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

DedicatedDFW

Having scribbled down the hopeful plans of clearing the credit card this month in full I managed to gather enough energy to think about what i owe, what i need to pay for over the coming months (just those bills i am aware of) and start to formulate a plan of clearing the debt and having the money to pay for everything :cool: It *isn't* all plotted down but i do now have a much sharper awareness of the big amounts that need to be raised - not only for the overdrafts to start being tackled but also for *actual* necessary bills to be met

The obvious answer is that i need to raise more money. Once this income is received it then needs to be paid immediately to a specific item. So for example I have decided on a hopeful budget of £100 for my MOT so as soon as i get this money in I need to put it to one side for this. This stops the 'disappearing' of money where it just seems to get swallowed up in general living costs

Of course - raising the money is what I need to do. As a minimum I need to be aiming to raise £400 october and then £300 november and december - this does not include the plans for clearing credit card bill which is hefty but has had various essential spends on there.

I got inspiration from reading a few threads and have decided to follow the lovely jwils personal challenge of listing £x of stuff per day on the bay of e. I do not know how successful my items will be. I am also selling stuff i'll happily keep *sob* so instead of letting it go for peanuts i've priced it at a price i am happy for it to go at at starting bid if that makes sense? I am not going to list every day but aim to get as near to a £1000 worth listed as soon as possible - of course i need to try and list more than this as although i'd love everything to sell that isn't always realistic.

I've prepped almost £200 worth of stuff today and will be adding a further £60 today i hope. So a fairly reasonable start *fingers crossed please*

This £1000 though does not equal the £1700 debt let alone all the other bills i need to pay - gas, electric, boiler service etc. So i am going to scribble down a bit more to try and get a better grasp of things :cool:

Notice how i came to my senses on the oh so pretty but unnecessary purchases ? As lovely as they are i am trying to remain restrained

DedicatedDFW

Evening everyone - a very quick post as i am completely shattered and need to sleep! - Been having early nights but suspect it work worries waking me up at all hours

Anyways that wasn't what i popped on to say - i just wanted to say how glad i am that i plotted down some of the money things whirling about in my head. I've had a couple of unexpected things crop up involving money this last couple of days and as i had my money / budget on paper - even though its rough and doesn't cover absolutely everything - it was so much easier to work things out with the changes That is a very good thing as even before these changes i managed to confuse myself by what money was being moved from where to where several times and even after writing it out kept losing either £5 or £10 Might not seem like much but it is if its not in the place you need it to be at the right time

Got another £100 worth of listings drafted yesterday - the items are all quite high value (as opposed to 99p) so easier to get to the big amounts - but will people pay it? I dunno i'm happy to keep said items but need the money and as the higher stuff is bnwt it would still be a bargain to someone else.

Right thank goodness its friday tomorrow :T Mucho studying to do - night all hope you are all well xxx

PositiveBalance

Dedicated, as ever your schedule just flummoxes me. You also make me feel very guilty as I have lots of Ebaying to do, and I haven't done it yet!

Youre brilliant. Don't forget it. And relax a bit - those headaches need to go away. Go see your doctor again. They shouldn't still be here. xxx

DedicatedDFW

Thanks PB - headaches are probably a combination of a few things that i need to try and change / manage better so i will see how that goes.

Have a whole new unexpected inspiration for change at the moment - for everything - my home which is just a clutter mess, myself - overweight, unhappy at work, in debt. So will let the ideas formulating settle but hope to see alot more decluttering happening now as i just need the space = nicer home and i need the money = clears the debt. Also better eating and exercising = happoer in myself. This will then allow me the head space i need to think clearly about things rather than money (lack of) dictating so much. I also need to be better organised with my studying which is hard going.

It has been a terrible weekend so far :(

Good things are that i managed to list a few bits that i'd sorted out onto the bay of e yesterday and am hoping to get more done today - have been contacted about an item and have now agreed a buy it now price so awaiting the potential buyer getting back to me... we will see. *fingers crossed* though Hope today is good as its back to work tomorrow which is a major drain on my energy currently and also affects my happiness levels Am still applying for new jobs though sadly not got any interviews

Urgh must end this post on a positive!!

System for new spending money for me for week 1 has worked well so far - i have money for the month in my purse, i am making considered choices. Already arranged to go out with friends (of my Mr) and i hope to keep that on budget - for each 1 drink i have at less than £2 they spend at least £10 and then split the bill equally :mad: Maybe i should just order a bottle of champagne But the good news is that i have my little budget i am stopping looking at pretty things to help how i look - i need to just lose the weight rather than try and hide my shape and accepting this can only be good for me.

Hope all are well - i really appreciate the support on here xx

DedicatedDFW

So first things first is that I am going to a do a quite literal version of getting my house in order. Reasons being :-

its practical and hopefully focussing on the mundane will distract my mind

I can sell some of the things I get rid of = raising much needed money

The house will look better, feel better and be easier to clean with less things in it

I'll feel better for having less and will be able to access what I do keep more easily

By having 1 big go at it I'll free up time and need to keep doing mini declutters - trust me I envisage a phenomenal clear out that will leave me with actual space on my wardrobe and everywhere

DedicatedDFW

Of course there are other issues / things I need to address but I can't change everything at once and whilst I'm in this mood of easily getting rid of stuff then it makes sense to me to harness that and plough on!

Hope everyone is well x

PositiveBalance

Hi Dedicated,

I need to join you! Head all over the place at the minute. Perhaps some decluttering will help.

I'm sorry to hear that your weekend was so rubbish. I hope the job situation sorts itself out soon. xxx

brizzledfw

Hi DDFW..sorry I haven't popped in for ages..seems like my thread subscriptions have all gone to pot. Sorry to hear it's tough..we too are trying to raise money from EBay..extra cash from all legitimate sources welcome:rotfl: we are on £240 so far... And planning more. It's quite a therapeutic exercise. Although after 3 items haven't sold after relisting 3 times they have lost me a small amount of listing fees and are definitely off to the CS today

Good that jwil thinks a RM small parcel will soon be shoebox size..That'll make a difference for the posting costs.

DedicatedDFW

Hi All,

PB - anything i can do to help?

Brizzle - well done on the sales and yes it is good to declutter :T

So its free listing again this weekend so i need to try and see if there is anything else for me to put on - i have some bits of things but need to maximise income as far as possible to meet bills and get rid of the debt so again need to think about the things i want to keep and if i'd be better just selling them instead - i have sold some bits i wanted to keep already so will see.

I also have ALOT of uni work to do and am feeling the pressure with this.

The house needs a good clean and tidy too so a very busy day ahead.

Hope everyone is well x

PositiveBalance

DedicatedDFW wrote: »

PB - anything i can do to help?

Hi Dedicated,

Sorry for not replying sooner but I have been having dongle issues (sounds really rude when I put it like that! :rotfl:)

No, there's nothing you can do, unless you can rustle me up some enthusiasm, or, failing that, a kick up the bee-hind! Perhaps that 'list 20 items' challenge that I failed at after an initially enthusiastic spurt might be a good idea? Heaven knows, I have enough junk to shift and certainly the time to do it, if I am organised.

Anyway, how's you? It has been a few days since you put in an appearance. Did you get the tidying/uni work done? What else have you been up to?

Hope you are well.

PB
xx