This time is the last time, no more debts!

Spendysaver

I've been a huge MSE fan since about 2008 and can't tell you how many diaries I've started (and given up on) since then, because honestly, I've lost count.

The debts are still there and my previous diary hasn't been going very long, but it feels like I should be starting afresh. I lost my dad to cancer two weeks ago tomorrow. I was a complete "daddy's girl" and our lives are completely different without him so maybe now's a good time to start afresh and not wait till January.

Here's a bit about me:-

I'm 44 (so old enough to know better!), divorced for three years but now happily engaged to the best boyfriend in the world and a mother to three grown up children. I've been in the same job for about 6 years but currently the threat of redundancy keeps rearing its ugly head. The next round of job losses will be coming in a few weeks. I should hopefully be ok, but really, there's no way of knowing till the letters go out

I still have my mother, to whom I'm very close. Her health isn't brilliant but she's decided to stay in her own home as long as she can. She knows she's welcome to come here, but I appreciate that she feels more comfortable surrounded by her own things.

BF and I still have our own bank accounts but we both put a set amount into a joint account each month to cover all household bills and food etc. I pay the mortgage, so he contributes more towards the joint account than I do. Our biggest downfall is food! We spend way too much on feeding the two of us. To be fair, most of the time its not just the two of us as my boys are always dropping by and eating us out of house and home! To add to the confusion, BF's just been advised by the Dr to try a wheat and dairy free diet for three weeks. All that "free from" food seems to cost a fortune so I think the answer is to cook more from scratch. Any suggestions or recommendations are most welcome

I've got a huge chicken in the fridge so my first job is cook that and see how far I can stretch it. Since dad went into hospital, we've been surviving on takeaways so we'll have to knock that one on the head straight away.

Today is free listing on Eb*y so I've decided to list a few bits of jewellery. They're just sat in my jewellery box at the moment so that money can be put to better use paying for Christmas pressies.

This is turning into a bit of a ramble, so I'm going to list a few bits on Eb*y and then work out exactly how much money I owe on each card. I did make a start on transferring balances when dad was in hospital, so I just need to muster up the energy to pick up where I left off.

Thanks for reading this far x

wishing4kissing

I need to get my sh*T sorted too so well done you for making a start!

Spendysaver

Thank you

Five new items listed on Eb*y and 13 old ones relisted.

I've checked my balances and to the best of my knowledge, this is how things stand:-

1. Littlewoods £880.49
2. Nationwide £767.63
3. Halifax £3,088.04

1. Savings Acc 1 £50
2. Savings Acc 2 £700

Its at times like these I wish I was good at something, then I could use my talents to make pots of money and pay off all my bills

Likelihood of this happening is less than zero so I'd better settle in and do it the hard way and hopefully make some friends along the way.

I'm going to make it my mission to try lots of different "crafty" things (without spending too much in the process)......... I can't be rubbish at them all :rotfl:

Antwerpen

Hi, good luck!Sorry to hear about your loss.

Checkout pinterest, there's some crafty bits on there, some really easy things to try out.

Spendysaver

Hi, thanks I've had a look on Pinterest. Not quite sure how the site works but loads of great ideas on there.

Managed a NSD today, the first one for quite a while.

The chicken was lovely but it won't stretch as far as I thought, we had two extra mouths to feed.

It's my first day back at work tomorrow since losing dad. Not sure how I feel about it.

No bids on my items yet.

I think my first crafty project will be to have a go at making chocolate, my favourite thing . I might even end up with some home made Christmas pressies, you never know

Spendysaver

Just reactivated my Toluna account and been screened out of three surveys after I've gone more than half way..........starting to remember now why I let it lapse in the first place, its really frustrating :mad:

Spendysaver

Today was my first day back at work. I was dreading it, but once I'd seen everyone I was ok. People have been really nice.

I always call in on my parents on the way home from work. I usually let myself in and shout hello. It really hit home today when only my mum shouted hello back at me

I haven't been too bad spends wise today. I managed not to buy any fancy coffees, but I had to buy a sandwich for lunch as I didn't have anything in. We've been to MrT's tonight, so lunches for the rest of the week are taken care of.

No bids on my items yet, but I have a few watchers on a couple of items so I live in hope

Positive things about today:-

1. Didn't buy any coffees
2. Went back to work.
3. Found £5 at work. Asked around but nobody claimed it, so its now in my purse!

Had a word with my boss about the possible redundancies this morning. He couldn't really tell me anything I didn't already know, its just a case of wait and see, but we should know one way or the other in the next couple of weeks. This is why I have to get this debt sorted once and for all. If I'm lucky enough to come through this round of cuts, I may not be so lucky next time. Its scary to see how close to the edge I am and how little it would take to push me over.

Spendysaver

Good morning!

Work is really quiet today, so I think I have time for a quick update.

When I said work is quiet, its really really quiet! I've had one sale since 9.00am.....this is not good!

I've been catching up on some diaries these last few evenings and everyone's so upbeat and full of good ideas for saving money. I just can't seem to get the enthusiasm for it at the moment, and Christmas just seems like one more obstacle to get over and done with - maybe I should change my username to Mrs Scrooge

Lists always make me feel better so here goes:-

Things to do today
1. Don't buy any coffees!
2. Don't spend any money.
3. Check online banking when I get home.
4. Make a nice wheat free/dairy free meal for OH that mum and I can also enjoy
5. Make a Christmas list and start planning because its only 4 weeks away :eek::eek:
6. Try not to eat any chocolate (can't promise on this one!).
7. If I have time after taking mum home sort out one shelf in my wardrobe
8. Have a look online for a cheap/economical electric heater

Right, I'm starting to ramble, I'd better try and look busy. I'm going to make myself a coffee (free) and add the Ke*co points from the empty jars to my account. Hopefully by the beginning of the year I should have enough to get a nice free gift.

Spendysaver

At work again, but its almost lunchtime. Another very quiet day today.

Not much to report really except I've subscribed to the 1 debt vs 100 days challenge. I'm hoping to clear the £767 balance off my credit card. I don't know if I'll manage it, but I'll have a very good try! I've worked out I need to pay off approximately £215 per month and thats it gone!

I'm not really in the mood for Christmas so I've volunteered to work an extra two days over the holiday period so that should give me some nice overtime in December's pay, which can go straight to my challenge

Still no bids on my Eb*y items but its early days yet, so I'm not giving up just yet.

I brought my lunch into work with me today and I'm hoping to make it NSD x 2. Payday feels far away at the moment so I'm trying to make all the little things count.

I hope everyone else is having a good MSE day x

Spendysaver

Another day done and another NSD to add to the list. Although I'm not sure if its because I've changed my ways or because I can't face going out in my lunch hour just in case anyone tries to talk to me about my dad. Either way, I haven't spent anything and haven't bought any coffees which are my huge downfall.

Two days off for me now so I've just had a glass of whisky. Not my favourite drink, in fact I think it tastes awful, but I bought a bottle of malt for my dad when I was on holiday and because he's not here to drink it, I'm going to drink it for him, even if it takes me till next Christmas :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Still no bids on any of my Eb*y items but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Payday feels like its ages away when I'm itching to get started on my new challenge.

Suggested to BF that we limit ourselves to spending no more than £20 on gifts for each other this Christmas. He's counting the pennies too so he was more than happy to agree to my plan, and I think having to limit ourself to £20 means we'll have to put more thought into it!

Checked my credit report on Noddle and was surprised to see its only average when I'm up to date with everything and have no arrears, late payments or defaults. Doesn't really matter because I've no intention of applying for anything, I'm just a bit puzzled how they work it out.

Right, I'm off to bed, its getting cold here now and I don't want to put any more logs on the fire.

Goodnight x

Spendysaver

Good morning!

Another quick update before I go to work. Not a lot to report really - I've been quite good apart from yesterday when I bought a sandwich for lunch (£2,69). I have no excuse, I had plenty of stuff in to make my own, I just didn't feel like it

We buried my dad's ashes on Friday and I've been feeling quite low since then. Everything feels like an uphill struggle at the moment :(

The builder just phoned, so at least that job should be finished today, it looks like its shaping to be a nice day weather wise.

Today I'm going to make a special effort not to spend any money (includes not buying any coffee!)

I hope everyone else has a good day x