oh my life...... Light Bulb moment.

katiepoppycat

Looking forward to seeing that updated sig Mimi. hope the week has gone well for you. xx

Turtle

Hello MiMi, just finished reading through your whole thread and I have a couple of suggestions for you if you don't mind.

I am a fan of leaping bunny products and can recommend Astonish household products - you can normally find these in the pound shop and the product sizes are often twice as big as you'd get from another brand, making the savings particularly good.

For toiletries, Co-op as you've found, are leaping bunny, as are all Superdrug own brand products. I was amazed how much cheaper these are than 'brands' and other than the shampoo and conditioner which I didn't like, everything I've used has been great. They often do offers as well, making them even cheaper.

Sainsbury's, Morrisons and M&S personal care products are all also leaping bunny, though not all their household products are.

Skinnylatte

Haha, the Aldi thing made me laugh, and reminded me of a friends comment recently. A group of us were driving out somewhere and she piped up ‘Oh is this an Audi?’, My friend replied ‘No it’s a Nissan why?’
‘Well it says Audi there look’
‘No, it says Audio’
Supermarket brands all the way for me. I’ve worked in retail supply chain for many years. Own label products are regulated by a raft of food safety, environmental and socially responsible sourcing policies. Products at risk of GM will be registered with the Valid IT system, palm oil will be RSPO, produce will be on a residue testing plan, and those at highest risk will be positively released on test results. Products will be tested and factories will be audited. It’s not perfect, but it’s infinitely better than the unregulated and ‘unknown’. Oh and they’re cheaper than the big leading brands too.

How do you like your Monzo card? I love mine

MiMi66

Ok all, so I just did a mini shop in coop and bought own brand washing powder (cardboard box - happy ego heart and a leaping bunny!), toothpaste....so on my mission to reduce the expenditure I am going OK, Christmas, birthdays and the uni visit trips have kicked the budget a bit but nothing that is not repairable. I am overall pleased with myself I think - their is the odd small spend that could have been done better and I have noted these things happen when I am tired. Stay away from CC when tired.....

And I am coming up to making it 52 payments to go very soon! 8 days :-) London tomorrow for a followup appointment on Monday morning - but have the cheap bus tickets (6 hours on the bus) and will try to keep it all restrained a bit in London.

Now for my sad news and just to say this is why I have not been posting recently.

I have had a followup MRI for my surgery in the spring - and the masses have returned. This is not good news at all as with each recurrence the risks go higher for it to mutate into a sarcoma. It's a very rare condition I have so I am already in a tiny number of people who have it, and then now an even tinier number who go onto have recurrences. Now my efforts have got to be in not joining the tiniest number who go onto have it turn into an invasive bone sarcoma as it is a nasty one which metastasises. Also sadly my surgeon is retiring so I will have to go with a new chap - he is unlikely to have seen my condition before because it is a rare beast, but lets hope he is good with a knife.

So operation number 3 yet to be determined when - I have to have some more investigations first. It's odd as my leg as been aching and I pout it down to going back to work and the amount of driving I have done, sadly not though. I did have a sneaking suspicion I have to say. And as for Cambodia and Thailand....sigh..... if the pain keeps increasing, if I haven't had the surgery,it would make the trip difficult. And if I do have the surgery my leg may not be healed well enough for such a strenuous trip. I've emailed my consultants team to ask t heir opinion.

If I cancel the trip I lose the deposit of £200 and also half the flight. I might be able to postpone the tour I am on and protect my deposit, but I don't think my flight is a flexible one, but I will ring them and find out a bit more. The flight was £551, so in the scheme of things if I get half back that would be good.

So - I bought a necklace..... last years birthday money form my mum topped up a bit by me.....I am staying away from the Emma Bridgewater catalogue.....

Life hey....

Other things, Job still not secure (what are they doing in HR!) and my manager would like me to apply for my PhD....nice, a bit stressful mind.... going back to work has largely been good but I have had a few tense moments with a member of staff who is known to be tricky. Leg lumps now have put that into proportion well and truly. I do love my job but it is a monster of a role. Oh and I did a talk to an audicne of 120 at an event last week which went really well - serious stuff but I got them engaged and a bit of a laugh (me??) at points :-)

Oh and today I took my first dose of antidepressant again - as you can imagine there is only so much one person can cope with and I have hit my tolerance level this week with the leg lump news. Sleep very poor and low low low....

Things to consider.

Australia to see my brother - next autumn - was important - now very important. Even if leg lumps come and go and never mutate, it is enough of a wake up call to me that life is tool short and health is the most important thing.
My lovely children who are great and pragmatic and never let me get to self obsessed.
And sorting out that blasted debt! Getting there - I am still determined.

Hanging threads to hold onto yet again.

MiMi66

Skinnylatte wrote: »

Haha, the Aldi thing made me laugh, and reminded me of a friends comment recently. A group of us were driving out somewhere and she piped up ‘Oh is this an Audi?’, My friend replied ‘No it’s a Nissan why?’
‘Well it says Audi there look’
‘No, it says Audio’
Supermarket brands all the way for me. I’ve worked in retail supply chain for many years. Own label products are regulated by a raft of food safety, environmental and socially responsible sourcing policies. Products at risk of GM will be registered with the Valid IT system, palm oil will be RSPO, produce will be on a residue testing plan, and those at highest risk will be positively released on test results. Products will be tested and factories will be audited. It’s not perfect, but it’s infinitely better than the unregulated and ‘unknown’. Oh and they’re cheaper than the big leading brands too.

How do you like your Monzo card? I love mine

I love my Monzo card and am about to top it up! It has helped with grocery control. (like pest control!)
I love the information you've posted, that is very reassuring. Palm oil is a blasted office whether it be unregulated or RSPO, we need either to either cut it out or find a truly non ecologically damaging alternative (look here comes my soap-box!). really grateful for your sharing your view though, and it does inspire confidence. I bought own brand coop dish liquid too yesterday. It really is about a third of the price of what I was buying.
Thanks to everyone who advocated own brand and co-op.

Magpie100

'Getting there - I am still determined' - well done, MiMi, I was glad to read this at the end of your post. I'm so sorry about your health news - it sounds very stressful. Good decision to get antidepressants sorted - you are right that there is only so much you can cope with. But 'determined' is definitely the right mindset. And good to see that you have mostly been keeping the spending under control despite the trials being thrown at you at the moment. You should be proud of yourself - your posts sound as if you have stabilised the money situation which is brilliant.

Glad you like the Monzo card - I find it very helpful because everything happens in real time on it, so it stops me 'forgetting' about bits and pieces I have spent.

Re Australia - do you have a figure in mind that you would need for it? I think the cost of the flights is covered already somehow (or did I dream that?). I wonder if putting together a realistic costing and then sharing it might mean people here can give you ideas on getting the cost down further or setting some challenges re saving. Perhaps time to do an updated SOA once payment 52 appears on the horizon? I don't disagree that it is important that you go, but I think you need to do it in as financially a considered way as possible.

I'm having wins and losses all over the place with money - I forgot my season ticket one day so had to spend £30 on a ticket, ordered £60 worth of clothes online and then sent them all back and bought a bra from TKMaxx that was the wrong size. So I have a lot of ££ to come back to me from refunds and reclaims, which means I am refusing to look at my bank account and sticking my fingers in my ears. Ridiculous and it needs to stop. I just want to look at it when everything is credited back and settled down, though!

Good luck with the appointment and London trip. Let us know what happens and what the ££ damage has been.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I'm sorry to hear your health news Mimi, that must be very worrying for you. I hope it doesn't turn out to be too serious.

I agree that's it's a good idea to start taking the anti depressants as you have a lot to cope with at the moment.

Well done for trying Coop products, that will really help you to cut costs .

MiMi66

So - a few weeks has passed - and the top line news is that I am still on track.

My mood however dipped ever so low - and the antidepressants are just kicking in now so while I feel very sad and 'stagnating', I do feel a bit better for having had a good nights sleep on Saturday night - not so great last night but it'll get better.

So I am now at 52 payments to go! Self-managed DMP is going OK and happily I have had a few 0% offers through - not used but it means I hope that they will keep coming for when it is time to change creditor for the ones coming to an end in the new year.

Arghh the trip - decision time in the next two weeks - I have the money aside plus overtime due to be paid at Christmas and will have paid for Christmas, but anxious about my health and anxious about spending the money - though if I don't go I suspect I will regret it. I find myself feeling very very lonely these last months - despite being a gregarious person at work, I a feel like my life outside of it is very empty - a bit empty nest, and a bit the consequence of having not invested enough into personal life hobbies and activities. And not having a partner now for many years... The trip may offer me the opportunity to explore a different side of myself that I have often wanted to, and to do something without my children for the first time in about 15 years (mind you I would love to take them as well, but that can't happen).

And Magpie100 - The Australia trip later in 2018 will cost a bit of money but oyu are right - my friend has kindly agreed to pay for flights (SO lovely) and that money is in an Aus bank account - I won't exchange it as I would lose more doing that but instead I shall save and pay for my own flight and use that money as my spending money. I am also thinking about registering my nursing in Australia and possibly doing a few shifts while there - in part to see how the health system works there now and if I would like to go back in the future. So I probably need to save about £2000 to pay for flights and some spending money - all accommodation covered with family and friends, and if we do strike out for a break away (I'd love to go to Tasmania and Melbourne) I shall do that within budget.

Seem crazy in some ways to do this while repaying debt, but the debt is longish term and I am reluctant to stop all things while repaying it - and if my health does go bang I won't have the option later on. Juggle juggle, while hanging on a thread.

Overtime is still coming in nicely and I should have a small pay rise this month (£20 or so).

Work situation still unresolved but I may have an answer tomorrow - HR have been looking into my circumstances - so shall let you know then - fingers and toes crossed. And my manager is keen I put an application in to start a PhD - have I mentioned that before? Part time 6 years - I day off a week to do it - Research in health..... a wonderful opportunity and endorsement in their faith in me - I just don't know how I shall add that to the balls I am juggling.

I am thinking more and more I shall sell the house next year - summertime perhaps. If my job goes permanent I would like to move closer to base so that my travel is reduced - and though that means selling and renting for a while, I would then be able to clear the remainder of the debt. My intention is to ignore that plan for now and just pay off as much as I can with my SMDMP so that it hits my equity less when I repay the rest. renting isn't ideal (I have 3 cats) but I am hopefully that I can find a place for a year while I catch my breath and stick to my new habits.

Shopping wise I am doing OK - less waste and staying in budget - no mean feat. Hugely reduced incidental outgoings, and on the Christmas social front I was invited to a departmental night out - £35 for meal and then drinks and I would have had to get a hotel overnight and fuel - not much change from £200 really - so I declined and instead decided to have a few low keys events - went for a meal with a friend from work who I really like to chat with - £28, and I am going with another friend for lunch (I have a £40 voucher for this place that was a gift years ago- they will honour it - I have checked). And dinner already had at friend where I took wine and chocolates for £20. No new clothes required for any of it. A train ticket for the lunch £10 and perhaps a few drinks so all in all quite a lot less than the one big night out which might have been fun and Christmassy but with no real friends there to catch up with. Very happy with my decision to do this. I wonder how many other people go to these work events reluctantly - spending money they wish they weren't but feeling obliged to?

Selling things has dried up and partially my own fault - while very low I got offers for a few things but just wasn't in the right place to even respond and send, so I declined it all - foolish but evidence of my grim depression raising its head. Feeling it was all pointless. Thank god I didn't go out armed with a CC during those weeks....

So I have pretty much got it all together for Christmas - left to buy - something for my Mum (Mum is going to tell me what she wants - too many years of her saying something wasn't right so I have learned to not try to surprise her) , and for my daughter (we will go dress shopping hen she gets home from uni), and some wine/chocs/biscuits for friends - I may even try to make some biscuits for people - I have a lovely recipe for Christmas biscuits somewhere.

Cards next weekend and I ave got a small list for that - so many people ave dropped away over the years (that is debt for you - means you can't do things with friends and some just drop away) plus the Brexit effect on friendship...that too is a killer. A few to go to Australia so I must get them off pronto. Stamps are expensive for that!

What else - I shall update my signature with new amounts but I have got down to £35464 or so - £2690 paid off :-) Not to bad for 4 months concentrated effort. and no accrual of debt - because it is not just the paying back of debt it is the reduction in spending and incurring more debt that I am also achieving - very pleased about that.

Right off to do signature update!
Happy December everyone!

MiMi66

Just looking at these beasties - my CC balance transfers.

Provider - Balance / Payment / Expiry date of 0%
[STRIKE]M&S - 437 / 200 / 16/2/18[/STRIKE]done and dusted!
Halifax - 2404 / 120 / 03/09/18
Halifax - 1468 / / 04/04/18
M&S - 3644 / 200 / 16/06/18
M&S - 2058 / / 16/07/18
Nationwide - 4756 / 75 / 03/11/18
Virgin - 6814 / 71 / 06/04/19
Halifax - 2987 / / 06/08/19
Halifax - 2266 / / 06/03/19

So they are coming down - M&S BT number one paid off :-) Halifax next up - so that will be about 1924 plus the one after 1468 - I'll need to move that total - likely to Tesco card that is empty at present. £3392, then it will be the M&S shuffle after that. That will be about approx £4300 by then. Then a sigh til Nov - I am going to try and not have multiple balance transfers on the same card again as it has been quite confusing really, and screws up getting the full benefit (as in the Halifax situation - one )% doesn't run out til Sept 2018, but the one after it runs out in April 2018, but the payments coming off the longer running one as that was set up first, rather than the one that is going to expire first - very frustrating. Even if I tried to pay it down now the money would keep coming off the balance of the older running one, rather than the April expiry one.... I didn't realise that til I read it on someone else's thread...thank heavens!

Magpie100

MiMi, this will be brief as I am (ahem!) on my mobile and in the Caribbean. But I wanted to say your update was great- sorry you have been feeling low, but there was lots of good money saving going on! I’m back to freezing England at the end of the week so will reply over the weekend. But you are doing really well, especially with the amount you have now paid off! Xx