Doing up the House (and me) while doing away with the Debt

supersaver1000

Shoes arrived and I have been wearing them in.  They are quite stiff leather but good quality, so should last a long, long time (hope I haven't picked looks/longevity over comfort).  Picked up the matalan top and it fits, so for £5 is a bargain.  Matalan is near to a collect plus point so I packaged up the Ziffit parcel and hope to make £5 to pay for the top.  Just waiting for my other top to be delivered but I have a few items on ebay which should pay for it.

I'm not sure if its just me, but I am really not keen on buying online anymore.  I no longer like the hassle of returning stuff online.  Debenhams is fine as I pick up and try on and if needed return straight away in store.  But even that's a pain nowadays.  But I've also noticed lately that I'm not fussed about store shopping either.  Just feels like the excitement of buying stuff has gone, I get more fun out of buying my week's shopping and sticking to budget these days.  Its got to be good but feels odd not to want to browse around the shops.
  
This weekend I need to:

• polish my new shoes
• declutter my capsule wardrobe again
• put my exercise plan on the wall
• get out the weights etc.
• Relax - face mask to be used up
• do the weekly food list/shopping
• Go through 70 items in wardrobe again
• Sort paperwork
• Check my 'to do' lists

Monday: 

• Buy some dental supplies
  
• Socks from M&S
• cancel gym membership
• Package up and post the flee bay items
• complete job application
• Create a moving checklist/schedule (moved onto next list)
• Make a firm plan to drop off the donations to charity

Next weekend

• Make pillowcase
• Finish sewing projects

Late edit - have crossed off a couple of things.  Sorted through CS bags again!!  LOL I have to get rid of those as I got a couple more bits out - however, I sorted through the wardrobe again and put more stuff into the bags.  
Second Edit - face mask and long bath done - tick.  Pleased can now edit more than once (just refresh the page).  Sat here with poor kitty who is terrified of the storm.
Third Edit - just updated my list.  Kitty relaxed eventually, what a night.
Latest Edit - more things crossed off - but some moved forward.  Also, looking for ebay packaging and found another 10 items of clothing!!  All sorted now.

supersaver1000

Ticking off the list is coming on.  I'm exhausted tonight from running around doing bits and pieces in between the paid stuff.  I went to M&S and they had in stock a pair of the high waisted straight leg (but not skinny) jeans I found online.  Pleased to get easily into the size 14.  Woohoo.  

I'm feeling a bit spent out at the moment - new boots, new jeans, new socks, dentist bill.  But I will catch up on pay day, so its all good really.  Just feeling slightly broke or just tired maybe.  My list still seems quite large, but just keep going....

• Package up and post the flee bay items
• complete job application
• Create a moving checklist/schedule
• Make a firm plan to drop off the donations to charity

Next weekend

• Make pillowcase
• Finish sewing projects

supersaver1000

Another thing crossed off the list, even if I can do one thing a day it will get me nearer to being organised.  Definitely feeling very broke and very tired.  Still, I am keeping to the food budget, which is a bonus.  The capsule wardrobe is coming on nicely but, together with the dental bill, is pushing me towards the red.  Luckily its pay day next week, but next month needs to be very frugal indeed.

supersaver1000

So, this morning before the paid stuff, I had another look at the bank accounts, and realised I'm not that broke.  I still have the final weeks food money left and enough for my haircut.  I was looking at the pending items and not the balance - whoops.  But a good error.  And I also have money coming into PayPal soon.  Gone from feeling very broke to feeling slightly flush.

Another item crossed off the list.  One to do on Thursday, and one on Friday, then the weekend bits to do.  Slowly and surely xx

supersaver1000

Having a play and found out how to change colours. This is some text! You have to use the html symbols < > at the start and finish of the sentence you wish to colour. But insert in between them at the start of the sentence: font color="red" (or whatever colour you want). Then at the end of the sentence use the same symbols but insert in between them /font Select the button above the comments box to view the html language. Also found out how to put a link in with text display, rather than displaying the whole link  HTML Link Again you use the link button - which looks like a pair of chain links, then paste your link in. Then you can use the html button to look at it in html language and alter the text that appears (its the second repeat of the link wording in html). Hope that makes sense. For some reason, my adding html to the comment means it doesn't recognise my line spaces now. Another one to look up. Well I am learning something here.

supersaver1000

Called into the Sainsbugs on way home and used vouchers and shopping app to get a couple of good deals.  Had 400 bonus nectar points, some money off and a quick tea tonight - so a welcome break from cooking.  Average weekly spend is now at £59 which is a little higher than I planned, but I still have another week to go, so its not over til its over.

supersaver1000

Morning MSE

So today I need to start a moving checklist form and make a firm plan to drop off this charity shop stuff.  

This weekend is purely going to be about sewing - altering things mainly.  And then I will look at making those pyjama bottoms with the fabric that's been stashed away for quite a few years now.  Will need to do a quick fly around with the duster and hoover too. 

Then next week I can seriously start to plan the move, which feels nice and positive.  Once the decks are clear (i.e. about 14 charity bags shifted) I can look at my home exercise programme too.  The gym seems such a pain to get to as its an extra trip into town, I don't find the classes much fun, and working out on your own is a bit soul destroying.  A run with the group is much more fun.  So, gym membership cancelled saving around £50 a month - tried it but its not for me.

supersaver1000

Didn't do the list or make the plans, whoops.  But I did get a message from Ziffit that my books were accepted.  So another £6+ is winging its way to my PayPal account.  Its a great feeling when everything is already accounted for and so an extra £6 makes me feel really flush.  Before, it would have just been swallowed up but now its a real bonus.  

Had another shop at Mr S tonight for some chicken thighs to make a madras with.  Yes, I have gone over budget but its sooo much cheaper than a takeaway and was a lovely treat.  So the weekly grocery bill was £81 but its still only an average of £63 per week.  Will try to make this last week a frugal one to keep the average down, but its nice to have some in the PayPal account to top it up if needed.

supersaver1000

Cup of tea in bed while making the shopping list.  Its mostly Mr Ald, but will need to pop to Mr S for a couple of things.  Its a pretty frugal list so I am hoping to come in under budget this month.  

So, in anticipation, I've just topped the starter emergency fund up to £55.  There's a long way to go until the £1,000 is reached but one thing I have learned on here is that slow and steady wins the race.  I have some coins almost ready to drop into the bank - I've decided these will go into the fund.

The Xmas fund is looking good and I've just transferred a fiver in, so its now sitting at £92 (target at end of Feb was £91, so am well on course ).

If my calculations are correct it will be my last student loan payment this month.  So that's another £90/mth back in my wage packet from 1st April - woohoo.  Just in time, as my pay takes a hit the following month when my additional duties allowance stops.  Bitter sweet, as the additional duties stop too, which is good but I will miss some of the duties and people I came into contact with.

Premium Bonds are at £250 at the moment and I will top up again this month.  That's really out of sight out of mind and you never know - there might be a little win one day. 

Ebay sales have slowed right down now.  Just a couple of watchers and no bids at the moment.  I'm just letting things run for the four automatic re-lists and if they don't sell they will be off to the CS.  Its a nice little top up to the PayPal account when I get a sale and I've bought a few extras from the proceeds (which means I haven't dipped into the food money).  But my priority now needs to be getting ready for the move.  Once we are settled in the new house I might look at spending more time fleabaying and doing Ziffit with the books and stuff - its a bit of a hassle putting them on, then wrapping them but at least I'll be nearer the PO when we move so will be a lot easier to get them mailed.

supersaver1000

 £30 spent at Aldee and the coop (fiver meal deal) today.  I was forgetting there were 5 weeks of grocery shopping this month (I started at the end of January) so currently at £56 average per week spend.  Amazing, I'm really pleased and we have eaten so well.  There will be more spends this week but hoping to keep under £60/week.  Next month will be a four week month for groceries, so if I can keep to £60 there will either be money left over or I can buy some special things and/or buy supplies in.