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

DedicatedDFW

Chocforever wrote: »

Is the TMA an essay or lots of short questions? Can you chip away at it so it doesn't hang over you all week?

Regarding the gadget, I suppose I was wondering how you came across it. If it is something you specifically searched for because it would be useful and you like it, go for it. Or you could always leave it until the end of the month if you aren't sure and see if you still really want it.

I confess I have been counting the hours down today. I feel tired and achy (nothing serious; just after effects from seeing a chiropractor yesterday) and I am looking forward to a rest this weekend.

I have been good this week and not spent much money. And most of my food shopping was from MSs so I will get my money back in due course. Just as well because my bank balance is not looking good this month after paying one credit card bill!

Take care x

Hi Chocs!! So good to 'see' you

My assignment is a longer piece of work - more like an essay - its gonna take me all week to do it :eek: The trouble is i lose so much to time to either exhaustion (thyroid) or sickness (the thing thats really bugging me lately is the pretty much constant nausea thats being playing up again along with tummy pain / upset) with being so ill over xmas i lost alot of time that should have been spent on this I am pleased that i am consistently pushing at the docs to find out what the problem is now as i've suffered with it a long time as it flares up at different times.

The gadget was something i was told about by an acquaintaince last year and i've been pondering it since then - its just that the benefits of this have become more apparent to me of late. I'm going to try and hold off on it though as this first couple of weeks of the year have been super spendy! :eek:

Ooh - sorry to hear you're achey hope you have a super chilled weekend xx Thats fab about your MS's getting the food in :T I'm working on us eating from stores as much as possible but then fresh stuff that is needed is still so expensive i'm not noticing too much difference in the shopping bill

Well Done!! On not spending and on paying your credit card :T:T:T

Spendy confessions today:

Boots repaired - £10.00 (still vastly less than buying a new pair and they're not going to landfill so good really)
New Scarf - £3 in the sale i've been lusting after it
New Dress - £10 in the sale reduced from £50 - impulse purchase but thinking of work and also possible interviews / new work environment hopefully - it remains to be seen if i'll keep it though

Jobs for the weekend:

Meals cooked from stores (except where fresh veg etc. is needed)
Work on assignment 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 - then start to piece together
Run x 2
Breaks inbetween study = baggage
Foot lotion
Body Cream

Ok the priority is the assignment so positive vibes please and a friendly push into action if anyone thinks its needed would be great

Baggage plan is that i haven't sorted anything out to leave the house the last couple of days and am getting sick of having 'stuff' everywhere all the time so baggage = sorting out bags - i have one i've had for over 5 years intending to store wool in it when we eventually move - Much better that i sell it and make living here nicer as less cluttered and use the money towards making house nicer (increase in value) or paying down mortgage - both options making moving a much closer option

DedicatedDFW

Morning all

Just having an hour to myself before starting to tackle the assignment :eek: i intended to get up early today to get on with this but once again having been awake until the early hours i fell asleep some time after 3am and then slept straight through my alarm :eek::eek::eek: i am still really tired but have so much to do that i cannot just relax today.

I'm hoping to pop on with some updates throughout the day - reading the diaries on here is so motivating with what everyone is doing to both tackle their debts and to achieve things as well I'll also need little breaks throughout the day so that is the plan for now!

Hopefully the baggage plan will generate something for the bay of e - i will of course re-list all the unsolds again *fingers crossed*

Hope everyone has some nice plans for the weekend x

Chocforever

I'll be popping in later this afternoon to check on your TMA progress

DedicatedDFW

Thanks Chocs

Although i have done well over 2 hours solid work this has all been more planning than actual word count - I've broken it down into 3 sections and i'm hoping to get 1 part done tonight, the next tomorrow and also start on the final part. The good thing is i have a much clearer idea of what i want to say in each bit - once i've got this finalised it should pretty much write itself to be honest *fingers crossed*

I've also washed pots, lifted out bags to sort out - i'm challenging myself to list 5 on eb*y / put in carboot pile and this way i can get myself a new work bag. Although i am somewhat torn i have seen a bag which would be ideal for work and is of course gorgeous! The strap is just right as is the size of the bag itself and its got sufficient sections in for all my stuff and is £14 BUT i'm not supposed to be spending money on things like this I don't have an actual handbag that is for work as when the last one broke i didn't replace it. I like the idea of having a dedicated and specific work bag which will also help with streamlining and making things easier for me as i can come home at the end of the working week and just stash that away until work starts again. I'm kicking myself a bit for not grabbing it when i saw it but i was trying to be good and not spend any money and also not get any more bags when i was already clearing out the ones i'd already got But i have no actual work bag and certainly none that would be suitable for going to an interview So my challenge is to part with - via selling on the bay of e or carbooty 5 bags - if i sell any then this would cover the money for the bag for work i do seriously need a decent bag / outfit for interview - its all about feeling confident when you go to these things isn't it and i had a potential interview this week (very short notice) but declined it as the job was what i am doing now. So i guess i need to think about having an interview outfit ready as well.

What else have i done today ?

Ooh i'm going to london for a weekend :j - i last went as a child so am ridiculously excited. i have no accomodation booked and am not sure how to find the bext priced train tickets so any advice from anyone would be great I'm hoping to see a show whilst there and also do some sightseeing / go to some museums so again any suggestions would be fab

How is your weekend going chocs are you feeling any better today ? I should have gone for a run earlier but missed out due to over sleeping Tomorrow i'll have to run definitely ! Hoping i can make good progress on my TMA tomorrow as my mr is going out for a few hours - part of the reason i want to move is i don't have a quiet space i can get on with stuff without interruption - i'd better get decluttering then and really think about spending anything on bags

DedicatedDFW

Right i'm going to make my tea and have a proper break now hopefully i'll be more refreshed when i return to my assignment thats the plan anyway. i'm hoping to jot down a first draft of the opening paragraph / synopsis and then i'll go and start the great bag cull! It'll need doing - they are currently all over the bed :eek:

Chocforever

It sounds like you have made good progress with the TMA. As you say, the difficult bit is working out what should go in there, how it will flow and the conclusion. Good luck with getting some of it written this evening.

I don't know why, but I had in mind that you lived in the home counties! I love going to London for a change of scene, to see concerts and generally wander around the lovely sights. I'm sure you will have a great time

Anyway, regarding train tickets, for most operators, red spot!ed hanky is good. You can search without opening an account. if you do go ahead with a purchase, have a look around for a discount code as they are sometimes available for new customers. Train companies issue discounted tickets at different times and they usually say when on their website. Some are 12 weeks in advance, others only a month. And check for planned engineering work if you are returning on a Sunday!

I don't know about accommodation. I don't stay frequently enough to know if it is best to book early or get a late deal. Hopefully someone else can advise.

The website Visit London is great for inspiration on what to do and suggests the top ten exhibitions, concerts etc.

I am feeling fine thanks. i went parkrunning this morning. Felt quite virtuous since it was snowing when I left here. Time not great but a small improvement on last week.

jwil

Good luck with the assignment! The bag plan sounds good too.

You've done loads today!

London trip sounds fab I only ever use travelodges to be honest, so don't really know about accommodation etc.

DedicatedDFW

Chocforever wrote: »

It sounds like you have made good progress with the TMA. As you say, the difficult bit is working out what should go in there, how it will flow and the conclusion. Good luck with getting some of it written this evening.

I don't know why, but I had in mind that you lived in the home counties! I love going to London for a change of scene, to see concerts and generally wander around the lovely sights. I'm sure you will have a great time

Anyway, regarding train tickets, for most operators, red spot!ed hanky is good. You can search without opening an account. if you do go ahead with a purchase, have a look around for a discount code as they are sometimes available for new customers. Train companies issue discounted tickets at different times and they usually say when on their website. Some are 12 weeks in advance, others only a month. And check for planned engineering work if you are returning on a Sunday!

I don't know about accommodation. I don't stay frequently enough to know if it is best to book early or get a late deal. Hopefully someone else can advise.

The website Visit London is great for inspiration on what to do and suggests the top ten exhibitions, concerts etc.

I am feeling fine thanks. i went parkrunning this morning. Felt quite virtuous since it was snowing when I left here. Time not great but a small improvement on last week.

Thanks for all the advice on London chocs - its going to be later in the year but i wasn't sure how soon to start looking at travelling plans

Well Done! on your run and improving time :T:T:T Brr! to the snow though

Since last posting i have written out a fuller draft as to whats going where - its like a full set of instructions for me to follow :T I also sorted out 2 bags - 1 for the bay of e and 1 for carbooty. I was then ready to write a bit more but unfortunately i am suffering (again!) with a really upset tummy _pale_ So am back to feeling dreadful and struggling to think clearly enough about my assignment

DedicatedDFW

jwil wrote: »

Good luck with the assignment! The bag plan sounds good too.

You've done loads today!

London trip sounds fab I only ever use travelodges to be honest, so don't really know about accommodation etc.

Hey jwil - lovely to see you again

I don't feel like i've done much - except for study of course and that is the priority now anyway

Yep i'm a huge travelodge fan - i'll have to see what they've got in london

I've only sorted out 2 bags so far - i am being strict and unless i get rid of 3 more as well then i can't get the work one. It *is* spending money but it is a sensible purpose and as i say will help me as i try and streamline homelife.

Its taken me ages to type this as i am so ill again

I *must* remind myself to put in a job application tomorrow as well!

How has your day / week been jwil ? Hope you're good

DedicatedDFW

Oh yes - if everyone could please keep the positive vibes up for this assignment please i'm sure it was a great help last time