Finally seeing the right track getting closer

MuffinTops

Yesterday I managed to cycle all the way home, although my front and back wheels had been loosened so I was lucky to notice that as the front wheel was about to come off! I really do feel like the clumsiest, most accident prone person at times! Although no accident happened there. As I stopped to fix it the very next cyclist I saw offered his help. By then I'd reattached everything and aligned the brakes, but I'm always so grateful for how commuter cyclists are happy to slow their journey down and help each other. I didn't struggle with fitness as much as I expected to either.

When I got in I decided to go to the shops and buy myself some lunch for the week. I've been buying lunch at work as it's"only" £2 for a pot of salad so i set myself the challenge of buying 3 days worth of salad style lunches for £6. I did it too, coming in at just over £5, which is fine as I'll have more food for slightly less money. But when I actually started cooking and preparing I've got enough food for 5 days of lunches so that's an even bigger saving for a more substantial lunch! Provided I enjoy what I've got then that's another boost towards more natural NSD's.

When I checked my post yesterday I had a letter from LloydsTSB thanking me for my credit card application but declining me. That's the benefit of having such a lousy credit rating as your identity isn't worth stealing!!!! I will get an experian report though and check through the searches made and contact any companies listed as doing a search on there to make sure they've not sent anything out, as I've not applied for any credit cards or any credit at all. I can't actually work out the benefit of applying for a credit card with my name and address though because it would come to my house and therefore be in my possession??? I'm a bit slow on this stuff as my credit has been so bad for so long that if anyone had hacked into my bank accounts they'd have probably left money out of sympathy! Even now I perceive a healthy balance as £20 once all bills etc have been paid!!!

I was too tired to add anything to ebay last night, but also had forgotten that 6 things were due to end last night so was running around getting those things packed up ready to send today. Tonight I'll have a calmer evening to put a few more bits on. I also would like to go through the ebay stock drawers I have as they're feeling a little disorganised now. Then I can also start to fill in some of the gaps I've created around my house with the bits I want to keep but currently have no real home for. My bookcase needs a little overhaul too which will hopefully highlight some more stuff to sell and gaps to create.

No cycling today as I'm a little saddle sore and very tired. I'll get an early night in and then will be on my bike tomorrow. I need to get into the one way ride as fast as possible as I want to build to a full commute before the olympics. My train was rammed this morning and it's an uncomfortable journey as it is. Although I think they've extended my station ready for longer trains I still don't trust that it will be a comfortable journey. Cycling is free exercise, creates a totally free commute and is the better option all round.

Hopefully today will be quite uneventful all round. I hope everyone is having a good day. x

MuffinTops

My_Lil_Revolution wrote: »

I know I also have quite a few books that I can sell but have noticed that you tend to put them on Amazon, is this the better option?

Sorry, forgot to answer this. I do prefer Amazon for listing books as you can get a little more money for them than ebay. But I'm finding that so many people are selling on Amazon now that's it difficult to get chosen as the seller and I still check my inventory most days to make sure my books are cheapest. But in the first instance I do prefer Amazon, possibly because that's where I go when I want a book. If that hasn't sold through Amazon after a few weeks then it goes onto ebay for 99p listing. If I have two books that are similar subjects or authors then I may picture them and sell them together to give them a better chance to sell on ebay. But my priority on this right now is clearing out rather than earning maximum so I'm prepared to take a lower amount just to get rid of it. I don't like webuybooks or green metropolis as they offer silly money and also they state that if they're not happy with the quality of books you send that they won't pay you and won't return them. I've never heard of anyone being scammed on this, but I still don't like that policy.

I do ramble! Sorry. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions though.

MuffinTops

Today wasn't quite as uneventful as I'd hoped, but I think that's a good thing.

I met my best friend for lunch today which was an ad hoc arrangement. She'd originally suggested a pub lunch, but as I'd brought my food in we met on St Paul's steps. There was a film crew there, and I think they were making a documentary on conjoined twins who literally shared one body but had their own head/brain. Sadly, a lot of people were following them around, although the camera crew were very good at keeping the twins shielded. I was standing on the steps as they walked by.

After lunch I had an email from our benefits system to state that they're offering a great price on a prepaid mastercard with cashback. When I looked it's a fantastic deal, particularly as I've been considering a prepaid card for a while. It's £14.99 fee for the year, but with the cashback % on so many standard high street shops I'll make that and much more back. There's no charge to use it in shops or to add funds on by standing order, so I've printed off the list of shops accepted and will make sure I remember to use it in those stores.

Tonight I logged back on to the freelance site I saw a while back, finished my profile, uploaded a picture (oh my goodness, I prefer anonymity thank you very much) and have placed a bid on 3 projects. All very easy typing projects and I doubt I'll be chosen, but I did try to make my bid a little more personal and interesting than the others to stand out as much as possible. This is one of the decisions I made regarding finding extra ways to pay my mortgage without having to get a bar job or sell a body part!!! If I can do some typing in the evenings when I'm on the computer anyway then it all helps. I'm hoping to get a few projects done asap and then I can see what I end up with after tax and if it's going to be worth the time. That gives me some rethink space too, if needed.

I've also added a couple more items on ebay for the week to keep that topped up and tomorrow I'll rejig the box room I have which contains most of my ebay fodder. There's enough space in here now to rearrange a lot of stuff and get a little better organised. I should also find a lot more as I tidy and get organised too. Although I'm running out of space for the departure lounge but hopefully doing a boot sale this weekend if the weather holds out!

Well lunch is ready for tomorrow and my cycle gear and bag is prepared so I think I'll grab a magazine and wander off to bed to read for a while. How indulgent!

I hope everyone's had a great day. x

miggy

Things are looking exciting here what with the wobbly cycle and someone trying to get a cc in your name! I'm relieved nothing nasty came of either 'adventure'.

I should take a leaf out of your book (pun unintentional) regarding making salads. I didn't leave myself enough time today so I spent 85p on a sandwich for lunch - not a fortune but it was unnecessary as I had stuff at home.

Maybe that would be a good project for tomorrow but I'll have to fit it in between going to see the Olympic torch and visiting Mum... I suppose I could go to the greengrocer's on the way home?

Fascinating about the twins. I wonder what channel the documentary will be on? (Mum told me a story once about being out with a friend when a knight in armour clanked round the corner. They stared open-mouthed which was exactly the reaction a film crew was looking for!)

MuffinTops

miggy wrote: »

Things are looking exciting here what with the wobbly cycle and someone trying to get a cc in your name! I'm relieved nothing nasty came of either 'adventure'.

I should take a leaf out of your book (pun unintentional) regarding making salads. I didn't leave myself enough time today so I spent 85p on a sandwich for lunch - not a fortune but it was unnecessary as I had stuff at home.

Maybe that would be a good project for tomorrow but I'll have to fit it in between going to see the Olympic torch and visiting Mum... I suppose I could go to the greengrocer's on the way home?

Fascinating about the twins. I wonder what channel the documentary will be on? (Mum told me a story once about being out with a friend when a knight in armour clanked round the corner. They stared open-mouthed which was exactly the reaction a film crew was looking for!)

I guess things have taken a slightly more eventful turn recently. As it's nothing nasty it makes a nice change.

The time is the thing for me too. I have to make preparations the night before. I get things ready in their proper portions (:o) and pop them in little pots in the fridge. In the morning I throw each little pot into a salad bowl and mix it up. Tah Daahhh!

What a great day you have in store. I hope your weather is as glorious as it is here. Are you taking your Mum to see the torch too?

That's a brilliant story about your Mum with the knight in armour. The confusing thoughts rushing through her head at the time must have really shown on her expression

miggy

Ah... I see your fridge is tidier than ours.

I do now have some salad though.

The weather's hot and sunny and DD and I saw the torch (twice - it did a loop round town), but I didn't take Mum. She doesn't like to go out of doors, though we could borrow a wheelchair for her if she wanted to. I have settled for opening her window to let the fresh air in! (She has a nice sunny room that looks out on the garden and the birds, and that seems to suit her very well).

freebyfifty

miggy wrote: »

Maybe that would be a good project for tomorrow but I'll have to fit it in between going to see the Olympic torch and visiting Mum... I suppose I could go to the greengrocer's on the way home?

Mmmmmmmmm......sorry to butt in - but I am heading off to see the olympic torch tomorrow. Or maybe I have my tomorrows mixed up and my tomorrow is your today or my today is your yesterday :eek:


Muffy, I love reading your diary, there never seems to be a quiet moment with you. My day just plods along with nothing happening from one day to the next, maybe I need to move down south and lead an exciting city life

MuffinTops

miggy wrote: »

Ah... I see your fridge is tidier than ours.

I do now have some salad though.

The weather's hot and sunny and DD and I saw the torch (twice - it did a loop round town), but I didn't take Mum. She doesn't like to go out of doors, though we could borrow a wheelchair for her if she wanted to. I have settled for opening her window to let the fresh air in! (She has a nice sunny room that looks out on the garden and the birds, and that seems to suit her very well).

My fridge is mine alone, so it's often a little bare unfortunately. Other than the mounds of chocolate that can sometimes be found in the crisper drawer!!!! Well done for going shopping and getting salad things.

In this changeable weather I agree with your Mum. Sitting in a nice sunny room overlooking the garden and hearing the birds singing is far better than wandering outside in the heat only to be blasted by rain a few hours later.

MuffinTops

freebyfifty wrote: »

Mmmmmmmmm......sorry to butt in - but I am heading off to see the olympic torch tomorrow. Or maybe I have my tomorrows mixed up and my tomorrow is your today or my today is your yesterday :eek:


Muffy, I love reading your diary, there never seems to be a quiet moment with you. My day just plods along with nothing happening from one day to the next, maybe I need to move down south and lead an exciting city life

Ooh, it hadn't even occurred to me to go and see an olympic torch, until now! How unbritish am I sounding?

It's nice to hear my life sounds like there are things going on! It must be my imagination coming out as my life feels quite mundane at times. But please feel free to wander down South. Now Nora has left us I'm not sure it's such a happening place though!

MuffinTops

Well yesterday was pretty uneventful really. A standard day at work and then home for an early night as I felt a little washed out. Nothing bad, just that feeling of needing a little more charge for the batteries.

It's payday next Friday (whoop) and that includes the overtime funds from working the weekend a few weeks back. So I have no idea how much the total take home figure will be! How exciting!!!! I'm nervous about phoning the default debt people and offering them the measly full and final settlement figure, but I'm sure once I start talking I'll dazzle them with charm or something!!!! Or should I be as annoying and irritating as possible if they refuse, calling them back 8 - 10 times a day saying "are you sure you won't accept my final offer of £20.31 just to get rid of me?" in a high pitched screechy voice?

Once that is finally paid I've decided to take a month spare to get some buffer money aside and then hit the mortgage hard. I have a little plan of how to do that. But does that mean I'll be moving to the MFW board and away from here????

Finances are doing well again today and I've just the one bill still to come out this month, which is covered.

This time last year I bought a new bike on the bike to work scheme, and the last payment for that is this month too, so my monthly take home should increase slightly from July. That should give me another £40 or so a month in my account based on tax breaks received on the amount I paid etc.

Four items I'm selling are due to end on ebay today and all have bids on them. I've brought them in with me, so if the buyers pay quickly I'll be able to post them on my way home and they'll have it tomorrow hopefully. Otherwise I'll send tomorrow lunchtime. I have found though that all the people who ask me questions, no matter how many questions they ask, never actually bid!!! That's quite amusingly baffling to me.

I'm not sure the boot sale is worth going ahead with on Saturday based on weather reports. I could really do with going to one though. I do have a cover to go over us and the table so I'm tempted to still go ahead with it. Having shelter may enourage more people over to our section too!

For an uneventful day to report, I think that's more than enough!

I hope everyone is having a fantastically frugal day. x