My new and MORE DETERMINED diary

saver03

Keeping_Motivated wrote: »

Hello I've just read your diary... So so sorry about your friend, its early days so allow your self time to grieve you've lost something precious so how could you not be upset.

One thing that struck me the most is the negative vibe you have on yourself... You set yourself huge goals then berate yourself coz you didn't meet them. You've already identified you need to make your goals smaller and more achieveable which is great but how about using this diary to list the positives you achieve each day too. No matter how small or insignificant they seem make sure you write them down.

I can start you off, you have not added to your debt for xxxx months? So its not going up, you have changed your mindset about spending. You have integrity as you want to pay your mum back every penny you owe her (some don't care when its family). You have a goal career wise and you are taking steps to achieve it. You are managing to pay £500 per mth to debt and £300 to savings wow that is some going. You have changed you mindset in your 20s, very lucky here as many of us are older than that before we realise so you now have a bright debt free future looming sooner than many of us....etc etc etc

Take care
KM x

In reference to this reply I thought that I would write down a list of the things I have achieved so far and this will hopefully spur me on.

What I have achieved so far:

• I have paid back £8447.17
• I have been reducing my debt for 20 months
• I have changed my attiude towards grocery shopping
• My budgeting has improved
• I make less impulse buys, whether it be clothes, DVDs etc.
• We waste a lot less food
• I can meal plan for a month
• I remember to turn evrything off at the plug and never leave lights on
• I always go to cashback sites if buying online
• Getting into a routine of daily clicks and surveys
• Making slow but steady progress and £ on ebay

I can't think of anything else but it amazes me how much I have actually paid off :A and it also annoys me when I think about what we could have spent that on :mad:

Keeping_Motivated

When you look at that list you must be proud? You could have still be adding to that debt for the last 20mths and what position would you be in now? Not a good one I don't think... You've done so well...:T :T :T

Keep on thinking of the positives and when you can't think of anything positive at least try and balance it rather than going straight to the completely negative thought.

Take care
KM x

saver03

I have decided to change my mini goals a little. Initially I was trying to pay off £5000 by the end of the year but that may prove a bit too hard and as usual I will probably end up giving up and then being mad at myself. I would have had £4500 left to pay but instead I want to get below £10000 by the end of the year so that leaves me £3501 and that would leave my debt at £9999, which would be psychologically better I feel. I pay £500 a month back at the moment so that would only leave £1001 extra to find so I do feel that is doable as it is £200.20 a month. Can't forget that £1 as that is what will actually put me under :rotfl:

I have my interview/audition for college next week and hopefully I will get in. So, then I will have to decide what to do about work and when it will actually be possible for me to work.

I also, need to keep working on ebay as that would be a great way of bringing in the extra £200.20 a month.

MINI GOALS:

• Get my debt under £10000 by 31st December - £0/£3501
• List 5 things on ebay by Thursday 17th July - 0/5
• Save money for Centre Parcs or College - £350/£1000

Well I must go as I still have a living room full of boxes to sort out :mad: and hopefully can make a start on some ebay listing.

I WILL BE GOOD AND MORE FOCUSED TODAY :A

saver03

I have actually been working well on ebay over the past few days whether it be actually listing or just sorting out my treasures. :A Today I will taking pictures and getting things organised for a mad listing on Sunday. I just need to be more disciplined and make sure I don't actually buy off there too :mad:

I hope to have a very low spending weekend as I am not sure if it will be possible to have a NSW (no spend weekend). I will keep myself busy to stop myself getting bored and saying, "Oooh shall we just to (insert any shop's name here!!)" I will be ebaying as I am loving seeing the boxes go down and my paypal balance go up. I also have to prepare for my college interview/audition on Tuesday so there is no need for me to go out and spend, fingers crossed!

I also, need to think about money if I actually get into college as I won't be able to work as many hours. But I don't want to jinx myself and start planning now and then not get in!!

I WILL EBAY AND MAKE GOOD PROGRESS

saver03

I had my interview/ audition today and it went well securing me a place at college :j So as of September I will be a student and I will be even poorer :eek:

I now have to decide what to do in regard to work and the hours that I will be able to work. I also don't think I should be going to Centre Parcs for a mid week break in September so hopefully I will be able to sell the tickets and try to get some money back. There is the course fee which is £1056 so I have so much to think about. I am also back at the Drs tomorrow so I will have to see what he says about me returning to work yet. Oh my head hurts from all this thinking :rotfl:

Well I must go as I am very tired and I need to wrap some ebay stuff up before I have a well deserved early night.

daphne_descends

:T well done Saver! That's great :T What are you going to be studying?

saver03

daphne_descends wrote: »

:T well done Saver! That's great :T What are you going to be studying?

It is Performing Arts and hopefully I will go onto university and get a high paid job and live in the lap of luxury :rotfl:

saver03

I am really happy about getting into college and actually having the opportunity to do something that I really enjoy :j Also, my OH and my friends are happy for me too but then there is always the exception and it always my mum and nan. Apparently, my nan has been saying to my mum that I should be back at work by now and what is the point of me going to college :mad: and how will I manage to survive if I have to work less hours. And when I spoke to her she said she was just going to let me get on with it. My mum has said she is proud of me for getting in but in the next breath she said, "As long as there is some purpose to it." She gives with one hand and then takes it away with the other. I just want them to be proud of me and happy that I have got in and have something that I actually want to do. When I did my BTEC in drama, 2000-2002, they were not supportive at all they couldn't understand why I was doing it and never offered me any support. They were always on at me to do something more productive. Even when I got into universities and one of the countries top drama schools they still were not supportive or happy. Then I got really ill and was unable to accept any places and here we are 6 year later with me just muddling along with no aim and no sense of happiness. I remember being at college and my mum coming to watch a mime and movement piece that we did and all she did after was slag it off, saying she didn't understand it and couldn't see the point. But at least she came unlike my nan. Then when my nan's sisters grandson did theatre studies A level my nan went to see his shows and everyone was really supportive of him. "Ooh he's so good. What a great singing voice he has. He'll go far." and other sycophantic phrases. One of my nan's other sisters said to him before going, "Come and give us a kiss before you're a superstar." Now I am not saying that I want to be a superstar but all I want is a little recognition and support. :mad: I know my mum has helped me out A LOT financially but I think it is more out of guilt, all the money in the world won't make me feel loved.

Anyway, enough of my rambling! I need to start getting my ebaying done. I was at the drs yesterday and he signed me off for another 2 weeks but I hope to go back to work then so I better make use of my time off and get everything on ebay.

Also, I spoke to the customer services at the college and they said that as it is my first time doing a level 3 qualification I won't have to pay the course fees :j but the tutour says I will :mad: so I will save up the £1056 in case I do have to pay and if by some stroke of luck I don't then it can go straight off my debts :A There will be other expenses for college like buying books and my bus fares but I will factor those into my soa. I have already ordered 2 books that the tutour recommened so I can do some summer reading :A I am such a swot :rotfl: I think I may need some new clothes as we are only allowed to wear black but I need to clarify if it is plain black and what kinds of things would be suitable.

Well I must go as have to be focused on my ebaying :A

saver03

MINI GOALS:

• College course fee - £250/£1056
• Get my debt under £10000 by 31/12/08 - £0/£3501
• List 25 things on ebay by 31/07/08 - 0/25

I must be good and focused and make sure I do at least the goal I have set myself for ebay, ideally more. In regards to my college fees if I do actually have to pay them I will need to pay at least half at enrolement which is the end of August :eek: so that is another £278 :eek: ebay here I come :rotfl:

Any advice is greatly received as I want to raise my fees instead of having to raid my isa and I am sure it is doable.

saver03

I have not really done much today :mad: but on a plus I haven't spent anything :A yet :rotfl:

I have started writing my description to sell my Centre Parcs holiday on ebay and I do hope it sells so I can get a bit of money back and that can go towards my college fees. I must also make sure that I list other things on ebay as they seem to be taking over the house :rotfl:

We are also popping out soon to get a few bits, which is always lethal! But if we can just stick to what we need and not give in to the temptation buys then we should stay well within our budget.

I WILL BE GOOD AND I WILL MAKE SURE I EBAY HARD THIS WEEKEND :A