Challenging Myself.....

MiniLaura

Hi

Have posted SOA in past, and now at point where I'm happy with outcomings/incomings etc and need to start being really organised to get savings built up and debts busted.

My plan at present is to start getting savings up and running, and using them as needed for expenses as mentioned above. Ive used spending diary to try and figure out how much i spent on everything each month, and amounts seem reasonable to cover costs.

I like taking part in challenges here, and have seen quite a few good ideas for making extra money, just started doing Avon, and I ebay everything possible, need to be more careful with saving income tho!

Find it hard to post and keep track of various plans so going to do it here, hopefully shame myself into actually doing them!

So here goes:

EBAY/AMAZon - have loads of stuff on/to be put on - List it all by end of week....aiming to make £100 profit by end of MAY (items arent very high value)

AVON - need to keep getting new customers and aim for £30 profit per campaign

SAVINGS - get accounts sorted and set up - is there any limit to how many accs u can have?

Tax Credits overpayments - have been chased for this, really feel i shouldnt pay as they didnt use correct information but no idea how to get them to see it! Stands at £3000 roughly, may need to work out payment plan :mad:

DLA - should be entitled to higher rate, so going to try and get it sorted - been lurking for years, need to get by finger out and do it!

Think thats my challenges for the moment - hoping the ebay will help me get my house a little less cluttered too!

Will add more and keep updated

:beer:

MiniLaura

Well about time for an update!

So far I have done:

Changed all my direct debits to start of month.
Opened up savings accounts - going to save for holiday,emergencies and a DS Lite - plus a locked saver for house/car
Credit card should be gone by end of this month.

Applying for a cashback credit card to do grocery shopping on, lets me see exactly how much I spend on groceries a month, and means it all comes out my budget in one go - will set up direct debit to pay this off each month!

Feeling really positive about things.

Avon and ebay going fairly well, and will be trying a car boot at end of the month.

On hte house front,hvae been doing lots of clearing out and making house less cluttered - it helps to see how much stuff Ive accumulated over years and dont want that again - think twice before I shop!

Hope everyone else is doing well at the moment!

MiniLaura

Well now more than half way thru 2008!

Money wise, been a good year for me, I'm finally getting sorted!

Progress to report:

New Egg money card for grocery shopping, set to be paid every month.
Savings accounts up and running
Ebay is over the £100 mark, and got another big load of stuff to put on it later this month. When I'm all done ebaying will use money to go away somewhere nice - aiming for Sept/Oct.

Car boot not happening at moment, let down by family :rolleyes:

Big expenses this month will be new glasses, which I need to get back to driving...need to get that test passed.

Doing ok with avon at present, going to try and get all my info together on a spreadsheet for it and see how I am doing and where to improve. Slowly getting a customer base, few ideas for some more customers locally.

Job hunting at the moment as my placement is up in September so bit nervous about things after that!:eek:

MiniLaura

Get my new glasses sorted out

DLA application sent off

Kitchen Inventory and Meal Plan with Ingredients

Small shop at ASDA

Contact bank re Savings Accounts

List some more on Turbolister for Ebay, all ready for next cheap day. - need to look at postage prices

FLYLADY(see what I can get done from this weeks list)

Kitchen:
Open the windows and let in the light
Clear and wipe the worksurfaces & table
Wipe the little appliances and put them back in their homes
Wipe over the cupboards and large appliances
Sweep and mop the floor
Clean out Cutlery Drawers
Find new home for new items

Bathroom
Clear the floors of clutter
Clean/vacuum the floors
Shine the bath,bog,basins etc
Twinkle the tiles
Sparkle the mirrors

Sitting Room and Hallway
Declutter the chairs, floor
Vacuum the floor now it is visible
Clean any glass.. pictures, windows, mirrors etc
Vacuum under any furniture you can.. !
Sort through the shoes and coats and bags.. make them pretty!
Spend 15 minutes tackling a hotspot
Wipe the woodwork in these areas

Bedroom
Open the window and air the room
Strip off bedding and sling it in the wash
air the duvet
remake bed with the clean bedding
Vacuum the bedroom
Remove anything that should be elsewhere
Remove some dust bunnies and wipe over the light shades
Clean the windows

Others:
Ironing
Washing - 4/5 Loads and get it dry!
Take out recycling
Go to recycling bins with glass/fabric stuff

Wish me luck!!

MiniLaura

Hmmmm


Need to carry my to do list into this week.

Had fairly MSE weekend, went out to shops both days and only bought new shoes (needed for work @ £20 in barratts sale ( got kids ones lol) and a bathmat!


TO DO LIST:


[STRIKE]Get my new glasses sorted out[/STRIKE] - paid for and pick up next Sat

DLA application sent off - still to find my log on number

Kitchen Inventory and Meal Plan with Ingredients

[STRIKE]Small shop at ASDA
[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Contact bank re Savings Accounts[/STRIKE] - wrote letter still to send

List some more on Turbolister for Ebay, all ready for next cheap day. - need to look at postage prices - sorted out postage prices still to list items!

FLYLADY(see what I can get done from this weeks list)

Kitchen:
[STRIKE]Open the windows and let in the light
Clear and wipe the worksurfaces & table[/STRIKE]
Wipe the little appliances and put them back in their homes
Wipe over the cupboards and large appliances
Sweep and mop the floor
Clean out Cutlery Drawers
Find new home for new items

Bathroom
Clear the floors of clutter
Clean/vacuum the floors
Shine the bath,bog,basins etc
Twinkle the tiles
Sparkle the mirrors

Sitting Room and Hallway
[STRIKE]Declutter the chairs, floor [/STRIKE]
Vacuum the floor now it is visible
Clean any glass.. pictures, windows, mirrors etc
Vacuum under any furniture you can.. !
Sort through the shoes and coats and bags.. make them pretty!
Spend 15 minutes tackling a hotspot
Wipe the woodwork in these areas

Bedroom
[STRIKE]Open the window and air the room
Strip off bedding and sling it in the wash
air the duvet
remake bed with the clean bedding[/STRIKE]
Vacuum the bedroom
[STRIKE]Remove anything that should be elsewhere[/STRIKE]
Remove some dust bunnies and wipe over the light shades
Clean the windows

Others:
[STRIKE]Ironing
Washing - 4/5 Loads and get it dry![/STRIKE]
Take out recycling
Go to recycling bins with glass/fabric stuff

Need to get teh OH to hoover!

Off to do lots of ebaying tonight, disappointed as I didnt get all my books like I was planning

MiniLaura

Well I recently renewed my tax credits claim and I got some extra payments! I have phoned to check with them that they are correct and looks like i got the extra money to spend!

Lots of dilemas over it tho.....

Im out of work in 7 weeks - still to get new job

Do i pay off overdraft (its only £300)

Save it? - would like to go on holiday if I get another job lined up.

Its really great to haev the extra cash...but the uncertainity!

Have spent a small part of it already (about £100) so just thinking over my options now!

Feel like I only just got spending under control and I'm looking at no income again!

I definately dont want to fritter this extra money away but may be necessary!