New year, New me (finally)

thrifty_fifty

Today has been a pretty good day. Not only have I made steps to overcome my fear of talking in front of groups of people, by doing a quick talk in front of two of my colleagues today, I also spotted in the street my friend, whom I had thought I was never to see again. As I suspected bad things had happened, and as part of their therapy they had been told to cut off ties to their old world, including friends, as this may have bad memories of the old life. However now I feel I am able to repay this very good friend, who was always there for me, and offer support to her.

I have given her my email address, so that she is free to contact me if and when she is ready to. It was amazing to see her again, and brought a tear to my eye. This was the best christmas present ever!!!!!!

thrifty_fifty

Oh PS, I'm taking the HMV thing into my own hands and cancelling the order for the disc. I'm not waiting until they have made their mind up, whether they are going send it or not. They don't get my custom, simple as that.

Have loved watching Kirstir and Phil's perfect christmas this week. I have learned to pipe holly icing decorations, made some stuffed material hearts to go on the mantlepiece, and also made a start on my necklace (I've had the beads sitting around for 2 years now).

Things is good.

thrifty_fifty

So today I'm saying no to housework. This is mainly shaped by the fact that we are awaiting drain man to come, and it should be sometime this morning (don't know when). So until that is fixed I can't send great loads of water down the pipes, so this means no sink washing, no dishwasher, no clothes washing, no bathroom cleaning, which doesn't leave a lot else to be honest.

So, I'm going to have a creative morning on the crafts. I've cleared the kitchen table, so off we go.

thrifty_fifty

Ok. So drain is fixed now (for the moment). Tree roots have gone through the pipe and are blocking it, so while this payment is on us, the landlord is going to have to get that fixed, because the guy thinks it will only be another 2-3 months before the problem is back. We paid out of goodwill this time, but if he chooses to ignore the problem, we are certainly not doing it again.

So with one week to go until the last debt busting for 2010, I'm starting to chill. I've learned a lot of lessons this year, some that will stay with me for the rest of my life. January will see me finally busting Barclaycard, with my last payment, and closing the account. OH thinks I should hang onto the card. Well I say that when this is over, I'm going to spend time living without credit, and just get used to saving up for things again, and having to walk away if I don't quite have the money for them yet. I may be going back to an old fashioned way of living, but I think there can be some comfort derived from that.

I'm going to book the hotel for next December, which is one we have been to for our anniversary for the last two years. This is going to be our yearly treat rather than going on holiday, and next year it will be paid for in cash.

Part of me want to go back to using cash, because I would actually hate for us to become a plastic wielding society, and not to be able to hand over the metal and paper of real currency.

And on wednesday, I can look with eager joy as the barclaycard total dwindles down to the total on my sig. This has become my new retail therapy, watching the totals come down.

My last week at work next week before the start of the Christmas holidays. I'm looking forward to the break. I'm going to make sure that I slob and rest well.

And the title of my 2011 diary? New Year, New me, the journey continues, and oh my word, I will finally be able to post onto the debt free roll of honour. Wow, that's so exciting.

thrifty_fifty

Enjoyed watching Elf yesterday. First time I have seen this. Finances are slightly healthier after a nice surprise late birthday gift of cash which will see me through the upcoming meals this week, and mean that I don't have to go overdrawn.

Presents, food and christmas socialising all for £150. I consider that to be very MSE. If I stick to my budget through january I might even have £30 or so left over spare at the end of the month. Cool.

ADR today. The new me is going to be confident and assertive. Wish me luck

thrifty_fifty

1 pinecone candle base surround thingy made, 1 dried rosehip heart decoration made, gingerbread cooling, then the three B's-bath, bake, bed.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

chevalier

hi there
have just found your diary, and have read it over the last couple of days!

Well done on having a focus for your debt busting.

Ref the clothes, I am ALOT more low maintenance than you LOL. I could never imagine buying designer clothes cos I would be afraid to wear them. They are certainly no good to you hanging in your cupboard. So I guess you have to become the butterfly and wear them and don't save them for 'best' or you should sell them...

I now have no 'special clothes' because of this change in the best thing. The same as I don't have special perfume any more either. I use it all and am glad of it.

chev

thrifty_fifty

Hi Chevalier and welcome

All the designer stuff was bought on discount sites in the sale, so paying higher end high street prices, but for some great stuff, so not all bad.

Managed the bed and bath last night, however the baking didn't happen. Last gingerbread recipe was really wet so I couldn't roll it, so tried another one and that was too dry. Grrrr

thrifty_fifty

New gingerbread recipe tried, and these were a success. Just finished 70 little gingerbread men. And to bed with me now. Zzzzzzz

thrifty_fifty

Painted my wooden doves last night, they're looking pretty good.

On another not so great note, someone who has now become an ex friend, decided to openly abuse me and my partner as a comment on my facebook status, because they thought we had ignored them the other night, although they said we waved but did not say hello.

I honestly didn't see them, I don't know where they saw us, let alone waved at them. So the new empowered me decided that we had done nothing wrong, and genuine friends wouldn't do that to us. I asked when and where they saw us, and they replied with the details and asked why they were having to state this to me. Erm, well clearly because if I had seen you, I would have remembered and apologised for not being able to stop, clearly I didn't see you. Shocking!!! So deleted they were. I really do wonder if I am a carp magnet sometimes. How do these people latch onto me?