Trying to make a better life

Maze

Ive been feeling totally lost and alone with no clue on how to change my life but after some family issues ive decided that this is the begining of the rest of my life and things will get better.

Its a scary place to be and i seem to be here alone with little support from the places i need it most.

Ok so to start with i need to get our weekly shop right down but still make sure i/we are eating healthly. I have a naughty habit of forgetting or not having the energy to eat then eating expensive junk so that has to stop.

Getting my business in gear. Im self employed and at the mercy of my clients, last minute cancelations are the norm which means no money for me and i find it easier emotionally to ignore my own terms and conditions (pay 50% if you dont give 3 days notice) and let them get away with it. This has to stop NOW.

Get a second income. Im the bread winner for 2 people and 5 dogs and my business has reduced so much it will no longer cover our expenses let alone pay our debts :eek:

What i have done so far...

Started meal plans although our weekly shop is still over £70 (if my OH doesnt get booze)
Signed up to do surveys although i havnt done any yet
Started listing on ebay
Collecting coins - ive potted £5.46 today on top of atleast £20 ive collected over the last month :T
Making lunches - i need to buy some new tupperwear but at the moment i spend about £4 on yucky sarnies from petrol stations and crisps and chocolate. I could be potting £20 extra a week!

And the big one... getting my OH to join me and face up to our credit card debt and sort it out before im done for murder :mad:

Maze

Having a pants day today. Realised that due to clients on holiday and ill i will be getting the worst weekly wage ive had in months this week Many more like this week and we will be in some serious poo.

I sent my ebay items off today, £15.51 for 7 items - thats ridiculous and im not sure after paypal and ebay if i will make much at all but ive listed some more bits as atleast im clearing junk out.

Potted 2x £2 coins :T and £4.56p :T
Im giving myself a week to wean myself off bought lunches and then its home made everyday! I cant believe ive been spending so much on food i dont really enjoy

Im off to find some more stuff to list for tomorrow

debtfreewannabe321

hi maze good luck with everything. You'll find lots of support on here from everyone. Have you had a look at the challenges thread on here? That may help you along your way. Also on the old style (OS) board there are grocery challenges and tips which help you to stay on the straight and narrow

have you put up a SOA on the dfw main board. People can help you make cuts there and the advice is really helpful

Good luck dfw

Maze

Thank you DFW. I have looked at some of the challenges and have signed up for the £2 challenge. I did fill an SOA in and got some great advice but im looking at doing a more indepth one on the advice of a member because i didnt really leave myself enough emergency expenditure or expenses. Doh.

Well today has been quite hit and miss.

The good
I listed 2 more items on ebay and sold 1 for £5
I had home made lunch and my OH has made home made scones for my lunch tomorrow - yum!
I potted £5.25
Due to an insurance change we have saved £20 a month on car insurance
I will be gaining an extra £10 a week because a client has bought a puppy and wants him walked

The bad
I may well get lumbered with some more debts, including a solicitor bill for over £1000 due to a family issue. I did my best to help a dear and vulnerable family member from abuse and now they are "better" they seem to be siding with the abuser who is making me out to be the bad guy, again. I am very upset to say the least.

Ive realised my planned shopping needs about 7 more items adding to it putting the bill up by probably another tenner.

Maze

Potted £5.06 from change today. Spent only £1.20 on choccie bars but walked out of the garage without buying anything extra :j

Also finally got the pet insurance cheque through, im a bit sad because it was for my old dog that i had to let go before Christmas but i was worried they wouldnt pay out. It will pay for the others to be vaccinated though so a slight weight off my shoulders.

Also family issues have kicked off BIIIIG style :mad:

Maze

£6.26 potted.

Im having a day off from listing on ebay as i feel pretty !!!!! but ive got a new bid and sold something so thats made me smile

Didnt buy any lunch but didnt have anything to make sarnies with so had a choccie bar which has made me feel rough. Need to look after myself better!

Also fingers crossed my poorly client is getting her dog back and needs me to work extra which is going to be tough but yay for extra dosh.

Oh and got £9.50 of tesco vouchers through!

mrsmoneybee

Hi Maze, just come across your shiny new diary so thought I'd pop in and say hello :wave:

Sounds like you really have a plan to get yourself straight, I know ebay/paypal can be expensive on fees so I have started using preloved and mostly local facebook groups to sell things as I found I actually come out with more money.

I have set myself a treat of one shop bought lunch a week only, it's quite interesting to try and do - yesterday morning I was cooking a piece of salmon (reduced in the supermarket at the end of the day and frozen) at 7am so I didn't have to go out for lunch! Today was 'Friday treat day' and it was nowhere near as nice having a shop bought wrap, it's amazing how quickly you adapt to this mentality, good luck with it!

Ah it must be a weight off your mind to have the vet bills covered, we've just adopted 2 kittens so have all that madness to come.

Wishing you every success in your DF journey

chevalier

Well done on having your light bulb moment. Sorry to hear about the issue with the family member. If the vulnerable person lives with the potential abuser, then they may feel they have no choice but to side with them. Boo hiss about the legal bills. Sad to say if I get asked to help out family I will get it all in writing. Have heard too many stories like your....
chev

Maze

Ive been so busy with family issues ive not had chance to keep up with this diary the last few weeks.

However ive still been saving...
Im on week 3 of home made HEALTHY lunches - saving £5 per day. Im still addicted to my daily pepsi which costs a fortune but baby steps. Ive had one bought sarnie and it was naff. Im not sure of the exact costings of my average lunch but to be honest the health factor makes up for the cost. Must come up with something other than salad and cheese wrap though lol

We are on week 3 of home made meals. Im losing momentum a tiny bit and need to come up with some other exciting meals, must search rest of forum for ideas.

Weekly shop is more refined and we are wasting alot less but still spending way too much dosh.

Ive paid £50 to my sister, potted £10 in £2 coins, probably around £3 in silver and coppers and £25 in "excess" notes :T

I am wibbling alot at the possibilty of losing clients when my OHs treatment begins soon, he needs my care but we need me to keep working. Serious catch 22.

Thanks for the input Chev, sadly the family member was really quite poorly and coudlnt make the descion themselves. Hence the possible new debt

Mrsmoneybee i completly understand what you mean about lunches, home made just tastes so much better