and MS's. I am a little concerned about having only a couple of MS's lined up as this has been a great source of income for me... Oh well will tackle that when it comes to it.

I think I posted earlier :think: but can't remember - my f/t work doesn't even cover bills before creditors so I do need to keep working my butt off at the mo.

I also have:
sold another book = £2.50
e-bay sales totted up = £67.50 - I withdrew a round figure and left a bit more in for fees as hope to list again in next few days. I actually sold my highest price item which gave me a happy boost!

Sadly no further wins or survey pay-outs to report.

Off to wash pots and then more surveys. Very sadly it is work again tomorrow

DedicatedDFW

Well its been another working weekend but only at f/t work no MS's or p/t jobs so no updates on totals.


I have fallen short of my totals this month but I can track everything over the year and hopefully make some of that back up.


I have hardly any MS's lined up now so if anyone has any ideas for moneymaking I'm all ears


Thinking about what went well and what didn't this month: - I didn't keep up with dooyoo - next weekends goal to catch up on this I won lots on free bingo which really boosted income but alas this is pure luck and not something I can rely on though I continue to play.


Things I have not included in my totals but must in some way help are: - 'freebies' from MS's such as purchases that I'd need to get any way.


Oh yes after my post on Friday about no survey withdrawals I withdrew a voucher from a survey - its for a clothes shop due to my strict yearly challenge :cool:
I don't include vouchers in my totals


I also don't include my amazon voucher redeems as these are for treat purchases - hopefully if I win enough.

Oh and very nearly completed the total decluttering of 1 room - only another 7 areas to get through then hmmm..

Have a great Sunday all I'll pop back later if I have more updates

DedicatedDFW

Well the slow start to Febs fab money making continues apace - No new MSs - this weekend I'll sign up to some new sites methinks . So it'll be onwards and upwards with the Dooyoo and e-bay.

I am now keeping a record of every penny I spend as money just seems to trickle through my fingers Its not even as though I'm treating myself - the car broke down and there was nothing else to do but get it fixed and then the house insurance was due - I did have it on my calendar but hadn't realised how near it was until the letter popped through the door on the day The thing is the spends are mostly all essentials like food (trying to keep to a minimum) and heating and landline rental and its so frustrating when I just want to pay off the bills.

The reason I put mostly essential as I bagged a second hand book I've been wanting for over a year but a couple of quid as a spend on myself should really be ok.

I think the next thing to do is start padding I need to find out how best to do this as I am a tad befuddled by it at the mo.

I am also hoping to start going out just once or twice a month as me and OH do need to have some fun times too - just budgeteer style

DedicatedDFW

Gah! I need my arms pinning to my sides or at least blinkers like a horse has so I can only see in front towards my goal and not the happy yellow stickers of whoops-dom!

Firstly, and shockingly, I am mahoosively over budget for this weeks grocery shopping. I do include all cleaning items and toiletries in this budget and needed a few of these essential but peskily costly items. But still as I look at the receipts (various shops for various offers) I have a horrible nervous feeling that todays weekly shop came in at a higher price than my budgeted for 2 weeks shop :eek:

I will be doing an end of week report on my spending from the amounts I tot up in my spending diary. Alas, it is now spent but the freezer is full of some rather delicious looking meals that I can't afford without the discount. Yummy

I did need a picture frame for a lovely photo of me and OH but sensibly kept the pennies exactly where they were. Good job too.

Night all

debtfreesomeday

Hi DDFW

I didn't realise you had a diary - just found it and had a quick read through and sounds like you're doing brilliantly! Well done, keep up the good debt-busting work. :T

You're not alone in the grocery budget going haywire either - ours has pretty much gone to pot this month too and there's still 3 weeks left before payday! :eek:
I think it's the dismal month of February and the 'not having any money in January so when I get paid I'll spend it all' feeling that forces good intentions out of the window... roll on spring eh?!

DFSD
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