Well, as you know, I'm attempting to organise my life. And that includes my finances. Which aren't in the best shape in the world. They could be worse but they could also be a lot better.
Now, according to www.creditexpert.co.uk my credit rating is "fair" but I'd love for it to be "good". Which means getting rid of the debt.
So in a moment of serendipity, I came across the Penny Pinching Mama. This lady has some fab tips for cutting costs, living on a budget & shifting the debt.
And for the next couple of hours she's running a competition to win a copy of her book "how to save money & get rid of debt" simply by going to her blog post here
All you need to do is comment on the blog post by the end of 28th February & you've got a chance of winning!
Good luck guys!
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Unclean, Unclean.....
Beware, for I have man-flu!! Which is typical (& more than a tad annoying) seeing as how I'm off work this week....
Littlest son has also been ill - horrid hacking/barking cough, listless & totally not himself... Last time he was like this, I ended up feeling like I do now - horrid cough, sneezing constantly, sore eyes, aching all over, freezing cold & absolutely no energy.... the rest of the house remained perfectly healthy..... hmmmm!!
Anyway, illness aside, we've been decorating this week. The biggest 2 boys bedroom to be precise. So far, we've only managed to strip the walls & fill in the holes but it's a start. And not bad when you consider we've been up to see family & also spent the day in Swansea yesterday, so we've really only had 2 days....
The house is a goddamn tip again tho.... (not that it was actually tidy but at least 2 of the downstairs rooms looked reasonable.) I have managed to keep polishing my original place (living room floor) but that's a tad difficult as we have no vacuum cleaner at the moment. The shit spots have regathered shit and the dining room table (which had become an extension of the place polishing) is also covered in crap.... I blame having everyone round... honestly, it's nothing to do with my own laziness...
I'll kick-start it all again in a minute and in the meantime, in case you were interested in where I'd got up to on the Habithacking steps (before it all went pear-shaped), I've now begun my Brain On Paper (BOP); added to it and learnt about the importance of using a timer.
Next week, once the kids are back at school (& I'm back at work, boo) I'll start on the D-Day Delve And boy does this place need it!!!
Hope you've all been enjoying half-term - see you next time!
Littlest son has also been ill - horrid hacking/barking cough, listless & totally not himself... Last time he was like this, I ended up feeling like I do now - horrid cough, sneezing constantly, sore eyes, aching all over, freezing cold & absolutely no energy.... the rest of the house remained perfectly healthy..... hmmmm!!
Anyway, illness aside, we've been decorating this week. The biggest 2 boys bedroom to be precise. So far, we've only managed to strip the walls & fill in the holes but it's a start. And not bad when you consider we've been up to see family & also spent the day in Swansea yesterday, so we've really only had 2 days....
The house is a goddamn tip again tho.... (not that it was actually tidy but at least 2 of the downstairs rooms looked reasonable.) I have managed to keep polishing my original place (living room floor) but that's a tad difficult as we have no vacuum cleaner at the moment. The shit spots have regathered shit and the dining room table (which had become an extension of the place polishing) is also covered in crap.... I blame having everyone round... honestly, it's nothing to do with my own laziness...
I'll kick-start it all again in a minute and in the meantime, in case you were interested in where I'd got up to on the Habithacking steps (before it all went pear-shaped), I've now begun my Brain On Paper (BOP); added to it and learnt about the importance of using a timer.
Next week, once the kids are back at school (& I'm back at work, boo) I'll start on the D-Day Delve And boy does this place need it!!!
Hope you've all been enjoying half-term - see you next time!
Sunday, 5 February 2012
At last, at long last!!
I have been scouring Ebay/the local car dealers/free papers for a good couple of years, looking for a Volkswagon Caravelle....
I've wanted one for years... Firstly, so I could go to gigs knowing that all I had to do was chuck a mattress in the back on top of the seats & voila, a handy place to sleep (mind you, the fact that when I was going to all these gigs, I couldn't actually drive was just a small sticking point)
Secondly (& probably more importantly) I seem to have a miniature tribe of small boys.... I'm still not entirely sure where they actually came from.... Anyway, said small boys were getting a tad cramped in the back of the Zafira that we were transporting them in.... and there's nowhere to put the vast quantities of food needed to feed a small tribe in a Zafira once all the seats are up.... ignore the adverts - they lie I tell you....
Anyway, we've finally got one!!! I am so chuffed. Yes it's old but it's got virtually no mileage (unlike vans that were a good 10 years younger than ours with 200K + more mileage.....) and it's in really really good condition.
And the boot space!!! My good grief! We could do our shopping for several months & still have space to spare! And if we suddenly decide to move house (not that that's likely to happen, barring a lottery win) we could just take the back seats out & put stuff in the back - ok, it would take several runs but we wouldn't need to hire a van!
On the downside of course (there always is one, isn't there) I think it's going to cost us a bomb in fuel.....
But do I care at the moment? Nope!
I've wanted one for years... Firstly, so I could go to gigs knowing that all I had to do was chuck a mattress in the back on top of the seats & voila, a handy place to sleep (mind you, the fact that when I was going to all these gigs, I couldn't actually drive was just a small sticking point)
Secondly (& probably more importantly) I seem to have a miniature tribe of small boys.... I'm still not entirely sure where they actually came from.... Anyway, said small boys were getting a tad cramped in the back of the Zafira that we were transporting them in.... and there's nowhere to put the vast quantities of food needed to feed a small tribe in a Zafira once all the seats are up.... ignore the adverts - they lie I tell you....
Anyway, we've finally got one!!! I am so chuffed. Yes it's old but it's got virtually no mileage (unlike vans that were a good 10 years younger than ours with 200K + more mileage.....) and it's in really really good condition.
And the boot space!!! My good grief! We could do our shopping for several months & still have space to spare! And if we suddenly decide to move house (not that that's likely to happen, barring a lottery win) we could just take the back seats out & put stuff in the back - ok, it would take several runs but we wouldn't need to hire a van!
On the downside of course (there always is one, isn't there) I think it's going to cost us a bomb in fuel.....
But do I care at the moment? Nope!
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Habithacking....
Well, I promised that I'd get round to telling you about habithacker.com
I came across this lovely lady's site a couple of months ago & I have to tell you, I way prefer it to Flylady - only one email a day & she tells it like it is - a shitspot is a shitspot not a "hotspot"!!
And she's transforming me! You should see my living room - it only takes me 5 minutes these days to whizz round my living room, including vacuuming!! I'm not saying that it's immaculate, cos it's not, but I'm not going to be apologising for the state of it if someone calls unannounced!!
I will admit to you now, even though I've been subscribed for a couple of months (71 days to be precise) I'm actually only up to Day 7. This is because of the way my inner rebellious teenager works...
I really really was trying to add a step a day, but then earlier things weren't getting done...
So I decided to start again at the beginning & add a new step only when I was into the habit of the earlier steps.... And that is working much better for me... I may not be doing everything every day, but step 1 ("Polishing my place") is definitely ingrained now... In fact, I do that several times a day!! Even the monsters are getting pretty good at tidying the living room!! (My "place" if you're wondering is my living room floor...)
I also finally got round to putting the key rack up that I bought months back cos of this (day 3)
And I'm getting pretty good at shovelling the shit (day 5)
BUUUT, I'm stuck on step 7 - putting clothes out for the next day before I go to bed.... I really want to move on, so my goal for this next week is to do this EVERY night.... including the boys (although uniform's not challenging to think about so no excuse there!)
Anyway, in case any of you want to follow along with me, here's the links to the steps so far...
Step 2 Do your do
Step 3 Stash that key
Step 4 Polish twice
Step 5 Take a break
Step 6 Shovel the shit
Step 7 What to wear?
And yes, I know, you can always sign up to get the emails yourself but if we can cheer each other on, then maybe we can finally get organised (ok, you're probably already living in a tidy haven, so maybe I can finally get organised!)
And if you did want to do the steps alongside me, then honestly, these first 7 steps are easy to do a step a day, so this time next week, you can be at the same stage as me.... (if you really want to be!)
And maybe I can put some pics up as well as we go along! *wonders if there's a way that you can share pics with me???*
Have fun everyone!
I came across this lovely lady's site a couple of months ago & I have to tell you, I way prefer it to Flylady - only one email a day & she tells it like it is - a shitspot is a shitspot not a "hotspot"!!
And she's transforming me! You should see my living room - it only takes me 5 minutes these days to whizz round my living room, including vacuuming!! I'm not saying that it's immaculate, cos it's not, but I'm not going to be apologising for the state of it if someone calls unannounced!!
I will admit to you now, even though I've been subscribed for a couple of months (71 days to be precise) I'm actually only up to Day 7. This is because of the way my inner rebellious teenager works...
I really really was trying to add a step a day, but then earlier things weren't getting done...
So I decided to start again at the beginning & add a new step only when I was into the habit of the earlier steps.... And that is working much better for me... I may not be doing everything every day, but step 1 ("Polishing my place") is definitely ingrained now... In fact, I do that several times a day!! Even the monsters are getting pretty good at tidying the living room!! (My "place" if you're wondering is my living room floor...)
I also finally got round to putting the key rack up that I bought months back cos of this (day 3)
And I'm getting pretty good at shovelling the shit (day 5)
BUUUT, I'm stuck on step 7 - putting clothes out for the next day before I go to bed.... I really want to move on, so my goal for this next week is to do this EVERY night.... including the boys (although uniform's not challenging to think about so no excuse there!)
Anyway, in case any of you want to follow along with me, here's the links to the steps so far...
Step 2 Do your do
Step 3 Stash that key
Step 4 Polish twice
Step 5 Take a break
Step 6 Shovel the shit
Step 7 What to wear?
And yes, I know, you can always sign up to get the emails yourself but if we can cheer each other on, then maybe we can finally get organised (ok, you're probably already living in a tidy haven, so maybe I can finally get organised!)
And if you did want to do the steps alongside me, then honestly, these first 7 steps are easy to do a step a day, so this time next week, you can be at the same stage as me.... (if you really want to be!)
And maybe I can put some pics up as well as we go along! *wonders if there's a way that you can share pics with me???*
Have fun everyone!
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
So excited!!!
So, me & my lovely husband were umming & ahhing over whether to go to Download this year or not.... (We've booked the time off work just in case of course!)
I've just been checking the latest band announcements on the Download Facebook page to find out that Little Angels are reforming for it!!!! I absolutely adore Little Angels & was heartbroken when they split (bizarrely I was actually more upset when they split than when my favourite band split up - but then, The Wildhearts do keep splitting & reforming so I guess that I never believe it when they announce a parting of the ways!!)
I now have a grin like the cheshire cat on my face... Am I going to Download? Oh I think so!
I've just been checking the latest band announcements on the Download Facebook page to find out that Little Angels are reforming for it!!!! I absolutely adore Little Angels & was heartbroken when they split (bizarrely I was actually more upset when they split than when my favourite band split up - but then, The Wildhearts do keep splitting & reforming so I guess that I never believe it when they announce a parting of the ways!!)
I now have a grin like the cheshire cat on my face... Am I going to Download? Oh I think so!
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Bye Bye Baby, Baby Goodbye....
Sigh...
My youngest started school today... Only in the mornings, but still - school. Uniform & everything....
I'm not a happy Mammy today. He's still my baby - he even smells like a baby still if you get the right part of his neck... He can't possibly be big enough to go to school. He certainly doesn't look big enough... And we were stopped by so many people ahhing over him on the way in this morning!!
So that's it - no more baby. He'll grow up soooo quickly now.
Mind you - on the plus side, I'll get to drink a hot cup of coffee, & actually get my housework & Avon round done soooo much quicker! (not that I'm that fussed on the housework, but you know what I mean!)
My youngest started school today... Only in the mornings, but still - school. Uniform & everything....
I'm not a happy Mammy today. He's still my baby - he even smells like a baby still if you get the right part of his neck... He can't possibly be big enough to go to school. He certainly doesn't look big enough... And we were stopped by so many people ahhing over him on the way in this morning!!
So that's it - no more baby. He'll grow up soooo quickly now.
Mind you - on the plus side, I'll get to drink a hot cup of coffee, & actually get my housework & Avon round done soooo much quicker! (not that I'm that fussed on the housework, but you know what I mean!)
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Goodbye 2011/Hello 2012!!
Well, here we stand on the verge of a new year. The sun's gone down, so it's officially New Years Eve!
Highlights of 2011? Moving to this house & seeing Motley Crue again.
Plans/goals for 2012?
Firstly, I need to buy tickets to Download, as we've heard a rumour that Poison will be playing... If they are it'll probably be the only chance we'll have to go see them.....
I'd quite like to go see the Olympic Flame pass through town as well...
Goals-wise:
Have at least 4 rooms decorated by the end of the year. That gives me 3 months per room to strip & prepare the walls, then repaper (if necessary), paint, accessorise etc. If I stop procrastinating, that's more than easily do-able...
Get a lot more organised & Domestic Goddessy about the house... I say this every year, but I say it as a resolution, rather than a goal.... So as I've decided to set measurable (& hopefully attainable) goals I can break it down into steps on route to the holy grail of spick and span-ness...
As I said in a previous post, I'm signed up to Habithacker (I promise I'll blog more about this in a very near post) & that does seem to be helping (having broken down the steps for me!!! )
As part of this becoming more organised thing, I aim to actually be organised & zen about next christmas. I say every year we're going to start getting sorted for it early so it's not a mad rush & every year we don't (other than getting veggies pre-prepared & in the freezer - & that's kind of ingrained in me after 30-odd years of it!!! so it doesn't count!)
So I'm going to start a spreadsheet of what's needed, from pressies, to decorations, to food.
I'll add on what we already have & tick off what we need as we get it.
I'll start a plan of action with deadlines for when everything needs to be done... honest gov!!!!
Anyway - I promise to come & break these goals down and share them properly with you, but you need to share your goals for 2012 with me! Let's support each other to achieving them!
Right now, I wish you all a Happy New Year! xxx
Highlights of 2011? Moving to this house & seeing Motley Crue again.
Plans/goals for 2012?
Firstly, I need to buy tickets to Download, as we've heard a rumour that Poison will be playing... If they are it'll probably be the only chance we'll have to go see them.....
I'd quite like to go see the Olympic Flame pass through town as well...
Goals-wise:
Have at least 4 rooms decorated by the end of the year. That gives me 3 months per room to strip & prepare the walls, then repaper (if necessary), paint, accessorise etc. If I stop procrastinating, that's more than easily do-able...
Get a lot more organised & Domestic Goddessy about the house... I say this every year, but I say it as a resolution, rather than a goal.... So as I've decided to set measurable (& hopefully attainable) goals I can break it down into steps on route to the holy grail of spick and span-ness...
As I said in a previous post, I'm signed up to Habithacker (I promise I'll blog more about this in a very near post) & that does seem to be helping (having broken down the steps for me!!! )
As part of this becoming more organised thing, I aim to actually be organised & zen about next christmas. I say every year we're going to start getting sorted for it early so it's not a mad rush & every year we don't (other than getting veggies pre-prepared & in the freezer - & that's kind of ingrained in me after 30-odd years of it!!! so it doesn't count!)
So I'm going to start a spreadsheet of what's needed, from pressies, to decorations, to food.
I'll add on what we already have & tick off what we need as we get it.
I'll start a plan of action with deadlines for when everything needs to be done... honest gov!!!!
Anyway - I promise to come & break these goals down and share them properly with you, but you need to share your goals for 2012 with me! Let's support each other to achieving them!
Right now, I wish you all a Happy New Year! xxx
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