Healthier, wealthier and wiser – My DFW diary!

Marty82

Cherryjack wrote: »

ive just joined upto this one https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/48492845#Comment_48492845

Its just put some money in the sealed pot whenever you have some.. u can set a goal and keep a track of the amount in your signature..
Im wanting a new shed (sad i know) but the one at the bottom of our garden has caved in and i would much rather spend the money on clothes lol.. so this pot is dedicated to it.. hopefully next summer.. at the moment my sons garden toys are getting ruined (weve covered them in plastic in the meantime..but its not ideal, and the caved in version looks so ugly!
I walk in laura ashley and do a you turn, but a factory outlet one with 2nds is much more up my street.. love a bargain

I'll maybe do that for a holiday fund then. I would hate to be having to spend on a shed as it's not exactly an exciting purchase. How much do you need for one?

Cherryjack

Marty82 wrote: »

I'll maybe do that for a holiday fund then. I would hate to be having to spend on a shed as it's not exactly an exciting purchase. How much do you need for one?

Its an awful purchase and the pot may be used for something else lol.. but definetly something to do with the house :-)..will shop around for the shed.. im up late again :rotfl:

Marty82

Cherryjack wrote: »

Its an awful purchase and the pot may be used for something else lol.. but definetly something to do with the house :-)..will shop around for the shed.. im up late again :rotfl:

Were you cleaning again then? I'm up late too again. Think we're the night owls on these forums!

What other stuff are you needing for the house that could be more exciting than a shed?

I see you're going to be ebaying; have you got a target to hit in mind? Have you got a diary btw? Apologies if I've already asked but can't remember who out of those that have posted on my diary I have asked and who I haven't!

Cherryjack

Marty82 wrote: »

Were you cleaning again then? I'm up late too again. Think we're the night owls on these forums!

What other stuff are you needing for the house that could be more exciting than a shed?

I see you're going to be ebaying; have you got a target to hit in mind? Have you got a diary btw? Apologies if I've already asked but can't remember who out of those that have posted on my diary I have asked and who I haven't!

I stopped cleaning once celebrity started :-) dont know what ive been doing really haha.. just lazing and putting some washing on. Got up to get myself a chamomile tea and iced mince pie :rotfl:
Im definelty a night owl , but then i did have a lil kip earlier on.. i feel too hyper? strange..this has to be the energy burst ive been waiting for..
I need everything for the house, carpets.. furniture.. its all on its last legs really and the bathroom is shocking. Really dont need a new clothes or stuff.. the beauty products fill 3 crates eekks...
Next year will be a few trips to see the family, need to wait for the kiddies to be older before we venture abroad. Hopefully by then i will be a responsible debt free adult.. im hoping!
Ive got 4 boxes full of ebay stuff and ive been so busy cleaning that ive missed the free listing weekend.. bit of a pain (so will attempt it next weekend when OH is working)..
I havent posted my SOA up, but cccs have done one for me, and im sticking to it and making as much savings as i can. Think im too scared to put it up at the min but me and OH have 19,000 debts between us GULP.. ive got 3 defaults reistered last year. Thats our lowest point - do they just leave after 6 years? ive been very good for 12 months now, so seeing some good stuff on my file, but i have very poor credit. No diary just yet but something to consider, having too much fun reading all yours lot..

Lemon_Tree

i used to be on these boards until the very late hours but in the past 6 months or so i don't seem to be spending as much time on here, maybe it's because i'm getting so close to my debt free date.
oh and i wish my bills were for a victorian terrace, we have a one bed flat instead, but i don't think we do too badly it's just more than i could afford historically.

i'm going to set the cat amongst the pigeons with what i'm about to say but i think you're using the hope of getting a lodger as an excuse to spend money, i'm saying this from experience as i'm a terror for finding any excuse to go and spend spend spend. there would have been many ways to achieve covering furniture etc without spending so much, charity shops often have nice throws or even bargain stores, they may not have looked so perfect but you're likely to find if you do get a lodger that they want to make their mark on their room anyway and you cat isn't going to care if it gets a posh blanket furry/dirty with paw prints etc or a cheapy throw.
I hope you don't mind me pipping up but you need to replace your boiler much more urgently than you need to cover chairs etc and every penny you spend at the moment more than you need to is more money that you have to borrow to cover the cost of something essential.
Sorry....you can evict me from your thread if you want to.....

Marty82

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

i used to be on these boards until the very late hours but in the past 6 months or so i don't seem to be spending as much time on here, maybe it's because i'm getting so close to my debt free date.
oh and i wish my bills were for a victorian terrace, we have a one bed flat instead, but i don't think we do too badly it's just more than i could afford historically.

i'm going to set the cat amongst the pigeons with what i'm about to say but i think you're using the hope of getting a lodger as an excuse to spend money, i'm saying this from experience as i'm a terror for finding any excuse to go and spend spend spend. there would have been many ways to achieve covering furniture etc without spending so much, charity shops often have nice throws or even bargain stores, they may not have looked so perfect but you're likely to find if you do get a lodger that they want to make their mark on their room anyway and you cat isn't going to care if it gets a posh blanket furry/dirty with paw prints etc or a cheapy throw.
I hope you don't mind me pipping up but you need to replace your boiler much more urgently than you need to cover chairs etc and every penny you spend at the moment more than you need to is more money that you have to borrow to cover the cost of something essential.
Sorry....you can evict me from your thread if you want to.....

Afternoon LT,

You are evicted! Haha, only kidding. Part of the point of my diary is to get the advice and opinions of others whatever they think.

You are probably right and I am probably fooling myself with some of my spending. I am only at the beginning of my journey so will no doubt make some mistakes but hopefully I will learn from them. Part of the "new me" was meant to be visiting charity shops to seek out bargains which hasn't happened yet but I fully intend that it will happen soon.

Have you managed to curb your desire to spend, spend, spend using any excuse you can think of? I hope I will manage to curb mine but I have to say that I am already more canny with my shopping as it is.

Marty82

Cherryjack wrote: »

I stopped cleaning once celebrity started :-) dont know what ive been doing really haha.. just lazing and putting some washing on. Got up to get myself a chamomile tea and iced mince pie :rotfl:
Im definelty a night owl , but then i did have a lil kip earlier on.. i feel too hyper? strange..this has to be the energy burst ive been waiting for..
I need everything for the house, carpets.. furniture.. its all on its last legs really and the bathroom is shocking. Really dont need a new clothes or stuff.. the beauty products fill 3 crates eekks...
Next year will be a few trips to see the family, need to wait for the kiddies to be older before we venture abroad. Hopefully by then i will be a responsible debt free adult.. im hoping!
Ive got 4 boxes full of ebay stuff and ive been so busy cleaning that ive missed the free listing weekend.. bit of a pain (so will attempt it next weekend when OH is working)..
I havent posted my SOA up, but cccs have done one for me, and im sticking to it and making as much savings as i can. Think im too scared to put it up at the min but me and OH have 19,000 debts between us GULP.. ive got 3 defaults reistered last year. Thats our lowest point - do they just leave after 6 years? ive been very good for 12 months now, so seeing some good stuff on my file, but i have very poor credit. No diary just yet but something to consider, having too much fun reading all yours lot..

I'm a night owl too and absolutely detest mornings. My sleeping pattern is unfortunately messed up anyway just now thanks to my medication. Grrr.

It sounds like you've got a fair task on your hands with your house. Did you take it on with the intention to do it up or have all these things crept up on you?

You should post an SOA, a list of your debts and start a diary as I have found it really helpful for listing everything that has been done and still needs to be done. Hopefully it will provide a record of my progress and allow me to gain the help and support of others who are in a similar situation as well as offering any help or support that I can too.

Marty82

Happy Monday everyone!


How is everyone? Good start to the week?


Post today was the welcome pack for my new Co-operative Bank savings account and a letter and pack from RBS telling me that they are changing my account and increasing the monthly payment! I am still to decide whether to take the offer of a new account as I'm not sure whether it is worth the payment. I only really have the account because of the mobile phone insurance so will investigate getting that separately. Does anyone have any tips as I'm not sure whether mobile phone insurance is obtainable via comparison sites? There was also a courier delivery card but thankfully the item was at my neighbour's flat rather than back at the depot. I'm sure I didn't hear anyone at the door but no harm done.


The delivery was the 2 in 1 steam mop and cleaner that I had ordered off a shopping channel. Once assembled I immediately set to work steaming my mattress and memory foam pillows on which the cat had left her message! It seems to have done the trick as the smell is gone but will go over them a few times just in case. Also cleaned the inside of the UPVC window frames which came up a treat. I can see this machine becoming quite an obsession which is odd as I hate cleaning!


Then moved onto phoning my creditors for the missing account numbers and their bank details so I can set up standing orders. All were really nice apart from one so thinking about sending them a nasty letter which I am getting quite good at writing! Then phoned the Energy Saving Trust who are calling me back tomorrow and turn2us who need more details, including last financial year's full income, before they can search for grants and benefits. Called the tax office who are sending the details so can hopefully phone turn2us again by the end of the week. Have called the British Gas Energy Trust who are sending me an application pack. They may be able to help with energy arrears, boiler replacement and even general debts! Fingers crossed. Printed out all the creditor letters and have also enclosed my SOA and list of debts in the envelopes. Also wrote a complaint letter to Ortak Jewellery about poor service I received so it's a trip to the post box later.


Phoned Tesco customer services to find out the whereabout of my clothing order which was due to be delivered to the nearest store on Sunday. It turns out the order has been at the store since Saturday morning but they failed to inform me. Was rather annoyed so made a complaint and they are getting back to me. Will go and collect the order this evening as I need milk and petrol anyway and will use the bonus point coupons which came with my statement. They are all for 25 extra points when you spend £1 on specific categories so they'll break even if I use a four times deal after my next statement. Will only spend on essentials and as close to the pound as possible as a meant to be using up the current stocks.


Waiting to hear from Santander about the current account I applied for with the £100 cashback and Top Cashback on top. Need a new account as I apparently should have my account with a bank which I am not in debt too so thought I might as well go for one with some added perks.


Had to spend £24 online at John Lewis for a wedding gift for my friend's wedding on Sunday. Got three napkin rings which looked rather nice on her list. Still need to hire a kilt which will be another expense as well as a taxi to the wedding and drinking money at it. Think it's going to be an expensive week. Argh!

The_Dragon

It sounds as though things are coming together BUT STOP SPENDING!!

Marty82

The_Dragon wrote: »

It sounds as though things are coming together BUT STOP SPENDING!!

Thanks. I know but some of it has been necessary (wedding gift, winter coat and boots from Tesco, steam cleaner to clean up after cat) but I do agree that some hasn't been (throws from BHS).

How are you doing today anyway? I'm rather chilly and having to drink fruit tea as no milk!