Getting a grip on my life...

FaceHeelTurn

Paid another 1% off my overall total today, bringing me up to 8%. I've been recording my %s in a little money notebook, colouring in each square as I pay it off. I hope to have 10% done by the end of the month so will be really excited to have coloured in my first line! It's the small things....:rotfl:

Have been doing pretty well with freebies this month too...just back from a talk by a well known cosmetics company about their sustainability, and got myself a lovely free soap!

Tonight will consist of me making my way through a massive pile of laundry (I live alone....how do I have so much to wash?!), and eating some leftover meatballs from the weekend. I'm also trying to work my way through any DVDs I own but haven't watched, and in a month or two, chucking them all in a box for Music Magpie or the like. I know DVDs get only a few pennies of most of those sites, but every little helps.

Feeling quite positive recently about the debt busting...almost afraid to be too positive in case karma decides to throw something in my way

FaceHeelTurn

Feeling extra motivated today and have decided to go for another promotion at work. It's highly unlikely that I'll even reach the interview stage, but I feel like I'm stagnating a bit in life currently and so I thought I would just go for it. It would be a very noticeable jump to my salary, and I have all the essential criteria so why not?!

Last night I did some laundry, had my leftover meatballs but instead of watching a movie like planned, I watched The Office. For the umpteenth time. Just goes to show that most of the DVDs I own, I have little actual interest in, so I think a Music Magpie offering might come sooner rather than later.

Tonight I plan to box up an ebay item that ends tomorrow (and should facilitate another 1% payment off my debt), and tidy up my bedroom a bit; it's a compete tip!

Might also try to finish reading a book; I've set a target of reading 40 books this year on Goodreads; I've read 6 so far, so I'm ahead of schedule!

FaceHeelTurn

Not much in the way of debt busting this week; now scrimping until pay day next Thursday! Took a day off work yesterday, and pottered about the house. Also went out for a dander and with the intention of using the Job Spotter app; got a few good hiring signs and claimed another Amazon voucher. I think Job Spotter has taken off in my (small) city as when I'm verifying other submissions, I've spotted quite a few familiar places. Last summer when I first started using the app, I was earning Amazon vouchers very steadily with the app (managed over £100 in August alone) but this has severely dipped. Now aiming for at least £10 a month which will still be a fantastic amount to put towards Xmas presents.

Also tried paying off a very tiny residual amount from the CC which I recently balance transferred. So tiny apparently the provider's system wouldn't accept it, as it's less than a pound. So gave them a call and they told me they would just write it off. It's still appearing on my statement however, although maybe these things take a day or two to carry over? I'll keep checking that and if needs be call them again.

I've been doing the 1% challenge this year, and have so far paid off 10% of my entire CC debt. If I keep this up, I should have paid everything off by August 2020, which doesn't sound all that far away. So all in all, feeling pretty positive at the moment re finances!

FaceHeelTurn

Checked my CC again this morning to see if the residual amount had been written off, and it has! So that should be that CC completely at 0 from now on. Will keep tabs on it for the next couple of months, and then will likely cancel it; I know this isn't always a good idea, but I now have 4 credit cards, only 1 of which I actually use, so my preference is to just close the account on this one.

I've had a pretty good week with regards to not dining out/buying my lunch, so I really want to stick at that. Visiting my parents tonight so thats about a £12 bus journey but will have a lovely homemade tea waiting for me when I get home!

Tomorrow evening I'm going to a friend's birthday party; I have her present all sorted, my costume is ready (we have to go as a historical figure), and I've put aside £15 which will cover my food and a private screening of a movie. Looking forward to that, and also feel very grateful to have friends who aren't into wild nights out

Had a good hunt through the freezer last night and should have enough to do my partner and I's dinners on Saturday and Sunday; found 2 chicken and ham kievs, 4 breaded chicken breast fillets, a 500g pack of mince, and a big bag of frozen veg. Plus we have a £5 Tesco voucher if we need anything else.

I mentioned a few posts back that my partner was trying to buy a house, and then forgot to mention that she has now actually bought it! She's seen how much my debt has affected me, and how much effort I'm putting in to clearing it, and is determined not to fall into the same traps I did when I first lived alone. I've been directing her to MSE at every opportunity and we've become a tad too over-excited while comparing budgeting spreadsheets. Being an adult is weird sometimes...:o

FaceHeelTurn

So far this month I've paid another 3% of my total CC debt; hoping to manage another 2% this month, but it's quite a long one so will have to be careful. Have a few items on ebay at the minute; they won't amount to much but a few extra pounds to throw at the debt is better than nothing.

It's my dad's birthday today so heading to see him and mum tonight; we're not big birthday people but it'll be nice to get home for an evening.

For the last couple of weeks, I've been counting calories on MyFitnessPal, and I've noticed it's had a positive affect on my budget too. I'm buying far less snacks and have been avoiding takeaways. So hopefully my waistline and debt will continue to reduce side by side

I really want to start walking the entire way to and from work every day but I just can't bring myself to do it; I used to it no bother when I lived even further away but I've gotten so lazy. It's about a 45 minute walk each way, so as well as great exercise, it would save me almost £50 a month on public transport. I really need to motivate myself!

FaceHeelTurn

Turns out I won't be heading to my parents this evening; dad's has dreadful toothache and is getting a tooth pulled this afternoon, so will likely be sleeping it off this evening, so mum's told me just wait until next week. Dad hasn't had a great year health-wise, and I've felt pretty useless throughout it. Sorry for rambling, I know this isn't a debt related post. Feeling like a useless daughter and all-round adult today.

GlendaSugarbean

It's hard when our parents get older . All you can do is keep in touch and help if they let you.

FaceHeelTurn

Thanks Glenda; it really is hard to see them grow older, although I know they absolutely still see themselves as young and I shouldn't fret so much. Anyway dad got his tooth sorted and I'm hopefully heading home this evening for his belated birthday.

Debt busting going ok; have now paid 14% of my entire CC debt, and still noticing a big difference since starting to count my calories. I've been trying to plan my meals which is helping too; getting a bit sick of salads for lunch though

enthusiasticsaver

Well done on the debt busting and the diet. I am counting calories as well and finding it tedious but stops me snacking if I have to record it. Works the same way as a spending diary really. I know what you mean about salads. Have you thought about taking a healthy meals leftovers into work for lunch the following day if you have access to a microwave?

I am alternating between salads, wraps, omelette and soup. Easier though as I don't work now.

FaceHeelTurn

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

Well done on the debt busting and the diet. I am counting calories as well and finding it tedious but stops me snacking if I have to record it. Works the same way as a spending diary really. I know what you mean about salads. Have you thought about taking a healthy meals leftovers into work for lunch the following day if you have access to a microwave?

I am alternating between salads, wraps, omelette and soup. Easier though as I don't work now.

Thank you Enthusiastic Saver The spending diary and calorie counting do work hand in hand don't they? As you say it really is tedious but it does seem to work.

I just recently got a good sized stanley flask which should be work well for leftovers; I work with students and the microwave is best avoided. Next week I'll try soup I think; I'm desperately lazy in the evenings but at least I can cook a big batch and keep some in the freezer. As long as I go easy on the bread and butter on the side