Life and times of a debt busting mumma

Ali-OK

Well done on the insurance and Sky - that's fantastic.

I posted a reply on my diary - Doh! Should have done it here, so the figures saved then:

£9 x 12 = £108 on Sky for 12 months
£30 x 12 = £360 on car insurance for 12 months
? interest by moving to a 0% CC

And don't forget TT - I reckon you've a minimum saving to make there of £12 a month if you take monthly full price line rental £15.40, the Simply Broadband at £2.50 and Boost of 24/7 calls at £5.50 compared to what you're paying now

Do you use a calendar or diary? If so, at the start of Jan 15 put in capitals 'CAR INSURANCE AND SKY - CHECK BEST PRICES' so you're already organised for next year

Car Boots then! I'm not the queen of them, but I usually do 2-3 each year. It takes alot of organising - even I get a bit stressed out doing the prep.

My tips (and I'd love more if people can add them please )

1) Take a bit of everything to sell, as I can never get all my stuff into one car load. Means you spread over a few
2) Clean stuff up and make it look at its best - you'll get more for it.
3) Price everything before you go
4) Take someone with you to help if you can
5) Pick stuff to take that is suited to the time of year, so Spring home stuff, Summer - holiday/suitcases/clothes, Autumn - presents, decorations, candles - stuff for Christmas
6) Toys tend to sell well any time of year
7) Books for kids tend to sell well
8) Unused gifts always get snapped up quick - I'm rubbish at pricing and sure I could make more than I have done.
9) Take plenty of change (I usually have a float of £15 in all denominations) and carrier bags
10) Bowl of water on ground for those with dogs
11) Reduce prices after 2 hrs if its quiet - I ask people to make me an offer if they're interested.

My aim is to get rid and not bring stuff home, so I don't mind price reducing in order to do that.

Pack the car the day before, take something to eat and drink with you, check the weather and if you're lazy like me, look for a carboot that starts at 1pm and not 6am :rotfl:

themull1

Ali-OK wrote: »

Baby steps I do at the weekend especially:

- leave the oven door open after cooking so the heat comes out and helps dry clothes on airer quicker (after being out on the line if the weather is dry)

- turn off iron before ironing last item

- sort the recycling/rubbish into outside wheelie bins in daylight (save using electric for outside house light)

Love the little things as they're no bother to do and definitely all add up.

\i would never dry clothes in the kitchen, they will stink of whatever you have cooked!

themull1

Rollercoaster_Rach wrote: »

Ali I agree...it's about knowing where you stand with budgeting. Did quite a good job with the presents (not extravagant) but could have done much better had I known. He actually didn't contribute to any of dds presents in the end but got the pleasure of seeing them open the ones I bought, wrapped and sweated over....:rotfl: taking the credit! Oh well next xmas is going to be very different!

Yes Ig...good idea....After school club fees may have to wait!

Spent £3.40 on a Turkish cheese wrap and cup of tea

It's a crawl to payday! :eek:

Hope you're all having a good evening




RR x

Does your ex come over on xmas day? me and my ex do seperate christmases, i have kids xmas day, and he has them boxing day, he always pays maintenance, but always buys seperate presents as well, we always make sure there are no duplicate presents by giving each other a list of what we've bought,

Igamogam

You have been busy RR. Glad you are feeling better

I have been thinking about what you said about 'living in the sticks'......................pros and cons for both being a country mouse or a town mouse. For us there was no question and although we have a 50 mile round trip to the cinema:eek: and no mains gas and I have 100 mile daily commute we were prepared to put up with it and possible go without other things............but I cant think what at the moment! My OH is a Londoner but doesn't admit to it and I did live in a large northern city for a few years after university but it only confirmed to me that I am no town mouse! I think its just a different way of living - certainly a much slower pace but its not perfect! We have just adapted.

You seem to have really got your debt busting head on! Car Boot sales - cant stand them. Me and the DD2 did one a couple of summers ago and I hated it - lots of prep for very little return. I use Eb*y and there are other ways of selling - local faceb@@k grooup gum tree and best place for books CDs and DVDs appear to be Music Magp!e and Zapp*r never used them myself. Amaz*n also good for selling books I believe.

Have a good week

Ali-OK

Ig - thanks for the places to sell books. DS and I decluttered the bookcases today and I've had 20 books offered on on Zapper and over £20 :j

Just having to go through full registration so I can check the penultimate pile :T

Igamogam

Ali-OK wrote: »

Ig - thanks for the places to sell books. DS and I decluttered the bookcases today and I've had 20 books offered on on Zapper and over £20 :j

Just having to go through full registration so I can check the penultimate pile :T

Maybe I will give it a go after all!

Ali-OK

Igamogam wrote: »

Maybe I will give it a go after all!

You should! 28 books and £25.67 to come back here.

Really easy to use and all I've got to do tomorrow is print the labels they've emailed me, sort my 2 boxes out (pad so they don't fly around in the box) and take to our nearest Collect+ point.

Had some lovely surprises with my little old Pitman Shorthand book being £5.

A good evenings work - thank you :T:T

Skinnylatte

I used to love car boots, but have had little success in the last few years. I prefer ebay and facebook, and then take to charity or cash for clothes what doesn't sell.

Igamogam

Just a thought about taking stuff to charity shops - if you have a nectar card and take your stuff to Oxf*m - register your nectar card ( can do it through website) get 100 bonus points and points every time something of yours sells in the shop. You have to get some specially printed labels to stick on your bag - I order mine form Oxf*m website and they arrive in the post a few days later already printed with my 'tag your bag' number . Or you can get blank ones in shop. Amazing just how quickly it adds up - well in my case I could restock my local branch easily:rotfl:

Rollercoaster_Rach

Thanks all for the fab ideas and discussion....
Quick update: After a smashing start Sunday life got in the way and needed to collect DB from a really difficult domestic situation (never done this before). Got home at 2.30 a.m. No sleep and up for work at 6.30. What a day. DB staying at mine for this week. All very unusual.
Put £13 petrol in car.
Much better today. Am going to get back on it!
Going to get new car insurance quote. Is it best to phone my old insurance company and tell them the new quote in the hope they will match it? Or just cancel and go with new company? Any ideas most welcome!
Let's do this Tuesday!
Back later
RR x