No More! debtfree2015's diary

MuffinTops

Hi DebtFree, how's the site going? I've got a website too which I'm currently looking into advertising for, although I'm offering a service more than products.

Do you have any advertising plans in place to get more people to your site? Am I allowed to ask these questions on here?

How are you getting on with your christmas shopping? I'm off out tomorrow to get some although I have a list this year of what I'm buying and who for. For the first time (I think ever) I won't be paying for Christmas half way through the next year! It's a lovely feeling.

Anyway, I hope all is good with you and that a good night's rest sorted out your burning eyes. Take care.

debtfree2015_2

Hi Muffin, I dont advertise as such, Ive loaded products to search engines though thats it for now.
Ive started a blog, though I havent been very active as been sidetracked with all going on, will knuckle down on that!

I got on my course!!!! Got letter today...I was a little down at first, as after a brief phone call I got the gist that I may get the course fee reduced, but its unlikely Il get help towards aditional childcare or travel & the massive registration fee.

I will be able to do it if I delay the car, though the whole point of rushing to get a car was because its not the safest of areas after dark, but Il just have to chance it!

I can't believe it I am soooo excited:T:j:T:j

debtfree2015_2

DD enjoyed her birthday cake, and the day was a success, just the two of us, but lovely

I just tried to sign on to barclays, my pinsentry reader wouldnt turn on, after wriggling the card about it did, then turned itself off before I could press identify, then rejected the card.

The woman said it would be £6 to replace!!! !!!!!!???? I didnt ask for the stupid thing to begin with, why should I pay for something they want me to have? I would understand if I had lost it, or broken it but its been in the same place it always is, not dropped or thrown about, I actually thought it was the batteries at first, then read that they last 5-7 years which is why I called them.

I was not impressed to say the least!

getting my filing system in order today, dd is still distracted by her new toys, so grab the time whilst I can

debtfree2015_2

Not much to report today.

NSD, dd's first ever christmas play tomorrow, am very excited!

Will be spending on thursday, as need to get the bus to college to officially enroll on course woohooo!

MuffinTops

Sorry, I've not been on for a few days but what great news to come on and read. Congratulations on getting into the course as it didn't sound like an easy task. I'm sorry to hear you won't be getting any financial help which puts you into the car dilemma.

All I can say is that if you have to walk through areas in the dark walk boldly and confidently, head up and full strides. Keep a nice heavy torch on you too as those are best for really lighting the safer path!

Good luck with your enrollment. Can you ask them about the safety of the area at night? I cycle home mainly along a busy A road, but at one point there's this really dark and dingy area with a little tunnel. I first cycled through in daylight and thought "this will be a pillagers fantasy in the dark!" so was really nervous about cycling through there in the dark! I spent days on GoogleEarth trying to find a winter alternative! Oddly enough, I now feel that's the safest part of my route! The tunnel is lit up like a runway and it's so quiet that it's easy to hear if there's anyone loitering the other side of the tunnel. It's rare for anyone other than another cyclist to be around.

I hope it all goes well. Let us know how it all goes? :j

debtfree2015_2

Thanks Muffin, good idea re the torch!


Nervous re enrollement, I spoke called them initially a woman was really off with me when I asked if there was any help with childcare.....her attitude just made me feel so low as in how dare I ask, praying she isnt the one Im speaking to tomorrow.

DD was in her christmas play yesterday, she is so so so shy, didnt sing a word even though we had been practicing all week. Its weird, as she thought it would be funny just to blow raspberries at the audience, its almost like she wants to join in but cant/wont so this raspberry thing is a new thing the past few weeks....wouldnt mind if she was 1! Trying to ignore but its very embarrassing

I will have to reduce my cc payments to their minimums for the next few months - unless the college agree to help with childcare for the first month. ATM I pay £5 extra on two, and £15 extra on the highest rate, will be a bit of a let down, but Im hoping if I make savings on food shops some weeks, I can just add a little extra.

It works out, although dd qualifies for 3yr old funding, the college can only claim in Jan or April, the course starts in March, so I either need to start her in Jan, but need to find bus fares to get there and back, or start in March, but Il have to pay full wack until they can claim funding. Fingers crossed for a good outcome

debtfree2015_2

Well, Im almost jumping for joy, but I will wait until its confirmed in writing.

Im officially on the course, I spoke to student services, the manager said I will get a contribution towards the equipment, the exam fees, travel & childcare!!! Woooohooooo!!!!

Although it came from his mouth, I wont jump around just yet, until Ive got it here in black and white, Ive sent my paperwork of today so I should know in the new year, unless they turn it around super quick. I had £2 in the bank and nothing on me, I actually had to go to the bank in person to request it out just so I could post the documents off

I cant see any issues coming up, but just a few months ago funding was cancelled, then back on a month later....all due to gov changes so thats the reason for being a bit cautious anything can happen overnight as Ive learnt!
But still, I am feeling a lot happier, that I am almost there:T
My spreadsheet shows without the funding, I just cant go ahead without defaulting on one debt or going into a dmp, but with funding, I should be ontrack to replace my car by autumn before it starts getting dark at night again so hoping nothing changes between today and when they process application.

Whilst in town popped into sainsburies, spent £17 on cc (£2 in my acc) on cupboard foods ie tins, pasta, instant mash, biscuits (all value) 1 toy car (1.25)& 6 christmassy biscuit boxes (89p each) for my visitors over new year - no money for proper presents this year so thats the most I can do.

I have plenty of frozen veg & my healthy start vouchers for fruit and milk.....
They have saved us on more than one occasion since Ive been out of work, I never would have thought £3.10 could make such a difference.

DD has her christmas party at nursery, then she is off until 9th Jan - thats ages...... Im sure we used to break up around the 22nd and be back by 4/5th Jan when I was at school, she will be begging to go back by the 9th, gets very bored at home no matter how much we do!

debtfree2015_2

Found a diary, with my debt at its highest point £19K:eek:
It dropped majorly when I sold my car when I had to leave work, and has trickled down since. My loan is the big payment £170 monthly so that helps me knock it down fast, the cc's are tiny payments once interest is added!

Still it made me feel good that I have made progress, although things are hard they wont always be hard.

Need to put more effort in with my shop, I was raring to go at first, now I keep getting demoralised with the lack of sales but really Im not making the most of the available products that I could list - just pure laziness, so I will be putting my all into it from now on, its only been 3 months come end of december, so still time for things to improve.

Really need to make this work, though the course will enable me to work in another area, it would be good to have another source of income.

Making a start today, setting myself a target of 10 products to load.

debtfree2015_2

Apologies diary for neglecting you, been busy since dd stopped nursery.

I hit my target of uploading an additional 10 products, targetting myself with the same today!

2012 is going to be successful, I am determined. Ive been fretting about struggling to find work, when really if I just put my all into the shop and have a bit of patience it will grow!

Talking of growing, DD has had a growth spurt, her trousers are ankle swingers & tights are falling down...she needs 3-4 in length, but 18-24months in waist size
I normally put her in tights because of this, but the new nursery is linked to a farm, they often go through the fields etc so she will need joggers, jeans hard wearing type bottoms, especially for winter, in spring/summer good old leggings are a favourite!

I ordered cheaper jeans from Asda for when she had this growth spurt.....they fit her in the leg but fall down on the waist. Belts are no good as they are so big they look ridiculous, on the one pair of jeans belts would help, dd cant undo them to go to the toilet which is a must for nursery - her words 'Im a big girl now mummy I do it' :rotfl:
laredoute was recommended - I loved the prices on there but wary of the reviews, not for the products but delivery times & payments duplicated etc!

Second recommendation was Next, supposed to be a slimmer fit. So I ordered a few pairs of trousers - I have an account from when dd was a baby, which Ive never really touched which means I can return them if they dont fit right - but I have tucked away the money so if they fit I can make a payment right away so it wont add to my debt! I was choking looking at the prices, but thinking back to all her clothes she has had, the next items picked up from ebay, bootsales & charity shops are the items that have lasted time and time again, so hoping its a wise move.
ASDA denim was good too....when it fitted her!

I have been checking charity shops, I found that charity shops in poorer areas have brilliant things - this is quite a rich area though you'd never think it by the charity shops. Cant get to local bootsales (no car & no buses on sundays!) and ebay is hit and miss, though I do check that often.

I will keep the jeans that are ankle swingers, she may be able to wear them as 3/4 lengths in the summer, if not Il chop them into shorts!

Listed 2 dvds on ebay, they finish friday, already got £4 combined which is brill as I wasnt sure they would sell!

Food shop yesterday, spent over budget @ £25, but that did include a present at £5 for dds godfather, so without that I would have been in budget.

off to watch a christmassy film with dd, if I can find one that is!

I should be back on before christmas, but if not, merry christmass diary & readers :T

debtfree2015_2

bit of a quiet day today, little bit of housework, a film, a puzzle with dd.....I am shocked at the lack of christmassy films or childrens films on the standard chanels, considering children are off school, would have thought they would make it more interesting for them!

LSD today £5.

Will pop out tomorrow to post ebay items if they have paid, plus pick up a little desert for christmas day.

Had egg and chips for dinner today - so so so lazy of me, but we had cheesy pasta for lunch to needed something light & quick.... However when I cracked one of my eggs I found a little chicken fetus(sp) inside, not the normal stringy bit, it was about the size of a 5pence & solid, thought I was going made at first, googled it to make sure. Made me feel sick

Ive created my first little christmas tradition, through out dec, 'father christmas' has magically put a chocolate on the tree for little miss to find after bathtime.
A few times he has forgotten (naughty!) and Ive had to phone him and find a way to sneak it on the tree whilst little miss eyes are glued to the tree questionning why he is late today:rotfl:

This is the first year she has really understood father christmas. She knows him on tv & when she sees him in the street. Still dont think she realises that on christmas day she will wake up to presents! Next year though she will probably remember last year so it will carry on getting more and more magical until she stops believing and starts demanding gadgets!

Cant wait for 2012, I know its going to be a huge year for me wooohoooo!!!