I Will Will Will Do It This Time!

cakelover_2

Happy New Year Everyone! Here's to us all getting debt free, or reducing our debts, in 2011 :beer:

I don't think my credit card debt is as high as I thought it was but I am still sticking to the £3000 I said I would pay off, then if I have any left (after any transfer fees or interest I may get charged) I will have a little bit to put aside. Realised earlier on I will be finising off my bank loan in April next year, so I can see the end of that in sight which is great, then I will be £225 better off a month :eek::j.

Credit card bill finally came yesterday, only the day before my payment is due! I guess the snow held it up! Still I paid a couple of weeks ago anyway and paid a bit extra just incase the minimum was higher than I expected. Not being charged interest either yet, need to look into that so I know when to note to look for a balance transfer.

Curry made from scratch is in the slow cooker, smelling nice but bit worried about the chicken thighs, didn't smell how I expected them to when I was cutting it up so I hope it's ok. I guess we will know about it later if it's not!

fizzypops

i really need to go back to using my slow cooker

hope your curry was tasty.

oh and happy new year!! :beer:

cakelover_2

Hi Fizzypops, happy new year to you too. The curry turned out lovely, though didn't taste as coconutty as I was hoping, think I put in too much curry paste and it overwhelmed the coconut milk, but it was my first time making it and I will adjust my ingredients next time. We used chicken thighs and it was lovely and tender, just broke up on my fork when I picked it up to eat :j

Have decided to up my "Pay Off in 2011" target to £5711.76, to incorporate my bank loan repayments. I wasn't going to as I was orginially going to just note down my credit card payments as this is more of a challenge. My bank loan comes out via fixed direct debit payments every month and will be paid off in April 2012, whereas my credit card I am just paying off as much as poss as soon as poss. But, it's all repayments so why not put it in my total. Apologies to Jwil for having to up my total.

cakelover_2

Hi All

Back to work tomorrow. I have to say I am not looking forward to it, sitting there most of the day literally having nothing to do! But, I guess at least I have a job and I am being paid. Have considered recently looking for a new one as I am so bored, but as my aunt said yesterday, better the devil you know really. I could go somewhere else where the people are horrible or be made redundant. If the people were terrible and I was having lots of problems then I would go for it, but they are really nice and I get on there, it's just I don't have much to do! May be best just to stick at it for the year.

Don't feel I have made much of a start to the new year with my debts, though I am waiting for my loan payment to go out and I am waiting for some cashback to come in so when those things are done I will be able to update my balance and sig. Am feeling really positive though and I am making positive steps. Looked for mystery shops today, only did 1 last year so I must get back into it. The more I can get the more I should be offered. I did make in roads into my tax return this weekend though and dug out some stuff I need for it, though that will be money going out and not coming in, shouldn't be too much though beings as it's only for £10 :rotfl:I might still have some money in another savings account though left aside for it. Went to Hobbycraft with some friends today and bought some beads and thread to try my hand at jewellery making and I have seen a book that I want to get. It's £5-£6 cheaper online so I will buy it there and I've bought it all with money I got for Christmas. Also looked online to sell a book today but I can't find it on Amazon or Green Metropolis to list. A couple of people are selling it on Ebay but they don't have any bids. One of the listings finishes in a couple of hours so I am keeping my eye on it to see if it goes, then I know if it's worth listing mine, otherwise I don't know how I am going to sell it?

Saw some friends last night and one of the girls gave me some money she owed me for some flowers I bought for our friend who has been quite ill. I wanted to do something nice and organised it myself and put it on my card, thinking I will get the money back. I completely forgot about it until one of the girls gave me the money. I am still waiting for it from 2 of my friends. It's £3.90 each which doesn't sound a lot, but to me it's worth something, especially when I put it on the card that I am getting interest on, I thought I would have that paid before it got the interest. In all fairness I didn't see them until yesterday for them to give it to me, but I didn't get it all. One of the girls wern't there but she hasn't mentioned it. I feel really awkward about it, don't want them thinking I am being tight, but it's still money at the end of the day, I guess I will have to ask for it

Planted my herb garden that OH's parents got us weeks ago today. Really excited about growing them. It won't save me any money as I haven't bought herbs before, but it will mean I can make new and different meals with them, add a bit more dimension to our dinners

I need to write a list of all that things I need to get on with, might work on that at work tomorrow :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

My mum always said "neither a lender or borrower be" and I'm hoping to avoid that scenario this year. i'm still waiting for my sister to give me the money for her Take That ticket but it hasn't been mentioned lately. I just won't give her the ticket if I don't get the cash - plenty of other people I can give it to but it has made me think that I'll try not to be the one that does the ordering in future as its always a nightmare getting money off people - i don't really like to ask for it.

cakelover_2

Hi Poohspals. I did consider not doing it for the reason of having to ask for the money. I have spoken to the girls now and they are going to put it in the bank or send a cheque, it's so awkward. I think you're right about keeping the ticket until your sister gives you the money, exchange monies and ticket at the same time.

cakelover_2

Morning lovely MSE'rs, can't believe I am actually on here at this hour, but felt I needed some motivation for this morning! Must go and have a shower soon though or I won't be ready in time.

I had a weird dream last night that a girl I used to go to school with (who does travel a lot in real life) was moving over to Africa (I think?) to help the animals. I was thinking, man I wish I could do something like that. I think though this just meant in reality I want to be doing my own thing and working for myself and probably thinking about not wanting to go back to work in my sleep! lol.

OH and I need to get a bit creative with our food this month. We basically have about £78 left for 4 weeks worth of food. Could probably up this to £98 with some other money. How is that going to last us 4 weeks? We normally spend £200 (budgeted for) if not more. We have left in the freezer/cupboards:

Breaded haddock (had that last night with chips), breaded scampi, chips, peas, has browns, chicken thighs (only 2 and not enough for both of us), muffins, vege mince, frozen onion rings, ice cream, 1 little frozen yorkshire pud, 1 bolognaise sauce, 1 white sauce, 1 tin tuna (only I like tuna), pasta, lasange sheets, spaghetti pasta, little bit of rice, tin of coconut milk, chillies, some herbs and spices, cheese, peppers, onions, eggs and milk. I also have some cake and cookie making ingredients. That's about it. Now has anyone got any creative ideas as to how we can make different things with this little lot? Obviously bolognaise, fish and chips, scampi and chips, pasta with white sauce with some cheese mixed in, omelette. I am going to buy some things today as need some things for lunches also. Going to get some bread, yoghurts, fruit, potatos, snack bars and some salad. Will probably have a look on the foodie type board here too. Any help much appreciated. How fab would it be to say we got through 4 weeks on £78!

Right, time for a shower.

cakelover_2

Well I spent just over £19 yesterday at the shops, was mostly lunch stuff and a a couple of dinner things. Will need to buy some more things next week if not before, will definately need to get milk at least. Thinking about making a trip to the shops to get a load of stuff to put in the freezer, but I am scared to as we always spend over what we plan. I could always add it up as we go along.

I'm having one of those days today where I feel everyone else is doing all the things I want to do, like running my own business, travelling, buying their own house. It's all because I found out last night that a girl I used to work with is going travelling for 5 months, I'm a little envious. I couldn't even think about going until at least April 2013 after I have paid my debts and saved up enough. I think OH would be up for it. Only thing is would obviously have to quit our jobs and have some money put aside for when we come back, plus I know I would get homesick without my parents, but it would be a great experience to go travelling! If we could manage it and went in 2013, I would still only be 29 when we got back and OH would be 34, so we would still have the world at our feet.
I am making small steps to running my own business and I am confident that one day I will get there, it will just take some time and patience with what I want to do.
House buying is one thing that I really don't know how we are going to be able to do anytime soon, unless we can get a part buy place in a few years.

Maybe I need to sort my priorities out with it all.

Off now to see if my bank loan payment has come out...

cakelover_2

Bank loan payment has now come out and paid £2.14 to CC today :j Almost just had the fright of my life though, the calculator mis-calculated my money! Off to update sig...

cakelover_2

Bit more paid off one of the cc's today :j my friend owed me a little bit of money. Got some more money that some friends owed me to put in the bank tomorrow so will be able to make another payment then.
Haven't spent any money today other than on to the cc :T
OH and I have been talking about a holiday this year over the last few weeks. We have been thinking of going to Venice and I have been trying to figure out paying for that whilst paying off my debts. My friend also said we could go on holiday with them, they are looking for a real cheap holiday for towards the end of the year. Spoke to OH again today about it and about the fact that I really want to pay off my debts as much as possible this year but it's not his fault I have it so I don't want to not go on holiday as it is unfair on him. He said that he didn't mind not going on holiday if I am trying to pay my debts. Not sure what to do, will have a think about it. It wouldn't be until the second half of the year, possibly towards the end of the year, so I guess I will see where I stand moneywise.
Had some exciting news over the past couple of days, looks like I am going to be making a birthday cake for my friends husband, she is having a suprise party for him. I'm so excited, but a little nervous as it will be the first cake I have on show that I have made and decorated myself, to lots of people. I want to say I hope it comes out alright, but I am being positive and going to say it will come out well