Blinking in the brightness of the lightbulb moment

Cat2011

Hi Beccie, welcome. You'll have to excuse my rather general ramblings!

I spent a torturous Sunday listing them all on eBay, dug out everything I wanted to sell, took a quick snap of them all, then listed via the quick list option. Got them all up in the end. I also found I become a bit fanatical about watching My eBay once they're live! "ooh got a watcher! - no, wait now it's 2" after checking eBay every 2 minutes... . Like having a little more space, but still have lots more to list!

Just sold 2 more books on Amazon, after I lowered some of the prices . People are such cheapskates...

Going to check out some of the review sites to see if I can make some pennies through that. Have been nosing in people's diaries and found mention of Qype, Dooyoo, Slice the pie, bview, trusted places. so will investigate those tonight and see if they're worth doing.

Kepp

Think I need to do the same - just make myself get on with it rather than just keep thinking about what hard work it will be

I think it's just cause it's so rare for me to have a day off I really don't want to spend it on ebay - that sounds like excuses to me let alone anyone else though, so must just do it!

I gave up on review sites and tend to do surveys more but if you like to write then they can be ideal

Good news on the Amazon sales

Cat2011

I try and think of the reward I get (making money) when I'm going through the chore of listing on eBay. Also helps when its a fee-free weekend, as I know I *have* to get it done that weekend. Can also use turbo lister and just do an item or two every evening, then you don't waste your day off on doing boring things, but that way you have to pay fees, albeit not very much.

I also do surveys, have quite a lot of money with them, but not enough to get paid out. I'm sure they do that on purpose!

Cat2011

Quick update today. Went to a country show yesterday which was great fun, but did spend a fair amount on drinks and food :S . Didn't buy anything from the show despite being tempted tho. Have a race in London at the weekend with a stupidly expensive hotel, but not much I can do about that as booked the accomodation a bit late and that was the only thing available. Must start thinking about booking accom. for my race in September...

Got accepted for a Clarity card, so when that arrives can hopfully do a 0% BT transfer from my old Natwest card, as they have an offer on at the mo, and then use that to pay of the final part of the loan, then all my debt will be at 0%.

Started up on the scratchcards thanks to Dinah - that'll earn me 10p a day

Free listing this weekend on eBay so will relist all that didn't sell a couple of weeks ago and put up a load more stuff. Tho won't have much time as have to dash off to London on Saturday, but will hopefully get a couple of extras in there.

Sold another DVD on Amazon which is great. Asked my parents about nabbing a couple of boxes of books from their house as they have thousands, but my Dad likes to check each individual book and place on their bookshelves in category order..... so will probably take him a couple of years to put together books he doesn't mind me selling!

Paypal have said my bank have closed my account (which they haven't), so they have stopped the link from paypal to my bank account so I can't withdraw my eBay earnings off Paypal. Grr. Think it might have something to do with transfering my direct debits to Santander, so think will wait til that is complete before doing anything.... or maybe should just set up another link with another bank account... Hmm, suppose it's probably best to get the money off Paypal as there's over a £100 on there and it should be earning interest in my savings account!

Not so quick after all...!

Cat2011

Gosh - I've just sold my very first book on Green Metropolis!

Cat2011

Had awful journeys up to London AND back again, traffic was dire. The race went well, although the results aren't up yet. I haven't had a very MSE weekend, the hotel cost £130, dinner Saturday night was quite cheap, but bought a load of crappy food from service stations on the drive home, and had pizza in the evening - tho did go through Quidco, and went to the cheapest pizza place.

Sold another DVD on Amazon, so up to £91 now, hopefully will get a payout tomorrow. When that hits my account I'll pop it in the savings account.

Just realised my savings total is nearly equal to my loan debt. Some of the savings are in an ISA, which I don't really want to remove, but by the end of this month I should have enough to pay off the loan with the savings. Not sure I really want to *blow* my savings tho?! It's a strange mindset, as obviously it'll save me money to pay off the loan as soon as possible. Might still go down the Clarity cc route if I can get a 0% deal on it, then I'll still have some savings which are pencilled in for the debt repayment when all the 0% periods end, but I could use if something dire happens, like the washing machine breaks etc...

I relisted all the things that didn't sell last time - 23 items, one has been bought already, but the others only have 1 or 2 watchers if any, guess there's still time for it to pick up. Didn't get round to listing any more items as got back so late on the Sunday. Wondering if maybe it's worth listing an item or 2 every evening, without waiting for the fee-free weekends, might get a lot more sold that way, even if it costs me some money.

Unfortunately the one buyer that didn't pay last time, still hasn't paid. I opened a case, and get to close it tomorrow, whereupon eBay will refund my final value fee. Or at least I think that's how it works.... All a bit confusing. Seems utterly ridiculous you can only leave positive feedback now?! What's the point of having any feedback at all??

On a more positive note I managed to get my living room curtains up on Saturday - they look lovely . Nice to have curtains on the windows! Now just need to get a new sofa and the living room will be finished. Then there's just the rest of the house to do!

Off to visit my local St John's tonight, bit nervous... thought it would be good to make some use of my first aid skills.

Cat2011

Finally some good news! Got a 0% balance transfer offer through from my Natwest cc, I get them every few months, and was going to rather complicatedly transfer to my Clarity cc and then withdraw the cash, bank the cash, and pay off the loan... BUT the Natwest letter had an offer for money transfers too! . So I've just transfered the max allowed (£1759) to my current account, should be there in 4 days, and then will pay off the loan! (along with £7.17 from my savings :S)

ZTD

Cat2011 wrote: »

Had awful journeys up to London AND back again, traffic was dire.

Every journey into london is a dire one...

Cat2011 wrote: »

The race went well, although the results aren't up yet. I haven't had a very MSE weekend, the hotel cost £130, dinner Saturday night was quite cheap, but bought a load of crappy food from service stations on the drive home,

Nooo...there's nearly always a supermarket nearby. Research is the key to that (or satnav...)

Cat2011 wrote: »

Just realised my savings total is nearly equal to my loan debt. Some of the savings are in an ISA, which I don't really want to remove, but by the end of this month I should have enough to pay off the loan with the savings. Not sure I really want to *blow* my savings tho?! It's a strange mindset, as obviously it'll save me money to pay off the loan as soon as possible. Might still go down the Clarity cc route if I can get a 0% deal on it, then I'll still have some savings which are pencilled in for the debt repayment when all the 0% periods end, but I could use if something dire happens, like the washing machine breaks etc...

Why don't you just pay off your non-0% APR ones?

Cat2011 wrote: »

Off to visit my local St John's tonight, bit nervous... thought it would be good to make some use of my first aid skills.

You enjoy yourself...

Cat2011

Thanks ZTD - I'll try and remember to find supermarkets on my next journey.... service stations are sooo easy - guess that's why they make so much money!

Once my money transfer hits my account all my debt will be at 0% . Will have to be careful to not put my head in the sand and think it's "sorted" just because interest isn't piling up and I'm not having palpatations every time I think about the debt... Otherwise I'll be in serious !!!!!! in 11-18 months when all the 0% periods end!

With not paying the loan direct debit, I'll have an extra £240 a month to put in my savings account which will help the balance nicely

St Johns meeting was great, they were really enthusiastic, so will definitely go back. There was also another newbie starting tonight who lives on the same estate as me, and is there for the same reasons. Nice to not be the only new one!

Cat2011

Grr. As soon as I get some good news, I then get bad news! A parcel I sent out to an eBay buyer has supposedly not turned up. They keep badgering me about it. Asked them to wait til Saturday, then I'll give a refund. Luckily have proof of postage, so will hopefully be able to get a refund from the post office. The item sold for £20, which is a lot for me - normally things sell for a couple of quid. Think in the future I'll send anything I'm not willing to be out of pocket for by trackable postage.