Ten minutes from home ...

tibawo

Why now? What is so special about today?


Well.. the fact that we were sat for two hours waiting for the lovely car break down people to arrive as the wheel nuts were on so tight they wouldn't budge for me to change the flat tyre ten minutes from home on the motorway.


This might be a strange light bulb moment but it really drove home the need for the emergency buffer of money and not just living from one month to the next. I literally have enough money[i think] and it will still last to when my zero hours contract job restarts in September. However, I did.have break down cover which using things on here I had shopped around for and got cash back for so I am slowly changing.


I think that when I finished my IVA everything would be smooth sailing but alas, real life is not predictable and budgeting is a lot harder to master than just putting pen on paper. More so for a zero hours contract but that is a story for another day.


So I am going to bed now to sleep on what direction I want my life to go in. Do I want to come home to letters I'm too frightened to open? A house that is so dirty and messy purely because I've given up on loving life? The extra stones in weight I have accumulated as I comfort eat my depression and failures away? Jobs/tasks half done around the home just because I have no willpower to finish them? The tears I shed as I think about how my mistakes and lifestyle have impacted on my children's? The answer is easy, it is the journey that is hard ...

tibawo

One of the first things I am pondering is whether I update my diary daily, weekly etc.? Might seem strange to some but if I do it daily will I really notice any difference from one day to the next and with this is mind is it better to update it every other day or weekly? I am toying with daily whilst I get into the swing of things so I can see my new habits developing.


As I tidy and move through the clutter, I am putting anything without a home or that needs sorting into tubs on a pine shelf with the vision of spending at least tens mins in the morning clearing it. Added to this anything not used is going straight on ebay or in the bin! I am hoping looking at a clearer house will help me think with a clearer mind.


I have no work at the moment so can spend some time working out which daily clicks work for me. I don't want to spend longer than fifteen minutes a day as otherwise i won't move from the sofa. It might only be pennies but over time I am sure it will mount up. I intend to keep a tab on how much I get in my signature.


Also as I am off I can devise meals to use up stuff in the cupboards so that I can minimise my food budget spend whilst off. It can also mean I can check out my store cupboard and tailor it for me rather than buying daft things like curry powder which I never use!


I have also a vibro plate I bought which I plan to use for ten mins a day and hopefully build upon. The vision is that it will build my confidence in exercising.


And, just like in life I have noticed that any mention of thinking of debt has been pushed right to the back of the queue in the hope it will magically disappear. I am going to offer £5 to all non priority debts today. Once this is done I can sit down and be honest with myself as to what I owe. I think it is important to give myself time to work out a realistic plan and running with it for a month of two should give me time to tweak it and to also look at where the odd £1 or £2 that slip through the net go.

maddiemay

I was doing my morning look around the diaries and noticed your shiny new one, recognized you from the KM thread, I too am trying to banish all things no longer needed from my home, hopefully to give me a clearer head, remove the stress of never being able to find anything and with luck open myself up to aiding recovery from a couple of debilitating health conditions.

I think that a couple of things that you mention are an absolute must and in the long run will make your life less pressurised and be able to gradually sort out your finances.

Open every envelope, note the balances, check the interest rates etc and get a clear picture of where you stand with your debt, it may be tough, but from here on your head will be clearer.

At least in the beginning, try and diary daily, it will help you keep on track, give you somewhere to set out your aims and have a good rant if it helps.

Treat the whole thing, household and food stocks, debt repayment like a business and keep track of costings, cheapest options, eliminating waste etc.

If you can chip away at the weight loss and fitness it will give you more energy, both mental and physical and boost your self esteem. Have you seen this MSE thread Frump to Fab 2016 - Lets make it AWESOME!!!?, like the KM thread another very supportive group of people encouraging each other to take baby steps to feel and look better in ourselves, little things like standing/sitting tall, walking with head in the air to start.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL - stop beating yourself up, you cannot change what is done (I wish), but you can start to make the future better and if you have a blip, shake yourself and start again, new day and all that.

I will try and 'pop in' from time to time and cheer you along.:D:D

MM

louby40

Hello and welcome

Keep posting every day and it will keep you focused!

Louby

tibawo

Thanks maddiemay and louby40 for posting - it reassures me that I am not just rambling away to myself!


So today has been a mixed bag. I have finally sent off my payday loan complaint, the FOS couldn't open my email attachments so had asked me to send them in. A job that I thought would take ages took less than five mins. I have also posted my mileage claim for last year. CTC/WTC final award from last year has just come back, as expected I was slightly overpaid but not as bad as I thought!


Also booked the eye tests, my smear and an afternoon tea. The latter is to use up a voucher!


Squeezed in my ten mins of filing from the pine shelves, although to be honest I ended up shredding a lot. Car cleaned and on way to sort girls at a prepaid event I dropped off some stuff at tip. Why does this feel so therapeutic?


I've not done my daily clicks or exercise yet but plenty of time. I have started using swagbucks again as i find i can let the videos run whilst I do other things. Have set myself a minimum of five bucks a day but when i am not busy I will do extra. I also like the receipt hog so will do that one too.


Picked up some reduced bits for daughters craft stall. She is raising money and I do get the money back. Why have I roped myself into this?!


Off now to make tea!

tibawo

Missed a couple of days but this does not mean I have given in. Before the holidays kicked in I prepaid some activities for us so have been busy with those and i didn't want to think about all the things I need to get done spoiling the day.


Daily clicks are ok and will be reintroducing instagc this weekend. I am going to roughly time this. I have sussed I can watch videos whilst on vibro machine so have incorporated this!


My dumping ground of the pine shelves is going well. I am doing the ten mins and the filing is virtually all done. It doesn't seem to have gone down much as I have been adding bits to it. e.g. mending/sewing that has been stuffed in a drawer has now been put there so it gets done whilst i am watching tv.


I'm annoyed with my buyer from ebay as the item is collect and i deliberately put it on thinking they would collect this weekend but seem to think coming next Thursday is ok. I think next time I stipulate collect times on the listing as it means the stuff is just hanging around and I can't tick it off as another job done.


Money wise i have been watching the pennies, and not just spending left right and centre.


tidy up day so onwards and upwards.

abba1772

Hi :hello:

Just had a read of your diary you sound so positive and wish you luck in your debt free journey.........I tend to write in my diary at least once a day to track my spends and debt busting as it keeps me on track....it seems to work for me but everyone is different xx

tibawo

Thought I'd pop on and update the diary... I'm actually in the midst of cleaning the back yard and have put down my cheap bleach to clean away the 'green' and know that if I don't come away and do something, I'll get inpatient and wash it away before it has worked it's magic!


I spent more than an wanted at our last night away. However it was a fun filled time and has created a great summer 2016 memory. We had a blast and the £50 excess i spent was actually on a pass that will save me money in the long run. I think the woman at the counter thought i was mad as i totted up my future spend versus getting the pass. On return home i realised i have some money saved up on my supermarket vouchers so it should kind of balance it out.


Heard from two of my bill people today who say that £5 is ok. This is a weight lifting of my shoulders. Although I have a payment plan for leccy/gas, it does stand at approx. £2000 and want to channel extra to this. I will post the exact figure when got August bill. This is my largest debt.


Not done my clicks yet or any work off my pine 'work in progress' shelves but want to tackle the half of the yard I've started. I'm not being lazy doing half it is just that I want to dry some washing too!

Bobarella

Good luck with all your aims sounds very positive so far.

tibawo

I think the fact that the sun is shining and the sky is blue makes me get up in a positive mood as I know I can get things done. Wonder if it will be the same come winter?


I have scrubbed more of the backyard but have now run out of bleach but not to be held up, I am going to swill the floor and then put the rest of the washing out.


Theoretically the buyer is coming for my eBay stuff today. I have a strange suspicion they won't show but did put in the message i would only be in until 2pm.


Desperately watching the cash now, I am tempted to pay my rent early so that I know both that and council tax are paid for September. I am now getting slightly apprehensive that work won't be coming in the new term so am having a mild panic. I am determined this year to build up a buffer of cash as this is not a good way to live.


Breakfast time!

tibawo

Grey skies today but I am seeing this as an opportunity for indoors work!


Buyer did not show yesterday, have put them straight on block list. People like this do my head in. I am one of those people who totally agree with invoicing a parent if their child does not show for a party without letting you know.


can't finish the yard today though which means another half job!