“Let it go”, move on and start enjoying life

looking-up_2

Good and bad day yesterday.

‘Bad me’ had to go down the high street for my last few addresses so was caught under the spell of my favourite charity shop. I haven’t been in there for over a week and they had loads of new stock. I stopped myself from going to the cashpoint first (like a usually do) but reminded myself that all the money in my bank account was accounted for and that the £20 in my purse was all I had. Of course I should have said that the £20 was reserved as well…but…whoosh spend £17 of it.

At least I stopped at one shop, rather than go round the other 3 in the town. They don’t normally have anything interesting, but knowing my luck…I’d see something amazing and talk myself into going to the cashpoint.

Then to make matters worse, I went into the supermarket and bought some ice-cream as a treat for a hard day’s walking. They didn’t have any diet ice-cream (I did look) but I was pretty good and opted for smoothy lollies which were under 100 calories each.

On the walk back to the car, I did try and de-motivate myself by telling myself that I’d just spent the equivalent of 3 hours wages – but alas the deed had already been done.

On the ‘good’ side, yesterday I sold 2 of the items that I bought this month, doubling my purchase price. One from my last deviation into the charity shop and the other from the bootsale. This spurred me on to take photos of my recent purchases and they are already listed.

Final good point…the scales have finally moved in the right direction. I was hoping that all this walking would mean my last few pounds would drop off and I’d reach target by end of April. Not sure why this hasn’t happened but I’m trying to convince myself that perhaps I’m building leg muscle.

This morning, they twitched downward. Not enough to register the next pound but here’s hoping for weigh-in a couple of days.

Anyway, enough rambling best get back to it..

..I’m going to do a bit of paperwork but not going out collecting today. I’ve virtually finished my area and being Easter Sunday, thought people might find it intrusive. So plans include de-cluttering, ebay listing and laying about the garden with a house magazine (bought in a huge 2nd hand batch equating to pennies each – before I banned my ebay shopping).

Have a lovely day, everybody.

---

Current Debts : £620 credit cd (due early May) and to DH £200 (when get wages)
Incomings so far in April £885.38
Revised Predicted balance at end of the month £333.19 (incl paying DH but minimum cc). Currently due to go overdrawn on 19th May (with float at current level)

looking-up_2

A bit of a lazy day yesterday but I ache today. I think all that exercise last week has caught up with me and the inactive day seized everything up. So best go for at least a gentle walk today to get things moving again.

A couple of small sales and a tiny dip into my paypal float means I managed to get one of my key figures up to the next round figure. It gives a bit of satisfaction to hit these little goals every day. My next target is an extra £34 to get my predicted balance on the 19th May under £-300. I have a big direct debit going out on that day and it’s a hump I need to get over every month.

So today…a couple of hours work (chase up the last few who seem to be permanently out), some ebaying and a few loads of washing – whilst this weather holds.

Have a good one

---

Current Debts : £620 credit cd (due early May) and to DH £200 (when get wages)
Incomings so far in April £900 (had to dip into float to round it up)
Revised Predicted balance at end of the month £347.81 (incl paying DH but minimum cc). Currently due to go overdrawn on 19th May (with float at current level)

sparkle76

Great to read your diary Looking Up, your motivation and steady approach will serve you well. You have inspired me to look at what I might be able to find to resell on e-bay, every penny would go to our little one, due in July.

I hope that you can enjoy the weather and keep on track for May as well, a few small lapses but overall great progress are something to be proud of so well done!

looking-up_2

Hi Sparkle,

Good luck with your Ebay hunt. I've been selling on there for years. Its not as good as it used to be. The best time was probably about 6 years ago when anything and everything used to fetch high prices and you could safely put things in auction with low start prices and be pleased with the results.

Now, there is a good chance things will sell at your start price, so you need to be careful.

I used to do it full time, before my recent business disaster and still have my business account - so I've picked it up again to fill in, whilst looking for paid work. Its kept my head above water these past few months.

I have an ebay shop and therefore sell through buy-it-nows. Its mainly ladies clothing. I stick to the high street brands (Per U*a, Mons*on, N*xt, M&S, etc) and only buy stock that is in very good condition.

At the moment, its the start of a new season so any summer clothing or occasion (wedding guest) wear will do well. Selling clothing does have its challenges. You tend to get more returns than other sectors but you can reduce them by taking loads of photos, and include measurements and description of the fabric. On the plus side, you can achieve much higher prices than you ever would at a boot sale.

Anyway, on that note...I'd better take some photos and get listing.

looking-up_2

Almost at the end of month finish line. I’ve jiggled my spreadsheet around, moving incomings that won’t hit my account by the end of the month into May’s sheet. Paid my cc early (just the min), just to make sure it gets there by the deadline. It looks tight but recent paypal payments should hit my account in early May – so if I can keep control until then, I should make it through. I’ve earmarked this (full) week’s pay to pay back DH. By early May, things would have straighten out a bit and I’ll have a better idea of where I am.

A couple of sales but my printer toner finally ran out so I had to spend £30 of my paypal funds on a new one. I have been shaking it for the last 2 weeks but the time was long overdue. So nothing to transfer out of paypal today.

Feeling a bit down last night – but sat down and wrote a list of things I’ve achieved in April:

- The sun has lightened my hair and tanned my skin (for free) and it’s only April.
- I’ve made it through the month without going overdrawn, and I’ve only got to raise £550 to make it through May.
- I weigh less now than I did at the start of April – and have managed to get into a size 12 pair of cropped jeans, so must have lost inches too.
- The car made it through the MOT without costing me too much.
- I’ve visited loads of places I haven’t been to before and had a good day out in London.
I’ll have a think about inspiring goals for May and post them up over the weekend.

---

Current Debts : £620 credit cd (due early May – paid min) and to DH £200 (will clear when I get wages)
Incomings so far in April £827.42 – moved some of my sales into May spreadsheet as the paypal transfer won’t make it into my account in April.
Revised Predicted balance at end of the month £226.80 (paid min cc, moved some incomings into May and reserved next pay packet to pay back DH). Currently due to go overdrawn on 19th May (with float at current level

looking-up_2

Great news – I checked my account and all my transfers have come in early, even Paypal. So had to re-jig the spreadsheet again.

I’ve paid back DH, so that’s one debt down. Going my laws of MSE, I know should have put the money on my credit card but I wanted to pay him back as soon as possible. He said it wasn’t important and was quite willing to write it off…but I can’t let him do that.

I need an extra £450 to get through May without going overdrawn plus I’m adding an extra £100 for spending/emergency money. Once I’ve done that, I’ll start chipping away at the credit card. I’m tempted to first save up a few months money under my belt to feel safe when self employed or wait until I have a permanent job, where I know when the next payslip is coming. However, I have only a small 2k limit on my card and it will probably reach the half way mark at the next due date, so I can’t leave it much longer.

I do have a couple of unused credit cards which I could reactivate, but I see that as the start of the slippery slope, so will try and manage without.

Anyway, the weather report says that today is the last nice day before a wet spell, so I’m planning a long day pounding the streets to get as much done in the sunshine. Although I really hope it can stay nice for at least another day – for the happy couple and all those people camping out to see them.

With that…best get down to it.

---

Current Debts : £620 credit cd (due early May – paid min again) and to DH £200 (paid)
Incomings so far in April £1142.11 (all my transfers came in early - woohoo).
Revised Predicted balance at end of the month £341.49. Currently due to go overdrawn on 19th May (with float at current level). Need to raise £550 to get through May – including allowing myself £100 spending/emergency money)

looking-up_2

Weather looks dodgy today. It’s not raining here but looks like it could do any moment, which is sad for everybody in London.

A few sales overnight and one of those was something I listed yesterday, which can’t be bad. Another £30 into the pot for May.

I’m now down to £349 overdrawn predicted for the end of May now, but I want to allow an extra £150 for spends and for things not yet on the budget.

My anti-virus software has started nagging me that it runs out next month. I have a dental appointment which normally includes a check-up and hygienist at around £70 total but one of my fillings fell out recently so that’s going to hurt financially (hopefully not physically as well). Hmm, thinking about those 2 things, I don’t think £150 is going to be enough. Although the latter will go on the dreaded credit card.

Plus I’m thinking, if I don’t have a job after the census finishes, of visiting my family for a week. My mum has some cracking charity shops in her town and loves boot sales more than me, so potentially dangerous ground.

Plus I normally hook up with a couple of friends which will mean half shares of a few meals.

Better get listing – I can see May could potentially be very tight. However, mostly these are optional things so I have control on how much I spend. I must not fall into the thinking of I only need to raise £349 – and that’s easy and therefore give myself permission to think I’m ok and start spending wildly.

I did find a couple of interesting job ads yesterday but they will require moving and all that entails. I'd love to do one of them but it is only part-time (with part-time income), but on call (so difficult to fit in with another job), just for the summer and would involve an hour's commute (even after moving), so not sure whether it is practical. The closing date isn't for a week or so, so I will have a think. I tempted to apply and let the universe make the decision, but we will see.

Have a good day everybody and I really hope it stays dry – at least for this morning.

---

Current Debts : £620 credit cd (last total – will be £900 odd next time)
Money earned this month £1173.11
Predicted balance at end of April £341.49, May £-349.00 (without spending money)
Currently due to go overdrawn on 19th May (with float at current level). Want to raise an extra £500 to get through May – incl allowing myself £150 spending/emergency money)

looking-up_2

Bit grotty here today weather wise and I got rained on for the first time when out census collecting. Can’t complain on that front though as every other working day has been brilliant.

A few sales over the weekend, taking me down under the -£300 prediction for the end of the month.

I avoided the charity shops and my coffee with friends was cancelled so I managed to get through the whole weekend with no spends. Good news on the financial front, but did result in a pretty boring bank holiday.

I read the local papers online which saved a few pence and I noticed a small paper delivery round being advertised so applied for that. Not yet decided whether to apply for the other job I saw last week. Although I have written my application letter – just in case.

Goals for May:

• Money – end the month in the black.
• Job – see if can find some part-time work or a few weeks/months temp job.
• De-clutter- Box up at least one bookcase’s worth of books.
• Weight – get back into target range (4.5 pounds to lose)
• Enjoy the summer – volunteer at local fun day, go visit family/friends, get outside as much as possible.

---

Current Debts : £620 credit cd (last total – will be £900 odd next time)
Money earned so far this month (May) £81
Predicted balance at end of May £-299.96 (£449.96 if allow £150 spending money)
Currently due to go overdrawn on 19th May (need £183.83 to get through this date)

looking-up_2

Great Monday evening on the ebay sales front – so another £50 transferred over this morning. Just need another £133.96 to climb over my direct debit hump on the 19th.

The sun is shining, if a little windy.

Feeling really positive today…so off to an early start.

---

Current Debts : £620 credit cd (last total – will be £900 odd next time)
Money earned so far this month (May) £131
Predicted balance at end of May £-249.96 (£399.96 if allow £150 spending money)
Currently due to go overdrawn on 19th May (need £133.83 to get through this date)

looking-up_2

Day starting nice and sunny, although we could do with a little less of the chilly wind.

I lost 2 pound at SW yesterday, so only 3 pounds to go to get back into target range – and not have to pay anymore. If I put my mind to it, I could do this in a week…so I’m looking for ways to blast through.

No ebay sales yesterday but I did get 7 in the post from the weekend, and listed a few new things which I hope will go quickly. One has watchers already.

I’ve got family coming at the weekend so next couple of days will be spring-cleaning the house from top to bottom. It needs a good freshen up and hopefully will burn a few calories.

Just hope it doesn’t also equal too many meals out. I’ve been doing SW for some years now so not too worried about being able to choose the right things for main courses but I do have a weakness for dessert.

Just have another coffee and then get to it.

---

Current Debts : £620 credit cd (last total – will be £900 odd next time)
Money earned so far this month (May) £137.21
Predicted balance at end of May £-243.75 (-£393.75 if allow £150 spending money)
Currently due to go overdrawn on 19th May (need £127.62 to get through this date)