Muchin's diary of recover; becoming debt free and being happy

Munchin

Hi all

I've been very productive today. I'm back to work on Wed but I decided to make the most of today and tomorrow by painting the kitchen & bathroom. Ok I haven't started painting yet but went and bought paint £119:eek: - again I made the mistake of bringing my Mum so there was about £20 of her stuff in my shop. The kitchen was looking so shabby it was getting embarrassing. I've washed the ceiling, walls, skirting boards etc. I've done my best with a crack in the ceiling and I've just sat down. I'm not going to start painting tonight as the light isn't good (my excuse:)). It's another £100 out of my savings but I'd rather spend that and have a nice kitchen & bathroom.

I'm also waiting for a guy to call about a new kitchen door. I've got new loft & cavity wall insulation but the door lets us down as a gale blows through it. I will have to raid the c union savings but it will be worth it. On the positive side at least I know what I'm spending my money on.

I would love a new kitchen but a lick of paint will have to do until I am debt free and have some proper savings.

Munchin

Morning world,

I got my quote yesterday for the new front door, £700:eek:. Maybe I was being a bit unrealistic hoping it would be £400ish but I think £700 is a bit steep. I'm going to get 2 more quotes first.

I'm supposed to have started painting but as you can see I'm on my diary. I'm going to set myself mini targets today. Kitchen ceiling painted, bathroom ceiling washed & painted by 12. In the afternoon I want to have the first coat of paint on the kitchen walls and bathroom walls and this to be done by 5. Our bathroom is teeny so it it can be done quite quickly.

Jeremy Kyle has just come on TV so that is a good reason to leave the living room and start painting:D

Munchin

Oh, I'm shattered:). The kitchen is painted and put back in order. I have the bathroom ceiling painted (twice) and the walls washed down but I didn't manage to get the bathroom walls painted. I will do that this weekend.

So the plan for tonight is tea & toast and "The Great British Bake off".

I feel great to have the kitchen done as it was a state

Munchin

Morning everyone

I had planned to go to the gym this morning but my duvet was far more tempting and I think I might go for a run this afternoon with a mate.

So I went back to work on Wed and I might take another week off to recover. Hopefully I got all the probs sorted yesterday but we'll see.

On the 'Preparing for Winter' front I have the loft insulated and the walls full of cavity wall insulation (thank you NIE). I've ordered a new door for the kitchen but I didn't want to dip into my savings again so I'm going to approach my credit union.:o. I have savings with them and I don't want to use up these savings so will ask for a loan. OH wants to go on hols in Nov and we're already away in Oct so I need my savings for that. I keep saying to myself that at least I know where my money is going but I just wish I had more of a nest egg built up but that is the plan for next year.

So now I'm 100% sure that I won't be debt free by the end of the year but I will be shot of the car loan.

It's time I got ready for work. Have a good day everyone:D

Munchin

Morning all,

I need to get into gear and get to Pilates. I have updated my winter list and am really pleased that the bathroom & kitchen have both been painted this week. I still need to gloss the doors but that is a job when there are no pets or kids about.

Munchin wrote: »

List as at 6 Sept -.

Winter Checklist

Clothes
[STRIKE]Wash all coats, scarves gloves [/STRIKE]- done
Repair or buy new socks - visit to Primark
Check Wellingtons - use Mum's
Polish all shoes and boots
Go back through clothing checking what you need and what you need to replace. Think - what will I wear - what do I need? - will do it when I'm on leave in Oct
Put away all your summer clothes in either those vacuum bags or in a suitcase for the following year. - Oct

Car
[STRIKE]Buy in screenwash now (either ready mixed or concentrate)[/STRIKE]
October make sure all fluid levels in cars are correct
Check tyre pressures and tread levels
Clean car inside and out making sure car has good amount of wax which protect it from harsh elements and salt and grit on the roads which will cause rust.
If possible make sure your car has rubber mats to catch wet and snow. Check Pound shops for cheap mats for £1.00 or so each.
[STRIKE]If possible clean out your garage and put your car away each night. This will also help with insurance premiums as well and save you de-icing in the morning.[/STRIKE] - done 9 Aug :T

Food
Stock up on tinned products such as soup, rice pudding, baked beans and spaghetti. These items will keep as good store cupboard standbys.
Check and clean out your freezer, make a list of what you have and what you need to buy in. Keep at least two loaves of bread in the freezer. A clean frost free freezer will work better than a ice capped one!
If anything crops up on BOGOF and it will keep/freeze for winter buy it and store it.
Create a 'stash cupboard' or area where you can put all of your extra buys away safely.
Batch make homemade soups and freeze. Good idea to do this now while fresh veg is plentiful and it will save on condensation during the cooking/prep during the winter months.

House and garden
Snow Shovel - need new handle for ordinary shovel which will do.
Buy in your logs and coal now while cheap deals are on offer. - logs from OH if I help him chop them.
Clean your home - work in progress
Make door curtains to keep out draughts
Clean windows inside and out - will do after new door is fitted
[STRIKE]Launder all your throws[/STRIKE]
Buy in cheap white candles in case of a power cut. Also keep a torch on standby and use in emergency.
If you have oil try to make sure that your tank is stocked up by the end of October - done in July - better last.
Buy in Flannelette sheets.
[STRIKE]Decorating - do it before middle of October so that you can air the room and let the paint dry [/STRIKE]- kitchen & bathroom done:D
Cut back everything in the garden late October to give your garden a big boost the following Spring. Roses love this!
Wash curtains and cushion covers
Clean Your carpets on a good warm day so that they have a good chance of drying quickly
Drain any outside taps and protect and cover either with an old towel and then covered over with plastic or buy a proper outside tap cover.
If your interior doormats can be washed in the machine do them.
Re-silicone shower areas where the silicone has turned black or mouldy, take it out and redo it. Easy job but so often overlooked. Having the window open also allows the silicone to cure or go off better.
Check lightbulbs and outside security lighting if broken replace or repair. - got 4 free lightbulbs
Buy in batteries now.
Put food out for the birds they will so thank you for it. Buy in their food now while it is plentiful. - OH working on bird table for me but I have seeds already.
Get your paracetamol, throat lozengers and cough mixtures in now, when you are feeling ill the last thing you want to do is traipse down to Boots having to get it in.- check dates as I have some from last winter

Munchin

Mornin MSE world,

Up early as usual and I'm heading to bootcamp :eek:. It's only once a month and again I love it but the thought of getting out of the house to exercise like a mad eejit isn't pleasant.

So went to credit union on friday just to enquire about a loan. I didn't have my paperwork with me but I just wanted to know the process. I felt like crap afterwards. Even though I'm nearly 40 the lady on the counter spoke to me like I was 4. It's not her fault she's known me since I was a baby and treats me like a wee girl still. It just annoyed me and I was conscious that I was asking for money but I do have savings with them.

Yesterday I dragged OH to the air show in Portrush. We didn't see all the planes but we did see the Red arrows & and an amazing helicopter display. It was a very cheap MSE day as OH brought fruit with him for a snack and then he bought the makings of dinner on the way home .

So today's plans don't involve much. OH is working so I'm going to Bootcamp/Circuits, Mass, and then buy the paper & sit on sofa.

Have fun today

wantabetterlife

Hi Munchin...congrats on getting the bathroom and kitchen painted :j:j

Munchin

Morning everyone,

Thanks WBL - it really makes a difference to the house now the walls are nice and bright.

Believe it or not I passed the 1 year bulimia free date (11 Sept) and didn't even realise it until Thurs:D which has to be progress. I'm still having problems with binge eating but that is certainly reducing.

Money front - could do better should be my motto:D. I've been very strick with keeping my spending diary and I find that I fritter money on food that doesn't always get ate, so I'm going to have to try and stick with a shopping list for the week rather than popping into the shops every day:o

I'm been very lethargic all week and couldn't be bothered with the gym but heading to pilates this morning and hopefully that will motivate me for the rest of the week. I've no real plans for the day apart from putting the house back in order.

I also got a letter from the hospital. My doctor has referred me to a dietician so hopefully they will give me some advice on eating after an eating disorder.

Only a few more weeks and I'm on leave - I can't wait:)

Munchin

I forgot to mention that on the money front OH owes me £305 towards our holiday in Oct (flights, accommodation & transfers). So although my holiday savings have dipped to pay for a new door, I have some money out on loan or resting in his account. I wish it would come home to rest in mine:D

Munchin

As OH is working today I'm going to head into my wardrobe and try and sort it out. I have jogging bottoms that are old and don't fit so they are all going into the recycling bag.

I'm also going to put my summer stuff away and see what I've got from last years winter stuff. To be fair their isn't much difference in the summer/winter clothes as we didn't get much of a summer:)