Conquering Debts Once and For All...

Box_of_Fluffies

I don't feel like I've done much today, mainly thanks to a headache that's still lingering although not quite as bad as it was this morning.

We managed to sell our coffee maker on trademe for $65! Yay. More money to be paid off the credit card. Got a couple of others items with bids on but the auctions don't finish until Sunday.

I've made some individual cottage pies for dinner, just need to cook some veg. Definitely better this way as I'm trying to manage our portion sizes. Have enough to put another portion size in the freezer.

It's a beautiful sunny evening with a lovely breeze. I might try and drag Mr P out for a bit of a walk, it might clear my head.

PinotGrigio41

Thats a good start on the Coffee maker well done. I had one that sat in the cupboard unused for years, Ive always preferred a cup of instant coffee rather than "posh" coffee !!

A walk sounds lovely ! It is very cold and frosty here, but for the last 3 days the sun has been shining brightly, so it has been lovely. Enjoy !

Box_of_Fluffies

Had a fairly quiet day today. Just a quick trip to the supermarket for essentials. Typically just as I pulled up in the car park it started to rain, quite heavily. By the time I came out the sun was shining again (24 degrees today).

My finger is still very sore from trapping it in the garage door on Monday. Can't bend it very far and it's still slightly swollen. Tried to do a bit of crocheting to get it working but it was quite difficult.

Did I mention our new boarder moved in on Monday? She's only going to be here Monday to Friday which suits we. We met her boyfriend tonight, nice chap from Australia. He seemed to get on well with Mr Pink.

The boys Christmas presents finally arrived today, so they have been busy playing their new games on the computer for most of the day. Have told them I'm dragging them outside tomorrow. They don't seem too happy at this news, wonder why??

Have sent off for a copy of our NZ credit file today. It'll take 10 days but it's free. I've never seen the NZ version before, wonder if it'll look like the Equifax/Experian ones from the UK?

Going to start preparing my menu plan for the week, while I'm in the mood and not feeling in the least bit like sleeping.

f1widow

Hi pinkpiggy - saw you over on my "new" diary - have subscribed to you - all newbies can give each other pointers - read through your diary - now im being completely dense here you are talking dollars not pounds Im assuming you are abroad - muzzy head and losing the plot here ............ so forgive me for sounding obvious - choccie cake receipe sounds nice - like you have decided that if we need a treat I CAN bake it not buy it (and it wont have as many additives and E numbers etc.

Speak soon x

Box_of_Fluffies

f1widow wrote: »

Hi pinkpiggy - saw you over on my "new" diary - have subscribed to you - all newbies can give each other pointers - read through your diary - now im being completely dense here you are talking dollars not pounds Im assuming you are abroad - muzzy head and losing the plot here ............ so forgive me for sounding obvious - choccie cake receipe sounds nice - like you have decided that if we need a treat I CAN bake it not buy it (and it wont have as many additives and E numbers etc.

Speak soon x

Hi F1 and welcome. You're not being dense, I live in New Zealand, hence talking in dollars. I am originally from the UK and moved here almost 5 years ago now. There isn't really a site here that compares to MSE and I was an avid fan/user back in the UK so when I realized I needed support decided what better place to go.

Box_of_Fluffies

Evening,

Been a good day. Got another job booked in for February! Yay. Would still be good to get a few more but it's a good start. It also looks like I've got another small ongoing contract, should hear about that one in the next couple of weeks.

Took DS2 to have a walk around his new school (he starts 1st Feb as that's the new school year here), with DS1 who already attends, so he can familiarize himself of the layout etc. DS2 is a bit of a worrier and moving from a very small school with circa 100 pupils to one with 1700-1800! I'm sure he'll be fine but he tends to shut down when he's anxious so the more we can do the better.

Have prepared my menu for next week, must post it on the board, and got my shopping list ready for tomorrow. Got some inspiration from the recipe thread and am going to try a courgette chocolate cake! Might have to make it when the boys are not looking though as i'll have to sneak the courgette in. Am hoping the chocolate will disguise the courgette. :rotfl:

PinotGrigio41

Great News PP on the work for February and the possible smaller contract. You can breath a small sigh of relief, for now at least !

It is such a huge change isnt it going from such a tiny school to such a huge one. It was the same with DD1 , she went from and to similar numbers to those you are talking about. I think a big school is good in lots of ways and she can easily get away from those children you dont want to be around, but I think from things DD1 has said it can sometimes be a bit lonely as you cant always find your friends at lunch and break times . We still dont know where DD2 is going, D day is 2nd MArch - eek !

How are you finding NZ ? I have lost count of the amount of times I have threatened to up sticks and go, but I couldnt leave my parents and dont think they would be up for a whole new life changing experience at the age of 78 somehow !

Box_of_Fluffies

PinotGrigio41 wrote: »

Great News PP on the work for February and the possible smaller contract. You can breath a small sigh of relief, for now at least !

It is such a huge change isnt it going from such a tiny school to such a huge one. It was the same with DD1 , she went from and to similar numbers to those you are talking about. I think a big school is good in lots of ways and she can easily get away from those children you dont want to be around, but I think from things DD1 has said it can sometimes be a bit lonely as you cant always find your friends at lunch and break times . We still dont know where DD2 is going, D day is 2nd MArch - eek !

How are you finding NZ ? I have lost count of the amount of times I have threatened to up sticks and go, but I couldnt leave my parents and dont think they would be up for a whole new life changing experience at the age of 78 somehow !

That's one of things we're worried about. He has a habit of going AWOL when he doesn't like something or is overwhelmed. We're working with school on this one so hopefully it won't happen.

We love NZ. Since the age of 11 I'd wanted to visit NZ, as I had an exchange teacher from Auckland who raved about NZ. We got the opportunity to come here on holiday in 2006 and just fell in love with the country. We moved from England to Scotland for DH's job 3 years before making the move here so knew we could do it. It's hard leaving friends and family behind, particularly my dad who is 90! We skype him every week and he's been out to visit twice. I would love him to come stay with us but he doesn't want to be a burden. He's the one I worry about most as apart from his age, he lives on his own. Having said that he still does everything for himself and is a great cook. Often sending me recipes he's cut out of the newspaper.

Box_of_Fluffies

What a good start to Friday! I got another job in for the beginning of March from one of our regular clients. March is really starting to look like a good month, work wise. :j

Today's list of jobs:
1. [STRIKE]Appointment with DS2.[/STRIKE]
2. [STRIKE]Check updates on forum.[/STRIKE]
3. [STRIKE]Put washing machine on[/STRIKE] / hang washing on line.
4. Prepare a quote for a new job. Urgent. Has to be in today. :eek:
5. Check bank accounts for business, as payments due in/out today.
6. Pay Inland Revenue.
7. If enough time, do weekly shopping. List is all prepared just have to go and actually do it.

I don't know about others, but I'm a list kind of gal. If I don't have a list I tend to lose track of time, and often feel like I've wasted my day.

Watched the Dr Who Christmas special on tv last night. I couldn't make my mind up whether I liked it. It was the first time I've really seen Dr Who with Matt Smith, so that might explain why I was a little unsure. The boys seemed to enjoy it, so I guess that's all that really matters.

Oh well, this isn't getting my list done, so best I pull myself away from here and get on with my quote. If I get a chance will update later on what I've managed to achieve today.

Box_of_Fluffies

pinkpiggy66 wrote: »

What a good start to Friday! I got another job in for the beginning of March from one of our regular clients. March is really starting to look like a good month, work wise. :j

Today's list of jobs:
1. [STRIKE]Appointment with DS2.[/STRIKE]
2. [STRIKE]Check updates on forum.[/STRIKE]
3. [STRIKE]Put washing machine on[/STRIKE] / [STRIKE]hang washing on line.[/STRIKE] Managed to persuade the boys to hang the washing out for me.
4. [STRIKE]Prepare a quote for a new job. Urgent. Has to be in today.[/STRIKE] :eek: Took a lot longer than I planned but managed to send it at 5pm.
5. [STRIKE]Check bank accounts for business, as payments due in/out today.[/STRIKE]
6. [STRIKE]Pay Inland Revenue. [/STRIKE]
7. [STRIKE] If enough time, do weekly shopping. List is all prepared just have to go and actually do it. [/STRIKE]

Wow, managed to get everything done!! Good job I checked bank account as one of my biggest client's had 'lost' several of my invoices. :mad: All sorted now, so all good.

Managed to do the weekly shop with a little money to spare. Mr P is really onboard with this now, picking up alternatives or suggesting something else while we're walking around. :T