Hypno's kick up the backside debt diary....

hypno06

The French market looked fab, but was a bit expensive. I had arranged to meet a friend for a picnic lunch, so instead of the usual crisps, salad and sarnies, I bought the biggest prawns in the world cooked in garlic butter, and some real tartiflette (I make my own very poor imitation so to have the real thing was heaven) and some olives. It was divine, I have to say, but the prices were so much more than we pay in France so I had to be careful not to get carried away!

It is September in a couple of minutes time, so that means new budgets and stuff in place - I did what ATB suggested and made a meal plan for the month, then made the shopping list accordingly. I just hope it all goes according to plan.

good luck with ebay JCD, I am having a dry spell on ebay at the mo, nothing seems to sell and I have a whole £3.45 sitting in paypal!

JCD_Capulet

*wants tiger prawns and olives*
Mmmm, I might have to treat myself today. The spar around the corner just got in olives with feta cheese and sundried tomatos. I was looking at them yesterday whilst one of the locals was doing the same and I over heard: "Olives? What they like then?" The other person replied "Like grapes but rubbish!"

Till spits and money off coupons/vouchers sell really well so I've noticed. I've got some pampers vouchers I'm thinking of listing, but maybe not on the same account as the one I want to use for selling jewellery.

Thanks and all the best with your ebaying hon x

hypno06

Good Morning - September is finally here. August was such a long month for us, and last week, even though it was bank holiday, felt longer than ever! OH gets paid on the last day of the month so we really felt it this time round!

Anyway, another month, and a couple more loan payments went out of my account today. Checking online banking I also had a smallish surprise in that my TV licence that I only put on Direct Debit recently has now gone down from £47 a month to about £11 a month. I thought it was going to do so next month, so to see it today was a nice surprise.

September's spreadsheet says that we can survive this month if we are careful. I really really really (add a hundred more "reallys" here) want to do this - to feel in control and to get to the end of the month without using my credit card.

So I have a September challenge upon me - do not use the credit cards at all. I will be very strong with myself. Meal plans are in place, ebay will be hit, and I pledge to make some sort of overpayment at the end of the month.

Right, deep breath, today I have a client at 10, then mystery shop straight after, then mad cap tidy up before new student arrives tomorrow :eek:

atypicalblonde

Hi Hypno! I am glad to hear you had fun last night, and the bonus fiver! Isn't it lovely when things like that happen! I will wish you all the best in your challenge - you know we all have every faith that you will succeed. A real DFW day in our house today - I have the house to myself so will do some real meal planning, ebay listing and general admin (plus might even consider getting the hoover out!) Have a lovely day hun x

hypno06

Hi ATB, I hope you have a really good DFW day - presumably you can add a NSD to that too?

Karmacat

Hi Hypno (and all)

Concert... French market.... TV licence.... September challenge... sounds good to me!

Maybe my September challenge would be not to waste any food. Mind you, I had a few unusual problems when the fridge broke down, I'd just done a veg shop and a lot of that got thrown away.

Using the hoover.......... hmmm. I got home from work last night at my usual time of 11pm (Friday only, thankfully) and had the hoover out for about 10 mins getting rid of the humongous spiders and making sure they didn't crawl back out again. Methinks the porch is not the only thing I need to have in place to defeat the dratted things (tho total defeat would be a losing battle, I know).

Have a good day hypno! May you be spiderless and profitable, mystery-shopped and houseworked!

hypno06

Hi KC, I can sympathise totally with the "defeat the arachnid" campaign - they are pretty big this year aren't they! OH had one drop on him when he closed the curtains last week, and it was the size of a baby elephant, then on another night he had one crawl over him when he was in bed!!

Here's to a "getting closer to being debt free without starving or being housebound" September :beer:

atypicalblonde

It should be apart from food! Making an Aldi trip, and then a late night Sainsburys trip in the hope of getting some yellow stickered bargains - will be gutted if there aren't any!! x

hypno06

I have to do a grocery shop too, but am not used to going late in the evening. However, in my quest to survive September I will go as late as possible - I have a choice of Tesco or Sainsbury realistically, although I do do bits at Aldi, but for a main shop it is not enough.

Which is best for bargains - Tesco or Sainsbury?

atypicalblonde

Im the same - I get bits and pieces in Aldi, but I head to Sainsburys for most things. We don't have a Tesco near us, so I have always been a Sainsburys girl, and have picked up lots of reduced meat bargains in the past - my best was four packs of 'best' mince for 50p each - made about 20 portions of chilli for a grand total of £2! We'll compare bargains later hun!!