The root of the problem

parsniphead

271 days to go

So where I'm struggling with the paying off debt thing is that it's the final straight as such and I always struggle completing things. My hose is full of half finished DIY, half finished knitting and sewing, and on and on. Anyway I have decided that the final part of 2013 is ing to be 'Parsnips complete all the half finished projects challenge'.

Knitting and sewing- I have loads to compete and as I'm going to North Wales for a week at half term I'm going to take some with me to do while sitting in a caravan while it's raining outside. I do like to walk in the rain but can't expect a toddler to deal with it constantly.

DIY - Each weekend I will set myself a task to be completed. I will not write a list of task which are impossible to do therefore rendering the challenge impossible before starting, but one small achievable project.

De-Hoarding - Oh the mess and the stuff. I will sort and and sell as much as possible between now and Christmas therefore making it easier to throw extra money at the debt.

Pay ALL your debt of by Xmas 2013 challenge - I will keep plugging away at this hoping to achieve a successful result.

Diet - I will stick to this and not buy cakes from the cafe at work which means less money spent.

Right off I go.....perhaps a little cup of tea to get me going.

parsniphead

250 days to go a nice neat number.

So I haven't been on my diary for a while. I have been busy and away to wales for a few days (very wet and windy).

Anyway from this point on it's going to be work, work, work. I have finally started Christmas shopping which was beginning to worry me. I'm planning on putting £5 a week away fro January to cover Christmas next year which will also leave me some left over. I don't go too wild at Christmas.

I have been getting on with de-hoarding since getting back form wales. The bedroom is beginning to look like new but I still have a lot to do. Winter was made to do clearing out and DIY.

I have started knitting some socks for mum for Christmas. I might do two pairs but I'm a slow knitter. Also a leather belt started for brother which needs finishing off.

Diet was going well but need to get back into it after holiday. I will do this and have started heavy lifting again which will help with toning up.

I have started a loaf this morning which I'm waiting to rise. To start of a cottage pie is in the slow cooker and a chilli will be made in a minute. Then I need to get the bedroom finished by 10.30 at the latest. I was planning a bit more Christmas shopping this morning so need to do a list for that.

This afternoon down stairs needs attacking as there are toys everywhere.:eek:

Right off I go and get started or I will spent too much time on here being nosey.

parsniphead

So once again my diary is abandoned for a while. I really need to find time to do this or I will lose track of where I have got to.

Money is very difficult at the moment. I'm so close to the finish line and the situation seems to have gone from plodding along nicely to complete mayhem. I REALLY need to stop those little pop to the shop for one thing and come out with twenty visits. This is one of the big areas where I go wrong.

I have two weeks until payday so have decided to do a fiscal fast after the fortnightly shop today. After the next payday I'm going to get everything I need then give my debit card to DH to keep with Strict orders to not give it back unless I can give a suitable reason why I need it. DH is on the autistic spectrum, sees everything in black and white and will be a devil to get it back from.:o I can see the conversation now "But you said not to give it back so I won't".

Anyway needs must.........I'm going to regret this.:rotfl:

Going to get off now and see what I can find to sell.

parsniphead

So the shopping is done and dusted. The purse is officially closed until 39/11/2013.

I really need to get back into the mindset of when I started of being totally and utterly skint. Life is a little easier now but I still need to be careful and not let things slip. A few months of extreme frugality is going to release me into a less stressed lifestyle. I'm so looking forward to being debt free that it seems as far away as when I started.

A good look at the lifestyle and bus get is needed to see where I can make the changes needed to hasten the end.

parsniphead

So I have no money until payday apart from the bit in my account to pay for car insurance. Normally this would send me into meltdown but I'm now seeing it as a chance to get more in control and carry on with plans without getting sidetracked.

I have a number of things I want to do and one is find some kind of spreadsheet or money tracking app which I can keep up with. I do struggle with technology so it has to be simple. I have also thought about working out all my dd's which come out each month including when the quarterly ones come out and on payday taking out any excess money from my current account to pay for food and any extras. I feel that this is the only way for me to keep track by seeing the actually amount of money I have spare. I currently have no emergency fund (something which I plan to sort in the new year) so there is no money to top up what excess I have. I also now have no overdraft allowance.

I need to get the house sorted for Christmas, well just sorted actually so tomorrow I'm going to spend a big portion of the day doing this. So the plan is...

~ to give the bathroom and kitchen a good once over.
~ to empty the sitting room, deep clean, sort the toys in there and put back what's needed neatly.
~ to get the washing and drying (hopefully) up to date. Do the ironing.
~ vacuum the stairs and bedroom.
~ de-clutter one bin bag of rubbish and one bin bag to charity shop.
~ desperately search for something to sell.
~pull up dead plants from front garden.

Right of to tidy a bit then off to bed soon as I have a 5 o'clock start in the morning.

parsniphead

Got off to a good start today.

The bedrooms are tidied and beds made. Also...

~ to give the bathroom and kitchen a good once over.done
~ to empty the sitting room, deep clean, sort the toys in there and put back what's needed neatly.done
~ to get the washing and drying (hopefully) up to date. Do the ironing.washing started and previous load drying
~ vacuum the stairs and bedroom.done
~ de-clutter one bin bag of rubbishdone and one bin bag to charity shop.
~ desperately search for something to sell.
~pull up dead plants from front garden.

Feeling very positive today and really want to make a difference before the inconvenience of work tomorrow.

parsniphead

Off to work today which is annoying as I'm still in the mood to get lots of work in the house done. Never mind I will give it a good tidy and get the wash on the clothes horse before leaving at 7.30.

I have been giving the money situation some thought and just need to get the plans in place.

parsniphead

Sorry diary I need to rant and this is the only place to do it.

I seem to be so up and down lately regarding the money issue and it's been made worse by running out of gas and have no to use DS £10 pocket money to top it up which will be paid back plus some on Friday when I get paid. I feel so scummy for doing this but can't have him freezing, plus we have a gas cooker.

It's just all over the place at the moment. I'm within months of becoming debt free but have absolutely no emergency saving and feel more vulnerable now than I ever did. I do think that years of scrimping, saving and being in debt has completely messed up my head. I'm terrified of money now to the point of dealing with it makes me feel sick.

I know it's a bad day and tomorrow I will be back with my fighting mood on me but today I need to wallow.:(

Chrysalis1976

Sorry to hear you're not having a good day, you've done so, so well you must be so proud of what you've achieved. Can dh pay the gas this time? Although I'm sure that ds wouldn't mind you using the money for something so important x

You are so near to being debt free but need to make sure you look after yourself too, don't put so much pressure on yourself.

C x

Skinnylatte

parsniphead wrote: »

Sorry diary I need to rant and this is the only place to do it.

I seem to be so up and down lately regarding the money issue and it's been made worse by running out of gas and have no to use DS £10 pocket money to top it up which will be paid back plus some on Friday when I get paid. I feel so scummy for doing this but can't have him freezing, plus we have a gas cooker.

It's just all over the place at the moment. I'm within months of becoming debt free but have absolutely no emergency saving and feel more vulnerable now than I ever did. I do think that years of scrimping, saving and being in debt has completely messed up my head. I'm terrified of money now to the point of dealing with it makes me feel sick.

I know it's a bad day and tomorrow I will be back with my fighting mood on me but today I need to wallow.:(

Aaw, you're doing brilliantly, don't get down, it'll soon be over! I had my card refused at Tesco last year, my son gave me the money to pay for the shopping from his paper round money, he was 13. It was embarrassing and humbling but he understood. I can't believe it was still nearly a year later before I had my LBM!