museumworker's quest to consign mortgage to history!

CathT

museumworker wrote: »

Ah, thanks CathT, it is nice to know I'm not always talking to myself! Are you an MFW too, and if so, do you have a diary I can [STRIKE]lurk on[/STRIKE] follow?

Ha ha, no diary (yet). Am VERY new to this but quite keen, perhaps too keen!

(Hope i've done the quote thing right!)

museumworker

CathT wrote: »

Ha ha, no diary (yet). Am VERY new to this but quite keen, perhaps too keen!

(Hope i've done the quote thing right!)

Hi CathT - yes, it is VERY addictive, and I am definitely spending a lot of time thinking about money. On a good day, it makes you feel :j:beer:, but when I get tired, or have a bad day I get very hard on myself and feel :sad:_pale_. I'm hoping the diary will help me chart how much I DO achieve, and make me a little less hard on myself.

Regarding the quote, you just need to leave in the last [/QUOTE] for it to work.

Today's update:
* 1 to 1 with line manager today, bought me lunch which I really enjoyed.
* First driving lesson ever! Was actually quite uncomfortable emotionally being a total learner, I am not used to doing things badly . Learnt controls, and did about 15 mins driving in circles. Stalled the car about 3 times - there is SOOO much to remember. Just need to persist, am packing my learning to drive book to read whilst I'm away at the conference. £22 spent.
* walked back from tube to save myself £1.20 on the bus (am on oyster pay as you go this week).
* OH had arranged for second loft quote to be done today, should get it through next week :j. A definite contender.
* now done my 30 comps for the week
* 3 items on ebay have bids, and a couple of 8 or 10 watchers, so hoping sales will go well this weekend.
* just got my bag down to pack for going away, and it is full of things to ebay
* OH made fantastic pork and rice stirfry tonight, with enough for lunch, and definitely have enough pork left for a few sandwiches too .

Bad news though - can't find my work pass. Have checked my handbag several times, and also anywhere at home could be. Have heard it is £70 :eek: to get it replaced, I am very :mad: with myself. I think I may have accidentally handed it in at another site, am going to check tomorrow. Feel a bit sick thinking about it.

museumworker

AARRGGHHH! Just went to get my 'lady test' done after work. 1 and a half hours getting there, in the middle of nowhere, got totally lost. Eventually after several fraught phone calls to OH was directed there. Turns out they don't offer the service, despite NHS choices saying they do! Total waste of my time, and has really strung me out. Will have to get it done next week instead, probably try somewhere more central near work. G&T on the go now in attempt to unwind...

museumworker

In slightly more positive news, and more MFW wannabe:
* Have sold a book on Amazon, only a couple of quid profit (max) but every penny counts! Need to go in dreaded loft though.
* Won a couple of whisky glasses - can't remember entering the comp, but will wrap them up with bottle of whisky as Xmas present for the surrogate parents.
* Ebay interest appears to be going well - 4 out of 9 have bids already, and one item has 14 watchers, and another 12. Fingers crossed for Sunday.
* Sainsbury's have got back to me and have offered to put points on the nectar card as the fruit offer didn't go through.

About to have some of OH's delicious HM carbonara, then pack for the conference. May not be able to update for a few days, will TRY not to spend too much whilst I'm up there.

museumworker

Well, back from the conference. Overall, it was really good, some inspiring talks and I learnt some new approaches. Met some lovely people from other museums, and really enjoyed it. Glad to be home with DD and OH now though .

The fees included all food, accommodation and local transport :j. Total spent over last three days on extra :beer:, water and a few toiletries: £21 :j, very happy with that. Managed my run yesterday morning, although have eaten so much buffet food probably cancelled the goodness out!

Posted the Amazon sale, worked out as £1.50 profit. Also found 8p on my travels :rotfl:. Walked home from station to save £1.20 bus fare and get a bit of exercise after lots of sitting around. My bag was really heavy too so must be a proper workout in the 30 degree heat!

Ebay sales due to end tomorrow, I have 7 items with bids, only 2 without. One item has 26 people watching, so I really, really hope that a few do well.

Caught up (i.e. screened out) of all survey invites now, I think it is now officially time for a movie in bed.

museumworker

OH got paid on Friday, just transferred £1,110 to savings which means that we have now reached our 10k saving goal :j:j:j. We originally thought we'd struggle to save this in 12 months, let alone 7, so this is a massive achievement.

Having had the savings taste, we're not stopping here though... next stop the loft, then hoping to start proper mortgage overpayments later in the year

[Deleted User]

Hi museumworker
well done on 10K savings that is amazing!!
also well done on the ebaying!... I think my award for most listings may have to be returned as I only kept about 8 on as realised for the hassle of posting, paying for envelopes/postage some of them werent really worth selling!! ;o)

I think you're right all this can feel great when going well, but can also feel a bit of a struggle...I think its so important to find a balance between OP/saving for more financial security and also having a life and enjoying it!...

take care
tyo

museumworker

Deleted_User wrote: »

I think my award for most listings may have to be returned as I only kept about 8 on as realised for the hassle of posting, paying for envelopes/postage some of them werent really worth selling!! ;o)

I think you're right all this can feel great when going well, but can also feel a bit of a struggle...I think its so important to find a balance between OP/saving for more financial security and also having a life and enjoying it!...

Thanks for posting TYO, it's nice to know I am not just wittering away to myself (even though I clearly am, just by doing it on an online forum makes me feel a bit less sad :rotfl:)

The amazon thing is difficult, most of my books end up going to charity, I just keep the ones that will make a profit after postage and fees. Weighing them before listing helps make my mind up! And I use poundland/99p store jiffy bags, at between 8 and 4 for a £1 they work out good value.

Balance.... what's that? Yes, I definitely get the highs and the lows, I hope I'm getting the balance right although I am feeling a bit stressed at the minute so perhaps need to try and relax a bit more. It is difficult as work is really busy but with the loft in sight, I really do want to push hard to get it done. Let me know if you do find the magic balance!

museumworker

Another week, another list . You may recognise some of these to dos however

[STRIKE]
• Post ebay items[/STRIKE] Done, except one non-payer
• Call CSA to move money over
• Order new bank card for personal account
• List 5 things on amazon
• Prepare 10 listings for ebay on Thursday Not happening, too much going on
• Pack for girly weekend in Poland! Pack extra light as going hand luggage only with Ryanair
  [STRIKE]
• check if any of the girls taking straightners so don't have to pack mine![/STRIKE] Apparently there are already some there :j
  [STRIKE]
• Check cheapest way to get to the airport OH is going away Fri night and tube is down my part of the line sat so really need to sort this out! [/STRIKE] Done, tickets booked
  [STRIKE]
• Day off Wednesday!! :j Use £75 meal voucher won in competition to take OH out for a belated birthday dinner[/STRIKE] Done, a fantastic day :D:D
  [STRIKE]
• Also on Weds have haircut with pre-paid voucher (Wahanda deal)[/STRIKE] Done, a major improvement
  [STRIKE]
• Post keys through friend's door who is looking after DD on Weds eve[/STRIKE] Done, although had to post mine as forgot spare set
  [STRIKE]
• Do any surveys[/STRIKE] Done for the week
  [STRIKE]
• 10+ comps a day[/STRIKE] Done 78, so going to call it a week!
• Block book 10 driving lessons to secure time I want, and save a couple of quid
• Make birthday present for friend started, making jewellery is REALLY hard, have broken several bits of chain already :mad:

As you can see, this is an exciting week as I have a day off to spend with OH, hope to mosey round some galleries, have a haircut, and go out to bistro for dinner with vouchers I won a little while back. This weekend I am off to Poland for 4 days for girlie holiday, I am SOOOO excited about this time off you would not believe. The flights were booked ages ago for £55 including taxes, accomodation is free, and apparently we are miles from any shops so should be lots of quality relaxing time.

Courgette

museumworker wrote: »

Thanks for posting TYO, it's nice to know I am not just wittering away to myself (even though I clearly am, just by doing it on an online forum makes me feel a bit less sad :rotfl:)

You're not, I'm lurking too and I must say I quite like the sound of your life

The amazon thing is difficult, most of my books end up going to charity, I just keep the ones that will make a profit after postage and fees. Weighing them before listing helps make my mind up! And I use poundland/99p store jiffy bags, at between 8 and 4 for a £1 they work out good value.

Yes, be careful here as it's perfectly possible to make a loss. Generally fiction paperbacks are not worth the effort

Balance.... what's that? Yes, I definitely get the highs and the lows, I hope I'm getting the balance right although I am feeling a bit stressed at the minute so perhaps need to try and relax a bit more. It is difficult as work is really busy but with the loft in sight, I really do want to push hard to get it done. Let me know if you do find the magic balance!

Yeah, let me know too please. I'm feeling pretty highly strung with the whole money saving/mortgage paying off thing at the moment too. I must remember that this is only one of the things I want to do with my life :cool: Have a great time in Poland, and a lovely week. Sounds like it'll be a nice one