Learning to Live on Less!

White_Iris

Feeling oddly optimistic about our financial future - not sure why as we're not in great shape money-wise! It feels like we're finally going to be moving forward - we've agreed to get rid of all the credit cards so we don't end up relying on them (although I'm not actually going to cancel them until we've saved our emergency fund, but they are locked away somewhere inaccessible), we're saving money, cutting costs, not spending on stuff we don't need...it just feels positive :j

A few of my eBay items already have bids - not much but they've still got a few more days to go and it all adds up! Surveys are a bit thin on the ground at the moment though, and those that do appear I seem to be getting screened out of - I'm up to £24 on OnePoll (over halfway to payout!), 3030 points on YouGov (again over halfway but rarely get any surveys from them) and 80 points away from a £3 PayPal voucher on MySurvey. So near and yet so far!

Just need to get the house sold and things really will be looking up!

Itsadogslife_2

Hi White Iris,

Glad to hear you are feeling optimistic, I am the same at the moment. I think it is because I feel like I am finally on top of things and chipping away slowly but surely rather than it going up and up and up.

I have a couple of bits and pieces to list on ebay but it is one of those dreaded jobs that I always put off for some reason

White_Iris

Itsadogslife wrote: »

Hi White Iris,

Glad to hear you are feeling optimistic, I am the same at the moment. I think it is because I feel like I am finally on top of things and chipping away slowly but surely rather than it going up and up and up.

I have a couple of bits and pieces to list on ebay but it is one of those dreaded jobs that I always put off for some reason

Lets hope the optimism lasts for both of us :beer:

I know what you mean about eBay. That's why I use Turbo lister - I can do it a bit at a time and stop when it gets too tedious. Speaking of which, I suppose I'd better go take some photos and weigh my next batch of stuff

White_Iris

Phew - just got the rest of my current pile of eBay stuff listed (17 items, listed for 10 days so they finish next weekend). 31 items now listed!

wot-a-mess

Hi Iris, Best of luck with the ebay stuff.

Well done with your optimism.... Negative thoughts = negative results. Positive thoughts = positive results

White_Iris

I emptied out my piggy-banks yesterday and got ridiculously excited at having £3 in coppers bagged and ready to pay in. I've nearly got £5 in 5ps and £10 in 20ps too! The best thing about my small savings targets is that small amounts paid in make a big difference. :j

Starting to get a little bit annoyed with DH though. Before Chrismas we talked about him setting up a savings account with our local credit union, which he agreed to. I got in touch with them and sorted out all the paperwork, which then sat in his work bag untouched. last weekend I fished them out, filled them in, sorted out copies of ID and even stamped and addressed the envelope - all he had to do this week was get the papers signed and get his managed to confirm the copies of the ID were accurate. So far it hasn't been done and when I ask about it I get a sigh and a long, drawn-out no (in husband speak this translates to 'stop nagging me' I think!). I suspect it will be several more weeks before he gets it done :mad:

Ebay sales are doing quite well -a few bids, even on things that have over a week to go, and lots of watchers. Just have to decide whether to use the profits to add to my savings or the emergency savings - maybe split 50:50?

Was watching a property show last night and one of the people featured died before she got to see her house finished. At the end of the show it showed her date of birth and DH commented that she was only a year younger than we are...I've been thinking a lot about my upcoming birthday and I'm glad that it'll be a positive one. Although 35 isn't really a milestone birthday, it seems to me to be a good starting off point for getting my life going the way I really want it to be. My aim for the next few months, between now and my birthday in April, is to get some money in the bank and get rid of credit card use for ever, so that once I hit 35 I can dedicate the next 5 years to getting truly debt free by the time I hit a 'proper' milestone.

White_Iris

Just chased up Premiere Inn for a refund under their Good Night Guarantee. Spoke to a very nice man who assured me someone would contact me and arrange the refund within 48 hours - lets hope so as that will be another £20 in the pot :-)

White_Iris

White_Iris wrote: »

Just chased up Premiere Inn for a refund under their Good Night Guarantee. Spoke to a very nice man who assured me someone would contact me and arrange the refund within 48 hours - lets hope so as that will be another £20 in the pot :-)

Since then I've had two more calls from them promising the refund will be with me within 7 days - very good news indeed! That'll go in to the emergency savings I think, taking me to close to my £150 target for the month.

White_Iris

Bored, bored, bored - waiting for new mattress to arrive and boiler man to come and service our boiler. Trying to do something money making/saving but there are no surveys, all the banking has been done and all my eBay stuff is listed. I could go start on the next batch of eBay stuff but I might just go make a cup of coffee first and hope something more inspiring hits me (or the mattress/boiler man arrives).

LianneH

WOW you really have been busy today! You put me to shame!

I went back to work today after the festive period and it was a looong day! Just found out that I'm pregnant too (just 8 weeks) so been trying to hide my expanding waist line and feelings of total exhaustion. I really wanted to sort through DD's wardrobe and sort ebay stuff but I can't keep my eyes open - could I hire you for a few hours! lol