1 teacher + 6 weeks hols = debt free?

petite_anglaise_2

Okay, so,

I've got 6 weeks holiday (once I've recovered from the stress of the last school year, which should take me, ooh about 6 weeks!)to save and make as much money as I can in order to pay off my debts.

No comments please about the easy life of a teacher! Anyway, having always been a smug 'I've got no debt', tut tut how could you let yourself...' type of person, I'vesuddenly got way too many outgoings, developed a tpp easy use of credit cards and really need to get a grip....

So, am going to see how much money saving and money generating I can do in 6 weeks. Have been so impressed with people on other challenges but am too shy to join in, so this is my own personal kick up the backside to get myself motivated. Feel free to ignore me, will witter onto myself quite happily!


Background:
Me; 28, a teacher, should know better, own house, dim cat, a love of posh cosmetics, too many shoes and
books, and an addiction to weekend breaks and MSE.

The debt/spending:
Credit card bill £400,+ holiday to Paris circa £400 to be paid for,+ new bookcase (mine has collapsed!),+finish renovating beautiful house + no savings - eek, need to start some.

The plan:
sell like mad on Ebay, sell books on green metropolis (and don't buy more!), enter competitions, bump up
money on Quidco and Pigsback, count up 20ps and 50ps.....er........

The money saving;
* will give up my 'Because I'm worth it' blase attitude to buying expensive ready meals from sainsburys,
addiction to testing out every new shampoo and beauty product on the market and my ridiculous
consumption of expensive pointless glossy magazines.
*The cat can learn to live without Iams,
*I will not succomb (sp?) to my friends invitations to starbucks every third day as 'we're on holiday and got to make the most of it' etc.


Put it this way, it's going to be an education!............

spud30

You wont get any comments from me re teachers having it easy.

I'm a TA, and if your school has been anything like ours recently, it will take the full 6 weeks to get over the stress. I blame the weather :rolleyes:

Good luck with your challenge, and dont be to shy to join other challenges, we're all very friendly

cookie9

Good luck.

Have a hunt around in your handbags and coats for forgotten money and bank it together with your change once you have added it up.

Rather than go cold turkey on magazines why not pick your favourite one and subscribe to it as you often get a nice free gift and a good rate per magazine.

petite_anglaise_2

Thanks for that! Know what you mean about school;
been ofsteded this year, and been doing 8am til 6pm in school andthen working til about midnight most nights for the last six months to try and keep department afloat, it's been mad and that's why my spending has got out of control bacause just keep thinking, 'stuff it I deserve x,y,z because am so stressed, or have been so busy haven't had time to cook properly or check out cheapest deals on things.

End of rant! Off to learn how to use green metropolis and sell some books, although my mum always taught me you can never have too many books!

hypno06

Def join in one or two of the challenges on here - even if they are part way through, or their deadlines are different to yours, you can still get a lot of support and motivation from them.

Good luck, I am sure that with a bit of effort you will have everything cleared very quickly. Then the hard part will be staying away from the credit cards for ever!!

wilburpig

Hi, I'm a teacher too. Don't you just love that end of term feeling! Why not try out the matched betting thread. Take time to read about it properly and be careful, but I have made £800 since April, money from nothing. While you've got time out of work you could get the idea, then maintain it when you are back at school in September. It's not difficult, just maths and you don't have to know anything about sport.

petite_anglaise_2

Okay, so only 10 mins after I challenged myself I've already failed in one area - I fed the cat on Whiskas this morning, gve him a lecture about being a fussy eater and how mummy needed to save money on his hideously expensive catfood, how he was too easily seduced by premium brands like I was ......

He's just thrown up all over the hall carpet (which I hasten to add is a tasteful but thoroughly impractical shade of oatmeal).
And is now lookng at me like 'see I told you I only ate IAMs'

Bad cat.

petite_anglaise_2

Thanks for the tip about Matched betting wilburpig. Only problem is the 'it's not difficult, just Maths' part!
Did a year 8 bottom set Maths cover last week and couldn't do the work set! Magic squares? - Didn't have a clue. One of the kids sais 'Miss I thought we were the ones with special needs'!!! Ha ha.

But, great idea, thanks a lot - enjoy the hols!

hypno06

With matched betting, there is really no maths involved - it is just putting the figures into a pre-prepared spreadsheet, and if it looks ok, go ahead!

You initally need to put aside a lot of time to read, re-read, re-read again the beginners notes on the appropriate board here.

Then, ask questions on the newbie thread, have a trial run, without putting any money on, and re-read the instructions.

Then, when you think you have got it, read it again!

Can't emphasise the importance of making sure you have "got it" before you start, otherwise you can lose out, and that is not the idea!!

However, because the footy season is about to kick off, and football matches are the easiest to get your head round in betting terms, the summer hols are really an ideal opportunity for newcomers I reckon. Once you are up and running, you can spend as much time as you like really, some are at it all the time, others just an hour here and there!

But please read, and read again!!

candygirl

I'm a teacher too.If you're anything like me you'll be so tired you can sleep the first 2 weeks of the hols, thus not spending any money.How moneysaving is that?

January20

Hi Petite Anglaise,

Instead of buying glossy magazines, why don't you buy cheap books from Asda or Tesco? About the same price but a lot more to read and then you can try and sell them on Ebay or Green metropolis. Actually have you managed to sell anything on GM. I've tried in the past and failed miserably!

As for the cat, you need to change his/her food gradually to avoid tummy problems. There are some people who say Iams is bad for them anyway so don't feel too guilty. My mog has had Whiskas most of his life and he is very happy and has a lovely glossy coat. Still throws up the odd hair ball though lol!

The next time you feel like buying yourself a ready meal from Sainsbury, try and tell yourself it's probably full of salt and sugar and low quality ingredients and you might not feel like buying it. Cooking can be very relaxing too.