I can do this.................I AM doing it!

Snowdonlily

Time to start a new diary!

My first diary was my "life begins at 40" LBM diary, and a brilliant way of keeping myself motivated to bust those debts.

I still have my HSBC loan which has about 4 years to run on fixed payments, but all the little debts and CCs have gone........................along with my husband! Actually, he didn't go anywhere, I did!

I became a mum and got married at 18 and somewhere along the line I lost sight of me. A controlling relationship in my case was like a dripping tap, I didn't notice what was going on until it was too late and the damage was already done. DS1 and DS2 are safely ensconced at Uni. DS3 is in his last year at school and has stayed with his father. Leaving him behind was the hardest thing I've ever had to do and felt like an actual physical pain. I speak to him everyday and see him at least three times a week. H was a rubbish husband, but he's a good father.

So here we are, this is me doing things my way and saying to he who said I'd run out of money in a month and come running back

My aims for this new diary:

1. To keep living within my means and keep getting a kick out of sticking to a budget.
2. To never, ever get in debt again.
3. To stay as positive as possible and stop stressing about the little things.
4. To start knitting again.
5. To stop trying to be something I'm not. You shouldn't have to pretend to be a different person just to keep someone happy.
6. To buy a house closer to DS3 with enough bedrooms for all 3 boys to come and stay.

Things I've already achieved:

1. I found a lovely cottage to rent for now (a bit far from DS3, but convenient for work and far enough away from certain people) and I'm paying all the bills myself.
2. When my car became ill, I found a new, more economical model, negotiated the deal and bought it myself.
3. I've stayed within budget for the last 3 months.
4. Asked for a payrise and got one.
5. Moved a pickup full of logs by myself and got my log burner working :T
6. I joined the Grocery Challenge and came in under budget last month.

I was having a natter with a colleague at work today, she was gushing about her new dishwasher and I was thinking how lucky she was and how he'd never let me buy one......then I just thought "hang on.......if you want a dishwasher you can just buy one!".....I need a house first of course,and money to buy a dishwasher but that's not the point. The point is, the only person in control of my life now is me! If I want to fill my house with shabby chic, paint every room pink and get a dog, then I will .

So this is my new chapter. At the age of 41 I'm doing things for myself and loving every minute of it.

Thank you for reading and feel free to join in x

ecoelle

Your life only begins when you allow yourself to take control, i'm glad you didn't wait any longer to find this out. Fantastic news on how well you have done so far, inspiring to the rest of us, keep it up:)

Snowdonlily

Thank you for reading ecoelle. Its been a long time coming but better late than never. I know the hardest bit is yet to come but I'm getting a huge kick out of doing things for myself....I hope the novelty doesn't wear off!

I've sold 5 items on ebay tonight, I spent so much money buying ridiculous things trying to make myself feel better........I'll be ebaying for years! I need to find £150 to pay my half of the Surveyor's fee for valuing the house so these will come in handy (I'm smiling a lot more these days!)

beanielou

Happy shiney new diary & well done on busting those debts

Snowdonlily

Good morning everyone

Its a really quiet day here today........I've run out of things to do so here I am!

I wasn't working yesterday and even though I didn't manage a NSD, I did get a lot of things done. Posted four items sold on ebay and took the cheque for £150 to my Sols office.

The Sols office was closed for lunch when I got there so I popped into the wool shop next door to pass 5 minutes. Big mistake! I came out with a knitting pattern for socks, wool and knitting needles :rotfl: I obviously can't be trusted in a shop of any kind

Anyway, the idea is to knit my brother a pair of socks for a christmas pressie, but I haven't held a pair of knitting needles for at least 20 years so we'll see.

Things to do today
1. Go to Mr Ts after work to do the weekly shop.
2. knit at least 3" of my first sock.
3. Try not to buy wine or chocolate while doing said weekly shop

Have a good day everyone x

bestrong

Hey Snowdonlily

What a wonderful feeling it is to finally take control of things - I have just found that out this month by starting down the dmp route as I could not manage my debt repayments anymore. I salute you for verbalising it so well in your diary and raise my virtual glass to you to wish you every success on your journey. I love the name snowdonlil. I walked up snowdon this year. My God its high. I will pop in to see how you are doing from time to time.

:beer:

Hugs xxx

dundeedoll_2

Hello Snowdonlily,

You certainly are going through some changes but you sound positive and happy.

Isn't it a great feeling when you actually manage to do something...........I remember how chuffed I was when I managed to hang 2 doors.
The ex had taken them to the 'strip place' (whilst we were still together) Then he left and when they phoned me to tell me I could pick them up I thought, now what do I do with them. I explained and they offered to deliver them.
I then struggled for 2 hours to get them from downstairs to the bedrooms upstairs - they're very old oak and soooo heavy and the stairs 'go round the corner'.
I then managed to hang them - not easy holding them up and bending down or reaching up at the same time to get a screw in the hinges :eek:
BUT I DID IT!!!! :j:j:j

I shall be popping in to see how you're doing..................I have a feeling this diary is going to be very inspiring to a lot of people!



My aims for this new diary:

1. To keep living within my means and keep getting a kick out of sticking to a budget.
2. To never, ever get in debt again.
3. To stay as positive as possible and stop stressing about the little things.
4. To start knitting again.
5. To stop trying to be something I'm not. You shouldn't have to pretend to be a different person just to keep someone happy.
6. To buy a house closer to DS3 with enough bedrooms for all 3 boys to come and stay

I know you said you do the grocery challenge..............have you come across the '5 OS pleasures in your day' thread on the Old Style board.................it is THE most wonderful thread for positivity..........has helped me no end.

nattypants

Hi Snowdonlily,

I was having a wee mini-lurk and your diary title grabbed my attention.
What a brilliantly positive first post - sounds like you're doing a grand job and are right "in the zone". Good luck and I'll definitely keep reading

NPX

Snowdonlily

Morning everyone.

Beanielou, Bestrong, Dundeedoll and Nattypants thanks for reading and for the lovely comments.

Dundeedoll, I bet you felt brilliant after hanging those doors by yourself, I don't think I could have done that :beer:

I'm not working today. I thought I was, but thank goodness I checked the rota yesterday or I would have turned up for work this morning. I wouldn't have heard the end of it!!

Looks like the weathermen have got it wrong today, its a beautiful day, work clothes are drying on the line and my bedding is washing as we speak. Living without a tumble dryer would have sent me into a panic a few months ago, the same goes for with living without SKY....the free channels aren't really that bad

I think I might be becoming slightly obsessed with my electricity meter. I've never been on a key meter before and keep checking the reading to see how much everything uses. For example this morning, I got up at 7.00am to go to the loo (sorry TMI) went back to bed for about 90 minutes and when I got up 22p had gone somewhere......all I had on was the fridge! I think I need to get out more :rotfl:

I started knitting my socks the other evening, they look quite good actually.......except that I've knitted the cuff up to 4" instead of 4cms as the pattern said. My brother will never know the difference, I'll just tell him they're long boot socks!

Right, I'm off to do some cooking and my bedding should have finished washing by now. (I wonder how much money the washing machine used?).

Have a good day everyone x

dundeedoll_2

Snowdonlily wrote: »

Morning everyone.

Beanielou, Bestrong, Dundeedoll and Nattypants thanks for reading and for the lovely comments.

Dundeedoll, I bet you felt brilliant after hanging those doors by yourself, I don't think I could have done that :beer:

Yep, it felt goooooooooooooooood :j

I'm not working today. I thought I was, but thank goodness I checked the rota yesterday or I would have turned up for work this morning. I wouldn't have heard the end of it!!

Lucky you did check! Make the most of 'an extra day off'

Looks like the weathermen have got it wrong today, its a beautiful day, work clothes are drying on the line and my bedding is washing as we speak. Living without a tumble dryer would have sent me into a panic a few months ago, the same goes for with living without SKY....the free channels aren't really that bad

2 loads blowing on the line.............will do my 'smalls' in the TD tho' - not very MSE I know, but cant bear line dried undies. Since I've stopped (stopped - NOT given up.......stopping means I'm in control, giving up is being denied plasure) smoking it's my luxury :rotfl:

I think I might be becoming slightly obsessed with my electricity meter. I've never been on a key meter before and keep checking the reading to see how much everything uses. For example this morning, I got up at 7.00am to go to the loo (sorry TMI) went back to bed for about 90 minutes and when I got up 22p had gone somewhere......all I had on was the fridge! I think I need to get out more :rotfl:

I started knitting my socks the other evening, they look quite good actually.......except that I've knitted the cuff up to 4" instead of 4cms as the pattern said. My brother will never know the difference, I'll just tell him they're long boot socks!

Right, I'm off to do some cooking and my bedding should have finished washing by now. (I wonder how much money the washing machine used?).

Have a good day everyone x

Men generally don't......................:D;):rotfl::rotfl:

Snowdonlily

Washing done, cooking done :T

You're right dundeedoll they generally don't notice the difference

Sold another top on Ebay this morning another £9.99 towards my Christmas fund.

Phoned the boys earlier........I'm missing them like crazy

DS3 tells me that his dad's bought a brand new BMW. He's spending the proceeds of an insurance policy that matured a few weeks ago. I didn't think he was allowed to do that until things were settled.

Anyway, I'm not going to let him spoil my day off so I'm off to look for something else I can ebay.......this weekend is free listing.