Wishing for a Life Down Under

Crystalclear_2

So gathered my courage once again and decided to list the debts (outside of the normal monthly living expenses) that I am working on. So here goes

Managed Loan HSBC Total: £21,000, £175.00 p/mnth over 10yrs, 8 yrs left
Bank of Mum and Dad £ £3,500
Personal Loan £4,200
Halifax CC £5,100
Barclays Loan £3,200
TSB O/D £1,500

Hopefully that's the last time those figures will be that much, makes me sick just to look at it:o

Crystalclear_2

Good Morning,

Well it's a brand new shiny day and hopefully a positive one. It's a bit cloudy here so might not even change out of my pj's but do have a few jobs to get on with.

First job is to phone the Abbey. I know we paid PPI to the Abbey as I have managed to find a statement. I also know I was at Uni during this period so I definitely didn't need it. Just need to begin the process of recovery.
Second job is to try and reduce the cost of Virgin. I can't change providers as we don't want to take out a new contract with anyone as if the house sells quickly we will up and go very quickly to Australia. I don't want to be paying to get out of any costly contracts.
Thirdly would like to create a spreadsheet of the debt so that I can see the figures reducing. Not great at spreadsheets so if anyone has a template I can use that would be fab.
Fourth I need to use the SAR template and write to Egg and Ocean Finance to find out if we did pay PPI and if we did begin to try and reclaim it.
Fifth I plan to write to the Halifax with a full and final offer, bit of a cheeky one and see if they will accept. That could wipe £5000 of the debt which would be fantastic.
Sixth the usual checking of the bank and competitions.
Onwards and upwards with the diet. I am a WW so weigh on Thursday. Hoping to be a stone lighter this week. It's very slow but steady so that's ok.
Very peaceful this morning here. Youngest DS stayed at a friends last night and DH has already left for work so I should be able to get on and concentrate.
OOps I also need to fit a few hours work in as well.
So a NSD for me and tea will be something from the store cupboard, probably Bolognese.
Have a positive day all:)

40somethingmum

Good luck with everything today... there is quite a lot there !

Hope the weigh in goes well:) I did WW last year and lost 1.5 stones although it did take me quite a few months. Unfortunately I have taken my eye off the ball and have put a couple of 1bs back on so must get back to pointing again:o

Speak to you later

40SMXX

ETA We are having spag bol too ! Well thats the plan anyway!

Crystalclear_2

Dietings hard 40sm and I think you have just got to be in the right frame of mind.

Well I am back again talking to myself, but it is helping me plan writing this diary.

So needless to say I didn't manage to get through my whole list
but did do 1 and 6 so at least that's something.

Have some more ebay items to list, and remembered that I have a voucher for Sainsbobs for £8 when I spend £40 so will do the shopping there I need this week. Also I have a tub of change that I will put in the machine outside and turn into a voucher to spend in the store. So shopping will be reasonable.
DH and DS are out playing squash so having half an hour with my feet up before I get tea ready.
Have a good evening

BlueCrayon

Hey Crystal, I found your diary and you've made an amazing start! I think having a defined goal really helps. I did the whole travelling thing when I was younger and spent a year in Australia, I absolutely loved it so can see why you want to move there full time.

Don't put your change into the machine at Sainsburys! They take a cut its something like 10%. I know Natwest and Hsbc have change machines at some branches which pay directly into your account with no deduction. What I do is use the self service checkout when it's quiet and stand there feeding all my pennies into the machine. I get a few funny looks from the staff but so what.

I use eager learners spreadsheet as a template and made a few modifications for my own purposes, the link can be found here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/238575

Good luck and I think you'll have this done in no time, we can all then come and stay with you in Oz! :T

BC x

Crystalclear_2

Hey Blue Crayon,

Thanks for the advice re the machines I will invesitgate the Natwest one. Also thanks so much for the spreadsheet. I will defnitely use it:D

So today has not been the best for money saving. Have been out with DH and bought a sandwhich for lunch, should have taken some with us but got up a bit late.
Tomorrow won't be money saving either. I have weigh in at WW in the morning and then a day in town with my friend, probably mostly window shopping but we will probably have a nice lunch but I will look to see if there are any good 2 for 1 vouchers.
By Friday I will be back in spendthrift mode, honest:cool:
The weather has been lovely here today and with more forecast I will be digging out the fake tan tonight, I cannot be showing my pasty arms and legs to anyone:p

Tea tonight will be chicken and salad (home grown leaves from the garden) and 40g of pasta, it looks pitiful when you weight it out but just as a side with a huge salad it's fine.
Will go out and tackle killer hill tonight. We did it last night and I was pooped but the scales showed 2 off this morning so it has to be done. I hate it at the bottom but have such a sense of achievement when I get to the top.
I have been looking at a job in Australia that would be perfect for me and would love to apply but just don't know if I will be there in time for the interview.
May have some news on the house sale but I don't want to jinx it so will report in when it's definite.

Until later Crystal x

CashStrappedPrincess

Thanks for dropping in on my DFD Crystal, I have subscribed to yours.

You're doing great so far. Good luck with the house sale and WW weigh in tomorrow. Let us know how you get on x

Crystalclear_2

Morning All,

Just off for my weigh in, fingers crossed.

It's a lovely day so am braving leggings and a summery dress. I have a thing about showing my legs but even leggings are brave for me:o

So into town with my friend afterwards. Loads of charity shops so will be mainly looking in there.

Still no news on the house but I have my fingers and toes crossed. Hopefully we will hear something before wkend.

My youngest is off ice skating today, far too adventurous for me but he will enjoy it.

Tea tonight will be something with eggs as we have a glut.

So spent most of last evening sending for samples and looking at vouchers, so far I have an £8 Sainsbobs Voucher, £10.50 Tesc@ 50p off toilet roll and £1 off Bold so it all adds up.

Anyway enough waffle, have a good day all Crystal x

Crystalclear_2

Afternoon,

Just thought I would pop back in. Had a good day in the charity shops, a lovely pair of Per Una jeans and a lovely gilet for £9.00, plus a couple more bits.
But I've lost more pounds than that today and I am very pleased. 3.5 lbs off at weigh in so a total of 16 lbs.:T:T:T

Feel so much better.

Later Crystal x

Crystalclear_2

Good morning, had a bit of lie in this morning,

Need to get some stuff done today. Firstly will peg the washing out.
Next I need to eat my breakfast and catch up with revenge (I love it everyone has loads of money and spend all their time plotting each others demise, its a modern day Dallas) it can't be all work:p
I have quite a few items to take pictures of and put on ebay.
Later I need to do some shopping and use my vouchers but will need to wait for OH with the car.
Need to keep up with my diet. This is when it's dangerous for me when I get the first stone off and get a bit cocky but this time I am going to do it.
Feel like I need to catch up with my middle son in Australia, he is not as good as his brother at keeping in touch so will send him a message this morning.
Spoke to Halifax yesterday and negotiated reduced payments for the next 6 mnths but will offer a full and final settlement before then. I am going to offer 20% initially but I don't know if that will be enough. I have never done this before.
Have a quiet wkend planned so hoping not to spend too much.

Have a lovely day Crystal x