Pixie is back and feeling positive

pixiechick99

Good morning:wave:
This week has marked my 10-year anniversary of being on here but I haven't posted much in a while so I decided it's time for a new diary. At this point in my life, I have the least money I've ever had so I really need to get focussed and ensure I don't get any more into debt;)

So, my debts...I can't put an exact figure on it - but it is under £5k. I have some on a 0% card, some on a N£xt account, the rest on a Ll0yds cc. I can't overpay sadly, I just have to keep paying what I can and keep everything I spend as low as I can.

I live with my 2 grown up daughters of 21 and 19. Both work full time and give me a good bit of money each month. Youngest is going to uni in September, but will be living at home.

I work full-time as a teaching assistant which I love but is unfortunately very low paid. I rent the house we live in for £775 a month which is much of my wages! Along with a bit of housing benefit and money from the girls, we get by - just!

I kept several diaries on here over the years which really helped me keep organised and motivated. I've felt like I've lost focus and am being a bit lazy so hopefully this diary will help me. I've been reading some other diaries this week and it's definitely inspired me!

This week has been half term and also the end of May - a really expensive month for me as it's both my daughters' birthdays. So now they are out of the way I can rack up lots of no spend days.

If you've read this far then thank you:D
I'll try not to be too boring:rotfl:

pixiechick99

So, my vague plan involves...

• count NSDs
• sort a separate grocery account again
• check online banking more regularly (no ignoring)
• keep on top of housework
• regularly list bits and bobs on ebay
• keep a positive mindset!

It's not exactly wild but it's enough for me.
I have 6 items on ebay at the moment - a small start!

I've had a few car-related problems this year:o I had to scrap my car as it died and bought another, just a cheap one. But...a month later I had an accident, drove into the back of someone, and the car had to be written off:(

We are currently car-less but waiting for another to be sorted by my local garage then I can buy it. Very fortunately for me, the insurance paid out quickly and actually gave me a little more than I'd paid. It's just the insurance payments that will go up. My daughter drives it too - she misses it more than me! Hopefully we'll be mobile again soon - I miss being able to take myself food shopping. Also, it's not cheap buying food from the local T£sco. I'm a L1dl fan:D

So, I'm going to go and hang some bedding on the line as the sun has miraculously appeared! There's plenty of housework needing doing too of course:rotfl:

pixiechick99

I had a nice wander to the shops - good to see the sun!
I spent £5.50 in T£Sco on milk, wraps for dinner, jam, laundry liquid and coke. I dropped a bag of books off at the charity shop and only spent £1 on another book;) Also £2 in the chemist on some body butter and hair conditioner. So under £10 spent. Shouldn’t need any more food shopping this weekend now.

I’m thinking about using one of my empty bank accounts as a grocery account again. I did that for a few years but then stopped, not sure why now. As I have the car money in my savings account I might take out some and put it in a separate current account (I have a few all with the same bank) and only use that for food. Then every month I’ll top it up. It might make me focus more on my grocery’s spends as those little shops add up. I’ll have a think....

Dd2 is at work today, dd1 is away on holiday this week with her boyfriend so it’s very quiet here. I’m going to make myself some lunch and sit with my book outside for a bit before cracking on with some much needed housework! I always plan on doing loads in half term...then half term comes and I really can’t face it. But I am trying to more organised and together...so today I will do it!:D

beanielou

Hello:wave:
Anything you could sell to target the next account?

pixiechick99

beanielou wrote: »

Hello:wave:
Anything you could sell to target the next account?

Hi Beanie:)
I know I should send money from ebay sales to my next account...I’m terrible for thinking I’ve ‘made money’ so I can buy something new:o I think I’ll start to send ebay earnings to the account...it would be a good one to knock down. Thanks for making me ‘see’ that!

beanielou

pixiechick99 wrote: »

Hi Beanie:)
I know I should send money from ebay sales to my next account...I’m terrible for thinking I’ve ‘made money’ so I can buy something new:o I think I’ll start to send ebay earnings to the account...it would be a good one to knock down. Thanks for making me ‘see’ that!

Every little helps

pixiechick99

Glorious sun here today so will have to make the most of it at some point!
I have transferred £100 to a separate account to use as grocery spends for the month. I will add to it but have no more money until my dd1is home and sends me the money she does each month;) I need a few bits from the shop today - the fridge is looking rather sad. I haven’t done a big shop for over a week, being car-less:( When dd1 and her boyfriend are home later this week I’ll be able to get the bus to L1dl and they can pick me up in his car. So until then I am trying to use what we have as much as I can.

1 load of washing is on the line and another is in the machine - I have actually cleared the pile! I even got pretty up to date on the ironing yesterday and have all clean washing put away. Dd2 has just gone to work, so a day to myself. I packed her off with lunch to stop her spending;)
Here’s a list for today:

• Get all washing dried outside and put away later
• Make up dd1’s bed
• Put bags of winter coats up the attic
• Meal plan for half of the week
• Bake some treats for the week - dd2 has eaten half of the banana loaf I made yesterday!
• Tidy my room
• Tidy up the garden - weeding mainly
  • Clean the bathroom

That’s me for now:)

pixiechick99

Not much spent today - £7 spent on some chicken drumsticks for dinner, cherries, bananas, nectarines and bacon. Nothing unnecessary!

I listed a few more bits on eBay, I have 10 things there now. Also bagged up some old books for the charity shop - nothing worth selling.

I had a slight problem using the bank card for my grocery account - the card had expired:o I’ll see if I have a new one stashed away, if not I’d better transfer my money back until I get another!

Off to put all the clean washing away, tidy my room and clean the bathroom before dd2 is home from work and then I’ll get dinner on!

RhiBi

Hi! The Next account is horrible isn't it! It's so easy for it to add up, mine was over £2000 at one point. I do PADding on that account, even if it's £1 a day, it all adds up and chips away at the debt!

Good luck xxxx

pixiechick99

RhiBi wrote: »

Hi! The Next account is horrible isn't it! It's so easy for it to add up, mine was over £2000 at one point. I do PADding on that account, even if it's £1 a day, it all adds up and chips away at the debt!

Good luck xxxx

Hi:) I did think as I read your diary that I should try to do that - chip away small amounts. I’m too good at just ignoring it! Im goin to try...it’s not going to go away all by itself, sadly;)

pixiechick99

Not a huge amount to report here. Fed up with having to nip to the T£sco express every day to pick up stuff -can’t wait to be driving again and can get to L1dl where it’s sooo much cheaper:D

Yesterday I spent £5 on potatoes, spag hoops, fruit, coke and reduced brioche buns. Today’s bits came to 6 - bananas, grapes, pittas, onions rings and milk. We are having burgers from the freezer with the reduced brioches and onion rings.

I had 2 lovely bits of post yesterday - one was a cheque for £46 for my car tax refund and the other a letter from the insurer saying they’ll send my bank account £49 from the insurance premium overpayment. A lovely extra £100 almost:T

I had 2dresses arrived from T£sco direct today, 1 was reduced to £11 and the other was £14. I think I’ll keep them both as they’re perfect for work. Even when the weather isn’t as hot it’s boiling at work so i prefer dresses to trousers.

A few bids are on my eBay items, hopin for a few good sales!:)