It's just a jump to the left... or "Confessions of a Debt-Free-Wannabe"

diekleinemue

SoScrooge wrote:

*snip* Imagine if forums had ‘sound on’ option…..

Now THAT would be awesome!! Hello SoScrooge! *waves*

Well done for having paid back so much of your debt!! That is truly an achievement! Woohoo! *writes down Scrooge's recommendations*

Particularly the whole "can I get it for free and how?" thing is something to think about. There are great deals out there for all sorts of things but because we live in a society that suggest to us all the time that we should treat ourselves to something exclusive/expensive/special/bigger & better than your neighbour's/etc. and that things that come for free are not worth anything, we feel almost ashamed to be asking for these free things because that makes us appear cheap. Isn't that ironic?

L'Oreal's "You're worth it!" has a lot to answer for. Besides, they belong to Nestle *spits on the floor* and so I don't purchase any of their products anyway. So there!

mue

ps: I want one of those t-shirts too! Which colours do they come in?

moxie_2

diekleinemue wrote:

Hello moxie!

You're not only a fellow moomin fan but you also have a cat! Hurrah! =^.^=

Which is your favourite moomin book? If you could be any of the characters, who would you be and why?

mue

Yes I have a cat called Moxie! I love Comet in Moominland best, it's so funny. I think I would be the Snork Maiden as she has lovely blonde hair and a gold ankle bracelet. But I also like Snuffkin, such a free spirit, and my daughter likes Sniff. When I was small I used to be afraid of the silent creatures (Hattifatners - can't spell) - the ones who can give you an electric shock. I used to have a set of moomintrolls, mama (with a handbag), papa (with a tophat) moomintroll who had a bunch of flowers and snork maiden. They were made of leather and very very beautiful, I don't know what happened to them though.

System

SoScrooge wrote:

Hi lennymfo

Long time, no see. I hope you are well and everything is under control (I remember your thread about 6 months ago)

Indeed, this diekleinemue can type! Imagine if forums had ‘sound on’ option…..


Hi diekleinemue, great to see you doing something about your debts. I am also trying to blitz mine (used to be about £16K, now around £ 6K)

My debt free date is scheduled for May 2007! And it is doable because:


A. I drastically curbed my spending.

B. I realised that my taste and habits were way too snobby and expensive. I was living a nice life I could not afford.

One more thing: I have a Scottish guy in my office. His mantra seems to be (before paying for anything): can I get if for free and how?

All the best.

SoS

Ahh the 'Canned Heat' fella. Good to hear you again and thanks for your advice and support. Gonna check tonights P!55 up out!

Lenny

SoScrooge

diekleinemue wrote:

ps: I want one of those t-shirts too! Which colours do they come in?

making T-shirts has been an idea of mine ( and many others:rolleyes: ) for some time.

what colour would you like? I will pencil it in my 'GREAT IDEAS for Ts' notepad

diekleinemue

Hey-ya Moxie!! I think Snork Maiden is lovely! She's very cute! I really like how she explores some of her darker and more dramatic sides in Moominsummer Madness. Oh, and isn't that the one where the Hattifnatter singe her fringe? Beasties! What's it with the barometer anyway? *rolls eyes*

Snufkin's free spirit is exciting and so alluring but I also think he is a bit of a lonely character and there is something unfulfilled about him that makes him go off wandering around on his own all the time. It's probably also because he doesn't return the affection Little My holds for him.

Oh my god, you know what? Thinking about it, I believe I was dating guys like Snufkin and it never worked out! Interesting... My OH is the Snork in my crazy family's moomin association game but other than his passion for architecture they don't really have that much in commen. Maybe that they're both calmer characters...? *looks inquisitively at the silently snoring Snork lying next to her*

Mh, I'll go explore...
mue

diekleinemue

SoScrooge wrote:

making T-shirts has been an idea of mine ( and many others:rolleyes: ) for some time.

what colour would you like? I will pencil it in my 'GREAT IDEAS for Ts' notepad

That's such a difficult decision. Mh, red hair = green clothes! Can I have a really nice light grass green one? Like a yellowy green, not a chemical green. And not a dark green either, a more natural colour. crayon green. A bit like the button that says 'home' on this website under the "UK's Free to use free of ads consumer revenge..." banner. Do you know what I mean?

And preferably simple bold, black letters.

Warning:
I have no self-control!

You're going to make a fortune once you get going with the Ts! I can't wait!!! Hurrah!! Oh, and can you make sure it's either a short sleeve T that has sleeves (not like the last couple of season's Ts that have no sleeve to speak off. HATE those! What's the point? If I want to wear a tank top I buy one! *grrrr*.) OR a long sleeve one, but then the neckline has to be pretty high... *moi = picky!*
:rolleyes:

"Picky" reminds me of the exquisite Muppets in Manhatten movie where Kermit works in a burger bar. A rat is serving a cheese burger and the customer looks at the burger and firmly places three fingers on the rat's chest and says: "I would like some burger with my cheese burger!" The rat stems his little spindly arms in his sides and replies: "Picky, picky!"
Soooo cool!

Right, it's almost 2am. I'm going to read a page or two and then curl up for the night.

see ya all tomorrow!
xx, mue *yawn*

diekleinemue

Good morning!!!

Right, with the MBNA o% SBT credit card application having gone in yesterday I thought it would be very interesting to compare the actual costs of the different options of dealing with my debt.

To start with I snowballed the WORST CASE SCENARIO *cue: doom-riddled music and a backdrop soundscape of scary gasps, women fainting, children crying, cats hissing, that kinda stuff*

With my accounts unchanged as they currently are (see SOA earlier on in this threat) if I was to pay the least possible amounts on all six current and business accounts/credit cards/graduate loan I would spend £521.24 per month towards paying back my debt and it would take me 32 months to be debt free, costing me a total of £1857 in interest fees. I'd be debt-free by August 2009. I bet I can do it faster!

To be continued...

*rushes to pick up the fainted women off the floor, hand the children some chocolate coins and cuddle the cats* And would someone switch off that horrid Take That CD??!?!!?

mue

whatatwit

*have a little paaaatience*

Thanks Mue, I had just got rid of that 'Take That' music that's been running through my head all morning....and now it's back.

The snowball thingy is good, amazing what a difference upping the monthly payment does.

*Holds out hand for a chocolate coin....I'm still scared*

diekleinemue

Awwwww, you poor thing! Scared AND Take That in your head, what a nightmare! There, there now... Have another chocolate coin or two. Or three...

I am really, REALLY sorry about that! *barely hides evil chuckle*
But no, seriously, why are they back? I mean... Why? Who wants them? And now All Saint re-appeared on the scene too! What's next? Spice Girls?!

*runs screaming towards the hills*

See, if I was Queen this kind of offensive musical behaviour would be punishable! They'd be tied to a chair and forced to listen to their so called greatest hits until their ears fall off! *hrmpf*

QueenMue

diekleinemue

*sigh*

This week isn't going so well on the whole money saving side of things. Pants!

Speaking of which... I need water proof trousers, the rain on Monday night soaked me through and through. I don't mind the wind that much, I stopped fighting it and just accept that it slows me down to snail pace or blows me in front of trucks and stuff, but the rain in combination with wind - that's really bad! So, went to the shops today but haven't bought any yet. Incidentally it didn't rain when I cycled home tonight and it makes me think if I should just tough it out (and get ill and die of pneumonia) or take the bus if the weather is really that bad. But that's more expensive (£1.35 more per day!) and I have to walk a fair bit to and from the bus stop increasing my exposure to the elements.

The cheapest trousers I could find where £26. *calulates* £26/£1.35 = 19.26 Mh, if I would use the trousers for 20 days it would be "worth" it. What if the weather gets so bad I can't cycle, even with water proof trousers? I also need water proof shoes, my blue suede shoes are soaking up the rain and get rock solid, taking a good 24 hours to dry... *sigh* And what about water proof gloves? And I could do with a hat for under my helmet... I feel really bad about spending any money on me in the moment while I want to deal with my debt and save the little money I have left over on Christmas presents... What to do? I am also not sure about whether it is sensible to go for the cheapest possible as they are not as high spec as I would like, i.e. breathable, zips at bottom of leg so you don't have to take the shoes off to get in and out, etc... A little more money might buy a more versatile pair of trousers. Mh.

Then, while I had a fairly cheap Monday (ferry £2.15, lunch on behalf of work - thank you!!), I went out for lunch on Tuesday and spent almost £6... *cough*

Today I had my last counselling session (£25) and bought a (reduced) sandwhich and coffee (£3.15 total) tomorrow I'll have to take a bus (£3.50) and there is a party I am invited to. The drinks are for free! And Friday it's ferry (£2.15) and packed lunch.

Mh, so the week should total at £41.95. Mh, that isn't actually too bad I think... You know what? I'll give myself £3.05 to spend in something crazy like - say - a bar of chocolate and a cup of tea and swear I will not spend more than £45 this week.

I dreamed that MBNA phoned me to tell me that I am just not worthy of their trust (or credit). The guy who rang me to tell me this also connected me to his colleague who in a rather patronising fashion reiterated why they think I am not their type of customer. Nice...

Will browse the web for water proof trousers, walking boots and gloves...
nite nite!

mue