A Budgeteers Continued Quest to be Debt Free & Mortgage Free By 40

DedicatedDFW

Hey PB i was going to pop in and see how you were getting on ? I'm 2 items short of the 20 target waaaaah! i know there's a few days left until the end of the month but its so hard for me to find stuff to list now

Got another 500 words written - they aren't great but at least its something right ?

I seem to have been bitten by the travel bug having booked our next holiday i've looked into the holiday after that and another holiday towards the end of the year :eek: Well it is nice to look and we do miss out on other things to have these experiences and as alot of you are aware i can be a frugal bean when i put my mind to it

On that front i was really shocked by the cost of my shopping this week - well ok thats a bit of an over-reaction but *eep* :eek: i seem to have 1 or 2 expensive shopping weeks a month 1 of which co-incides with payday Hmm... coincidence ? well maybe its just a natural adjustment of things - Out of the shopping this week the only things i didn't *need* where a bargainous less than half price 99p each so i got 2 of them - the rest was necessary - we'd even run out of coffee and butter :eek: So i seem to have adjusted my bigger shop to tie-in with my payday as opposed to splurging on anything unnecessary - i would've even got some on offer chicken pieces but couldn't as i felt i'd spent a fair bit These items are a necessary purchase alot of weeks so i was pretty restrained just nabbing the 2 i think :cool:

Rightio at this late hour i am now going to don my chef hat for a late romantic tea :smileyhea

Thanks jwil - as usual though it doesn't feel like i've done enough! its the assignment and the house mess i *need* to get this house sorted out somehow and i need to work harder on the OU stuff

PB wow i'd have never had thought about that.. i tend to fit my listings around when my mr is busy - we have been seeing so little of each other late due to working hours - part of the reason the holidays are such a big focus i guess

Right off to light candles a la romance and cook a delicious meal - i hope :D

jwil

Have a good evening

DedicatedDFW

Thanks jwil - it didn't quite go to plan sadly will need to try harder this week x

DedicatedDFW

Help / Advice please?

I've got myself in a quandry I am not earning enough money :idea: - pretty obvious huh ? i could earn more by increasing my hours at work. I don't know if there are any hours available for this and it is the type of situation where i need to be sure that i want the hours before i ask - i.e. if i ask if hours are available i need to be sure i'm willing to do them. When i had my part time job i was effectively earning the shortfall from my main job from that. I would look to do another job in the future but right now i have no idea how i worked the hours that i did and kept going :eek:

*If* i increased my hours i would use any whole £100 from my monthly wage to put into savings / pay off debt / fund the many over-urgent jobs that are needed here (still suffering with the leaking gutter, door, windows ) - all expensive stuff and i just cannot afford it I'd have a plan first off and then the money wouldn't just disappear and not be noticed - maybe reward myself after the first 2months with new guttering - i know - i know how to party :rotfl: The part £ would be spending money - i have none at all

This is all on the one side of the coin - the goal of extra money each month to help build savings, reduce debt and get urgent jobs done on the house.

On the other side are all the negatives:~
I don't like my job - i find it very stressful The hours make it easier to cope with this - could i handle it if i worked more hours ? If i did increase my hours i wouldn't be able to reduce them easily at all So i need to be sure. Would a few hours really make that much difference ?
The reduced hours i work help with my studies which is of huge importance to me - if i increased my hours how would this be affected ? In truth if i actually got up in the morning on time i wouldn't lose any study time as i'd be spending the same amount of time studying.

Hmm - seeing it written down like that pretty much answers the question that i should just take on the extra hours - but input really appreciated Basically i got paid friday and i have £0 left. i have £0 personal spends - there is no budget for it Every time we go out my Mr has to pay for everything - he may well earn alot more but this really isn't fair. When i have bills like MOT, tax, insurance i have no funds for these and borrow and never catch up As long as i am strict with myself and monitor my money as in this is my usual wage £x so increase of £y gets used for a specific item as listed - debt (still overdraft to clear) savings (so necessary for so many reasons as everyone knows) house maintenance (urgency goes without saying).

Chocforever

Would it be possible to get a different job altogether? I realise this isn't the easiest time to change job or career but you don't seem to have been happy in your current job for some time.

I would think very carefully about upping your hours. You seem to have an awful lot on. I found out the hard way that increasing my workload a couple of years ago did not really help because I spent more money, for example on food, because I didn't have the time or energy to cook.

My only other comment is that as your studies progress, presumably it is getting more taxing. It is not just about finding the hours to put in, you need to be in the right frame of mind to produce quality work.

It is all about priorities I guess and it depends what your top priorities are for this year.

DedicatedDFW

Thanks Chocs

You've picked out exactly what was troubling me - i am really struggling with my current assignment and as the course progresses the assignments are becoming more time consuming. I also worked out an approximate of what extra pay i'd see by upping my hours - its vastly less than i had thought its not worth it for the small increase.

You are right too - i would end up spending more on food etc - that was a good spot.

Remember at the weekend i was looking at my finances and squirreled £100 into savings ? What was i thinking ? :eek: I've no idea whats gone wrong but i've no money - i was lucky enough to have a late payer on the bay of e so whacked that over to my account but its nowhere near enough - i can't cover the direct debits let along buy food and travel to work this month :eek: i don't know if my bank had a delay updating the info. as i seem to remember i had loads of problems with the system when i went on Or whether it was my own rubbish working out I'd have been ok without making the payment into savings so now i really do need lots of stuff to sell to get the extra money in - end of march seems so far away right now

Chocs - i was looking into getting a new job but i have found it so hard to find something to apply for and when i have applied i've not had any response and these are for jobs where the income is even less than i'm on now :eek:

Right bedtime its been a long day for many reasons and i'll be glad when i get to the end of next week as i will be working all this weekend covering for a colleague

DedicatedDFW

Weekend to do list in no particular order :~

1, [STRIKE]find and list at least 8 more things on bay of e [STRIKE]6 done![/STRIKE] 7 done...[/STRIKE] Done!
12, [STRIKE]500 words assignment [/STRIKE]Done!
3, [STRIKE]500 words assignment [/STRIKE]Done!
4, [STRIKE]500 words assignment[/STRIKE] Done!
5, 500 words assignment
6, 500 words assignment
7, [STRIKE]500 words assignment [/STRIKE]Done!
8, [STRIKE]500 words assignment [/STRIKE]Done!
9, [STRIKE]500 words assignment [/STRIKE]Done!
10, [STRIKE]500 words assignment [/STRIKE]Done!
11, 500 words assignment
12, [STRIKE]complete next section ou [/STRIKE]Done!
13, [STRIKE]try on dress (purchased with vouchers :T) [/STRIKE] Done! It's being returned
14, [STRIKE]try on shoes seeing if any need returning 2 pairs tried on 1 to go...[/STRIKE] Done!
15, sort out cushions (why do i have so many ?)
16, move bike Can't - i need to come up with another home for this different to the one i intended - dons thinking cap :think: :idea: I've come up with a place but will need my mr to be out of the way and someone else here to help :cool:
17, LETTER OU
18, LETTER TAX
19, [STRIKE]run Nope! Must do better - this was before i spent several hours faffing about selling my mr's item so lost alot of time to this really - but still thats just excuses isn't it [/STRIKE] Done! :j:j:j
20, [STRIKE]MONDAY finish 1 workbook for NVQ - i'm on the final question of it :T[/STRIKE] Done! Didn't answer the final question very well but so had enough of it! It's done now.

These all the things i *mostly* didn't get done last weekend - the assignment stuff has stayed on there as i need to re-hash it So my goals by monday are to have completed most of the above (see new plan for bedroom / living room below) as well as adding the below to do items :cool: I'm hoping to spend time writing and then getting up clearing an item off the list as a bit of a break and then back to the writing again

1, [STRIKE]post letter [/STRIKE]Done!
2, [STRIKE]post letter[/STRIKE] Done!
3, [STRIKE]post bay of e items[/STRIKE] Done!
4, [STRIKE]start npb[/STRIKE] Done!
5, [STRIKE]wash pots[/STRIKE] Done!
6, [STRIKE]dry pots[/STRIKE] Done!
7, [STRIKE]move pots[/STRIKE] Done!
8, [STRIKE]move pots[/STRIKE] Done!
9, [STRIKE]wash pots[/STRIKE] Done!
10, [STRIKE]dry pots,[/STRIKE] Done!
11, [STRIKE]move pots[/STRIKE] Done!
12, [STRIKE]washing [/STRIKE]Done!
13, [STRIKE]drying [/STRIKE]Done!
14, [STRIKE]move[/STRIKE] Done!
15, [STRIKE]washing[/STRIKE] Done!
16, [STRIKE]drying[/STRIKE] Done!
17, [STRIKE]move[/STRIKE] Done!
18, [STRIKE]washing[/STRIKE] Done!
19, [STRIKE]drying[/STRIKE] Done!
20, [STRIKE]move[/STRIKE] Done!
21, get up to date on on-line course stuff started. NEXT pt 2 & pt3 and continuous still to do. Pt3 done, continuous done - need at least an hour - 2hours for part 3
22, [STRIKE]finish current book [/STRIKE]Done!
23, [STRIKE]start new book [/STRIKE]Done!
24, [STRIKE]update references[/STRIKE] Done!
25, [STRIKE]sort dresses lifted out... this one is harder than i [/STRIKE][STRIKE]
thought 1 listed on bay of e[/STRIKE] Done!
26, dig out old newspaper for project
27, [STRIKE]jot down summer plans - success books x2 + happiness + mannequin + study guide[/STRIKE] Done!
28, move 7 items from living room 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
29, move 6 items from bedroom (should see it tidied :T) Bah! 14 items moved and its not finished :eek: Think there is just 4 more to go 3 more to go... 1 to go now :T
30, [STRIKE]grocery shop[/STRIKE] Done!
31, [STRIKE]move grocery shop[/STRIKE] Done!
32, [STRIKE]breakfast every day EVEN today!! Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday [/STRIKE] Done! This needs to be continued daily but this was to make sure i kept upo with it over the weekend and delighted that i have
33, [STRIKE]update project details started[/STRIKE] Done!
34, [STRIKE]Work bags ready for the start of the week [/STRIKE]Done!
35, [STRIKE]clothes ready for work all week[/STRIKE] Done!
36, [STRIKE]going out sunday and its freezing! What to wear ? pondering[/STRIKE] Done!
37, [STRIKE]quality time with my man [/STRIKE]Done! but will try and get 1 hour just the 2 of us this weekend - hard due to both of us working and other people are coming out for the meal too Need more time next week - we've both been so busy this week
38, fill in hospital form
39, ring docs re. sample (yuck! :rotfl:)
40, [STRIKE]make sure there's enough money in the bank to cover all payments[/STRIKE] Done!

Added

41, [STRIKE]complete next section of ou[/STRIKE] Done!
42, complete next section of ou
43, update references again - include CD's

Next Week

1, check when tax is due
2, check when insurance is due
3, jeans / trousers sort
4, handbags - aim to part with 3
5, 2 drawers declutter - if i rarely go in them whats in there? and what can go?
6, Next section NVQ (need to plan range)
7, new living room plan - all stuff of mine that doesn't belong into a carrier bag and then lucky dip - whatever gets lifted out gets dealt with completely (1 item a day 2/3 at the weekend)
8, move 2 x boots in bedroom

DedicatedDFW

How is everyone ? I hope you're all good ? I'll have to scarper to work shortly so can't get round to everyone just now x I am up late today having been ill in the middle of the night - or at least between 4 and 6am _pale__pale_ it wasn't my usual stomach upset but i felt terrible my head felt burning hot but when i touched it as was to be expected in our freezing room it was indeed cool to the touch and yet i just did not feel like i could cool down at all Even though i got up late after the lack of sleep i feel today will be a long day

Have got my weekend list ready early - with clearing the chaos from the lounge and bedroom i have set myself what should be the achievable task of 1 item a day so that a gradual improvement is seen - if i think i've got to tidy up the living room it is so overwhelming and i just don't have that huge chunk of time needed to work on it So hopefully this will start to show results

Hope you are all well and hope to get on again later x

DedicatedDFW

Hey Everyone - with my odd hours today i've managed to get a fair bit done :T Some little things and some not so little things crossed off the list so i'm all pleased with that Of course there's still tons left to do :whistle: But it wasn't all meant to be achieved in 1 day. Most importantly i'm scraping by for travel expenses to work for this next week and hope for some bay of e sales and prompt payments to cover the rest of march *fingers crossed*

Priority tomorrow will be the assignment - you've all been amazing with your positive vibes so if you could send more that'd be great thanks

Back to it i guess :cool:

Chocforever

You have 87 items on your to do list for the weekend :eek:
I don't know how you manage to have so many things going on at the same time and stay sane .

Good luck with the OU assignment. When does that course finish?

I hope you get some good e bay sales to bring in some cash and take the pressure off finding your travel money for March.

Take care x