Boarding the Bus of Positivity (for 24 months of travels!)

debtfreesomeday

Ds and I had a much better day today. We got out of the house a lot and went to a large park with a lake, kids play area, walks etc around a 20 minute drive away. We had a lovely hour or so there, mostly watching the ducks (Ds's favourite!) and then drove onto the local waterfront area and went for another walk to watch the boats coming and going. I always feel better being near open water, it makes me calm again! Parking was free in both instances, but I did buy a hot drink for myself and a piece if cake for Ds and I to share as he was getting obviously peckish.

I'd like to think the night will be better tonight, but I'm sceptixak. Fingers crossed though!

Dfsd

Chocforever

It sounds like you had a nice day today. i didn't manage to get out of the office today at all - normally I at least get a stroll out at lunchtime - so I am envious of your visit to the park. It sounds really lovely.

I hope you are all fast asleep as I type this.

Maybe next time you have the urge to organise a BBQ (!), you could copy what one of my friends does. She and her husband are very sociable and the kindest of people that are always entertaining. She will have a list of what is required for an event like a BBQ where lots of people are invited and then allocates this around the group. It sounds very regimented but, actually, the list only takes a few minutes to allocate and I prefer to know exactly what food and/or drink I need to bring. There is also the bonus that other people wash and cut up most of the salad stuff and even get to take their dish back home afterwards to wash up! You are just too sociable (and nice) a person.

Take care x

debtfreesomeday

We've had a rough few nights since I last posted, but last night was better and we probably got 5-6 hours sleep which is a record lately. We were shattered at the weekend, but did manage to get out for some walks to keep us sane.

Today I've had the day off and have got lots of cleaning done as well as 4 loads of washing, mostly line dried too.

I've listed 15 or so lots on eBay and 1 book on amazon. The eBay bids are currently up to £27.50 already which I'm surprised about.

9 days until payday and it can't come quick enough!

debtfreesomeday

I'm off again today but not feeling great as I still have this bad throat and cough that I can't shake off; it's been three weeks now. When DS eventually stopped screaming and went to sleep at 1am, this stupid cough kept me awake for the rest of the night.

Anyway, I have managed to get another load of washing done which is currently drying on the line. Keeping an eye on the weather though as it's threatening rain.
I've hoovered downstairs, just upstairs to do later now, and the dreaded ironing.

This morning I've chased Tesco Clubcard yet again about my missing 20,000 clubcard points from a mobile phone deal back in December. I emailed them again last week which was ignored, so phoned them today. Apparently it may take them another 3 days to get back to me. Not happy. :mad:

Last week I ordered a T-shirt for hubby's birthday from Amazon Marketplace; his birthday's not until the summer but I buy things I think people might like when I see them at a reasonable price. I received it today and there's a flippin' spelling mistake on the front!!! :mad: I've just emailed the seller and put a claim in through Amazon as it appears the seller is actually based in the US which is not evident when ordering, so I'm expecting difficulties in returning and refunding. Why can't things just be done right, first time???

I'm hoping to have another look at our budgets later and try and get a bit motivated to do something about the state of our finances. We are over £100 O/D and we have been relying on the credit card too much this month. It's so hard to keep on top of things and go the extra mile when sleep deprived. It's difficult stringing a sentence together some days at the moment!

DFSD

debtfreesomeday

I managed to put my head down and get a couple of hours sleep this afternoon whilst DS is at nursery. Can't say I feel any better for it though.

I have completed a couple more surveys this afternoon, screened out of two but gained a few more points. I'm only a survey or two away from a £10 Amazon voucher with one company which will go towards buying a present for a birthday.

I have also opened a Lloyds ISA (with £1!) and filled in the form to transfer my Halifax ISA to the new Lloyds Account. There is only £80 in there but I want easy access to the ISA when I have a few spare £'s to put in it and the Halifax one got incredibly difficult to use after we transfered it to an online account.

I have also taken the credit card out of my purse and putit away for now. I want to cut it up, but hubby is a bit nervous about doing so. We'll see how we get on without it next month and if we 'survive' then it'll be getting the scissor treatment!

I have also been looking at the grocery challenge and plan to join for May's grocery budget. I think we're going to have to give the online shopping the heave ho and go back to the Aldi run for fresh produce instead.

Ebay items up to around £36 which is great.
DFSD

Chocforever

Hi

You are doing really well persevering with Ebay, Amazon, surveys etc. It is all hard work and time consuming and it must be a struggle to keep it up when you are tired. The effort may not result in no overdraft but you are minimising the amount of that overdraft which is still progress.

Recently, I have taken a bit more notice about how much I am spending on food. I know it is hardly news that food prices have gone up, but I was surprised just how much wheat-based products have gone up. And chocolate - today I noticed it was 90p for a small bag of choc buttons!

The quality of my diet has really dropped over the last few weeks and I think it is time I bought some decent food and cut back on the junk I am buying from newsagents and small supermarkets that always sell the expensive lines. A double incentive to make some effort.

I have had a really trying week with (short term) sleep deprivation from working too many hours. I am looking forward to life going back to normal as soon as possible!

Take care x

debtfreesomeday

I know what you mean about the price of food Chocs, everything seems to be extortionate and going up from one week to the next!
I went to Aldi again yesterday to pick up some fresh produce; it is so much cheaper and the fresh items are usually good (unless we go late in the day), but I do find it frustrating that we can't get everything we need in one supermarket. It's such a hassle to traipse around the different stores with DS in tow and then carry all the shopping and DS into the house and put it away. It's a shame that our online grocery shop experiment was not more successful as it was so much easier. The last Sainsbury's shop we had cost over £50 and there was hardly anything to show for it really.

When will your working hours get back to being more civilised? Don't wear yourself out too much. From experience, I can tell you sleep deprivation is not fun! :rotfl:

debtfreesomeday

Yesterday I cut the credit card up. There. It's done. No more spending money we don't have. I don't know the exact figure, but the balance has tipped the £2K mark which frightens me, we can't go back to where we were a few years ago with a massive credit card debt. I find it's too easy to use the credit card to pay for things when we are low on money in the bank account and it adds up before I know it, so I think the only way for us is to be without it.

We are also £200+ overdrawn. It's been an absolutely ridiculous month money-wise, we've just absolutely lost track being so tired and so down that I've hardly paid attention to the finances. We'll try our best to claw it back as soon as we can once we get paid. Unfortunately, we have an expensive month coming up with two weddings to attend and a long distance drive, but we'll just have to do the best we can.

I would like to reduce our available overdraft, as we have an overdraft facility of £1500 which we have never used, I don't even know why it's so high to be honest. This month is the most we've been overdrawn for years, so I'd like to bring it down and leave less of a buffer there to encourage us to keep a closer eye on the money we have left, so we don't go overdrawn in the future.

Ebay bids are up to almost £50 which is good overall, although I am disappointed on how low some of the items are selling for, some of the nicer items too. Most are only just over £1 with just two items making up the most of the money made so far. I guess I have to look at the overall picture though.

I have a few more bits to put on ebay but nothing of high value, so I am going to wait until I've stockpiled a little more. I've taken a tip from another MSE-er and put a bin bag at the bottom of my wardrobe into which I can put ebay stuff as and when I come across things (or as and when DS grows out of stuff!).

This week, I traded in some games on Amazon that hubby no longer wanted. I had an email today to say there is a gift card for £12.90 credited to our Amazon account, so that will go towards something else.

I've had a few more surveys to do too, but have also been screened out of a lot, so still only one survey away from cashing my points in for an Amazon voucher.

This weekend will have to be a free one for us, or very close to it. Hopefully the weather will be kind but I think the reports are saying otherwise.

Have a good weekend all

DFSD

wantabetterlife

Hi DFSD, the whole money saving lark is so much more difficult when your tired...i have been there too, but you will get back on track so dont worry. Credit cards are such a temptation to a spender, its like constantly waving a pack of cigarettes infront of someone who is trying to give up smoking...sooner or later you will crack. Its must have been a tough decision to cut the card up as its a bit like removing your security blanket but it will be worth it in the long run as you cant spend the money if you dont have it. Hopefully the ebay bids will go up a bit before they are finished, i find it a bit hit and miss too, the things you expect to make money often sell for very little and the "junk" you put on makes loads...last year i sold my old broken laptop that didnt even switch on for £72!!!...i honestly thought if i got a tenner for it i would be doing well. Hsve a good weekend xo

Chocforever

Hi

Workwise, I am hoping it was just 10 days or so of craziness. I think I will be quite busy for the next few weeks, but it should be more manageable. It is so hard to get the balance right, isn't it? I find that if I haven't much on at work, there is no sense of urgency and I become very unproductive. When I am busy, I am much more efficient and enjoy it more. But I would like a decent amount of sleep and a social life too!

I really want to get around to putting a few things on Ebay this weekend. I put one item of clothing on there last weekend. Something nice and yet it looks like there won't be any interest so it will be down the charity shop next week. As wantabetterlife said, you just never know with Ebay.

I have a few things to list that will definitely sell (e.g. vouchers) and I would like to get rid of some of my outdoors and walking stuff because I hardly go (hill) walking anymore and would like to create a bit of space here.

I need to spend some time cleaning and tidying because the place had become a tip whilst I have been busy.

I could do with catching up with some charity paperwork and need to start on their accounts.

Oh, and an appearance at the gym wouldn't go amiss.

Hmm, this weekend is looking busier than I thought!

Best wishes x