Flying solo

twiggy86

This morning didn't get off to a great start as I thought the kettle was broken! However, after fiddling around and repeatedly trying it I managed to "fix" it... if by fix it I mean plugging it into the wall properly!!! 

However, confession... we didn't go food shopping and we did buy a takeaway! My excuse was that I was really struggling yesterday and did have a slight melt down. We did however take some mince out of the freezer to have for dinner tonight after we have done the food shop - if we don't go tonight then there is nothing for me to have for lunch tomorrow, so we really must go! 

Small money win was £1.05 interest from one of my accounts! I think I'm going to make a CC payment today - the statements haven't come in yet but I'm keen to feel like I'm making progress again! I did realise that I only have one payment left for the table I got last year on interest free finance, which will then give me an extra £84 in the budget. 

I also spent some time yesterday looking at patterns and working out what I can do with some slightly expensive yarn from a crochet jumper that I had to frog as was too small. I think I can make three different knitted garments from it as have found patterns that seem to use the right amounts. I really want to make a start already but should really finish the jumper before I start on something else - I've just split for the sleeves, which was a new thing to learn!! I'm very much enjoying this new hobby and seem to have my mojo back! I do have some other yarn from years ago that I have a project in mind for but not sure I really want/ will ever get too - so I think I just have to be a bit ruthless and de-stash it. It seems wasteful to get rid of it, but if it's never going to get used then it seems pointless hanging on to it. I might pull some stuff out that I don't think I'm going to use and put in a box and see how much extra space that creates in my storage unit/ chest thingy! I've been procrastinating sorting it out more (I have started and got rid of some tiny scraps) as I haven't made the decision so this feels like one step closer towards progress! 

Today's list...

• "Fix" kettle! 
• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Work on knitted jumper 
• Load of washing on 30 degree quick cycle
• Go food shopping 
• Dinner from stores 
• Hang washing on airer 
• Maybe spend a little bit of time sorting - even if I just pull out the t-shirt yarn that is specifically what I was referring to above! 

twiggy86

Bit of a "quarter" review... 

So far this year I've paid:
Jan - £500
Feb - £205
Mar - £110
Total = £815

And whilst I feel like that's slightly rubbish progress, I need to remember that I have also paid £2,300 for a new boiler and rebuilt my £1,000 emergency fund. So when I factor that in, then I don't feel so bad. My debt is currently £7,990 which means I've paid 48% of the debt that ex left me with in 22 months - but I don't want the rest hanging around another 2 years! 

I do really want to want to clear my MBNA card before the interest free period expires in September - there's currently £2,130 left on there, meaning I'll need to pay over £400 off that card plus the minimums on the Natwest card. The overall goal is to clear £5,000 this year - which means paying £465 per month, which aligns with clearing the MBNA card. I feel like this is definitely do-able provided I don't distracted and nothing else goes wrong (which definitely isn't certain given how the year has started!) I also really want to make some DIY projects a priority this year, but they won't be cheap! Oh how much simpler life will be when I'm not trying to juggle these various "priorities"! 

Floss

twiggy86 said:

... I do have some other yarn from years ago that I have a project in mind for but not sure I really want/ will ever get too - so I think I just have to be a bit ruthless and de-stash it. It seems wasteful to get rid of it, but if it's never going to get used then it seems pointless hanging on to it... 

Maybe you could sell that yarn on Vinted or Ebay?

twiggy86

I had thought about selling @Floss - but most of it is part used balls so probably wouldn't be able to sell it. I did clear out a whole ikea kallax tub last night - asked my mum if she wanted any but she doesn't. However this morning I saw a fb post asking for craft supplies for vulnerable woman/ victims of domestic abuse (particularly close to me at the moment) so have messaged to ask if they want it. It will also help me speed up the process and be more ruthless! 

I went food shopping with bf last night, which cost £17.50 to take us up to the weekend. We have his daughter with us next week, so will need to do a bigger shop for next week. I also made a £50 CC payment which took me to 49% of my debt paid!! Didn't spend anything else but do have some bits I would like to buy today - not necessities as would be for that next knitting project that I said I shouldn't start yet!!!   I did do a little bit of crochet in bed this morning though!

Today I have/ will:

• Made lunch to take to work
• Snap some receipts that were shoved in my bag! 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Work on crafty projects 
• Pull out a couple more things I've thought that I definitely want to get rid of from my craft stash 
• "Dinner" from stores - probably just some toast before acro 

Hazelnutty

Could you sell as a bundle on FB? Someone localish may be happy with a stash of various different yarns

twiggy86

Had a fun evening at acro last night but didn't really have time for anything else! It wasn't a class so didn't pay last night but believe the plan was the split the room cost between those of us that went, so just waiting for details. 

Tonight is netball so again won't have too much time! I am hoping to do a bit more sorting through my craft stash though. However, hopefully bf's car is ready to pick up from the garage now that the head gasket is fixed - he managed to negotiate the place he bought the car from (about a month before this issue occurred) paying half, so is costing him £800! So I'm picking him up from work and then taking him there.  

I'm off work tomorrow and then not working again until next Wednesday. I tomorrow off when me and bf were planning to go away for the weekend, but with everything going on we decided not to. We have his daughter next week so Monday and Tuesday will be taking up doing fun things with her, but I don't have any plans tomorrow. Things I would like to achieve tomorrow include dying my hair, blocking my knitted jumper (it's not finished but want to block to check it actually fits before I carry on!) and doing a gauge swatch for the next project I've got lined up! 

In actual financial news - my M&S card has been closed! It's been so long since I used it that they have closed it. So it reduced my "available credit" on my credit report by £4,000 but my credit score went up by 5 points! 

Today's bits and bobs are:

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Work on knitting project 
• Dinner from stores 
• Park for free at netball 

sarah_diamond

Been reading through and caught up on your diary up to date yesterday so thought I'd say hi!

I'm also a knitter & crocheter, what's the pattern of the jumper? I'm finishing one for an event next weekend, halfway through second sleeve and need to get it all put together and the collar done so I can block it before the 10th; I work better under pressure apparently!

twiggy86

I'm back after a long weekend off work! However, time off work means time away from my spreadsheet, so I'm feeling in a bit of a muddle! I'm sure it's not that bad but I do have some things that need "rectifying" (i.e. money shuffled from one account to another so that it's spent from the right place!) 

I went paddleboarding with a friend on Friday which was lovely! Then mostly spent completing various errands, a bit of knitting/ crochet and some gardening! Bf has his daughter this week so last couple of days have been with her. We did get some flowers for the pots in the garden yesterday and then spent a bit of time out there, so it's looking much nicer now that there are extra flowers and less weeds! A job for me is to pay and organise for the green bin to be collected, as we appear to have filled it but I haven't yet paid the fee! 

I did also manage to spend some time knitting and crocheting. @sarah_diamond - I'm currently knitting the "step by step sweater". I did take it off the needles on Friday and try it on with the progress I've made so far and seems like it will fit! I also managed to swatch for my next project but think my gauge is much too lose for one of the projects I intended to make, but may work for another one I had in mind (both use same yarn) - so will double check and re-swatch as necessary! I also completed two additional colours in my crochet project, which feels good as it was getting slightly abandoned in favour of knitting! 

Anyway back in the office today, so my little list looks like... 

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet and complete any money shuffles 
• Make CC payment (statement has dropped) 
• Check gauge of swatch
• Do some knitting at lunch  
• Dinner from stores 
• Pay lowest amount at acro 

twiggy86

Spreadsheet updated and shuffles completed! Although I transferred bf £36 for something and now I can't remember what! We split everything 50/50 but it results in lots of transfers back and forth and this one I can't recall what it was all for! I do know that £20 was for dinner but can't remember what the rest covered - so at the moment it has all come out of my personal spends! Feeling much "straighter" with everything despite that annoying me! Also only £25 away from having paid off 50% of my total starting debt!!! 

I remembered that we also did a tip run on Saturday morning, so that has cleared some rubbish that was outside and a little bit from inside! So between that and the flowers etc, we have made a good amount of progress on the house despite being busy with other things! However, despite my intentions I still haven't finished sorting through my craft stash! So that must be a job for this weekend - can't do in the evenings as it's in the bedroom where bf's daughter sleeps. Also intend to sort out under the bed in there and either get rid of bits or pop up in the loft. 

sarah_diamond

That looks a nice jumper, I'll have a look at downloading that to use some of my stash! 
I'm working on Scheepjes Borderlines at the moment, desperately trying to finish it by tomorrow so I can wear it Sunday! Doing it in blue and grey, not pink like the pattern, I'm not a pink person