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

DedicatedDFW

Hi all - hope everyone is ok?

I'm still around and reading but am still all out of sorts so i've not been posting too much.

Sunday my Mr complimented me on my outfit which was nice I didn't achieve all the studying i wanted as instead i got another major task out of the way. Good to get that done and out of the back of my mind where it had been hovering.

Money isn't looking great - cashback i was hoping to get seems to be moving further and further down the year and then mysteriously popped back to this month ? If its paid this month it will help me get a better grasp on things than where i am at right now.

Basically i was facing this month over £500 short to meet all outgoings including full credit card bill balance. Instead of paying cash for things that i pay cash for i've paid the cash off the credit card bill and put the purchases on my card. i know this means that i'm simply delaying the payment to next month but i am really trying to avoid paying any interest I'm so near to clearing what the bill was in full now as well - once the payments come through for a couple of small bay of e sales i'll still be £13 short.

This all sounds really good but I've worked out that i've simply delayed the payment of about £200 until next month Which means i've managed to clear £300 yes ? Well yes and no - i've cleared over £300 but we've had to pay an urgent bill here - which i had £0 for so my Mr has paid and i now owe him about £350 Why do things like this happen? Where it feels like a bit of progress is being made and then whoosh something crops up putting you back where you started I suppose the positive is that by clearing £300+ of the original shortfall i am in a better position than having the original £500+ and the £350 contribution i'm making - my mr rounded it down slightly for me

So i'm back to throwing all spare pennies at the credit card bill - if i manage to miraculously find any money from anywhere or of cashback is paid out then that will reduce the bill due to be sent next month straight away! Struggling to think how i'll manage all the payments next month including repaying my mr. Its also the busies time for birthdays - where between now and the start of december there are 8 very close family and friends birthdays. 3 are the first 2weeks of next month :eek:

I can only carry on plodding on and doing what i can - oh yes when i made the payment to my card the other day with what i though i had spare i had forgotten about a £20 payment that hadn't debited my account :eek: luckily the bay of e sales covered that with a little bit spare for the card

I also need £440 for various events over the coming weeks - i always agree to these things thinking i'll be financially better off when the time comes I'm hoping there'll be change from the £440 its just the maximum budget i've set for them. Of course i'll be as restrained as possible thinking 'that can go off the card / overdraft etc.' but still will aim to have a good time. I will put any birthday money towards this as the items i treated myself to in advance of my birthday have been returned now as unsuitable. I guess i may receive £40 for my birthday and its better to spend it on an experience / creating memories x

Right - its been a long and difficult day in work and i'm going to try and have an early night and switch off on things for a bit.

oh and I'm going to sort out my bag storage area next - i definitely need to part with some but as so many were gifts i feel i can't get rid of those Will lift it all out - hopefully tomorrow and just focus - really need to list some things on the bay of e to try and raise funds.

And i have probably had quite a few nsds - i really wanted to treat myself the other day - ridiculous i know! but was very good and didn't :T

I did get 1 of my extra cleaning tasks done so that catches up on that for last weekend - need to decide what i'll tackle on my list next - internal doors or windows including frames...

Not worn anything new and unworn yet this week but i don't really buy stuff for work so i may well have to wait for the weekend.

I have been using my work make-up bag - its good to use the stuff i have already rather than it just sitting in a drawer.

I'm also working my way through the chutney jars in the fridge - not all in 1 go :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: just adding to sarnies.

I am simply tired of all this stuff i / we have that is just sat going to waste and not being used. Maybe thats whats bugging me?

Anyways hope you are all good xx

DedicatedDFW

Hi all - feels like i've had a very lazy couple of days whilst at the same time i've not stopped. Yesterday i decided to not do any study as i felt the need to have a bit of a break from it. I lifted out all of my bags and went through them. I have 1 designer one that i bought myself for a bargain price off the bay of e a few years ago. Can't quite bring myself to part with it as i do use it and love it and if it sold for what i paid for it (£28) when i've seen others on starting prices at over £100 i would be pretty disappointed. I then have 4 bags which were gifts and could not part with just yet (there's 1 i have considered) as i love 3 of them and do really like the 4th but its also about who its from, the sentimental aspect and its also a really easy to use bag.

This is the part where it gets excessive - if its not already :eek: :rotfl:

I have bags which i bought myself:-

my work bag - estimated keep for at least 1 year and then bin - its already pretty damaged but still has some life in it

gorgeous leather designer bag - 1st decent bag i ever bought and has been well used but still stunning (to me) - could never hope to repurchase at the £35 i paid and again so many memories attached. This wouldn't fetch a good price at all due to marks so i am happier to keep it and use on various occasions

holiday bag - even if i parted with it i'd need to replace it. It has a comfy strap, a decent enough size to fit everything in. I used to buy a new holiday bag every year when i was alot younger - now i aim to make them last as long as possible. This is a good bag - i don't love it - holiday bags with me tend to get such a battering - sitting on floors in various restauarants, parks, bars, outside locations. But it is very useful and practical.

wedding handbag etc. - lovely nice coloured bag ideal for weddings and christenings etc. A well known make and would be unable to buy at such a good price for a long time and i do love it - i got rid of 3 other bags when i got this one so i feel it has earned its right to stay

Faux fur bag - for evenings out and is fun and striking - always get complimented on it. I did consider parting with it but again really comfy to use and a decent bigger size so when i want to take lots of stuff with me its ideal

Day & evening bags x 2 - both cross the body and both new and not used :eek:

1 evening clutch bag - new and unused - maybe i should try and sell this one for the price i paid but in all honesty its the only black bag that i have :eek:

1 replacement work bag - stunning and suitable for other events too if necessary but i decided my battered work bag could persevere a bit longer and this is why this isn't being used yet

Hmm and after writing it all down it really is too many bags what to part with ? I have lifted some out ready to list already

DedicatedDFW

Oops posted reply there.

Yes that really is too many bags - i will try and re-coup the money on the only black bag i have and also mull over some of the others... Any suggestions welcome

Next will be skirts and shorts - i will be trying them all on and if i don't love them or they don't fit then they will be listed for sale / put to carboot / given away. I will do this tomorrow. With the skirts i will be ruthless - i think 1 was a gift and i could never part with it (only silly weight with illness has stopped me wearing it recently ). Out of the others all are up for going.

As i posted the other day i am just so out of sorts and at the same time feeling incredibly overwhelmed with stuff The fridges are full of jars as at some time or other we wanted a chutney to have with something else... the cupboards are full of tins and jars as are some spaces on the worktops as they won't all fit - there must be about 50 tin/jar items and yet they don't get used from 1 week to the next... This is all already being addressed. The freezer is being emptied and switched off as soon as possible. I will then give this a clean before switching it on and considering what it is i want taking up the space in there.

My make-up drawer is working well now. On the bag sort out i was putting one away and using a different one and came across a lipstick - put it straight into the lipstick bag in the make-up drawer. I'd still like to have less make-up but realise it'd be silly to just throw it all away etc. as it will cost me alot more as soon as i need to replace something.

With the bags that i'll list and the clothes i am hoping i can get some much needed pennies in too - that will be a huge help as i am really struggling to see how i'll meet all bills and commitments over the coming months. As i am going to be strict with myself on this and as i also want living here to be easier (which it will be if its not a show of strength and agility every time i need to put in or extract something from the wardrobe ) I am hoping this will be quite a straightforward task :cool: I really do feel as though i have changed my mindset on things so we will see how i get on.

Yet another long day at work and i'm tired and need sleep.

Reminder to self :-

apply for job tomorrow

book night out with friends

look for new job

try on all skirts and shorts

list the growing pile of bay of e stuff - monday at latest

try on weekend outfit *fingers crossed* for it fitting :(

MS - contact

usual washing

Clean 3 internal doors

MONDAY clean downstairs windows and frames

Hope everyone is ok x

DedicatedDFW

Hi All, Good thing i took today off work i didn't get up until 10am after a long lie-in :eek: Although i'm not sure its really a lie-in as i was up until the early hours after being ill _pale_

Today i've done 1 lot of washing which is drying and have the 2nd lot of washing on. I've moved the pots that my Mr neglected yesterday :mad: Completed 30mins on my excel module which i am finding hard going (this module) hope to finish this section today though I've tweaked my cv and applied for a job and searched and found a job to apply for :T So will need to dedicate some time to the application form for this over the weekend :cool:

The trying on of skirts and decision making over bags will all take place later - i expect quite a few skirts will be leaving me as the lbs have piled on lately I also need to sort out what i'm wearing this weekend.

This week i half thought about popping into a couple of my favourite clothes shops as i was passing them - it was only half a thought mind - and i thought ok why do i want to look for something new to wear this weekend ? I realised it was so i could find something stunning, that fits and hides my weight New routine on exercise to commence next week - money spent £0 Time wasted in shops 0 :T

Cancelled another of my beautician appointments this week - now all i have is the hairdresser and that is really a necessary spend in order to be presentable at work etc. I did enjoy having the other treatments done but needs must and i simply do not have the level of income to support this lifestyle

Discovered the heel had gone on my work shoes - pointless getting them re-done they were either £10 or £20 when i bought them and have really lasted well. I am half considering still wearing them but i could feel it in the heel of my foot that something wasn't right and after last time when i wore shoes like that and it really damaged my foot i don't think i want to risk it. I would pay for repair except the shoe repairers are no good near me and cost between £7.50 and £20 depending what they decide needs doing so i will throw these away before i damage my poor feet any more and check in my wardrobe for another suitable work pair :cool:

Right another 30mins study then i may feel ready for brekkie and i'll pop on here too

DedicatedDFW

Breakfast scoffed!

All washing dried - just the last lot waiting to be moved

Another nearly 2 hours on excel and finished that section *phew!* :T

Lifted all skirts and shorts out ready to try on - all from 1 section i know i have a couple of others tucked in a different section.

Working through them in a trying on session of 5 items each time - can't be bothered trying them all in 1 go. Not sure how good news it is but a pair of shorts i had in my mind for parting with as they didn't fit when i was going on holiday now fit *meh!* So will be keeping - i have 1 pair of shorts new from last xmas never worn - need to work out what top will go with these and wear them soon - these still fit also and are quite lovely and very *me*

Will get on with 30minutes on other module and then try 5 things on again Definitely there are skirts there that won't fit.

Also need to try on the stuff for this weekend

DedicatedDFW

Booked the night out so thats ticked off although i need a print out of my voucher

30 minutes on curreny module achieved :T

Tried 5 items on - 3 skirts although i love them do not fit so will need to be put in the clearout pile.

Back to it for the next 30mins study. Then i'll try 5 more things on and then do some prep for tea.

Moved some more of the washing so just a bit left there to do.

Decided what to wear as a back up for tomorrow so am happy with that too - definitely didn't need to spend any money

Not yet rummaged some new shoes out for work but current pair are in the bin :eek:

DedicatedDFW

Hope everyone is ok?

I woke up feeling that it was *very* late and that i'd had an awful lot of time in bed It was 8.30am which for me was a lie-in and i had had a very good sleep in the night despite nightmares :eek: I read a little in bed before the urge for a cup of coffee got me up :coffee:

Had an absolutely gorgeous day with friends yesterday - i saw a beautiful item for £5 but my Mr kept me on the straight and narrow as it wasn't needed... it was lovely though. This prompted a chat with my friend about saving bits of money so i will give her suggestion a try over the next year and see how i go on - saving of silver coins in a tin This reminded me though that i haven't mentioned that i have finally set myself a little budget for spending money:-

Spending Money: £20 week -

To be used for:- make-up, clothes, shoes, accessories, coffee, drinks, lunch, brunch, meals out, days out, basically any frivollous spend on me!

No idea if this will be enough or too much though? The intention is i withdraw £20 from the bank each week - this then lives in my purse and if i don't spend it or what i don't spend from it goes into a separate savings jar - so that when i need new work shoes / want a meal out this built up fund is there to cover that :cool: So i will still really need to consider the weekly spending as well as budgeting for the bigger events eg days out

This budget isn't including hairdresser costs as it would just about wipe out 3 weeks of spending :eek: It also doesn't include present buying - the £20 is for me alone

Now i'm not sure if i should set a present budget what does everyone else think / do ?

I am also considering setting up a £30 week house maintenance fund - i never have the money for the things that need doing but the absolute downpour the other day highlighted how bad the gutters are and the front door and the gate Again any suggestions gratefully received

DedicatedDFW

Today i'm going out with my Mr later - need him to get up to check the times :cool:

I'm going to check i do love all the skirts i kept - and the shorts - i have more shorts than skirts :eek: I got rid of 6 skirts in total was really good and 2 that were just a bit tight as much as i love them they have to go and 1 that fit unexpectedly i accepted will only look good when i have lost a fair bit of weight

I'm also going to tackle jeans today - i'm not bothering trying on the ones i've worn this week as i of course already know that i love them and that they fit - the rest need to be sorted out

So i'm going to do some study and break it up with a bit of listing and cleaning and sorting as the day goes on

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend

Forgot if i said or not - covered the credit card bill as purchased something for someone else and they then gave me the cash and i paid a bit extra as i sold a couple of bits too - only like £5 but it all helps

DedicatedDFW

I meant to say as well - due to all the expenses coming up i'm not going to start budgeting for the spends until these are all paid for - so hopefully october and if not then novemeber

Listing on the bay of e now - started with the skirts i've already sorted will get a couple of things listed during each study break as well as hopefully trying on jeans and adding whatever needs to go to the listing pile as well. Hopefully some things will sell and help me catch up on all my bills

Hoping today will come in below budget and then i can assess the spends for events that i'll need over the coming weeks.

DedicatedDFW

Morning all

Today i'm hoping to get a couple of modules done. List the 7 items that i've sorted out onto the bay of e :cool: Try on my dresses and sell all that don't fit / i don't love - there is just the 1 that doesn't fit that i will keep i've had it for years and its sort of my 'target' dress for my weight

I did try on my jeans yesterday - at first i couldn't be bothered and was going 'well they'll fit..' anyways got it done resulting in 1 pair of jeans being binned as that was all they were good for and 1 pair of jeans to be listed. I have 6 pairs of jeans left and not 1 of them is a pair of blue denim jeans :eek:

I also have 4 pairs of trousers - 3 are summer pants and 1 smart trousers. 1 of the summer trousers i'm going to just wear as house pants for now.

So its onto dresses later - will see how i go on :cool:

Still didn't part with any more bags after sorting them out - think i'll need to monitor that ongoing and if any are not being used at all then they will have to go.

I also want to maybe sort my hat boxes and scarves out today too but as i want to clean the internal doors, maybe clean the downstairs windows (inside) do an hour in the garden. Cook some food for packed lunch and bake also for this as well as the study i am not sure how much time i'll have or what i will manage to get done :think: Whatever doesn't get done spills over into next week..