Doing up the House (and me) while doing away with the Debt 29 May 2018 at 11:06AM edited 29 May 2018 at 11:27AM in Debt free diaries 157 replies 11.6K views

supersaver1000

So my first thread was all about finding myself in a really depressing state and the mammoth journey to get out of it. It worked but after an absence I came back with a thread to wake myself up, stop being pushed about and start thinking about making the most of my life.

I feel in a really good position now and haven't felt so content in a long while. Don't get me wrong its not perfect, there's a lot to do.

Debt-free day might just be only 6 months away - CCs and Loans - we spent it all and we are paying back every last penny. I've joined the Pay all your Debts off by Xmas18 challenge and its now so very possible fingers crossed.

Home has become a bit dusty lately :rotfl: (laughing because I've stopped stressing about it now and stopped trying to do everything) but I still like a clean, tidy home and so I've been joining the Weekly Flylady threads to bring a bit of order - I feel so much better shifting a bit of dust and a bit of clutter (with family members helping now of course).

I'm also on my third month of the grocery challenge and that's really helping (Especially as I've set up a new regular saving account of £250 a month) - this time next year I should have £3k in the bank - for me all me :rotfl: - laughing at the thought of it but I need to work hard to keep that up.

And, just in case that wasn't enough challenge, I've decided to follow the Old Style Weight Loss thread. I really want to lose a couple of stone, but my priorities are other challenges first so I'm hoping that I might be able to join in properly soon.

So, as well as becoming debt-free I've decided that I want to do up our home a bit. No major renovations, just making things match and making it more comfortable for us. You can imagine that hasn't been the priority lately.

Last month I managed to sell some old furniture and have bought us a new sofa in the sale for the same price, which is now in pride of place. Then over the weekend I decided to have a go at changing the fabric in a roller blind. That was a huge success - bought a sale blind for £3.50 which was the right dimensions but the wrong orientation (too narrow, too long). Chopped off the top/bottom turned it on its side and re-attached the old fittings - phew.

So that's all got me thinking. Can I do up the house but spend as little money as possible, selling stuff I've got to buy replacements, up cycling and adapting things? So that's my challenge, to do up the house by the time the debt is paid off (and hopefully lose some weight along the way). I won't be posting much cos I'll be too busy but if I write it down, this will be a prompt for me.

So my aims at the moment are:

Cover the kitchen/dining room roller blinds - like this make-a-no-sew-fabric-covered-roller-shade/. Maybe with something like this (but a cheaper version) Cream/Red/Green fabric
Sell all Tat
Buy a pine chest of drawers from Ikea
Then sell my very old large chest of draawers and buy another from Ikea
Paint the corner unit and maybe a coffee table/side table
Change the curtains in the lounge - possibly grey/blue colours
Update the Roman Blinds
Change/cover the rest of the roller blinds
Cover the easy chairs
Sort out the bedroom with aqua/peach colours
Paint the dining room chairs and re-cover them - maybe to match the newly covered roller blinds
Get OH to sort out logs/log storage
Tidy up the garden

Just reading that, I've realised I've given myself a huge challenge, but oh well, lets see how it goes.

Working_Mum

Good luck supersaver1000 - it sounds like you are off to a flying start!!

Don't forget Freecycle - it is a great way to get rid of stuff to a good home (for free) and also potentially source items which you may need (also for free). I have de-cluttered a whole load of stuff - one mans trash is another mans treasure!

All the very best for your year!!

supersaver1000

Thanks Working Mum, yes have used Freecycle a while back but thanks for the reminder. Will definitely give them a go when the time comes.

parsniphead

Hello again supersaver. Its been a while. You're so close to your DFD.:T

Indefinitely going to follow this thread to [STRIKE]steal your ideas[/STRIKE], get some inspiration, as i have a house to do up with tiny amounts of money.

Good luck.

Scott-Weiland

If your decluttering try all of these

Preloved
Gumtree
Ebay
webuybooks.co.uk
ziffit
and music magpie

Most of these also are on top cashback so if you get rid of stuff through these you will also money back in cashback. I sold a mobile phone on music magpie last week and got a few quid in cashback too.

supersaver1000

parsniphead wrote: »

Hello again supersaver. Its been a while. You're so close to your DFD.:T

Indefinitely going to follow this thread to [STRIKE]steal your ideas[/STRIKE], get some inspiration, as i have a house to do up with tiny amounts of money.

Good luck.

Well, hello Parsniphead. It has been such a long while

Lovely to have you along and I will pop over to you as well if you don't mind. :)

beanielou

Also local buying/selling pages on FB are fab.

NoOneAround

Hello again Good to see you back
NOA
x

supersaver1000

Thank you BeanieLou and NOA :):)xx

Greying_Pilgrim

You can do it supersaver :T


Greying X

supersaver1000

Thank you GP. Its going to be a slow but steady journey.