Life on a sticky wicket in 5XL underpants

fatrab

With you on the calorie deficit, the app you told me about is very helpful. Thanks for that.

I'm a bit of a yo-yo dieter myself, but this time I'm determined to keep it off. I've fluctuated between 15 and 17 stone since 2006, and I'm sick of it. I just want to maintain a healthy weight.

Great news that CC1 is now gone and CC3 is in the crosshairs. Do you think it'll take you until September to clear it? Hopefully with some luck (or skill I should say!) you'll be ahead of schedule by then!

Keep it up.

fatrab

Thanks for the info today, much appreciated

LegBeforeWicket

Afternoon everyone!

Has it really been two weeks since I posted? This is not what I intended when I started this diary. I get a lot of benefit from typing out a few words on here so I'm going to renew my commitment to post a lot more often, even if it's just a line or two. When I speak about benefits I don't just mean the wonderful support and advice you all give, but also from unburdening my mind.

Anyway, while I have been away there hasn't been anything negative happening. In fact, things have been quite positive and I'm making some progress. First off, apart from enjoying some of the sunshine after what seemed like such a long winter, I've also done a few days of work for someone I know. Ok, it was only manning a reception desk and wasn't taxing at all, but to be out of the safety of my house (with regards to having a comfy bathroom if I became ill) was a really positive step. I will also get paid, which is nice, and while it isn't going to make much difference once I take into account lost MB earnings, it's given me something more important - the belief that there is something good ahead if I keep on trying. Also, in case it's the kind of thing that bothers you, I've long been registered self-employed and these earnings will be declared

I had already made my planned payments for the month by my previous post so my debt hasn't changed, apart from one small payment of £12.50 towards CC3. Why this amount? Well, I promised that if Ii had anything left from my food budget then I wouldn't reduce my earnings target for the next month but I'd allocate it immediately to debt. I don't need anything else to see me through today and I have £12.50 left, so a payment has been made. I am throughly happy about this because failing to stick to a food budget has been a HUGE contibuting factor in my debt increasing. It's true that the amount I allocate to my monthly food budget includes a small amount for when I think '!!!!!! it, I want x, y or z' but my thinking was that doing this would make me still feel 'free', and it has. I've also now passed the half a stone barrier and I've lost 7.3 lbs in total. I'm doing it slowly, but then I didn't put all that weight on overnight, did I?

What about CC3? Well, Rab, I'd like to think that I can get it paid off slightly ahead of schedule but I'm not going to think about that too much. I'm going to work as hard as I can to make it happen but I know that this time of year my MB earnings can slow down a little. In short, I don't want to tempt fate, but I hope I can manage it. I'm also excited that May's minimums will see two of my debts drop below 2k, which is a nice little milestone.

Finally, I still haven't heard anything about my PPI claim. I'd like to think it will be successful but who knows. It won't be for very much at all even if it is, but a 'free' pound is one less I need to find, so I hope it is.

LBW

fatrab

Great news on the weight loss. I need to buck up my ideas on that front. Damn pastries in Lidl keep talking to me as I walk in the door! Took me nearly 4 years to go from 12­½ stone up to just-under 16 - then it crept up to 17½ - so, like yourself, I'm not expecting it to fall off in a fortnight. I'm going to try and lose a stone in May though.

That's a good idea regarding the food budget leftovers. I might try that myself. I'd set a weekly budget of £25 but this week's food was only £10. I could just pop that surplus into my CCard and never miss it.

Good news all round then, and good to hear you got a few days work! Is there any chance it could become regular?

I haven't had time to look into MB properly yet but I understand the principle. A small earning from it would be very welcomed "pocket-money" if it works out.

Cheers, Rab

LegBeforeWicket

Morning all!


I've been away for a few weeks but I haven't fallen off the rails, but I guess I might not have been too far away from making the wrong step. For a little bit of this time I've had a brief stay in hospital - absolutely nothing serious and I'm fine - but I've also become so lazy at getting on here and noting down my thoughts. This is not good. I'm still absolutely committed to erasing my debt but when I'm just going through the humdrum of daily life I appear less motivated; the answer to this is to get on here and post something, that way I will still feel like I'm making progress rather than just waiting for the next event to come along. Therefore my goal for the rest of May is to make a post every day for the rest of the month.


So what about the finances? I'm still keeping to my budget and with my stay at the all inclusive NHS resort (absolutely not belittling the NHS, my stay was as wonderful as it gets thanks to the people working there) I should come under my food allowance by a reasonable distance, which I'll pay towards my debt at the end of the month. All my debt payments for the month have gone out and my total debt now stands at £8489.77 meaning that I've now paid off 10.15% I am really pleased about this. The debt reamaining is still large but the fact I've got the ship sailing in the other direction is significant; my next goal is to get the debt down to £8448.71 meaning that I'll have paid off the first £1000. This is only £41.06 away and I'm going to try and make and pay that before May is out.


What about my PPI? Well, I've had a letter saying that I'll be getting some money and I'm just waiting to see how much this will be. It won't amount to much but something is better than nothing.


Rab asked about the prospect of more work with the job I recently did. The answer is that there isn't any permanent opening but if something does become available then they will ask me, but they do require illness and holiday cover sometimes so if I'd like to do it then the hours will be mine. I've said that I'd love to, subject to not being ill of course.


Finally, my weight. I'm now down by 12.2lbs meaning I'm just over 2lbs away from only being overweight by double digit lbs and not triple digits. A small victory is close :rotfl:


Thankyou everyone who has read or replied to my diary, and to those who have sent me a PM. Thanks also to those diaries I've read, even if I've not contributed to them. You have all helped set me on the way to a better future. Thank you so much.


LBW

fatrab

Good to hear things are toddling along in a downwards fashion. I seem to be using the term toddling a lot recently. Odd.

Great to hear from you again, and look forward to reading how things get on for the rest of the month!

I'm interested to hear how you get on with PPI, I've not had any luck yet - I was pretty sure I'd never had it anyway - and the responses I've had so far have confirmed this.

You're doing better than me with the weight loss, I've plateaued - again...

Well done so far

Missymae0

Well done on your weight loss and debt loss, you are doing really well, keep going!

I've subscribed and will be following your journey, I also have been matched betting, well I was doing it for a few months last year and made over £2000 but stopped so I have just restarted and am currently building my funds back up.

Good luck

LegBeforeWicket

Afternoon diary.

It's been a lovely day weather-wise, but I've spent quite a lot of it in the kitchen cooking for the freezer. I've made a couple of soups and a couple of other freezer suitable dishes. Although I don't go to work, I am sometimes pressed for time when MBing or occasionally I'm just so tired from feeling a little under the weather, so having something I can grab and heat up without blowing my calorie or financial goals is a smart move.
I've also been researching phone+broadband options as my promo deal with BT is coming to an end soon. I couldn't care less about who provides the service so long as it's reliable and isn't incredibly slow. My plan is to call BT tomorrow and see what kind of retention deal they can offer me. Ideally, I'd like to pay less than I do now.


Rab, I think that toddling is a wonderful way to describe the way most of this battle against the debt is played out, even if procrastinating is probably more appropriate for me Hitting the big stuff such as changing the order in which to pay debts, switching energy suppliers, cutting out pay TV etc etc is quite a 'rush', but I feel like the reality of getting this debt paid will mostly be a long and slow battle, waiting for pay days to come around etc. This is where the trap is for me - I need to keep the enthusiasm up and remind myself of why I'm making certain choices. Weight loss is pretty similar, actually. You get that big water weight boosted loss at the beginning then everything else is a slog, but it's worth it, I'm sure.


Hi Missymae0, thankyou so much for stopping by, it's genuinely appreciated. MB is just great, isn't it? Although it's bleeping hard work at times, particularly in the summer. Hopefully the World Cup will give us some extra earning opportunities until the football returns in August. If there is anything I can help with then just let me know. Thanks for following!

LegBeforeWicket

Afternoon everyone.

Just a quick update today, but an important one as it's making me keep the promise I made to myself to keep posting updates.


The two main bits of news are that I've had a No Spend Day (I keep a record of how many I have a month and I'm going to start publishing the number on here at the end of each month for accountability purposes) and I've also managed to negotiate a new and cheaper contract with BT. I've managed to reduce my monthly payment by £4, something I'm pleased with since I was already on a promotional rate. I could save a fraction more (pence, essentially) by moving provider but I'm happy to pay that difference for not having the hassle of moving. I also could have downgraded from fibre to ordinary broadband - I know I don't need it and I guess I can't really justify it, but it's budgeted for and internet access is crucial to my earning capabilities.

What next? Well, my focus no needs to turn to earning more. Not just the long term plan of getting a job, one where I get up and go to work every day, but also in the intervening period until I'm well enough to do so. To this end I'm about to investigate the low hanging fruit to be found in surveys etc., (it may not make much but what's the point in not taking it?) as well as a couple of genuine opportunities whereby I could work from home. Just a little extra would go a long way for me.


Hope you all have a lovely weekend planned.

queenstuarts

Hi LBW,

I didn't want to read and run so thought I would drop in. On the survey front I always recommend prolific academic. Most of the surveys take between 5-25 minutes and can have good payout. One survey I did got me £3.25, if you are lucky you may get surveys that have 'follow ons' which give you the option to complete 2+ more surveys that pay and some offer a 'bonus' payment.

If you do any purchasing online you may also wish to try topcashback. You may as well earn money back if you need an essential item anyway!

Take Care! x