Nagme's Diary - getting it under control in 2013

Nagme

Well, it's the 5th of the month, the day that I add up all the debt totals and deduct any cash in the current/offset and the balance is about £600 better than 5th of January. Bearing in mind that this month we've also put 2 tyres on DH's car, bought 2 pairs of glasses for DH and 12 month's car tax, I think that's pretty darned good for the beginning of the year :j

I've earned myself a tank of fuel today by doing an errand for Dad (that sounds dodgy doesn't it!) and got called by work to do an extra few hours, so a good day today.

Posted the dodgy ink cartridges back today, didn't set up the credit card DD's (changed my mind), applied for the 2,000 nectar points earned throught the car insurance offer, made a card to send to MIL (operation today).

Tomorrow I will seek out a pair of bargain workshoes, my current old ones are far too lethal on wet floors (as my bottom discovered on Friday). And I shall buy more sore throat sweeties. Croak. And I will not buy a new rug despite it being one row shorter. DS blame the cat, the cat blames DS...

Nagme

Well, that's curious.

It seems that Tesco have removed some of their products from the online shop, namely the Value plain flour, Daisy bleach, value bourbon biscuits, and that was just what I couldn't buy last week online. So rather than buy their more expensive options I used Aldi's. Every little helps who, exactly?

We are nicely on target with our spending for the month, and I'm looking forward to getting the tax refund from HMRC. I did get workshoes, some excellent Karrimore walking shoes reduced to £22.50 - very comfy.

I almost bought Valentines goodies today until I thought about the cost, so I emptied the basket and made some chocolate brownies for the boys' packed lunches instead

Nagme

Hmmm, not many posts recently. I have been feeling quite flat and very low on energy. Six hours on my feet three times a week never use to be a problem but I think the depression affects energy levels. I have had my dosage upped to 30mg from 20mg.

On the other hand, despite being away from my diary and feeling low, I have done well with the not-spending. I got paid £680 this month - no more emergency tax, I kept looking at my payslip feeling so excited! DH suggested I treat myself. So I sent £718 to Cap1. The balance will then be exactly £1,000, which I hope to then clear in two further months at £500 each month. Feels good. Although buying a new winter coat or a new sideboard for the lounge would have also made me feel happy, that is until the next financial review.

Made £50 on ebay last week, and a bit of space. Listed another 4 things on Thursday to end Tuesday, feels good to have a clearout. We went and visited family this week (£6.20 to cross the bridge!), and my sisters' houses are so tidy which is what is inspiring me to have a right old sortout. I think I may get rid of the Royal Albert tea and coffee sets too, which have never been used despite being about 40 years old and could fetch a fair sum. Or I could pack the lot away and wait till the economy picks up. Opinions welcome.

So far this year I have not bought any birthday cards, I've made them all (friend's card was very well received, we filled it with funny Rob-ism quotes), and I didn't buy a magazine until Valentines day - I treated myself to Prima! - and I have not bought any since. My subscription to Living Etc has expired and I have not renewed.

On the negative side my car is making a whining noise when the engine is cold. We did some investigation yesterday and think it's the gearbox bearings, which feels like an expensive problem. Its a 10yr old 1.2 Fiat Punto, cost us £1,200 last year, what to do? First step will be to make sure the gearbox oil is topped up, which DH will do today. I dream of owning a newer car with a lovely warranty and without dents in every body panel, but the punto drives very nice. When the engine has warmed up.

Today I will be listing my old mobile on ebay (finally), 2 jumper shirt tops that are too short, doing 2 hours of working from home (£25 earned) and 1hr ironing.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Well done on the overpayment to Capital One. It will feel great when that is gone! I'd say sell anything you can now and throw it all at the debts in a bid to a) keep yourself occupied and b) hopefully improve your mood.

It's a free listing weekend on ebay, so a good day to put your phone etc on Xx

Nagme

Well, the phone listing is ending tonight, only one watcher and no bids - looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't rate that phone too highly. Ah well there's always the phone valuer on MSE if it doesn't go.

Got some quotes for sorting the gearbox out, and erm, not financially viable, especially with it's other issues.
It got us considering a 2 year lease of a brand new 60mpg Citroen C1 at £118 per month - if all we can afford is a gamble on a 10 year old car, the car lease option would certainly offer us some stability financially.
Right, off to update my MSE challenges before Top Gear starts

Nagme

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Well done on the overpayment to Capital One. It will feel great when that is gone! I'd say sell anything you can now and throw it all at the debts in a bid to a) keep yourself occupied and b) hopefully improve your mood.

It's a free listing weekend on ebay, so a good day to put your phone etc on Xx

I will work my way through the house then - ooh just thinking of all those empty shelves

Nagme

Everything sold on ebay including the phone which sold for £34, happy with that.
5th of the month so taking stock of all figures we are £500 better off than we were 5th of Feb Amex is a bit high for this time of the month though, thanks to garage bill for DH's car's service, so need to go easy till that comes back onto track.
Don't you just love excel spreadsheets.

Ooh look, I don't seem so down at the moment, I wonder if it's the magnesium supplements I've started to take? (but then again it might be because the shops are full of chocolate easter eggs)

please-let-me-be-lucky

Glad you are more chipper and upbeat Well done on all the sales and being £500 better off Xx

Nagme

Brrrrrrrr, well that was a cheap day out!

Did an easter egg run on the motorbike and sidecar with DH and DS, to a local children's respite centre. Got caught in a blizzard coming home, it was so cold it was funny, and my knees were so icy frozen I couldn't feel my backache any more. Never thought I'd be wiping snow from my visor. Oh please can we get some warm weather soon, for all the bikers and the farm animals, and well, everyone really!

Bought a car to replace the broken Punto, so haven't done so well this month what with the new car's deposit (new to me, that is). Paying it off monthly so this will stop DH thinking of replacing it unnecessarily soon and costing us further.

Short term plan: finish decorating the spare room - started a year ago and the in-laws are coming on Thursday (nothing like a last minute panic to get the job done). I bought the neutral paint when I started this diary at the end of December, and instead of painting the headboard wall a gorgeous shade of Teal, I will opt for buying no more paint and go same colour all around, and having a rummage around the house for a nice collection of things to put on that wall instead. I have been given an old sewing basket from DH's granny, the old wooden cotton reels will look nice all grouped together in a frame. Got myself 3 shifts to do over the Easter hols which will hopefully boost April's pay. I will also take back the "quick release" paint roller for a refund - it's very good at releasing the roller but absolutely rubbish at painting the wall as the roller doesn't go round, what a waste of £8.99.

Long term plan: I'm thinking 5 months of £300 to Capital One will make it zero by September....


I've been waiting months to use this:
:EasterBun

That's me, that is.

patman99

If you still have the Punto, why not list it on ebay?. I had a Focus with a warped valve that caused engine vibration below 1000 rpm. Did 18k miles in it &then ebay'ed it. New owner still driving it without repairs.

No reason not to believe the Punto would keep going for several miles yet, so would make a cheap run-a-round for someone.

Btw, when I had a cat, I mixed sawdust (free from local timber yard) with cat litter. Saved a bomb.