There is always tomorrow

Sponge_pudding

Had a little panic today felt quite dark and worried about the future. I suppose it feels a long way to go and I want it done now.  Vinted has made around £97 but has slowed drastically today as I have sold out of some of the things that were going well. Trouble is to get more I need to pay out and I don't want to.  I might or might not be able to make a profit if I do and I am not sure about taking the risk.  Surveys are up to about £40 so I might just stick with them for the time being and hopefully everything else on Vinted will just continue to trickle sell.  
Spent the day with my DD yesterday and she did my nails for me, I am really pleased and it was so relaxing. I can currently see my DIL picking blackcurrants and popping one or two into her mouth as she does it   While I was working this morning she made some oat biscuits as she could see my homemade stores were depleting quickly, we then used 4 blocks of melted chocolate to go on the top so we had chocolate hob nobs (well similar) but very nice.  
When I got home from DD's yesterday I quickly made a chocolate sponge cake with chocolate butter cream filling and put a thin layer over the top. Finished it off with a small amount of grated chocolate.  Funny how quick you can do these things when you just go for it!  Have organised tea for DH as I will be working late this evenings. A cheap pizza, with extra ham and cheese ready for him to put in the oven.  He is a good cook and is happy to make tea when I am working but I am organising what we have so I stick to the shopping budget.
The horses have been out the last few nights which means, no straw and less hay and less work, so a win win there.  I took my little dog for a quick walk dinner time as she was looking at me with puppy dog eyes.  I like to get out and have some fresh air and I know she likes it too.
I don't think I will be doing any cooking later as I finish late and will probably just want to flop on the settee and relax.
I swopped my overdraft over to a money transfer on a credit card today, it was 6.78% for 24 months. I can't get an interest free atm for some reason even though my credit score is good.  The overdraft rate was 24% or something like that so it's a win for me.  I've cancelled so many automatic renewals, subscriptions etc. so am now hoping I can treat the CC like a loan and pay it off in the 24 months.  I have organised an automatic transfer from the bank account monthly in case I forget.

Sponge_pudding

Forgot to say, a NESD today

Sovereign_Hunter_999

I'm right by your side Sponge_pudding. It may well be a long and bumpy road at times, but we will get there. One foot in front of the other 😊

Sponge_pudding

Thank you Sovereign_Hunter_999 how lovely to have you along and thank you for stopping by.  
I don't know why but I am tearful today, felt this way yesterday as well. It maybe the come down from all the excitement I felt at selling a lot on Vinted and beginning to get to grips with the debt.  Now though I am starting to realise the enormity of the task ahead of me, and not just that but the length of time it is going to take.  I mean it took years to get into debt and it has been that way for a long time, so it is not going to change overnight.  

I was awake early again this morning so decided to get up, shower and wash my hair. It certainly feels better being clean and tidy to face the day, an extra hour or two of sleep would probably have felt a little better though.  I've been sorting out my Tesco order for this week and planning the meals we can have.  I am applying the same rules, make it and batch cook it, rather than convenience.  This week I am going to be making a curry, chicken and bacon pasta bake and lasagne, 6 portions of each to go in the freezer. DH loved his little pizza last night, asked where I had bought it as it was the nicest he has had for a while, hmmmm I will be making some more of them then.  

Cake wise this weekend I am going to make biscuits, a large cake and some fruit cake.  All will be cut up into slices and frozen individually. I do find individually freezing portions is really economic.  Sliced two more loaves this morning, one to eat today and one for the freezer. DD snuck a piece of chocolate cake this morning, telling me it was rude to show her and not let her have some

MayDogsandCoffee

I was horrified to learn that most of Tesco ready meals have chicken from Thailand - I moan about it very loudly every time I am in.  I suppose that is what makes them cheap - but I would sooner have the higher welfare for animals.  I am fortunate to have two butchers in our little market town who can say which local farm the meat is from and that they travel less than 20 for dispatch.  It is more expensive a homemade chicken curry actually works out cheaper when bulked with pulses and veg without losing the flavour.  By the way, your user name has me craving sponge and custard, not ideal in this weather, and not good because I am coeliac.

Middle_Aged_Guy

Hello Sponge_pudding , I have just read through your diary & can i just say how fantastic you are doing. 
You sound like you have the most idyllic life.
Yes money is and can be a stress, but you have so much positive stuff going on in your life that money cannot buy.

I have bookmarked your journey and will be cheering you on from the sidelines! 

You've got this..

M.A.G.

Sponge_pudding

How lovely of you both to stop by MayDogsandCoffee and Middle_Aged_Guy.  Sponge pudding and custard with some treacle is just yummy and a must for days that require some comfort eating, hopefully there are some gluten free alternatives out there for you?  Money making venture at the ready otherwise I am sure! .  I'm not so sure about idyllic life at times but I am very fortunate in so many things and I need to remember to be grateful so thank you
Today is another beautiful day, washing is on and first load is out. It's another long day for me at work today but at least it is WFH with no meetings planned.  Vinted did well yesterday after all total is now £125.69 but has slowed down a lot. Keeping my fingers crossed tightly that it picks up again, after 7.30pm seems a good time for selling, I suppose everyone is scrolling whilst watching telly.

Sponge_pudding

Last winter the storm took our side gate out, literally snapped the post off the house and took the gate with it.  As usual in our financial world, we put on blinkers and ignored it.  DH bought a post about 3 months ago and last night the man called over and put the new post in, charged us £40.  Earlier in the day DH did a hobble and earned £40 so in one hand and out the other but at least we have a nice working gate and no money out of the bank.
Me on the other hand, well....... I have no idea what I am playing at today.  I have contacted a mortgage broker and asked if we can afford to buy a small house to rent out, we definitely can't afford another mortgage but we do have equity. I wondered if it could be considered a retirement plan/investment. I don't know, I am not savvy in this way at all. I like the idea but I have no idea whether my future financial self will like me for doing it.  Anyway, it is not a done deal, just an enquiry so we will see. It's better I ask and get it off my chest as the thought has been bubbling away for a while and I clearly need to know one way or another.  DH is not particularly in favour. I'm off to play with figures and see if they have miraculously got any better.

 

Sponge_pudding

Beautifully warm here this morning but overcast, wind is also warm which feels weird.  I have a headache which often happens when it is thundery but also happens a lot anyway!  
Tesco order tomorrow is £58.07 so far and Vinted is £138.89.  I now have a positive bank account balance but a higher credit card.  It is better though as the interest rates are a lot lower on the deal they offered me and last month my overdraft charged me £64.18 so not ok with that at all. Looking at it positively though, I did earn overtime of £66.35 which has now covered it so debt did not increase.  It can't stretch any further though so it also means £64.18 less saved towards the target this month.
I so wish this debt busting would happen quicker, I have no patience at the best of times. Yesterday was a NSD and would have been today but for that damn interest.  
This weekend will be cooking, cleaning, visiting DD and picking blackcurrants. I also want to try to brush the horses, they are all out which means they need the oil in their coats to protect them against the weather, but they have quite a lot of loose hair that could do with a quick flick off.  I wont be thanked for showing them any interest and in fact will probably be seen as an inconvenience.  Eating grass all day is soooo much better than being pampered, and any efforts I do make will be rolled off immediately. I have a camera in the stables linked to my phone with sound. The first stable is more of a small barn and they also use that as shelter during the day.  It is lovely to have a nose at them when I can't be with them to check they are ok.

Blackcats

Hello!  A great start from you.  I found the main difference for me was a much sharper focus on our money  - well actually any sort of focus was better than when I buried my head in the sand and buried the bills in the kitchen drawer 🤷‍♀️

there are pros and cons to a second property.  Double stamp duty to start with, higher mortgage costs, letting fees and tax are significant costs.  It's worth looking at what income would actually be left at the end of each month, factor in repairs and potentially empty months.  I might sound like I'm against idea and I'm definitely not as I think it's a good long term strategy.  Maybe I'm just wearing my Little Miss Sensible hat today 😆

whatever you decide at least you are exploring options.