New Year New Me, the journey continues.........

thrifty_fifty

Morning!

Ok I think I'm seriously sad, ill or something similar. I woke up this morning and went into auto drive and tried to log onto Barclaycard as this is part of my usual morning routine. I had forgotten that I had closed the account yesterday and I have to say I felt a bit sad not to be able to. I know, I'm weird. It does ring bells for how I'll feel at the end of my debt free journey though. Tackling debt has been a part of my life for 7 years now, it's going to be weird not to have to watch my every last penny, manage direct debits and payments, to actually be able to save. Hmmmm

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Found some cool books today... Collins beekeeper guide, best in show knitted dogs, and the Jasper Conran country book. Can't wait for London on monday muchos inspiration gathering.xx

thrifty_fifty

Decided to change the focus of the totals to make this more positive. Rather than show what I owe and keep looking at this to dwell on what i still owe, I've now changed this to reflect the next milestone and the number of weeks left until I achieve it. This is not a false economy because all money has been budgeted and this is set in stone what I will be paying off-especially the loan as this is a set amount each month.

This give me more focus as I can see what I am working towards and can look forward to it, and cross off the weeks when that target is getting closer.

It's my mums birthday at the weekend. I've taken the rather risky decision of not buying a present, but giving her one of my favourite rings. This is one that I was going to get re-sized as it is too small for me. It is actually my mum's size. She has only seen it once, a long time ago, so I'm hoping she doesn't remember it. Even if she does, the reasoning behind it is that she has never treated herself to nice jewellery, and I know that this will make her day. It has special meaning because I have adored it, and know she will, so even if it cost nothing for her present, it shows that I care and that the thought is there.

I have dressed the box up with a pretty ribbon and also made her a home made rose heart decoration, which I hope she will love.

I was rather pleased too, to see that the two dartington crystal glasses I got from a charity shop, and made into a nice gift with some wine, have taken pride of place in another family members cabinet. It just goes to prove that it doesn't matter how much you pay for something, it is the thought and creativity that counts.

xx

thrifty_fifty

Well today has gone really well. I've designed my first wallpaper, so just need to get a printing screen and some lining paper to turn it into a reality.

Just had the post, and what do I find? A letter from Barclaycard 'All together in one place'. Yes, and do you know what that one place is? In my bank account and not lining your pockets. Mwah, ha,ha,ha,ha!!

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Had a really good day sorting things out yesterday. Today's tasks, if the weather stays dry are, washing the the car, pruning all the twiggy branches of clematis and so on, finishing off an application and sorting out some of my clothes.

Busy day ahead then.

Right, better get started.

thrifty_fifty

Well, having a very good day so far. Just the application left to do on the tasks list, and about to sit down and do that now. I've even managed to fit in additional things like baking a victoria sandwich and taking photos of some more 99p items I'm to list on ebay.

Mum texted to say she loves the ring, so everyone is happy.

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Right

Cake duly jammed and sampled, two ebay items listed, and a rocket style email to ebay customer support about their carpy treatment of sellers. We'll see what they come back with.

Now going to do that application, then bath and relax time.

London tomorrow. Hoping my dream I had last night, doesn't come true. I missed my train. Eek!

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Have finished reading a Richard Bandler book and now reading the Paul Mckenna book on building confidence. I have to say, when I began I thought it was who-ha. But guess what? It works. I have just been doing things that I have wanted to and not procrastinating. What a result. I'm not afraid of failure now, because I'd rather fail because I have tried, than to never have tried atall.

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I have read a little more of the Paul McKenna book, and I have made a note of some of the negative internal voice messages that I have had today. It's really weird that although I was listening to them before, now I have actually focused on the words being said. I can see how negative these have been. Below is an extract of some of today's:

1. Don’t trim your eyebrows, you don’t deserve to look good
2. You’re going to spill that wine on the carpet, wait for it. You didn’t, well that was just luck, you will next time.
3. You’ll miss your train, get on the wrong line, get lost.
4. People will stare at you in the shops, because you don’t look like you have the money to shop there.

With things like this going on in your head, no wonder you do nothing.

On another note. Just tried the Jimmy Con Carne crisps. Mmmm taste like potato wedges dipped in chilli. Highly recommended.

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Re the above.

I think as well as my journey to being debt free, this year is the year about discovering who 'me' is. Since my split with my previous partner and my new journey with OH I have been trying to discover who me is. Some things I have tried and decided that they are not me, others I feel comfortable and this seems like my more authentic self.

OH was asking how we could get closer to becoming self sufficient now. Practically at the moment we can grow our own veg. To maximise the effect that we have in cutting out the supermarkets, we need to have a plan of how we will use the food. Tonight I will ask him for a full list of everything we are growing and then find some recipes for these items.

Also if we want to learn how to work with animals we should use some of our annual leave to volunteer on a farm. We could ask locally so that we have our home and food close at hand to cut down costs.