I refuse to be skint forever!!

menina

Well it seems to be baby steps with the debt busting lately...

Finally got to apply for my £10 M&S voucher from valued opinions I've probably got about £80 vouchers from various things now so will save them all up and use them to splurge on Christmas food.

Hubby got paid at last. He hasn't managed to keep up with paying his half of things at all lately but at least he did make his payment this week. I get paid on Wednesday so hopefully I shouldn't be more than a couple of hundred quid into my overdraft by then.

The fact I'm in my overdraft at all really bothers me, as I only fairly recently transferred my overdrafts on to a 0% virgin money credit card so as to avoid my overdraft fees. I have 2 bank accounts with overdraft facility with the Natwest with whom I've banked forever. Just had a look at the fees for both and it seems that I'm being charged £6 a month each for the privilage of having them, even if I barely use them. I'll abuse the work phone line and phone them in a minute to see if this really is the case and then plan to cut them off on Wednesday when I get paid.

So all in, I need to make a bit of extra cash as I'm obviously a bit short at the moment. Better have a rummage through the cupboards when I get home and see if there is anything to sell *sighs!*

On the positive side, I did post of hubbies tax letter so maybe some money will come back. I will also phone first direct in a minute and see how my account application is coming along (for the free £125).

I'm glad it's Friday tomorrow

menina

Natwest are charging me £6 per account each month for so much as going 1p into my overdraft- thieves!! First direct turned me down for an account BUT Halifax accepted £100 for joining plus £5 per month that I'm in credit. Have noticed some cash back offers as well on the forums so with that! Just need to get to the bank tomorrow with all my proofs of ID.

menina

So I've decided to take the opportunity to do some money saving expert type things this weekend, seeing as I'm BROKE (don't get paid until Wednesday!) I will:

Get my stuff together to go to the Halifax on Thursday before work (too scared to go through the account switching process before pay day in case it somehow interferes with my pay!)

Print off labels to send off the DVDs that I've arranged to recycle (only £6.96, but there's no point them sitting in a cupboard)

Print off my M&S vouchers and go in store to find out how much is still on them.

Go through all my cupboards to see if there is anything for ebay (and post it on if there is).

Go and clean up my bike and put that on gumtree/ebay.

Do some cooking for work meals.

Go food shopping (very minimally) for any ingredients needed to add to what's in the fridge/kitchen cupboards already.

Go to the Natwest and pay in hubbies cash for his share of the rent. Least I'll be able to see easily on Wednesday when I get paid where I stand financially.

menina

Jobs done this weekend:

Bike posted on gumtree
Went through the cupboards for stuff to sell, I literally do not have anything!! Well, apart from 5 bottles of unopened sun tan lotion that I probably wouldn't end up using so I've posted them as a job lot on ebay.
Didn't go to the bank- doesn't really matter though, the money is still in my purse!
Didn't print off the M&S vouchers- I'll do it at work and put them in my purse for when I pass an M&S.
I've made soup for the next couple of days at work, will have to do some food shopping later/after work tomorrow.
The DVD people are sending me emails telling me that I only have a week to send the DVDs. Will print off label at work tomorrow and also find a box to put them in.
Documents are in an envelope for the Halifax on Thursday.

So it seems that everything is under control (ish!) pre pay day on Wednesday. Well apart from being skint that is!! I think i'll keep on going with the valued opinions surveys just to have the option of a few extra pounds coming in for Christmas goodies. Can't believe I actually have nothing left to sell. House is very nice and clean and clutter free though

Enjoy the rest of the weekend x

Thrifty_Fashionista

It sounds like you are making good progress. I used to do valued opinions but stopped - you have inspired me to start again!

menina

Hi Fashionista, i'd stopped too because it just took so long to earn any money with them. Think they've improved though as I've managed to do 2 surveys a week for the past couple of weeks Well I'm still reserving judgment slightly, but I'm going to have another go and see how long it takes me to get to £10 again.

Thrifty_Fashionista

I'll see how long it takes to get to £10. I'm currently at £1 !!

Hope your ebay sales goes well. I made £70 last week from clothes that didn't fit me. I am inspired to sort my finances out once and for all.

Thanks for your ideas.

menina

Terrible nights sleep last night, think I'd been lying in too much over the w/end! On the plus side, I've been buzzing around at work, trying to keep moving and have got together all the goodies I need for packing and printed off stuff too Roll on home time though. Yaaawwwn!

menina

Hmm, no bids/watchers on ebay and no response from the bike ad. It seems there are so many bikes for sale all the time on gum tree that my listing just disappeared into cyberspace after about 15 minutes! I'll give ebay a couple more days and then end the listing early if no interest. Wouldn't be worth it just for 0.99p or so!

So, the only money saving activity on offer is to switch my bank account to the Halifax on Thursday. Oh and to continue cooking at home and not wasting money of course! Will send the DVDs after work tomorrow. Better get myself to work now....

menina

Pay day today . Unfortunately, once i cleared my overdraft and set aside money for our bills I still only have £41 in the bank! But, OH has come up with the goods and paid his half of things this week meaning i have £210 currently in my purse- i will deposit most of that in the bank tomorrow. Id better continue to be frugal!!