Debt free by 30? 6 months to go!

loumac

Feeling emotional about the riots this morning, the news is just too shocking to watch.

Feel so angry that here I am doing everything I can to manage my debts and live a good life and people just think they can take what they want and blame the country for it! Look at yourselves. :mad:

Handsworth police station in Birmingham was set on fire, barely 2 miles away from my school. So glad I'm not at work at the minute but just continues to sadden me.

loumac

Well at last a quieter day on the news about the riots, so hard not to react to what's been seen!

It really has frustrated me to see so many people interviewed saying that young people are "fed up of struggling" and that's their reason for looting etc. I know of so many people through this website that are also "struggling" but don't take the law into their own hands like that. We don't find things easy but haven't suddenly raided mothercare to get all we need for the baby.

Anyway, off my political high horse. Rant over!

Have had a productive week so far. Spent two days doing school work and was really pleased with all my progress. I realised if I get organised before September then I won't have anything to worry about as it's time for baby to come.

Yesterday I had a really relaxing day cross stitching and watching old movies so a nice treat.

Today I've got to walk the dog, take my sister for her driving lesson (she's only 15 and it's a special young persons session at the NEC) and then I'm going to spend some time looking at my budget for when I go back to work after maternity. Need to investigate childcare and how we can afford it. And that's me!

Hope everyone safe and well where they are. xx

sazzle81

Hi Loumac,
Just popping in to say hello!! Hope you are enjoying your holidays! I know exactly what you mean about feeling annoyed at the excuses that are being bandied about for why these people are feleing the need to steal. It absolutely boils my blood! :mad:
Anyway, my rant over too!!! Well done for getting on with school work. I haven't even considered looking at it yet

loumac

Hi sazzle - nice to see you back! Glad to hear that you're not working over the hols! It can all wait. The only reason I've done any is I was so far behind having done so little over the last term.

Well it's Friday again and have just sat typing letters about PPI claims. Probably slow progress in getting any responses but it's all worth a go. I was successful in claiming back bank charges when that all went through so hoping for the same kind of luck.

Having spent yesterday looking at my spreadsheet it's not too cheery when it comes to paying for childcare. Luckily working to clear debts is helping as on average we pay out £450 a month on debt alone and as nursery fees are looking at about £640 a month that would make a big dent. Loan should be finished by May/June next year and credit card by Mar/Apr and then it's just the inlaws which is interest free and currently only £50 a month.

I plan to be back at work by March but have dropped some responsibilities worth about £4000 a year so not sure yet what I'll be earning. Regretting dropping them when I looked into the money in more detail but I know I won't have the time to do them properly and that will only stress me out. Hmmmm....

You never know I may yet win the lottery. :cool:

loumac

Well no lottery win for this weekend but we dragged ourselves to the car boot this morning and have come home with £40.

We did one earlier in the year and I was going to take what was left straight to the charity shop as it seemed like junk that was left over; but with all the faff of moving house it came with us and has sat in the garage since. We spent yesterday afternoon sorting it out and figured we'd give it a go. It cost us £7 to sell and even if we said £3 for fuel that's still £30 we didn't have before. Yay! We're off to stay with my cousin in Wales next weekend and as she gets discount in Wilkinson's we'll take that as spending money as I want some new curtains and cushions.

What's left is definitely going to the charity shop though as no energy or inclination to do another one, plus it's only really clothes and books left and no one even looked at those today.

Ready to have an afternoon snooze now though as popped in to in laws on way home and just walked over to Mr T to do the food shopping. Hubby is cooking a steak and ale pie so might as well nap while that's in the oven. Yummmy. Zzzzzzzz

loumac

Well a new week has rolled around and a new plan of action is afoot.....

A friend of ours owns an embroidery company and currently focuses on printing sportswear for colleges and unis and does pretty well out of it without any effort or marketing. However, he's looking at selling the business in the future to travel with his girlfriend so we're investigating how to start to 'borrow' his business to see what money we could make and see whether it would be viable investing in him.

Thoughts are:

1) Personalising baby blankets, clothes etc as gifts. With new baby on the way and lots of friends recently having children we know there's money here although it could be a saturated market.

2) Personalising dog coats. As greyhound owners we know they need coats and PJ's (:o) and through the charity we homed ours through we could market this and having asked around already have some interest.

3) Designing and selling hen and stag t shirts. Another busy market but I used to work in a friends wedding suit hire shop and could use this as a link sales opportunity when they market at wedding fairs.

My OH thinks I've gone mad but we need to try and earn some more money whilst I'm on maternity and when baby comes so I definitely think it's worth investigating further.

Almost excited when I think it through.

loumac

Well Monday's enthusiasm hasn't waned but progress has been slow ish in getting started.

I've been researching costs of buying items for personalising and possible price structures for selling which has been interesting. Today I'm off to get my dog's coat done as a sample so can get some pics and leafelts designed for the kennels for that option. Am feeling very motivated by the idea, as we all know every little bit towards the debt helps!

However, I also have a lot of housework to do, am off to visit my sis and niece for a bit and this evening am having a maternity photo shoot so as usual everything has to fit in to its place! :cool:

mum2one

that sounds a brilliant idea with the business, hope you don't think I'm being cheeky, but expanding on the baby line, if anyone is expecting we do a little baby package, we don't spend more than £5 but you can get some bargains - things we usually put in
Fold up changing mat (poundland)
hooded towelling wrap (poundland - they do blue, pink, mint - could be easily personailised)
disposable bibs
travel wipes
muslin cloth - again could be personalised.

Def with dog coats sounds a fab idea, if you do grey hounds maybe try and tie up with a local rescue centre, free promotion for both of you. x

loumac

Well back after 4 days in Wales at my cousins little smallholding and need to get motivated to get a few things organised as the holidays are very quickly drawing to a close.

Plan for the day:

1) Clean kitchen.
2) Sort out house paperwork and post a couple of letters off.
3) Phone and book pregnant mum treatment. Got voucher for my birthday in June and last week of hols next week seems a good time to do it.
4) Sort out washing from holiday - though not likely to dry in todays weather.
5) Unpack bag of boxes and shoes that I keep ignoring.
6) Order some baby bits online ready for embroidery.
7) Chase up requests for dog coat orders and see what people want us to do. (We had 15 requests for coats after putting pics of our dogs on facebook).
8) Check bank balance/statements and update spreadsheet.

Think that's about it. Though probably won't happen in that order! Better get showered and dressed and walk the dog before I can do anything else though! Ha!

mum2one - Thanks for message. We already do a lot of volunteering to support our local greyhound rehoming trust and we've decided to donate 50p from each sale to them anyway so they're going to promote us if we get some leaflets done.

loumac

Am appreciating the wonder of lists for the following reasons (listed!!):

1) They makes you do things you'd otherwise not bother to.
2) They remind you to do things you'd otherwise forget.
3) They give you a sense of achievement when you look back at them and realise you've done more than you thought you had.

:cool: