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

diekleinemue · 8 December 2006 at 11:54AM

hbl wrote:

*snip* ...perhaps growing a herb garden would fit into your whole holistic lifestyle. I know it's a bit The Good Life but what about an allotment? A friend of mine had one, but she never got further than getting some of the stones out. I dont think she ever planted anything.

*points proudly at the various pots of herbs growing outside her kitchen window and the onion seeds and carrot seeds and swiss chard seeds and lettuce seeds ready for planting...*

I :heart2: The Good Life.

mue

SoScrooge · 8 December 2006 at 6:43PM

diekleinemue wrote:

I thought about your mantra. Are you really sorry? I mean, what kind of feelings does it bring up for you not to be able to afford it?

mue

It is mixed feelings really.

Sometimes, it is something like: I am sorry you are all having it (new jeans, holidays, etc) and I am not.

Sometimes I just don't care, cos I can see that I can do without it (new jeans, holidays, etc).

But all in all, I'd love to live within my means!

diekleinemue · 9 December 2006 at 1:26PM

Hello, good morning all!!

Ok, the best news first: My £39.95 investment in waterproof trousers already starting paying itself off when last night I only narrowly escaped being killed in a hailstorm. Thanks to my waterproof trousers I made it home nearly dry, (note to self: Must buy waterproof headwear...), and it also added a level of intensity to the workout that is cycling home because of the additional resistance/restriction in the movement and all. Bonus!! Bring it on! *does one handed push-ups to Eye of the Tiger* (in her dreams...)

Second bestest news: I landed a freelance job. A one-off taster session first to see if what I do fits in with the existing programme/is in demand/sits with the clients, but if it does then there will be more work coming from it next year. Yee-Ha!!! Either way, it's a convenient cash injection just before Christmas! *dances on the table*

Third bestest news: I am also earning some more money on the side by babysitting and providing after school tuition for some kids in the neighbour hood. I wasn't looking for that kind of work but it landed in my lap. Hurrah!!!
Again, the pre-Christmas extra is fantastic!! (Note to self: start excel sheet to note income for tax return/self employed!!!)

Now then, the bad news: Still no feedback from MBNA. Not sure if they decided that I am so not trustworthy with a 0% SuperBT cc that they don't even bother letting me know. They're probably still laughing at my nerve of handing in a application... *sigh*

Hang on a second!? See how the supposed validation of a $%&@ financial institute knocks my confidence after flying high about additional income? !!!!!!!s! *swears so explicitely that it cannot be repeated here for the safety and wellbeing of potential readers* Please accept our sincere apologies!

The even worser (is that a word? Pfffff! I can make them up as I go along. I am not from around here! Pah!) news is that checked my accounts and despite saving on expenditure, having drawn up a minimum repayment schedule until MBNA shows their cards I am being charged interest and fees and that means I will be approx £250 off worse than I was when I started the process. Grrrrrrrr!

[Post just arrived, no news from MBNA still... *sigh*] *murmers: I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy...*

And just to add a little pressure to the whole situation I will have to let my employer know that I am planning to leave to follow through my own project plans. Am handing in funding applications this week to hopefully kick in in April and so I have Jan, Feb and Mar to set up sufficient freelance work to make up for the money I am earning in the moment (which, to be entirely honest, shouldn't be a problem!), to soften an eventual blow and (most importantly) to follow my dreams! *shouts:I AM worthy! I AM worthy!*

So, interesting times, eh?

Have a lovely weekend!
See you soon,
mue *goes Christmas shopping with the money she just earned*

SoScrooge · 9 December 2006 at 2:35PM

Hi, mue

I like you signature! Good idea.

Can I be frank with you? Your pastel fonts really hurt my eyes this morning. A little bit more of contrast, please..:o

whatatwit · 9 December 2006 at 2:46PM

:T Mue, all this extra money....(until you spend it)

Are you already registered as self employed, if not, there is a time limit.....evil HMRC....

So pleased the waterproof trousers have already started to prove their worth, usually when I make an investment like that, we have a heatwave.

diekleinemue · 10 December 2006 at 6:58PM

Hello, hello!

What a weekend! How did it get to be Sunday afternoon so fast? (And why is it pitch black outside??) I had a fairly cheap couple of days. Money spent on me: £4.50 (bus and a cup pf coffee), money spent on Christmas presents: £0 (and just so that you know, I blame you, SoScrooge! *sigh* Thanks! I mean it! Thank you.)

And now I hand over to the spending forecast for this coming week:
There is a consistent spending low in terms of transportation on Monday (£2.15) which could get worse on Tuesday (£3.50 for the bus but might take the ferry anyway) but gets lighter again towards the middle and end of the week where it's ferry all the way, which will also add towards the WPT Days count if I am lucky and it rains every day. (Twisted world!)

There are three social invitations here *points to Tuesday after uni*, here *points to Wednesday evening* and here *points to Friday lunchtime and evening*. Each of these invitations is expected to come with a nasty spending front and while the forecast predicts a surprisingly mild spending low on Wednesday (food = free, drinks = not free: £8) there might be more heavy showers particularly towards the end of the week, (lunch + friend's leaving party: £20), while Tuesday's spending forecast is moderate, (lunch + drinks: £15). *sigh*

Oh, a report has just come in! We are expecting a spending storm to sweep the region at the beginning of the week involving some Christmas presents and postage to Moominvalley. Our sources have confirmed that this appears to be a seasonal occurance and previous years have us left with damages up to £100. In the light of a fairly moderate spending forecast of £53.75 to £55.10 this week, we can only hope that the storm is going to pass quickly.

God help us!

:rudolf:
mue

ps: sorry about the illegible choice of colours in the previous post. I just lurrrve the colours and what you can do with them. I will stick to higher contrasting ones.

diekleinemue · 10 December 2006 at 7:12PM

Hello whatatwit!!
How are you?

whatatwit wrote:

Are you already registered as self employed, if not, there is a time limit.....evil HMRC....

Yes, I am already registered self-employed because of the freelance work I have been doing previously. But what do you mean with time limit? Do you mean the 3 months period you have to register after starting freelance work before you get prosecuted for not declaring income?

whatatwit wrote:

So pleased the waterproof trousers have already started to prove their worth, usually when I make an investment like that, we have a heatwave.

Funny you should mention that... The day after I bought the trousers it was warm, the sun was shining and I thought it was the last we have seen of the rain and bad weather this year. "Luckily" it was raining very, very badly on Friday so I could test my trousers. I put them on while I was on the ferry and learned that the rubber soles of my shoes are a pain when trying to get the trousers on without taking the shoes off and without opening the zips and buttons on the side and still then it was tedious. ARGH! (me = impatient. I might have mentioned that previously... *looks apologetically at older posts*)

So, can't wait for the next rainy day... *trying to sound convincing*

I'll go and bake some Christmas cookies now!
See ya!
mue