All this shampoo must be for when I take my head out of the sand...

The_Green_Lady

So this morning I took the new bottle of shampoo upstairs that I had just bought at the supermarket this weekend. This was an emergency shop so only about £12 spent but the shampoo was key as I was running out. This morning I prepared to get in the shower and noted a replica of the bottle I had just brought upstairs very close to me and a replica of that not much further away. How did I not know that I had all of this shampoo? Of course it is much the same thing as last weekend when I actually took note of the bonfire on the bottom stair that I had been walking past for goodness knows how long. The pile of "stuff" that needs taking upstairs and a home finding for it that had grown to such proportions that only a guy could have highlighted it more. And yet I had stopped seeing it. How much stress must this head burying actually bring! It's time to stop and look around me and start appreciating life, enjoying it by facing up to the situation.

I added up the debt last night. I've got better over the years. At least I know where the debt is and what the figures are. That's why I signed up to one of those credit sites! £47,095. About £30,000 of that is made up of loans and the rest credit cards. It's hovered around that figure (£50k) for a few years with good times and bad times. I seem to accept that as long as I can pay everything it's ok that quite a substantial amount of our income goes on servicing the debt. I've tried to focus on it but it's hard and it takes too long. Something miraculous will soon happen surely. It hasn't. And I'd quite like to have all that money I earn to spend on me. Or charity. Or nothing. But I'm fed up of it being for nothing. Cause what on earth did I spend all that money on?

So I don't expect anyone to read this. I just want to have a space to know I can come to write, to keep me focussed. I signed up to a couple of challenges yesterday and they've already helped. I'm just about to walk to town to do some banking (I lost my thingey to do my internet banking about a year ago and I hate speaking to the bank!). I am also going to return some christmas presents and see if I can get vouchers. I am also going to pick up some Euros that I have pre-ordered because of this site. About two months ago I booked a cheap trip to Paris for next week. I usually pick up the Euros at the gate! Financial wizardry from me as ever. But because of this wonderful place I have pre-ordered and am going to pick that up too.

I kind of feel like I don't know how to do it at the moment. I've made a list and I think I'll just try to tick things off for the time being and see where it takes me. I haven't been here long but I already feel at home. It's weird to read people writing what I'm thinking, like I wrote it without knowing it. And that is how this entry started. I must have been buying shampoo without knowing it.

So. Here we go. 2014...

Buffythedebtslayer

Body lotion was my thing. I had seven at one point. Cos apparently I had run out. except I hadn't. Just spending with out thinking cos I was in a busy job and never had time to stop and look at what was doing. earning money to pay off a loan (I still don't know what I borrowed the money for. )


It seems to be a weird First World problem - the purchasing of "stuff" to make us feel better, look better, etc without us actually being better. So when that pile of stuff doesn't work we move on to the next pile of stuff and so on till we see the pile on the stairs, the plastic boxes stored in the shed of things that are SO important I have put them in the shed I won't go in.....so yep I think I understand where you are coming from.


I still slip back occasionally - well regularly this last year to mindless shopping, this will solve all problems........


But it is the new year now, so lets go
(especially since Breakfast is ready!)
xxxxx

Yorkielass

I don't come onto this part of the forum very often but was looking for something earlier and the title caught my eye.

About 5 years ago I had endless cosmetics that I bought for the sake of it as I followed the Boots thread on here and there were loads of offers and sometimes you got things for free/free if you included the points. But I didn't need it and now I no longer have a 'cosmetics stash' - the thing that got me through the 'pointless buying' were:

1 - not looking at the grab it/shopping forums on here unless I need something - it's only a bargain if you need it.
2 - document what you have, so you realise that you don't need another bottle of something when you go shopping
3 - I found this challenge fantastic for realising what I had and using it up/getting rid of it - I was sad when I no longer had a stash and no longer needed to post" https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4856336
4 - I don't wander round shops anymore in the evenings and at weekends since I started volunteering. Fills that pointless shopping time nicely.

My current issue is fabric and sewing bits, I've bought far too much in 2013, partly because I'm lucky to have some money each month I can spend on 'treats' and because I sit at work on a computer and can look at things online I've been sucked into buying fabric with no purpose. I'm now on a fabric buying ban for at least 6 months and having a big use it and also a destash.

If stuff is getting on top of you the decluttering thread on oldstyle is also brilliant for motivating each other to declutter, get on top of things, the board guides have merged two threads and locked the merged one by mistake but I'm sure it'll be sorted soon.

I don't know if any of this helps but wanted to post - this site is amazing, it's a big part of the reason that (apart from student loan and mortgage) I don't have any debts and never have.

I have subscribed to your diary and look forward to seeing your progress.

The_Green_Lady

What lovely replies, thank you so much for taking the time to read my entry and respond. The decluttering thing really hit home. On the surface everything is sorted but open a drawer and there is no organisation, it's hideous. Last night I sorted out the top drawer of my dressing table wherein I found the lovely necklace that OH bought me LAST Christmas.

Last night at work I did a couple of things. I worked out how many days there were left until payday then tried to work out how many meals I had to buy. I popped into Farm Foods whilst in town yesterday and bought some bits of protein for the freezer. So I think I have a plan. I made a shopping list and bought those bits and those bits only.
I made a list of what needs de-cluttering. These places are part of my sub conscious - my tights drawer for example - I get frustrated by how they impact on my day for the millisecond that they do, I know these places need sorting but I never find the time. Well they are on a list now.

What I was pleased about mainly though was my trip to Paris next week. I had booked a nice hotel room for €280 which I was able to cancel. I cancelled it last night with a view to booking another hotel . I've just booked another one which is very close to the Sacre Coeur, good reviews but cheap - €140. Half the price! As long as it's clean and the bed is comfortable I love a bargain. Let's see what happens.

Yesterday we were very focussed on the fact that we were spending and therefore we should try to spend what we needed to spend that day to allow for some NSD's. So today I hope that this will be a NSD. I'm working at it.

I really wanted to do one of those memory jars that I kept seeing on FB over NY. You write on a piece of paper something wonderful that happened to you during the day. Then on NYE 2014 you open the jar and re-live the happiness of your year. Well I'm going to do a virtual jar so todays piece of paper says,

"Booked a Paris hotel room for half the price of the last one - very very pleased"

PennySaving

Hello!

I totally sympathise with your shampoo purchasing - I have the same problem with cleaning products! Even though I have a cupboard full of various bleaches, sprays and polishes I can 't resist an offer!
Just today I brought 4 news ones in Tesco as they were half price. Why? I think its the thought of all the cleaning that I will do, that will help me stay in control. I haven't always been in control of our family finances.

I joined this forum in January last year and its been a life saver for me. My DH and I have worked really hard and managed to pay off a bank loan, credit card and a loan from a relative. We still have a way to go but we are getting there.

Keep posting, I will enjoy reading your diary.

117pauline

The title of your thread also attracted me too!

I have full cupboards and freezers alongside a variety of storage areas hiding dishwasher tablets, laundry liquid, shampoos, body lotion etc etc.

My 2014 resolution is to reduce these stashes to a reasonable level and not resort to emergency shops which end up costing the earth.

Today I have sorted through the kitchen cupboards and freezers to come up with a menu plan for the rest of the month. This is complicated by the fact that I may be up North with my mum for several days during the month so OH will have to fend for himself.

I am actually charging myself (IYSWIM) for each thing I take out so £1 for meat and poultry from freezer and 50p for tins etc. This is going into a separate purse so I can do a sensible shop at the end of the month.

It feels lovely to be grabbing back some control, wish I could do that to life!!

Good luck
Pauline

The_Green_Lady

PennySaving wrote: »

Hello!

Why? I think its the thought of all the cleaning that I will do, that will help me stay in control. I haven't always been in control of our family finances.
D

This completely hits the nail on the head doesn't it. You're writing reminds me of my addiction to buying books that help you learn French. I have piles. And I know that the hope is that if I buy enough I will assimilate the information. It's like cash is king and it buys everything, happiness, love, knowledge, power, a clean house!

Well it doesn't. Money helps and is a necessity of course but it's not magic. We have to put a bit of effort in to make this life work.

The_Green_Lady

117pauline wrote: »

I am actually charging myself (IYSWIM) for each thing I take out so £1 for meat and poultry from freezer and 50p for tins etc. This is going into a separate purse so I can do a sensible shop at the end of the month.


Pauline

I like this idea! I may apply this to my book addiction.

timetogrowup89

Love your title...dishwasher tablets are my thing, can never have too many it would seem. Think the thought of washing dishes scares me sooo much that I constantly buy them

Good luck on your debt busting!

The_Green_Lady

So I am nights at the moment which is a struggle for me as I am sure it is for most people! But my body seems to rebel against it. But I am here!

Despite being on nights some amazing MSE things happened to me yesterday which have all come about from starting to take my head out of the sand.
1. Opened a Tesco savings account years ago which has a very small DD going into it monthly, no idea how to access it. Last night just phoned them and managed to withdraw £600 - this pays for a new oven. We have been without one for months as the company that made it has gone bust and we can't get the replacement parts therefore. So now we can buy a new oven. Amazing. (Another example of head in in the sand! Just living without an oven. Rubbish!)
2. Printed off tickets for Paris and with MSE glasses on saw that there is a 2for1 offer on the museum I want to visit, Museum d'Orsay. I found 50 Euros in a pot in the week and had said to OH that this would pay for the museum. But now we only have to pay half of it!
3. Another head in the sand moment for me - I took out a months free membership with Amazon Prime (USA version) to watch films but never used it and never cancelled it. Last night I found the email setting up the account and was therefore able to cancel it. I got an email saying that because I hadn't used it they would refund me $79. When did I pay that? Rubbish.

So all in all where I started yesterday was getting my half price hotel room in Paris. From the ebay sales I made yesterday I decided that I needed to work hard to pay the hotel room in cash on Tuesday. I had £50 and therefore needed to make £65 somehow. I seem to have managed!

A tiny bit of effort and suddenly things seem to be slotting into place. At the moment I feel a little anal about it. I am writing down my budget daily and re-going over the figures. This is because I just don't have control of them yet but it's started.

Virtual Jar Entry

"Picked up the phone resulting in withdrawing £600 from Tesco Savings account"

gallygirl

The_Green_Lady wrote: »

This completely hits the nail on the head doesn't it. You're writing reminds me of my addiction to buying books that help you learn French. I have piles. And I know that the hope is that if I buy enough I will assimilate the information..

You mean it won't :eek:? Ah b * l l * c k s :rotfl:. That'd be why my Spanish isn't progressing very well .