Enjoying the journey - budgeting, saving and remaining credit card free

fedupandskint

Thanks Chrysalis, the next 3 years will be mega hard going but worth it.

fedupandskint

Well what have I been up to today?

Walked up to town for bits, natter with my lovely neighbour, long walk with the dog this morning, kitchen spruce up, washing attempting to dry outside, relisted on eBay, parceled up sales, took photos for more listings, listed a few more on there. Made pastry for my rather tasty lid for tea, swept up a lot of leaves, finished taking the blind down ready for the new window fitting on Friday. Work stuff all sorted for tomorrow along with a warm outfit for a cold office in the morning.

Can't wait for the door and window to be fitted, hope they all go ok with no problems.

fedupandskint

Another No Spend Day - yeah ! NSD 2

A long and boring day at work - on the countdown from 3 full weeks there to no more full time weeks there. Sent off offer acceptance letter as requested and arranged a meeting to sort out some admin stuff there next week. All going well so far.

Not much else to report apart from tonight will be parcelling up the ebay sale for collection tomorrow, posted all the other ones today.

A very exciting evening here of ironing - woo hop!

fedupandskint

Feeling pretty rubbish this evening after a couple of days with an office full of coughing and sneezing and spluttering - early night here for me.

ordered the things for the bath products to make next week using my survey voucher which is very good coming in at £24.92 from a £25 voucher. Excellent for presses. I think I've finished shopping now and just have them to make next week which is a very enjoyable thing to do and I hope it is this year too.

I earned £50 in total this year which is a record amount for me on surveys. One spent and deciding want to spend the other one on? A special bottle of perfume and put some money towards it or not? Don't know yet and thinking that one over before I click spend!

Not much else to report apart from the mental countdown to less hours at current place of work is going on and I can't wait! Hope the new place is a good one for me. I'm getting sick of this nightmare journey home lil sit has been over the last few weeks, its taking longer and longer and leaving me feeling very fed up with it all.

NSD 3 here and no clothes spend day 3 too

fedupandskint

While watching TV tonight I decided to see what I can save up compared to taking a loan out to pay that other loan off.

Have worked out that if I continue to save up as now I can do it in just under 3 years. Very pleased and have jotted down the savings plan and ideas for me to refer to and keep on track.

A new loan would take at least the same amount of time as the plan if I was approved for the ginormous amount. So, with a belief I can do this, my plan is in action and off I go to achieve it.

I will keep my plan close to hand, stick to it like glue and remember I'm paying all this out now and can manage so it is manageable to free myself up from this long term loan.

Wish me luck, I'm on my way to becoming completely unsecured debt free. The credit cards took one year to pay off which I would never believed at the start of facing up to the debt, so who knows, this lain might take less time to pay off than I estimate now. After all, it's amazing what you can achieve when you set your mind to it.

It's funny really, I almost felt something was missing when the challenge of paying back the credit cards was over. Maybe because I knew I still have this loan to pay back early. Anyway the challenge is here and I'm ready to face it!

Chrysalis1976

Ooh what bath products do you make, I've just done some body scrubs for the hampers but I've made soap in the past too.

That would be great if you could save the full amount rather than taking out another loan, have you got something visual that will keep you focussed on your goal? Best of luck with the savings.

C x

fedupandskint

I am making bath melts and bath salts with lovely essential oils. Made them last year and the bath melts were gorgeous. Bath salts are lovely too especially for sensitive skin. Bath melts are for my friends birthday present as I gave her 2 to try and she loved them so I thought I'd make a batch for a pressie.

Usual boring day at work with not much to do, so I tidied all my desk up and chucked out loads, good old natter and lots of phone calls which is usual which I won't miss one bit as we are bombarded by phone calls all day every day.

Anyway, tidied out some stuff ready for the door fitting with a couple of items left to do on the day. Fighting a cold off successfully at the moment as it sweeps around the office.

NSD 4

fedupandskint

The windy windy wild wind day. Got to work ok this morning and stayed inside all day until it calmed down. Returned home from the late shift to find my fence had fallen down once more and all the leaves piled high.along with quite a few other things blown over. Tidied up as much as poss in the dark before the window and door fitting tomorrow. I really hope this goes as well as before. Certainly feel less anxious than last time around as it went so well and I hope the same guys is fitting them as he did such a great job.

Rearranged damp assessment for next week after the motorway closure on Tuesday and subsequent road tailbacks everywhere meant it didn't happen as arranged.

My manager at work attempted to strike up a conversation about my n new job that left me feeling like she was trying to put me off it strangely. A slightly bizarre conversation about making sure they had my bank details in time to get paid and whether I had had a wobble about it. Which of course I haven't and can't wait to get started there and not have to go to this old place every day. I think she has misjudged the situation somewhat here.

Hey ho, never mind, short day there tomorrow as I arrive late after waiting for the door fitters and leave early to catch them when they have finished, then off to vol work placement for almost my last time there, one more to go after tomorrow.

NSD 5 and no clothes spend day 5, of course!

fedupandskint

Well, I am now the proud owner of a nice shiny front door which is doing a much better job at blocking the noise out and keeping the warmth in - at last it doesn't smell like mould and plants are growing in here now the mouldy old door has gone,. It looked great from the outside but certainly more style than substance and hopefully the new one is more substance than style.

Same fitter did another great job and we ha a chat about the next lot of windows that need doing and what style to go for - found one I'm happy with and that'll be sorted out next year.

Also discovered more damp which is being assessed next week along no doubt with more work that needs doing once the gutters are cleared out too.

Really happy with the door and window and now have proper ventilation downstairs with just the living room to sort out next year to see if all is ok there.

Second to last time at voluntary work placement which I will be sad to leave but it is time to move on to the next phase of my working life after crimbo which I am looking forward to immensely.

What else to report - spends today were petrol and food out of respective budgets so I can claim a NSD 6 today and another no clothes spend day too.

Off to visit mum tomorrow and sort out christmas preps then usual Sunday of cleaning, cooking, eBaying and ironing!

fedupandskint

Hmm cold coming on quick tonight. Thought I'd fought it off this week, maybe not then. Rearranged visit for next week as I don't want to take my germs over! Looks like the germs flying around at work latched onto me though!