1 Step Closer Diary

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Good news! No spending all week!
Bad news - got flu. I will never confuse a cold with flu ever again, I seriously thought I was dying this week. The temperatures, deliria and extra perspiration has now gone but I feel soooooooooooo sexy (not) with a hacking cough, sore chest, and snuffly nose. My boss isn't really expecting to see me next week but I will have to get signed off as I've been off since tuesday. I don't think the office I work in will appreciate me coughing and spluttering all over them somehow...............

hubby did buy me some choccies though! when i get my tatse back i'll munch them all............mine! mine!

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Can't believe it's march already.Must have slept through the end of Feb.

I have had some responses to my letters:

Monument - they have reduced the limit and I have BT the amount owing to EGG as they do 0% for 5 months then its 16.9%. which is still much cheaper than Monumant.

Cancelled Goldfish and Amex

Got rid of all PPI on all cards

Got the APR on the HFC DVD - 29% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So will work towards clearing that one first. Council tax doesn't go out in Feb and March so I will put that and the £20.95 from Quidco towards it. Have trained hubby to put all loose change into Branston and Horlicks so should get shot of that really soon! I think the balance is £279 (they are sending me a statement).

Our microwave died yesterday but I am not going to replace it unless absolutely necessary. They are cheap enough but if we can do without then we will.

See you all soon...........

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Hello all again! I see over 1000 people have viewed my diary. Well done if you have got this far! Or did you all just skim through...go on be honest!

Well I have been thinking long and hard (yes it did hurt) and have decided that my plans are as follows:

1. Pay off HFC dvd player.
2. Pay off hubby's comet
3. Choose the lower credit card to pay off.
4. Choose the next cc to pay off.
5. Pay off car.
6. Pay off Egg loan
7. The final debt will be FD loan but I will rethink that as they penalise if you pay it early.

Then I will tackle the mortgage. Now that is interest only tied into 2010 but I had a long chat with the provider and I can still make overpayments on the capital which of course, will reduce the interest etc etc etc.

Now, hubby.

He also has debts and quite a lot of them but I decided that I would stop nagging him. I have pointed him in the direction of this site, and read articles out to him. He is currently doing something about his bank charges but has this "I might need it" mentality about his ccs. I know he has 3 as he has always been honest with me and is trying to get 1 on a loan as the interest is high. He also has another loan but to be honest when he was out of work for a while last year we ended up living on 1 card as my wages didn't cover everything.

He is better about things and does ask the "do I want/need it". He is yet to have a true indication of his monthly wages as they were all over the place when he started,and payroll messed up his tax.
However he is very stresed in this job and has had many problems to overcome so I try to leave well alone. I know we are in this together and most days I feel happy enough, but I suppose what I am trying to say is by the time I am able to begin paying extra on the mortgage he should be in a better position debt wise himself. I cannot do it for him and won't, he is a big boy now, but at least he realises that consolidation is not the way forward!

It is a struggle I will admit but we'll get there.

I am hoping to pay off most of my debt within 5 years. I am also hoping that by the time the mortgage stuff comes round I can put a little extra aside for me in a seperate account.........just in case. Sounds like doom and gloom but I need that tiny bit of independance.......

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I well and truly fell off the wagon this month, spent like a loon, didn't visit the site and got takeaways..............

But all is back in hand now. I shouldn't need any more cleaning products for at least 2 months (keep buying cleaning cloths for some reason) and will be batch cooking to put stuff in the freezer. I have looked at how people cut their shopping bills and am much more economical washing clothes. I did go a bit far and watered down the hand soap which there was a comment on so perhaps I can afford 40p for asda smart price soap!

I also went in our local pound land and was pleasantly surprised at what you could actually buy toiletry wise - I usually try and cut corners there but it is false economy.

Electric.................still very bemused at what we spend compared to others. Apparently the meter is being changed from token to key so it might be 2001 questions when the man comes round. Back to washing clothes at night and we have cut right down on the dishwasher - large items pots and pans are hand washed, everything else in dishwasher. Just worked out that the last time we used it was 4 days ago!

I felt very out of control the past few days but as I STILL had a dreadful hacking cough from the flu I felt very run down. And work has been very very very busy.

So although things are very very tight right now, I do feel better.

Hope you are all doing ok?

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Hello all!

Hope you have been enjoying the lovely sunshine? We have! My garden looks lovely (apart from a large hole where my dogs tried to dig up an ants nest) and my washing has been outside airing in the breeze. I even managed to get it inside in time before people started the ritual BBQ burnings! :rotfl:

Money wise - I have updated my sig and am cross with myself as I only paid off £300 off my debts over the last 2 months. Better than nothing I suppose.

I have found out what was eating my electric - and it wasn't the whole street!! I have 2 fish tanks.............and the heater was eating away at 6 units worth per day. So the heater has been turned down now (the weather is warmer now anyway and my living room gets the sun all day) and the lights aren't left on all day.

Also - and this is the best - my electric kettle died and mil bought us a whistling kettle to use on the gas hob! How nice of her! I am well chuffed as we always in credit with the gas.

Hope you are all well and didn't eat all your easter chocolate in 1 go!

Bye for now................x

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And what a rubbish month it was too. I haven't felt this low for a long time. Lots of rows with OH, lots of unneccessary spending on take aways, lots of very unhealthy eating......................lots of worrying but at least May starts tomorrow. huge sigh of relief............

A few birthdays and work collections this month, where £1 is frowned upon so you feel oblidged to put in more, SD birthday as well, never ended.

On a plus note, Npower haven't been round to update my key meter to collect £3 a week for the arrears so I have saved about £20 this month what with turning down heaters in fish tanks!!!! Just as well, overdraft has flu.

And I have started a new healthy eating plan - saw some recent photos of myself and cried buckets. I'm 38 but looked like a mutton dressed as lamb 50 year old. One of my workmates wants to lose weight too so we will be encouraging each other - and that also means cutting down on the spending.

Still going strong with the old stardrops and microfibre cloth. Oh and white vinegar!!!!!

Well I'm babbling now so night all and take care.

xxxx

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Go me!!!! I have almost completed a terrible query at work taht took 6 months so I am well chiuffed.

Spending wise.........

Monday was £28 ish in asda
Tuesday was £1 at work (charity)
Today was £1 for the bonus ball and 34p for a stamp. Needed a first class stamp, 2nd wouldn't do.

Checked Quidco and I have about £10 coming in so in June I will tot up all my quidco earnings and silver, pay it into my bank account and then send a cheque off to HFC.

Hubby may have come up with an extra way of earning more money but I won't say too much at present in case I jinx it........it will be very hard work but will be worth it.

Pay day in 13 days after today..........................

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How are we all? Got a nice weekend planned? I wish I could say I have but we are doing "duty visits" as I call them!!!

Spending.....not bad. Got the dogs worming tablets through Quidco and also got "paid" by them (must know The High Street and Kelkoo inside out by now!) which are in my savings ready for June's payment chunk to HFC. Seems to be taking forever, sigh.

On another note, I've had a bad week and whereas I would normally cheer myself up with a takeaway I resisted and made a nice Quorn curry.

Hubby is getting used to my pick n mix teas (using up store cupboard) and quite likes them!Bless

Not much else money saving to report really, just gotta be patient. But I can't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but I must...................aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggghhhh.

Enjoying others' diaries and posts.

Off now, see you soon.

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Hi!

Quick post before I leave work.....I am going to add up all the change in Branston and pay that in Friday. Then once that has cleared I am going to send a cheque to HFC for the dvd player.

My spending has improved - I have discovered Lidls which is much cheaper in most respects than Asda, and as our Asda is renovating (ie let's change everything round and build things) shopping was becoming a nightmare.

I will also do a new balance to update my signature,please don't expect miracles!

See you later,

XXX

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Hi again!
I have redone my figures - see below. And I have had a long thought and put everything into perspective. I was trying to do too much too soon and getting nowhere..............and ended up spending on my credit card. So a big rap on the knuckles for me! Stressed myself no end.

I have counted up all the silver in Branston - now has a solitary 5p in there, bless and with the bits from quidco I will be paying an extra £45.55 to HFC and the dvd player. Yay! I feel much more in control now and better than I have for days.

Hopefully I can get the groceries down to £100 a month for 2 adults, 3 dogs, 2 cats and 2 fishtanks. If I am very careful I am sure I can.

Well that's it for now. Sorry I've not posted for a while and that the posts are boring when I do..........

Take care!