Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

StressedSteph

sweetpea26 wrote: »

Keep going Steph..I find it difficult to keep up with everything too. I do the garden and the house etc. as I am home full time. My utility room is heaving with clothes, mountains of socks etc..hot press is untidy so towels that I dried the day before yesterday are on the kitchen table..neatly folded lol So I need to make the space for them in the press before I can put them away !!!!!!!! never ending.

I do have someone in this last couple days to powerhouse everywhere. It is good sum of money but it is worth it. It would take me weeks to get the time to do it. It hasnt been properly done in 3 years so its very dirty. Outside looks wonderful now to keep it that way.

Take a room at a time...that is what I do then you feel as if you made a bit of progress.

I think you will probably see your treatments being more frequent as mams will be getting vouchers for mothers day I am sure.

take care and keep going. God bless

abba1772 wrote: »

I'm the same with keeping up with everything you sometimes wonder why we bother lol it's never ending xx

Morning Sweetpea & abba


Glad to hear I am not on with the struggles with the house.


I read abit of Flylady last night and it talks about setting up morning and bedtime routines. I have started to do this, but on my first day it all went out the window as I had to spend heaven knows how long making the childrens faces "Funny for money" for Red Nose day.


Sooo much going on at school I can barely keep up with it.


I did make abit of a dent this yesterday and will try to do some more later this morning.


Keep doing it everyday and hopefully one day I will look and it will feel sorted

NoOneAround

Hi SS,
Haven't been around for a little while and just caught up last two weeks. Sorry that money is so hard, self employment isn't easy or for the faint hearted.... we are waiting for things to pick up too but have only had one new enquiry in the last month. Keep fingers crossed, everything is meant to be getting better in the construction industry.
:eek: about the sponsorship! Who knows it might lead to lots of work:). We have had to stop all advertising as no money so basically relying on referrals through people we know.


I too struggle to keep on top of everything at home. DH has a dig at me quite regularly, but I have learnt to ignore it now and do what I can. I know how you feel, it would be nice to get everything in order, but I always have to prioritise (whereas DH focus's on one thing at a time) and kids/parents always come first!


Keep going, you are doing really well, and having juggled to reduce interest, don't beat yourself up about paying less to debts this year.... look at the amazing amount you paid off last year! Sending you lots of luck and happy wishes and hugs,
NOA
xx

lhead123

Hi Steph!

I tried flylady for a while, but never got past keeping my sink clean.....

I'm currently in the middle of using the Konmari method to declutter our house and get rid of everything that doesn't 'spark joy'....in doing so everything has a home found for it, and therefore the house should be easier to keep tidy and clean.....I'm hoping anyway!!

Hope the money situation gets better. Grr hubby for keeping it too cheap for the pub - he should say to them that he thinks it might cost more than he originally quoted - even if he only asks for an extra £50 or something, it's all a little extra....

My OH's work has just informed everyone that they will be moving the pay date from the middle of the month to the end.....We pay our rent the day after payday at the moment, and this change means that we need to find 2 months rent and a month and a half's worth of food/petrol/bills out of 1 month and 10 days worth of wages UGH it sucks. We can just about do it, but only if we really cut back on food and have zero fun money

StressedSteph

NoOneAround wrote: »

Hi SS,
Haven't been around for a little while and just caught up last two weeks. Sorry that money is so hard, self employment isn't easy or for the faint hearted.... we are waiting for things to pick up too but have only had one new enquiry in the last month. Keep fingers crossed, everything is meant to be getting better in the construction industry.
:eek: about the sponsorship! Who knows it might lead to lots of work:). We have had to stop all advertising as no money so basically relying on referrals through people we know.


I too struggle to keep on top of everything at home. DH has a dig at me quite regularly, but I have learnt to ignore it now and do what I can. I know how you feel, it would be nice to get everything in order, but I always have to prioritise (whereas DH focus's on one thing at a time) and kids/parents always come first!


Keep going, you are doing really well, and having juggled to reduce interest, don't beat yourself up about paying less to debts this year.... look at the amazing amount you paid off last year! Sending you lots of luck and happy wishes and hugs,
NOA
xx

Thanks so much for taking the time to post NOA.

Self Employment really is rough with the smooth and unfortunately it seems to be alot of rough atm. You are right about the advertising trap. No work = can't afford to advertise, but can't afford NOT to advertise :mad::mad:.

We paid £23 per week for a tiny advert in our local paper. We have found it is the only place that every generates any jobs, and even then I am not sure it is worth nearly £100 pm :eek:.

Hope your work picks up soon :T

I have acceted to just pay what I can for the next few months, got so many pressures for who I should give each £1 we earn than I will burn out if I let myself get too stressed about it

Take care xxxx

misstara

Hi Steph, just having a proper catch up with your diary. Glad that the Agnus Castus seems to be making such a difference to you.

:eek: to hubby's underquote for the pub.

I also seem to fight a losing battle with keeping the flat clean and tidy. I think part of the problem for us is that we are in a tiny flat with no storage space so even at its best, it still doesn't look tidy. The other part of the problem is a very untidy OH, he does tidy up after himself but just not at the speed/time I would like :rotfl:

Puzzcat

Hi Steph,


Hope all is well with you? You had dropped off my first page of subscriptions so I got worried..!


Expect your busy with work, family and the lambs...


Hope OH's work has picked up and you can get all those pesky bills paid and the savings you need for OH's time off..


Take care,
Love Puzz. x

StressedSteph

lhead123 wrote: »

Hi Steph!

I tried flylady for a while, but never got past keeping my sink clean.....

I'm currently in the middle of using the Konmari method to declutter our house and get rid of everything that doesn't 'spark joy'....in doing so everything has a home found for it, and therefore the house should be easier to keep tidy and clean.....I'm hoping anyway!!

Hope the money situation gets better. Grr hubby for keeping it too cheap for the pub - he should say to them that he thinks it might cost more than he originally quoted - even if he only asks for an extra £50 or something, it's all a little extra....

My OH's work has just informed everyone that they will be moving the pay date from the middle of the month to the end.....We pay our rent the day after payday at the moment, and this change means that we need to find 2 months rent and a month and a half's worth of food/petrol/bills out of 1 month and 10 days worth of wages UGH it sucks. We can just about do it, but only if we really cut back on food and have zero fun money

Hi Lhead

Think we cross posted last time i logged in, so sorry I didn't reply to you.

I will check out the Konmari method as Flylady is already driving me nuts with the millions of email I get everyday trying to sell me fancy washcloths and mops :mad:

What a nightmare with your hubbys work changing the wages date :mad::mad:. I hate the way little things like that can really set you back. hope you manage to scrape through ok.

xxxx

misstara wrote: »

Hi Steph, just having a proper catch up with your diary. Glad that the Agnus Castus seems to be making such a difference to you.

:eek: to hubby's underquote for the pub.

I also seem to fight a losing battle with keeping the flat clean and tidy. I think part of the problem for us is that we are in a tiny flat with no storage space so even at its best, it still doesn't look tidy. The other part of the problem is a very untidy OH, he does tidy up after himself but just not at the speed/time I would like :rotfl:

Hi MissT

You are right about other family members not pulling their weight, although I am sure it is Karma as I can vividly remember my mum saying exactly the same thing :rotfl:

xxx

Puzzcat wrote: »

Hi Steph,


Hope all is well with you? You had dropped off my first page of subscriptions so I got worried..!


Expect your busy with work, family and the lambs...


Hope OH's work has picked up and you can get all those pesky bills paid and the savings you need for OH's time off..


Take care,
Love Puzz. x

Hi Puzz

I have naughtily gotten out of the habit of first thing after school drop off, balancing the bank account and also posting on MSE.
I must get back to doing that tomorrow onwards because its a good way for me to start the day = Basically knowing I have no money to spend that day so don't even try :rotfl:

Life has been completely hectic and my usual routines have gone out of the window.

Hopeful for next week onwards to get better, although I am sure I said that last week :D

xxxx

StressedSteph

Hi all

Sorry not been posting regularly. Life has been silly busy lately and alot of my routines have gone out of the window.

I spent all of Monday helping hubby on his job. I basically mixed cement all day. I shovelled 3 massive dumpy bags of sand :eek:.
I saved hubby £120 in what he would have paid his dad to help so that was a very MSE day for us.

I got my Co-Op credit card statement today. I have done a balance transfer of Co-op's money over to Barclays who were offering 0% until March 2016. Co-op were charging silly interest every month so I am glad we are away from them. I just have to pay a misc £10 56 to clear the account and then I will write to get them to close it.

Waiting for a statement from the Barclaycard to see the total amount owed before I adjust my signature below. I set up a direct debit with them for the minimum amount so that I do accidentally pay late and lose the 0% deal.

I have paid the Heating Oil and Ds'school trip money that was outstanding. Just have HMRC and the school sportswear to sort now.

Hoping to get that done March - Early April and then should be able to start saving with a vengeance.

Ds has gone away for three days on a school residential trip and yesterday I ended up buying him a waterproof coat and Hold-all bag which came to £43 :eek:. Do not have the money in the bank spare for that but I felt it was unavoidable. Other than that my misc spends have been very small.

just hoping he doesn't have any issues at the camp he has gone to now as if they need me to pick him up, it is 1 hour away and will cost me a small fortune in diesel.

I drove to see mum in Poole on Mothering Sunday and I am convinced it cost me £25 in fuel. My truck is ridiculous.

Not much else to report, other than I haven't had any Spa treatments this week and Dd has had a tummy bug for the last three days so had to cancel my little cleaning job today as well

Me and the Agnus Castus is still smiling though. Guess I can only do the best I can, nothing more, nothing less.

Hope you are all well.

xxxxxx

StressedSteph

Morning Diary


Dd went back to school today after three days off sick and Ds is still on his residential trip so I FINALLY have a day to myself today.


Got to pop over to the inlaws after lunch, I am in contact with them a lot better lately since FIL's girlfriends grandson committed suicide early February. They took is quite hard so I have been helping them more lately. Only issue is that as soon as you help them once they tend to give me a list every week of things they want help with. I don't mind to a degree, but a lot of the things they ask for, I know they are able to do it themselves, but its just easier to pass the buck sometimes. Have to be slightly careful otherwise they will easily take over my life .


Slowly getting control of the house tidying, but really need to look more closely at each room to de-clutter and decide what I REALLY want rather than what's just been floating around for so long it is now part of the furniture.


Flylady is not very clear in its set up. I am bombarded with case study emails which get lost among the what to do today emails. Going to check out Konmari that Lhead suggested to see if that is any easier. I know its pathetic that I should just be able to tidy my small house without the help of emails or apps, but I do like the structure that they provide otherwise I tend to bimble about and the basic tidying up happens but not the re-organising and decluttering.


Nothing going on financially today, Got something depressing like £65 left in the bank account until hubby gets paid over the weekend. Hoping it will all look a little brighter once that goes in.


I have an appointment with a lady Monday morning about doing 4 hours of cleaning in her B&B lets every week. Hoping that will be a secure steady bit of income coming in as these Spa treatments are far too sporadic for my liking.


Not much else to report.....Have a great day all xxx

Verbatim

Good luck with the B&B job. Be wary of the inlaws. I recall you feeling your children had been passed over and you felt a bit used by them before? Perhaps wise to be "too busy" sometimes or get them to babysit in the hols!
I managed to fluff the flylady emails sign up, perhaps no bad thing as I don't get the hard sell, so just refer to the web pages for ideas. The best thing for me has been keeping " hotspots" clear. Having cleared various surfaces around the house I remove items from them daily so they can't build up. I don't clean as per her weekly /monthly schedules and think if tidy the place is 99% "there"!
I'm always so pleased to see you've posted Steph. As you know I'm one of your biggest mse fans! How are the lambs? Polytunnel seedlings?
Keep on plodding as Beanie would say. You ARE getting there.