A Budgeteers Quest to be Debt Free & Mortgage Free By 40

DedicatedDFW

Hi all,

thought i had better pop on to keep track of where i am up to with all the challenges for this month and it means i can delay pot washing for another few minutes

Sadly no run yesterday as i was quite ill feeling a little better after having 12 hours in bed :eek: and am now wondering where the weekend has gone ? :rotfl:

Managed to snaffle a MS which i wanted so am pleased with that but it does mean more money out-layed until the re-imbursement.

Did a survey too so thats a bit of money coming in as well

DedicatedDFW

November To Do List!

1, Pack bay of e parcels 7 to do for now - Done! :T 2 more - lets hope more sales add to it 3 to do in total and just the 1 paid so far 2 parcels packed ready to go! Arrgh and Woooo! 15 items to do :j:eek: still 2 items to do that haven't been paid for grr! They only bid on them at the last moment and are only 99p things

2, Pay Mortgage - end of month


3, Post bay of e parcels 7 posted - Done! :T Post 3 parcels when all paid! 2 posted and now 15 to do!- when they pay of course !!! :j:eek: and 2 left to do when they have paid (as above)

4, After posting bay of e parcels work out profit for jwil £300 in November challenge £10 + £51.50 = £61.50 + £15 = £76.50 + £25.50 + £41.50 + £10 = £153.50

5, Run 5k 5 days a week 1 5k walk ? does that count and another 5k walk (as i was ill)

6, Sunday 18th!!! complete individual tax return and SUBMIT!!

7, Clear kitchen 1 cupboard / work surface a day 1 done - bit of a cheat here as i did the easiest one where i pretty much knew we were keeping everything in it Up to date on my days with 2 more done whilst i had to hover around the cooker, a few more bits selected for carbooty. 8 more cupboards to go, all work surfaces and the corner that some people seem to think is the dumping corner :mad: 6.5 left to go - did 1/2 a shelf whilst at the cooker yesterday Now 3 and 2 x .5 left to go - i don't see it as 4 as the .5 are in separate cupboards - the high up bits i need a ladder for! 1 fridge, 1 cupboard and .5 of a cupboard to go. Just the fridge left to do work surfaces and then the corner of doom! FRIDAY 16TH FRIDGE clean still to do!

8, complete product test Done!! :j:j:j

9, Clear utility room 1 cupboard work surface at a time 1 cupboard done and several bits sorted for the carbooty - next cupboard tomorrow night! 2nd cupboard done and worktop done and window ledge done! Next = cookery books etc. Done table top. DONE! :j just the fridge to clean :cool:

10, Check for the MS i want for next month and apply when / if its available Bah! Nope i'll need to look towards end of month see if it comes up at a time i can do it. I'm still going to check for this but nabbed one in a different location so will class it as completed for now Done! :j

11, OU!!!! Hours tally 17/20

12, Sort out xmas gifts work out gifts i've bought and what i am owed for these = FUNDS IN (probably get the money next month though) 2 people left to buy for... 3 gifts thought of for 1 person (they'll get a bundle i'll need to get more than this though :eek:) I'll buy the first bits next week... Bought 1 or 2 bits yesterday Picking another 1 up tomorrow - all will need to be checked by the recipient that they are what they want though

13, Get money and pay bill by the 12th Pay tomorrow!!! Done! :T

14, NVQ - Contact tutor Contacted tutor - must bring work home at the weekend and crack on. hours tally: 7/20 - forgot to bring work home MUST DO! this weekend

15, Pictures to be stored onto external drive Sunday *if* i have started my assignment for uni - i have read at least half of text level 2, i am up to week 3 on the course and i have done the accounts! 1/2 done as the computer wouldn't work and i got paniced :eek: but ran out of storage

16, clear storage - bags to be sorted for carboot + things on shelves Bottom end of cupboard sorted, bags sorted maybe start on shelves... Shelves started - all bottom row done, 2/3rds of next row up done with 1 tool box to brave :eek: 1 tool box to do and then its all finished - cracked on with it when i got up

17, Confirm Meal Booking Confirmed with all attendees now just to confirm with the restaurant

18, complete timetable started

19, Come up with a plan to pay for new windows and gutters and fascias ... must, must, must make a start on this

20, Sort out date night arrgh! There aren't enough days in the month - must try harder!

21, Order meal vouchers

22, Change gas & leccy supplier SATURDAY!!! Aaarrrgh! Sunday now Aaaargghhh!!! Tomorrow now! And Tomorrow! MUST DO!

23, read all of level 2 text for course SATURDAY!!! progressing

24, Clean wall area TUESDAY!!! Friday now :eek:

25, Keep spending diary up to date started and it seems to be a help although its not magically producing any more money, up to date so far.. keeping up to date with it... and still keeping it up... and still keeping it up and still going...

26, Start going through cookery books (space is at rather a premium) And it might raise some money! 4 cleared and more to tackle! Done!! :j

27, keep a time diary

DedicatedDFW

November To Do List!

1, Pack bay of e parcels 7 to do for now - Done! :T 2 more - lets hope more sales add to it 3 to do in total and just the 1 paid so far 2 parcels packed ready to go! Arrgh and Woooo! 15 items to do :j:eek: still 2 items to do that haven't been paid for grr! They only bid on them at the last moment and are only 99p things

2, Pay Mortgage - end of month

3, Post bay of e parcels 7 posted - Done! :T Post 3 parcels when all paid! 2 posted and now 15 to do!- when they pay of course !!! :j:eek: and 2 left to do when they have paid (as above)

4, After posting bay of e parcels work out profit for jwil £300 in November challenge £10 + £51.50 = £61.50 + £15 = £76.50 + £25.50 + £41.50 + £10 = £153.50 + £3 survey = £156.50

5, Run 5k 5 days a week 1 5k walk ? does that count and another 5k walk (as i was ill)

6, Sunday 18th!!! complete individual tax return and SUBMIT!!

7, Clear kitchen 1 cupboard / work surface a day 1 done - bit of a cheat here as i did the easiest one where i pretty much knew we were keeping everything in it Up to date on my days with 2 more done whilst i had to hover around the cooker, a few more bits selected for carbooty. 8 more cupboards to go, all work surfaces and the corner that some people seem to think is the dumping corner :mad: 6.5 left to go - did 1/2 a shelf whilst at the cooker yesterday Now 3 and 2 x .5 left to go - i don't see it as 4 as the .5 are in separate cupboards - the high up bits i need a ladder for! 1 fridge, 1 cupboard and .5 of a cupboard to go. Just the fridge left to do work surfaces and then the corner of doom! FRIDAY 16TH FRIDGE clean still to do!

8, complete product test Done!! :j:j:j

9, Clear utility room 1 cupboard work surface at a time 1 cupboard done and several bits sorted for the carbooty - next cupboard tomorrow night! 2nd cupboard done and worktop done and window ledge done! Next = cookery books etc. Done table top. DONE! :j just the fridge to clean :cool:

10, Check for the MS i want for next month and apply when / if its available Bah! Nope i'll need to look towards end of month see if it comes up at a time i can do it. I'm still going to check for this but nabbed one in a different location so will class it as completed for now Done! :j

11, OU!!!! Hours tally 17/20

12, Sort out xmas gifts work out gifts i've bought and what i am owed for these = FUNDS IN (probably get the money next month though) 2 people left to buy for... 3 gifts thought of for 1 person (they'll get a bundle i'll need to get more than this though :eek:) I'll buy the first bits next week... Bought 1 or 2 bits yesterday Picking another 1 up tomorrow - all will need to be checked by the recipient that they are what they want though

13, Get money and pay bill by the 12th Pay tomorrow!!! Done! :T

14, NVQ - Contact tutor Contacted tutor - must bring work home at the weekend and crack on. hours tally: 7/20 - forgot to bring work home MUST DO! this weekend

15, Pictures to be stored onto external drive Sunday *if* i have started my assignment for uni - i have read at least half of text level 2, i am up to week 3 on the course and i have done the accounts! 1/2 done as the computer wouldn't work and i got paniced :eek: but ran out of storage

16, clear storage - bags to be sorted for carboot + things on shelves Bottom end of cupboard sorted, bags sorted maybe start on shelves... Shelves started - all bottom row done, 2/3rds of next row up done with 1 tool box to brave :eek: 1 tool box to do and then its all finished - cracked on with it when i got up Done!! :T

17, Confirm Meal Booking Confirmed with all attendees now just to confirm with the restaurant

18, complete timetable started

19, Come up with a plan to pay for new windows and gutters and fascias ... must, must, must make a start on this

20, Sort out date night arrgh! There aren't enough days in the month - must try harder!

21, Order meal vouchers

22, Change gas & leccy supplier SATURDAY!!! Aaarrrgh! Sunday now Aaaargghhh!!! Tomorrow now! And Tomorrow! MUST DO!

23, read all of level 2 text for course SATURDAY!!! progressing

24, Clean wall area TUESDAY!!! Friday now :eek: Done!! :T

25, Keep spending diary up to date started and it seems to be a help although its not magically producing any more money, up to date so far.. keeping up to date with it... and still keeping it up... and still keeping it up and still going...

26, Start going through cookery books (space is at rather a premium) And it might raise some money! 4 cleared and more to tackle! Done!! :j

27, keep a time diary

28, Hall to clear

29, Landing to clear

30, Living room to clear

31, Bathroom to clear

DedicatedDFW

Hope everyone enjoyed a nice weekend ?

I've lots left to do this month but have decided not to do the tax return today but am going to have a rest instead. I have been tired since being ill friday and yesterday and the stuff i need is in a cupboard which my mr has inadvertently barricaded as well - once he's moved his stuff it will be much easier to do

I have managed to get all my newly listed items onto the bay of e but have had loads of problems with getting the pictures onto the listing :mad: This has taken up way too much time and is very annoying!

Down to the last areas to clear now so having less and less stuff to list too. In a way this is good as i feel i have been wasting some time on the 99p things but then i do *need* the money *le sigh* where is the happy medium?

Going to catch up on some tv now xx

Chocforever

Well done getting the listings done and persevering with the photos. I have only put one new thing on this weekend and relisted one item (for the third time, I think). The new item, a pair of socks, has 23 watchers already. I'm hoping to get about £20. They seem to be very special socks!

This weekend has gone so fast. 5 more weeks at work until Xmas!

DedicatedDFW

Hi Chocs - hope you get a good price for the socks and that your re-lists sell well too xx

I was criticized at work yesterday when i said that i'd be doing a bit of xmas shopping this weekend - apparently its far too soon to start xmas shopping :mad: I pointed out that i'd actually nearly finished my xmas shopping and what with 5wks until xmas (thank you chocs ) and only 1 payday before then i did not feel it was too early at all. Sometimes i think people are only happy if they are telling you what you are doing wrong On top of that work has been awful this week and literally from monday i have been counting down the hours until the weekend

i've looked on a recruitment agencys website but couldn't see any jobs worth applying for - the one's i'd like to do you need experience in that line of work and then the others which i wouldn't mind doing are the same money that i am on now but over longer hours (so less pay per hour) less holidays and further travelling which will need to be by car so costing me more in travel expenses too *le sigh* i think i'll just need to bite the bullet, dust off the old cv and get it into the agencys and see what they come back with.

I've got a few things with bids on and a couple of non payment cases from last week :mad:

I keep checking for my re-imbursement for last months shops - its over £100 and i really need it

I also cancelled an MS i picked it up but the re-imbursement and no fee was way less than the cheapest item in the shop so quite a bit of time wasted there but at least no money was wasted :cool:

jwil

:wave:

Sorry I've been absent

You're doing really well and well done on being organised for Christmas!

I know the money and travelling is important and a huge consideration, but don't forget the emotional strain this job puts on you. Maybe a *small* reduction in wage, or a *little* longer commute may pay off significantly in the fact that you enjoy the job and don't spend all your time off completely drained and wiped out. I appreciate it's difficult when there are mortgages etc to pay though.

DedicatedDFW

JJJJJJJJJJwwwwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllllllll!!! :j

Lovely to have you back m'dear

I scarpered off to work earlier - what i didn't explain on my post and what you've picked up on is i would *happily* take a pay cut / work a bit further away / work longer hours so less money per hour for a job i'd like to do / wouldn't mind doing *BUT* all of the jobs i saw were very similar to what i'm doing now The ones i wanted to apply for had *must have* criteria of eg. economics degree, a sound career history in HR etc. etc. - all skills / quals i don't have so no point in spending hours on the application for. I didn't have time to explain earlier that i was also looking at retail jobs - i know these are really hard to get so was hoping for some temp work over xmas to fit around my current job but i can only see temporary full time roles *humph*

slowlyfading

It's not too early to start christmas shopping! :eek: not at all! and fingers crossed the right job appears

jwil

Thanks

That's pants about the jobs, I keep everything crossed that something will come up soon x