Giblet's debt free journey

giblet1979

Hi guys,

Thanks for your lovely messages and sorry I've been MIA. What a busy time! We've been making progress sorting out the house (getting most of our stuff out of storage ready to cancel that money pit). All went well, but haven't found the energy to unpack any boxes yet.

It's been a bit 'spendy' as we justified our busy time with a takeaway and a meal out to treat a friend who helped, plus we have another meal tomorrow with friends. I'm keeping track of it all on YNAB, and don't like the total so far, so it will definitely be a 'one off' this month, and spends will be pared back to the minimum next month. One of our meals was mostly paid for by the Sainsbury's double nectar rewards (swapped for pizza express vouchers) and no storage costs will soon save us £175 per month! Even the takeaway got us double nectar points from 'Just Eat'

We've possibly got an interesting decision to make; DH may be offered a job on Monday. It's 2 days a week, and is 1/3 of his current salary, but there is a possibility that it will be increased as he learns the role. Interestingly enough, when we did the 'bare bones' budget, the amount he would earn should JUST cover the absolute basics, so it feels like it is almost meant to be. We would HAVE to live frugal to the max, or would not be able to afford to continue to do up the house (my extra jobs should allow some of this to continue, although at a slower pace).

Must dash as have to pick up my lovely DH (just got a phone call). I just want him to be happy, so we will make this work. Keep everything crossed that he gets offered the position when he goes on Monday for his interview!

Hugs and happiness to all. I'll try and catch up with diaries later x

supersaver1000

Yayyy!!! Gibs back, have missed you.

Exciting news re. DH job. Fingers, toes and arms, legs all crossed. It's amazing how frugal you can be when you have more time, I've been actually enjoying cooking.

Welcome back

Divingmad

Hey Gib,

Have got everything crossed for you and OH.

Keep us all posted
DM
x

in_need_of_direction

Brilliant news gib. Even knowing that someone else sees his value has to give him a lift.

icontinuetodream

I've got everything crossed for Monday!! Hope he gets the job and don't worry about the reduced income - you will both be a lot happier and you will be totally supported in your 'frugal to the max' lifestyle!

liltdiddylilt

Hey Gib

It has taken me most of today popping in and out between toddler related hilarity, cooking, baking etc, but I have done it. Diary caught up with. Prepare yourself for an epic post!

HOW do you find the time to do a full time job and 1 other job, may I ask? Let alone 3?!? I am not just in awe of you, I am wondering if you have some kind of time-stopping clock so that you can manage to fit all of this in?!? Or do you just not sleep??

Ref your health problems, I sincerely hope the root cause is found soon and you can hopefully easily cut back on something, or just start pill-popping and feel much much better. I spent a long time without a diagnosis on a 'disease' I have. I had days and weeks where I honestly started to believe I was making it all up in my head as that seemed to be what certain consultants pointed to. A burst appendix later all became clear and I got an apology from people I had been seeing for years. Keep on pushing for something to be done, loud and clear. Keep a diary of symptoms, however random they may seem... And look after you.

DH - Been there, done it, got several t-shirts, as have others on here. If it is making him ill, there is nothing that is so important that it cannot be put off. Explain that to him. When he gets this job, (When, not if!) and packs in the other, he is going to be a whole new person. No amount of money is worth turning into a shadow of yourself.

The house - I was 15 when I went on a trip to France with school. I came back and my mum had Ninja decorated my bedroom. It was the first time my bedroom had ever been anything but bare plasterboard walls since I was born. My parents house is a huge beautiful wreck. All my best memories are there, and all of my parents best memories in that house are of me and my brothers and sisters. I think you are wise, getting the main stuff out of the way now... but relax. You are calling it a forever home for a reason. Home to me was not how many ornaments or how pretty the kitchen... It was how much space there was in the garden for dad to build a deathslide from the asbestos canopy above the back door. It was jam sandwiches eaten under the kitchen table with a candle when we had powercuts. Sometimes it is not about the bricks and mortar and more about what goes on beneath them. If the roof doesn't leak and it's warm when you snuggle up together... it is everything. So if happiness comes at a third of DH's salary, and a slower rate of building... know it is worth it. Mum and dad finally decorated the living room and bought some decent furniture a few years back. I love their faces, when mum turns the camera on facetime for me to watch the sunlight bouncing off oak doors, tables and flooring. They love my face when I watch my daughter do something for the first time, usually creating masses of mess on walls and floor.. I couldn't care less because I understand where they were coming from, building memories not perfection.

Re frugal to the max... it comes with its benefits. I haven't had a takeaway in weeks, having discovered meal planning, I don't leave a space for a takeaway to fit in, disasters are filled with fishfinger sandwiches where it would have been chinese... and the weight is starting to trickle down for me without actually trying! I will be here cheering you on! And giving you quick easy recipes to try for those seconds between all of your jobs!! :D

Please take everything up there as it is meant, with love and encouragement.

Lots of hugs to you!! and for future reference, mines a coffee with soya milk and a sweetener if I am feeling a bit doofy

giblet1979

Hi guys,

Well what can I say...thank you SO much for all your lovely words and good wishes. I read them out to DH and he was very overcome with the kindness and wanted me to say thanks to each and every one of you. You really are a fantastic bunch of people, and I'm very lucky to have 'met' you.

SS - thank you . I'm glad you've been enjoying cooking. It really can be fun, especially when you master something new I think.

DM - thanks for the good wishes. Keep everything crossed for now please!

INOD - thanks; you're right I think it has given him a lift (as well as all your lovely comments)

IC2D - thanks - support much appreciated. Are you still going to say that though when I admit that the detox hasn't gone so well......(not sure whether to or there)

Lilt - thanks for the 'epic' post and much appreciated for your kind and very wise words. I am setting myself a health challenge, and will definitely keep a diary as you suggest (really sorry that you had to go through so much yourself!). Only 1 of my jobs is full time; the other main one is about 2-5 clients per week and the other 'jobs' are really occasional marking and teaching so it definitely sounds more impressive than it is, lol. Tbh..my sleep is, and always has been, quite erratic, so that does help

Thanks again all xxx

giblet1979

In DH news, he had a meeting today with the lady at the job, and is waiting for an e-mail to see what the outcome is. Fingers crossed peeps...

He definitely wants to take it, although has asked me if I'm sure about the drop in income, and I said most definitely yes. It seems like going forward there are potential opportunities for it to be increased, and we just have to be soooooo good in the meantime and focus our extra pennies towards the house just until the main things are done; then, leave what can be left till we save up for each bit.

There has also been the hint of a bit of extra work as an offshoot of my main job - just a few extra evenings here and there on a temporary basis while a backlog is cleared. It is a bit outside my main area, but not something I couldn't do, and it actually sounds interesting, so have put my name down for that. Job 6 or 7? lol.

Although I've not had much time, I did read 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' and liked it. I thought it was a bit more focused on investments that I wouldn't feel confident with e.g. buying houses without having the capital behind you and selling them on for a profit, but I liked the philosophy and have ordered some more from the library.

Also reading 'Your money or your life' which I like very much, especially as my library kindly got the updated 2014 edition

Unfortunately, I didn't get 'The millionaire next door' as promised as I'd forgotten to order it (oops...)

Hope everyone is well, and I'll try to catch up with diaries tonight, although I have lots of work I should be doing......still haven't found my trousers either.....

Gib x

liltdiddylilt

I have found something amazing recently, the phrase 'start looking after the pennies... and the pennies start looking after you'

I have always known this saying. It has been trotted out on many an occasion and passed above my ears really. But in the last 2 years I have discovered that if you put your mind to a saving, suddenly it isn't so hard, and money seems to trickle in from all angles. The same with applying yourself to work... more good things happen. I am a big believer in karma, and from the looks of things, you and DH are worthy of a fat dollop of good karma.

So he is going to get his job, you are going to manage to do tremendously well with both your health and your working/money. And the rest will fall in. Just work at little bits of it every day.

Fingers and toes and all sorts crossed for DH. He doesn't need it....

giblet1979

Thanks lilt - you've made me smile (as you often do).

Very grateful to you, and everyone who takes the time to post. I'm a lucky girlie x