The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

shrimpy_80

Hi everyone, haven't had chance to post in ages but have been reading in between rushing around trying to get ready to finish work. I don't think I have told you all yet (but I'm losing track so forgive me if I have!) but my operation is this Wednesday... which also happens to be my birthday :rotfl: so I will be AWOL for a bit, then probably posting lots as I will be signed off for 6 weeks! Also, we had our offer accepted on the house and everything seems to be going through (fingers and toes crossed) so its a super busy time at the moment. Last day in work tomorrow so frantically trying to get everything finished as everyone seems to have decided to dump everything on me before I go! If I read one more email starting with the words "Sorry to ask but I know you're off from next week..." Errr, so try asking someone else then? I know I'm good but I'm not that irreplaceable!

Sorry to hear you've been having such a tough time Pilchard, hugs to you and anyone else that needs them.

Love your FB page Dinah, have liked it (SK) and shared it (I think, if that's a thing), hope that's ok?

Sounds like you had a great time Birdie, may end up stalking your FB pics during my convalescence (ditto your NY pics Tete).

So glad things are better for you at work Cinny, and glad Ryder is ok too.

Apologies for all the other many things I meant to comment on and have forgotten, I will see you in a few days when Santa will officially be on the horizon!

tinkerbel

how did the craft fair go Dinah?!

Birdie85

Hope it goes well tomorrow Shrimpy, I'll be thinking of you!

Good deal on the Benefit stuff Wendz! :T

OH was telling me about his friend's advent calendar from his GF last night (she made a string of mini stockings) and said, 'But that's not as good as my bucket advent calendar is it?! Or the new one you're making!'... argh, the pressure's on again! :eek: No idea what to do and the closest decent crafty shop is in a town that's currently under a fair bit of water so not a good idea to be driving there! Never mind thinking about what to put in the darn thing! Seriously unprepared!

Cinny91

Oh Shrimpy! Hope the op goes well. Please let us know how it goes as soon as you can (don't put yourself out of recovery for it though!) We'll be here to keep you entertained on your 6 weeks off

I think your OH is making me glad mine is a grinch, Birdie. Rich expects nothing from Christmas, he just likes spoiling me because it's my favourite day of the year Would not like that pressure!

Feeling all positive today! Was emailing one of my favourite wrestlers last night who said I should try and make something of my wrestler doodles, so I started a new blog this morning and uploaded some of my old cartoons onto it. Going to try and do at least two drawings a week, I was telling OH I think I need a hobby so this seems perfect!

ruby_eskimo

Hope your op goes well Shrimpy, even if it is on your birthday! And congrats on everything going well with the house *fingers crossed* the rest of it goes through smoothly!

Glad things at work are looking up Cinny. I love the idea of the Wrestler themed christmas stencils!

If I got 11 books for Christmas, I'd be the happiest girl in the world Wendz, hope Poppy likes the ones you've got her!

I am seriously considering applying for a credit card. I have to MOT and service the car in the next couple of weeks and I just don't have access to the cash. Yes I have "some" savings but they are locked away in fixed accounts. I'm not worried about being tempted to spend, spend, spend on it, I just always said I never wanted one so I couldn't risk getting into debt (outside of my student stuff and overdrafts)

shrimpy_80

Hi ladies (and NIM) another quick update - I have just had a call from the hospital to cancel my op as the consultant is off sick and he is the only person there who can do the procedure pretty gutted to be honest as I was looking forward to getting it over with, but can't be helped. Have just had a big cake to console myself. Bah.

Birdie85

Oh how frustrating Shrimpy! Have they given you a new date? At least you can do something nice for your birthday though.

Ruby, can you find a CC that will give you something back so you're benefitting from having it? Like cashback or a giftcard etc? If it helps you out for emergencies and tight times then I'd say get it, just be careful with it.

Cinny, a) who were you e-mailing?! b) have you got a link? and c) can you do a Christmas doodle for my OH?!

ruby_eskimo

Aww Shrimpy, at least they didn't just fob you off with someone who might not be as qualified to carry out the op (I have known it to happen in the Trust I previously worked in). Hope you can get a new date soon. I would send you some of my very gooey chocolate brownies, but I don't think they'd do very well in the post!

Birdie, I was looking at the Tesco one, as it's the longest 0% plus I'd get clubcard points. I do shop in Tesco most of the time so I could always use it there and then just transfer the cash over to cover it.

Dinah93

Right, finally a proper catch up.

Did you find a cardi Birdie?

Money this month looks.... erm, ropey. We're going to be roughly £1000 short. Before you all spit tea over your monitors in shock and horror I can explain - NIM has just started his new job, which he's loving, but he didn't get on the payroll in time, so won't be paid until the end of December. And we've had to spend £800ish on car insurance in the last 3 days, and I've spent about £400 setting up the craft business. So it'll be a nice 6 week pay check, but until then we're short.

To try to conquer this I'm spending today working out how to get a facebook shop going, and NIM is going to spend tomorrow night ebaying some of the bigger things we have that people might buy as presents. Worst comes to the worst, we have an overdraft, but I'd much rather find a way to make up the shortfall, then we can pay a chunk off the debt in December.

Craft fair went really well I thought, took 3 orders (would be 4 but I gave her the bunting I had on display) so working on those as soon as I get the store running. I made around £90 too which I thought was quite good. I was quite nervous selling, but my mum had no issue with getting the pocket money off the kids!

Supposed to be going to the Good Food Fair in Birmingham this weekend, have a lovely hotel booked, and mum has come down with a cold. If it is more than a one day thing I don't think we can go as we can't leave Grace with her for the night.

Love the flowers Tete. I'm desperate for this blanket.... http://www.etsy.com/listing/89500561/crochet-floral-baby-blanket-pdf-pattern?ref=usr_faveitems .... I take it that's not something I'd be able to take up crocheting and make within a few weeks?! I keep meaning to send you a Grace pic, she still sleeps under your blanket but it's starting to look a bit comical as all her limbs stick out the various sides now!

Grace was weighed again today, and no gain in two weeks (well 3oz gain, but since she'd just eaten 3.5oz of porridge, no real gain). We're now waiting on a referal to a pediatric gastroenterologist as they think there must be yet another thing going on with her. I'm not actually panicy though, she's not loosing weight, and compared to structurally dodgy lungs and large holes in her heart, throwing up most of what you take in seems destinctly boring in that it's not life threatening!

Stardrops, I did this one at Trimdon Grange community centre, it is really hard to find local fairs, I only heard about this one because it's one of the teachers who works with my mum who organised it. I have to say though I can see how people would get really disheartened, apart from the cake stand I easily had the most sales and given it took me about 100+ hours to get ready for and I maybe made £40 profit on what I sold, it's not exactly a great income.

Go personal on your windows Cinny, not a wrestling fan but I had a smile at the Stark Christmas stencil. I really want to read the series in full but it's so long, I'd love it on kindle though, I'm quickly coming around to the idea of a kindle so I can read anywhere without thinking about it.

Really sorry about your op Shrimpy, have they given you a new date? Great news about the house though. Thank you so much for sharing my page - everytime I get an email saying I have a new liker I get so excited.

Where's your new blog Cinny, would enjoy seeing your doodles.

Re Christmas books - when I was little (well, until I left home really) every year mum did me a book box, full of fiction, craft books, cook books, basically whatever I was into at the time. I absolutely adored it, there was usually about 20 books in there, it was always my favourite present. I had to open it last though as once I had it you'd lost me for at least an hour.

You lurking Poolie? Hows things in your world?

Lara, saw you posting on another thread a few days ago - exciting changes afoot. Hope you're well.

clearmydebts

So sorry to hear about the op Shrimpy x

Nice to get an update Dinah. Well done on the fair. I was v impressed with your produce Thanks for posting in my diary too!