DFB35 Diary

DFB35

debtfreeoneday wrote: »

Just popping in say well done.. I'm just clearing the last of my £58K (!) debt and then I'm off to MFW pastures as well.

Will subscribe to follow you - well done for taking control!

£58k (!) well done debtfreeoneday!! That's amazing achievement :money:

DFB35

lcc86 wrote: »

Loving the piggy shed! Better not show my piggies they will get jealous!

Thank you Icc86 I wanted to do the shed for a long time, but it was full of kids toys and bikes so it was hard getting motivated really! The hutch was already there but no floor space. It so much better now! I can even chill and read there with the piggies :cool: Kids love it too that they can play with them without me moaning about them taking guinea pigs to their room (about the mess) xx

DFB35

Been a crazy busy week at work and tomorrow will be an extra hard day to get through and it's the weekend! But it's keeping me out of trouble and earning the money

It's very funny as I forget that not everyone around me is being MSE and sometimes accidentally slip up haha! For example I reacted in a completely horrified way when someone suggested an after work drink oops, will need to keep myself in check as I was like a straight out NOOO... Also popped in for a loaf of bread after work and was delighted to find reduced yellow sticker Apple pie for 15p so been going on about it excitedly much to hubby's embarrassment haha! But it is a real treat and only 15p woooohoooo

On the not so MSE front I have forgotten about one dd which came out this morning and hubby popped to the shop to buy suncream and few other bits. Both of these were not in my budget.

This month feels a lot tighter due to all the overpayments I made and school holidays, even though I sold some bits on eBay. But I'm feeling good, positive and happy. I think next month we will be able to see a real difference in our debt as its will be really coming down - CC (previously loan 1) will be under 4k and the loan (previously loan 2) under 10k. Good stuff :money:

debtfreeoneday

Well done!!

DFB35

Well it's finally weekend, what a week :beer:

I have resisted another night out yesterday, no wonder my money was dissapearing so fast before, my work go out at least twice a week! And with £6-£7 for a glass of wine :eek: it all adds up.. And resisted a takeaway even though really needed a treat after such a long hard week..

Was feeling a bit stressed out last night and been complaining to hubby that it feels like we working so hard but have no life at the moment and everything been put on hold. This is made worse by the fact that other people around me are enjoying holidays, nice new clothes and generally carefree etc.. I feel low about myself as my clothes are a bit shabby, especially shoes. I did buy some new tops in January with my birthday money, but I went to primark and to be honest the quality really shows after a few months of wear

Another thing is that I'm not really well groomed, my nails not been done in months and even though I do go to hairdresser it's only a basic cut and I need to die my hair as I have some grays oops..

Anyways.. I think these feelings have come about due to me working closely with a colleague who is impeccably groomed with nice new dresses and shoes and a Burberry Mac. And there's me in my primark clothes..

Sorry for this pity party but it feels better to get this off my chest!

In other news, my water bill come through and even though we upped our payment to 50 a month, we have not cleared the debit on it (which happened due to a miscommunication when we first moved in we haven't paid the right amount for a year). So I need to pay 100 towards it when I get paid.

So urgent bills once I'm paid: 100 to water, 99 for the boiler call out.

At least my loan to credit card transfer has come through and been set up, although the fee was 160 and not 120 as I thought. But it has saved us lots on interest and is 0% for 36 months :j

I have set up a dd of 120 to make sure it's definitely clears in that time..... But I haven't given up on clearing it by Christmas! Just wanted to make sure I have a dd in place.

In happier news hubby should be getting a bonus in this pay

DFB35

I finished feeling sorry for myself

That's part of the problem keeping up with the joneses and to be fair I don't know that girls circumstances and financial responsibilities. I have a lot of things to focus on - bringing up kids, running a house and paying off debts, so personal clothes and stuff is not a priority right now.... Maybe one day when I'm in a better situation I too will be a stylish better groomed mama

Saying that, I will have a good look at my existing wardrobe to see if I can make some easy non expensive adjustments to freshen it up!

It's a lovely sunny day today

Aaleigha

DFB35 wrote: »

On the not so MSE front I have forgotten about one dd which came out this morning and hubby popped to the shop to buy suncream and few other bits. Both of these were not in my budget.

OMG when I saw that part of your post I read dd as dear daughter and for one second my heart jumped and my stomach went
and then I had a good laugh at myself

DFB35 wrote: »

I finished feeling sorry for myself

That's part of the problem keeping up with the joneses and to be fair I don't know that girls circumstances and financial responsibilities. I have a lot of things to focus on - bringing up kids, running a house and paying off debts, so personal clothes and stuff is not a priority right now.... Maybe one day when I'm in a better situation I too will be a stylish better groomed mama

Saying that, I will have a good look at my existing wardrobe to see if I can make some easy non expensive adjustments to freshen it up!

It's a lovely sunny day today

now as for the clothes - keep a good look out in charity shops for items with really nice buttons - doesnt matter if it fits or not then take off the buttons and put a few on things you do like - put some around one side of the neck of a tee shirt or on the v neck etc you need to customise what you have - and if you use some spray starch on items it crisps them up and makes them 'look new' so others will think your newly customised clothes are new

you can buy the buttons from a haberdasher but often they are more expensive and on charity shop clothes you can quite often find the most beautiful mother of pearl buttons - but sometimes craft shops have jars or bags of buttons with similar colours which can look nice too - I have also bought some lace before that has flowers on it I have cut the lace around the flowers and put those on clothes to embellish - you dont need to be able to use a sewing machine as I sit and do things like that by hand whilst the tv is on

DFB35

Aaleigha wrote: »

OMG when I saw that part of your post I read dd as dear daughter and for one second my heart jumped and my stomach went
and then I had a good laugh at myself



now as for the clothes - keep a good look out in charity shops for items with really nice buttons - doesnt matter if it fits or not then take off the buttons and put a few on things you do like - put some around one side of the neck of a tee shirt or on the v neck etc you need to customise what you have - and if you use some spray starch on items it crisps them up and makes them 'look new' so others will think your newly customised clothes are new

you can buy the buttons from a haberdasher but often they are more expensive and on charity shop clothes you can quite often find the most beautiful mother of pearl buttons - but sometimes craft shops have jars or bags of buttons with similar colours which can look nice too - I have also bought some lace before that has flowers on it I have cut the lace around the flowers and put those on clothes to embellish - you dont need to be able to use a sewing machine as I sit and do things like that by hand whilst the tv is on

Wow thank you so much for your suggestion! I haven't thought about doing this with the buttons, will definitely try that! Hope you having a nice weekend xx

Aaleigha

I customise a lot of my clothing - I had a smart jacket from next with a bright pink lining the jacket and two buttons were black - I changed them for the pink it stopped looking like a jacket the whole building was wearing and I was asked so many times where I had bought it - I told them the truth next - but no one else found that jacket

if you are handy with a sewing machine you can cut round prints in fabrics - so if you see a fabric with leaves on it then cut out each one - if you cant use a sewing machine you can use bonda web to iron them on your clothes to embellish and then do a pretty embroidery stitch around
just remember that odd numbers look best and personally I think asymmetric is better - eg if you are putting something around a neck just do one side = or buttons over ONE shoulder etc you could also make small bows from ribbon or cord and sew them on look on google for making bows with a fork - makes beautiful bow and for the ribbons use those that come on the shoulders of clothes to go round hangers - wont cost a penny then - and you can often thread that fine ribbon through button holes and tie into a bow and then stitch that on - just have a google and see what ideas are out there - honestly you can make last years summer wardrobe look very different but a few quick stitches - you could even do it in a break at work if you dont mind colleagues knowing

DFB35

One point about me starting this diary was to try and be very honest with myself about my feelings and to try and analyse my spending behaviours.. So I'm afraid whoever is reading this will have to bear with me on my ramblings

I've been thinking about how I felt on Friday and I think one reason for it was the fact that we have really overstretched ourselves with our overpayments out of this payday, we did about 800 worth of overpayments which is fantastic :T but can be counterproductive as it has left me on a bit of a down.. I need to remember that this is a marathon and I'm in for a long-term slog.

I have already changed some of my attitudes and priorities towards money but I still have a long way to go. I need to be kinder to myself too as otherwise I can fall off the wagon. I'm a bit to admit that I was looking at designer bags again last night! Mostly on eBay but that was one thing that pulled me further into debt before and is a result of having a 0% card in my pocket!!

When I have caught myself looking, I have reminded myself how I felt buying an expensive bag in the past, the incredible guilt which then would cause me to sell the said bag on eBay (often for a loss!). The next feeling that came was regret at selling those bags as if I still had them I wouldn't be looking (as I'm looking at the exact same types - I will reveal if you wanted to look them up - mulberry alexa, Daria and lily).

It's very illogical and irrational, sometimes I do wonder if I have a sort of obsessive disorder.. I don't know..

Anyway the point of this rambling is that I have stopped myself and reminded myself of my past mistakes. No money left my cards and mental battle won.

Also due to the massive overpayment made, we put boiler and water debt on card to be paid off as soon as we get paid. This is ok but there is a danger that I will forever be playing catch up, so I feel now that some emergency fund is needed.

Luckily hubby will be getting a small bonus (around 500) so we will catch up this month. For me waiting to the end of the month and paying the overpayment seem to work better psychologically.. So next pay month I might go back to that.

I also might allow myself a small clothing allowance but not just yet.

As for my other green eyed monster in previous post.. I have re organised my wardrobe and put together some pieces that I feel still look good and thanks to great tips from Aaleigha there are a few bits I can customise too And as far as my nails go... Well I think I'm too outdoorsy to have then done! Just got back from daughters horseriding, helping her tack up the horse, digging the weeds in the garden, huge amounts of washing and housework = no way they would stay on!! Even if I had money to do them lol