Positive Steps Challenge 2013

ScarlettMcCain

Sorry to hear you're still having problems sleeping fairy. It's not something that happens often to me - if anything, I could sometimes do with sleeping less! - but it's horrible when it does.

I seem to have lost my MSE motivation since being poorly this week; can't seem to get back into the swing of things. There's lots I want to put into practice but can't work out how. I don't think it's that difficult but my brain isn't working properly yet as and when I figure out how to combine my money saving aims with my weight loss ones I will be a happy woman.....

fairyclicks

Aw ruby i think we all have mse flu lol! everyone seems to be feeling a bit poop - hope you are feeling better again soon

My advice for getting back into things is just to pick 1 thing to do. Like today i have been trying to just work on listing some things for selling and little else - still not got much done, but i have listed a few things at least

If i can help with ideas of how to do something specific let me know xxxx

MinnieMousesMummy

This week has been very hectic and I still have a lot of things that I have not done. This week is looking rather busy as well

Rollies
Look for MSing work
Laminate timetable
Clean the cupboard under the kitchen sink
Do some work on blog posts
Check freebies forum
Dust hall, porch and living room
Clean the windows outside
Clean the bathroom and start prep for decorating
Sort out family budgets
Dust the master bedroom
Do handwashing that is needing done
Wash the bedding
Dust kids bedrooms
Check benefit entitlement
Get rid of carrier bags from the kitchen
Start an online diary
Do homework for Wednesday
Do homework for Friday

Monday
Get a quick shower
Attend lectures at college
Do homework for Tuesday
Sort picture of kids for dh's birthday card
Order birthday cards for DH
School & childcare runs
Sort Avon books and paperwork
Clean the bathroom for decorating
Sort and update cv
Look for part time work
Do some work on Nectar Adpoints
Sort out account and write a review for dooyoo
Check emails - sort into folder & deal with anything urgent
Check postcode lottery & birthday bingo
Swagbucks
Fill in survey spreadsheet and redeem
Count change jar -bag up and bank
Hoover the house
Spend 30 minutes on ironing mountain
Strip and change all bedding

MinnieMousesMummy

Good evening everyone. Hope everyone is feeling better, hugs to those that need/want them x
I've had a busy day so I am just going to update my list and then have some me time this evening.

Rollies
Look for MSing work
Clean the cupboard under the kitchen sink
Check freebies forum
Dust hall, porch and living room
Clean the windows outside
Clean the bathroom and start prep for decorating
Sort out family budgets
Dust the master bedroom
Do handwashing that is needing done
Wash the bedding
Dust kids bedrooms
Check benefit entitlement
Get rid of carrier bags from the kitchen
Do homework for Wednesday
Do homework for Friday
Sort picture of kids for dh's birthday card
Order birthday cards for DH
Sort Avon books and paperwork
Sort and update cv
Look for part time work
Sort out account and write a review for dooyoo
Fill in survey spreadsheet and redeem
Count change jar -bag up and bank
Hoover the house

Tuesday
Check emails - sort into files and deal with anything urgent
Childcare & School runs
Take ds2 to hospital appointment
Attend lectures
Do homework for Wednesday
Make a start on painting the bathroom
Spend an hour looking for freelance work
Do some work on nectar adpoints
Sort account and write a review for ciao
Check swagbucks, postcode lottery & birthday bingo
Pop to the shops whilst in town as needing a couple of things
Check one poll
Check Asda price guarantee
Do some work on blog
Spend an hour on the ironing pile
Check banking

ScarlettMcCain

Well today has gone past in another haze of 'too much work and wanting to get myself sorted but not quite having the opportunity'!! I think this coming weekend will be a quiet one though so hopefully I can do it then, if not before!

Realised that by December I have to save up for home insurance (£100), car insurance (£500) and admin fees if I decide to stay in the flat (£200) so it will be a very quiet Christmas for me, will probably ask everyone not to buy me anything so I don't have to buy them anything back I usually exchange presents with a few close friends as my mum & dad aren't big present buyers and just send me a cheque for £50 or something - which don't get me wrong, is kind of them and much appreciated, but doesn't give me anything to open on the day! If I try to leave my privately rented flat I wouldn't need a deposit for a council flat, but then I'm not sure I would get one as I don't have many points, but I would need a £500 deposit for an intermediate rent flat; that's if I can get one at all, I don't know if they take people on DMPs. AAARRRGGGHHH. Too much stuff to think about before bedtime.....

How is everyone getting on with their stepping? Fairy - I hope you are feeling better and more productive today, and thank you for the offer of help - I will let you know once my head is in a better place to cope with everything!! xxx

fairyclicks

Aw Ruby it sounds like you have a lot of money to try and save in a few months! I have a few suggestions that might help:

It might be worth checking on topcashback for your insurance needs - i know there is a paid free quote option on there atm - think its about £1.30 for each quote and you can do 3 i think. There are also a lot of insurance options on there where you can get sometimes up to about £100 cashback on certain policies. You might be able to get cheaper quotes as well - have you read the guide about car insurance at all? It gives a lot of helpful information about describing your occupation for example which can make a big difference

Also maybe you could talk to your friends and agree a small budget maybe? or decide to do christmas in jan instead etc. Maybe you could make some gifts? or recycle some you received last year?

Re the flat situation - have you explained your financial situation to the council? If you think you wouldn't be able to raise the money for the admin fees you are at risk of becoming homeless - this might make a difference to your points. Or indeed could you discuss it with the agent and agree a post dated payment option? Personally i would recommend contacting the housing rights service just for advice - they are very good at knowing what options you might have.

I hope some of that helps! I know from experience sometimes its about trying to think around the situation and when in the middle of it that can be very difficult.

I'm doing a bit of juggling myself right now - £500 needed to buy oil, £145 needed for TV licence, £900 needed to clear my last debt, £600 i owe my dad and my car needs some work done to it.........i'm having to think around these things myself - tv licence getting cancelled, oil getting bought with credit card (with that to be cleared next month) - debt company getting a call to see if i can extend the time i have to pay, dad happy to wait and car, well its the steering thats not right so am checking the manual to see if it might be steering fluid or something that i can deal with myself

Today i'm working on the oil, I need to:

check my credit card credit limit which is due an increase - not increased yet
pay off the balance (i've bought petrol on it this month) - some paid, wouldn't let me clear it online for some reason!
ring around for quotes
check online for comparisons on oil prices
see if there is anything on topcashback/quidco

I also want to ring the debt company to discuss options with them.
i need to check my bank balance too, and calculate my expenses for the next few months.....done

Off to make a start on that little lot

Good Luck xxxx

MinnieMousesMummy

Good evening, Today has been another busy day, I went to lectures, look ds2 to hospital and done some other bits and pieces around the house. I am just going to update my list and then head to bed as I am feeling rather tired.

Rollies
Look for MSing work
Clean the cupboard under the kitchen sink
Check freebies forum
Dust hall, porch and living room
Clean the windows outside
Sort out family budgets
Dust the master bedroom
Dust kids bedrooms
Check benefit entitlement
Get rid of carrier bags from the kitchen
Do homework for Friday
Sort picture of kids for dh's birthday card
Order birthday cards for DH
Sort Avon books and paperwork
Sort and update cv
Look for part time work
Sort out account and write a review for dooyoo
Spend an hour looking for freelance work
Sort account and write a review for ciao
Do some work on blog

Wednesday
Catch up with emails
School runs
Attend college lectures
Book table for family meal on Sunday
Do more work on decorating the bathroom
Do work on nectar adpoints, swagbucks and one poll
Check postcode lottery & birthday bingo
Do some of ironing mountain
Check bank and move money around

fairyclicks

I'm having that feeling of getting no-where fast ATM, but at least i am getting there eventually LOL!

I'm still working on yesterdays list:

check my credit card credit limit which is due an increase - not increased yet - due to increase on 20th
pay off the balance (i've bought petrol on it this month) - done
ring around for quotes
check online for comparisons on oil prices - done
see if there is anything on topcashback/quidco - nope - was worth a look tho

I also want to:

ring the debt company to discuss options with them. done
list some more things on ebay/fb - done
cancel extra aa insurance - done
plan meals for the rest of the week
check forecast for weekend - done
do some more of quilt
blog updates - money one done
tidy living room - started
disconnect sky box
do a small wash - done
free bingo - done
psychology reading.

Think thats it for now

Good luck with all your steps MMM xx

MinnieMousesMummy

Good evening everyone, I've had another busy day but I am getting through the list so I will soon be able to get some well deserved rest.
Fairyclicks - Sorry to hear that you don't feel that you are getting anywhere atm, well done on the progress that you have made today.

Rollies
Look for MSing work:)
Clean the cupboard under the kitchen sink
Check freebies forum
Dust hall, porch and living room
Clean the windows outside
Sort out family budgets
Dust the master bedroom
Dust kids bedrooms
Check benefit entitlement
Get rid of carrier bags from the kitchen
Do homework for Friday:)
Sort picture of kids for dh's birthday card:)
Order birthday cards for DH:)
Sort Avon books and paperwork
Sort and update cv
Look for part time work
Sort out account and write a review for dooyoo
Spend an hour looking for freelance work
Sort account and write a review for ciao
Do some work on blog
Book table for family meal on Sunday
Do more work on decorating the bathroom

Thursday
Catch up with emails:)
Quick shower:)
School runs:)
Take little ones to toddler group:)
Do some studying:)
Check nectar adpoints, swagbucks, one poll, postcode lottery & birthday bingo:)
Renew library books
Sort shopping list for next week and do the online shop
Do 1 load of washing:)
Sort through the bathroom cabinet and get rid of anything that is out of date or finished.

I think that is enough to potter around and do on Thursday's list as I really need/want to try and catch up with Rollies list.

suzitiger

Hi guys, thank you for your kind words about my friend. Feeling ready to step again now so I am back
So I need to:
Call Warehouse for refund and to close storecard
Tidy up livin groom-DONE
Call TV licencing
Sort all reclyiling, empty into R-bin and put it out-DONE
Do 2 loads of washing and hang up to dry-DONE
Put washing away
Hoover bedrooms
Hoover living room
Wipe kitchen sides
Finish washing up and load dishwasher
wipe down table
sweep and mop floor
Book course
Book convention weekend
Write letter of notice for work
sort out music and memory on phone
put music on ipod

Phew, more to add soon but that will do for now