On the up!

snozberry

Introductions are incredibly difficult things to write, don't you think? I can't tell you how many opening lines I have typed and promptly deleted. What am I like?! I guess that I should just let my fingers type a load of waffle and hope for the best.

Introducing little [STRIKE]old[/STRIKE] young moi
If I stick to making my monthly repayments to the bank, I would be debtfree sometime after my *shudder* 40th birthday. That horrific day is five years away. I'd really like to celebrate the big 4-oh by soaking up the sun and knocking back mojitos without fretting about the cost. Worrying about money does nothing to help keep the fine lines and grey hair at bay!

Anyway, I live on my own, have an amazing fella. No kids but have a few furbabies instead.

My problemo
In a nutshell, I owe 7.5k. I did have an eye wateringly high overdraft as well but I managed to pay that off in a year. It doesn't really matter how I amassed the debt. What matters is that I have learnt from it.

Little things matter
From reading other peoples posts, I have finetuned my life in many ways. So far I ...
+ Survey. I hate surveys with a passion but every little helps
+ Shopnscan. I really like SNS - much easier and less time consuming.
+ Ask myself 'do you really need it?' when out and about.
+ Reduced my shopping bill. The bulk of my wages used to be spent in the supermarket - not anymore!
+ I keep a spending diary
+ I have a separate bank account for bills (I have always done this)
+ I make better use of my freezer. Once upon a time I would have been revolted at the thought of eating leftovers. Now, I actively aim to make and freeze an extra portion. Homemade 'readymeals' are so much nicer anyway.
+ I love money boxes for loose change!

What do I need from an online MS diary?
Keeping motivated is my biggest problem. It is too easy to be complacent and stick with making one repayment a month. It is budgetted for and comes out of my bills account so I never really notice it gone. I need this debt gone asap so that the interest paid is minimal.

I also need to stop dipping into my savings account in the run up to payday. I need to stop bailing myself out.

My goals

+ To work on my fitness level

I have gym membership but I can't remember the last time I went. I really enjoy swimming but, when I get home, I just can't be bovvered. I'm not overweight but I do need to tone up.

+ Not to give up with surveys.

I find them tedious and dull.

+ To be a domestic goddess.

I am a messy sod. Clean but messy. I really do need to work on this.

23/10/11-31/12/11
Surveys, cb, SNS & MS (£64.92/£50 - £16.92 more than planned. Good!)

1/1/12 - End of Easter
Surveys, cb, ebay, SNS & MS (£172.55/£50) £122.55 more than planned. Super!)

Easter - 1st September goal
Surveys, cb, ebay, SNS & MS (£471.13/£300) £141.13 more than planned and I increased my goal on three occasions. I am really getting into the swing of things now. Good!

1st September - 31st December goal
Surveys, cb, ebay, SNS & MS £198.82/£300

NSD ~ 2012

JAN - 13/31 42%
FEB - 18/29 62% :j :T

MARCH - 11/31 35%

APRIL - 16/30 53%
JULY -7/31 23% SHOCKING!!!
AUGUST - 6/31 19% TERRIBLE!!!

snozberry

One thing to note is that my diary will not be full of 'I will do's' because they are, in my mind, a recipe for disaster. Instead, my diary will be full of 'today, my darlings, I ...'. I want to state my achievements. I want to celebrate each tiny fairy step I make towards being debt free.

So ... let's practice!

Today, my darlings, I ...
+ got two of my homemade ready meals out of the freezer for tea. We are having chicken and veg curry with rice I bought when it was BOGOF and the naan was on special offer. I will live out of my freezer and not run off to the nearest supermarket when I don't know what I fancy for tea.

Yesterday, I used my 'spend fifty quid and get a tenner off' voucher at Mr S. Stocked up on loads of offers as well . I have three more of these vouchers to use. Happy days!

Need to do my ironing now - eek! One chore that I can't stand. When I am rich, I might employ an ironing lady. Oh, I can dream!

snozberry

I was paid today - woohoo! And now I am skint again . All bills have been paid and I have moved a chunk of my wage out of harms reach. Guddo! Also, for the first time in months, I wasn't screened out of a survey. Signed up to two mystery shopping sites. I can't wait to get my first assignment

prettypaula

welcome Snozberry!

sounds like you have your head screwed on right

good luck! x

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi and welcome x

snozberry

Hi prettypaula and beatthedebt!

Right-e-o ... my week off work is proving to be quite expensive. Two of my furbabies are at the vets this week for their annual check-up and jabs. I wanted them to have their teeth cleaned but my vet is back after a week off and, because of that, everybody beat me to and all the appointments went (good vets are rarer then hens teeth!). This will have to wait until I have my next holibobs

We went to Costco yesterday and we only bought pop and tupperware. What is wrong with us??! We usually spend a fortune in there. We also had a nose around the shopping centre and, everytime I spied something nice, a little voice in my head kept saying, 'now, now snozzle, do you really need it?' or 'OMG! How much?! Is it *really* worth it?' Oh heck!

I *think* that I have my first mystery shopping gig. It isn't until November though and, I'm not being funny, I don't want to eat fast food for them all of the time. I'd quite like to shop in all of the posh designer shops. Could do with a nice pair of Louboutin's or the lastest designer handbag! Oh yes, I can picture it now haha

Just created a signature. Small goals

Just done another survey and didn't get screened out of it. Only need 530 more points and then I have a tenner. whoop!

snozberry

Defo have my first Mystery Shopping gig booked - wahey! It isn't until mid November though but I am registered with three places so, with any luck, I will get more bookings. I hope so anyway. Could do with the pennies ...

I reinstated my ebay account. I just need to pluck up the willpower to list my tat.

Oh yeah ... yesterday was a NSD. Today isn't though because I had to take my furbaby to the vets. The vets seem like to be my second home these days *le sigh*

snozberry

Back to work tomorrow after a lovely week off work

I have joined the weekly spends challenge. My budget for the week is £60. It's a bit high but I need to buy petrol and I have two more 'spend fifty quid and have a tenner off' voucher at Mr S. I'm using the voucher to stock up and to buy Christmas prezzies.

Anyhoo, let's have some goals for the week.
1. Complete more training modules for Mystery Shopping.
2. Packed lunch everyday.
3. 10pm bed time every night this week.
4. Keep on top of the housework (I struggle with this in the week)
5. Get up when the alarm goes off and not after I have pressed 'snooze' fifty million times.

ooohhhh I have enough shopandscan points. I have converted them to House of Fraser vouchers. This brings the grand total to £40. My other vouchers are just sitting upstairs waiting for sale time.

GreenSaints

Hi,

Just found your diary *subscribed*

Keep up the good work

snozberry

Hello GreenSaints

Ok, I have spent nothing today - woohoo! And, I have a mystery shop gig on Friday. It is in a mobile phone shop and I hate shops like that with a passion.

I have a couple of surveys to do tonight. Hopefully, I won't be screened out of them.

I have a bit of work to do and I. Will. Go. To. The. Gym. tonight!!

snozberry

Today is my third NSD on the trot - wahey!!!!!!