Onwards & Upwards in 2014

Ali-OK

It's a liberating experience! Well done!

I have sold on eBay - I go for small/light things to keep postage costs down, but best thing to do is to search for the item that you plan to sell and see if there is many the same/similar with bids or have sold and the prices. It's a good indicator.

Different things sell better at different times of year too. Sure there must be an eBay queen or 2 around who could be more helpful than my tiny bit of experience with it.

Midgie

Ugh! I didn't realise how often I use shopping to cheer myself up!

I'm off work sick so managing quite a few NSDs. I also have £8.73 left in purse to try eek out to Tuesday and then I'll have managed to get rid of my overdraft and associated fees!

I'm getting there slowly......:(

Ali-OK

Sorry to hear you're ill, hope you feel better soon. Granted, a few NSDs from it are good news

Is there something you can replace the shopping with that would be pleasurable? Reading? Walking (but not around shops :rotfl:)

It's another good little light bulb though

Midgie

Thanks Ali-Ok! I'd never thought about it like that! It is a little light bulb moment and I'm going to figure out why I do it and try replace it with a healthier habit!

Its also good for the waistline as a fair bit of my shopping is picking up a 'treat' for the house - pudding, chocolate, wine etc.

At the moment I'm trying some of the competitions on the comps page - i haven't won anything yet but i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

dottyanne

Hi Midge, just subscribed to your diary. I have a small OD which is also being cleared at the end of this month. My main focus this year is to clear my credit cards, I managed to get 2 at 0% so am shifting as much as poss onto these and intend to close all but one by the end of 2014. I've set myself a little goal of listing 5 things a day on eBay, all profits going straight to the cards. I am also learning to use the word NO lol.....

Midgie

Hi Dottyanne!

It sounds like we're in similar positions! I am so looking forward to getting rid of that OD and making my first bigger payment towards my credit cards! This is going to be the year!!!

How do people handle unexpected bills or unexpected costs? In the last two days I've had an unexpected bill in from my factors, been told that my bill date for my mobile is changing and been invited to a 40th birthday party?

I am due £200 on Tuesday and was hoping to keep £50 to live on til payday and pay the remaining £150 towards my CC - this is now looking unlikely as I now need to leave money to accommodate some of the above. :mad:

dottyanne

As of this month I've done a budget - took me a few weeks to get it right and I'm putting money away for all things, ie Xmas, birthdays, car costs, holiday and also general savings so I don't have to find myself in the position if having to just 'find the money' as I have done so many times in the past. We can do it we just need to stay focused !! Good luck

Midgie

Oh how annoying!!!

I set myself the target of getting rid of any overdraft charges on my account this month - this meant that I have scrimped and saved to ensure that I have not put one toe into my overdraft! Bank account is currently reading £1.20 in credit but I've got money in my purse and I'm getting money put into my account on Tuesday!

Anyway, I just got an email from the bank advising me that last month's charges of £16 are going to be taken out of my account on MONDAY!!! Which puts me back into my overdraft and means a £6 charge in February!!!

If it had been 24 hours later I would have accomplished my first goal! :mad: Now its going to be March before that's the case!

Ali-OK

Oh no, that's so annoying. Any chance of getting any money into the bank (depositpoint?) from your purse tomorrow to cover the charge? Or even phoning them and getting them to put back taking the charges by a day or 2 until your other money is in?

Seems such ashame after all the hard work you've done to keep out of the OD that they go and do that.

Midgie

I know - I was so close!!!:(

I'll try phoning on Monday and see if they can do anything about the charges.

Feeling a bit disheartened! Change and progress doesn't come quickly does it?