Mind change to debt thanks to MSE forums!

sassychick2014

Haha I didn't say any of us sung it in Spanish! The kids were great but I just stuck to the dancing.

I'm also beginning to flag but am trying to get as much work done as possible before end of play tomorrow - which doesn't sound like it'll happen as I've been given more work from the new client as well as going to mum's work, picking up my lady and doing my reports for the normal job.

Usually I work for an hour on the sofa under a duvet with Littley each morning while she watches some shizzle on Disney or DVD and then we have the day together. I've got most of Monday's work already done though as I have that day off for Grandma's funeral. We're off to a party at 4pm on Tuesday then I'm prepping for Christmas Day on Christmas Eve. As I've probably said before both my parents are working right up until Christmas Eve (one til 3 the other til "evening") so I've said I'll do all the cooking this year. I said it last year but had my brother and nephews helping so this year's going to be hectic. Still, at least we'll all be together and my parents can have a much needed rest.

Ooh! Just seen the time. Littley comes out of school in 2 mins so best get my backside in gear. I'm going to really upset her now as haven't managed to do the food shop today so that's where we're off to. If she wants to eat... Xx

sassychick2014

Morning all

Woke up today full of joy that in just 6 hours I get to have Littley all to myself for 2 weeks - so happy!!!!

Then I made myself miserable thinking how much work I had to do today to have that time without any work. But as I had my 5 mins of pathetic self pitying three things happened that cheered me up. First my mum rang to say her work didn't need me today which means I have more time freed up to get this work done. It also means I don't get the £50 offered but I hadn't budgeted it anywhere so I never had it in the first place.

Second thing was ringing the garage about a letter telling my MOT is due. Urgh, expense alert! But it appears that as my car was bought from them and is actually one of the makes they specialise in, I get free MOTs for the whole time I get the car - bonus!!

The third and biggest thing that made my day was bumping into Littley's Bestie (LB) and her mum as I was leaving school. LB stopped me and took out a beautiful little cellophane bag with 2 homemade Christmas cookies in it for me. One was a baby and the other a star. Not for Littley (she has her own) but just for me. And then the lovely darling brought out another bag with 4 Christmas star cookies that she'd made for my Mum and Dad as she thought they'd like them. How beautiful is LB?

Happy Friday everyone xx

Whitefeather8

There is something lovely about being given homemade goodies especially when there has been a lot of thought put in to them too.

Have a wonderful holiday. I am off tomorrow and will be back in the new year, refreshed and ready to go again xx.

chevalier

Hi there
wishing you a merry christmas. have read from the beginning to end, and am very impressed with your progress. YOu really have come a long way mentally in your attitude to money so good on you.
chev

FinanciallyUnsavvy

Wishing you and Littley a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! Hope Santa spoils you both rotten.... you both certainly deserve it!

All the best hun xx

sassychick2014

Hi everyone

Well, it's been a while since I've written on here so here's hoping I don't bore you all in the first few sentences!

Firstly thank you to everyone for your kind Christmas wishes. I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and a great new year and that 2015 brings you everything you want, deserve and more.

Christmas here was bittersweet tbh. Grandmother's funeral was on the 22nd which was just after Mum's b'day and just before Christmas. Couldn't have asked for worse timing. But on the plus side we got to catch up with family members that we haven't seen in ages and really should see more as they're all brilliant people who deserve more of my time - and me of theirs too! Littley was fantastic the whole day and really did herself and me proud. As did my nephews who even though they're that bit older are still children who needed their family's support.

Today I have taken time to reflect on last year and although there was quite a few miserable moments there was also a huge amount of good ones. The main change in 2014 was my outlook on money and saving. I lost a few contracts last year and saw my earnings take a big hit. However through doing rubbishy bits of work, more mystery shops and selling more through car boots or whatever I have managed to not only keep myself afloat but to keep my daughter fed, watered, clothed and happy. I have managed to pay some money off towards my debts and astoundingly I have saved money for my holiday which is now THIS year!! :j

There is no way I could have done this in previous years, proof being that I didn't! - so having completed this is a huge thing for me. I have also gained another contract this last month and instead of thinking, ooh I can get blah blah that I don't need, I have already budgeted it towards the holiday and expenses. When that budget has been met 50% of these earnings will go into a savings account, 25% to debt and the remaining 25% in my account so I don't have to juggle payments so much.

Australia

I have had to take an indepth look at what exactly I have saved as I keep seeing the figure go up and down & it's confusing me. Mainly because I take out the money that I'm paying for things with and not taking that into account. So far I have saved:

Holiday - 1445 (£800 was already there from previous saving)
Costs - 387.26 (this includes insurance, passports, trips & travel)
Savings - 503.47 (this will reduce as I pay for more pieces of the holiday although obvs the costs will go up)

This comes to £2335.73!! All in a year which I am so happy about. I now need to save £750 which will cover my spending money, Littley's spending money and an emergency pot (which I hopefully won't use).

I have already budgeted this without any extra money coming in so anything extra will go into savings for costs arising when I'm away.

I am also inheriting £1000 from Grandmother which should come through before we go. If it hasn't my mum has already offered to give me the money with me returning it as soon as it comes through. This will pay for the iPad that I will be taking with us and the rest into the account in case work payments don't come through for some reason.

Operation Wetsuit

Well, this Christmas all I got was fat! lol It's ridiculous the amount of cr*p you eat isn't it. I'm off food shopping today to buy some healthy food again and get us back into the habit of having planned meals. Unfortunately over the period that Grandmother was ill & the weeks that followed I fell into an easy cycle of getting convenience or junk food for our dinner. I drove everywhere as we were to tired to do anything else and I just feel yukky. I was doing the squats & abs challenge but that fell to the wayside after 19 days. Clearly I need to start again as I felt so healthy and clean that I want to feel that again!

Resolutions

Every year I try and make resolutions and I've only managed to keep one in the last 10 years and that was last year's money challenge. So this year's resolution is to work on my health, wealth & happiness on a month to month basis. One of the biggest things I've learnt over the last 12 months is that things can change so quickly so why procrastinate over things that I don't know about yet? At the beginning or end of each month I shall work out 5 things I am going to do for the next month. The only thing that shall be a continuous challenge atm is becoming debt free & continuing to save. First for the holiday, then for emergency back up fund and then for Christmas. So, on the off chance any of you are still reading this!:

January

This January I shall be:

1) Money is always tight in January so continue to save money for Australia with a target of £100

2) Littley has been bought a new bed by Nanny so we need to clear out her entire room in an effort to get the new bed in. Her room is tiny and this is a huge challenge

3) Raise a further £50 in extra work this month

4) Resume the squat and abs challenge as well as 20mins exercise twice a week

5) Eat healthier and plan meals again. NO JUNK TO PASS OUR LIPS!

Wish me luck!!

Edit: I have changed my signature to reflect the positives of January. The debt figures were out of date and will be updated at a later date.

[Deleted User]

Good to hear from you again , I wondered how you were getting on. Guessed you were spending timer with your daughter as she is on holiday from school.

I hope you have a brilliant 2015 and your trip to Aug is spectacular!!

Whitefeather8

I enjoyed reading your post Sassy, you accomplished so much in 2014, and that was an excellent summary!

Wishing you every success in 2015 and looking forward to following your exciting journey x.

sassychick2014

Evening all

Nice to hear I've been missed Deleted_User. I have indeed been spending time with Littley and after taking down the tree and putting Christmas away I thought it a good idea to come and let you all know I'm still here!

Wf8: Glad my summary was so good. I'm sure I missed something as the year seemed to be a constant rollercoaster with so much going on.

Spoke to Littley about our diets and she is very enthusiastic about eating healthy and has dubbed this month "Junk Free January" which is great. She does enjoy junk food (who doesn't) but has had a bad tummy ache the last few days which I think is because of her diet so she's 100% happy with this decision. She's decided I should have "Fizz Free February" where I'm not allowed any pop and is already trying to think of something for March - gotta lover her!!

Have a great evening xx

sassychick2014

chevalier wrote: »

Hi there
wishing you a merry christmas. have read from the beginning to end, and am very impressed with your progress. YOu really have come a long way mentally in your attitude to money so good on you.
chev

Hi!

Just realised I hadn't replied to you. Thank you for joining my story and thank you for your comments. I cannot believe you sat through all my runnings on, it either took you a few sittings or there was nothing on tv and only housework to do!!

Here's to a productive and fun 2015