5000 Watt Lightbulb Moment - Determined to Clear Debts

QOTD

Unfortunately I didn't receive a call last night so I can only assume at the moment that I haven't got through to the second interview stage

Oh well, at least I have an interview this afternoon and it will give me chance to call some of the agencies and see how things are going as I never had chance on Monday and yesterday since I was out practically all day on both days.

I did my shopping list last night for what we need for the coming week - the total cost should be just under £13 but it depends where I go.

Ideally I need to walk into town but it's pouring down with rain and so I'd need to brace myself for getting soaked whilst carrying two heavy/bulky bags full of bread, milk and potatoes (plus one or two other things).

Or, do I drive to Te$co and use some vouchers and spend possibly a little bit more but less real cash...?? I think I'll keep an eye on the weather and make a decision. If I have needed to go out to an interview this morning then I would have popped into the shops whilst driving back but since I don't need to use the car I know that I shouldn't really use it to try and conserve fuel...

QOTD

Oh, just been onto the clubcard website to see when the next batch of vouchers are due out. I have £5.50 worth of vouchers in my purse but on the website it says that I have £31.00... bonus.

Apparently I can't spend the ones that I don't have vouchers for in store but I can spend them online so I'm going to have a look at how I can spend them and maybe treat myself - since I can't buy groceries I may as well...:j

QOTD

Finally received a call around lunchtime to let me know that I was unsuccessful and haven't reached the next stage for the interview I had yesterday - I thought as much but until I know for certain there's always that little voice thinking maybe, just maybe...

I've updated my CV slightly and re-issued to all the agencies that I'm registered with to help remind them to look for a job for me, I've rung several up and applied for about 15 jobs today.

There is one agency who rang up earlier but needed to take a call that was on the other line, she was ringing about a position so I left it a couple of hours and then rang back. Unfortunately she was due into a meeting so still have no idea what the job is yet... I'll leave it for today and contact her tomorrow.

On the positive side, regarding a job that I was in the frame for last week but the client is on business this week, the agency spoke to the client and they are looking to interview me next week :j

QOTD

I'm hoping to have two interviews set up for next week - both in Manchester which is convenient as they should both be on Tuesday if I do get both.

My DS has his first appt at the orthodontist on Tuesday though, so fortunately my parents have said that they will take him if I need them to.

In a funny way I'm glad it's Friday. I feels like a real bind knowing that I should be looking for a job but in reality there is only so much that I can do every day - search the job sites, ring the agencies... that's about it but I feel guilty if I'm not doing anything. At least at the weekend I can't do anything so don't feel guilty. Having said that there are things that I could be doing that really I should be doing .... I'm going to make another cup of tea, browse my Google Reader for inspiration and then take myself upstairs to go through old clothes and rescue some nice material from my eBay drawer as I was looking last night and really like the thought of making a quilt.

I also need to sort out some more things to put on eBay - whilst I have the time it's ideal for a sort out... Actually I think I'll focus the rest of the day on that and just keep an ear out for the phone and the occasional check on my emails for any opportunities...

QOTD

Also just put a message on my local Freecycle for fabric/fabric scraps. My OH would kill me if he knew as he says that we have enough rubbish !!!!!!!! .

Oh well, it all depends on whether I get a response...

QOTD

No news from Freecycle on the fabric scraps, but never mind. On a very poisitive note, I have put 10 issues of "The Knitter" on eBay and the auction ends today. One of them is issue 1 and someone else sold it just over a week ago for about £5 - I thought that it would be great to get that much since it was practically the cover price and makes it feel more worthwhile when you get more than 99p for an item!

Anyway, I checked this morning and although the auction ends in about 4 hours, it's currently at £16.... WOW :j:j

The total for all of the items is just shy of £20 and so I'm now wondering do I use this to buy a treat for myself or should it go towards bills...;) this is a dilema, in the past I has always used any sales money as treat money...

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello,

am well impressed on the intereivew front, looking good there. if you want my honest opinion the e bay money should definitely go on the bills with everything still up in the air re jobs....

Did you do an Statement of Affairs? You don't have to publish it but it is good to work out the budgets and see how much you can pay etc.

Good luck with the job hunt

xx

QOTD

Thanks BuffythedebtSlayer, yes I know that it should go on the debts- I think it's just nice to fantasise on what I could buy ...;)

Yes I have drawn up a statement and I know how long the money that we have will last and when I need to look at doing any type of work regardless of what it is.

chevalier

Ok in no particular order
1) Suggest to family that you only buy for children this christmas, or do secret santa so you only have to obtain 1 present. Or if your family are very good, just say that at the moment, you are only going to be buying for you child. In fact I would do that for ALL occasions at the moment. That would save you the whole £1000 - that is 1/25 of your debt sorted right there.

2) Well done on sorting out the gas/electric and house insurance, but what about mobile phone contract - can you go PAYG or drop a tariff. Do you REALLY need it at all? Is your car renewal due soon, check you are with the cheapest provider. Also what type of mortgage do you have? Any wiggle room there? Got sky? can you go to freeview instead? Threaten to leave and they may drop how much you need to pay for 6 months anyway. I take it that none of the credit cards or the loan have payment protection on them?

3) You mention that you are the main breadwinner, or were, but could your OH pick up more hours where he works, or do mystery shopping, surveys online, even enter competitions (sell any prizes or give them as presents...)?

4) Can I respectfully suggest that ANY clothes/shoes you buy now are aimed at getting yourself a new job. If you don't need any more clothes for this purpose, you don't NEED any more clothes. Also La Redoute clothes are lovely, but for now so can George at Asda and Tesco and Sainsbury's own brands be too. Kids don't care about labels, and if she is old enough to complain then she is also old enough to have the change in circumstances gently explained to them.....

5) Can either of you get a weekend job to pay off the debts?

6) Well done on the ebay. Can you make anything to sell (like the quilts or anything else?) Remember if you do do something like that and you are anyway successful then you would have to register as self employed.

7) If you get a chance have a look at Memory Girls thread. There is lots of advice about seizing this type of opportunity, and they are inspirational reads in and of themselves.

8) You mentioned about cutting your food budget. Well done on realising how much food you have in already that is ace. But when you need to shop again, don't forget Aldi and Lidl for cheap veg, and also your local market if you have one. Also if you look on the moneysaving old style forum there are loads of ways to live more frugally, not just cheap and healthy recipes, but also ways of cleaning cheaper etc.

Hope some of this gives you somethings to mull over. Good luck with both the job hunt and the debt busting.

chev

QOTD

Thanks Chevalier, on the gift front I see where you are coming from and I will look into this. I was going to aim to spent a max of £10 on materials and make presents this year but that would save even more money.

For the other bills, I have recently (in the last 3 months) redone our car insurance and get hte cheapest deal so I'm happy with that. I am ringing Sky on Monday to cancel our current package and go Freeview - if they give us so long for free then that is a bonus but it doesn't matter if they don't. I've waiting until Monday because we have a number of films on the Sky Plus and we wanted to watch them before we cancelled! No, I have no payment protection as this normally kicks in after 3 months anyway so I didn't think I would need it (kicks herself!!)

I have done surveys in the past and was thinking that I need to start up again. Yes I think I'll look into the competitions as well. Never thought of that.

Clothes... ha, I last bought some clothes in March - a pair of shorts and 2 tee-shirts for our holiday in June. I love nice clothes but can never justify the price so I always tend to buy off eBay, the last bargain I had was a beautiful suit for £10. I don't need any new clothes and fortunately MIL is always buying DD clothes so that isn't a problem. She does love dresses, thats why I made her one since I had the fabric in and it was for me to test my sewing skills.

A part time job may or may not be an option. Both me and my OH tend to get home around 7pm, one then walks the dog and the other gets DD ready for bed, then we start on dinner and finish up usually around 8:30/9:00 - this doesn't give much time for a part time job, especially when I am in a job I usually end up working nights anyway because that is what my job entails. This would be an option if I can't get a job....

I will take a look at Memory Girls thread as you mentioned and I have been scouring the Old Style Forum for ideas and inspiration. We always tend to cook from scratch (hence why we eat late) and I mix lentils with mince to stretch the mince and other such things.

Thanks again for all the fantastic ideas