The final countdown... and a newbie in the DFSD house!

debtfreesomeday

The £20.59 from Quidco hasn't hit the bank account yet, but I've made a payment of that amount off the credit card anyway as it'll be in there within the next day or two. So, CC balance now stands at £951.17. Hopefully the mobile phone (£220) and associated quidco (£50) cashback will come through soon so I can make a big dent in that balance. I am aware that I may need to put another £60 on the card this week though which is payment for a hotel later in the year. It's only a travelodge but the rooms are currently on sale for £30 a night instead of £59 and we need to stay for two nights. I know I'd be mad not to book it now, but the thought of adding to the CC debt is putting me off!

There is currently £2 in coins in my purse which, when I get home, is going into the sealed pot. I left it there in case we needed change for anything but haven't spent it so far so in it goes!

DFSD

yukkibear

Happy new year. I posted your pressie today so expect it in the next couple of days

dreamdreamer

With regards to the cables - a £1 HDMI cable and a £500 HDMI cable are only different in terms of build quality - ie. the more expensive one will probably last longer (but both will probably out live any of us as they just sit behind the TV!). Digital signal either gets there or it doesn't - so the image quality will be no different on either cable. A poor cable can corrupt the digital data (prob what was happening with the faulty one), but once you get to the point where the digits coming out of the cable exactly match those going in at the other end then it matters not whether the cable cost 10p or a grand!

Happy New Year DFSD!

Chocforever

Hi DFSD

Happy New Year! I’m back after almost two weeks of relaxing with friends and family and very nice it was too. I’m glad you had a nice holiday too and that your parents were able to visit.

I want to achieve so much this year it is exciting and a bit overwhelming. I would like to use my time differently and have a better lifestyle. I have made steps towards it but there is some way to go and a better living environment will definitely help. It is not just about wanting more physical space, I psychologically need more space and a more suitable place to socialise and play music which is a passion.

But first, I need to resolve the health niggle that arose last autumn. I am not making enough red blood cells so I am tired and achy and it is causing some bizarre balance and nerve issues. It will all get resolved but the process has been drawn out because the cause (which is still unidentified) is not one of the usual ones. I am on medication now and will get the levels re-tested next week, but I am fairly sure there is no improvement so we will be on to the next idea…. Apparently, once we find the right thing, there will be a very swift improvement. Can’t wait because I feel like things are on hold in the meantime and I am impatient!

Anyway, back to MSE, the main themes this year will be house moving and spending less (rather than last year’s focus of earning more).

I need to write down a list of jobs that need doing around my flat before I put it up for sale. There is nothing too difficult or expensive, but I would like it to look cared for which means making some minor outstanding repairs and painting two rooms where the walls are badly marked. I will also be decluttering to tidy the place up.

I would like to get into the habit of meal planning because I think it would make me eat a wider variety of food and I think I would spend less money because I buy too much with my usual strategy of just buying what I fancy. I have just checked what I have in one of my main store cupboards and got quite a surprise. I usually only take stuff within arm’s reach from the front and there is allsorts further back! This should have the added bonus of enabling me to keep my spending down in January and February to start saving for the house move.

Exciting times. I did sneak on the computer an odd time over the holiday just checking in case you had the baby early . I can’t believe you are still having visitors to stay on a weekend; you are either too kind, a little crazy or both .

Take care and have a good week

debtfreesomeday

yukkibear wrote: »

Happy new year. I posted your pressie today so expect it in the next couple of days

Thanks YB, that's really so kind of you.

Did you have a nice Christmas & New Year?

DFSD
X

debtfreesomeday

dreamdreamer wrote: »

With regards to the cables - a £1 HDMI cable and a £500 HDMI cable are only different in terms of build quality - ie. the more expensive one will probably last longer (but both will probably out live any of us as they just sit behind the TV!). Digital signal either gets there or it doesn't - so the image quality will be no different on either cable. A poor cable can corrupt the digital data (prob what was happening with the faulty one), but once you get to the point where the digits coming out of the cable exactly match those going in at the other end then it matters not whether the cable cost 10p or a grand!

Happy New Year DFSD!

Ah, I see. Thanks Dreamer - I'll definitely take the faulty cable back at the weekend as the cheap one still seems to be working ok. Plus, it's an extra tenner in my bank account!

Happy new Year to you too X

debtfreesomeday

Chocforever wrote: »

Hi DFSD

Happy New Year! I’m back after almost two weeks of relaxing with friends and family and very nice it was too. I’m glad you had a nice holiday too and that your parents were able to visit.

I want to achieve so much this year it is exciting and a bit overwhelming. I would like to use my time differently and have a better lifestyle. I have made steps towards it but there is some way to go and a better living environment will definitely help. It is not just about wanting more physical space, I psychologically need more space and a more suitable place to socialise and play music which is a passion.

But first, I need to resolve the health niggle that arose last autumn. I am not making enough red blood cells so I am tired and achy and it is causing some bizarre balance and nerve issues. It will all get resolved but the process has been drawn out because the cause (which is still unidentified) is not one of the usual ones. I am on medication now and will get the levels re-tested next week, but I am fairly sure there is no improvement so we will be on to the next idea…. Apparently, once we find the right thing, there will be a very swift improvement. Can’t wait because I feel like things are on hold in the meantime and I am impatient!

Anyway, back to MSE, the main themes this year will be house moving and spending less (rather than last year’s focus of earning more).

I need to write down a list of jobs that need doing around my flat before I put it up for sale. There is nothing too difficult or expensive, but I would like it to look cared for which means making some minor outstanding repairs and painting two rooms where the walls are badly marked. I will also be decluttering to tidy the place up.

I would like to get into the habit of meal planning because I think it would make me eat a wider variety of food and I think I would spend less money because I buy too much with my usual strategy of just buying what I fancy. I have just checked what I have in one of my main store cupboards and got quite a surprise. I usually only take stuff within arm’s reach from the front and there is allsorts further back! This should have the added bonus of enabling me to keep my spending down in January and February to start saving for the house move.

Exciting times. I did sneak on the computer an odd time over the holiday just checking in case you had the baby early . I can’t believe you are still having visitors to stay on a weekend; you are either too kind, a little crazy or both .

Take care and have a good week

Hi Chocs

Glad you had a good Christmas & New Year, sounds like a lovely long break with family & friends which is always good.

It sounds like you have a good plan in your head as to what you want to achieve this year too. I have no doubt you will get there too as you seem determined and passionate with your goals in mind.

I feel for you regarding the health issue - it's so frustrating when things are not straight forward and the cause of problems is not easily identifiable. We've had the same with my Mum for MANY years, so I can empathise with you on that one. I do hope they find some answers for you soon and you start to feel well again.

I'm with you on the meal planning too. We've tried and failed so many times on that one! It's something I know we should do, but whenever we do, we never fancy/don't have enough time to cook what's planned for that evening and end up making something else. I think it may be easier when I'm on maternity leave/working part time and have more time in the day/evenings to prepare food - I hope!

No, no sign of baby yet, although I only have 4 weeks left. :eek: I'm at work for another 9 days yet so as long as it doesn't arrive before then, that's fine! Although we have everything we need now, I still don't feel ready at all! Ahhh! Panic is starting to set in as to what we actually do with this little person - neither of us have a lot of experience with babies so I'm hoping it will come naturally! I've never even changed a nappy before!

debtfreesomeday

The £2 loitering in my purse duly went in the sealed pot this morning and 76p has been transferred to the ML account from the main account.

Again, lunch and breakfast brought in from home for both of us, so saving the pennies that way. We got a bit lax with this before Christmas and I ended up buying lunch quite a lot which really makes a dent in the finances after a week or two.

Dinner of omellettes & toast is planned for tonight and will be quick and easy as hubby is working late. We have loads of eggs to use up too.

Today I need to cancel my old mobile phone contract which expires at the end of the month. Hopefully the new one will be with us soon, followed very shortly by the cashback!

Have a good day all

DFSD
X

debtfreesomeday

Mobile contract cancelled. It seemed far too easy and they gave up without a fight so not completely confident it'll be actioned as promised!

Chocforever

I hope the mobile contract is cancelled as promised; another thing crossed off the to do list .

Well done for being organised and preparing lunches in advance. I am lucky that lunch is provided at work for such a reasonable price that it is not worth doing it myself. I get through a lot of food and it is best if I take in a supply of snacks to keep me going, partly to ensure I eat some healthy stuff and also to keep costs down. I popped into the supermarket tonight to pick up some fresh stuff because otherwise I just seem to have lots of biscuits, cakes and chocolate in from overcatering for guests and Xmas!

I was reassured when you admitted to finding meal planning hard to sustain and cited not fancying whatever had been planned. That is my main problem too. I love food and it is never just a fuel to me. Of course, if I had to, I would eat whatever was available. But when I know that I could just get something else instead, the temptation is too much. I find I am better if I just have the right ingredients ready and, for example, defrost meat or fish in advance but then cook the meal from scratch. What I find difficult is if the exact meal has been prepared and, for whatever reason, I don't fancy eating that style of food. Batch cooking is not really for me .

It was my first day back at work today and it was fine. I am quite tired tonight so must head off to bed soon to get an earlyish night.

Best wishes x