Finally seeing the right track getting closer

MuffinTops

Knitting_Nora wrote: »

Hellooooooo, MT!

Golly, I take some time away and you get up to all sorts. So glad your mum is coming along well; and how cool are you with your personal and business accounts...I'm officially jealous of you - I have account-envy!!

You've also inspired me to get back on the ebay wagon - I have so much stuff...I swear, it breeds when I'm not looking...

Sun has just come out here in Essex - after lots of rain this morning, admittedly. But I kinda like it that way round - makes everything look all fresh and bright, doesn't it?

Take care,

Nora.x

See Nora, this is what happens when you disappear! All chaos ensues!

I heard the sun was out at home while I was stuck at work! But, it waited for me and I got home to a nice warm house and a sweaty me inside my coat! Eek to that!

Lovely to hear from you, and hopefully you're back for good now. x

MuffinTops

miggy wrote: »

You are doing an amazing job (I have a feeling I've said this before ) - you've turned things round in what seems like a very short time.

Are you going to let us know when you switch from DFW to MFW (as if you wouldn't ) so we can have a party?

I agree with you about eating properly:not easy to do but very rewarding.

Thank you Miggy. You're always such a lovely support which I really appreciate. It does feel like things turned around faster than I'd hoped although that also bothers me sometimes that I've actually thrown money away thinking that I didn't earn enough. The sleepless nights I've had over that! But the lightbulb has truly hit me now, so at least I'm here now.

I'll definitely let you know when I switch over! A party sounds like a great idea! Especially as there seems to be so much good news going on with other diaries too.

I've done ok on food today, not perfect but not enough to beat myself up about and tomorrow should be easier again. x

MuffinTops

Bank account has been checked and although it's looking absolutely fine I do need to transfer that £100 back in as soon as possible as it's weighing on my mind. So, I shall do that today.

I'm back to the £10 a day in my purse each morning and anything remaining at the end of the day goes into my sealed jar. If it's an NSD day then that £10 goes into a savings pot that can be used when needed. At the moment I'm saving up for a dressing table, so that's the goal.

I made a banana & date smoothie this morning when I woke up and have that for my lunch and mid morning snack. I've also brought a healthy lunch so should be set up for the day. I've also arranged a quick coffee with A after work today so that should be nice.

I've just arranged a trip to Harrods tomorrow after work with my frugalist friend. He's great company too so I know he won't be slapping my hand when I pick anything up to look at! He's meeting up with some of the lads I work with after so I know it won't extend to dinner so can plan around that.

So, the rain looks like it's holding off this morning and I need to visit the bank anyway so I'll see if I can make a mortgage appointment. Looking at their website, the whole buy to let update isn't looking promising, but at least then I'll know what I'm working with and can plan (and decorate) accordingly.

MuffinTops

I visited the bank yesterday to set up a meeting to discuss the affect renting my house out would have on my mortgage. The lad who greeted me must have been a school leaver at the oldest, although perhaps he was on work experience. He didn't just look a little young. So I explained I wanted to make an appointment, he ran off and spoke to someone and then came back and told me I needed to make an appointment but had to give him some details first!

As I was explaining why I needed the appointment (now anyone reading this knows I waffle on aimlessly, so you'll probably see both sides of this story) he did that circular hand thing! You know the thing you do when trying to be particularly rude to someone letting them know they're dragging the story out and need to hurry. I almost expected him to interrupt with "... and, skip to the end". I wouldn't mind but I was being quite concise - for me anyway! I do find that level of rudeness funny though so I laughed out loud while looking at his circular hand, and he was good enough to look embarrassed and put his hands behind his back.

He then tried to convince me I need to sort this out over the phone rather than in person. Until grudgingly conceeding to my dog with a bone attitude and let me book an appointment. But now I feel like they'll say anything to get rid of me, so maybe I'm going to the wrong branch to sort this out! I may phone them up this evening and see if I can get any advice over the telephone.

Anyway, that sorted, I had a nice quiet evening. I watched an episode of Hoarders and got a scary insight into myself. I'm nowhere near as bad as these people are, but one of them was explaining what it meant to them to have all that stuff and I completely related to it. The level of unnatural attachment to inanimate objects! What emotional gaps they fill, future promises they represent etc.

I'm so glad I saw that because it also helped me to see that even though I'm having a constant clear out, I'm still not doing enough to make an acceptable difference. By understanding better the reasons why I feel that way towards getting rid of things, it means I can work on that and then the clutter clearing will very likely just gather natural momentum. So maybe another step in the right direction of ironing the things I'd like to change about myself? I hope so!

Bank account looking really good. I transferred the £100 across and I'm hoping the account will look as healthy tomorrow after a Harrods trip!

Roll on Friday! xx

MuffinTops

Harrods trip went really well yesterday. The things I wanted to look at were put back on the shelf and I left empty handed. My friend did look at (and try on) a £2007 watch! Now he's asked me to go back next week with him to buy it!

I call him my frugalist friend and he goes and throws a curve ball like that! To be honest, as frugal as he is, when he does buy anything he goes for amazing quality and only what he can afford. He has lots of fantastic holidays each year, wears the nicest clothes, is very well groomed at all times and has a large and healthy savings account. So, he's still a financial inspiration to me. Ha ha, reading that back you can see the pedastal he's on for me. He deserves to be there though. He's an amazing person.

He's also seen a few other things he wants to get and I know I have discount vouchers for those at home so I'll take those with me.

I did have another look at a perfume I've wanted for over a year now. It's the Jo Malone bergamot & oud and it's amazing. But, it's £90 !!!!! I've looked online and can't find it cheaper, so it's going to have to go on my list of things to save for. I can see I'm going to actually have to start making a written list of those things now! Then I keep track of what I'm working towards.

Not a great deal planned for today or tonight. I'm having a sneaky drink after work with A, only for an hour or so as my day finishes half way through his day! Then I need to get some food shopping tonight and then start on some housework. I've seen that ebay is offering free listing this weekend, although my message says that's for mobile apps only but whatever it's for I can add a couple of things up tomorrow.

Happy Friday x

debtfree2015_2

Well done on beating the temptation!

Just think, when that debt is gone, I know you will plough more into your mortgage, but at least if you want to give yourself the odd treat you will be able to.

You've come such a long way - not only financially but your confidence seems to have doubled.

Your friend is something we should all aim for.....one day bit far off for me but one day!!

Enjoy your drink

x

MuffinTops

debtfree2015 wrote: »

Well done on beating the temptation!

Just think, when that debt is gone, I know you will plough more into your mortgage, but at least if you want to give yourself the odd treat you will be able to.

You've come such a long way - not only financially but your confidence seems to have doubled.

Your friend is something we should all aim for.....one day bit far off for me but one day!!

Enjoy your drink

x

He really is an inspiration. Even after deciding to spend £2k on the watch we then went through cashback cards, cashback sites and have found a way of getting it with over £400 cashback.

I do feel so much more confident with the new finances. I think it's also because I don't have that fear of the unknown. I know what I owe and who to so there's no stressful post or door knock situations.

You also sound like you've come so far since the start of your diary. Your updates, even when I can't post much, inspire me.

MuffinTops

I feel pretty productive today. After my drink with A that went on much longer than I expected, I went food shopping so that I wouldn't need to go today which I'm pleased I did now.

Today my new found awareness to my hoarding has meant I've added another 21 items to ebay. I can't add any more as there will be too much to sort out. I also uploaded around 50 other items I took photos of to sell so I'll add those in bits and pieces based on my free time to package and get ready for posting.

It's really created another large gap too. Although the items are just photographed and ready to send, I do have a storage area/waiting room for items that are being adopted out. So it's organised into it's rightful place and out of the way for me.

I'm attacking this in a type of theme method as that works quite well for me in most areas. Today was rubbish, obvious items to sell and any miscellaneous toiletries I've found (I'm a kleptomaniac in hotels). Next is the christmas things I've bought in the January sales which haven't found their way into the loft yet as my christmas decoration boxes are a bit out of control. Things like tinsel, cards, lights etc. That will be a full project I think as I should take the opportunity to clean out the current decs boxes and get that organised. There's lots there to sell too, but that's probably better to photograph and hold back until September time.

My next step tonight is sorting out the business account details into it's own organiser. I noticed this week that everything is to Mrs Muffin Tops. I've never been a Mrs so am a little worried that it's a full wrong name and any implications so I'll call them on Monday to sort that out. I have found out that the tax man won't care so that's a relief. I'm hoping that they'll correct it all but I can still use the stuff I currently have rather than have to wait for all new bits and pieces as they've taken so long to be sent.

I've also uploaded my shop and scan today. As I've had to upload the photos for selling I decided that it's highly unlikely I'll shop tomorrow so uploaded everything. I'm driving up to see A tomorrow and I don't want to have to think about a to do list.

I do like having items up on ebay. I haven't needed the free listing yet either, so that's good. Most of my stuff just isn't worth a great deal and I do find that a 99p start is more likely to get me more in the long run than if I start at a level I'm hoping to achieve. I also don't care if things go too cheap as they're just clutter for me now and it's nice to think someone out there is very happy with their bargain.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. x

MuffinTops

All the items I listed on ebay to finish this evening all sold. One of the items is troubling me though as it sold for a lot more than I believe it's worth and I have no idea how to rebalance this for the buyer.

I've managed to package up the items that have sold. Two of those have been paid for so they're written up and sealed. The other items I'll just take into work with me in their unsealed envelopes as most people pay the following day and it will be nice to get their items sent straight out after paying.

I've also just relisted the glasses that didn't sell last time. I've reduced the price and will note any interest they get including watchers. If they don't sell this time then they'll be boot sale bound.

I withdrew my £10 a day fund for the week which is safely tucked away now. I think I have a fairly frugal week so am hoping to get some NSD's in. I'm visiting 2 watch shops on Wednesday with my frugal friend, one of them being Harrods again! I've also popped the 20% discount card into my card wallet so he'll have use of that.

I saw A today, which was lovely. I've seen him quite a bit recently, which I've really enjoyed. Due to commitments we both have this coming week our contact will quieten down slightly which is good. I'm not at a place where I can see him every day but it was nice to do that as a treat this week.

Today I realised that I have a massive haul of specialist magasines that I think will sell on ebay. It's worth a try anyway. I can't throw them out as they're so informative for the right people, but I don't want them either. This is a perfect solution. They take up a book shelf so that will be a shelf cleared hopefully. If they don't sell after a couple of attempts they'll be thrown into recycling though.

I'm working next weekend and already this week feels like a short one as we'll be doing a lot of preparations for the task ahead. I do love the weekend work though as I work with some great people in my department but don't get to work with them closely very often based on our difference in roles. Weekend work is a one for all thing and we all have to chip in and we get so much done and have such a laugh that it's hard to believe it's actual work. Overtime pay is very welcome too.

Well, that's another weekend gone in a flash. But yesterday was very productive and today was very indulgent so a great weekend was definitely had.

I hope everyone had a great one. x

MuffinTops

More things ended on ebay today and all of them sold. Payments are dribbling in too, which is always nice and very welcome. I've added 3 more items this evening for 7 days as I'd like to keep a type of rolling stock thing going on.

My meeting with the mortgage advisor went great too. If I decide I want to move out permanently to rent my home then I have to switch to a buy to let mortgage. But if I'm only moving out for up to a year then I need to obtain a Consent to Let which is great as that's what I need. Although, my reasons for wanting to do it aren't solid enough so I think I have to polish the truth a little! Instead of doing that I'm going to find out the acceptable reasons if I can and see if any of them can legitimately fit my reasons. But I can now definitely work towards that goal.

I also came home and dug out a mass of magasines that I tend to buy, never read and store away. The pile is very high! But at least I'm dealing with that now. I'll put them into theme piles and then add them onto ebay and see what happens.

This evening when I got home I popped in to see my Mum and to give her a quick masterclass on selling on ebay. I've got an idea she'll become addicted very quickly! But I've asked her to just list one item at the most, even if she lists one item a day. But it can take a little while to get used to I think. I also saved and backed up the photos she had so I'm fairly confident she can't do any damage that can't be undone now.

I've also created a bit of a departure lounge for things that have been uploaded and are waiting to sell. I just need a photo studio for stuff I've found but needs pictures and I can make the whole clutter clearing thing sound a touch glamorous! But the funny thing is, clearing the clutter and putting it up for sale is actually more pleasing than buying it in the first place.

Well, I'm very happy that Monday is out the way. I was freezing today! Nice to see some blue sky this morning though. Hopefully we'll all see a little more sunshine tomorrow. x