Time to stop pretending it will be ok!

julie2710

Give it a try Butler_Helen. The first batch I sold included a Gucci one and a DKNY one. I thought the same as you but then thought some people collect bottles so if they are half empty they can just tip it away.

I also just put them on auction with a 99p start so free listing and nothing lost if it doesn't sell. I just make sure I use bubble wrap and cardboard to pack. The buyers gave great feedback! I was amazed at how well they sold. certainly the one this time I doubt I paid that much for! I think I've done much better than you would on a car boot sale. Even one on the last batch fetched £31.97 plus p&p. Good luck.

julie2710

Good grief! Got a bit side tracked from the diary, what with NSDs and ebaying.

Didn't manage my target on the NSDs but its really made me think about what I'm spending on.

I managed to get in an evening of work last weekend so I now have £220 in my hiding place ready to pay off card. I'm very good at not taking it out so I've decided I'm going to leave it there for now until there's enough to clear my lowest card. eBay is still going well. Another £50 worth of sales this week, although I've had to raise a non payment with an item from the previous week. Really annoying as there had been loads of bids then the winner doesn't pay! :mad

Spent Sunday at a football tournament with DS1 then most of Monday painting fences. Must say its looking pretty good but I have such a large corner plot I'm not even a quarter of the way done yet plus the lawn needs mowing again

Old company car was picked up today and the new one is being delivered at 8am tomorrow :j Just a little bit excited I'm hoping they deliver it with loads of fuel in but I bet they don't!

We are all packed for our weekend away to Great Yarmouth so will just have to load up the car and off we go. We've done the same as before. Meal planning and food bought. We are limiting our spends to £5 between the boys for penny arcades over the weekend and greyhound racing on Saturday night. That will be £7 for me and boys for free. Will probably have to buy the boys drinks in the club on the first evening but will refill for Sunday

Spent this evening down the beach, end of my road. There's a grey seal who is clearly lost and has decided to take a nap on the beach here so the boys were very excited about it.

I'm going to try and fit in an evenings work during the week next week and then another one next weekend.:o

julie2710

Well the new car arrived dead on 8am on Friday and we were loaded up and on our way by 9:15am. They delivered it on a trailer and the garage had kindly put in £10 of fuel. It wasn't even off the red:eek: So first stop garage to fill up. £81.60 and it was full :eek::eek:

That said it is way more fuel economic than my last car. It as a gauge that constantly measures your fuel economy and it averaged at 52mpg which I'm pretty impressed with.

We had a lovely weekend, the weather was even good. Spent a day in Great Yarmouth. The boys decided that rather than go on the slot machines with their £2.50 they would keep it and just go from arcade to arcade finding money that had either been dropped or left behind in the machines! They have come home with over £5 between them

We did greyhound racing on the Saturday night. £7.50 for me and free for the boys. By 9pm they were complaining they were hungry again though and I hadn't been organised enough to take food so we reluctantly headed towards the snack bar. Luckily a lovely kind man asked if we were getting food and gave us two vouchers he had spare which meant they got chicken nuggets and chips each free

Sunday was swimming and the beach and Monday the drive home. We managed to eat our meals from the food I took with us so all in all a great time on a decent budget again

Now I need to get back focused on getting these debts cleared. Job for tonight is to sit down and do some more ebaying. I'm going to be working Friday evening again so should get some more money hopefully.

Also had a chat to the school today about possibility of a bursary? They are going to get me some forms. Lady was lovely and said that some of the people who get them really don't deserve to have them as they swan off to Australia on hols etc. I thought it a good idea to point out my new car is a company car :eek:

Right off to finish my work day and crack on to ballet practice with DS1.

julie2710

So that's the weekend over with and I don't feel like I've accomplished much to be honest. After last week's lovely time the boys went to their dad this weekend. I've been feeling really flat all weekend. Just a bit of a feeling of being overwhelmed with everything again.

There is so much I want to get done and I just never seem to get there. Tonight I got all my admin done ready for work. I also managed to vacuum the house and do two loads of washing and clean the bathroom.

I think I need to start writing myself mini lists of things to do each day so I don't feel so swamped

I went out with some friends last night, I drove but I just didn't really feel as though I wanted to be out. My hay-fever has been dire over the weekend so that hasn't helped, plus I'm going through my feeling fat phase. Need to lose a couple of pounds again I think.:o

On the plus side DS1 went for his first ever audition on Thursday. It was for the chorus line for Joseph. I tried my hardest to prepare him for if he didn't get through as he'd only had two days to pick and learn a song as we had been away. Waste of time that was. Little Mr Dedication was up at 5:45am the day of the audition. I could hear him in his bedroom singing Lets Go Fly A Kite, his choice of song from a musical. Well he got through :j:j:T. I'm so so proud of him and he is so happy too. It's going to mean running him to rehearsals but its going to be an amazing experience for him. He will be doing 5 performances over a week in August and it will be a chance few 7 year olds get, working with professional actors. I'm busy rallying all our friends and relatives to buy tickets to see him.

I think I'll go and get the last load of washing out and then head to bed. Might try and write my mini list for tomorrow.

kem10

Hi there.

Just been reading your diary.

I must say you are doing AMAZINGLY well. You're juggling a lot so it is no wonder you sometimes feel swamped but you're doing a cracking job. Mini to-do lists are a good idea, they help clear your head a bit

Good news about the Joseph show! You've had a far more productive day than I have so don't beat yourself up. I'm still trying to psyche myself into unloading the first load of washing...!

pozza_73

Hiya
Have been reading your diary and wanted to say that you are doing amazing

julie2710

Ok so the early night hasn't really worked but here is my list of things to do tomorrow :-

Take boys to school, pick up and feed
Email Manager with meeting location and call plan for Wednesday
Do one more load of washing
Put washing out, get in at end of day and put away
Sort dogs haircut for this week
Message friend re appointment on Friday plus get another friends number from her
Sort out after school list with the boys ready for Tuesday morning
Email for PIN number for debit card which I seem to have forgotten
Check mortgage balance
Meeting forms to be completed for work - 6 in total :eek:
Check/reconcile bank account
Message mum of DS2s friend re birthday party at weekend
See if I can get a babysitter for Friday from 7.30 so I can work?
Message childminder to confirm re Friday daytime as not used for the last 3 weeks
Print Mums Asda receipt vouchers x 3
Music magpie stuff - enter box full of CDs and a few DVDs, package and have ready to go
Put at least 3 items on eBay

Summer ball (As a year 2 parent we have to organise and I was tasked with sorting out entertainment)
Phone scaletrix guy re size of area required and set up time and confirm cost plus need his insurance. Confirm discussion by email.
Email Photographers re size of area required, discount donation to school and set up and timings
Message Friend re spray tattoos
Message other friend providing snake to confirm they have fancy dress sorted and arrival times.
Message school secretary to confirm costings

I think that covers it but if I think of anything else I will add it in the morning. Think I better get some sleep

FBaby

Gosh, it is horrifying isn't it when you put down on paper. Good luck Julie, but remember to also look after yourself. You say you are lucky to be able to get by on little sleep, and indeed, that must be great help, but do remember that adrenalin can't fuel forever, and even though tackling your finances and debts is a priority, you don't want to burn out, so do treat yourself occasionally, do take small breaks, and most importantly, don't beat yourself up if at times, it is not going as well or fast as you wished!

Oh and if anyone ever dares making a comment, give them the list above and tell them they do it

LannieDuck

Great news for your son - congrats to him!

julie2710

Ok so the time has really flown this morning oddly! I have checked my mortgage and another £800 paid off the balance . Update on the list so far, plus an extra 2 items added.:o

Take boys to school,Done pick up and feed
Email Manager with meeting location and call plan for Wednesday
Do one more load of washing Done
Put washing out, Done including additional load get in at end of day and put away
Sort dogs haircut for this week
Message friend re appointment on Friday plus get another friends number from her Done awaiting response
Sort out after school list with the boys ready for Tuesday morning Done
Email for PIN number for debit card which I seem to have forgotten
Check mortgage balance Done
Meeting forms to be completed for work - 6 in total :eek: Done
Check/reconcile bank account Done
Message mum of DS2s friend re birthday party at weekend Done
See if I can get a babysitter for Friday from 7.30 so I can work? Messaged awaiting response
Message childminder to confirm re Friday daytime as not used for the last 3 weeks Done awaiting response
Print Mums Asda receipt vouchers x 3
Sort out DS2's dark top and trousers ready for his class assembly on Friday Done
Email an early school photo of DS2 to school ready for assembly Done
Music magpie stuff - enter box full of CDs and a few DVDs, package and have ready to go
Put at least 3 items on eBay

Summer ball (As a year 2 parent we have to organise and I was tasked with sorting out entertainment)
Phone scaletrix guy re size of area required and set up time and confirm cost plus need his insurance. Confirm discussion by email. Done
Email Photographers re size of area required, discount donation to school and set up and timingsDone awaiting response
Message Friend re spray tattoos
Message other friend providing snake to confirm they have fancy dress sorted and arrival times.
Message school secretary to confirm costings Done

I think that covers it but if I think of anything else I will add it in the morning. Think I better get some sleep