Mrs Sparkle's sparkly debt diary

Mrs_Sparkle

lynsayjane wrote:

hi hun, it's all good up here, had a scary drunk weekend where i didn't get home for 27 hours (and that includes the 8 hour shift at work...turned up late and without my uniform/locker key) talk about the mother of all dirty stop outs! was a cracking laugh though, been a long time since i had so much fun. got a date on wed too, so we'll see how that goes...

congrats on the drop in your sig, hope your very proud! good luck with the matched betting, not summit i've ever looked at myself to be honest, but hope it works for you!

xx

Hey you dirty stopout! Glad you enjoyed yourself and keep me informed on how the date goes on Weds. Most importantly, is he rich??? :rotfl:

C x x

Mrs_Sparkle

I've spent the evening at a Mothercare free seminar session for expectant parents- all free I hasten to add. I was really taken with the hynotherapy lady who promised techniques to help you deal with the pain of labour and childbirth without using medication. I'd love to do it but cannot imagine what it costs so it's probably not an option for me. One thing I am going to do is the pregnancy yoga course which starts in 3 weeks and costs £45. Obviously this is not in my budget for this month so I'm going to have to raise the funds through matched betting. I can't think of a better way of spending £45 though at the moment- I really miss my yoga.

This is turning into a pregnancy diary as well as a debt diary! Only the debt's going to be around for much longer than the pregnancy unfortunately. Although I checked my Egg loan today and it now finishes in June 2010 instead of October 2010 due to my overpayments- it just shows that it does make a difference. I hope to knock a couple more months off that in the next few months as that will be my worst-case-scenario debt free date

Mrs_Sparkle

Another overspend at Tesco I'm afraid- £60! But £8 of that was a present for sister-in-law's expected baby and I also had to stock up on things like washing powder so it was never going to be one of my cheapest shops I'm afraid. I reckon I have enough food for 10 days now though so I'm happy.

I've decided my goal for matched betting is to pay for the following things:

-speeding fine £60 (still gutted about that)
-pregnancy yoga classes £45
-bringing debt total below £24K, around £450

So I'm aiming for around the £600 mark. Hopefully achievable!

I've only got a couple of things listed on eBay this week- must keep decluttering as there's loads more money in that I think.

Hope everyone is having a good DFW weekend!

kathfisch

You should be able to make that much from the matched betting for sure... more is possible judging by some people on here! Its great to have specific goals to fund with the matched betting though, rather than just let the amount be 'lost' as it were!

That's great about the earlier finishing date of the egg loan, a few months is big achievement and I'm sure it'll be many more months by the time you get there! :T

Mrs_Sparkle

Hi Kath, thanks for that! You're doing pretty well on MB yourself I see... I've seen some people doing amazingly well on MB but realistically I think if I get my £600 I'll be happy to quit. One thing's for sure- I could never be a gambler- it's all too nervewracking making sure all the figures are right and you've done the right bits!

Well done on your MFN challenge- you're doing so well

kathfisch

Mrs_Sparkle wrote:

Hi Kath, thanks for that! You're doing pretty well on MB yourself I see... I've seen some people doing amazingly well on MB but realistically I think if I get my £600 I'll be happy to quit. One thing's for sure- I could never be a gambler- it's all too nervewracking making sure all the figures are right and you've done the right bits!

Well done on your MFN challenge- you're doing so well

Aww, thank you!! I'm doing ok... had a bit of a manic day of betting, thursday I think it was, and unlocked quite a few good free bets! There's no hurry really... I'm just impatient :rotfl:

I think the people who make thousands are doing bookies in other countries, as well as signing up for their partners and anyone else who'll let them!! I know what you mean about not being a gambler... I know some people might get drawn into it by matched betting but certainly not me!!

I do love matched betting on weird teams though... I found a match on a UEFA cup game the other day where one team were called Grasshoppers they're from sweden apparently according to my dad... tickled me for some reason.... and made me a nice little profit!

Mrs_Sparkle

Oooh interesting... my teams have all been quite boring such as Fulham v Everton. At last- football has a use in my life!

Seaxwyn

Hi there

this is my first post so forgive me if I break any etiquette. I am working up to posting a SOA and joining properly. But meanwhile just wanted to say - you don't need to spend anything on baby gear (pram, pushchair, carseat, clothes, toys etc).

There is masses available second-hand as practically everyone buys new and it doesn't wear out. Either register with freecycle (https://www.freecycle.org/ and look for your nearest one) or just ask friends of colleagues with children. You will be overwhelmed with offers once people know you're not too proud to take hand-me-downs.

I have four children, and have really had to pay for very little.

Best wishes and good luck with it.

Seaxwyn

Mrs_Sparkle

Hi Seaxwyn and welcome! Don't be shy- post your SOA and join us properly

Thanks for your advice about getting second-hand baby stuff. I am constantly amazed by what I get given (huge variety of stuff so far ranging from disposable maternity knickers to a baby bath!) and what I can get on eBay. Only yesterday I received a Beatrix Potter cot mobile which I snapped up on eBay for a couple of pounds :j Oh, and I've got an NCT nearly new sale to go to next month- looking forward to bargain hunting

lynsayjane

hey darling, glad to see your still doing well. i think the yoga is a great thing to do. we have a few folk 'plus 1' that still use the gym for most of their term doing swimming, yoga etc it's really good for you

the date went well, got a second tomorrow to see the fireworks, tho he's been asking me to go out to his tonight, am working early tomorrow tho and think it's a little soon for 'stayovers'.

keep up the good work!

(ps dunno if i metioned, my friend had a little girl on thursday morn, all well i'm an auntie!!!)