I Wanna See the Light

Mysteek

DD2 and DGD coming for tea today, baked some buns last night but DH and I ate already ate half of them :eek:.

Can't wait for baby cuddles as I haven't seen DGD since saturday, but had lots of photos and messages sent to me each day. They only live about half a mile away so they're always close even if I don't see them.

Anyone got any easy but nice biscuit recipes?

Seasidegal58

Hope you all had a lovely tea today (with enough buns!) and that you enjoyed your time with the little one.

Mysteek

Ooh I had a lovely time with DD2 and DGD, lots of cuddles and laughter. The little 'un is so entertaining, don't need telly on lol. Also had a bonus yesterday as DD2's OH had a golf day so she brought DGD round for another visit. Maybe it was the lure of sunday lunch lol. Anyway I had lots more cuddles and fun with DGD.

I've rekindled my hobby of sewing again this weekend; this year seems to have thrown everything into disarray but hopefully things are starting to settle down now. I do like sewing and I can lose myself for hours (I did this weekend!), its so cathartic and stops me thinking about debt busting for a while as it can be rather obsessive sometimes and a break from thinking/worrying/planning about it is refreshing. Also, I should really use the lovely sewing/craft room that DH spent ages fitting out for me last year with kitchen units from Wickes (they were the cheapest range and I also bought them when they were on offer with money that I had been saving). I know I know, I should have used the money towards debt reduction but I had been waiting 20 years for a craft room and I wasn't in sensible mode then! I made DGD a little dress from some spare cotton material I had, its so cute! I want to start making clothes again but also maybe saving a little money by altering/revamping clothes that I have rather than buying new. I've been watching This Old Thing on tv and feel inspired to give it a go.

All quiet on the debt busting front and things running smoothly at the moment. DH managed to give me £100 this week towards CC1. Balance is around £7,600 ish at the moment and my challenge is to get it to below the £7k mark. On 1 August I want to see the balance begin with a 6!!

Just cancelled Sky this morning, we only have the basic package but its still £21.50 a month (£258 a year) which could go to debt so we've agreed to knock it on the head completely. We can still get all the free to air channels which we probably watch more anyway, and have lots of dvds we can start watching again. It annoys me though that you have to give 31 days notice to cancel but when you add anything its immediate! Hopefully I won't have time to watch telly anyway as I'll be running up designer couture on my sewing machine lol.

I'm still doing Nectar Adpoints to try and get a bit of money for christmas grub but I'm getting really fed up with surveys. I seem to waste so much time being screened out or finishing a survey and then it crashing before my score is recorded!! I think I'll have a break from them and then look again later. Haven't put anything on Ebay yet this month but will look at doing so as I don't want to waste my 20 free listings!

Well lunch time is over so must get back to the grindstone. For recording purposes, still no news on the job front. Communication is pants, no information is getting through to us at the moment. Just have to keep plodding with fingers and toes crossed!

Mysteek

I kept seeing the name Dave Ramsey here and there on MSE and wouldn't who he was so just googled him. Was interested in his idea of the snowballing method ie paying the smallest debt off first never mind what the interest rate is. I've been applying the 'highest interest rate first snowballer'. Got me thinking now. Would be interested in other peoples' views on this, which way have you 'snowballed', what worked best for you etc. Thanks to anyone kind enough to leave a comment. x

Seasidegal58

Hi Mysteek

I read Dave Ramsey's book at the beginning of the year and he got me started on my debt free journey. I've toyed with both ways of snowballing and finally decided that the reducing the highest interest cards would be better due to some of the very high rates on some of my cards. The snowball worked out that I would be paying over £4000 more if I went down the lowest balance route. However I decided that if I have more than one balance at the same rate I'll pay off the lowest balance then just for a bit of psychological relief!

Mysteek

Hi Seasidegal

Yes I think the Dave Ramsey method is the psychological approach for people who need to have that bit of motivation to keep going. The other method ensures you pay the least interest as possible. I think I'll stick with what I'm doing as my psyche is ok at the mo. I look on my CC1 as an irritating scab that I need to pick at until its gone lol (hope you weren't eating while you were reading that!)

Do you think his books/dvds are worth purchasing then Seasidegal?

Mysteek

Listed half a dozen crafting dies on Ebay yesterday, I need to get some more on before the end of the month to take advantage of the 20 free monthly listings.

Just thought I have a couple of gold rings that I've never worn. I'm wondering if I could sell them but not in Ebay but don't know where to start to look. Do jewellers buy second hand stuff?

Seasidegal58

The Dave Ramsey book I read was “The Total Money Makeover” and I would recommend it. He advocates a very strict methodology which I haven’t followed to the letter as I’m taking a bit of a scenic route in clearing my own debt! But I’ve taken on board quite a few of his recommendations, i.e. emergency funding and snowballing, and I think it’s worth a read.

Re jewellery, you will find quite a few of your local jewellers (especially the independents) will buy gold jewellery from you. I did this myself with a few bits and pieces last year and the trick is to try a few different jewellers as they do differ quite a bit sometimes on what they are prepared to offer you! Some people use the online jewellery buyers, but I have read negative comments on the forum about some of these.

Mysteek

I can't believe I've not been on here for a week, where has the time gone!

Thanks for the info Seasidegal, will have to take a look at the independent jewellers when I have the time, I don't live near the city centre.

Just a quick update as I'm at work (ssshhh!)

Ebay - sales very quiet at the moment. Might try Gumtree if things don't improve. I used to collect porcelain dolls and am now thinking of selling them but the prices on Ebay are so low. I must have spent thousands on them originally and they are all still wrapped up carefully in their boxes, I can't bear to let them go for pennies!

Debt Busting - all ticking over nicely, but I wish it was speeding! DH was able to give me £300 towards CC1 this week! I'm making the most of this while it lasts as his work will start dropping off in a month or two.

Spreadsheets - completely redone them! I'm not very good at sitting back and letting things happen, I like to fiddle.

Ive been lost in deep thought (day dreaming mostly) this week about our future. I've decided I definitely don't want to work till I'm 66 so after the unsecured debt has gone the mortgage is going to go as quickly as possible too. I'm hoping for 4 years to get everything paid off, I know its ambitious but I like to have a high target to aim for. Then its save up as much as we can for a year or so and then retire. Sounds easy doesn't it Simples eek!

Another dream of ours is to go and live in north wales when we retire, we love going there and always feels relaxed and 'at home'. Don't know if this will every happen but we can hope and dream..... sigh.

And on that note, I think I'll go and do some more day dreaming whilst giving the presence of working (tut).

Mysteek

Just checked my back account this morning and the pet insurance payment that has just gone out is £17.11! Should be £15.47! I've only been with this company a few months and have had no notification of any rise in payments. What's all this about? I'm annoyed grrrrrrr