The Adventures of a Debt Defying Diva

in_need_of_direction

I have vague memories of doing a similar diet. The morning egg defeated me, as did the weight. If it works for you though, stick with it. A diet buddy has to help.

flanno_2

Hi Rainbow

You have motivated me to make a start of sorts............ thank you

I do not have a huge amount of personal debt, although we have a number of 'investment' properties that OH looks after so I'll leave them with him !!


I have a small loan of 1800 from my local credit union which was taken out just recently for my DS who is away and lost his job in Jan 2014 and so far has been unable to get another one.

Consequently I am paying 100 per month for this loan.

Other than that I have no debts which is great, but I have no job and applied to do a Masters in September 2014 over 2 years part time which will cost 8000 euro over the course of the two years.

So in order to save money/make money I need some inspiration.
I live in Ireland so things are somewhat more expensive here in terms of groceries, dr visits, etc. so all help is gratefully received.

Obviously the big way to save is on groceries but with 2 DD's at home it can be difficult. One is still at school and one is 'working' but only part time and starts back to College in September as is the younger one who is hoping to do Veterinary Medicine.

Anyway I am going to take baby steps and for May I am giving myself the following goals:

NSD's 1-31st May 25
AFD's 1-31st May 25

Coin stash Save 31 euro = 1 euro per day - coin stash target from now to end November 210+

Groceries currently cost from 100-165 per week so plan on cutting down to 100 from 1st May.

Also start looking for and applying for jobs.

Its not hugely exciting but its a start.

Namaste
Flanno:T

RainbowBridgeReturns

Flanno, I really enjoyed reading your post. I think you are already much further along this journey than I am.

1. You have managed to stay almost debt free with three, young adult dependents, which is a minor miracle. DS is costing me more now than he ever did!! You obviously have the necessary budgeting skills already, they just need fine tuning, and a bit of income generation thrown in, once your exams are concluded. Your decision to focus your attention on them, at this present moment, sounds very wise.

2. You have decided where your future lies, career wise, and have gone for it - that is truly inspirational. I want to start looking at that once I have tackled my weight, so it would be really interesting to read about your story and plans in that arena.

In the meantime, I will be like dear colleague at work and I will hold you to your May goals. I shall expect a goal update on a weekly basis, until you are ready to launch your own diary :cool:. My dormant dominatrix streak is surfacing :rotfl:.

My MSE news for today:

1. I have a dentist appointment. I was informed that my bridge needed replacing, at the end of last year, and I have applied to the NHS to see if they will fund it, as it will cost £2,000.00 + privately. The NHS have now responded, 4 months later, and the appointment today is to discuss their letter. Fingers and toes crossed! DH has £400.00 set aside for the treatment, in one of his pots, but without some NHS help there is going to be a significant shortfall.

2. I have managed to talk DH into letting me do a CPP claim for him, on the grounds that I get any of the money owed , to help with DS expenses which are multiplying.

DH originally refused, point blank to claim, as a point of professional pride. He refuses to believe that any miss-selling could have escaped his attentions. In truth he does watch every penny in his accounts, like a hawk, and I have really struggled to sneak anything past him in 21 years of trying. We did not get anything back on a PPI claim or endowment claim that I did for us, although similar claims, that I did for my MIL, netted her £3,000.00. This time may be different though, and it will only take me 5 minutes to fill the form in.

Day 3 of diet, and I am still being very good, I dare not be. Dear colleague is still watching me, and is still AF.

3rd Day:

BREAKFAST:
3 saltine crackers
1 slice of cheddar cheese
1 small apple
Black coffee or tea

LUNCH:
1 hard-boiled egg
1 slice of toast

DINNER:
1 cup of tuna or cottage cheese
1 cup of beetroot
1 cup of cauliflower
½ cup of cantaloupe
½ cup of vanilla ice cream

9 glasses of water a day too!

in_need_of_direction

Your dominatrix has been dormant? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Flanno, not sure if it's an option for you but a few of my dublin based friends come up north ever 2 or 3 months and stock the store cupboards with the non perishables due to the cheaper goods available here. One also replenishes the wine rack!

flanno_2

Hi Rainbow, INOD, thank you for your replies. I have thought up a suitably MSE name for my diary (I hope) although Its probably not very original

Rainbow i know what you mean about the DS and two DD's. They are very expensive to run Especially my 18 year old as she is doing her final exams, the Leaving Cert we call it here and she is doing grinds, extra classes, music etc. Every day/week its money for this that and the other. My OH pays most of that day to day stuff but its very hard on him and very draining on the resources. She is hoping to do Veterinary Medicine at University College Dublin and the entry requirements are very high so she is doing the best she can to get the required points necessary. We are trying to support her as best we can. My other daughter is 25 in August and works as a make up artist but isn't making alot of money at that and is enrolled in college for September 2014 to study animal care and husbandry. So my poor (operative word here) OH will have 3 woman at home studying and the only one bringing in any money of substance. Although I hope to rectify that situation over the summer months.

This is why I am starting (again) to be frugal in my day to day living and also I am going to do some of the Debt Free Wannabee challenges.

thanks INOD for your advice on your Irish friends travelling up north for their groceries, a lot of people I know do that but amazingly I have never done so but with time freed up over the summer we will take some trips up north to stock up, esp on the vino:) its very expensive down here as is everything else

Could i ask a possibly silly question:( is there a debt diary template to use on the MSE site? I have searched everywhere and cannot seem to find one. I guess its a matter of typing up your diary yourself and copying it into the post reply box?


Rainbow I note your comments on keeping tabs on my progress and I am delighted that you are taking such an interest in my ramblings.
Have a great day and hope the sun is shining where you are.

Flanno.

RainbowBridgeReturns

Hi Flanno,

This is how I started this thread. I went to the Debt Diaries board and there is a blue tab in the top left corner which says New Thread, I clicked on that and it gave me a template for the first page of this diary.

The title goes on the first line and the introduction in the next section. Then just post it and it will appear on page one as a new thread and then we can pop over there, reply and say hello x.

INOD, your comment made me laugh out loud! As dear Robbie Burns would say, "Oh, that God the gift would give us to see ourselves as others see us." Flanno what have you let yourself in for :rotfl:.

flanno_2

Great I'll try that Rainbow.

Thanks.

Flanno

flanno_2

I'm up and running with an official debt free diary.

Thanks for your help.

Flanno.

RainbowBridgeReturns

I can't see you on the board Flanno. Can you see you?

Divingmad

Hi Rainbow,


Great diary, makes me realise I need to try a lot harder!


Keep it up :j