Time to make some changes . . . lots of changes!

gilligansyle

karmachilovething wrote: »

I'm also finding the daily logging into MSE forum keeps me from wandering the internet looking at stuff to consume. And it's much more interesting.

Oh, and a NSD today!, better go update my signature and the NSD group.

Woop!
Karma-chi

Well done.

The routine of writing down what you spend is a really good one. It gives you a bit more focus as does letting other people know, via your diary, how you are doing.

karmachilovething

I feel like I've had a very un-MSE 24 hours.

To cut the story short, a close friend of my house mate (who I knew but not that well) died last weekend. It's incredibly sad, because he was only 29, and my housemate is in pieces.

Anyway because the funeral was held in Australia, we hosted a wake at our house to co-incide with the service last night. It was a lovely evening and lots of fun (as he would have wanted), but quite expensive in all. I'm going to try to have a cheap week next week to compensate.

Anyway, I have done a bit of DFW stuff (while recovering on the sofa) by putting some books for sale on amazon. Hopefully some of those will go. eBaying tomorrow.

Karma-chi

ZTD

karmachilovething wrote: »

I feel like I've had a very un-MSE 24 hours.

To cut the story short, a close friend of my house mate (who I knew but not that well) died last weekend. It's incredibly sad, because he was only 29, and my housemate is in pieces.

Anyway because the funeral was held in Australia, we hosted a wake at our house to co-incide with the service last night. It was a lovely evening and lots of fun (as he would have wanted), but quite expensive in all. I'm going to try to have a cheap week next week to compensate.

Real life will get in the way of debt busting. If it takes some one dying to get you off your budget then you're doing pretty well and you should congratulate yourself.

karmachilovething wrote: »

Anyway, I have done a bit of DFW stuff (while recovering on the sofa) by putting some books for sale on amazon. Hopefully some of those will go. eBaying tomorrow.

Karma-chi

There you go - swings and roundabouts. Bad and good in the same day - all you can do is try your best.

karmachilovething

ZTD wrote: »

Real life will get in the way of debt busting. If it takes some one dying to get you off your budget then you're doing pretty well and you should congratulate yourself.

Absolutely right ZTD, thanks for reminding me. And although I have spent a LOT on food and drink (although the house has gained a lot of that too! No need to buy snacks for a month!) it was the worry that I wasn't going to add to my debt busting this month that stopped me from buying a dress in the Jaeger sale. Although it was lovely, and their clothes are such good quality they last for years (no seriously I have some of my mother's pieces from the 70s-80s) I just-did-not-need-it!

And it was money well spent celebrating a great person's life with good friends.

Have put a couple more books on amazon today, and about to eBay a couple of things (just waiting for my camera battery to recharge) and then going to do some freelance work, so will make money today!

Also going to go put in my pledge to the weekly spend board - they weren't ready for (re)newbies on Friday.
Karma-chi

karmachilovething

Well, I've got on here an realised I didn't organise a "thing to do today" but I'd planned this to be a NSD so that will do.

My eBay posts seem to be going well. I have some watchers and the Halloween costume has been sold on buy it now (although they haven't paid me yet so will have to see how that pans out . . .)

Not very chatty today, just getting on with things. Beginning to feel the nights drawing in, was a lot harder to get up this morning in the semi-dark. i can cope quite happily with the bad weather but the darkness. Urgh!

Hmmm, what shall I do tomorrow. Um I think I need to see about moving my CC balance onto a 0% or lesser rate, so will have a look at that.

Right off to phone the mechanic to see if we can get the car working.

Love,
Karma-chi

karmachilovething

So I made an on-line application for the MBNA 0% CC today so I could do a transfer from my Barclaycard. But they turned me down. So no more card/loan applications for a couple of months!

Other than that, a NSD which is good, and first book sold through amazon dispatched (not counting the postage a a "spend" because it is included in the price of the book order)

Tomorrow I'm off to London for work, so spending will happen, and will have to think if a DFW thing to do when I'm away. Will let you know if I have any bright ideas!

Karma-chi

karmachilovething

So I've been away from the board for a few days, which hasn't been so bad on my DFW status but hasn't been god either!

Wednesday I was in London, and didn't spend much because I was so busy I didn't buy lunch, so no expenses other than the train ticket (for which I will be reimbursed by work eventually)

Thursday was a NSD, all good.

Friday, I bought a £2 train ticket for a trip I had to do this morning (still no car) and then went to a local beer festival, which was excellent and a good value evening - £10 for entry, free glass and beer tokens.

Today not so good - got up late, and missed the train out so had to pay extra on top to get the bus instead. Then went shopping for my Mum's birthday present and found NOTHING! And then compounded issues by buying a bag for myself, but it's a north face base camp duffle - I've wanted one for ages, and I'll get loads of use for it and it was 30% off, so not so bad

Tomorrow, hoping for a NSD again, although may have to go searching for birthday present again . . .

karmachilovething

OK I've taken my eye off the ball a little bit. Everytime I feel like I'm getting somewhere I think "phew! I can relax" but I need to vigilant allllll the time.

OK so today I got good news - my car is finally fixed so I can drive it! Yay! This make life a bit easier tomorrow as I can then drive to a work seminar which I was looking at spending £5-8 on buses. At the mechanic expenses are budgeted for so that's all good.

And then I bought my Mum a top for her birthday, which again was budgeted for and I also found a discount code for on the forum (thanks to frankietwospots for that) so that's not too bad either.

But I also got a sale email from figleaves, and went to look because I've been thinking I could do with some fresh underwear. So I found a couple of things I like, and ordered. Not budgeted for, but I've got some late birthday money which will cover most of it, but still not good.

On the selling front, I still haven't received payment from one ebayer, another couple of items I didn't think would sell have, and I've sold a couple of books on amazon. Will have to add up what the profit is and start noting it on my signature.

So good and bad - so it goes I guess.

jwil

Sorry to hear about your housemate's friend, that is so sad. And yes, you can't worry about not debtbusting in situations like that.

I've fallen off the spending wagon too, but have to get back on it now (and my purchases were totally frivolous, not at all needed )

Well done on the ebay and amazon sales though, and grrr to the non payers, there seem to be loads around at the moment! Make sure you give them a strike, I block people with 2 or more strikes, so it will stop them buying from most sellers! It serves them right - especially when you see that they are still active on ebay.

karmachilovething

Thanks jwil, my non-paying bidder has paid now. I meant ot do the NPB thing, but it's been a busy week so hadn't got around to it. It's a particularly good thing as the other items I'd sold are going to be returned by the seller, so rather than be £4.50 up I will be £7.50 down, but if I put it together with the other one I make a marginal profit of about £5.

Last week was expensive all in all. I got my car back on the road, so I did some errands I've been putting off, and went to my favorite charity shop and found a lovely 1950s bureau for £40. The desk I have at the moment was free, so hoping to sell that on eBay and make up some of that money.

However on a very positive note - this month for the first time in about 18 months, I will not exceed my earnings! :j:j

I know that's not as good as having made more inroads to my debt, but it does mean that I am getting better at this. And next month I won't have bank changes, so have borken the debt cycle.

It feels good, really good.:D