WTBSEs 'Living within my means,saving for a better future' diary :)

WantToBeSE

Hi

I am not so much in debt as i am spending to much and will (yet again) be in debt if i'm not careful!

I have spent the last few years paying off my debt (£9000 approx), just in time to become unemployed. Not good. BUT i now only have 1 debt, at 0%, and am paying it back at £40 a month, which is very manageable.

I am on the hunt for a new job (have been looking for almost 4 months- to no avail), and also want to be self employed and start up my own business (hence the username WTBSE).

So, my mission should i choose to accept it (and i already have) is to spend as little as possible, save as much as possible (not easy when on benefits, but now i am virtually DF i can start), with the view to having some savings behind me for when i start up my own business

I will be logging what i do in order to achieve this. Mundane, uninteresting things such as:
-Putting washing out on the line instead as using tumble dryer
-Keeping heating off as much as possible
-Talking about interesting job applications
-Using the car less and walking more
-Selling stuff on Ebay as i declutter the house
-Facing Winter/Christmas on the cheap.

So, if anyone would like the join in and read my ramblings, they are more than welcome!

WantToBeSE

So, today is sunny. NOt very warm, but still sunny.
So i put 2 loads of washing out on the line, in the hopes it'll dry by the end of the day.
My garden only gets the sun from 1-6, but i normally get all the washing done and out on the line as early in the morning as posisble.

So far on Ebay, i have made £120! I only started selling stuff on there about a month ago, so i am really pleased. Its almost covered the cost of my older sons Christmas pressie!
I also managed to pick up a 'like new' designer jacket for £3 this morning, as the seller hadnt put a size or designers name on the listing!

I have started to pick up a few stocking fillers for the kids for Christmas now. Just stuff like colouring stuff for my 8yr old, as he loves colouring and writing/drawing etc. My 12 year old is a bit harder to buy for though, stocking fillers seem to cost an arm and a leg!

Its my birthday today, and i am celebrating by being very lazy. I am vegging out on the sofa, and i plan to have a glass of wine later (i bought the bittle on offer last weekend for £5 instead of £8.99).

kazyyy

:beer: Happy Birthday :beer:

WantToBeSE

Thanks Kazyyy!

kazyyy

That's alright, congrats on ebay by the way. I need to get my butt in gear with that too.

What sort of things is your 12 year old into? My dad had it easy when I was that age. Argos catalogue and a marker pen and I was away!

WantToBeSE

I put off selling on Ebay for ages, thinking it was too much hassle and stress, but its actually really easy

My son is mainly into computer games. His big present this year is an xbox, i got a great deal on it from hukd, and after selling the games it came with (ones my son wouldnt like), i only ended up paying £120 for it, which has been covered by Ebay now

I just have my youngest son to buy for now, and he wants skylanders starter pack on the Wii..so i am looking out for a bargain on that now!

WantToBeSE

The heating is most definitely off this evening. I am snuggled up on the sofa under a fleece, with a hot water bottle to keep me warm, and thick clothes and wooly slippers.
It's actually quite cosy

On Monday morning i will be applying for 2 jobs, both of which i love the sound of. 1 of them is 30hours, caring for a woman in the local area, helping her with housework, shopping, leisure activities etc. The other is 16 hours, working with people with substance misuse problems, mental health problems and vulnerable people.
I will also be filling in my volunteering form, as i need to get more experience under my belt.

Managed to get 2 loads of washing dry on the line today, so havent used my tumble dryer all day today

Frugal_Saver

Hello WTBSE. Many Happy Returns.

Wishing you all the best with your job hunt. A couple of years ago my BF was out of work for just a month or so and we found it so difficult, can't begin to imagine how difficult it is with kids to think about as well. It sounds like you're being very proactive.

Not got the heating on here either, just a few candles and more hot drinks than normal!

Hiddenidenity

Happy Birthday

Hope you've had a nice day

*Subscribes*

WantToBeSE

Good morning FS and HI, thanks for popping in

I had a lovely birthday thanks, i had 1 glass of wine, watched Merlin and just slobbed out.
I have woken up feeling ill this morning. I knew it was coming as i havent been feeling on top form for the past few days. Nothing too bad though.

I have put the heating on for half an hour this morning, just to take the chill off a bit. I am trying not to put it on too often as i just cant afford it. I'm not sure if its actually cold, or if its the illness making me feel ill, but the heating is helping regardless.

This job hunting is very hard. I live in a rural town, with 12 childminders, all of whom are fully booked, as are their 6 month waiting lists. The school doesnt have breakfast or afterschool clubs either, so even if i could get a job, i am unsure how the childcare would work out.
There is another option though- there is a nanny agency nearby. I am not sure how much hard work it is to employ a nanny, as i'd have to register as an employer with HMRC.
Not only that, but it would be strange having a nanny pottering around my tiny council house! I imagine they work in much nicer houses!

I have several things on Ebay at the moment, 1 of which is a DVD which has 17 watchers! I have sold a few other bits from the same TV character before, and they have all fetched quite good prices compared to what i paid.

Hiddenidenity

My good friend is a nanny, but she doesn't live in. She stays the nights/days you need her then goes home/onto another clients house. Maybe that's an option?

You have my sympathy with childcare though to put my two in full time nursery is over double what I'd earn :rotfl: