Starting Again

*KT*

Can I be a wee bit cheaky and ask a favour? I really like reading your diary but I find such large chunks of text really difficult to follow. Would it be possible to break up later posts into smaller paragraphs please?

(Ignore me if I'm being a pest.)

Skint_but_Optimistic

Of course! I'll de chunk it x thanks for reading, I just get carried away!

atush

Skint,

I'd just like to tell you that I have finally listed a whole 6 99p items at ebay lol. Dont think they'll go (esp as i am lisinting normal stuff not smelly shoes lol), but am having a try. Disney tapes, 1 PS game and some McD;s happy meal toys to start.

Will list some higher priced stuff at the weekend during free listing from jeans, to gameboy, to baby clothes.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Hi again atush! Wow well done on the listings it gets hypnotic watching them and seeing if they get bids. Best of luck with it all.

Remember this is money you wouldnt have got and even letting something go cheaply means 2 things - you got something for an item which was no longer any use to you, and secondly you are decluttering!

To be frank, Ive done it for a while now and my theory goes like this, better 99p than nothing.

Ah this afternoon, well it was fine, got home after a bit of a nightmare rake for a voucher for DH dad, as Cotswold were having a delivery and the streets of Durham are so compact that meant the shop was shut. We may have to go tomorrow on a non work day, argh! I did get some nice washing powder cheaply and some fabric softer though!

Got home to an empty house, no lawnmowing but much pegging out and feeding and changing of DS. Had some lunch and took Ds to the GP. He apparently has a sore throat but his chest is clear. I declined anti biotics just yet, will give it a week, as hes teething and I am not sure his nappies could cope if anything else irritated his tummy. He is fine in himself, was just wanting to check.

Went to the other house picked up post, fed cat, bought some baby bics and milk and bread, and returned home via the post office.

DD2 was still insitu, and her father was late (as per usual) and had a hug and said goodbye til Sunday, when he eventually turned up.

Opened some ebay purchases, sleepsuits for DS for 18-24 months. Once the autumn comes he will be nice and warm, buying them now as Im picking up the ebay bargains as they are out of season!! haha!!

Talking of ebay related matters, the boys are upstairs so I shall do some turbolister listings, once Ive updated my sig to reflect the latest ebay sales and the loose change and £2 pot.

Im watching about early machine guns on the military channel. Wonder how much one would sell for on fleabay!

Back later with red wine, if I am lucky!

Skint_but_Optimistic

Ive been a good girl, well kind of. Good in that I have eaten my tea and listed 6 items on ebay, and bad that I did it with 2 glasses of wine.... I may do another couple, but I may not. DS is in his playpen, so i suppose I should do something else productive!

atush

I have done gardening and washing, and helped the twins get their father's day stuff done. so didn't list any ore ebay, but ill tomorrow for the free listings.

One of the twins has told me I am taking too much time off decluttering, trying to list things on ebay (rahter than his method of throw the baby out eith the bathwater- if he knew how close I came a few times with twins and a 3 yr old he woudn't chance it lol).

But in anycase, after your posts here, I went over to the mtg free wannabees and learned about Top Cahs back, and have already earned over 13 quid just today!

After getting debt free, and building up savings, I did start doing things like overpaying my mtg. It does get addictive. But don't worry, I still overspend on food and wine and holidays ;-)

Skint_but_Optimistic

Whoo atush well done on all the jobs and the moneysaving. As for overspending on food and wine, well, we need to be happy at the end of the day.

I didnt list any ebay today OR yesterday. I have collated some more to photograph and list though.

My car still isnt repaired. Argh! Yesterday DH bussed it to the local shopping centre, for cheap nappies, some shopping, and some electric for the prepay meter (in the rented house).

I remained at home with DS, and the guttering men were busy at the house we are doing up. They didnt get finished as the heavens opened, but finished this morning, and it looks fabulous!

So yesterday, myself and DS (had his little sweeping brush but mostly did the cat) did a real deep clean of the living room, I then made some scones while he had some finger food in his high chair.

We got a cheap pork shoulder and as it was raining heavens hard, I made a roast dinner, with crackling, and then a chocolate cake for afters.

Today was fathers day, so we have visited Dads and had family time.

Ive already got DS gear ready for the childminders tomorrow, his food bag is almost packed just waiting of the steraliser for his bottle, and I am eagerly anticipating my bathtime!

As its not quite 9pm, I shall do an ebay listing ready to pop on on Sunday. Ebay sales today have been fair, Ive made about 12 pounds, but it was a tone down week as Ive made mega bundles and am listing them, so next week should be another good one.

In between, I ironed an ikea bag full of ironing and put it away!

Once I get moved, my debt free day time will shorten considerably, and I am looking forwards to that. My priorities at the moment are making all my payments on time and getting my credit file as neat as it can be, so me and the OH can make another step in the housing market in 8 - 10 months time (after spending 6 - 8 months in the other house)

We want another do upper, but not as bad as the one is now, just a bathroom, kitchen garden job, where some tweaks can really improve it, and then move on again.

We should be able to sort it, even with my credit file looking like it is, I had a mortgage search at the weekend and I can get a mortgage which is good, and the rate isnt too bad, so we know our next steps. The bottom line is, we cant remain in a 2 bed house indefinately, with 2 kids, and we are currently renting a 3 bed.

Tomorrow is pay credit cards day, and I still have half a months wages and its payday friday, I sense some savings and debt payments coming on!

atush

I made pork sholder with crackling last week- they twons hated it (the crackling) lol. Sorry excuse for teens if they don't like greasy stuff I say.

I can't believe you are still going on w/o a car. I am amazed and impressed. We couldn't manage as we are half a mile down on unmade lane before you can get to any buses. And they are infrequent. But maybe you should move your car to someone who can fix it??

I have now listed 12 items on my fisrt ever week as an ebay seller. Got cut off listing PS games (there is a limit?). 6 D 23 H to go and no bids but I now have one watcher- yeah!!!

firesidemaid

hi SbO!

Just read thru your thread - you have an excellent plan

one thought re the crisps - could u buy some in bulk/a couple of multipacks and leave them at work? i always budget for 10p a pack on offer (incl brand names).

20 packs a month saving 34p a day is nearly £16 a month - that's nearly £200 a year (a grand over 5 years lol);)

Skint_but_Optimistic

Well I am at work, and I am looking forwards to payday. Today I have settled one credit card in full, and made some more payments off other ones, but the only one which is going down (as the others are at zero balance) is the OH credit card.

I have been doing some more thinking about managing the bills and stuff, and who pays what. I earn over a third more all in all than the DH,but I am also more on the ball over the smaller bills and such.

My thoughs are he can handle the bigger bills, where no micromanagements required. He can pay the childcare invoice and the rent and I will manage the other ones. He is easy going so it wont be an issue. I will also pay his credit card!

I spoke (well, via email) to one of the companies we owe money to, about making interim payments to bring down the capital. I had been asking for bank account and sort code details, but they have asked me to ring up and make additional payments over the phone to them. I now have a direct contact number and from September we will make some huge inroads into that!

I had to buy DD2 a waterproof as she is off to Glastonbury tomorrow, and hit on lucky with a closing down sale at Blacks. Was £20, now £5. Thats a bargain!:T.

Apart from that Ive not spent anything. I shall look for a holiday and we shall get the passport photos done this week. If necessary I will fast track them. Trouble is as DD2 is away, the car has been up the swanny, etc, we just have not been able to get them done. Tonight i am cooking a nigella tray bake, doing a spot of ironing, helping DD2 pack and then a few cheeky ebay listings.