Sorting out my life - Part 2!

copperjar

Right then. Need to get myself into gear. Lots to get done today (still have those pesky Christmas cards to write!) and not a lot of time to get it all sorted. As you can see, I'm putting it all off (hence why I'm on here!). I do love Christmas, but I really hate the week leading up to it! Lots of last minute running about, it drives me mad!

Have had a couple more Amazon sales this weekend, really surprised because some of the items have been listed for ages. And I had a £10 refund on my o2 mobile bill after all the kerfuffle of trying to change my tariff - so that will come off my bill in January. Have about £50 left of my food budget, desperately need to do a shop today - have been falling into bad habits re takeaways and not taking packed lunches to work. In fact, looking at my spending habits on the iPhone app, the amount I spend on food and eating out is ridiculous! Must think of other social activities to do that don't quite cost so much - and I still intend on learning to cook sometime!!

Right! Come on! Get on with things......

copperjar

Well I got my cards written finally and the presents wrapped. It looks like such a tiny pile of parcels - how did it cost so much?!! And of course, I had to rush out and get another little pressie today when I received an unexpected something from someone at work! Anyway, have decided that's it now. No more!

Did my food shop yesterday and spent up my monthly budget. I've got enough to get me through now I think, if I haven't, then its beans on toast until payday!

I'm having a mild to medium panic about the money I have left to last me until 31st Dec. In reality, I shouldn't have much to buy - got enough food, tank full of petrol, I'm away for 4 days over Christmas anyway. But just seeing £100 in my account to last me almost 2 weeks is scaring me! And I've got an unexpected expense of £30 or so from switching my gas/electricity provider. For some reason, the gas will come out on 2nd Jan, but the electricity the 27th Dec! How does that work?! I thought I was on duel fuel. Grrr.

I'm definitely not going to meet my target of finding an extra £240 before the end of the month - might get to £100 if I'm lucky. Still, it was a nice little challenge to get me going and I wouldn't have had that £100 without it. Going to make a couple of small payments and see where I am now. Will do full update of everything paid in December after Christmas.

jwil

Well done on getting those Christmas cards done!

Is it worth giving your new provider a ring and check about the bills? That seems stupid paying for gas on one date and electric on another!

copperjar

Hi jwil :wave: Yes, I got it wrong about my gas/electricity. Although the service is starting on different days, the DD will come out on the 4th of every month so that's okay. Although I've got a feeling that I'll owe a bit to nPower considering how much I've had the heating and fire on over the lastg 2 weeks!! Its freezing!

Made a small payment of £11ish today, just rounding up the pennies from my various budgets, so I'm now at about £450 paid off CCs this month (including the Barclaycard for car service that isn't included in my signature). Considering its December and pressies to buy etc, I'm pretty pleased with that, even if I won't manage to meet the rather ambitious target set! I do think I could have been quite a bit tighter with various things, but with it being Christmas, I've cut myself a bit of slack. Hope for an even tighter January!

Need to keep the aim of paying off all CCs by June in sight.

iwantahome

Well done Copperjar! £450 at xmas is amazing.

I hate when people buy me random gifts without a prior agreement. If gifts were only one way i wouldn't mind, but its the whole having to go out and reciprocate I don't like. (shhhhh don't say anything but the gift receipt concept shops have is brilliant, because if someone ever gives you a gift you never ever ever want to use and also gives the gift receipt then you can return their gift and buy something for them, or for someone else if you have already bought the initial giver something and then you've not spent any money yourself, sneaky I know but sometimes I receive some awful tat i'd rather not be given at all and would prefer to just have had a coffee together instead).

I've finally made it, so will probably be absent from my diary now after my final post. But I will keep popping my head in to your diary to see how you are going and hopefully offer some encouragement. It definitely can be done. Mine was quick but with a huuuuuge sacrifice that you haven't had to make. Hopefully you'll be debt free by the time I have my deposit. I am hoping I don't get into debt again (apart from a mortgage) but never say never...

Have a lovely christmas and a great time away.

iwantahome

ps (I know my sig is out of date with today's post but I couldn't wait until the payment actually clears as it has already been deducted from my bank account, it just hasn't shown in the loan account yet but it will in 2 days)

jwil

Well done on paying off £450, that's fantastic in December! Good news about the gas and electricity too.

Iwantahome - I hate all those novelty gifts and bits I won't use as well, so I said to my friends not to buy me anything any more and we can go out instead. They were all happy to do that, they probably feel the same anyway!

Well done on being debt free BTW!

copperjar

Thanks guys
Iwantahome - love the recycling of presents concept, so the person actually ends up paying for their own gift! Must admit I've taken pressies back or sold them on ebay - that's awful really isn't it, but I've had some strange and tacky gifts over the years!
A massive congratulations on making your last payment and becoming debt free :T Make sure you do stick around - I want to see the deposit total going up on your sig!

Have been thinking back over the year and all in all, its been a crap 2010! Trying to think about what I want to do in 2011 rather than just plod along - I've got a feeling my new years resolution list will be pretty big! My friend told me about the triangle of happiness - apparently you can only have 2/3 things going right in your life at any one time - all 3 is impossible. The sides are - relationship, career, money. 2010 has seen breakup, £3k added to my debt and notice on my job.....!!!!!!!! :rotfl:
Glad I can laugh about it though.

iwantahome

I cannot for the life of me think of a new years resolution that I will realistically stick to. Let us know what you decide (so I can copy ).

My 2010 looking back on it did go for the triangle effect (although i've never heard of that before). The career and money sides extended but the relationship side decreased (it is not visible to the naked eye).

Maybe your money side was positive in that you actually decided to do something about it instead of just letting it do its own thing. The job thing may also be positive in the long run if you go for the self employment route, or you find the job of your dreams just before you finish this one.

Or maybe the relationship is positive in that it now leaves you free to find a much better partner to be with, one that will treat you like you are the queen of the world.

copperjar

Thanks iwantahome - very positive way to look at things, I'm always doom and gloom!
I haven't finalised my resolutions list yet - but no.1 has to be go to the gym!! You sure you want to copy?

Quite an eventful day. Me and a colleague met with the assistant director to ask about the restructure and talk about redundancy. We have worked out that if we could take voluntary redundancy NOW, we could get a business up and running and ready to tender by the time that side of things is being commissioned out. Unfortunately she said no! North Yorkshire CC are one of the only LAs not offering voluntary redundancy - bloody typical - but she gave us a bit of clarity on the jobs that will be available. She also said that if we aren't successful in getting one of the jobs (and I honestly don't think I will be - I'll be up against my current boss etc), then she would give us some support and advice on the business side of things.

Not really what we wanted to hear, but at least the options are now clear. Interview for a higher post in March. If successful, we/I'll probably stay, if not, we'll put our all into setting up on our own. Scary times...especially as I'm leaning much harder towards the own business these days which would be a huge step to take.

Money wise, my account is still in credit and its 23rd of the month :eek: This is unheard of!

Going up to my parents tomorrow until Monday. Looking forward to it but can feel the stress rising already! My mum is obsessed by what time me and my brother will be arriving, whether we'll get there through the snow, what we'll be taking with us and when we're leaving! :rotfl: I intend to drink heavily for 3 days!!

So I'll round off until the festivities are over. Wishing anyone who's reading a very happy Christmas - hope you get everything you wish for and have a fantastic time with your friends and family :xmassmile

copperjar

Well, home sweet home after a lovely Christmas away at my parents. Think this has been one of the least stressful, most enjoyable Christmasses in years. I have of course eaten and drunk to excess and I'm now looking forward to an evening with no alcohol involved! Still have several boxes of chocolates to get through though :rotfl:

I'm feeling pretty positive about things. Thought it might be hard this Christmas with the ex now an ex, not spending as much money as usual and returning home alone - but its been fine. Got all the Christmas TV to catch up on tonight, with no fighting over what to watch, all the leftovers my mum packed me off with to eat over the next few days and a final day off tomorrow where I might brave the shops to look for some bargains...because believe it or not, I'm still in credit!! Although saying that, I hate sale shopping - just all the tat brought out to tempt people into thinking they've got a good deal!

I need to work my money out tonight so I can update my sig and have a final total for December payments. Have done much better than I thought I would/could (have had a sale on Amazon today as well!) so I'm looking forward to seeing the grand total. Just need to decide whether to treat myself with some of the money left in my account, or to pay it off the card. Maybe a combination of both.

Hope everyone else had a good time