Really Nearly Almost There!

Almostthere78

Bit annoyed with myself as I had to buy milk today so it wasn't a NSD and I went and left it in the fridge at work! So not only was it not a NSD but I don't have any milk for my coffee in the morning! Grrrr!
Received a cheque for one of the bank accounts I closed last week, 4 whole pence :rotfl: I will wait until I have the other one too as it isn't worth the trip to the bank otherwise!
Tried to drive efficiently again today, there are a few roundabouts on my way too and from work that just cannot be conquered in an economical fashion, putting your foot down is the only way to survive
Salmon fish cakes and salad for tea tonight :j I bought four packets of the fish cakes from M&S a few weeks ago when they were reduced and stuck them in the freezer. They are reeeeeeally good!
Still haven't listed anything on Ebay............
Haven't heard back from my soon to be only creditor about interest yet. If they haven't responded by tomorrow evening then they will be getting a letter of complaint about not doing what they say they are going to do ("messages will be responded to within 48 hours"). Businesses really naff me off when they claim to do something and then don't deliver!

Almostthere78

Ooooh, sneaky last minute visit to the parents' over the weekend, they live in the middle of nowhere on the coast so no make up counter temptations! It would have been even better if the weather hadn't been so stinking awful on Saturday!
Still haven't listed anything on Ebay...................
I have made a few sneaky payments to my credit card so the balance is now £237.50 so well on track for that to be paid off by the end of July.
I called my "soon to be only creditor" as I hadn't heard anything back from them, they were very apologetic and confirmed that I wouldn't "be penalised for increasing my monthly payments" which is fantastic news. The guy I spoke to was actually really friendly and commented on how well I had done to pay back so much money. This creditor was EVIL when I first started my DMP, they threatened to take my car and call my employer and all sorts (never followed through with anything though I hasten to add), I wonder if all debt collection departments have had to reign it in a bit or if they just start being nicer to you the closer you get to your DFD in the hope that they can sell you another loan/credit card/whatever?
My fuel bill was down again last week, I think it must be all the bringing my own lunch to work (so not venturing out of the office at lunchtimes). I'm not convinced about the efficient driving but still carrying on all the same. Apart from roundabouts
I've managed to use up ten things already for the No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries challenge but have bought one thing when I said that I wasn't going to - it is SO hard! I love wandering around Boots!

Almostthere78

Paid another £3 to the credit card today so the balance is now £234.50 - thumbs up.
Had a small spend day; only needed some broccoli. mushrooms and rocket so was less than £2.50 - hurrah.
Finished off an ick smelling handcream that has been lurking around for ages - yay.
Still haven't listed anything on Ebay - this weekend is going to be the weekend that it happens, I can feel it in my bones!

Almostthere78

NSD (#7) today! Aaaaaand I made a payment of just under £30 to my credit card which means that when SC pay them next month the balance will be a big fat 0 :T I bit the bullet and made the payment because if there's one thing that I have learnt from being on a DMP, it's that you somehow manage. It may mean eating porridge twice a day for a week or catching the bus to work for a few days because it's cheaper than putting petrol in the car, it might mean selling something in order to buy food but you manage and I usually feel ever so slightly epic when pay day comes around and I've had a week or two of "managing" (imagine a picture of Wonder Woman here).
I read the DMP Mutual Support thread and it is sometimes almost physically painful to read people's posts; they are probably at one of the lowest points that they will ever experience and reaching out to a group of complete strangers for help because they are so ashamed. I wish that there was a way to let them know that it will all be OK in the end but, having been there, you just can't believe that that can be true . The "OK in the end" might be different to what you originally think of as being OK but it will be OK. I genuinely think that I am a better person for this "experience", the things that I value have completely changed; I couldn't give two hoots about driving a fancy car and living in a swish house and having an expensive handbag doesn't interest me in the slightest. I want to have my own little home and be mortgage free when I reach retirement age with some savings put away so that I can relax having worked my a$$ off for 50 years. I want to have a nice garden that I can grow my own salad and vegetables in and be healthy and live a simple active life filled with friends (but only a few at any one time!) and laughter.
Deep.

Almostthere78

NSD (#8) today Tomorrow will be spendy as I need to get petrol and some eggs and veg.
I can't believe that Friday is nearly here again already, the weeks are just flying by at the moment.
Had a really pants day at work today, I didn't sleep that well last night which probably didn't help, I just wanted to go home from about 09:30. Early night tonight needed.
I really need a hair cut, I'm quite tempted to just chop a bit off the bottom myself (it's way past shoulder length) but then I imagine cutting "just a little bit more" off one side to match the other side then repeat to fade and I've got a short uneven bob :eek:

Almostthere78

............Still haven't listed anything on Ebay.................
Had a nice and quiet weekend, NSD (#9) today but picked up some fruit and veg yesterday and some sugar to make a cinnamon apple cake from Pinterest which is so good! Will have plenty to take with me to work this week for an afternoon snack.
I'm getting to that point in the month where it's a little boring, I can't wait for pay day to come around so I can update all my spreadsheets
I have a mountain of ironing that I really need to get on with, will find something to watch on Netflix at the same time to try and take my mind off it!
Does anyone else have an issue with long hair and hoovers?! I am sick of having to cut my hair off the brush roller thingy, is it just me or does this happen to other people? I don't know how to stop it happening (apart from cutting all my hair off!)?

Skinnylatte

Hi, I've subbed to your diary, there's a few things I can identify with.

• Long hair in the hoover, yes that's me too
• Listing things on Ebay, I really CBA too and I don't know why
• Social life, I'm fine with 1 or 2 friends on a 1to1 basis, but put me in a social situation where I have to make small talk, or there's a group of people and I just want to shrivel up and die, hate hate hate it

I look forward to following you to the end of your journey

Almostthere78

Hi Skinnylatte I'm glad it's not just me with the Hoover thing but I've got to say (after just discussing it at length with my sister) that I would rather have it in the Hoover than down the plug hole - euwwwww!
The Ebay thing is bonkers isn't it - it's making sure the description is 100% and includes all the measurements and answering all the "do you post to Iceland" and "will you accept £2 Buy it Now" questions then posting it off and people telling you they haven't received it - grrrrr!
I'm the same in social situations and I have to steer well clear of beer if I'm feeling awkward otherwise I drink way too much and turn in to the life and soul of the party then spend two weeks cringing about my behaviour and wanting to cry :beer: lol x

Almostthere78

Another two NSDs (#10 and #11) yesterday and today, I'm so bored waiting for pay day so that I can update my lovely spreadsheets! Can't believe I will be down to one creditor! I love my spreadsheet, it's uber nerdy - I put everything I spend one one sheet then I have pivot tables on seperate sheets that show monthly spend with a lovely pie chart showing what percentage has gone to what "category" and then weekly pivot table split in to the same categories with the weekly budget next to them. I seem to have rediverted my spending on toiletries and make up to tat for the house (flipping love Wilkos) so now need to try and revidert that to the big fat debt! I then have a debt sheet which is just a running total and then a savings/mortgage sheet for when the debt has gone showing how much I should be able to save in the six years after my DFD :T
When looking at my TalkTalk broadband bill yesterday I noticed that you get 10% off if you pay by card within 24 hours of receiving the statement (instead of waiting for the DD to be taken), I'm all for a bit of that even if it is only £2!
So, for July I have set myself a challenge of "getting" an extra £50 throughout the month, this will mostly be from Ebay (:o) but I also have some cashback due from Quidco at some point in the future.
The cake I made over the weekend is still going strong but not sure it's doing my waistline any favours making so many cakes! Need to hunt out some more healthy savoury type things for in future.
Car is booked in for a service on Friday, fingers crossed there's nothing too horrific, the MOT was OK earlier this month but she needs to last me until the end of next year at least!
I've become a little obsessed with looking on Rightmove and daydreaming, I have 7+ years to research what kind of house I want and, hey, it's a big decision

belleandthebudget

Well done on all the NSDs! They always seem to trip me up, one little thing to get here or there crops up!