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

Most of the china is now sold and sent off. I've given some of the remaining bits away to family (sentimental pieces really) and have just 3 items remaining on ebay.

I also found some lovely curtains on fleabay and some material for matching blinds and that is winging its way to me now. Fingers crossed that they look as nice as I think they will. I did manage to get a sample of the fabric so really hopeful.

So, what to do first. I think it will have to be curtain fitting and blind making as I haven't chosen the paint for the cabinet yet. Cabinet painting will be second (cheapest activity) followed by chair reupholstery.

So my cash in paypal was £95 and I've spent £75 on curtains and £21 on the two blinds - £1 over! Plus I will need to buy some lining and so on. Hopefully the remaining fleabay items will sell soon.

Going to have a look at the painting with emulsion link again as that will be loads cheaper than the F&B paint I've seen. Reupholstery will be expensive because of the fabric, so I will need to get my thinking head on for those - might sell the jewellery I mentioned in an earlier post. If I could replace that with two lovely chairs and some new skills I would be really happy. The poang chair recovering can be last, and finding tables and so on will happen a bit later.

Excited to be getting started - hopefully at the weekend.

ps I've seen a lovely cabinet painted grey on outside, white on inside, with white handles added.

supersaver1000

Just looking back at my old thread and realised that 3 years ago I was having the debate about how to paint my cabinet

supersaver1000 wrote: »

http://www.houzz.com/photos/25127763/Arrondissement-Salon-Cercle-Cabinet-traditional-buffets-and-sideboards

I love this sideboard. Just wondering if my dark wood unit would look good painted inside.

This was my first inspiration, http://www.houzz.com/photos/25130732/Coastal-Living-Cottage-Newport-Storage-Cabinet-beach-style-buffets-and-sideboards but then I saw they do it in brown, so why paint mine when it already looks this good - should I add mirror tiles? And lights? Or perhaps just paint the inside as my first option?

Had some very nice ideas back then hmmmm, takes me a while to get started though :rotfl:

supersaver1000

Bought some £1 paint samples in Wilko today - grey and blue. Looking forward to trying those out. I've decided curtains first. Then order blind materials; paint cabinets while they are being delivered; then make the blinds :rotfl::rotfl:

supersaver1000

I feel like I'm wading through very thick mud with this list at the moment. Its just that life happens and there have been some times/people that have just needed our attention. Not to say that nothing has been getting done - for example when one of your white goods needs replacing and you just fit it in. So there has been progress, just very, very slow. I just want it all done and dusted, but the good thing about doing it my way is that its money saving, and that's really satisfying as well as something good about doing stuff yourself.

• Have neutral curtains - maybe with grey/blue or both. But a modern/relaxing pattern - nothing fussy or dark. purchased and started turning up the hems
• Paint my remaining china cabinet all white (inside and out)bought some samples of white and grey, but have decided on a blue/grey - ordered a farrow and ball sample card - and will probably paint it all one colour, although I do like the idea of wallpaper inside
• Cover my arm chairs with something that ties into my current sofa thinking about a blue/grey to go with the paint but won't look for fabric until the curtains and cabinet are done
• And then cover my poang chair with something snazzy.
• Orange might feature a little in the above, it depends.
• Pick up some side tables and paint them in pale grey or pale blue (could use a bit of black or blue paint mixed into the white maybe?). this will probably be the same colour as the cabinet
• Oh! and I'd really like a new sideboard so I can rid of the old borrowed one.I'd really like a white sideboard with enough storage for our games and stuff

I haven't bought a chest of drawers yet - going with the do I want it or do I NEED it. Definitely not a need.

supersaver1000

So my progress on the list is so slow, but I am making little steps forward.

I really want to buy a fire pit and some fairy lights. Saw a fire pit is on offer in Aldi, so need to pop in before they all sell out (if they haven't already) and I've found some nice fairy lights online.

I really need to buy myself a chest of drawers so a visit to Ikea is definitely on the cards soon.

The great thing is that I'm feeling very chill about it all. I'm not sure if part of that isn't to do with my very realistic target now of debt-free by Xmas. Some kind of zen feeling coming over me when I think of that - amazing!!

supersaver1000

Monthly check in, slow progress still, but small steps going forward. I would probably describe it as relaxed, rather than slow :rotfl::rotfl:

supersaver1000 wrote: »

• Have neutral curtains - maybe with grey/blue or both. But a modern/relaxing pattern - nothing fussy or dark. purchased and almost finished turning up.
• Make the matching blind - everything purchased, just need to make it now.
• Buy a chest of drawers for bedroom - Ikea - but they keep going out of stock!!
• Paint my remaining china cabinet all white (inside and out)decided not to do this after all as had a move around/gave it a polish and it looks pretty good, might do wallpaper inside though and/or add some fairy lights
• Cover my arm chairs with something that ties into my current sofa thinking about a blue/grey to go with the paint but won't look for fabric until the curtains and blind are done - have found a place that will provide tutorial too
• And then cover my poang chair with something snazzy.
• Orange might feature a little in the above, it depends.
• Pick up some side tables and paint them in pale grey or pale blue (could use a bit of black or blue paint mixed into the white maybe?). purchased one side table, need to find another one - possibly from B*M - update not B&M was too plasticky not veneer
• Oh! and I'd really like a new sideboard so I can rid of the old borrowed one.moved the old one and it looks great in the new position
  

Haven't bought the fire pit or fairy lights - its taking a huge amount of willpower - I've found fairy lights in Wilko for £12 and Firepit online for £70. Really want to buy them but won't even use them until next year so am holding steady.

Still got a few bits on fleabay and goomtree, sales very slow at moment, which is just as well considering how relaxed I am :rotfl:

Weight loss has gone well - half a stone down. So clothes are fitting better and I'm feeling a bit happier and more positive. Seems like being more relaxed about things is working.

Update - am making steady progress, need to keep up the momentum, but can't help looking at my dfd which will be January next year - or December if I get a shifty on. Just can't believe this journey is nearly at at end and will be finally debt-free.

supersaver1000

Its agonising to be so close to paying all the debts off (5 months max hopefully). You'd think I would be ecstatic that its so close (when I thought I would never be debt-free) but I'm feeling frustrated that its so close but not yet here.

Its not helped because we've bought a few things for the house, which has pushed debt-free day on a bit - its catch 22 isn't it. I'm sick of not being able to buy stuff that would make our life more comfortable, but buying stuff is pushing the debt up and making dfd further away and you start to doubt it will ever arrive.

I think writing this all down and making a plan will help. I really need to get on with PPI claiming. We had a real bonus with our claim earlier this year, so have to try it for the other loans/cards we've had. You never know! And I have some jewellery that I don't wear and will try to sell it before Christmas. I did think about joining the class action for VW reclaim, but then noticed that if its unsuccessful we might have to pay VWs fees - can't be doing with that just as I get debt-free.

I have been busy at work lately (temporary pay rise that I'm pushing into the debt) and am just getting over a bad cold, so I need to cut myself a little slack, but I also need to make sure I keep focussed. So my actions for the moment are:

• Still haven’t finished turning the curtains up – they are pinned or tacked and in place – a job for me over xmas. This is cost free, so no excuses.
• Still need to make the matching blind – another job for xmas as everything is purchased, so no excuses.
• I found some £2.99 Morrisons battery LED fairy lights which look great in the cabinet, but want to try paper inside – thought I could try wrapping paper and blutac to start. Minimal cost. Still thinking about painting it but that's a job for next summer when I can do it outside and afford the paint.
• I picked up a great side table in Ikea and then needed another smaller one. I’ve found the almost perfect one but I have no spare cash so I am waiting … almost patiently. I might try and sell my existing pine one and use the money towards the new one.
• I do want to buy a chest of drawers but I went to see the one in Ikea and didn’t like it so a rethink required. Hopefully a second hand one will turn up.
• Once my debts are all paid off I will definitely cover my arm chairs. The place that provides the tutorials looks great, although I think spring time/longer lighter days will be best. Something to look forward to.
• And then when everything is done I can start sewing and making stuff and get on with the rest of the house. I'm may have a go at covering my poang chair with something snazzy – quite fancy something orange, but it depends. Next projects are dining chairs, bedrooms and blinds.

Okay so that feels better, I have a plan. I do have things I can get on with while I'm debt-busting. I must have been away from MSE too long - need to make sure I come back regularly

btw, just one cc left at £3,950, car loan at £2k and student loan £3,400

supersaver1000

Got my figures slightly wrong last time I posted.

One cc now £2,950, car loan is now £1,360 and student loan is £3k (which I've already saved £2k towards in a 5% interest account).

OH brought up the subject of what we are going to do after dfd, and they were all sensible suggestions. It makes so much different when your partner is on side.

The to do list is definitely the long term aims. I've been busy doing small jobs around the house. It feels good to have some of those irritating little jobs and repairs out of the way.

supersaver1000

Pleased that payday has been.

So for December, the car loan is down to £580 and the credit card to £2,700, with £750 left to save on student loan: TOTAL £4,030 to go

So close, don't want to wish time away, but so looking forward to the new financial year and hopefully a new start.

supersaver1000

So, payday came before Christmas, which was a relief for Christmas spending. I didn't overspend (very much), but there is still a whole month to get through, and two more paydays before I can become debt-free! I'm so excited for dfd, but also concerned to make sure we don't get into the same position again (that I seem to have been in ever since I got married!).

I managed to get a some xmas pressie bargains from Mr Sparks as they started their sale on xmas eve! Half-price and buy 2 get one free! Who would've thought that being disorganised would have worked out so well. DH and I didn't do gifts to each other again this year - the greatest gift is us all being healthy and also anticipating being debt-free soon. We did buy a joint pressie for the home for about £50 (something we have talked all year about getting), and it was very noticeable how some members of the family called us out again this year for not buying each other presents. In previous years its made me feel a bit inadequate, but this year its just made me feel a bit annoyed. I'll need to think of a good response for next year - but I guess some people just aren't aware. That's one thing that going on this journey has made me - very aware that we are all going through different things, and that we shouldn't try and visit our situation on other people (not sure if that makes sense).

Still, I'm going into January very positive, tomorrow I will be planning for the future, ready to face my money saving challenges and make the most of my money - my elastic money (stretching it as far as it will go)

So for January 2019 the monthly update of debts is:

Car Loan: £375.51 (just Feb and March payments left)
Student Loan savings: £500 (to finish paying by April)
Credit Card: £2038.74 (my last remaining card)
Total of: £2914.25

Good Luck to everyone for a happy and prosperous new year _party_