Hit the bottom, now to GET ON TOP!

Pauper1

Hello lovelies.

I have an old diary, but it's basically full of SOA's 6 month's apart, and that is no fun for anyone. I'm gonna keep it there though, cos it helps me.
This one will be my musings and plans, rather than financial situation.

The gist of our story is 3 years ago, we met and fell in love, bought a house with no money or furniture (how the heck did we manage that in an economic downturn..!!) and are now paying for it.

We got EVERYTHING on credit, borrowed a lot from both sets of parents and life got in the way, as it always does.

The last few months have been AWFUL. Our month's start on the 20th, and we had usually ran out of money by the 1st (when *most* of the bills would have been paid). It's really been rock bottom.

But, rather than go on about that, I am focusing on the future.

We've got 6 days to go until OH's payday. Just one measly week to get through; we've got access to about £35 to last us, which in all honestly almost feels luxurious! That'll do us both for petrol, just. And we have enough food in stores.

A la carte menu
Tues - chilli burritos with spicy potato wedges
Weds - Chicken kiev, mash & veg
Thurs - Fish pie & peas
Fri - Spicy Spanish Sausage Stew
Sat - Omelette & chips
Sun - at me muvva's

Weekly goals
Take lunches to work
Try & get by on £15 petrol for the rest of the week
Put more things on eBay
Water my plants every day (SURVIVE!)

Toodle pip x

BEAT_THE_DEBT

hi welcome and good luck. You can do it xx

Pauper1

Thanks Beat The Debt.

Today's To Do's
Take birthday present for colleague to work
Drop old phone at brother's house (for the monies!)
Catch up at work
£15 in petrol
Take lunch to work
Tea, coffee & water from work (for free)
Water plants
WM on & sort out clean clothes
Oh, yeah, and catch up on Glee!!

Toodle pip x

Pauper1

Due to my mum having to pick me up from work yesterday, my car was left at work, so she had to bring me in this morning as well – this means I have saved about £2.50 in petrol.
This week I will have to stay at work for lunch, I plan to do this more any way regardless of the money situation, because it saves so much money over the week. (Sometimes it is nice to sit on my sofa in the middle of the day though! Especially on a stressy work day.) It saves about £12 a week.
I plan to use my lunch hour today to catch up on the forum, and try to investigate some more ways to make money (besides eBay, because I will *eventually* run out of things to sell)

Today's To Do's
[STRIKE]Take birthday present for colleague to work
[/STRIKE][STRIKE]Drop old phone at brother's house (for the monies!)
[/STRIKE]Catch up at work
£15 in petrol
[STRIKE]Take lunch to work
Tea, coffee & water from work (for free)
[/STRIKE]Water plants
WM on & sort out clean clothes
Oh, yeah, and catch up on Glee!!

Looking forward to OH cooking me some burritos for my tea later. Yum.
x

Pauper1

Just want to share with you, the best thread I have ever seen. Am crying with laughter.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3295518

Pauper1

I managed to drive to work (on Monday) and home (today) at 60mph, instead of my usual 80. I know it's awful, way too fast for my safety and my pocket. So I am really going to try.
Also had a cookie & a kitkat courtesy of work today. Yay me!

Today's To Do's
[STRIKE]Take birthday present for colleague to work
Drop old phone at brother's house (for the monies!)
Catch up at work
£15 in petrol
Take lunch to work
Tea, coffee & water from work (for free)
Water plants
WM on [/STRIKE]& sort out clean clothes
Oh, yeah, and catch up on Glee!!

So, I'm off to finish my list now x

Pauper1

It's hard knowing that it will be four years before we are debt free, especially as previously we thought we would be trying for a baby this September.

Now we have hit rock bottom, and have nothing, or less than nothing, left after debts & bills. There's no way we could afford a baby now, or the drop in income that would come with it.

It makes me sad because four years is a long time, and I know that is nothing compared to some people, but in January we thought we'd only be waiting 9 months to start trying, not four years.

I think we were being quite naive really, as we hoped to pay off both credit cards & overdraft by September, and just keep paying the rest of the debts while trying for a baby. We thought that'd work. *sigh*

I guess it is better this way, because we will be COMPLETELY debt free, with savings, when it comes to starting a family, rather than still in debt and struggling. It will mean we get to focus on bringing up our children rather than paying off debt, and hopefully be a happier family with more opportunities.

I just get down about it all. I know what we are doing is for the best, and no one said it would be easy. But by gosh, it's depressing. Oh well, onwards & upwards.

Tomorrow's To-Do List
Take lunch to work
Drive at 60mph
Tea, coffee & water from work (free!)
Water plants
Clean clothes away/ironed
List 5 items on eBay
Start the 3 sock bunnies

Pauper1

Oh, and Beat The Debt - I have started reading your DFW diary. I guess you have a new stalker! x

Pauper1

There's a free listing weekend on eBay (18th-19th June), so I won't bother putting anything on until then, I'll just make sure I leave myself enough time to list quite a few things on Saturday. (Won't be able to on Sunday, it's Fathers Day obviously, and we are all going out as a family. Will be lovely. Mum is having to sub me & OH though, as it's the day before pay-day... D'OH!)

Today's To-Do List
Take lunch to work
Drive at 60mph
Tea, coffee & water from work (free!)
Do my nails at lunchtime!
Water plants
Clean clothes away/ironed
Clean bathroom
Start the 3 sock bunnies

Made OH take a peach to work - because they haven't got long left until they go off now - and he came through going 'is this one a peach..?' MEN! He's actually doing quite well with this MSE stuff, last year we tried and he enjoyed being 'thrifty'. I just hope he's trying to conserve his petrol as I am.
Had to put £15 in my car yesterday. Which leaves us with £20. That is LOADS!
Off to finish getting ready for work now x

Pauper1

Had to fork out for sponsorship today - I did promise I would, just a bit annoyed that it's this week of all weeks!! £5 gone.
Also, my mum's cat food... he has a 'poorly stomach' so he has to have special food that my work make, and I rarely get the money back. She usually gets me washing liquid or toilet roll instead!!
I didn't go home for lunch today, stayed at work - another £2.50 I haven't spent. I drove at 60mph both ways as well. I wonder how much that actually saves. Might google a calculator for such things later.

My to-do list has really gone to pot today. My parents are picking up OH & I tonight to go on a 6 mile walk with their running club. There were so many other things I could have been doing, but we really need to start getting fitter. It's been a main goal of mine since before the debt-busting. Two things I can never stick at - healthy living & frugal living. *sigh*

Might be the prospect of overtime at work in a few weeks. This is unheard of, and when I have to work more hours than usual, I either get no recognition or time back in leui. (I can't for the life of me think how that is spelt!) This time, if they ask me to do extra, I will say that I can't unless I get paid overtime, as I can't justify not being able to get home to make money in other ways. As I was writing that, I couldn't help thinking that they might think I mean prostitution!!

Today's To-Do List
[STRIKE]Take lunch to work
Drive at 60mph
Tea, coffee & water from work (free!)[/STRIKE]
Do my nails at lunchtime! - took my old varnish off & stuck strengthener on (had to work through half of it!)
[STRIKE]Water plants[/STRIKE]
Clean clothes away/ironed
[STRIKE]Clean bathroom[/STRIKE]
Start the 3 sock bunnies

Pauper1

I need some assistance if possible, please.

It is my dear ol' dad's 50th birthday next month, and we were all going out to a lovely local pub restaurant for dinner on his birthday. I didn't want to be a spoilsport and say OH & I couldn't afford to go.... but, I suggested to me muvva that the family come round to mine and I cook instead/as well as going to the pub. Luckily, she said she would rather them all come to us. (The reason mum is deciding this, is because everything for Dad's 50th is a surprise!)

Anywaaaaay, does anybody have any MSE, :money: debt-busting, OS (etc etc!) ideas for a dinner for 6 or general entertaining ideas? Obviously, I can't do the absolute cheapest meal (bangers & mash, beans on toast, jacket pot!) as it is a special meal for a special day for a special fella!!

I was considering keeping an eye out in the coming months for any whoopsied meat, and just do a bog-standard roast (maybe make the veg more fancy, like at xmas - honey roasted carrots & parsnips, creamy leeks etc). What do you think?

(I was going to post this on the OS board, but I'm not sure if there is a specific thread I should be asking it on & I would be embarrassed if my post got moved to somewhere else! )