Sorting through my rubbish

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie.

Haven't been on here for a while myself. Have been ill ever since our holiday, in fact haven't been to work since and am signed off for a bit longer yet. Have had health issues since Christmas which flared up days before our holiday, have finally had a small op and am getting better by the day. Had to make daily 50 mile round trips to hospital to start with but attending gps surgery instead now.

Have accepted redundancy from work and have another job lined up so that will mean the redundancy money can be put aside as a safety net.

Have worked out my budget with new salary (higher than before) and hope to repay $500pm (pound sign not working!) off of cards. My loan and a couple of other debts run off in 2015 and I want my credit cards cleared then as well, will be like getting a MASSIVE payrise.

DS1 is doing well with his training. Knows where he is to be based now and is happy as he got his first choice.

Have not been up to doing much round the house, mainly sleeping but things are ticking over. DH keeping up with shopping etc, thank goodness I keep well stocked with everything, and he has been doing a lot of the cooking etc as well as working 7 days a week! He has been lovely while I've been ill, the kids have been great too with DS2 walking his sister home from school when I have been unable to make it.

I know what you mean with there always being an expense, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings etc as well as unexpected car bills and what have you. The more determined I am to clear it the more debt seems to build up!! We will knock these debts on the head!!

I listed a load of clothes etc on ebay at the weekend, it was free listings, have a load more to do which I will start at 99p and avoid fees. Feel as if I am doing something at least. Got loads more in the loft, waiting for a car boot and I'm gonna clear the lot at 50p an item! I've still got about $60 on my paypal from sales 2 weeks ago and had already bought myself a lovely Seasalt raincoat with some of the money (ebaying to raise the money was the only way I could justify it!)

Meal plan done for the week, nothing to buy except bread and milk.

Must fly, gp appointment soon. Catch-up VERY soon.

321 xxx

trixiepix

OH NO!!!!!! - Sorry to hear you've been poorly but very glad to hear you're starting to feel a tad better :j
At least by having accepted the redundancy offer you'll be able to have a buffer in the bank to fall back on, which is always reassuring to have, and as for a new job, well they do say a change is as good as a rest!!:D

I'm so please ur DS1 is doing well, it must be good to now know where he's going to be based and that he's happy with the choice.

I too made use of the free listing weekend (usually i miss it!!) - so listed a few more expensive things that we wanted to shift (gym/camping stuff) - sold our tent and a few other bits last week so it's all mounting up and taking the pressure off of finding spending money for August holiday.

I don't know if i dare say it, but i'm already thinking about christmas gifts :eek: and what i want to be buying so that i can cash in on the summer sales to save me in December!!!!

My mum's birthday gift has been bought with ebay and cake making proceeds, so at least it didn't end up on the credit card!!!

Anyway, hope ur appt goes ok and speak soon

xxxxx

trixiepix

Hey lovely lady,
Hope life is treating you well and you're feeling a little better this week

Well, another expensive weekend, what with more birthday's!! - there goes a chunk of the car service money again!! - we will get the car serviced at some point!!!!

Had quite a successful weekend on ebay, selling a few more bits, so more money in the holiday spends pot!

I've been continuing doing my shopping online so as to resist any impulse buys of those things that feel like 'must have's' but in reality i could live without!

Kitchen cupboards are getting a bit crammed and i can't squeeze anything else into the freezer at the mo (considering i'm supposed to be only using half of it to get myself used to having a fridge freezer rather than 2 seperate units - when we can afford to buy one!!!) - so next week gonna challenge myself to live on what we already have at home and just buy bread/milk etc.

Hope to 'hear' from you soon hun xx

trixiepix

Well, the bank holiday seemed to pass in the blink of an eye and i can barely believe we're nearly into June (only 6 months til christmas, lol!!) - DD1's birthday in just over a week, so now having to shop around for her little 'put with' pressies as she's asked for money from everyone as she hopes to buy a gadget!

Ebaying was a little slow over the weekend, probably not the best time for auction ends what with the weather/bank holiday but at least i've generated enough to pay for listing fees (tut!!) and the few bits for DD's birthday.

I really should have taken better advantage of the free listing weekend but only managed to list a few things as pain threshold was being pushed to the max! with ongoing back problems (which is getting very frustrating!!!)

Anyway enough moaning!!! - had a lovely weekend spent with the family - and kept within budget! weather was kind too which always helps!:D

Payday today and even though finances are
still pretty rubbish feeling quite upbeat as a little more in control!

Hope you're feeling ok hunny xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi hun

Sorry I've been MIA for a while!

I'm still off sick at the moment but feeling better by the day. Sorry to hear about your back, it's awful being in constant pain, I hope you get it sorted out soon.

I've not much to report, been pretty housebound so keeping grocery spends to a minimum. Have managed to ebay a few things, relisted stuff that hadn't sold at the weekend but really need to list the 99p start items too. Not got much energy or enthusiasm yet though.

Still waiting for my redundancy money so that I can sort out my finances, can't believe I have been off work for 2 months, am hoping the start with my new employers the middle of next month.

I hope your daughter has a great birthday, they all seem to want gadgets these days, no toys!! It's a shame really, they seem to grow up so quickly.

Well off to gp's for my daily visit now so catch-up soon.

Take care and enjoy the half term with the children.

321 xxx

trixiepix

Hey hunny,

It's been a while!! - how are you doing?? are you recovering ok?? redundancy money received?? - so hope you are ok xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie

Sorry I've not been around, everything has gone slightly to pot lately!!

Have received my redundancy pay but couldn't start my new job straight away due to on-going sickness so had to live off of some of the money. Have now started the job (luckily they were prepared to wait for me) although weeks in I was rushed in for another operation and had another week off!! Have put the rest of the redundancy money away (well after a $700 garage bill - gave the car a long awaited service!!)

The house is chaotic, I've been letting things slide whilst I've been ill but trying to get it together now as have 2 weeks A/L. Decorating our bedroom (1st time in 10 years!!), moving the kids around (DS1 moving out, DS2 to DS1s room and DD to DS2s room) which means massive declutter and partial redecoration!! New wardrobe to construct, new bike shed to contruct and we were given a lovely, extending, solid wood table so I've bought us 6 new leather and oak dining chairs to go with it (Ebay).

We all went to DS1s Passing Out, was a very emotional (and expensive) few days, can't believe that's my little boy!! He has a new g/f too and she is lovely, they've known each other for years and finally got their acts together.

Off to the regional hospital this morning to see the consultant again, I have a large open wound which is being left to heal from inside out and needs daily 'packing' and dressing, about a week ago a stitch mysteriously appeared in it!! They did not put it in during my last op so the theory is that it was left from a previous op 20 years ago and has caused the problems now, I am looking into making a claim as this year has been a nightmare and I will be left with horrendous scarring.

Well that's all my news, finances have taken a battering so hopefully will be on here a lot more now to keep me on the straight and narrow!

Hope you are well and have got over your back problems. Did DD have a good birthday, did she manage to get her gadget??

Look forward to hearing from you soon as really need someone to help me pay off these debts!!!

Take care

321 xxx

trixiepix

Hey lovely lady,

I'm sooooooooooooooooooo glad to hear from you, although you seem to have truly been through it of late.

Its all sounds horrendous what has been happening to you and you definately need to persue a claim if it is likely to be previous med neg that has created the awful problems you have experienced this year - i truly hope you begin to feel better soon (((hugs)))

Aww, your son's passing out must have been very emotional and i'm sure you were beaming with pride

Hmmm, back to the sticky subject of finances!!!! - well for me it's all pretty rubbish still (nothing new there!!) - All the house stuff has been put on hold (kitchen started but now at a standstill) as no extra money to carry on with things, we have been away for a week which was lovely but with hindsight had we not booked the holiday we would have had more than enough money to pay for the house updating and car service but instead we are trying to make the pennies stretch til payday!! - it's gonna be a hard call for next years holiday, the kids so love going away but it's getting to the point where all we are focusing on is christmas as soon as we're back from holiday and then holiday as soon as we get past christmas - i wish we were back to the days when both were neither a problem but these days every penny counts and with my spending addiction i'm sadly responsible for not having more money behind us but it's the economy that is stretching us to the max every month - quite depressing really as i can't see any financial light at the end of the tunnel at the mo!:eek:

Anyway, on that upbeat note, lol!!! i'll be off for now but will check back in soon

Trix

trixiepix

Well - another day another dollar so they say!! - work day today then off for the rest of the week (yay!!) ooh and Monday of next week too (yippee!!)

So, DH and i had a bit of a heart to heart last night re finances and how we can generate some!!! - needless to say baking income is now nil as profit margins became so narrow it just wasn't worth doing. So i'm thinking back to my crafting roots, was talking to a 'crafty' friend of mine over the weekend and she's given me a nudge to get my bum in gear toget some stuff on the go and then join her for the winter/christmas craft fayres she's booked to attend - so now just need to get the creative juices flowing!!

Ebaying is a top priority too as still have soooooooooooooooo much stuff to shift which is building daily with the girls outgrowing clothes and moving on from toys etc plus -i seem to be, ahem, outgrowing things too, lol - 5lb weight gain on hols:eek: - so that needs to be addressed too!!

Have stripped back outgoings as far as poss - gym membership cancelled, mag subscriptions gone as is anything else we can get rid of, so at least the books are balancing - food buys can still be tweaked a bit,already on a low budget but still need to organise better to make it stretch a bit further (blimey how long have i been saying that:cool:)

Hope all ok with you today hun, or as good as it can get at the moment - take good care xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi hun,

Great to hear from you. Good that you and hubby are on the same page, it's hard going but between you you will get there.

Finances are rubbish here too, since DH got made redundant about 2 years ago he has been in and oout of part-time temporary jobs. He has finally realised that he needs to pull his finger out and seriously look for a decent full-time position but living in a small seaside town they aren't easy to find.

I am back to work full-time now so that helps although as I am not fully healed I am finding it exhausting, especially as I have had 3 x 12 hours days this week!! I need to sort out my budget and get some debts repaid asap, things have been piling up whilst I have been out of work and I certainly have taken my eye off the ball allowing DH to do food shopping unsupervised etc, plus increased petrol costs to cover the 50 mile round trip to hospital, car parking costs etc, it all adds up. Plus I have been doing a bit of retail therapy, new clothes for my new job (front line to the public/face of the company so want to make a good impression plus hide scars etc!!), nothing extravagant but certainly not in the budget!!

Sounds like a good idea of yours to look at generating money by using your crafting skills, a friend of mine scours car boot sales etc and then 'shabby chics' the items she finds and has opened a shop, she seems to be doing very well from it too! I can imagine it's hard to make a profit from the baking, decent ingredients are expensive and decorating is very time consuming!

I too have mounds of stuff to Ebay although I am using a local facebook page as there are no fees and I hear that Ebay will be taking 10% of the postage charged as well from September (although I haven't actually confirmed this yet!). I have done no car boot sales this year and have bitten the bullet and given 15 sackfuls to charity over the last 2 weeks (kids are all changing rooms so having a mass clear-out), feels good to get it gone! Still haven't attacked the loft yet but intend to before the weather gets cold as DS2 needs uniform that is up there and I will try and sell some of the other stuff as Xmas funds are low (no Xmas savings club at work this year and I haven't created any extra funds at home). DD is quite sorted for Xmas already as we bought stuff for her birthday but then got her a bike so the other gifts have been held over. DSs will both be getting money and I have quite a few other gifts stashed for friends and family.

Need to get back to meal planning to use up stocks and keep spending and waste to a minimum. Will get past this weekend (have family visiting) and then start in earnest!!

So much I want to do and cant believe how long I have been saying the same things and seem to get nowhere!! Need to focus!

We will bust these debts!!

Take care

321 xxx