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

thrifty_fifty

Thanks little h. I'm doing my best to make sure this happens. Nearly had a panic attack last night. I know it's because we had a meeting about our possible jobs losses yesterday, and I'm flitting between being pleased and doing a countdown to be debt free, but it is also a race against time to get it paid off before I'm potentially laid off. Not good.

Managed to get a good night's sleep though after listening to some relaxing wave music on you tube. Highly recomended

Today I'm going to be relaxed, or at least try.

thrifty_fifty

Ok really need to sort myself out. The only way I have been able to enjoy my weekends over the last few weeks by not thinking about work, is to keep rediculously busy to the point where I completely wear myself out and fall asleep at silly o'clock. Yesterday did all housework, and made flat breads, two large jars of pasta sauce, pesto, and bread buns and prepared the meals and did work down at the allotment. Today that leaves cake to be baked, houmous to be made and also ravioli. Sat bolt upright in bed last night and the first thing that was on my mind? Because I was so busy yesterday, the time went really quickly and that leaves precious time left before work and hell on monday, I had several work related dreams after that, and I have spent my sundays doing countdown until bedtime.

In short I'm shattered and considering I hate my job, it's taking over. This week we find out about potential new plans but nothing concrete. Everyone is hating the waiting game, and it's just awful being in that environment day in, day out.

thrifty_fifty

OK. Lets get things back into perspective. This is how far I have come in 14 months



start

CC1 7028
LOAN 3816
CC2 2817

Total owing £12961


NOW

CC1 3400
LOAN 803
CC2 0

Total owing £4203

chevalier

thrifty_fifty wrote: »

OK. Lets get things back into perspective. This is how far I have come in 14 months



start

CC1 7028
LOAN 3816
CC2 2817

Total owing £12961


NOW

CC1 3400
LOAN 803
CC2 0

Total owing £4203

Awesome how far you have come, but not just in debt busting but in how you have come home to yourself.

And just remember that these consultations take a while. I bet you are debt free before they are finished, so provided you keep on track at least your debts will be paid off, if the worst happens
chev

thrifty_fifty

Morning

Just popping by quickly before getting ready to cycle to work. Yes, you heard it, cycling, all 13 miles of it-and the same back this evening. Picked the bike up at the weekend and had a lovely time cycling. Did a practice run yesterday of half the way to see how long it would take. It was wonderful, I was riding down little lanes with cows and lambs in fields either side of me. I saw two Hares (never realised just how big they were), and some Canada geese flying at hedgerow height. You just don't get that in the car. So just waiting for it to get a bit lighter before I set off, but need to be gone by 6 so that I get there in time.

Getting on the bike was another step in the right direction, about getting my fitness right again and returning to the old me. This weekend, apart from the odd blip has been one where I forgot my troubles, took time to relax and generally enjoyed myself, something which I'm ashamed to say that hasn't happened that often, with this debt burden over my head. Still, all that will be over soon, and I've learned plenty of lessons for life.

Over and out-hopefully won't get taken by the children of the corn, or crazy people lurking in bushes, which I have to say are the only things that I'm fearing cycling this early in the morning and off the beaten track. Eek. Hopefully see some nice wildlife on the way though.

Have a great day.

little_h_2

Wow, good effort on all that cycling! I hope you have enjoyed it and can enjoy it again tonight, I bet you will sleep well

thrifty_fifty

Had a lovely cycle yesterday, although made the mistake of following the cycle route precisely on the way home and added to the journey. Was still 4 miles from home and had completely run out of steam. Lots of lovely sights to be had, and lots of horse poos to dodge

Think OH will be getting a bike, so that during the summer months we can both try to bike to work, and save tonnes on diesel and wear and tear on the car.It does have 154,000 miles on the clock and we can't afford another one, so need to keep it going as long as possible.

I'm rather going to miss cycling in today, but I'm being sensible and letting myself have a rest day until my fitness is a lot better.

thrifty_fifty

Morning!

Last day at work today before the Easter Break, and man am I looking forward to it. Payday so just paid the first £401.08 off the credito cardo. Will be nice tomorrow watching that drop from the 4k mark to the 3k mark. Going to work in the car today, which actually feels like a treat, do feel guilty about not cycling though. This week I have racked up 70 miles on the cycle. Not bad eh?

Going to treat OH to a chocolate Easter bunny, we usually have a lindt one, but I think we'll go for Aldi's Choceur one. Their 'fake' Guylian sea shell equivalent taste fantastic, so lets give it a go!

Last night pre-emptied my 64p bottle of M own facial cleanser, so that I can give some of that Origins free cleanser a try. Other cleanser is sitting in a jam jar in the fridge at the mo. Now knowing where I live, whenever there is a magazine offer or freebies on the go, they've either long sold out, or they're not doing the offer. I've got 2 potential places to get this freebie, so I'll shaking my MSE booty into town come lunchtime. That should keep me in cleanser for the next 12 months. Wahoo!!

thrifty_fifty

Failed on the cleanser front. Guess what? sold out

On other points I've appreciated becoming very philosophical over the past few weeks. As I've mentioned before, this debt free journey has made OH and I really assess what is important for us. The biggest lesson we have learned is that you are responsible for your destiny and you do have the power to do something with your life, other than accept the norm.

It has amazed us, the kind of reactions we have received to saying we are going to try and become as self sufficient as possible, and give up work as soon as we can. This is probably because we are both 30. The reactions to our allotment life and talking about having a smallholding have been mixed. Some think it is a fantastic idea, and that it is a good move away from mass consumerism, debt and a life dictated by the 9-5. Others think we are crazy, living in cloud cuckoo land, can't accept that we don't want to fill our lives with the latest I-PODs, I-PADS and anything else beginning with 'I', getting trashed at the pub at the weekend, working till we are 68 and so on. We are the oldest, young people in our group. They think we have lost the plot for wanting to live in the country.

I think OH and I have found the right answer. The thought of still doing the commute to work at the age of 68 fills me with horror. We have had so much fun seeing our veg grow, eating it, making our own food. We can't wait to take a camping stove down to the beach with some cream from the smallholding, and grabbing mussels and such like from the rocks and making dinner there and then. What could be better?

Fresh air,good food, hard physical work and a good night's sleep sounds like bliss to me.

thrifty_fifty

I do love a bank holiday, but hate not knowing where I am with online banking and not seeing my payment coming off the cc. I do like order, so will be more at ease tomorrow when things are a true reflection of what I have on my spreadsheet.

Had a day of baking yesterday. Made banana cake, 4 pizzas and 3 meals worth of lasagne, with home made pasta sauce and pasta. Can't wait until the beef is from our own cows. So the freezer is looking healthy. Going to look up batch recipes for fish pies and other things I can batch cook and stick in the freezer.

Today is allotment day, lots to plant out. Going to take plenty of ebay photos today, I really need to get moving all my old stuff to crumble these totals.