Starting Again

Skint_but_Optimistic

Cant wait to get home from work and update my signature. Today the retention came through. We have repaid Paragon and Lloyds, a total of 8400, clearing outstanding debt of over 22k. We need to hang on to the remainder of the capital, but clear all but 1000 worth of credit card debt and buy a new bathroom and a garage for the other house. The best bit is it releases 270 per month which can be redirected. I have promised the kids a holiday, and we desperately need one (ive not had a holiday in 9 years) it wont be the flashest holiday but we will get away. GREAT NEWS! 2 debts, gone!

Skint_but_Optimistic

Well, its hump day. Im currently at work (theres a little lull this week, so get to use the free internets) and thinking over how things are with my ever increasing money saving obsession - where every action is questioned by "have you looked at the spreadsheet?" (its always open on the desktop and updated at least once daily). We are at the debt mid point, and have done fabulously well - I know we have. I am anticipating some issues coming up. We are going to meet a point where we are going to want and need more than we can afford, the temptation to take out credit will be there, but unless its 0% and manageable, I wont be. I am hoping the other half is understanding. I NEED to take my family on a holiday. Its ridiculous. My DD2 has been away with her dad numerous times. (the ex has a dreadful approach to money, hes very wasteful and has no structure, hence the debt I came out of the marriage with) But ive not had a holiday in 9 years and our family unit as is has NEVER had a holiday! Shes now a little peeved about our car situation... OHs car deceased in January, we just shared my car and managed, my car has been off the road getting repaired however the past month by a bloke in the street (its cheaper but hellishly slow...) and thats not going to be ready til friday. Im glad we arent orphans, and have driving dads, they have been fabulous. However, its just not the same as having a car you can just jump into. I am also peeved, but when you are 11 and have things to do and people to see it becomes "mums fault". So basically, we have a loose idea of how we are going to move this forward. 1. we are going to have a damn break away. This will be paid for in full from the money we have free from the debts we repaid yesterday, plus the ebay fund. 2. I need to sort the passports though now, as a matter of extreme urgency! (theres another cost)
OH is happy to do without a car for now, bless him, but having no cars and living rurally, isnt an option. Im aware my car is old (15 years) and while this is the first thing to go wrong on it, its a major thing. The idea was to save up and replace the cars, one at a time, but thats going to take a bit of time, may have to get hubby a banger to tide us over if mine dies again. 3. I think I need another spreadsheet, where i can put a cost and save against them. Id like to calculate how much I have released after paying off the debts, and put half of it against other debts, and save half against what i know we will need, and if we manage 0% finance on anything we have the pot of money... thems my thoughts....

However the first plan is to pay vodafone off at the end of this month. It releases another thirty quid a month, and it means Ive got an additional 300 quid available month on month.

Im sure there was no cat food left in the box this morning, although I was distracted by DS washing fridge magnets in the dogs water again... grrr

As it was my birthday on Monday, have put in a cheeky holiday request for Friday. These 5 day weeks are rubbish!

abba1772

hi just read your diary i would like to say well done on doing a fantastic job on reducing so much of your debt...keep it up and i've also subscribed lol

Skint_but_Optimistic

Righty o
Today was zero balance day, so all credit card balances reduced to zero, apart from the Ohs, who has a newly reduced residual balance of 1000. Bring on the green ticks on the credit report!

We are having a shopping order delivered today, whoo hoo, food! and ive got to do a mountain of ironing as DD2 is away with the school on some outward bound weekend. It seems to require 8 pairs of jogpants over the three days. Thats one jogpant intensive ratio! Its also worrying on a fashion level. Im at work, the big boss is on this site today, but is in some meetings and hasnt got back to me yet about that cheeky day off, so I will just conflab with the colleagues and not turn in tomorrow unless I hear otherwise. Anyway tonight means ironing, and then packing. I wont be in a fit state to do it all, with my 13 month old rioting, a tesco delivery, OH at work til late, ironing and packing. I surely cant be expected to be rested and all professional in the morning (ugh). Last night I did something shameful but moneysaving. It was take your over 60s dad to B n q so you can get paint with their discount ! They have fabulous savings, shame its only on a wednesday, thats not always convenient! I am still without a car. It should be ready on Saturday (note I am not holding my breath) and I have invites to a christening and a birthday party (for a 4 year old) on Sunday, and would like to pop and show my face. I also have not listed any new ebay this week. Thats not on. Ive only got 54 live listings! I shall set a new target (after tonights shambles has passed) to list at least one a day. Its time for a family day out or a new investment from ebay money. family discussion needs to take place, as DD2 is away this weekend, then at Glastonbury... OH wants to use it "go out and have a couple of meals" erm thats not a day out ... men and their stomachs eh?

elsiepac

Hiya

Just read your diary on my lunch break and you're doing amazingly well! I've subscribed and look forward to reading more!

Out of curiosity what kind of things are you selling on eBay and are they large or small value items?

I've never had much luck selling on eBay, as highlighted the other day when I decluttered my clothes for a collection for my mum's school, but found 5 good name items that I'm not going to fit into any time soon. I'm talking £50-70 items that are hardly worn and in pristine condition, yet only sold 2 and for £5 and £8 respectively! Relisted the rest and didn't even get watchers! Gave them to the school in the end as well!

Take care and good luck, you're doing so well!

Lee-anne x

Skint_but_Optimistic

hI and thanks Lee-Anne
I know what you mean with the ebay!! The thing I had to do, is rethink it all, when I first started I would think of what things had cost, and attach a cost to it. I didnt do my homework and look at recently finished items or anything. So if I cant use it, it gets listed, sometimes - like with our jumperoo and a once worn monsoon suit, for over a tenner, but clothes, in bundles mainly, I shove on for 99p. Its money in your pocket more than you would have had!! Also with the 99p listings theres no listing fees to worry about. After all, its just a bit extra money. If they dont sell and Im sick of storing them, they go in bigger bundles with other similiar things. I find things like PS3 games sell well, baby clothes, this may sound bizarre but bras sell well - had some lightly worn maternity stuff. Have read a thread on here about things to see on ebay, so am saving my empty perfume bottles to list. Have an aromatics one to put on this week! will put it on for 99p. Ooh and pandora gift bags, found some of those so will pop them on too. Do you have a diary? Kathryn x

Skint_but_Optimistic

Well the day off was busy but nice not to be in work. We sorted out a cupboard, despatched DD2 to outward bound had the great news that DD1 - who finishes uni end of June, has a job as a theatre nurse to start in September - so relieved, shes a darling. Met and then paid the bloke who was painting the outside of the house we are doing up, popped to see my parents for a cuppa tea, and raked round the local co op and tescos to see if there were any freezable bargains. Managed 2 packs of mince, which was 1.45 a pack and a pack of richmond sausages for a pound. I also ironed and emptied the cupboard - HUzzah! tonight will be eating birthday chocolate and drinking birthday champagne while listing my bits n bobs on ebay. Thats the way we roll on a friday! Although its normally with a lager. DS has spent today getting mucky, but hes 13 months so its his right. 4 changes of clothes he has been through!! Oh and in the middle of it all a bloke arrived to sweep the chimney, DH and his early onset of alzheimers responsible for that one. Was it on the calendar? was it eck. No debt busting today, its all a bit of an anti climax, haha. Going to pay the vodafone off on the 23rd, then cancel the standing order. OOh the loose change may get counted up too. Then I can update the mighty spreadsheet!!

Skint_but_Optimistic

My car is still not repaired, but on the upside I have a glass of redwine which DH has just passed to me. DD2 is away on her jaunts, but I have the sneaking suspicion she forgot to pack her pjs. Shes normally pretty good, we have to teach them to be responsible and as shes used to packing to go to her dads alternate weekends I figured she would be ok to work from the list, ticking things off, however I am sure one of the 8 pairs of jogpants and 11 t shirts can be utilised as makeshift pjs, so I am not concerned. DS has been a tyke all day, but its his hobby and we had our walk out the local shops looking for the marked down meat and stuff. We have decluttered some more, and have generated another 15 ebay listings to process. Dh did his computer trolley, which was the resting place for any of his chuff, and we have things as varied as an authentic american quilt (from my linen bin declutter) and a pair of wireless headphones to list. I listed 5 other things today, including DS baby walker, which he has no interest in anymore now he can do it himself. He was more manageable while he was impersonating Davros, but my ankles were purple with bruises. DD1 is on a long shift today from 8 til 9, so we wont be getting any visits from her, so we are tucked in for the night. Its bitterly cold here in the north east, so I have lit the fire and put the radiators on!! 2 weeks ago I was bikini clad in the garden, today I wore my north face coat to go to the bin. Madness. I counted up the loose change while on a break from delcuttering, and have a new total to update on sig and the mighty spreadsheet, however I have left my tally upstairs and I am not inclined to do the stairs at the moment, especially with wine in hand. Myself and Dh will try and watch another episode of game of thrones tonight, DS permitting. He has been teething and it seems all that will make him happy of an evening is Peppa Pig. Hes in his playpen at the moment. Sleep pattern is suspended due to teeth. Ooh Nat west said we can have a bonus plus account with them, we have been married a year and operating seperate accounts, but will do a Mr and Mrs account and pay into it seperately, til we get used to the idea of a joint current account. Hard to change habits. We went to the other house today and fed the other cat, but its been so cold we havnet been far at all. Right I shall check bank accounts, make a note to pay BT the phone bill on Monday, and then I will be scheduling that vodafone, I cant wait to get rid of it!!!

chevalier

well done on the full and final settlement deals. But please make sure that they show as settled on your credit history not partially settled. Otherwise they can sell on the rest of the debt to someone else, who can then come after you for it.... Nice one on the decluttering I must have a go at doing this as we want to move soon and there is so much 'stuff' in this house at the moment. chev

Skint_but_Optimistic

Thanks Chev, I hope I have it covered but will get proof in written form, but I cant see either of the debts on my credit file, they are 10 and 12 years old. I will check the wording on the letters I get back and chase and harry\. Today so far Ive washed and ironed and hung stuff out (no rain today) and the bloke is working on my car, and we gave some old blankets to a neighbour who is getting a puppy, and Ive photographed all the stuff I found to list on ebay. Todays sales are looking good, up to now (and theres six hours left) we have over 50 quids worth. we have from the fleabay sales allocated 100 quid to our holiday and this weeks means we can get another 100 quid long term investment. Its money from old rope. We still need to clear the big bedroom at the other house, once DD1 has taken her chuff shes storing there for her move, and Im sure I will have some more saleable items. Im trying to sell a used perfume bottle, saw these sell from a thread on here. Theres also a broken ipod Dh was about to bin, betya someone would want that for 99p!

Right think I will pay that phone bill today, and transfer £30 to DS mutual account as i "borrowed " it from his money box when I had no cash!! Also DD2 returns from her jaunt today (washer is on standby) and Dh is out with his cronies later on.I best get organised in the next couple of hours so DS is sorted for the childminder!