To remind myself how far I've come - my debt diary. - SOA added

chocaholic110

Well, would you believe it is practically a year since I first started lurking about this site and the first glimmer of light began to occur. I joined the site on August 16th but had spent the entire two weeks before that avidly reading debt diaries and tips boards.

To be honest I'm not sure how I managed to live my life before I came here as there were so many ways we were throwing money away that I wouldn't even contemplate now - and I tell friends and colleagues when they are doing the same things I used to but most just look at me as if I'm slightly mad (and I'm telling them things like Quidco and Kelkoo - I'm not suggesting they use their teabags twice or anything strange like that! erm, apologies if there's anyone who does use teabags twice!!)

In fact when I told the staff at work my car insurance was £200 but I got £100 back from Quidco, some said it seemed like too much work (ok, then how long do you have to work to make £100??) and one said "Hmm, that just sounds too good to be true!"

Anyway, the point of the rambling is that I thought I would do a Yearly account of the debt situation so that I can see the progress in one place (that is the point of this whole diary after all!)

Beginning of August 2006 £26,976

End of August (post lightbulb) £19,515

End of September 2006 £17,954

End of October 2006 £16,196

End of November 2006 £14,569

End of December 2006 £12,932

End of January 2007 £11,500

End of February 2007 £10,063

End of March 2007 £9,291

End of April 2007 £8,580

End of May 2007 £7,088

End of June 2007 £6,478

End of July 2007 £5,794

What's really great is that this time last year all of the things we wanted (new house, baby etc) seemed like pie in the sky, whereas now they seem definitely possible!

Call_That_Music?!?

Congratulations Choc - what a buzz seeing it listed like that! I love seeing posts that prove it can be done.

Well Done!
Kx

lemma1968

I am so inspired by your thread. I did not think it was possible to see someone's debt fall that fast each month. Ours definitely is not doing that:eek: mind you I have challenged some of it with the institutions concerned and some agreements have not turned up....yet!!!

Good luck with everything.:A

chocaholic110

lemma1968 wrote: »

I am so inspired by your thread. I did not think it was possible to see someone's debt fall that fast each month. Ours definitely is not doing that:eek: mind you I have challenged some of it with the institutions concerned and some agreements have not turned up....yet!!!

Good luck with everything.:A

Hi, I had a quick look on your thread but couldn't think of any ways to help other than maybe giving ebay another try. I'm sure with time you will be able to make an impact though - good luck!!

chocaholic110

Ok, so yesterday i had a really demotivated day - today I want to get lots done! The best way I can think of is to list what I want to do here then it [strike]shames me into[/strike] reminds me what I want to do and gives the satisfaction of being able to cross off the list. Most things come from flylady but some are my own wants and needs!

Here goes...

Thursday Bathroom and Study/Pc Area
Level One
[strike]Clear any clutter from desk[/strike] - done
Level Two
[strike]Clear clutter from floor [/strike] - done
[strike]Clean bath, toilet and sink[/strike] - done
[strike]Dust PC and desk [/strike] - done
Level Three
[strike]Vacuum/sweep[/strike] - done
[strike]Wipe keyboard and mouse (these usually have more germs on than your toilet so important)[/strike] - done
[strike]Wipe down tiles in bathroom[/strike] - done
Extra mission:
Pick whichever you want to attempt

• [strike]Clean windows in today's rooms [/strike] - done, erm, well window frames and ledges anyway
• [strike]Clean any light fittings and switches in these rooms [/strike] - done
• [strike]Wash your bathroom mats [/strike] - don't have any
• [strike]Sort your toiletries, flinging anything well past it's use by and those empty containers. Leave out what needs using first like the last bit of shower gel in a bottle etc.[/strike] - done and washed out drawers where they are kept

Finally Friday - those terrible kids rooms and spare rooms
Level One
[strike]Vacuum Floor (even if it's just where you can see) [/strike] - done
Level Two
[strike]Strip beds, vacuum mattress and replace with fresh linen[/strike] - done
Level Three
[strike]Dusting and cobweb checking [/strike] - done
[strike]Put anything back in it's place that isn't where it should be[/strike] - done
Extra Mission Task Choices

• [strike]Time for the Friday Flylady Fling, aim for 27, if you can't find that many, well done, you are obviously making a difference[/strike] - done but I can't ever find 27 things! Doesn't everyone just out things in the bin as they need to???
• [strike]Sort through some toys/books/clothes even if it's just for 10 miutes, making sure any broken ones are dealt with/flung, dirty ones get wiped/washed before putting them back and anything that should be parted with is.[/strike] - done and found a couple of bundles for ebay by sorting through DD's wardrobe
• [strike]Clean kids rooms windows[/strike] - done window frames and ledges
• [strike]Wipe any sticky marks off doors and walls in the kids rooms, may aswell wipe the lightswitches and handles over too[/strike] - done

My own tasks

• [strike]sort stair basket and file paper work[/strike] -done
• [STRIKE]list at least three items on ebay[/STRIKE] - listed 4
• [strike]Sort out junk drawer in kitchen[/strike]
• [strike]Quick flick over kitchen and living room[/strike] - done
• [strike]Quick hoover[/strike] - done
• [strike]Post ebay item and films back to Lovefilm[/strike] - done

OK, well that looks like a lot so I'd better get on - I may or may not do the Level 3 / extra tasks for flylady but if I don't put them on I never will so who knows...

Snaggles

chocaholic110 wrote: »

I have found one pair of work trousers at Mothercare that were "Short" length (You know, petite sounds so much nicer than short!!). DP didn't have any which was why I bought cropped jeans. Dorothy Perkins online does have a choice of sizes though.

It does sounds sooo much nicer....although it is stretching the truth for me to call myself petite...lol!

chocaholic110

Snaggles wrote: »

It does sounds sooo much nicer....although it is stretching the truth for me to call myself petite...lol!

:rotfl:

Me too! I could only be actually called petite in terms of height, not in any other way!!

chocaholic110

Phew, well I've finished all the tasks I set myself and I'm absolutely exhausted! Think I'm quite justified in going to sit (lie?) on the sofa for an hour with a hot cup of teawatching old Friends that 've seen a million times. Might even manage a chocolate or two out of one of the boxes I got at the end of term!

Listed 4 items on ebay, not sure how they will sell but we'll see! The two items I already had on are selling at £50.01 and £10; one has 13 watchers and one has 9 watchers so fingers crossed that might go up slightly before the listing finishes tomorrow.

Anyway, best get that kettle on!

hypno06

You still have chocolates left from the end of term??? Blimey, I would have scoffed the lot before I had got out of the school car park and had time to say "see you in September"!!!!

And you have had the opposite to my day - I have done absolutely nothing! Mind you, our average would be acceptable, I suppose!!

chocaholic110

Lol, I got nine boxes...I would have been sick in the school carpark and you don't get on the wrong side of our caretaker!!

Plus I got two more boxes for my birthday (including a box from my darling children who sneaked to the shop with money from their money boxes) and I'm a bit off chocolate at the moment. Any other year I would be found sitting on the sofa on the last day of term, too stuffed to move with chocolate all round my mouth and crumbs all down my top! (Well, not quite, but not far off!!)
:EasterBun