Financially Free by 31.12.2013

Shelbi

G'Afternoon diaryland,

Hoping everyone is rested & had a fab weekend!! Im looking out the window reminding myself that its merely a wet day not a miserable one..have no idea why that makes me feel better but it does.

Im kind of happy that autumn is upon us..although I do love the sun dont get me wrong, but the idea that the next few months are going to encourage days in, hearty soups and most importantly massive savings makes me smile...every cloud ay!! Its the perfect conditions for the last leg of this challenge!:j

This morning some dd's came out of the right account (grateful) & I sold 5 braclets (very grateful) really made my morning!!..
Have already eaten my pre-made lunch & now have just yogurt &orange to sustain me the rest of the day... Bahh humbug!!

Tonight im thinking I need to find some more bits to sell so may dive into the cupoards see if theres any treasures...& get my study on, at least its a free activity :rotfl:...joy of joys!!! Right back to work, have a good day everyone

Sunflower27

Hello Shelbi and Everyone,

I thought I'd log in and see how you are all doing. Fantastic news re: £100 IOU and selling some bracelets. Horseshoe you seem to be doing really well keeping to your budget too.
I unfortunately am not having a good month. It started off well by paying a big chunk to my CC but then I had a crazy couple of weekends and have absolutely no money left for the rest of the month. I feel so stupid for doing it as I knew I shouldn't of & I knew it would leave me in a mess but it still didn't stop me. I also have weddings galore next year and all the hen do's are wanting money for deposits asap I just don't think I can do it all.Tonight I am going to be listing things on ebay to try and recoup some money but I just don't think it will be enough.
Today I have woken up and told myself there is no point wallowing I need to deal with the situation and also try and have positive thought.... so posting here is my first stop.

I hope you all have lovely Thursday.

Sunflower

Shelbi

Morning Sunflower...:hello: & all in diary land!!

Hun dont worry too much, we all have them weekend blowouts where we wake up thinking why?! That was definitely me last month...(& the month before too if im honest! lol) most important thing is your acknowledging, moving forward & feeling motivated & positive!! I know you can do it...the fact you woke up logged on & posted tells me you will!!:T:T...

Another thing working in your favor hun..ebay zero insertion fees today one day only so must be fate:j

Im so for the positive thoughts this morning!! we have 110 days still to go, we still have time, we all have eachother & we will make it happen somehow...a little faith, bit of luck & alot of MSE-ing!!...Well get there for sure!! Just gotta keep pushing on & maybe try convincing your mates that brighton & weatherspoons are fab hen night venues :rotfl:or maybe join them all up into one big jolly, you'll find a way Sunflower I know it..

As for me my social life now consists of nando's & cinema..mostly because nandos is cheap, cheerful & have chicken & bottmless non-alc drinks...ha I have the social life of a teenager...weyhey forever young me!!...This maybe something I stick to once im solvent lol! Right I best get on with some work:(
Hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday:beer:

Shelbi

Good Morning diaryland,

so happy it's the weekend, was hoping to have a lie in but nope my beady eyes were open at 7.33 typical weekdays I can't get up, weekends I'm wide awake...so car tax has arrived am thinking to pay the full year rather than 6 months as would save myself £12.50, & won't have to worry about it again till next Sept woohoo!! had budgeted for 6months but had a lovely surprise, my brothers phone contract ended & this month I'm actually in credit so no bill for Sept, I'd budgeted £70 for that so I think a little reallocation is in order...so happy as my mobile bill will be low from now on & I can pay more to the card!! sold another bracelet Thursday & dds out so should get my £5 bonus.. sad but I'm excited be nice for the bank to pay me for a change lol....

so today I'm off to my dear friends house warming, I'll be driving there do no drinkies keeping in line with Sept step up, so today's purchases will be some flowers, petrol (need to check how much I have) & some fruit juice...nice & easy!! will be missing the christening party that's also today. I did attend the church part last week so I don't feel too guilty. right I best go do some house work...wishing you all a wonderful weekend!!! have a fun & frugal one ; 0) x

Shelbi

Hi Diaryland,

Ok so I have been MIA for a while & must admit I havent been holding pennies prisioners as I could have, its been a very unforgiving month...Im not where I would like to be, have just done a tally and my debt total has gone down & then gone up- currently standing at £6517.8- hmm so I really need to pull up my socks if I hope to kill this little sucker by year end...I knew this would be a challenge & its been alot more challenging to curb my spending ways than I had anticipated....One things for sure I will not be beaten by two 2 by 3inch pieces of plastic:rotfl:

So new repayment figures 4 payments of £1629.45- how Ill do this I dont know but I do know that I WILL DO IT!! Sometimes it really does help that im an optimist, it really does!!:rotfl::rotfl:

Updates- changed my dd's so waiting on £125 payment, waiting on payday! looking forward at sept-october its birthday season, I will be creating a storm in pound land thats for sure!!;)...

Ok well not that I like to gloss over things but being in the red is depressing enough so im going to not dwell & concentrate on the positives....Im a big believer in its not what happends to you its how you handle it & im going to handle this with as much grace as i can muster...I cant explain it but i just know that this will work out if i get my head down, keep my bank cards in my purse and just smile through it!!..always good points if you look out for them!!

My dear friend & her husband suprised me with a SATC box set, sweetest gift ever!!! Love her!! So between study & film/sofa nights I shouldnt need to spend...*cue tumbleweed*:rotfl:...

POA for today go through budget & trim some fat...I so hate taking out the padding lol! So come payday work out how much i need and pay rest straight to card as I am too wreckless with easy access cash lol! list all upcoming events and be prepared (by cards at beginning of month)...smile, have fun & watch these numbers drop!...yup sounds like a plan....lets go!!

Shelbi

Afternoon diaryland,

feeling pretty good today, im sure its the sunshine!! & that its only one week until payday!! So today more bracelets uploaded to ebay, found a £1 & paid £13.32 to my credit card...Im feeling overly optimistic today!! I woke up this morning and started a list of all I have to be thankful for, continued it on my cycle into work & can genuinely say im pretty blessed, sure i have credit cards, but hey i can pay it back & im grateful the bank has faith in me to loan me the money...which I will pay back!! I was thinking how lucky i am to have a roof over my head, food in my belly & my health the one thing money cannot buy...Lifes good & can only get better!! I just thought id share this & I hope you all can think of lots of things that your grateful for too...:)

Ok updates I still have £300 in my accounts which will be transfered to the cc on the 24th, just before payday...& a further £1200 shortly after that...:):)

Really looking forward to this weekend, have a face mask & box set with my name on it...as well as lots of study books :eek:.... on the plus side theyre both free. May also take £20 of my monthly spend will use this to start xmas/birthday pressy shop. I know I was supposed to use my natwest points but honestly I am leaning towards keeping them & using them to treat myself at the end of this challenge or use them for an i-pad which I can sell & pocket the funds:money:..My darling family members will be treated to boots 3for 2's, poundland & primany:rotfl: Is it really bad im excited about Christmas.

Received a letter from cpp to tell me I have been missold a policy, though they havent told me what it is & which one *slightly frustrating* but on plus side may actually get some compensation....that would be nice!!:D

Nothing new to report really, am excited for Rome, but will refrain from shopping, ill just be happy to take in the sights, eat coupious amounts of pasta & pizza & i will chuck a penny in the trevvy fountain... Actually now I think about it I have some old currency I couldnt exchange back from past travels...cant bring myself to toss in sterling or euro as I can actually use those...Im sure the wishing well isnt biased on tender!!...happy days!!

Hope you all have a fab weekend, keep smiling!!!:D x

carousels

Hi Shelbi

Just want you to know that I stumbled upon your post this evening and I read the entire thing in one sitting.

You are a true inspiration. You've done amazingly well and I loved reading your progress. It made me smile and made me appreciate my own situation. I owe around £3,000 (£2500 on credit card and £1000 overdraft) which may not seem like much to some people but it's a lot to me because

a) I only work 16 hours per week
b) I'm taking a gap year so I'm a poor student!

I would love to pay off my debts before I start uni next year because it would make life so much easier. Sometimes it's really hard going especially since my earnings aren't very high HOWEVER, reading about your debt fight makes me want to beat mine as soon as I possibly can.

You've already given me (and everybody else) wonderful advice about saving the pennies and being shop savvy. I'm going to try and take a page out of your book by challenging myself to some NSDs!

Once again, thank you so much for me the lovely, hardworking and strong person you are. You've given the rest of us hope and inspiration. I'm so proud of you. I know you'll beat this. BEST OF LUCK, GIRL.

:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

Shelbi

Good Morning Carousel:hello::hello: & everyone in diary land!!

I just wanted to say I read your post & have the biggest smile on my face. Im so happy you enjoy the witterings of my mind & that some good has actually come out of this pickle I have landed myself in...

Hearing from you also inspires me to carry on & deal these credit cards & more importantly to hop back on the mse wagon when I fall off:o, nothing gives me a kick up the pants more than knowing people are watching:beer:

Thank you for sharing your story, £3000 can be a lot, Its all down to the person who has it on the plus side I think you will beat this penny by penny, pound by pound...another silver lining youre a student, which means being thrifty is thoroughly acceptable & if its not already, will soon be 2nd nature.:T I miss uni days, your going to have a wonderful time next year..I think you could get rid of the card & overdraft in a year, may not be easy but I know you can do it!! Please let me know how the NSD go for you hun...& even though your not at uni yet start checking out what bank accounts are available...banks love a student & so they should!! shop around & make a plan of action about how you could clear them, id love to hear it!!

Even if it doesnt seem possible, theres always a way...:D

Thank you for making my day, your kind words & motivating me even more, I hope you have a wonderful day & week ahead..happy Monday x

Shelbi

evening mse world...

thought I'd do a quick check in, not much been happening have been curbing the spending still have £300 in my account with only 3 days to survive till payday...almost had a nsd but succumbed to the call of mint creams, swear sometimes I think I'm a old women trapped in a thirty year old body.

I really can't wait till payday, have set up all standing orders & dd's so fingers crossed all goes to plans...October is money month for me, lots of my family born in October, not that a lot will be spent..I've been paying close attention so I can get them useful gifts they need, practical & erm affordable ; 0).... I've told them for mine I wouldn't mind money or vouchers Lool.

looking forward to Rome end of the week, will be leaving the credit cards at home...I don't trust myself that much but fully plan to indulge in pizza, pasta...no way I can bankrupt myself with food bills...I'm not planning on giving "man vs food" a run for his money anyhow. just to take in the sights & enjoy somewhere new.
Realised I haven't shopped in a long time first thing to do in January when I'm in the clear is going to be a wardrobe update..in the sales of course! I miss shopping but I also realised that I'm getting a lot of wear out of my current wardrobe...which feels good. Saying that I'm never going to find a suitable gent by wearing jeans & having my hair scurffed up as my nan keeps telling me!! Lool!...I wouldn't mind but I don't see the point of dressing up if I'm not going anywhere..lol! ha I don't even see a pizza delivery guy...I now make my own..it's cheaper & tastier if I'm honest Lool!! Nope one issue at a time, first clear the debt then I'll think about the rest, besides I don't want to have the money conversation with anyone until he can ask me if I'm good with money & I can actually look them in the eye and say yes without following up "at spending it" under my breath...and if prince charming takes his time then I'm going to focus on saving for my castle & creating an empire, it'll kill the time...sorry seriously rambling I'm tired & have noticed a lot of cute couples, looking sweet & loved up...maybe making me nostalgic or something lol! really can't wait for a clean slate come year end...& since I'm embracing all that's free I'm spending a lot of time in my head imagining a possibility or two. Right I should sleep busy day ahead....sorry for the mini essay...sleep tight all & sweet dreams x

Shelbi

Afternoon all in MSE world!

So today lovely suprise realised I get paid Thursday not Friday...Happy Days!! Have paid £200 to NW card today, also heard from qui$co to say my cash back has cleared, lovely bubbly....need to think how to generate more income...realised I havent kept note of my nsd for September, though I know ive managed quite a few...this has been a really disorganised month..still practice makes improvement...so ill nail it in October! October is going to be nsd extreme month...Im kind of looking forward to it!!
Talking to a work colleague today she mentioned cycling has been her main mode of transport for the last 15 years, was very impressed, it also helped reassure me that it is possible to continue during the cold dark, winter months..i just need to light myself up like a christmas tree!
Had yoga today (free at work) it occured to me im far healthier & more active since I started this challenge, than when I actually paid for gym & never bothered to go. Am considering joining park run (free on Saturdays) will have to wait until next saturday but it looks like fun... Since im changing my monetary habits I may as well add in a few more good ones...healthy body sounds like a nice edition....Anyway I best get off home, hope you all have a fun evening guys! Have a good one! x