Enjoying the journey to becoming debt free - paying back the credit cards

fedupandskint

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Can I come for tea?
Cheese and onion pie and old school afters with custard - yummy!

Good to hear that you are better now - that bug really lingered! How is the ebaying going? How much have you made now? I did it about a year ago and managed to get quite a bit of cash together from tat I didn't want anymore.

Just wondering, now you're feeling better do you want to join in on a little exercise challenge for December? I need something to keep me going in the winter especially now I'm at target and with Xmas looming. Maybe a number of miles or minutes done in December?

You certainly welcome for tea syrup and ginger sponge and custard for tonights pud all made from store cupboard ingredients, very easy and scrummy. Leftovers for tomorrow too

Ebay is going very well as I declutter to pay back the credit cards and also save up for the car fund for a job on the car that needs doing and car tax between now and Feb 2013. Here's hoping it continues, its gone so much better than I ever thought it would after a break from selling on there for a few years.

Lastly, I would love to join in on Dec Challenge for improving my fitness after the break for 7 weeks now next week after this horrible virus. Hoping to be ok in about a week to start again or at the latest by December as I don't want all that hard work to go to waste from the last year

Tomorrow I'm back at work and I'll try and sneak in a weigh in after no weigh ins for 6 weeks now. Who knows if I have gained, lost or STS after all this and no exercise?

Happily today is NSD 12 :j

Clothes taken back for refunds meaning £42 in winging its way back into my account and the only things I bought are the top mentioned above for £7 for work, a lovely pair of slim leg trousers for £12 and a dress for mum for christmas which she tried on and looked lovely on for £15. Total cost £35 in the sale. Dress rrp £39.50, trousers £27.50 and top £25. Oh yes, forgot about another top for £9 which I'm still deciding about for work, can't quite make my mind up about it so it will probably go back too.

Ebay listings completed now for this free listing weekend, 36 items listed, 2 have bids on and one is a pair of shoes, worn once 6 years ago, not comfy to wear now, listed 3 times this time and finally have a bid to go to a new home next week

fedupandskint

Well I made it into work and boy did it make me crumble.

I managed an hour and a half before the virus symptoms kicked back in - stayed for 2hrs instead of the planned 3hrs. Will need a long discussion about the phased return tomorrow with the managers to not overload me too soon or too quick otherwise I'm pretty sure it will kick back in unfortunately. Came home and had to stit down for 3hrs feeling pretty rubbish. Oh well, can't wait to feel back to normal and hoping can feel some improvement by the end of the week.

What else to report? 4 items have bids on ebay which is great, last buyer from last week promises to pay tomorrow, sorted out returns from brother's present which is wrong and have idea for new present and also the jeggings which need to go back which are the jobs for tomorrow after should be finishing work early. One work lot of paperwork sorted out today and last lot sorted out ready out for tomorrow then they can get off my back for a while.

Also while sorting out the paperwork discovered that I might be overpaying my water bill by£125 by paying by DD. As only one more payment left on this year I have made a reminder to sort this out next year to see if I can actually pay what the bill is rather than the rather expensive direct debits - hmm for only just noticing silly me eh? Just shows how I always used to take the easy payment route. Well, as I continue to take control of my money and make it my own, here's another step forward for me to take along the way.

Caved in on the way home to call in the supermarket and buy a massive bar of chocolate, soup, bread roll and vanilla slices - can you tell I wasn't feeling that great from that lot? Oh well, sabotaged my NSDs as a result and another £4.80 hit to the grocery challenge. Must be good for the rest of the week and Tues-wed and maybe Thurs will be too.

fedupandskint

Let's start off with some debt repayment news. Transferred ebay funds and paid off £300 in total - £100 to 3 credit cards with highest interest. Felt little apprehensive about this and whether I was doing the right thing or not. Think this is because the credit card repayment is still quite new to me - of course it is the right thing to do - its because its new to me to do this and not fritter the money away as I would have done in the past. As a result I have brought my DFD closer by another month - now at Oct 2014 from Jan 2015 originally. As I have a lot on ebay lets see how these get on and if I can get a nice round figure ready for next months overpayments along with the £100 for the car as per my plan.

Right onto the next thing now - totally got the water thing wrong from yesterday. Divided the total by 12 instead of 8 - whoops! Confirmed no interest is paid and that is the correct amount to pay over 8mths so all ok there and no need to change anything for next year. Silly me!

Back to work meeting went well and I'm on very reduced hours for the next 2 weeks and they completely agree with not over loading me which is good.

This afternoon posted the final ebay sale from the other week as the buyer finally paid today, also sent back the jeggings for a return and the shoes that are wrong for the present.

What else? Bagged a NSD today 13/15 as buyer paid for postage and this covered the postage and the others were free. Managed not to spend anything else which was good.

Feeling a bit better today which I'm really pleased about, still not back to normal yet but certainly better.

fedupandskint

Before I forget. After I walked to the post office, I decided to walk into town, called in to look at the sale stuff found a dress reduced to 1£20 and the thought flitted across my mind to get it for the work Christmas party. Then reminded myself to be strong and leave it on the rail and wear what I own already and have the most frugal outfit made up from what I already own.

So, its decided I will wear either my red dress with broad shutter pleats, black shoe boots, black patterend tights and a sparkly necklace, earrings and bracelets. Might splash out on a new nail varnish (£2.99) at the most and a new belt if I can find one I like enough

Or alternative outfit is my turquoise lepoard print pencil skirt, turquoise top and the same shoes and tights and no belt and still sparkly jewellery.

Final alternative outfit is my lilac and black patterned pencil skirt with a black top and belt with same shoes and tights and the same jewellery.

You see, there is no need to buy anything new apart from maybe a new belt. I have a evening bag, jewellery, shoes and tights etc already and no need for anything new.

I also watched an article about purple eye makeup yesterday which reminded me I have a lot of eyeshadows. Off I went to investigate my collection - lots of suitable eye make up to use and I did a trial run yesterday, looked nice even with a not too much other make up on and no going out outift either.

I'm ready to go then for the 21st Dec, even if I don't get a belt or nail varnish there's no need to worry as of course I already have some to go. Just think it would be nice to get something little that's new for the night out. Anyway, there's plenty of time to have a look for a suitable belt and be strict with a budget also. A nail varnish will cost £2.99 at the most and even I can afford that even with all the debt repayments going on!

fedupandskint

Oooh nice one grabbed the reduced internet software which I like and need next month so very pleased about that.

Going back to work certainly wipes me out atm, so its a slow and slow recovery it goes over the next few weeks.

Happily have 7 items with bids on currently so looking good for the weekend when they finish as the decluttering continues!

fedupandskint

Checked to see if the credit card payments made the other day have cleared and they have now. Unfortunately these payments have removed the minimun payments for 2 cards meaning I will need to remember to make the equivalent payments next week to remain on the repayment track, tempting as it is to not make them.

fedupandskint

Still feeling very under the weather - this work lark is taking it out of me! Looks like the phased return will have to take longer than I expected.over the next couple of weeks.

So today, decided to call in to Mr T as needed some milk and then thought may as well get the food in on the weekly shop as I was there to make it 1 spend day rather than more spendy days. Food shop done for next week, also called in to HB to get some cheap cleaning products and succumbed to 3 bars of bubbly choccie for £1 while I was there - oh well, they were mini bars.

What else - not up to much today at all so cleaning can wait for another day and hopefully I will feel a bit better tomorrow and do some tomorrow afternoon when I get in.

Just checked fleabay and now 7 items selling for £70 - hoping to get it over £100 this weekend or even closer to £150 which would be ace of course!

Have shuffled some loose change in the change pots and also restarted my £1 in a pot every time I use up a beauty product. I've done this before and really enjoyed it - its great to get to around £45 and then spend that on something I really want. I bought my rather great lightweight outdoor/dog walking jacket last time and it felt great to use that money for the majority of the cost meaning I could buy what I wanted when I saw it - great!

Planning a very quiet weekend as I don't feel up to much else apart from laying on the settee recovering and hopefully feeling better

fedupandskint

Planning a very quiet and relaxing weekend to recover as still feeling very worn out and tired. Took the dog for a nice long walk in the autumn sun this afternoon after work and it nearly knocked me out!

Just discovered its another free listing weekend so tomorrow will be listing some more things I found to go on there and relisting what doesn't sell. Better get the camera out then to take some photos tomorrow and make my mind up about a few things and whether to sell them on there. Well its all in aid of the debt repayment so I'd better pop a few more things on there - bit more kitchen stuff I think this time along with a bit more clothing

Also found a relatively simple soap making recipe so I reckon I'll give that a go tomorrow as I have everything in and it looks fairly straightforward - I think! Want to give it a go for presents and also some for me of course, hope it turns out ok so I can wrap it up and make it look nice. Think I'll update the present lists tomorrow too to make sure all is ready for next weekend to get it all finished in plenty of time

fedupandskint

November GC £126/100 - hmm over by £26 for November.

December shouldn't be too bad as I have savings stamps to cash in and points also to use up and also plenty to use in the freezer for Christmas so maybe I might unbelievable come in close to the target! I'm cetainly finding it hard work to come in at £100 per month. £126 for 4 weeks works out at £31.50 per week instead of £25 per week so I'm going over by £6.50 per week which is probably treats and little stock ups.

Planning a NSD for today and this means I will have reached my target today too!

Also to start the soap making process in a little bit, take some photos for listing this afternoon, bake some muffins later from frozen black bananas and everything else is storecupboard - like this kind of baking! Have fed the Christmas cakes with rum . Updated the presents lists which are looking ok and will make a note of foody presents to make later on this afternoon while the rugby is on. Ebay bids slowly coming in this morning for items finishing later today - who knows how that will turn out? Upto around £100 now, not bad for things I don't use and don't want :T

What else attempting to get some washing dry outside, have taken the dog on a lovely long early morning walk around the water park in the mist and frost and he is now sleeping to recover! Enjoying listening to the test match - doing better in this one, keep it going please!

Might do a little bit of light cleaning later or leave it for tomorrow, oh the life in the fast lane!

fedupandskint

Ta-da! Got there and reached 15/15, extended to 18 now.

I had a go at handmilling soap today to turn a batch into creamy milk and honey soap - its currently setting in a sillicone loaf tin ready for cutting into slices tomorrow and package up. Who knows what it will turn out like?

Did a bit of cleaning meaning only the floors left to do if the weather picks up a bit from the grey mist and now heavy rain. Oh yes, along with ironing and parcelling up some ebay sales from today. Not too good this week - currently at £70 so far with a couple to finish tomorrow. Relisted those that didn't sell and adjusted some prices to make them a bit more enticing hopefully to sell.

Bit bored tonight so time for a hot choccy and tv and then up to listen to the cricket in the morning