Finally seeing the right track getting closer

MuffinTops

Now my focus is off specific debts I need something else to push my obsessive nature towards!

So, in the interim before pushing for mortgage ops I'd like to maintain momentum on focussing on numbers, so is this where I can actually look at my weight - again???

So, as I won't need to focus on specific numbers just yet for house sprucing I think I'll focus on calories in and calories out. I bought some multi vitamins with iron this morning out of my daily budget as I'm so tired a lot and generally lethargic and when I feel like that I just can't face a long cycle or gym session and nothing gets done. I know that once I boost my energy levels with exercise I'll be ok, but it's that initial push that's not happening. So, operation "get it done" to bore you all with for a couple of months!

Based on my impulsive need to see all debts in black except the mortgage I have left myself a little tight on cash this month. It's not a problem as I don't have many plans through August. I'm out tonight to see a show which has already been paid for, tomorrow I'm getting my hair done with a 50% off voucher. Next Thursday is the Olympic Park, again tickets paid for, but I will need to buy us both food as he's treating me to the event tickets and also the Orbit tickets too. On the 11th is a visit to my closest friend requiring a decent amount of petrol but hopefully not much spending money. I now need to make sure I don't set up any more plans in August and I'll be completely fine.

So, I can't really do a £10 daily budget this month. It needs to be more of a "spend only when needed" budget which is ok with me in the short term, but will test my MSE skills to keep as much in the account as possible and use only what's necessary. But as it feels so short term and not a permanent state I really think it will be doable. Although I have to confess to being a little nervous at how I'll be without a specific and solid plan and allowance!

MuffinTops

Financially last night was a massive success! I walked from Barbican to Piccadilly Circus as I had 2 hours to get there. Also, J could only get out of work half an hour before the show started so we didn't need to go and get drinks or food anywhere, we just went straight to the theatre.

The show itself (no spoiler's, I promise), was thoroughly enjoyed by the vast majority of the audience. Even J was laughing as hard as I've ever seen. Unfortunately it wasn't my humour, but although the stage didn't make me laugh very much, the audience themselves were a joy to be around. You can't help but feel that joy when you're sitting around a lot of people belly laughing until it hurts. I wish I'd been on the same wavelength.

After the show I actually had to hold J's arm as all the shows finish at the same time so the area was absolutely rammed and I'm not keen on massive crowds. Fortunately we both initially needed the same underground line so got on that together and then I branched off at Embankment for the District Line.

So, today is a quiet day, although after 4 hours sleep I'm not sure I could cope with much more. I'm getting my hair done tonight but I should also go shopping and get food for the week too. I'm hoping my energy levels are good for doing it all so that I don't have to face the supermarket tomorrow. I've got my meal plan and shopping list written up so shopping should be easy if I can motivate myself to get there tonight.

Happy Friday everyone!

freebyfifty

MuffinTops wrote: »

I've just made the call and paid my outstanding (reduced) balance and so I can now say, other than my Mortgage I have no debts!!!!!

Wooh!!!!!

I know I am a bit late

WELL DONE

and congratulations

meow5678 wrote: »

You're not allowed to leave?!! :mad:

I think we should put it to a vote...

All those in favour of Muffin remaining on the DFW board as an honourary alumni member say AYE!!!....

Still late........................

AYE

Don't you dare go anywhere

Erme

MuffinTops wrote: »

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.

Have you tried banana, rolled oats and honey smoothy with a little yoghurt and if you need a liquid meal put an egg in it too (raw is fine)....Just a thought. I love the banana/oats/honey smoothy after trying it years ago at an airport. But I just wondered. I mentioned it to my dietician years ago when I used to see her (when just under 9 stone and I'm over 5'6") and she said...'shove an egg in it for a liquid meal'...:T

MuffinTops wrote: »

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.

Have you tried the Lidl's perfume? It's something like £3.99 and has rave reviews. If you haven't got a lidl's nearby you can get it off ebay for about £10. I love it. And I introduced a good friend to it the other week (when she bought me a fab lunch out ) - 'I wondered what perfume you wear...I really like it' and promptly bought two bottles cos the men in her life always get her perfume wrong. She's loaded but always likes a bargain. Even my consultant (who is a chanel man) loves it. In fact he generally knows if I'm not wearing chanel to clinic it's lidls. I pity his wife LOL

E

MuffinTops

freebyfifty wrote: »

I know I am a bit late

WELL DONE

and congratulations

Still late........................

AYE

Don't you dare go anywhere

Late is always good as it stretches out the fun! Thank you.

I've decided to stick around until I'm able to hit the mortgage. Then I'll move just around the corner to that board, but will still very much be around!

MuffinTops

Erme wrote: »

Have you tried banana, rolled oats and honey smoothy with a little yoghurt and if you need a liquid meal put an egg in it too (raw is fine)....Just a thought. I love the banana/oats/honey smoothy after trying it years ago at an airport. But I just wondered. I mentioned it to my dietician years ago when I used to see her (when just under 9 stone and I'm over 5'6") and she said...'shove an egg in it for a liquid meal'...:T



Have you tried the Lidl's perfume? It's something like £3.99 and has rave reviews. If you haven't got a lidl's nearby you can get it off ebay for about £10. I love it. And I introduced a good friend to it the other week (when she bought me a fab lunch out ) - 'I wondered what perfume you wear...I really like it' and promptly bought two bottles cos the men in her life always get her perfume wrong. She's loaded but always likes a bargain. Even my consultant (who is a chanel man) loves it. In fact he generally knows if I'm not wearing chanel to clinic it's lidls. I pity his wife LOL

E

Hi Erme,

Thanks for stopping by with those tips. I love smoothies so I will be making a note of the recipe you've given and try that after my next shopping trip.

The perfumes sound an absolute bargain. Thank you. I like the sound of your consultant being able to tell the perfume you're wearing. That's a good skill for a man!

MuffinTops

This weekend has been really productive, I think. I had my hair done on Friday after work and am really happy with it. The 50% discount helped, and I've also volunteered to pop in every other week to let the student blow dry my hair as practice for her and a free little treat for me. I'll have a word around work and see if anyone else wants to help as I remember the days of starting out in hair styling and not being able to get anyone schlep into London to be a model for me.

I met A for a quick drink after work which was nice to have a little catch up. We just had the one drink as the bars were starting to really fill up and neither of us were up for a late one. I got home around 10:30pm and was exhausted so went straight to bed. I didn't wake up until 11:30am the next morning and then fell asleep for 2 hours again in the afternoon. As I don't feel ill I think I must have needed the sleep catch up. Last night I slept for another 11 hours, but no dozing today so must have caught up.

I did go shopping yesterday with my meal plan list. But as I'd slept so much I was starving and bought a couple of extras!!!!! So much for my cunning plan of having a list!!! No more hungry shopping trips!!! It was only a couple of extras though, so that is an improvement.

Tonight I plan on putting a lot of the larger items on ebay. I'm thinking of starting them at 99p and just getting rid of them. Two of the items I've looked up and they're not getting much money anyway, so I think waiting a week for the usual free listing won't necessarily be a better idea. I'll also be happy if someone gets a good deal and I get a bit of cash and more clutter out the house.

I've uploaded my shop and scan stuff, and added the receipt this evening and I'll save the superpoints until I'm on for the ebaying. Dinner time now, so I'll pop back later to catch up on other's diaries.

I hope everyone's having a great weekend. xx

MuffinTops

Another weekend closing, but it has been a nice one. I have started getting that Sunday night feeling regarding work the next day though, so I hope that improves.


I've uploaded a few bits on eBay. 1 thing I did leave off as I may as well wait until a free listing weekend (which I believe will be this weekend) and have a decent starting price on it. Rather than put it on for 99p and hope for the best. I'll still start it very cheaply, but enough to make it worth my while.

I've added 4 collectible ornaments at 99p, so I'm hoping that will attract some bidding as I've missed keeping a check on my eBay list of treasures up for sale.

3 books sold though Amazon this weekend. I've also just added a DVD box set on there for a very cheap price so hoping that won't hang around either.



So, the eBay bug has hit again! Fantastic!!!

MuffinTops

Now that the high has worn off from paying the debts I've been thinking a lot about what to do from here. I really do need to do some sprucing up to my house, but I am also hugely anxious to get overpayments started on my mortgage.

So I have decided that I can and should do both. Now I'm free of all those little and larger debts I have a decent amount left each month that can put a decent dent in both of those areas.

On my next pay day I have decided to sort out a couple of thank yous to 2 people who did a lot to help me through my dark days of debt. Unfortunately this means spending money, but I've thought long and hard about this and it will be controlled spending that I'm excited to do for them.

So, mortgage OP's will start on 1 October as will a savings pot for house repair and sprucing. I also have just over a month to come up with an organised plan of what to do with the little extra money I make in online selling, surveys etc. Very exciting!!!!

MuffinTops

Today has been quite uneventful. Little money spent and keeping my head down at work as I'm really busy with another tight project deadline.

I'm not sure if I mentioned, but I have seriously downgraded my lovefilm membership to the lowest - unlimited streaming. I had a little look through their selection today and am very impressed with the amount of box set collections they have of things I like to watch. So I sat and watched an episode of Brothers & Sisters series 3 tonight. I like this "on tap" viewing!

I have again dusted off my cycling gear. Although it seemed quite windy today at the time I would usually set off home, I still think it's not nearly as bad as I've cycled through in the past, so the financial savings outweighs my laziness (I hope!).

Right, I just heard the washing machine click, so time to hang things up and get myself some sleep.

Happy Monday everyone. x