diary of strugglin working mum

Mollymop5

Merry christmas Bartgirl.Hope things going ok.Heres to 2009 and you making that all important move

BartGirl

I've got a handful of items listed on Ebay and they all have either a bid / watcher (except one!) the bids so far add up to £23ish and the bidding ends this afternoon. Cant wait!! Am really hoping that I can hit the £30 mark (before p+p) cos that'll really make a big difference to my finances.

I know that this weekend is 5p listing too. I'll be at work this afternoon but the plan is to put some stuff on Ebay this evening once I get home from work.

I have avoided the Sales entirely. Mainly because I dont 'need' anything - although I did get DS some socks and tops in Adsa for a fiver..

I really really need a new digital camera but think I have found one online which I'm umming and aahing about but think I'll 'bite the bullet' anyway and go for it..details to follow

Shall keep u all posted on how Ebaying goes...

BG

BartGirl

Hello Diary 2009!
I’ve not been on here since ’08 so shall try and update everyone on here with whats been going on in Bart Mansion! Well I’m trying to stay DFW / MSE focused cos i’m desparate to hit my target and move on – if u get my drift! Because of this it was really tempting to ‘hit the sales’ but I did not – like I mentioned before – I didnt feel the need..however one thing that I did do – was get a digital camera Finally! Been wanting one since the Summer and finally got one from Jessops – via quidco of course! It set me back £70 while my budget was £50 but i figured that i should just treat myself anyway!.. :T
I also popped into the wholesalers and stocked up on stuff that would last the next 6 months – bog roll; kitchen roll; washing powder etc. I spent £ 55 in all. Then popped into Aldi for the monthly shop and spent £33 in there. Petrol was £28 – thats finally going down – but i am really watching how much i use the car anyway..I popped into Ikea for a few bits and my budget was £40 but i went under and spent £30 odd – which i was pleased about!
But in my quest to remain DFW I have decided that i need to make at least £100/month thru ebay / quidco / myst shops. This month I have listed some things on Ebay and made about £36 so far. Last night I listed a few more items as well. I already have 1 watcher! Also this morning I had £20 finally track from Luv Film. This has been ongoing since June!! So hopefully that’ll pay into my acc at the end of the month. Which would mean that so far I’ve made £56 towards that £100 aim. Yippee!!! I am a little bit miffed tho cos someone bid on something that only cost £1.04 (excl postage) but they havent paid yet! Its almost 10 days now and although I’m loathe to report them as being a Non Paying Buyer – for such a small amount – I still feel like they’re taking the mick. I have emailed them twice but no response..any ideas ? :mad:
I have also been doing alot of clearing out on my days Off and I am also a firm believer in Charity. So i have a box that i’m filling up slowly with items for the charity shop. I have also been freecycling for the first time! I was really impressed with how quickly the stuff went so shall put another few items on there again this week. I know that freecycling isnt really a charity but i do believe that if there’s still life left in something – you should ‘pass it on’... In my money-making quest – I have also decided that its time to flog all the bits n bobs i was saving ‘if DS has a brother or sister’. The reason behind this is two-fold. (a) I dont think that’ll be happening any day soon and (b) the stuff I got was mainly from NCT sales etc and it broke my heart to be buying secondhand for my 1st one and so second time around – whenever that’ll be – I’ll buy new!
Money-wise I have realised that the APR on that horrible Vanquis card is truly horrific. 34% i think! So i used to throw £100 at it monthly but i have decided to increase it to £120 for the time-being. I have finally switched to EDF and I owe the old elec people £258 quid. Money was tight so i paid them £58 towards it to get them off my back. Lets see what i can do for Feb.. I have also managed to reduce my landline bill considerably thru using ‘say not to 0870.com’ because although I have free landline calls when i would look at my bill i realised that the bulk of my billed calls were 0870 or 0845 numbers to my bank; sky tv and the likes. Usually i’d end up paying about £40 worth of calls. This time it was more like £25. I am determined to bring it down even further – watch this space! I also have 2 CC charges to chase but think it’ll be a long call with those cos they ended up with DCAs; although i did pay them off in full.

miemie

Hi Bartgirl
I have followed your diary for a while but never posted and i just want to say well done and go girl, you truley are an inspiration and i can see from reading your posts from many months ago how much stronger and more confident you have become.
I know you will be debt free and happy.
Take care of yourself miemie

pavlovs_dog

happy new year bartgirl.. hope this is your year

Mollymop5

Sending my love and best wishes for the New Year

beckseven

All the best for the new year and look forward to seeing how you get on

BartGirl

Hi all
Did a Mystery shop and am owed £5.99 from that so have added that to my signature now. That'll go into my acc at the end of Jan so i'm happy about that.
My Ebay bids end on Sunday.
I have an eye test at Boots which is free. I also have a voucher for £20 off specs from Boots too - so all happening at the right time cos my glasses arent in good shape really.
Thanks everyone on here for your words of encouragement.You have no idea how much it means to me.

BartG

BartGirl

I'm feeling really down...have arranged to start seeing my counsellor again. Am worried that I'm depressed. Cos sometimes i feel like even the small things are difficult to tackle - like giving DS a bath..or clearing out the fridge? Maybe its cos those things happen towards the end of the day when I'm shattered...I felt like that yesterday so took DS to the park and was breathing in all the 'fresh' air which admittedly made me feel alot better..

In any case. Ebay bidding ends on Sunday and I have 6 watchers..no bids yet..
I have signed up for a focus group which should earn me £30 - that'll be straight into the savings account! I had another one lined up for £60 but they changed their criteria at the last minute so i cant do that one now..

Had a small blip with my CC though. The payments not due till 18thJan but i'd paid it on 2nd Jan. But i used the paying in slip of my previous card (they had upgraded my card!) so it went to the account for the 'old' card. Luckily they were able to trace that. I still owe about £1300 on there but once i hit the 1k mark - or just under - I';ll feel alot more relieved!

Am off to Boots now for my free Eye test courtesy of the Adv card!

spam.jam

keep going hun, we all have up and down days. on a down day dont expect to much of yourself coz on an up day you can acheive anything! xx