Debt free in ten years-my new, more realistic challenge.

poohbear59

brizzledfw wrote: »

Well done for being so positive. Keep it up

Thank you. I don't always feel positive but make an effort every day to find the good and positive and it works Life has certainly been a lot easier these last few months.

I must find the time tonight to start to read through all the diaries, including yours, I am so very behind with everything.

First I have to take part in an online class in Simplifying money systems.


And cook sausage and mash for the boys (men really) as I sent them out for some peace and quiet.

beanielou

All sounding good.
Positive positive vibes for DS's HB.

poohbear59

Things are going well here. DS2 has heard from Housing benefit and has sent in his bank statements to prove he has had no income.

As a result of a very knid person on here who sent me a personal message i have found a letter template on Shelter website and have a letter to go to the city council. It is requesting bacldated Housing Benefit. I am also going to get a letter from the doctor to support DS's application for backdated benefit.

I think it is too late now to try to get his ESA sorted out but am working on it. He is not giving us permission to do things for him, BUT today has worked on the car again :j:j:j

YNAB has turned out to be a great help. Mr P is now letting me know every single penny he spends so I can put it into our budget. Yesterday he came home very happy as he got some bananas for 30p He has gone to pub for a couple of pints but now knows exactly every penny he has available. We have £5.60 left. Maybe not enough for two pints.

Tomorrow my pension goes into our account so DD and I are going shopping to 4ldi for food. Old Mother Hubbard was knocking at our door this week We managed all sorts of wonderful concoctions. Last night was chicken breast with tomato puree, olives, two sun dried tomatoes, a yellow pepper, sweetcorn and pasta. It was scrummy.

Today we have chilli made with baked beans instead of kidney beans. I think we would struggle to make a meal tomorrow without shopping.

My courgette plants are ready for planting out, broccoli is sprouting and tomatoes and cucumber have loads of flowers on them. All have been grown from 3 yr old seeds.

debtfreewannabe321

Evening PB
Sorry to hear about DS1's wife I hope they find nothing serious.
Everything else seems to be going in the right direction I am also using YNAB now was a bit annoyed with myself that I didn't buy it on offer though and then that I didn't budget to buy it either. I clearly have some lessons to learn lol take care xx

brizzledfw

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Evening PB
Sorry to hear about DS1's wife I hope they find nothing serious.
Everything else seems to be going in the right direction I am also using YNAB now was a bit annoyed with myself that I didn't buy it on offer though and then that I didn't budget to buy it either. I clearly have some lessons to learn lol take care xx

Don't be too hard on yourself. Am looking into this and haven't budgeted for financial tech tools either! :rotfl:

Have a great weekend pooh x

poohbear59

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Evening PB
Sorry to hear about DS1's wife I hope they find nothing serious.
Everything else seems to be going in the right direction I am also using YNAB now was a bit annoyed with myself that I didn't buy it on offer though and then that I didn't budget to buy it either. I clearly have some lessons to learn lol take care xx

I did exactly the same as you. I didn't even think to look for a special offer. Not very MSE.




Today I decluttered our bedroom. I don't think I have had a chance to do any proper tidying since we got home from US. I have added a couple of things on 3bay and have a few others lined up if DD doesn't want them. I should probably just sell but like to give DD a chance first.

If I can manage to keep to budget any money I make can go towards DS2's car parts. He had a disaster. One spark plug was stuck in the engine and in trying to remove it it has sheared off leaving just the thread and the tool they were using in the engine. he has had to take the engine apart and we are going to the city to have it removed and rethreaded. DS3 sent a message for his brother . He said he should be bl**dy proud of himself.


The car has been so much trouble I am thinking maybe we are not meant to get it on the road......


This afternoon I sat and went through our finances and found a business cost which I could cancel, changed the accountant bill payments from our personal account to our business account and cancelled the proposed delivery from a wine company. We took up an offer around Christmas time and of course the company then sends wine every quarter or some every month.


And yesterday I changed our electricity company to OVO. Should save at least £10 a month.


We still have to be careful with our spending but we have central heating, a new boiler, double glazing and insulation What more could a woman want?




ETA 50% paid off:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

beanielou

What a great post.
50% paid off is fab
& all the home improvements :j :j :j

poohbear59

Hi beanie

Thank you for your lovely comments.

Today I have been to the allotment and DD and Mr P planted some vegetables I had grown from seed. Let's hope we do better than last year. Most things went to seed as we couldn't get there.

I spent £1 at knit and natter and had a good natter with some lovely ladies.

Yesterday I posted 5 things on ebay. It took me hours. does it take everyone such a long time? How do people list 1000s of things?

I don't have any watchers but some have had people look at them.

Today I aim to list five more items but the day is disappearing and I haven't done it yet.... no energy.

brizzledfw

Ebay is a slog. Better than it used to be but a slog regardless. Well done on all your successes...you're doing brilliantly x

chevalier

Hi poohbear. I have been ill this week so I have read your thread from the start. Oh boy what a rollercoaster ride you have had. I am very sorry to hear of the passing of your DA, she seemed a right character and I enjoyed reading about her, and was sorry to find out she hadn't made it.

The trials and tribulations of your DS's were also interesting to read for a different reason. I had not realised how hard it was for young people to get and keep a job in the UK now.

You must be very pleased to have got below the 25k threshold as well. Nice one.

The real reason why I posted was about turbolister. I wanted to make sure that you had downloaded it from ebay? The great thing about it is that you can set your listings all up at any time, so you list whenever you have a moment. Then you can upload them at the right time (eg free listing weekend) or 8pm on a thursday for a 10 day run. It also allows you to decide if you want gallery and the added features.

Good luck with it, it won't save you time necessarily, but what it will do is give you a load of listings ready to go because you can set up a listing whenever you have 5 mins
chev