Giblet's debt free journey

Lily_rose_2

Sounds like you're doing well giblet!! Hope you managed to get those poles;)

giblet1979

Poles and curtains now purchased, but bank account £101 lighter
To be fair, the windows (one normal, and one double sized) are very large, and we got 15% off, plus nectar points for decent lined curtains and two poles. I checked h*me bargins and p*undstretcher, as well as argos, tesco and ebay online, but couldn't find a better deal taking into account what we needed. I'm hoping I can shave a bit more off other costs this month, and my extra teaching should cover some of the house costs. I also keep reminding myself that although we had to take out a loan for the major home improvements, that we are budgeting as we go along for these other expenses, and haven't used a credit card / overdraft for any of it. Very different to the 'old' me so happy days!

Still... I must do better, and should be patient as if this is to be our forever home, we can't expect it all to be perfect in the first few months.

I hope everyone else had a lovely day? It was muggy and overcast here, but the sun managed to break through a few times. We saw three lots of friends from three different parts of the country too, and we all met at another friend's house, so apart from the above mentioned curtain things I'm claiming a NSD

Very busy day tomorrow so need to finish some jobs around the house tonight, and then settle down to watch some excellent TV.

Gib x

killerpeaty

Four jobs :eek: ! I struggle with one.

Try thinking that over the life of your forever home you'll probably redecorate once every 5-10 years, so whatever it looks like now, it'll be different soon anyway!

giblet1979

Very true killerpeaty

Well a very busy day today. Went to the bank, but the ISA rates are the same for a new one as the old one, so I'll have a think about where to store my meagre savings! Then had a blood test, dentist (£19 for the pleasure :mad:) and had my hair done (within budget and VERY much needed). DH and I also had lunch out (less than £10 and it is technically our holiday). I then went to job 2/4 and made a few pennies back :A

The most exciting news of all is that I made my first official overpayment (£300) to my loan!!!!

This takes the balance into the 12,000's, which is lovely to see, as it was 14,000 at the end of 2013 :T

In less happy news, DH has a migraine which has meant the curtain poles are still in the plastic wrapper, and we are not yet at our lovely house; however, tomorrow is another day.

Right, off to stare at my bank account again, and now that I know that I can overpay the loan online (thankyou lovely bank person), I may see if there is any room in the budget for another little overpay this week.

Night all and hope everyone is well.

Gib x

giblet1979

Moan alert.....

Do you every feel that what you want or need doesn't matter, and that everyone else looks to you to sort things out, with no regard to whether you are able to / feel up to / want to do it? Also, that whatever your own priorities are, that you are expected to just drop everything and sort out everyone elses cr*p NOW...not when you have time, not when you've time in between trying to sort out your new house, not when you're having a rare day off from multiple jobs and some others do bu**er all, but NOW, and when you dare to mention that maybe one of three other potential people could perhaps pull their weight a bit more, you're emotionally blackmailed so that you give in anyway, and then end up feeling more upset / angry with yourself as well as others?

Well that about sums up my day so far, (and pretty much a large part of my life to date tbh). I like to consider myself to be a caring and helpful person, but I have also been told more than once that I'm a doormat, and shouldn't put up with it (however, the people who have told me that do exactly the same, or should I say, I let them do the same to me).

Sigh.....

Really sorry to rant, but it feels better to have it out of my head. I'm trying so hard, and I know you shouldn't expect reward for things you do, but I seem only ever to attract criticism and the expectation that what I want doesn't matter. Need to give myself a good shake I think, and most definitely need to stop stressing as it's no good and doesn't solve anything!

Anyway, on a more positive note, it has been a NSD so far (oh actually that's not true, I've set up a TV licence for the new address....ah well, I need my TV )

Also, DH (who I love very much and don't really include in my rant) and I may actually get to sleep at the new house tonight. Fingers crossed it happens.

To anyone reading, thank you for listening, and sorry for the negativity. Normal service will be resumed shortly x

Desperate_to_be_debt_free

It's good to have a rant. I know where your coming from.

Hope you get to stay in the new house tonight and setting up the TV licence doesn't really count as spending - that's probably why I'm in the mess I'm in with that attitude!

supersaver1000

Frequently! I totally identify with you.

Don't let the b****rs get you down!

But just once it would be nice if people thought about me and anticipated what I might need and gave me some time off.

I find it really difficult not to pander to people, but more recently I have been making myself sit tight - we are our own worst enemies sometimes. But I do enjoy helping people and being motherly so it doesn't come naturally not to be helpful and then I feel guilty (emotional blackmail?) because I haven't. However, you have to look after yourself as much as others so sometimes you have to be strong for your own sake (and theirs).

Sorry, not sure if that makes sense - but sending you hugs, moral support and lots of good wishes.

giblet1979

Thanks D2bdf and supersaver - really appreciate your kind and supportive comments, and so sorry that you're going through difficult things yourselves! Sending hugs and support right back x

Feeling a bit better now, although earlier, when DH accidentally put a hole in the new plaster trying to put up the curtain rail, I nearly through the towel in!

Needless to say, we're not in the house atm.

Ah well - tomorrow is another day, and hopefully a NSD at that.

Hope everyone is ok, and will post more tomorrow.

Night night x

giblet1979

Brief post tonight as shattered! Not a NSD as DH accompanied me to job 1 where I picked up some information for a report I need to do. I know I shouldn't really be doing this whilst on annual leave from said job, but it will make my life easier next week, and I've promised myself I'll only do a bit....honest.
Had a butty, cake and drink with DH which came to less than £10 for the two of us - again not ideal, but we'd had nothing and were starving by 3pm. Bad planning Giblet, must do better!
Then went to 'fat club' and have put on 3lbs that is partly due to my 'pity party' this week and the resultant comfort eating. I've therefore decided to refocus and prioritise across various areas of my life, as I'm letting things get on top of me, and it's getting in the way of my goals, financial and otherwise. I will write more tomorrow when I've got my 'grand schemes' in some sort of order...and perhaps when I decide how much I feel comfortable admitting to on here!
Hope everyone is well and sending virtual hugs to all who need them.
Gib x

giblet1979

Grr...can't sleep and shattered, plus now poorly sick and up for work in 2 1/2 hours. Ah well, no better time than to refocus and commit to a lifestyle overhaul that should eventually pay off in terms of health; financial, emotional and physical (perhaps needing to get started with making these changes is keeping me awake, along with my DH's snoring, bless him).

So, goals [STRIKE]for the future:[/STRIKE] to commit to NOW:

1) Move in to, and make liveable my 'forever home'. Expecting that this will cost another £3000 minimum of which I currently have £1300 saved, as well as a plan in place to save an additional £4000 this year to pay off window loan at 0% till January 2015.

2) Pay off final unsecured debt (currently £12, 920, 88). Originally borrowed £14,000 at 7.9% to consolidate old loan, pay for full rewire, new kitchen, bathroom and a few extras for the house. Rate is quite high as had just got mortgage, and this was pre-approved loan from current bank.

3) Build up emergency pot of approx 6mths savings in case of redundancy, or DH having to leave his current job for the good of his health.

4) Commit to overpay the mortgage (currently £136,000 approx at 4.24%) once 2 is complete, and whilst 3 is well on the way.

5) Last, but certainly not least (and the one I wasn't going to put here but believe that I should to be totally honest / accountable), focus on having a family with DH, biologically or otherwise if this isn't possible. A big part of this is my need to lose, at least, 112lbs (about 8 stone :mad:) before any final decisions can be made.

I guess I should also add to this; stop allowing myself to be taken advantage of / leaned on so heavily by other family so as to allow space to achieve the above important goals. I would never stop caring and supporting my family, and there are a lot of reasons why this is even more difficult at present, but I'm struggling, and could really do with a good break.

If anyone is still reading, sorry for the long-winded post, but it is good to get things down in black and white.

If anyone has any advice in terms of breaking these goals down, or from their own personal experience, all comments and suggestions would be gratefully received.

Right, time for a drink of water and another attempt at sleep. [STRIKE]Tomorrow[/STRIKE] today is day one of the 'new me' so don't want to start out as a sleepy grump!

Gib x