Mind change to debt thanks to MSE forums!

sassychick2014

Evening everyone

I was getting a little confused with the money I had saved on my £5 a day challenge and they money I actually had in my savings account as there was a slight difference. But tonight I finally twigged that it's because I've bought my travel insurance & passport renewal from it and not changed it! So I'm now off to change my signature to reflect this.

Have a good week everyone xx

sassychick2014

Morning everyone

Haven't written on here for a few days because I've been laid down with some infection or something. Went for a nap on Tues eve and woke up Friday lunch - only waking to be sick and let my daughter in and out of the house so my friend could take her to school. It was horrible! On a plus size I've had a mini detox and not spent any money so not all bad lol.

Financially though I have had some up and downs. I have finally sold something on eBay that I've been trying to sell for a year. I've also got some other bits on there which are being watched so who knows.

I also entered my meter readings for gas & leccy and am pleased to say that all my efforts have paid off. You may or may not remember I had a row with a "customer service" guy who told me I would take forever to pay off my debt and that I was using far to much gas and electricity oh and can I patronise you any more? I refused to give the company a penny more than I needed to and last quarter had paid off my debt. In this last quarter I have been doing little but useful things to reduce the amount of energy we use. Anyway, these little things have seen my electricity usage reduce by a third and my gas usage reduce by 2 thirds!! I'm so chuffed as I've effectively cut my gas & leccy bill in half. I then checked on my water and I've reduced that too. I've cut my water usage down by around 4000 litres of water a day - the equivalent of a full washing load - so my bill has gone down on that too. In fact, my water usage only costs £8 a month, it's the other charges that bump it up.

The downside this week is that a letter from Wonga arrived on my doorstep addressed to someone I've never heard of and Wonga refuse to take my address off his account as it's against data protection act & goes against his rights to have other people going into his account. What about my rights that someone has taken my address and got money from it? Does that not go against my rights blah blah. No madam, he's allowed to do that. If you don't like it go to the post office and tell them not to deliver our letters. The eejit completely missing the point. I'm currently waiting for a reply from their complaints department and if they still don't remove my address I'll be contacting the FCA as it's way out of order and can't be allowed.

Wow! That's 3 days of rambling there. So sorry to bore you all

Have a good day everyone xx

sassychick2014

Morning everyone

It's been an odd one this week as I'm struggling really hard to stay alert. This is mainly due to the fact that last week's sickness has left me not liking the taste of coffee and so I've not drunk a cup for 10 days. Whilst this may not seem an achievement I usually drink about 4 or 5 cups a day (if I'm good) and so I'm really struggling to get my body used to no caffeine or even the sugar. But when I think about it, none of that coffee could have been good for me and as I take 2 sugars in each cup that's 8-10 spoons of sugar in my diet that wasn't needed. I'm not into this new banishing sugar from your diet fad whatsoever and if I liked the taste of coffee would continue drinking it. But when I look at my not so bloated tummy, clear skin & not so wan face I think it couldn't have been doing me much good.

However I'm totally shattered so any tips on how to replace that caffeine addiction with something natural (and free/cheap!) would be brilliant!

Moneywise, I've had a payment today for a small job I've done so that's going into the pot. I've a huge bill coming out next week though so I've budgeted it to go into the pot the week after instead.

I've also got a meeting today with a guy about work so fingers crossed that will go well too.

I've been walking to school which has upped the money to £8.10 which is brilliant! Not sure what we'll be doing in the summer holidays to replicate this but will think of something.

Had Littley's school report home and she's doing amazingly well. She's finally got recognition from her teacher for all the extra stuff she does and has had some great praise. Shame the teacher couldn't actually tell her that during the year as I feel it's knocked her confidence a bit. However, she is at the level of an "average" year 5 student which is fab as she's an year 4 student. She has also been answer SAT questions at a level 4 in maths and been getting them right so not only is her teacher very proud but obviously so am I. I know she's amazing but it's nice to be told by others.

Have a good weekend everyone xx

garfield1983

Hi Sassy

I've been reading your blog over the past few days and finally caught upto your last post, well done on your progress so far, you had done fantastically!

Condolences for your Uncle and Aunt, from reading I can see this was a difficult time for you but you continued to smile and carry on which is great.

I'm new to this blog malarky in that I only had my LBM the week before last but making some progress already especially with your Australia holiday, your blog has helped to motivate me further.

Also sounds like you have a lovely mature littley, I just hope my child grows up to be as mature and loveable.

Looking forward to reading more, keep up the good work. GF x

sassychick2014

Hi Garfield

You actually sat and read all that!? I'm impressed as I do run on a lot on here!! Now you're here, welcome

Thank you for your kind words. It has been an achievement in the sense that my thinking towards money has changed and it's hopefully for the better. Whereas a spare fiver would mean a chippy tea now it's straight in the pot. Financially & healthwise I'm doing better!

Losing my Aunt & Uncle was incredibly difficult especially as it happened when my Dad was quite ill & then my Mum was too but we seem to be coming out the other side now so that's good.

The trip to Australia is leaving me worried we wont have enough spends but I'm working on it really hard & saving money too. I priced a trip I wanted to do which I didn't fancy doing in a day as lots of driving. Worked out hire car, petrol, camping fees (borrowing a tent), entrance fees, food etc for a 2 day trip would cost nearly £200 but got recommended a friendly tour company who will do it in a day for £100 so I'm made up. Just because I'll be the other side of the world doesn't mean I should stop wasting money!

Finally, your comment about Littley was so lovely, thank you! I think so long as you shower you child with love, teach them manners, respect & to be polite, the value of money & try not to spoil them (too much!) you can't go wrong. Well that's what I do anyway. I'm both Mum & Dad so it's twice the work but it also means twice the hugs & twice the kisses.

Have a great evening xx

sassychick2014

Morning all

Not much to report but thought I'd pop by and say hi to anyone reading - hi!

Only thing to say is I got a parking fine a few weeks ago doing a mystery shop which was frustrating to say the least. £70 for parking 27 mins extra? Seriously? Needless to say I refused to pay, appealed and got my email back this morning stating that the charge has been cancelled. Flippin' companies make me so cross!

Walking to school is going great and I'm now walking back from school too. This is for 2 reasons. 1 - it's nice to chat with Littley about her day & 2 - I totally messed up my money and have no petrol and can't get any til next week! lol

Have a great day everyone! xx

sassychick2014

Evening everyone

Just a quickie to say I've been doing well again today. Littley and I walked to the supermarket today which is just under 3 miles away so theoretically I should be putting £1.35 over to savings if I keep on the "walk to school" theme. Clearly being such a hot muggy day I got my dad to pick us up. This also meant I could buy those extra bits I couldn't have carried such as 3 melons and 4pt milk!

It was a lovely walk actually. It took us about 50mins but we had a good chat about anything, everything and nothing in particular as well as spotting some planes doing stunts in the sky. It was so lovely to watch and Littley pointed out that the people passing us in the cars clearly hadn't seen what was happening so that made us even more happy that we were watching this display just for us. Then half way home it started thundering and lightning so we were glad we got the lift!

Have put some more into the pot and it's coming along nicely. I keep stressing that we won't have enough spending money for our trip then I have to remind myself that the hotel money has already been paid so that's a fair chunk I don't have to find. I also have to keep reminding myself that I have a fair few months to go as yet and if I keep my £5 a day target I'll be ok. I've still got more saved than I should have (s/b £100, saved £150.70) but I can't help worrying.

Anyway, I'm hot, it's late. There's no storm and a bed waiting for me to go crash in it so I'm outta here.

Have a good week everyone xx

sassychick2014

Hi everyone

Having a bit of a downer day today. Littley has gone away for 2 nights which is the longest she's been away from home in about 7 years. I'm definitely the one struggling I think!

Have decided that as I can't afford to redo my house I would have a move around with the furniture and see if pieces of furniture fit in other rooms better which I may or may not do tomorrow. We have a loft conversion that I still think of as the loft and therefore not a real part of my house so largely ignore it. However Littley wants it as a play room and as her bedroom is tiny and my dining room is full of her stuff it seems a logical solution. The only problem I have is that I feel like I'm shoving her upstairs and I don't like that. Although when she's home maybe I'll prefer that! I don't know.

On another note I've sold some stuff on ebay. Not much but it all helps and seeing as one item I got given for free has gone for £14+p&p I'm quietly chuffed!

Have a nice week everyone xx

garfield1983

Ah, it mustn't be nice not having your little girl around when she's usually with you so much of the time. As they say absence makes the heart grow fonder (or in your case even fonder). Can you work lots while she is away to distract you and then take some take off when she is back so you can have a full day together?

WTG with the sale, £14 profit is amazing

Hope the time goes quickly for you xx

sassychick2014

Morning hon

I'm hoping it will be a case of absence making the heart grow fonder. I do have some work to be doing and will do some this afternoon. I couldn't sleep last night so was in the loft clearing a bit up around 1am! Ridiculous I know.

I spotted a lovely chair on Freegle that I've requested so will be picking that up today. May put that in the loft - sorry, toy room - and create a reading nook for Littley.

I also decided yesterday to sell most of my books and have selected about 150 books. Not quite sure how to do this properly yet. Have put some on ebay but think that could wind up a hassle so really need to do a car boot or something. The thing is I'm so careful with my books that most of them don't even look read and so they could quite easily be sold again at full price so it's going to be really tough parting with them for a quid or so. But I don't need them, they clutter up my room and the money could go in the pot. Plus I've still got another 60 or so that I've kept!

Right, well best get on with some work. My shoulder is playing up today and the pain has gone into my neck so typing is very slow but if I start now I can get a heap of it done. I've also some work for a new client to do which I've got to get enthusiastic about. I really need a good dose of coffee but still not feeling any love for it (4 weeks tomorrow coffee free!) so still on the look out for a replacement.

Well I'm rambling like a madwoman trying to get out of work and cleaning so I'm off!! Have a good day everyone xx