SusieT78 Debt Free Diary

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Not had a good couple of days on the Swagbucks/Surveys front, struggling to find anything I qualify for. Hope that changes soon as I'm intending to pay for Xmas presents using Paypal!
I'm not a member of Topcashback but do use Quidco - I think they're more or less the same thing?

Spending wise I'm not doing too badly, been using up food from freezer to avoid doing a "big shop" and taking picnics when I take the kids on (free) days out.

I am the world's worst procrastinator though and still haven't written to the creditors to tell them I can't afford to pay them anymore. I've finally admitted to myself there's a problem but I really need to tell the lenders too. If I don't do it soon then there'll be another month of payments coming out and that will take me over my overdraft limit for sure. The thought of moving all DDs for everything else to another bank account seems like a mammoth task too. I know it has to be done. I think I'm just a bit nervous because at the moment all payments are up to date, so once I tell them that's it, no going back, credit rating wrecked and no more borrowing.

I know it's still early days but I'm doing very well on the no unnecessary spending front, the only things I've bought have been petrol for my partner's commute, milk, bread and sandwich meat, still using up freezer food for meals, although will have to do a 'big shop' next week as the freezers are nearly empty now.

Rather than go out for a drink a friend came over last night to keep me company while my partner was at work. I said I'd cook but my friend treated me to takeaway instead once the kids went to bed, which was a lovely gesture. We had a good night and my friend has asked to come over again next Friday. so that's nice, still socialising without spending and I'll cook as we can usually get an extra portion if I pick the right meal.

I have also made a start on writing the letters making my £5 a month offers to the creditors, so they will definitely be received by the end of the month. I still need to finish them off but at least I've made a start.

I've also signed up for Prolific Academic as suggested, but there's nothing there for me - probably the wrong time of year, I imagine it's a quiet site in August due to Uni holidays.
I've done as much as I can on Swagbucks and MySurvey, but am still getting screened out alot.

Scott_Weiland wrote: »

Save on postage stamps see if you can email your creditors alot will let you x

PA can be very seasonal if your spending an hour or two on line your best opening it in your browser and checking it repeatedly.

I was planning on sending everything recorded delivery so they can't deny they've received it, plus I'm going to ask them to only contact me by snail mail - I don't check my email every day and I can't face the idea of talking to anybody on the phone about it all at the moment. I plan to get a box file going where I can keep all correspondence.

Thanks for the tip about PA I've had a couple of small tasks off there now :beer:

Yesterday met up with a relative and their kids and we all headed to the beach about 90 mins away, so used more petrol than normal, but took a picnic (would normally just pop into a chain pub for lunch). When the kids asked for ice creams I told them we had ice cream at home so they could have some when we got in (would usually have just bought them some if asked). They all had a lovely time and it's making me feel reassured that they will still have a fun childhood even if we can no longer have the holidays, meals out and treats. It was lovely watching them squeal with delight jumping in the waves.
Total spend yesterday was £4.69 on groceries (mostly for picnic) and £22.58 on petrol. There's enough petrol left to get my partner to work and back a couple of times though.

I needed to do a top up shop of perishables and some cleaning products today, but took a list and stick to it mostly. I'm actually thinking "do we need it" rather than "I want it" when I'm going shopping now. Total spend today was £23.91.
This means I've only got £39.78 to last the next 6 days but at least being aware of that means I'm less likely to overspend as I have been doing up til now.

I've been keeping going with the surveys, but not been able to do a cashout on any of them again yet, although I'm getting very close. Nothing has hit paypal yet.
I'm enjoying the PA surveys the most, they are different and more interesting than others and seem to be better paid too. I'm struggling with the MySurvey website, seems to be on a go slow, but I'm not sure if the issue is at their end or just my computer.

Running totals:
August groceries/toiletries/cleaning: £80.86/120.64 (pro rata for 11 days)
August Petrol: £22.58/£35.48 (pro rata for 11 days)
2017 Paypal Birthday/Xmas fund: £0
2017 Quidco cashback: £1.07