New ambitious start! This is it!

desperate2save

At breaking point!

So this is me... In my 30s, mum of 1 with 1 on the way... In a loving relationship... Plodding through life... in debt and desperate to save!

The debt... Well through cut in income and overspending... Not budgeting properly and wasting money on pointless material things living the life we have always known together... Relying on credit cards and overdrafts has left us in debt! Looking back was it worth it.... It really wasn't! Living outside of your means leaves you feeling awful and down... Depressed and desperate!

Moving on from that and yes we are in debt and budgeting better but is this the way I want us to live... NO! Which is why I have joined MSE - not only for my little sanctuary with a coffee - but to change our ways completely and to better our financial way of living!! Frugal all the way!

So where have I started apart from joining MSE - written down a budget which is temporary - it needs tweeking on a very humungous scale! It's going to be a huge tweek!! There are insurances I need to shop around for, as well as cancelling some direct debits as well as the dreaded cable bill which joined, signed up, into a contract after my friends over at the satellite company were ripping me off... Anyway just not using the tv package they have given us so want to see if they can reduce that but keep the service as the phone and broadband are very good... It's worth a try... If you don't ask you don't get! What have I learnt from this, if changing companies don't try to match the same package unless using all the things!

So the home which I call clutter or the other way round - it's amazing how much one accumulates when they enjoy a bit of retail therapy! Do I need everything.... No! I'm an ebay Virgin however I think I am ready to loose my ebay virginity and explore a new side to the Internet! No more convincing myself sitting in my front room buying things and having them delivered to store is saving me money.... Declutter and try to sell on eBay and not going to the shops is going to be financially beneficial! (Any advice on eBay would be greatly appreciated as I have no idea!)

I need to become savvy in the supermarket (and kitchen), going without a list, buying the same stuff week in week out, over stocking the supplies, cooking 3 different meals a night and wasting most foods really isn't good for the bank account!

I know it's going to be a long journey but it's one i am willing to put my all into and really make the most of life aswell as clear the debt and save for a rainy day! This is it, and this is my ambitions!

desperate2save

And just for the record...... I am ditching the expensive caramel lattes for a cup of instant coffee in this virtual coffee shop know as MSE world!

Bobarella

Signed up now. Glad you found the time to get your diary going

1HANNAH

Subscribed, you sound like you are off to a great start

desperate2save

Well what a beautiful morning, feeling positive and upbeat and am ready to have a busy productive high achieving day!

Have 2 debts with littlewoods and very which I have been ignoring! So bad! But have been on website to request new passwords so I can send them an email to request to set up a payment plan!

The credit rating is shot to pieces so it's time to clear the debt to rebuild the rating!

Going to have a sort through of stuff today so I can see what I can start with on the ebay front! Will set up an account on my return from the school run!

I was speaking to a cousin of mine and said that my fathers side of the family has a trust set up from what his parents left and apparently there's quiet a bit in the account. Now the father has never said anything to us about it (but is very selfish only thinks of number 1 unless it can make him look good in front of the crowd) and my cousin was saying that our parents earn money from it but the lump sum will come to us. Apparently my cousin had some money from it when they got themselves into a bit of a sticky situation! (Their side of the family are loving and close and their parents will do anything for their kids, great support) not sure how to approach this one but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have come to realise that I have far too many clothes etc, it's ridiculous! Ok yes I will get back into them but do I actually need loads of stuff!? Definitely going to look at the with a pound sign and work towards my ebay empire (who am I kidding, ive not even bought on ebay let alone sold)

Well off for the much needed cuppa and slice of toast! Positive thinking day today!!! Have a good one! :beer:

Baldybear

Morning, dropping by to wish you luck on your journey

I hate ebaying its soooo boring but if you need any help please drop me a message.

Basics for ebay is:-

Account you get 20 free listings a month (not sure what new sellers rule may be slightly different)

You can do more than 20 but will get charged listing fees

After an item is sold its 10% ebay final value fee and a 10% ebay fee on postage. So if item is £1 and postage £1 ebay will take 20p.

Paypal also charge a fee but is taken off before the net amount is in your paypal account.

I tend to leave ebay fees ready in paypal so dont need to worry about putting more money back in as know invoice is covered.

Have a spreadsheet that I use that if it helps can always email over.

Most people pay by paypal so definitely worth setting an account up.

Unless its a major price item (if so send recorded) you can get proof of postage from royal mail, as some buyers can be a problem. But Ebay and paypal customer services both seem quite helpful

1HANNAH

Another way of selling which could be worth a try would either be facebo0k local selling groups or gumtree. I've used them for getting rid of stuff from furniture to bath toys to exercise equipment and even baby coathangers! No fees to pay!

Bobarella

Hang on so your father has a trust set up that is for you but you know nothing about? Is that right how I've read it?

desperate2save

Baldybear wrote: »

Morning, dropping by to wish you luck on your journey

I hate ebaying its soooo boring but if you need any help please drop me a message.

Basics for ebay is:-

Account you get 20 free listings a month (not sure what new sellers rule may be slightly different)

You can do more than 20 but will get charged listing fees

After an item is sold its 10% ebay final value fee and a 10% ebay fee on postage. So if item is £1 and postage £1 ebay will take 20p.

Paypal also charge a fee but is taken off before the net amount is in your paypal account.

I tend to leave ebay fees ready in paypal so dont need to worry about putting more money back in as know invoice is covered.

Have a spreadsheet that I use that if it helps can always email over.

Most people pay by paypal so definitely worth setting an account up.

Unless its a major price item (if so send recorded) you can get proof of postage from royal mail, as some buyers can be a problem. But Ebay and paypal customer services both seem quite helpful

Thank you so much for the information, it's all really helpful. I set up an account today but I need to have a good old look at how to list, I am so rubbish! Do they really charge you for postage too? A spreadsheet sounds good, I will pm you. Thank you again xx

desperate2save

1HANNAH wrote: »

Another way of selling which could be worth a try would either be facebo0k local selling groups or gumtree. I've used them for getting rid of stuff from furniture to bath toys to exercise equipment and even baby coathangers! No fees to pay!

Thank you so much for this, have you really sold baby coat hangers? I am not on facebook so that's out of the question, may have to have a look at gumtree! Thank you xx

desperate2save

Bobarella wrote: »

Hang on so your father has a trust set up that is for you but you know nothing about? Is that right how I've read it?

Ok so from what my cousin explained, our grandparents set up a trust for when they died which gives our parents an income off of the interest but the actual lump sum is divided between the siblings of the individual parents when they die. So from what my cousin said, we have a large amount of money in a trust which is ours but the parents get money from the interest. The father gets an income (which I didn't know about but he's always been in casual work so actually it makes sense now) - now what my cousin has said is in a sticky situation that they can withdraw from the trust of it is beneficial and going to help but it means our parents loose some of their income. Now I don't have the relationship with my father that my cousin has with her parents, which is probably why I never knew about it but at the end of the day my father is a very selfish person who only thinks of number one unless he looks good in front of others which then goes for parent of the century! But I didn't know if I could contact them myself or what the deal is with it. Xx