Tackling my Debt and Simplifying My Life

[Deleted User]

Thanks Fae and Jox,
The bids are starting to come in on e-bay so fingers crossed that things will sell and more can be paid off credit card.

Didnt manage NSD today- but just bought bread rolls and crisps- Ive finally managed to get out of the habit of buying my lunch and spending £5 on average each day.

DH checked the bank account online this am, and we are approx £200 up than we usually are at this time of the month, so cutting the spending is working.
The weather is pants here so its been lovely to come home, have a lovely tea and snuggle up on the sofa watching the soaps- and the bonus is - its free!!
I love the winter (I know- I'm sad). The thought of being cosy in the house with DH and DS means more than anything I could buy.

Still no interest in house, haven't had a viewing for over a month- looks like we wont be moving before Christmas, trying not to be disappointed, its just the sooner we move, the sooner we can free up some more money to pay towards the debt.

Off to snuggle now..... Time for Corrie
GL x

[Deleted User]

A NSD today! Its a real achievement for me since its been years since I havent spent anything during my lunchtime on sandwiches or bits and pieces in Boots etc. Hope this will become the norm for me.
DH has been increasing our monthly payments to the CC, now that we are spending less we are able to do this, since we were only paying the interest each month on one CC- hopefully the less we spend the more we can do this.

E-bay is going ok, had bids on 8 items so far, fingers crossed bids will increase by Sunday.

No major plans for this evening, got a book on minimalism from the library, plan to get stuck into that.

GL x

Heffi1

Well done on the lunches, I realised that was where a lot of my money was going so I have been quite good recently and taken a sandwich in with me or leftovers from tea the night before. Also I used to get a coffee from McDonalds on the way to work, I am sure I was hooked on them, anyway I have not had one now for about 2 months and have saved myself £63 so far, and now I no longer live in my overdraft, I couldn't see anyway of saving money before until i actually analysed where I was spending the cash....what a shock that is, if you add £2.50 a day for a sandwich there is another £100.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here, I follow so many diaries I don't always catch up with all of them, if you are interested I do have a diary which I try to keep up to date, you are welcome to have a nose around if you want to.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4150273

Jox

I'm terrible with lunches too, I'm always so hungry at work so usually have a pret sandwich, I try to have a tuna or hummus sandwich which costs 1.99, but it would be better for me to make my own!

Well done being 200 up

Heffi1

It has made a difference and to be honest it was not that hard to do, I was just being lazy I think...

[Deleted User]

Spent ages writing a diary entry last night, only to delete it by mistake!!!
The e-bay stuff finished last night, sold approx 26 items, so busy day yest packing everything up, posted all of it today!Made about £80 so thats going straight off the credit card.

Also listed more items at the weekend, so hopefully more to come off debt next week.

Spent ages sorting the loft at the weekend- firstly to de-clutter ready for when we finally sell out house, and secondly to hopefully make money on the 'stuff' - either e-bay or car boot.

Considering the title of my thread says 'simplifying my life', it hasnt been very simple in last few weeks!! I have been so busy sorting, listing on e-bay and car-booting I feel I havent had a moment to myself! But I can see the bigger picture, once all this 'stuff' is sold I will have less debt and clutter (hopefully).

Decluttering does get addictive, I love the empty drawers and cupboards. It feels great to have less 'stuff' to clean and care for!!

Got my work winter 'uniform' sorted, just 5 jumpers and 2 pairs of trousers and a pair of boots- nothing to think about in the mornings now, everything matches, wont have to spend anymore money on clothes til next year (unless I miraculously lose 5 stone!!!)

Off to have tea and spend a quiet few hours with DS- no telly for once, just me, him and a couple of games (DH in College). Really want to try and spend a couple of hours every few days with DS without TV, Play Stations or laptops! Will write how it goes tomorrow!!

GL x

[Deleted User]

Another NSD!

Am so tempted to pop to the garage to buy some choccie as DH and DS at football tonight (yes in this terrible weather)! But I dont want to spoil my NSD.

The Estate Agent rang today and said we may need to think about reducing our house soon as theres another one going up for sale opposite, will be approx £35k cheaper but needs total gutting and is a semi (ours is detatched). Thought we may need to reduce it, but of course that will leave us with smaller deposit for next house- have spent this evening looking again at properties, very little for our price range (about £80k) that has parking and is in a fairly ok area. Would think of renting for a while but most ads say no pets (I have two dogs).

Has anyone read any diaries of anyone who has done similar?

Hope to keep up NSDs for rest of week.

The stuff on e-bay selling slowly for this week.

GL x

Heffi1

Hi GL thanks for popping by my dairy, you are doing really well, remember if your house is bigger and detached then it will obviously attract a higher amount, but I think lots of people are struggling at the moment, maybe this is why there hasn't been much interest.

Your ebay selling is doing really well, I used to sell a lot in previous years,but find it so difficult now, I think more and more people are trying to make extra money that there is more competition.

Keep going though I am enjoying reading about your journey.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Heffi1- I was hoping to have sold and moved by Christmas- I am learning patience finally!!

[Deleted User]

Thank crunchie it's Friday (well almost).
The week has flown by. Done well with money saving, wasn't too painful- still loads more I can be doing.
E-bay going more slowly, but doesn't end til Sunday, so fingers crossed. Have been collecting more stuff I can put on this Sunday.

Also- had a phonecall from the estate agents earlier - we got s viewing on Monday, so again, my fingers will be crossed.

DH just fixing a fault on the car so he can put it on e- bay and buy a runaround, hopefully that'll mean another £2000 off the debt.

The weekends will be money saving now- it's Strictly time!!! I love it, previous years watching it has included expensive takeaways, this year I will be cooking something cheap and yummy.

Off for some sleep now.

Night night. GL x