So it begins......

Happymac

Hi everyone,

So, been watching and reading lots of journeys for a while and so impressed with how everyone is coping. I thought I might give the diary option a whirl. Going to use this diary to focus on the ccards.

H - £8500 (17.95)
T 4084 (14)
RBZ - 342 (1.5)

If anyone is reading let me know xx

twiggy86

I'm reading! Good luck!

Happymac

Thanks Twiggy86!

I've never been in this kind of debt before and I am in the fortunate position of knowing there is some money coming in the new year which should go a long way to clearing it. However, just seeing the numbers stresses me out and makes me want to clear as much as possible before then. I also want to adopt money saving methods. I'm hoping it will spur me on with other things such as weight and house tidying - been inspired by others!

supersaver1000

Good Luck happy Mac.

Even though you have money coming in the new year, wouldn't it be nice to wonder what wonderful things you can do with it, rather than pay off stuff cos it's already spent. That's one of my reasons for looking forward to being debt-free.

Very best of luck.

Happymac

Thanks supersaver1000. That is how I am thinking if I am honest. I never had to think too much about money before. However some big changes in our lives and I am now not working to cover the childcare. It has been a revelation as I have realised how much we have just frittered away, Not in a bad way but I realise now that if I had been more pennywise then we would be in a better position.

I am a working girl at heart so I must confess I am struggling with not working. Kids are great (most of the time:rotfl:) but I think my self worth has always been tied up in my job. Ridiculous but true.

Going to try and keep a better track of of where the pennies are going and adopt the money saving attitude. Starting tomorrow when I am going to stew the chorizo that is in the fridge and liable to go out of date, in the slow cooker with onion, passata, garlic and paprika. Fingers crossed!



Goin

Happymac

Okay, so day one of my new lifestyle!

The passata is in the slow cooker. Not sure if I am able to freeze this as it looks like there is far too much for one meal. I already do some of the survey sites. Currently balances are

Ipsos - 50 points (awaiting two lots of £10 John Lewis vouchers...need for xmas)
One poll - £20.45 (this takes ages!)
Crowdology - (my fav - £2.86)

I have logged on for sb but I really can't get my head around it.

My money saving for the day....instead of taking the kids out ths afternoon (day off here....) it is a wander to the park with some hot chocolate in a flask.

Supermarket later....don't have any cheap supermarkets near me which is a shame so have to make do with MR T.
Hope everyone has a fab day xxx

Happymac

So money saving day one has gone pretty well. Took kids (I have 2 one 4 and 8) to the park. They had a ball. Went to the Post office and argued with the teller about the cost of my parcel. She admitted I was right and I saved £3...really glad I weighed the parcel before I went!

In the shops kids found a dvd which they have been searching for..., I said they could either get the bus home or walk and get the dvd. They chose to walk. They are currently on the sofa laughing away.

I also spent so much less in the shop. Really watched every penny, swapped my usual wine for a much cheaper 4.59 a bottle....

I also found 1p...is this what people call roadkill....at least I hope it is!

Happymac

Morning all. So, today I have to take dd to her club and ds and I will go to get the wekend shop.

Did a tilly tidy last night and paid 96P (wow!) off my card with £342. So that is now £341.04....every litle helps. I have decided that every single time I spend any money I am going to pay 10p off this card. Hopefully this should add up.

I have a few things for e ofb so need to get listing. Any profits are going against the small card.

Any other ideas are welcome!

Have a fab day x

lcc86

Happymac wrote: »

Morning all. So, today I have to take dd to her club and ds and I will go to get the wekend shop.

Did a tilly tidy last night and paid 96P (wow!) off my card with £342. So that is now £341.04....every litle helps. I have decided that every single time I spend any money I am going to pay 10p off this card. Hopefully this should add up.

I have a few things for e ofb so need to get listing. Any profits are going against the small card.

Any other ideas are welcome!

Have a fab day x

Good idea, every 10p helps!

Happymac

thanks Jcc86. A little effort can go a long way!

This afternoon was not as spendy as normal. I definitely am watching the pennies more. I think I must have been throwing away a lot of food before and just not noticed. I bought two onions for soup. I normaly by a pack for 79p. Two large onions cost 24p. 4 carrots was 47p instead of 80p for a pack. These changes will surely add up and I will start to notice on my shopping bills. I didn't buy any fizzy juice either. i hadn't realised how expensive they had got. Going shopping in mse mode definitely saves. My ds was asking for a kinder egg which cost 65p, Normally he would get this as a treat. Instead I got a pack of dolly mixtures for 40p and he shared them with his sis as a Saturday treat.

Slowly but surely, I feel this mse might strt to become addictive!

cheersx

Happymac

So, quite a reasonable day here. I cashed out on crowdology. had been selected to do a 40p survey. I didn't fit and then got offeres one for £1.96 instead! I am putting this money, all £4.23, towards my dd's xmas pressie, which I don't think is too extravagant at £20.

I am reasonably organised for xmas. have all pals, family and ds sorted. Couple of things to get for ds and something small for dh. Did a stock take of christmas paper, cards and tags left over from last year. think I only need to buy wrapping paper to cover Santa presents.

Listed a handbag on eb of ay tonight. 99p start price. Don't think it is as worth doing as it used to be. worked out that if I sell it for 99p I will get 28p after fees etc. But, 28p more than if I didn't sell it.

I don't live in an area where car boots are done. So, I am running out of ideas for extra earnings. I am waiting on 3 from my survey. I have been waiting 5 weeks for a john lewis voucher from Ipsos I Say. Has anyone ever had issues getting vouchers from them? I wa shoping to use it for dh's pressie.

So, tomorrow I am looking at all my outgoings. My mobile contract is up on 3 Dec. I was hoping to go on to a rolling sim only with Vodafone. Don't want to tie in to a contract. Currently pay £29 a month so would like to cut to £10. Anyone ever tried this?

Looking forward to a good week! xx