Here We Go...Debt, Diet, DIY & Wedding!!

Sammy_Girl

newsgroup_monkey wrote: »

I'm really into Photography. One of my current goals is to make time to do a local-council funded Photography course. I can't believe the money that people ask for doing a wedding shoot.

Are there not any decent amateurs near you that would do it for considerably less? Do you know anyone at work (or play) who is into photography?

In this day and age of digital, I have found that many people only want a couple of "real" pictures and are happy to have the rest on CD and in Digital format. I took a pile of photographs at my Brothers wedding recently and need to spend a bit of time getting them ready, but I have a feeling that there is some money-making to be had out of wedding photography. I need to put together a portfolio now.

For my wedding (pre-digital), the Photographer dropped one of his cameras and about 1/3rd of the pictures never came out. He gave us a discount and a few freebies, but it wasn't the same. One of the beauties of digital is that not only do you see the finished article as soon as you've taken it (albeit only 3 inches or so) but it's very easy to back it up on-site. When I'm out in the field, I have a backup drive that I can quickly copy pictures onto. It takes seconds and I tend to do this every 15 minutes.

Hi NM,

Many thanks. I have actually had an offer from an up and coming photographer who needs to expand her portfolio so am definitely going to look into that. My brother is a fantastic photographer but does it as a hobby, nothing professional. So I thought I might ask him to take the informal reception shots. But not the formal photos!!! Trouble is he lives abroad and I am still waiting for him to photoshop some family shots from last summer!!

Wedding photography is incredibly lucrative. I would do it myself, but I'm afraid I have no talent in photography!!! £2k seems to be the average price and that is without all of the extras. I had one quote for the photographer all day and the all singing and dancing photo albums and it cost over £4k!!!!

Definitely put a portfolio together and maybe start asking family/friends if they know of any weddings where you can start building the portfolio up.

Good luck :j

Sammy x

Sammy_Girl

Good news! Checked my online banking today and had £17.22 in credit as I had a refund from Homebase on the weekend. Decided to transfer that £17.22 straight across to my credit card!! My bank balance now stands at exactly £0.00 so wish I'd left maybe a £0.01 so at least I can say it is in credit!!

Also the very kind bank clerk gave me a wad of coin bags so tonight I can count up all loose change lingering at home and maybe pay some more off

Sammy x

moanymoany

Sammy_Girl wrote: »

Is there a wedding channel on Sky????? I didn't know that! Do you know what channel number. Many thanks :j

Sammy x

Sorry Sammy, I don't have sky now - but it was at the end of the list near the films - if that makes any sense?

I made my daughter a wedding cake. She can't eat any dairy so it was easier. I rented a large heart shaped mould and made a sponge - no-one likes rich fruit cakes much. I bought some of that roll out ready made icing. Even with a few flaws it looked very nice. I had a centre piece made with fresh apricot and mauve flowers and - though I say it myself - it looked lovely and got lots of compliments - people asking where I had it made!

Sammy_Girl

moanymoany wrote: »

Sorry Sammy, I don't have sky now - but it was at the end of the list near the films - if that makes any sense?

I made my daughter a wedding cake. She can't eat any dairy so it was easier. I rented a large heart shaped mould and made a sponge - no-one likes rich fruit cakes much. I bought some of that roll out ready made icing. Even with a few flaws it looked very nice. I had a centre piece made with fresh apricot and mauve flowers and - though I say it myself - it looked lovely and got lots of compliments - people asking where I had it made!

Hi Moany,

I shall have a hunt on sky tonight for the wedding channel. I'm sure it's still there - they have a channel for almost anything nowadays

I have though about doing my own cake as I've seen quite a few now where there is a 5 tier stand and 4 stands are full of cup cakes with nice decoration and the top is a nice simple small cake which is cut. I might try out my baking skills over the coming months

Sammy x

Sammy_Girl

Have had a good and a bad MSE day. Good side I counted up and bagged all my loose change from my pot at home last night and had £55 to apy off my credit card:j .Paid it into the Halifax this morning on my way to see a client in town. When I was in town I bought a bag for holiday (£38) and on my way back to the office signed up to the gym next door for £17. So £38 + £17 = £55!!!!!

Well at least I'm not worse off. I just balanced out!! RE the gym, at the current time this is a necessity for me as I am so unhappy with all the weight I have put on over the last year and need the motivation to shift it. The gym is literally next door to my office, so I joined up with a colleague and we are going to go in the mornings before work. Not starting till Tuesday but at least I have joined now. And for £17 a month in London it's a really really good rate.

Couple more things to do at work and then it's a Bank Hol weekend :j

Sammy x

Sammy_Girl

I cannot believe it's Sunday already :eek: Only one more day of a long weekend left!!

DIY has been going really well. Can nearly see the light of the end of the tunnel in the bathroom! Only things left to do are cosmetic fittings. The bathroom is definitely the best room we've done. Albeit we've only done 2 rooms so far :rotfl: OH is out at the pub tonight and he is going to ask his mate who is a landscaper to give us a quote to clear our bad half of the garden and put in some nice crazy praving!! Oh and to fix our fences too. If they were any more horizontal they'd be lying down :rotfl:

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I have started my diet, and I'm still resisting temptation (apart from the cake slice on Tuesday!!). I can't wait for the next weigh in on Tuesday

Just over a week until I get paid, and then I can clear one of my debts completely :j I cannot wait.

Hope everyone is having a great Bank Hol weekend

Sammy x

Sammy_Girl

:j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j

Had my weigh in and lost another 3lbs!!!! That brings my total to a loss of 5lbs since I started 2 weeks ago. I am so happy. I needed a lot of willpower over the bank hol weekend. I'm so glad it's paid off. I got up at 5.45am, took my dog for a stroll and then went straight to the gym and ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes. All bright and breezy for work for 8.30am. I am so tired Another hour and a half till home time and then a nice healthy dinner, bath and bed methinks.

Sammy x

lucielle

Well done you. Gosh my get up and go got up and went!!!! Keep it up you are going to look Fab on your big day.

Sammy_Girl

What a day! I had such a pants morning at work and have just really really cheered myself up :j :j :j

I thought I would be paid on Monday, but in fact got paid today, so I have just come off the phone to Capquest to clear my balance on the Egg loan My current account is £719.43 down, but at least that is a second DCA out of my hair

So I now have 3 debts left to pay off :j :j :j . Considering I had 5 debts to pay off this time last year, I am a very happy bunny indeed. I asked the lady on the phone if they could send me confirmation in writing that the account had been settled, but apparently they have a new policy where I have to put that request in writing. Strange. Anyway will make sure that makes tonights post.

Now I only have one DCA left to tackle. I was going to increase the payments to them, but now have decided to carry on paying them £203 per month, and put the extra money I would have used to pay them into a savings account each month when I get paid, so that hopefully in October time I can be in a position to offer a full and final settlement. :T

Will wait to update my signature until all debt DDs have left my account, but my debts as of 30/05/08 are:

First Revenue Association (HSBC loan) = £5739.06
Halifax Credit Card (Still active ) = £1748.00
Student Loan = £5608.24

Total = £13,095.30

(plus a mortgage of £174,000 :eek: , but that doesn't count yet. Will become a MFW when I have graduated from DFW!!)

I have joined the June £10 a day challenge, and so am determined to meet this. I have a load of stuff I want to sell on Ebay, and every bit counts

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Friday.

Sammy x

superslayeruk

Hi Sammy

Have you tried ebay for your bridesmaid dresses? I know several people who have gone for different dresses but in the same colour if all of your bridesmaids are different shapes and sizes then this might even be a blessing as no two shapes look the same in the same style frock! I am also looking at making my own stationery as the price i was quoted was £600 + just for the invites! Also not sure if you have explored using Quidco, i have only been using it for about a month but have already earned £100 back mostly through car insurance. The only trick with quidco is find the item you are looking for at the cheapest possible price then look to see if the vendor is on quidco, if they are then bargain!

Best of luck with your wedding - what date are you getting married on as i am getting married on 22 August 09.:j