Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

maddiemay

Hi Steph
Great news about the shop in Weymouth selling out, hopefully half term hols will increase foot traffic for them too, then Easter.

The motivation thing when working from home is difficult, I only did it for less than a year (employed) and had boss and clients breathing down my neck so I had to stick pretty much to a schedule, but I did give myself little targets before I could have a coffee, lunch etc. I have known people even go out through one door and come back in through another as a signal to start "work" and also wear certain clothing:D

You may already do this, but how about large sheet of paper detailing each item to be made, who for, approx time to make, when it is needed for, i.e. a production sheet, and then colour it in bright marker pen when complete, might be quite motivating and satisfying seeing things ticked off, or even take it a stage further, cutting out, machining, pressing etc.

Anyway, hope that you have a good day, I am once again undoing a piece of knitting, seem to have lost my knitting mojo lately:(

StressedSteph

maddiemay wrote: »

Hi Steph
Great news about the shop in Weymouth selling out, hopefully half term hols will increase foot traffic for them too, then Easter.

The motivation thing when working from home is difficult, I only did it for less than a year (employed) and had boss and clients breathing down my neck so I had to stick pretty much to a schedule, but I did give myself little targets before I could have a coffee, lunch etc. I have known people even go out through one door and come back in through another as a signal to start "work" and also wear certain clothing:D

You may already do this, but how about large sheet of paper detailing each item to be made, who for, approx time to make, when it is needed for, i.e. a production sheet, and then colour it in bright marker pen when complete, might be quite motivating and satisfying seeing things ticked off, or even take it a stage further, cutting out, machining, pressing etc.

Anyway, hope that you have a good day, I am once again undoing a piece of knitting, seem to have lost my knitting mojo lately:(

Hi Maddiemay


I told myself that I was going to clean the windows today, but I am STILL sat here at the computer :mad:. This will be my last post and then I will go and DO SOMETHING!!!. .


Good idea about the production sheet, I might give that a go, breaking it down into smaller categories so that I feel like I am achieving things.


Hope you find your knitting mojo today. I started crocheting a Granny wave cot blanket last night. Don't have any children still in a cot, but it seemed a more achievable size . Just a practice really to get more proficient with crocheting. I really enjoy it, probably more than knitting, need to get more wool but will have to wait a while to afford that.




Ok I'm off, can't decide to do more sewing or clean the windows?? Arrgh whats wrong with me today. Think I will do sewing, #easier


Speak soon xxx

mizmir

You are doing so well - just think where you would be if you hadn't been doing the budgeting and give yourself a huge pat on the back. I know the feeling about losing the mojo - I am struggling a bit getting back into working. Partly having been ill (and still not feeling 100%) but also I think it is the start of year blues - holidays over, constant rain and grey - hard to get going. I am trying to kick start myself with lists and small jobs - things that I know I can complete as that is always a boost.

As for the overpaying - that is always a frustration as once you get onto the DFW ladder you want to scurry up there to the top as fast as possible. Have you got a snowball? If so use that and focus on making those realistic targets. I know from experience that it can be demoralising if you aim for too quick progress and then can't manage it. This time I am accepting that this is going to be a 4 year project - and I am focusing on that. If we can do it quicker then that is great - but it is more important that we actually do it!

debtfreewannabe321

Morning Steph! Well done on selling out of draught excluders! Are you dropping more stock down to them? That's great news and I bet you will have repeat custom too

I'm in the middle of knitting and crocheting squares for a big throw but I am carp at crocheting and every attempt has had me undoing it all and leaving it I have decided to do all the knitted sqaures first (with different designs) and then go back to the crocheting and if I am still too dumb to get the jist of how to do it I will just use the wool to knit more squares instead so at least I have the right amount to make the blanket lol!

I need to catch up with spreadsheets/YNAB as my internet has been off and on (mostly off! grr!) over the last week. A 20 min call to v1rgin this morning has hopefully sorted it out as I was having withdrawal symptoms from checking my bank, on here and my spreadsheets:rotfl::rotfl::p

FinanciallyUnsavvy

StressedSteph wrote: »

Thanks FinanciallyUnsavvy - Can't wait to get the feed costs down. I have to laugh, I keep wanting to shorten your name but don't feel like I can type FU because it sounds rude :rotfl:

:rotfl:it does sound a bit rude doesn't it?! I only realised that myself the other day. #poorchoiceofusername! Just call me Kim - that's my name and less letters to type! :laugh:

The advertising sounds expensive but hopefully it generates him lots of new work that'll far outweigh the expense. Does he use Facebook to advertise as well?

That's fantastic news about the draught excluders in the shop selling :j go you!

Hope you have a great and productive day. You really are inspiring me to get off my back side and get crafting. I bought a LOT of jewellry making supplies a few months back but haven't got round to making anything yet. Hopefully I can get my a$$ into gear and get something done!

xx

StressedSteph

OMG OMG OMG :eek:.


I nearly gave myself a heart attack!!. My mobile started ringing with an 0141 number.


Now you have to understand that I am TOTALLY terrified of answering the phone to business looking numbers. Mainly because for two years I have been avoiding phone calls from credit card companies with them after money from me.


The new BRAVE MSE me decided to grab the bull by the horns and ANSWER THE PHONE :eek:.


It was B#RCLAYS.. Eeeeeeeeek


The woman had her mean business voice on and I was literally shaking whilst she took me through the id checks.
She explained my bank account situation (Not pretty) and then asked me WHY I had moved my business away.
I very meekly explained my situation, on how I got into a debt cycle of charges and miss Direct debits etc and after trying to combat the overdraft for two years, I thought that moving banks was my only solution. I promised that I had every intention to pay it back etc etc.


Well......Sounding desperate obviously appealed to her motherly side, because she dropped the nasty business voice and kindly asked me what payments I thought I could make over the next 6 months.
Apparently I have 6 months to get back within my £2500 authorised overdraft amount. This is fine, so I agreed £50 payments for February & March, then upping to £200 per month thereafter.


They have upped my overdraft amount so that I won't get any unauthorised overdraft charges, but they won't drop the standard overdraft charge which is about £30 per month, but its better than nothing I suppose.


Phew.......I have calmed down abit now.....Its so scary talking to these companies, but they do seem to be reasonable which is a relief.


So glad that is done. Another issue tackled. I must promise myself to answer every phone call and face my problems head on. I am such a wimp.

StressedSteph

ps. will reply to your previous replies in a bit when I have calmed down. xxx

mizmir

WELL DONE!! That gets that one sorted and a big weight off your mind. Glad she was decent with you and you have sorted out a way forward to clear the debt and at least there won't be any more additional charges.

:T

StressedSteph

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Morning Steph! Well done on selling out of draught excluders! Are you dropping more stock down to them? That's great news and I bet you will have repeat custom too

I'm in the middle of knitting and crocheting squares for a big throw but I am carp at crocheting and every attempt has had me undoing it all and leaving it I have decided to do all the knitted sqaures first (with different designs) and then go back to the crocheting and if I am still too dumb to get the jist of how to do it I will just use the wool to knit more squares instead so at least I have the right amount to make the blanket lol!

I need to catch up with spreadsheets/YNAB as my internet has been off and on (mostly off! grr!) over the last week. A 20 min call to v1rgin this morning has hopefully sorted it out as I was having withdrawal symptoms from checking my bank, on here and my spreadsheets:rotfl::rotfl::p

Hi DFW


Have you tried Youtube for Crocheting tutorials. That's how I have taught myself. I follow them step by step and keep pausing so I can catch up, They are always too fast for me. But its been quite easy once you get the general idea of how to hold the wool etc. I am getting on quite well with my ripple blanket. it is quite wide and only about 3" deep but its a long term project


Hope you managed to get online again, I get so frustrated if I can't balance accounts etc, it is so easy to lose track if you have too many transactions to balance. Fingers Crossed you are back on line now xxx

FinanciallyUnsavvy wrote: »

:rotfl:it does sound a bit rude doesn't it?! I only realised that myself the other day. #poorchoiceofusername! Just call me Kim - that's my name and less letters to type! :laugh:

The advertising sounds expensive but hopefully it generates him lots of new work that'll far outweigh the expense. Does he use Facebook to advertise as well?

That's fantastic news about the draught excluders in the shop selling :j go you!

Hope you have a great and productive day. You really are inspiring me to get off my back side and get crafting. I bought a LOT of jewellry making supplies a few months back but haven't got round to making anything yet. Hopefully I can get my a$$ into gear and get something done!

xx

Hi Kim,


Glad I have inspired you to get crafting. You really ought to get making some of that jewellery and create yourself a page on FB. That's all I did and I have made hundreds of pounds since last September. Shocking how many people on FB seem to have money to spend.


Hubby hasn't set up a FB page, but I am tempted to get him one set up. If it works half as well as it has for my crafts then it would bring in a lot of work. Might have a chat to him tonight. Thanks for giving me the idea xxx

mizmir wrote: »

WELL DONE!! That gets that one sorted and a big weight off your mind. Glad she was decent with you and you have sorted out a way forward to clear the debt and at least there won't be any more additional charges.

:T

Thanks Mizmir,


It sent me into a total spin answering that phone yesterday, I think it is the new MSE ME, and it feels good to be getting my finances in order. :T


Hope you are not feeling too bad today. Thinking of you xx

StressedSteph

Morning diary and anyone bored enough to read my ramblings.


Balance my account today. Weird how Children Tax Credit seem to have changed the date they pay out. They were the 15th of the month last year but December and now Januarys have been paid on the 30th. Weird, but not complaining as it was going to be very tight trying to pay the mortgage before the end of the month, so this has come in at a perfect time.


Feel great this morning, nearly the last day of the month and all bills including mortgage and credit cards are paid. Littlewoods haven't got as much as they want, but that's all they are getting .


Got DD home today, and meant to be going to lunch with a friend (All budgeted out of my weekly FUN money). DD was up all night with a cough and fell asleep on me this morning after breakfast. She is chilling out watching a movie now, and think she will be fine to come with me for the lunch. Will have to be super careful as I wasn't expecting to have to pay for a lunch for DD, but I should have enough.


I have updated my signature with my debt payments, not ground breaking but at least I can see a slight decrease.
Think I might set myself a mini goal on my signature to help me feel like I am achieving things.


Speak soon. xx