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

DedicatedDFW

Hi All

Jwil - thanks so much for the advice but as there is usually just me to cook for when i get in at night then i tend to have very basic meals - porridge, toast, noodles, rice, so not really something i can take to work the next day except for the rice i guess. Plus i have no access to a microwave.

Been extra hard at work.

Also quite angry with myself as if I didn't have all these bills to worry about then i may feel and respond to things differently... i just don't know. I'll probably feel better after something to eat and a nights sleep - hope so anyways

DedicatedDFW

Hi All,

Have not been posting much lately as I am so completely down and don't want to drag everyone else down with me :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Money situation is thus: £19.55 left available on my overdraft - but this only because I borrowed £45 to put in there to make sure there was enough to cover some direct debits which were due out.

Things that have affected my money this month:

I transferred overpayments quickly when I got paid and then had p/t work cancelled - i was relying on p/t work for petrol and food so had to use the remaining money in the bank to cover this.



My income has been less than i hoped on e-bay - i usually get a few sales through but it has been quiet and with items selling and then buyer then not paying so by the time thats resolved the second chance offer isn't really helpful as that person has got something else.

Ok, need a plan of action for today otherwise I will achieve very little. I have pots to wash, rooms to clean, washing to be done and study, so best crack on with a cuppa and some study i think. Oh well, must put something cheery in here as I am even boring myself :rotfl::rotfl:

I walked home last night and stopped and looked at the moon which was beautiful.

hypno06

DedicatedDFW wrote: »

I walked home last night and stopped and looked at the moon which was beautiful.

So, my top tip for the next few days since you have been feeling low for various reasons is to find more of those things that make you smile, or glow inside, just like the moon did last night.....

So, for example, seeing the daffs coming into bloom makes me smile, hearing the kids at the village school running around the playground at playtime, lining all my gorgeous high heeled shoes up against my bedroom wall (ok, getting a bit weird now, but you get my drift!)....all those things make me feel good....make me appreciate the things around me, and that in turn makes me feel a bit more upbeat about other things that I would otherwise have found a bit more challenging for one reason or another.

And the best thing is that it costs nothing

DedicatedDFW

Hi hypno

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words. I have just sat in the garden for 10 minutes in the sun which was nice. My plan is to clean this place up - absolutely sick of it being amess and the cleaning/ tidying will hopefully give me a sense of achievement once its done so I will feel i haven't entirely wasted my time moping :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Also I will then think 'ok, i am in this mess financially but this is what i have to show for it and i will get everything paid off'. Am hoping that housework will be a welcome distraction. Also plan to get out in the garden again over the next couple of days - even if it is pouring down.



Ok, I have washed some pots, washing has been dried and is ready to move. Might tackle dusting upstairs once I take things up as it is the easiest and tidiest place to start.

hypno06

Def focus on the positives - negativity feeds negativity and you need to stop saying things like "I am in this mess financially", because that is sort of an acceptance that it is ok to be there.

So, instead, say "I am working towards independence" or something like that - don't use any words that your brain can be tricked in using against you.

So if you say I am working towards getting out of this mess, you are accepting again that you are in a mess.....IYSWIM!

It is all a play on words, and it takes a little time to get used to hearing what you are saying and paying attention to what you are thinking, but believe me it really does make a difference.

After XOH and I separated, I (thankfully) started focusing on the way that I thought about things and the words that I used etc, and very quickly was able to start drawing on it in a very positive way. He, on the other hand, went through the "everything is crap" version of events, and ended up in a spiral of despair, making all those people around him miserable too, or plainly just fed up with listening to him.

12 months on, and the difference between us is immeasurable, and it is largely down to our mindsets I think.

DedicatedDFW

Hypno - I cannot thank you enough for this advice - which totally makes sense and i should already know from MG's thread - funny how sometimes we need a reminder isn't it? - unless thats just me

Ok - I want to type this now: 'I am working towards independence' - will work on it some more later but don't want to put anything in with negative connotations

Feeling a little better today too - time and a good nights sleep after 2 nights tossing and turning have definitely helped.

I may pop to a shop after - I have a gift voucher from xmas which is due to expire so i definitely want to use it before then and as i have no money to spend there won't be any danger of me shopping to make myself feel better - but purchasing something which is essentially free will be nice.

I'll be back later - hope it is a good day for everyone

beanielou

I dont know your 'story' but looking at your signature I can see that your debt has been coming down so well done you.
Keep plodding!

DedicatedDFW

Hiya beanie - thanks.

So far have cleaned the living room - all dusted and vacuumed.
All washing has been done, dried and moved.
Got out in the garden and had a small tidy up.
Put up a beautiful wooden trellis which I was given over 12months ago :eek: - this was a 2 person job so enlisted the help of OH which was good as it gave us the chance to work together on something and improved the look of the garden too.
Washed some pots.
Listed some small things on e-bay.
Completed as many surveys as possible - need to try and get some funds in and a few are close to payout.
Won and withdrew £20 on free bingo just waiting of the funds hitting my bank account. Actually won over £20 but left a couple of pounds in to work towards my next hopeful £10.
Won £9 on free bingo on a different site but couldn't withdraw it as i've not deposited there - will have to wait until i can deposit a fiver to hopefully get access to my funds. :cool:
Tidied a couple of bits away too and got prices for some old games - better off taking these to the carboot.
Just about to start making tea i think.
Study has been somewhat neglected but as my mind is on other things i've not been able to take the information in so must crack on with this tomorrow.

brizzledfw

Hi DDFW..sorry haven't been around for a while...but good to see that you seemed to have a good day yesterday..glad you were out in the sun..and also earning cash from surveys and stuff

Chin up!

Take care

Brizzle

PS I assumed it was sunny..maybe it wasn't in DDFW world ..anyway but nice to be outside wasn't it..made it easier to spend no money..and if spring is truly here..yay!

DedicatedDFW

Hi all

Brizzled good to 'see' you again. And yes, it was sunny here - not as nice as Friday mind but still really pleased that such a small amount of work in the garden made such a huge difference

What I am doing today is my 2 things challenge - basically everytime i have to go upstairs for something i have to move 2 things before i come down, or everytime i go into another room 2 things get moved. Gosh! That makes my house sound very messy doesn't it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: its actually not soo bad after yesterdays work but more bits of things like receipts to file, booklets that have never really had a home and now need one and so on. Kitchen table still filled up with xmas goodies and some gifts from xmas too So moving 2 things at a time is achievable and all builds up to lots of things moved by the end of the day :T:T:T That's of course assuming i don't just veg on the sofa all day :rotfl::rotfl: But really motivating that just doing a small amount makes such a big difference

Ooh! Not had any moneys to pay back debt of late but have reduced the excess of lbs off my weight this week :T Cut back on all cake, biscuits, crisps, chocs etc. made sure i've eaten brekkie (most days ) swapped sarnies for salads and exercised more The first half a stone is always the easiest though so will see how i get on this week