Small Steps To A Bigger, Brighter Future

MuffinTops

icontinuetodream wrote: »

Mine too!! I have decided to put all my op's off my mortgage balance from next year rather than in my offset savings....it's soooo much more satisfying watching the mortgage balance come down than the savings go up!! :rotfl:

My healthy eating plan is going well and I've lost 1lb in a few days so happy that I'm on the right track there too.[/QUOTE]

:T that's brilliant!!!:dance:[/QUOTE]

I feel exactly the same regarding watching the mortgage diminish rather than see no change and a healthy savings account. I keep reminding myself that an ISA is a far better way but I really want to see the mortgage balance regularly reduce.

Thank you!

MuffinTops

This weekend was a mixed bag. I had a lovely day out on Saturday with my best friend, her boyfriend and their two dogs! Just what I needed. One of the dogs is a very unconditional overly energetic puppy who loves you on first sight. The other is a well established old lady who you have to convince to like you (but doesn't take a great deal to bring her round) ! But both are very beautiful and have fantastic temperaments once they're comfortable.

So we took them for a few long walks and just had general playing time which wore me out but they still seemed to have bounds of energy. In the evening the adult humans went off to a fireworks display which was fantastic. We didn't take the dogs for obvious reasons and there were no fireworks being set off by their home either so we knew the dogs wouldn't be left quivering in the dark. I ended up staying far later than I expected, but as it's a long drive from theirs it's easier to leave later as the roads are so quiet.

Yesterday I went food shopping and, as the weather was so bad, decided on a lazy day. A very lazy day in fact. I'm now a little miffed that I didn't put the day to good use indoors as there are so many things I could have been doing while pottering or even just sitting around. Oh well - it's done now.

I did manage to eat quite well over the weekend but haven't lost anything this morning. Weigh in is on Thursday though, so maybe I should be patient!

The shop and scan was uploaded last night, including my receipts and I've got a lot of surveys queued up for today, so that should keep me busy during my spare time.

No NSD happening again, but I can set myself up today to make sure I get a few in this week.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

bellevie

Muffin, its DF here!

Im catching up with your new thread, congratulations on becoming debt free:j

I stopped my diary in favour of a blog as I think I put too much information that didnt need to be in a debt free board!! So I started this account mainly for the swagbucks thread but have been getting back into other sections of the site. I got quite addicted to swagbucks, and managed to save £25 amazon vouchers for DD's christmas presents. I have been a bit slack the past week or so just been so distracted.

I have good news, I found a new job started just last week! Its a few afternoons a week in a boots pharmacy, the hours in theory seem perfect for what my plans are after my course, so I hope the two will work well together.

From what Ive read so far, things seem to be going brilliantly for you, I hope it continues!

Il subscribe to your thread and finish catching up

MuffinTops

bellevie wrote: »

Muffin, its DF here!

Im catching up with your new thread, congratulations on becoming debt free:j

I stopped my diary in favour of a blog as I think I put too much information that didnt need to be in a debt free board!! So I started this account mainly for the swagbucks thread but have been getting back into other sections of the site. I got quite addicted to swagbucks, and managed to save £25 amazon vouchers for DD's christmas presents. I have been a bit slack the past week or so just been so distracted.

I have good news, I found a new job started just last week! Its a few afternoons a week in a boots pharmacy, the hours in theory seem perfect for what my plans are after my course, so I hope the two will work well together.

From what Ive read so far, things seem to be going brilliantly for you, I hope it continues!

Il subscribe to your thread and finish catching up

Hello!!!!!!

How lovely to hear from you. I have been thinking of you and hoping things were busy and good.

Thank you for finding my diary and writing.

It's great to hear how upbeat and positive you sound and also how well things seem to be going. Huge congratulations on your job. I'm so pleased and excited for you as I know how important it is for you to be earning an income.

Well done on swag bucks. I've not managed to get into that but you sound like you're doing really well.

I agree on the info thing with these posts. I really edit mine down now rather than the long winded blurting I did before. Is your blog open to all?

xx

bellevie

Hi Muffin,

Im so so so happy, I was offered the job the day before my birthday and ever since things seem to be getting better and better! I am wondering if my nan up there gave me a little shove in the right direction

Yes it is open, but Ive changed my name, dd;s name etc, Il pm you the link - I really do go on and on and on, but I find it such a good outlet!

It took me quite a while to get into swagbucks, then I worked out that watching videos on their main page was quicker than the 10 vids for 3sbs, 2 searches a day and I normally qualify for a survey. At my best it was taking me about 8 days to reach a £5 voucher - that is poor compared to how well the posters on swagbucks challenge do, but its good for me. I have had a slack 2 weeks now, mainly as Ive been over excited about the job so Ive completely missed a lot of days.

Well done on your healthy eating plan & weightloss :T

MuffinTops

Definitely send me that link Bellevie. I'd love to be able to keep up with things in your life.

What a lovely birthday present. I often feel that we get pushed in certain directions too so maybe it was a birthday gift from your Nan. You definitely deserved some good happening too.

I'll give swagbucks another go. I do love this unexpected income. x

MuffinTops

After completing the surveys yesterday I've now got £15 worth to claim with one of them.

When I went shopping at the weekend I treated myself to some chestnuts which I roasted last night. Such a treat. I only had a few as I'd like them to last all week if possible, but really enjoyed the few I had.

I'm meeting my friend J for coffee tonight. We've decided to meet in Covent Garden so I'll have a wander around for christmas present inspiration too. I'm hoping he won't want to eat as we tend to get pizza when we see each other. I'd prefer to save the money and calories to be honest. I do really love seeing him though so will just play it by ear.

I hope everyone is having a lovely autumnal day.

MuffinTops

The surveys have become fairly quiet the last few days so nothing added there, but I have acheived 3 NSD's this week and it's highly likely today will be another. So that's 5 NSD's acheived this month which will become 6 tonight.

I have bought some Christmas gifts and groceries but there's a budget for those so my NSD's mean no unnecessary spending.

I've lost 1lb this week, so still on the right track there. Food hasn't been too bad, but has been very bland, so I'll try to brighten that up for next week so I don't get bored.

Tomorrow I'm taking my Mum Christmas shopping but I'm not planning on spending much other than buying gifts I've budgetted for and a few cheap groceries from the £1 shop that's in the high street. I'm happy to treat us both to a coffee and piece of cake so am hoping that's all I need to spend money on which will keep me within Saturday's daily spend budget.

My sealed pot looks great at the moment with the NSD's I've had. Lots of notes sat at the top.

I heard on the radio that eBay are having a sale on from 8am tomorrow for the weekend. I'm not sure how this works, but am stating it in case that can help anyone reading this who may be planning on some online shopping over the weekend.

Right, let's get this day started!!!!

MuffinTops

I don't know what it was about this weekend, but I really enjoyed it. I took my Mum christmas shopping on Saturday and only spent money on a coffee each when we arrived and then tea and toast later in the morning. She paid for a really nice lunch. Then while wandering around I just didn't see anything I was tempted by other than what was on my list to buy. I did go food shopping in the evening and used my £6 off £40 spend voucher. It's funny as it took me a while to build up the £40 bill as I just don't spend that much in one go anymore. No wasteful spends though, so I've definitely learned a thing or two!

I did get another £5 off £40 spend and am thinking of using that with the tesco vouchers I've saved this year to stock up on next year's toiletries and laundry detergent etc. I know there's the double up on vouchers, but even the freezer section isn't somewhere I normally buy from (ooh, get me!!!).

Another NSD yesterday and a few looking likely this week.

I logged onto SuperPoints last night and they've closed down. Luckily I only had enough for a £5 Amazon voucher, but was still a bit gutted. Sad to think that would be more jobs disappearing before Christmas. I do moan about my job but I'm so lucky not having that sort of worry hanging over me.

I've got to get my hair coloured at some point this week, but the money for that is in an envelope at home, so all budgetted for. My eBay item didn't sell yesterday - again, so I think it's time I started putting things up for sale. My mindset is back in place (phew) so I have no reason to hold back.

Another new week! Hopefully it'll be a great one. x

bellevie

Hi Muffin,

sounds like you had a great weekend.

Shame about superpoints even though I didnt really get anywhere near as far as swagbucks - I hope swagbucks doesnt go down too, I wondered if they were linked as I noticed they have the same named special offer pages.

Enjoy getting your hair done this week, and hope whatever you manage to list sells well x