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

DedicatedDFW

Now if i just throw everything at the debt i won't keep it up and will end up doing what i've been talking about recently frittering on small treats or big splurges So I need to have something fun to look forward to Then there are the necessary jobs that need to be done too such as the boiler. First of all i have to put the heating on to get hot water which i am sure is just wasting money all the time - i paid about £100 for the repair so it at least works in this way but the whole boiler needs replacing. To this end i have been squirelling away bits of change from my purse into a little jar and keeping a tally in my sig i know it'll take a while doing it this way but it is putting the money in that i can afford and i am pleased that i have now started this way of saving for things separately.

When i took my shower before i had a head full of conditioner when the hot water stopped working, so i had to pad downstairs dripping everywhere and coax it back to working again

Now whilst the boiler is necessary its not exactly fun - the fun thing i'm saving for is a brompton :T it's all part of my life improvement plan - i'm hoping to get work nearer to home and this will cut down on the petrol expenses and help me to exercise, keep fit - and it'll be fab to pack for weekends away / little jaunts The money for this will come from money i'm owed but don't expect to get back although it has been trickling in in dribs and drabs so i've cleaned out a tin ready for this :j:j:j

jwil

Fingers crossed you get the 0% card DDFW. It does make a huge difference!

The brompton sounds great (I had to google it to see what it was) and is something to look forward to.

DedicatedDFW

Hi all - well today brings a mixed bag :undecided so for the umpteenth time the car broke down this morning - rang the garage and they can't fit me in until tomorrow which means without my car i'm missing out on p/t work so there's money lost there, as well as the added petrol cost getting it to the garage - its quite a few miles away but its where i bought it from and added to that i have a feeling the person who's getting me back home from the garage thinks they'll be doing me a favour by telling the garage people what they think about the car breaking down so much :eek::eek::eek: It is a bit of a situation as the garage is owned by a very good family friend so i cannot just complain - especially when i'm hoping it'll be fixed this time. Now i'm just worried about the aggro tomorrow

On a brighter note i am apparently going to get my credit card as i put down my earnings at less than what they are i'm not sure what my credit limit will be but i'm hoping its enough to help Unless of course i have to pay for simething on the blummin car

I was also due to have a makeover tomorrow but have no means of getting there - best means of getting there is by train - will just check prices - hmm may be doable but a bit of a rush - we'll see :cool:

DedicatedDFW

Quickish post whilst OH has gone out.

Going to have a shower after i've had to clean the thing again! It is weighing so heavy on me doing all the jobs here :mad: After decluttering to the nth degree the place is still not as tidy as it could be - i mean full photo albums just don't sell on e-bay and there's nowhere to pop them here either so they are sat in an albeit a tidy pile but they shouldn't be, they should be on a shelf or bookcase

Things are not great between me and OH either - i think i need to take a step back from us then i can reflect on things. But how do you do that when you live together and have no money to go anywhere just to get away and it'd be very difficult to explain even if you did? Its also hard when your confidence is at rock bottom and you keep getting knocks to it too - the negative comments about my car are just not needed

Okay first things first:

i am getting my hair done tomorrow - it'll be about £25 but will be good for me to look my best and hopefully help with my confidence
Ditto with the makeover - although this is £10 and the cost goes off a purchase too - hoping a different look will help to boost my confidence
Swimming - going here at the weekend again fitness is something i want to incorporate as part of my lifestyle so hoping this will be something that'll help with the weight, fitness, confidence and hoping it'll give me some much needed 'head-space'
Decluttering to continue - going to try and find some sold for prices on e-bay and pop my things on as a buy it now - different category to what i was blocked listing so hopefully declutter = tidier home and money rolling in :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: - this will be straight off the debt

Right i've dusted bedrooms, hall, stairs and landing and living room, vacuumed all those places too, done a load of washing and just about to lift it out, bathroom cleaned, 1 lot of pots done, sides cleared of crumbs in kitchen though i think OH has made another mess in there :mad: Windows cleaned in bedrooms and living room. Now about to mop before shower and then on with e-bay

At least its a plan :cool:

DedicatedDFW

Quick update before my hair appointment - car is in the garage really, really don't want to have to pay for any repairs but i'll need to ask when i phone up

Started my monthly PAD

1 £5.42 paid across from current account - just so i've made a payment

Yesterday i listed 6 items on ebay and have 4 more ready to do today - couldn't do more as OH arrived home - at like 11pm when we should have had the evening together :undecided

far too many frowns on this post -

Okay i've put the rubbish out, measured up for loft ladders, moved last bits of washing, washed pots, cleaned down all sides in the kitchen, cleaned the cooker :T cleaned sink, taken car to garage, moved 1 or 2 bits to their proper place I also want to have cleared the top of my bedside cabinet and chest of drawers which have become very untidy since returning from hols :cool:

But with 6 things listed on e-bay and 2 items given to family thats 8 whole things decluttered yesterday and if i get the other things listed today that'll be more stuff gone :T:T:T

With no transport i have to cancel my makeover so will do that now - which'll temporarily at least save £10

DedicatedDFW

Hi all very quick post as am off out for my swim :eek: - got my car back yesterday so arranged to have makeover done as was most upset and wanted the pick-me-up this would give me. Lovely lady did make over i was really shocked and kept going "ooh but it doesn't look like me" when she kept showing me in the mirror :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: wearing the same make-up (obviously more or less as i do buy new when i run out:rotfl::rotfl:) and in the same style for about 10 years showed me the difference trying something new could make I also didn't technically spend anything as i used loyalty point to buy the foundation - forgot the bronzer! - and an eye shadow and paid with my points and got a free gift too that'll go in the birthday / xmas stash

Will go again though for a more day to day look as i was going out last night so asked for make-up to be done for this :T

Sold an e-bay item yesterday and others have watchers - am so hoping for sales - wish me luck people.

Hairdresser was about £15 more expensive than i thought she would be but as its still only £35 for a cut and colour still far cheaper than the salons i used to go to Shame i have to ruin the slick styling by going for a splash

Picked up 2 MS's last night - have quite a few pending fee's from various companies which will be nice when they arrive in the account - with this one i have and another i'm working for today i have £46 in fee's due so edging towards my first £50 target for the July plan already

DedicatedDFW

Hi All,

So knowing i have to make my pad has made me make a payment which would not have been done otherwise - and all my pads will be to targets in order - so target 1 first and if this is paid off target 2

PAD

1 £5.42 paid across from current account - just so i've made a payment
2 £5 off target 1 - again just from the very little funds i have in my current account

The car broke down again so that is back at the garage and means i missed completing a MS

Still made it out for a swim albeit 4hours later than originally planned - hoping to go back again tomorrow - will see though as this will be my only opportunity for a lie-in this week and need to keep my energy up Oh yes, went to the docs yesterday told him how dreadful i felt and asked if he was absolutely sure this was thyroid related - turns out the strength of my tablets can be increased they just decided not to when the results came back "on the very low side of ok" now if they'd asked to see me when they got the results in i'd have had an appointment 2 weeks earlier. Coupled with the fact that its another 6wks of taking the tablets and then back for more blood tests. Did ask if there was anthing else they could do for me considering how worn out & anxious i was (both thyroid symptoms) and the answer was Nope! just have to carry on

Picked up my new boots from the post office (the ones paid for in vouchers) Wow! They are very modern will try them on after when i have painted my toenails a happy colour :T

I have lifted out another item to list on e-bay so currently have 5 items waiting to be photo'd and popped on - other than the clothes i have to wait until next month to put on :undecided

Spending diary been kept up to date for the last 3 days

I needs me a plan and feel one is afoot...

DedicatedDFW

Withdrew paypal funds and once they arrive in current account that'll be a PAD to target 1

Listed 3 new items on e-bay so will amend sig of declutterage shortly :T I had a 4th item but its actually not worth listing it and as its a fancy shower gel type thing i'll just have to use this myself

But i did realise that some of the smaller things that i didn't think were worth listing may well bring me a few pounds in so i'll just have to plod through those things - more decluttering and hopefully more money

Was out in the garden earlier and have decided on a big declutter out there too - too many tatty pots when i have nice attractive wooden ones not earning their keep. Sadly the fruit in the tubs i'll have to give away too but i have plenty more so it'll all be fine :T Need my car before i can do this though as they are all rather large :eek:

Righto! Best get ready for a little walk to the shop

DedicatedDFW

Back from lovely walk and tasty tea underway :T

Done all the surveys i can and done a small redeem so i can PAD this once the funds hit paypal and then the bank account.

Plan for tonight is move washing once dry. do pots later - after tea and when OH goes out re-assess all those little things that i didn't think would ebay but now i think might :T

Ooh also picked up an MS - no money to be made but is a nice meal out

DedicatedDFW

Well, i had my MS report to write so have got that and the washing out of the way and the pots are still calling to me from the kitchen :whistle: But I have poured myself a nice cold beer :beer: - i won 4 ages ago so a little Saturday night treat. Still undecided about tomorrows swim :undecided Due to lunchtime plans it means i'd have to be there early, which means getting up early... maybe just get my bag ready and see how i am when i wake up tomorrow - obviously if i wake at 10am that'll be a little too late :cool: Am going to go through the timetable shortly and put some definite dates in my diary :T

Also decided on a bit of a new strategy for my Great Plan - one of the things i struggled with keeping track of last month was the MS's doing them 1 month and getting paid the next from some companies so what i've decided is just to add the money that comes in in that month. So for the work i did in June for one company i'll get paid that this month in July - meaning i can update my Plan in a minute :j:j:j Another company i work for pays me in the same month as the job so these will get added on as well :T:T:T Its just easier to keep track this way as it is all about the actual amount of money being paid off in that month

The Great July Plan :j

1, P/T work £15,
2, P/T work
3, P/T work
4, P/T work
5, salary o/t
6, salary o/t
7, salary o/t
8, salary o/t
9, E-bay sales £5.89 (after fees),
10, E-bay sales
11, Reduce food budget by £10week
12, Cashback - its been waiting for over 2 month!
13, Surveys £3 requested
14, M/S £50 from one company
15, M/S £23 from same, £20 due from another company, £7 another
16, M/S £31 same company
17, M/S
18, Usual payment - forgot about that one
19, Usual payment
20,

Thought i was doing really well there until i saw i'd set myself a target of £200 for MS's :eek::eek::eek: when i thought it was only £100 :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Also realise that money for p/t work has to go to essential bills so August plan will need to be very different :think: