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

thrifty_fifty

Ooh and a surprise in the pay packet this month will be 0.4% cost of living rise backdated to august, so although this is below the level of inflation, it should be an extra £20-£30 this month, which can be paid off debts. Yay!

thrifty_fifty

OH and just a PS. I thoroughly recommend having a good shout and a scream that you will be debt free and that these devils will con us now more. I did this last night when Barclaycard sent through a 0% offer for balance transfer. I got the letter screamed that I was paying them off and getting rid of them next month, and that they would never have a hold on me again. Do you know I think it was just the thing I needed to release all the built up tension. I feels loads better this morning.

You know why they are not going to beat us? Because we have knowledge and knowledge is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands, we know how to beat them now because we have acknowledged our problems and we are dealing with them. I have lived the last few years on hardly any money atall, as I have been servicing debts, and do you know what? This has all served as training for now and the future. I have learned some of the most valuable lessons I could learn on this journey, and I can get through this, oh yes I can.

Gingerjar

Hi Thrifty

I've just read your whole diary and have tears in my eyes. You are being so brave and keeping on going even though you are struggling with a lot of emotional stuff. Be proud of what you've achieved as you've paid off a ton of debt and are will get there soon. Getting rid of debt and living in a new way is tough, retraining the brain is tough but you're doing great.

Chin up kiddo x

thrifty_fifty

Thanks GJ

Funny day again today. I've been really upbeat all day, and then just tailed off towards the end. I feel tired, run down and I've had enough. Half way through the day I thought if it weren't for OH, I wouldn't be able to carry on, and I have had the odd 'doing myself away' thought. I'm just really tired, when does the struggle ever end?

thrifty_fifty

Ok, so determined that today is going to be more positive. I was being self indulgent with the whole 'woe is me' thing. There are people out there with far tougher struggles than mine, and I should be a bit more grateful for what I do have.

thrifty_fifty

Oh and on another positive. I emailed a strategy and consultancy recruitment firm my CV, the other day. Although they came back with a reply that at the moment I don't have enough commercial experience, they would be very interested in a trainee graduate recruitment consultant position within their own firm in London. Whilst this is something I don't want to do, just had a quick look and they pay 25-30k. He also thought that after I had completed my ACCA and MBA that I would be in a really strong position to apply for the other jobs. So it is still realistic that I can make 30k upwards by my late 30's early 40's.

thrifty_fifty

Had a good day today.Found a lady's purse in the toilets and handed it in today.It felt good to be able to do that for someone. I've a nice cosy feeling inside knowing that she can go back and find her purse with everything inside that should be, and the relief she would feel to know that it had been found safe.

thrifty_fifty

Having a very productive day so far.

Listed two items on ebay, just to ease myself back into it. Last time it turned into a bit of a stress fest. If this goes ok, will list some of the higher value items next week.

thrifty_fifty

Grrr, just spent ages typing and lost it all. Grrr

Anyhow, what I was saying (in summary this time, because I can't be bothered to type it all again)

Lost 2llbs without really trying
listed ebay items
inspirational people this week-the phillipino lady on come dine with me, who has not seen her children for two years, as they are back in the phillipines.
Mary Portas-sassy, successful, and all this after losing both her parents at 16 and 18, and looking after her brothers and sisters, and going on to be successful.

Next projects-cut out alchohol, have cut down, and although I'm not a big drinker, I don't like the way I feel I 'need' it sometimes in order to relax and stop worrying. Also giving up cola. Drank some this afternoon and started to feel down. Read somewhere that it can cause anxiety and depression. So stopping this straight away.

Wardrobe-cut this down to long sleeve t-shirts, short sleeved t-shirts, jeans, black trousers, 2 skirts and 1 party dress. One pair of boots for work and one pair of shoes. Summer one pair of flip flops and a pair of birkenstocks. This will de-clutter the house, give me less wardrobe choice, and therefore cause me less stress all round. Plus I will not have those items hanging around which have ultimately lead to me being in debt.

Cut down to 79p Asda's own cleanser and toner, 56p handwash, 22p basic babies bubble bath. I'm taking inspiration from how my parents used to live.

Ultimate dream, is a little house in Devon living the rural dream.

thrifty_fifty

Mmmm. I love sundays, because it is mostly a relaxed day, and it is also the day when we have chocolate croissants for breakfast, and I'm particularly looking forward to it this morning because we have cranberry juice too, which is my favourite.

My motto this week is taken from a well known Japanese proverb 'fall down seven times, stand up eight', so the focus is get debt free this year and I will be focusing on every possible way to do it. I'm feeling refreshed and ready to go, and my skin is looking fab this morning from all the water I drank yesterday.

Life is good, I am loved, and I love.