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

DedicatedDFW

To Do List!

1. Sort out new bank account
2. Open other new bank account
3. Order books with vouchers from amazon
4. Sort out new course - look into what i need to achieve and plot out study plan
5. 1 hour gardening minimum
6. Move dumped item from spare room
7. List 4 items on bay of e - more if i can find anything
8. Try on tops may help with bay of e
9. Try on dress and move
10. Try on shoes and move
11. Sort out paperwork pile
12. Research hols
13. Finish book
14. Start new book
15. Writing
16. Continue moving at least 2 items a day
17. Register new phone with insurance
18. Sort out sim for old phone
19. Start spending diary

DedicatedDFW

jwil wrote: »

Well done on the NVQ and new course :T

Still keeping busy I see

You are covered if the ebay item doesn't turn up so no worries there

Thanks jwil and lovely to see you - i;ve been waffling on to myself for days :rotfl:

i do feel really busy right now and haven't even addressed all the things i wanted to before my next ou course :eek:

Priority is house and then if i have time the garden - just doing the things i can do to make living here as nice as it can be and as easy as it can be too - so decluttering and keeping things in the places they belong.

Hopefully after this weekend the spare room will have shaped up to as tidy and as decluttered as it can be.

Things that make living here hard are the lack of storage - my one wardrobe (and no chest of drawers) has to house everything - clothes / shoes / trainers / coats / jackets / boots / scarves / hats bags etc. My mr has put his foot down on no new wardrobe So i just need to live with the space i have - the problem is i am not doing this and so all these things clothes / shoes and coats in particular spill out into the other rooms and then everything is untidy again Hopefully the top sorting out this week will help.

Unfortunately i'm not motivated to clear out shoes as i don't think they'd sell with the postage costs

Got my to do list sorted although i'm sure i'll have missed something - A few things on there are enjoyable though - like the reading and writing - i really enjoyed getting some writing done this week and it would be great to get some more done There are a few easy wins too - ordering books using the voucher i have. And the new course is both exciting and scary :eek:

DedicatedDFW

What a day! I've had so many things go wrong or break it has been really stressful! The good news is I have managed to sort most things out - except for my shoes which broke beyond repair. I wear these loads and am wondering if I can get away without replacing them but I have no substitutes. Me and my Mr were going to nip to the sales in 1 shop tomorrow so he could get some things he needs & I should manage to replace these from there for £10 if I'm lucky but plans may have changed now so I am not really sure if we will get there. And to be honest, after my spree I'm sick of spending money these are a need rather than a want though - especially in this hot weather! We will see...

I have done a bit more Xmas shopping - have 1 person completely bought for and some bits for another 2 I am happy with this as sale shopping means they get loads more for the budget I have set and much nicer stuff than I could buy otherwise.

All the extra time fixing things today though has put me behind on what I want to achieve - at least it was a weekly to do list!

DedicatedDFW

Morning World

Well i have started the day with a spend which is not so good BUT these were needs - i ordered some more of the books that i need for my course - i still need to buy 6 more! :eek: I also ordered a pen drive - last year / module i didn't have one and it was a bit worrying when the comp kept playing up - this one was on offer and the best value i have seen and some good reviews so it should do the job. Another student nearly lost all of their work last year too :eek:

The book and pen-drive were on my short (on here) and long (written) to-do list so it is good to get something crossed off

Our plans for the weekend keep changing - i don't mind but will need to sort another meal out that i had not planned or bought for when i went shopping - the freezer and cupboards are full its just that i've no veg to go with whatever i do... will have a think maybe a pasta dish but thats too similar to todays meal...

I have done the initial bits that i need to do for my new course and that is as much as i can do - i now need to await the company getting in touch with me - i can't wait :j:T **so so very excited**

I have listed a couple of bits on the bay of e and have selected a couple of bits for the carbooty :T

I have also showered, applied half my make-up and am going to go and dry my hair.

And i've been in touch with a couple of people too which is always good to do

And i've had a bit of a read on here.

Not bad for a saturday morning i don't think

DedicatedDFW

To Do List!

1. Sort out new bank account
2. Open other new bank account
3. [STRIKE]Order books with vouchers
   from amazon[/STRIKE] Done! :j
4. [STRIKE]Sort out new course - look into
   what i need to achieve and plot out study plan[/STRIKE] Done! As much as i can :j
5. [STRIKE]1 hour gardening
   minimum[/STRIKE] Done! At least 2 hours now but needs alot more time still :j
6. Move dumped item from spare room
7. [STRIKE]List 4 items on bay of e -
   more if i can find anything[/STRIKE] Done! Although it ended up being 3 as 1 item had a hole in it :mad: :j
8. Try on tops may help with bay of e
9. [STRIKE]Try on dress and
   move[/STRIKE] Done! :j
10. [STRIKE]Try on shoes and
    move[/STRIKE] Done! And they are being returned :j
11. Sort out paperwork pile
12. Research hols
13. Finish book
14. Start new book
15. Writing
16. Continue moving at least 2 items a day
17. Register new phone with insurance
18. Sort out sim for old phone
19. Start spending diary

DedicatedDFW

I thought i'd better tally up where i am up to glad i've got some things done but the others keep being put off The weather is just so gorgeous that its too hot to try on lots of tops and also i want to be outside and enjoying the sunshine as much as possible

I achieved loads in the garden but have alot more planned for out there this week - it already looks so much better but the weeds are such hard work especially with this gorgeous sunshine :undecided

Still have lots to achieve so i'd better get a move on this week - what i keep trying to do is get stuff done in the evenings when i get in so that i can free up the weekends but its not working out quite like that and as i say it is so nice to be able to sit out of a weekend that i have been doing that alot more.

Again i guess its all about finding the balance - trying on tops etc. can wait but this is something that will help with a cleaner tidier house - a wardrobe i can easily put items into and get out of would mean items are tidied away promptly and its not a battle each time i open the door But then we can't rely on every day being nice so whilst it is i am trying to make the most of it... I will commit to getting up super extra early on THURSDAY and trying on said tops. THURSDAY also, if not before, i shall remove the dumped in the spare room item!! :T Now thats a plan

DedicatedDFW

Urgh! posted a money post yesterday and got logged out oh well!

So it is time to grow up, take responsibility and get on with things. I have applied for 5 new jobs recently not heard off 4 of them and got a rejection on the 5th something i guess i'll have to get used to and hardened up for :undecided Not all of the jobs have been an increase in pay - in fact some have been a decrease :eek: But it would be a better job, with better prospects and giving me experience i can then use to apply for other positions. Another vacancy has come up for a local company i want to work for but it is only a 6 month contract - not something i think i can risk - 12months yes but 6 is just too short a timescale.

I know i need to make the most of our home so we can enjoy living here and come home and relax and not feel as though we are in a dumping ground. To this end i have been tidying bits of things away and in a mo. will try and get some tops sorted out - this will hopefully clear some space and make it easier to put things away. Tomorrow i am going to try and get up early sort out tops if i've not finished that today and then do alot of work in the garden which will make it nicer to sit out in for us and will save money on paying a gardener to come and do it :cool:

I lifted out the mortgage balance i was given last time i called the company - i'm sort of avoiding ringing them at the mo. as i am so angry with them and have made a complaint :mad: I just hope the figure they gave me was correct. I have played about with figure and have decided to set up a new monthly budget - if i pay all my spare money into savings and the mortgage it will help stop frivolous spending

Having said that i bought a pair of jeans in the sale yesterday. Confession:- my weight has rocketed so much (i believe it is the thyroid - i'm eating healthier than i have for years and am exercising) that i have gone up 2 whole dress sizes in the last couple of months I have not told this to anyone IRL I am so uncomfortable and in the end accepted i am not wearing stuff as i can't get into it and actually purchased jeans i can get into with only a slight struggle and actually fasten up

I don;t want to sell everything that doesn't fit as that would be nearly all my clothes and i am hoping by continuing exercise, medication and healthy eating then this will eventually happen for me.

I am, however, returning the shoes i bought the other week :T

I am also cutting out some personal expenditure and redirecting the funds into a savings account

I am due to start my new course this week which fits in nicely with my degree and also boosts my opportunities for a new job so that is all good

I completed a survey yesterday and almost did one today before the screen froze and i couldn't get back into it :mad:

In terms of taking responsibility i am trying to get the mortgage paid down as much as possible for us - my mr takes care of alot of our social stuff as i can't afford too. He doesn't take an interest in the mortgage and does not even know how long the term of it is - into retirement currently :eek: He knows we overpay as he gives me some to this but has no idea of the much bigger overpayments i have been making since this time last year almost. I am worrying a little about interest rates and really need to earn more / own more of the house to be able to get a remortgage at a better rate than i am on now Hopefully by embracing the frugal culture and using everything up as much as possible and selling all surplus items this could give me a little boost to get back on track with things.

Off to sort the tops - hope everyone is well xx

DedicatedDFW

Morning All!

Yesterday i did a bit more christmas shopping - with the sales being on i've been able to pick up all of the small gifts that i buy for people - i can't afford 1 big item for each person so what i do is buy a few little items - this year just 1 or 2 and then a medium sized gift - so i've got for 1 person 2 items £16 at full price and i've paid £4 - this way they get something really lovely for the budget that is worth more than i've spent so they are happily within their £25 budget. I have 4 people to buy for. I've bought bits for all of them and completely bought the xmas gift for 1 person. So just the 3 others to go - 1 is a young man so i think maybe aftershave this year which will be dearer than my budget i think so i need to keep shopping around for the one i've been told he likes...

Today i've got to do birthday shopping i think i'll be buying 2 things so will still have 1 to buy for and no idea what to get them.

So i'll have to dash for petrol and this before work today. I also want to enrol on my uni course - was hoping to knock a chunk off of the debt really but now had confirmation that i am not eligible for support with fees so that needs to be paid for as i don't want another regular payment each month and that would really just extend my debt another year for definite I could have used the money to pay off half my debt but this is the right way to do it i think rather than another loan. I'd not applied before but as i am now just working the one job my income is alot less than it was. Never mind, i tried.

Hope everyone has a good day xx

DedicatedDFW

Morning all,

I have a few things i want to achieve today so i thought i would jot them down on here as a bit motivation and a checklist too.

1, finish sorting out the tops -

i have started this and its not been too fruitful to be honest - the good thing is though i am discovering i have lots of lovely tops that still fit and i just need to make a bit more of an effort to wear different things - i am rubbish for just donning the same set of outfits all the time and this needs to change really

2, Move at least 5 items: bbq's, recipe, dress, blender, phone box

i have started this already by moving the 8 disposable bbq's - it took time to sort out the area they were going in too. Still it is better than them being dumped in the living room which is where they were :eek::o So that is 1 done, and i also moved the recipe so i am nearly half way there :T The dress i need to try on and decide if i'm going to wear it or sell it :cool: The blender i just bought it so it currently has no home. I am absolutely chuffed with it though - it looks fab - just a hand held one and it was the best price i have seen these at with a really good discount - now i can make my own hummus and soups :T The phone boxes may have also been sat in the living room for a while

Dress tried on and being git rid of - over half way there on this mini target


3, decide on tea for tomorrow and lift out of freezer

4, wash pots

5, all washing done, dried and moved

6, Apply for new job - need to rewrite personal statement so may take more than today

7, sort out new bank account pronto!

8, Use voucher before it expires

9, Start new course Started

10, gardening

11, check banking

12, move dumped item from spare room

That'll do for now methinks. I'm just going to have a quick ish read around on here and then i'll have a look at the new course

13, clear bedside cabinet

14, get filing all together and make a start

15, plot out times for study

16, cashback

17, write list of items still needed for uni

DedicatedDFW

Oof! My list is growing :eek:

Ok people - if anyone is reading - i need to make this decision by this evening I am thinking of doing yet another course!!! :eek: The reason for this is alot of the jobs i am applying for need excel and although i have studied this at a basic level about 10 years ago :eek: i have never needed it in my job and having not used it my mind is a tad fuzzy on all the sums functions etc. I am confident if nudged and reminded i'd get the basic info. back but the jobs aren't giving any sort of training *eep*

The +'s

I'd love to be better on excel also so i can set up a fab little spreadsheet to encourage me with the household budget etc. Also by having a recent qualification in this i feel it would really boost my chances of interview / job and also give me more confidence in applying for these jobs and also affect me at interview stage if i am lucky enough to get that far - basically instead of being nervy 'ooh heck what if they ask me to do this at the assessment centre' i'll not even be fretting over it. I'll be able to confidently apply for more, better and better paying jobs

It's affordable

It's on-line and to me £10 well spent if just to regain the confidence.

I can do it in my own time.

I am on holiday from uni - now is the only 'spare' time i'll get

The -'s

I'm already doing a course - started today

I work full time with a significant 3 hour round trip journey



Any advice appreciated before i submit - i personally think it would be a massive boost to my confidence, my chances of success at a better job and better pay, a wider scope for applying for a new job. With judicious time-management i could achieve this before uni.