Deliciosa’s DFW diary

LookingAhead

Hi deliciosa, I have just caught up with your diary. I have not been online much in the evening this week so, didn't see it before.

Firstly I would like to say, in my humble opinion, you've done the RIGHT thing staying where you are in Hampstead. You're trying to look at reducing outgoings right now where sensibly possible not increase them. If you were living with friends I suspect any savings you made on the travel card would be swallowed up by the extra rent and you would be under pressure to socialise and spend money with your mates.

So, all in all, you've made the right decision, in my opinion.

You are being very proactive in EBAY! Well done! If any do not sell, don't fret, maybe you can list them on AMAZON Market Place ("Sell Your Stuff")?

I have sold cds and DVDs via that site before and although they do take their commission, it's SO easy and the items stay on for 60 days or until they sell whichever comes sooner. It's worth checking out.

As for the temptation thing...well, what can I say? There probably isn't a Debt Free Wannabe on here who is immune to temptation! You've just got to keep reminding yourself that you are in debt and you don't want to add to it by just buying 'stuff'. Stuff that you don't need. Sure it might look pretty but if you don't need it, it's a pointless purchase whilst you are paying off debt. (And it could be argued it's pointless if you aren't in debt as well! )

As for the food situation sweetie, why don't you challenge yourself to look for the best deals you can find on healthy food that fills you up as well as being cheap?

Brown rice, pasta, pulses (beans & lentils), potatoes, soya pieces that you just re-hydrate....all these things (and more) are cheap and you can do so much with them. You should not feel guilty about spending money on food. Your rent and the ability to buy food are your first priorities.

I'm really pleased that you are focussed on clearing your debt quickly and I wish you well. :T

But remember, after that you will need to remain debt free, so start to think now about how you can keep your expenditure down and be healthy with it....your mindset needs to be transformed to remain debt free in the future honey.

Lotsa love and good luck with the EBAYing!

LA x

miggy

Hi - glad your ebaying is going so well!
When you cost for P&P, don't forget to allow for the packing... and make a virtue of recycling it! When I ebay things, I put a note on the description saying 'I recycle packaging where possible' - no one has ever complained, and I really don't see why I should help fill landfills when many envelopes which could easily be used again See if any of your friends will pass on packaging if they buy CDs etc. by post. I believe you can get bubblewrap for free when supermarkets have finished with it - I saw it mentioned on this site somewhere but I haven't investigated as it was since I last ebayed anything.
Just a thought about the cost of food - I wonder if there's anyone around who could give an idea what's a reasonable amount for someone in London to allow for food expenditure?
It is worth reading up on cheap, healthy cookery.
I have a super book by Bernadine Lawrence - now out of print I think but I got mine very cheaply on Amazon, 2nd. hand. When I googled it, the top reference was right here on this site!
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=30526
I have seen lots of recommendations for Jocasta Innes's book (mentioned there), too. You may be able to get one through your library - ask if you can't see it as it may be in another library and available on inter-library loan. I don't know whether there's a charge but it would be less than the cost of the book to buy.
I'm off to have a more thorough read of that thread: I love reading about food and even about cookery books

deliciosa

just a quick ebay update - will write more later:

22 sold so far, 10 to go (4 not selling....)

wooooooowww

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x if I can get just like £60 to my account I would be sooo happy & that would go towards amex. and I did not get tempted to spend my paypal money on lovely ebay necklaces...

ok more update soon and I will reply to everyone!!!

Edited to add: Paypal balance £21.98!!!!!!

slowlyfading

Yay! Its going well, and those you've not sold, just put back on. Some of the dvds I've sold didn't until their third time being listed on there. Its just a matter of the right person seeing it, yeah? and if you've got anything else you can put on there, get it on there!
Nicola x

miggy

Hey, you're doing sooooo well with the ebay items!
How is the food going today? I'm assuming you're not in work today so it might be a good day to plan the coming week's food.
I have just dug in my freezer and found four part-bags of oven chips (I have a family here!) and loads of soya mince. There are also lots of pasta sauces and home made soups which will come in useful.
I have a challenge for you - make something from scratch this week that costs less than £1 and provides protein, carbohydrate and at least one B vitamin (I know it can be done 'cos I have something in mind, and it's something everyone has heard of. It's also vegan so I think it will fit in your diet okay.)
Oh, and well done for avoiding the necklaces! I know ebay is terribly tempting like that. I do find it really useful for buying presents, though.

kittyminx

Well done on the ebaying!!! have you got jiffy bags/similar topost them? Poundland do packs of 10 for...a pound...and when you post your items ask the post office person for a certificate of posting..they're free and cover you if item goes astray...which happens now and again.

With the things that didn't sell just relist as Miggy says, also if you've got more stuff to put on Tuesday is a half price listing day and you can do a 5 day auction if you want to so it should finish on Sunday..if i've worked that out right. You've spurred me on to get back in to ebaying...no bids yet though.

Miggy's £1 challenge sounds fab...Miggy is that £1 the total cost? so I can't include things I already have? erm can I join the challenge too??? thought i'd better ask before getting carried away. Where do you find B vitamins again? I can never remember...

Keep us updated!!
kitty

deliciosa

Hi!

Thank you everyone for writing to me...

Firstly, my ebay concern.

I do have jiffy bags thank you but I absolutely do not have time taking them to post office, but actually I decided it will be fine, if something goes wrong, well I just refund the money, I dont think it will happen, my friends told me it should be fine.... but another concern: I have loads and loads and loads of first class stamps here. I have been told if I send a dvd, post office will take it for 2 first class stamps (thats the value of 64p, it is actually overpaid,...) for a dvd. (but the stamps are free for me...) so basically, I hope this is true and I hope they do not return and say I have to pay the exact amount, or differently, or franking it.. basically what I would like to know, that according to your opinion, will they take a dvd in a dvd sized envelope for two first class stamps? I know it would have been sensible to weigh them but I dont know how to weight them and b.) I already posted them because someone said it will be fine and that they do it like that all the time, I just want reassurance basically... it DID work for me in the past, I remember that... I sold some books on amazon a few years ago and they took a book for first class stamps, I just want to know whether the system work, because I know that the price covers it, 64 p is plenty for a dvd size letter....

just started to panic about it, but I am always panicking about something so thats not a surprise lol.... I know I should have planned it differently but hopefully it will turn out ok ...

another question: do you think its sensible that if I receive payment after 4pm I only process the dispatch next day? I did not say anything in my listing in relation to this... but I think this would be actually quite sensible....

Paypal balance: £48.13 and another 18 payments still to come my way!!!! I am actaully happy they did not pay yet because this way I dont have to dispatch so many dvds a day... sooo I sold everything apart from 6 dvds which I think is quite good and I will not list anthing right ow because 1.) I have to get the paypal money and 2.) I have to pay ebay fees and 3.) I will be away from Thursday to Monday and I dont want sales happen when I am not here but out of the country because then I could not post, so, my plan is: wait until I start receiving good feedback (this proves that my items actually arrive, if not, I can start worrying...) and once I start receiving good feedback I will withdraw the money from paypal to my account.... and then, maybe towards the end of the week, if I keep receiving good feedback (=everyone gets my items) then I will list more items, I have 5 more dvds and a few samples that I listed here yesterday. Overall: I am excited and hope the first class stamp thing works, and hope I will get loads of good feedback and then I can continue selling...................

Miggy: thanks for the challenge, it looks quite hard to me but I will think about it... I am not very good in the kitchen... does it count if the ingredients actually cost more but I only use one pound worth of them or is that cheating?? and thanks for the book & reading idea I will check it out tonight....! all my friends are going to a party and its £18 but I am not going (a bit depressed actually) but its for the best and once I paid off my debt I can always goo...

Slowlyfading: I sent you a private message!!!

Lookingahead: yay thanks for coming back!!! Im afraid I cant sell on amazon now because they dont let me re register and I dont have access to the old accoutn anymore. it always says that attempt to register was unsuccessful... oh well, ebay is more fun and I really really like it rigt now... do you sell on ebay??

You're right I am trying to focus on a debt free lifestyle and actually I AM managing right now, what I mean is that I have set a monhtly budget and if I keep going like this I will be well within that, even with the purim party which is in the beginning of march and costs about £50. If I can make myself to miss it, that would be the biggest effort ever (!!!) but to be honest I dotn think I can.. I will see. This is a party thats once a year and it includes torah reading and everything so its a kind of must... and this is the biggest party of the year always.. I think if anything, this is worth the money. But I might skip it this year to save, and THEN that would be the real effort. I'll see.

Kitty: I just see what you said about tuesday - wow thanks thats great info, I might review my listing plan and might list somethings on tuesday.. lets see if i get positive feedback by then!!!! I will keep you updated!

Thank you thank you for all your advice they are really good and helping me a lot!!! x x x x xx x thank you

I will write morelater!!!

slowlyfading

I've replied! Glad to hear you sound so positive
nicola x

deliciosa

slowlyfading wrote:

I've replied! Glad to hear you sound so positive
nicola x

I replied too!

slowlyfading

deliciosa wrote:

I replied too!

me too, again!! :rotfl: