My Journey To My Pot Of Gold

MuffinTops

I've been really good and awful, all at the same time! I'm a bit nervous at looking at my accounts today after a big spend up yesterday! The jewellery shop that I like, which is close to where I live, is closing down. So lots of sale items! I didn't even try to resist!!!! He's not closing for another month or so, but I sort of panic shopped yesterday afternoon!

The good is that the plasterer did start on my spare bedroom yesterday and is doing a great job. My nerves are shattered as I'm so uncomfortable having people I don't know in my house, but this has absolutely no reflection on him as he's incredibly professional, friendly and keeps himself to himself. He smokes, so he occasionally goes out to his van to sit and have a cigarette which gives me a chance to use the loo (the room he's plastering is next to my bathroom) so the situation couldn't be better. But I'm feeling really stressed about it all! It'll be done today and I'm 100% sure that it'll be worth the anxiety I'm currently feeling as the walls look immaculate, but I just need it to be finished now.

The man to fit the doors came over to quote me yesterday and I'm happy with the price he gave me, so I've booked him in for July. That's another 2 day job so I'll need to psyche up for that one too .

I'm hoping that by the end of July my house will look very sellable and the better offers will start to come in.

At some point I need to take a deep breath and check my accounts and update YNAB! I'm feeling very weak and wimpish!!!

It's looking beautiful outside, so I hope everyone is able to enjoy the brighter weather today.

MTxx

RosaBernicia

Wow, you've been busy! But totally inspiring as always. The bit about telling HR where to stick it SO rocks and I may have to note that for my own goals!

Rosa xx

moneyonmymindsam

Hello gorgeous lady ... agree with Rosa.. WOW! doing great and good to hear you treated yourself in the jewellery shop.


Impressed with your fleabay gusto too I swing between selling everything that is not nailed down and a can't be bothered with the agro sort of attitude when it comes to fleabay, but I love it when the pennies come rolling in so am doing a little about 4 per week from this week.

doingitanyway

You are doing brilliantly. So glad the plasterer worked out. Keep on keeping on. :T

MuffinTops

Thank you so much ladies. Your messages really helped to pull me out of my slump.

I've been feeling very discombobulated again. It has to be due to all the changes I'm trying to make that my nervous system is having a little trouble keeping up with. I do know that it's all great changes that have all been a long time coming, so having that little talk with myself helps keep things in perspective. I guess I also feel a bit lonely as doing all of these things on my own is highlighting my lone existence. Not that a partner is often much help, and if I was doing this with a partner I'd be whining about having to compromise on what I want to do !!!! I think that whenever we make large life choices it's disconcerting, whichever side of the relationship fence you're on!

I have my second, mortgage advice meeting today, but it's really just to find out how much they're prepared to lend me, for how long and monthly payments. No signatures will be produced! I found out last week they won't lend money for a contract reassignment so I've been looking at different options. Realistically I don't need a new build as, when I come to sell it, it won't be new then, and that was never part of my initial criteria! So I'm considering looking for something a fair bit cheaper and spending the "extra" on an amazing refurb. Buying an older place means I can afford something with better views too as they seem to be packing in a lot of the new builds together. There are 2 older apartments for sale, in the same block, with a £50K difference based on one having been decorated to a nice standard which wouldn't have cost more than £20K. So lots to think about still.

YNAB still not updated! Must be done today.

I have to work later today anyway as I was in so late due to the horrendous travel disruption London suffered the rain we had last night. Maybe I can use some of that time to feed my YNAB fiddling addiction.

I also have a new trainee at the radio who is an absolute pleasure to train, particularly after my last one! This man is in a band and plays regular gigs, but is so nervous about being on air! He's very good technically so I'm thinking about changing my training methods with him and doing a few "off air" shows so that we can nail the technical stuff . Then he only has to think about talking when the time comes to do a live show. I think I can show the trainees so much more if we're off air and not worried about mistakes than I can when they're thrown into doing live shows. This new guy struggles to do Fridays as he has to rush off for a gig, so I'll speak to him tomorrow about what nights we could do.

I've had a few bids on my eBay items and have had a couple of questions on some others. Some of my items have no bids yet but a lot of watchers so hopefully everything will sell. It all goes towards my credit card bill at the moment, which is whooshing down very nicely.

Food choices have gone to pot - and not the gold pot kind! So focus needs to return there.

Have a great Thursday everyone! I hope the bad weather we've been having isn't negatively affecting anyone.

MTxx

RosaBernicia

Hugs for lonely feeling - I do see what you mean. It would be nice to think that there's a way without either problem!

Also sympathies with the YNAB and food choices... have just faced up to YNAB marathon here but it's meant another evening of sandwiches and chocolate!


Rosa xx

MuffinTops

Thank you Rosa. Well done for facing up to your YNAB marathon. Your chocolate choices are generally quite refined, aren't they? It's made me think of the belgian chocolate I used to get in Brugge!!!

MTxx

MuffinTops

I've been spending more time evaluating my time and spend habits, which can never be good!

Tonight I have a date with B&Q to get some textured paint for my new ceiling! I've also decided to pull everything out of the Room of Doom and paint it! Then, I can put some things back in their correct place and it will give me a chance to clear out other bits and pieces.

Ebay sales are going well. I've made over £200 in the past 2 weeks and have been really surprised in the rubbish that sells and the good things (in my opinion) that don't. Although some items don't even get 1 watcher one week and the next time I relist there's a bidding war! eBay have offered me a discount on fees this week so the more expensive items will be put up tomorrow evening for a 10 day auction. That gives me time to find more bits at the weekend to put up this weekend too! My living room looks like a clothes shop!

I have decided that Swagbucks is no longer for me. The videos rarely just run without some sort of manual intervention every other video so it's taking up a lot of time. My iPod touch is also constantly busy with the videos and when I work out the financial benefit, I think that's actually negated by other factors. I will keep it as much as doing the odd video session or instant survey, but it will no longer play any part in me pushing funds for gifts. Instead I need to find other areas of extra income.

Boot sales have been rained off the past 2 weeks, but the weather this weekend is looking hopeful so I'm hoping to boost the CC payment again this month with a weekend boot sale. I'm using the profits from selling to pay towards getting this credit card eliminated.

I'm working today and tomorrow, but I'm itching to get more done in the house! I'm putting off any viewings until I've got the place looking like a family home, and I think that will be next week after the doors and curtains are fitted. Then I need to get the estate agent back over to take new photos and see where we go from there.

Last night I met up with my new trainee in the Studio and we went over the workings of the desk etc. We went through choosing music from the computer, how to line up the CD's, how to listen to something without it going out on air and ...... how to set up and play the vinyls! Very exciting! He's so nervous to talk on air so we messed about a bit with the microphones and I've offered him the show to do on Friday. I think this is the best way to go for the trainees that can come in an extra evening as it's really boosted what I could show in a short space of time.

Work is going ok. I have much more work each week than I can fit it, but I'm not worrying too much about it as they have the power to change that if they want me to do more.

Pay day tomorrow! YNAB STILL not updated due to me prioritising videos and SB's over it! So today is the day that needs cleaning up ready for a new payment boost tomorrow.

Have a great Wednesday Hump Day and, let's have a little dance celebration!

MTxx

MuffinTops

The 14 day plan isn't going quite as well as I'd hoped, but it does keep me focussed. I've run out of envelopes so wasn't able to put all the items I needed to up for sale, but it did mean that I put everything I could up. With the discount in fees I can push that this weekend.

My next 14 day challenge is to get the box room and the newly plastered spare room painted and cleared. The spare room needs to look like a bedroom and the box room to be a study with some packing/storage in there, all in boxes and clearly marked.

I really need a boot sale this weekend!!! So many larger items to go!

MTxx

jodles16

Well done on telling management where to go with their 'we are doing you a favour' malarkey! You are so right, your fab journey so far has left you in a brilliant position to not be pushed around by others and to make choices that suit you!

Amazing work on Ebay, that is some fab selling! Also wows on how well the first 14day plan went, this next one is also tough sounding but I have no doubt you will be awesome!

Jodles

PS you work hard for your money, if you want to buy jewellery in the sale, then why shouldn't you?! Enabler alert! Haha.