Freeme Journey's Personal Finance Blog

Frustration - Power Outages...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:27:52 PST

this is a never ending cycle at the moment - our major power supplier is unable to supply our country's needs at the moment and everyday they are "load shedding". IOW - cutting our power for 2 - 3 hours everyday.

Oh the joys of Africa. Our new government (from '94) decided in their...

Whoa tired today...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:19:35 PST

it definitely is the end of the week and most welcome.

Fetched DD from aftercare at 4.30pm and came home to a power outage but in some ways that was a blessing because DD played with her dolls and I read my book until the power came back at 6.45pm.

Have just finished dinner,...

I'm having such fun...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:48:30 PST

selling and setting up appointments with my previous clients.

Oh it is so great to be out of the corporate environment. I think I am unemployable and that the constrained, defined work environment just shuts me down completely.

I am getting appointments with Senior Executives...

Missed my entry yesterday...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:50:26 PST

because of my procrastination. I finally had to finish sewing the school drawstring book bags for the Gr 0 students - they started school this morning and I had to deliver them today.

Soooo... there was I sewing until 3:30am thinking "why do I leave everything until the last minute...

General thoughts...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:16:52 PST

I had today while working, driving and doing chores.

* Bread is going up here to $0.83 a loaf (I don't know what you pay in the USA) so I started thinking about a bread machine and if that would save anything.
Found one priced at $85.57 and thought well, that is a bit high.
Then...

Had a good weekend...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:35:18 PST

managed to get quite a lot of things done:

- shopping DONE
- finish sewing book bags for the Grade 0 children (I was paid for them last year and have a few more to do)NOT DONE
- laundry DONE
- ironing WASHING HUNG BUT NOT DRY
- label and cover books for school for DD DONE
-...

Yeah sold some things...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:06:09 PST

at the second hand shop and made $42.86 so I put $21.43 into the EMF and kept $21.43 for gas.
New EMF total: $40.43

Then I took the retractable washline and got vouchers for $28.57 which I will use for food.

Also got vouchers for $8.57 and $10.71 - these I will use for meds...

A busy weekend ahead...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:09:54 PST

starting with a visit to a friend who needs help with curtains for her new house. She has some curtains which needed adjusting and new ones which have to be made up. I do this part-time so I'll be able to earn some money this coming week. (Won't charge her the usual rate because she...

Saved some more...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:41:50 PST

by returning Christmas gifts which I really didn't like/need and put it towards some things DD needed for school:
Shoes: $24.29 Paid $15.71
Meds: $9.14 Paid $2.29
Total Saved: $15.43
Change from Wallet: $1.57
New EMF Total: $19

I felt bad returning the gifts but decided that...

A better work day...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:09:23 PST

After taking DD to her friend I started work at 9am and hooray I managed to work consistently until 2pm - a great improvement and I got LOTS done.

BTW thanks for all the encouragement - it means so much.

Tried to sell some things at the Second Hand shop - no success, I walked...

It's a roller coaster ride...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:33:48 PST

this morning I was feeling so positive and now I have gone into overwhelm

Am still receiving calls from CC and Car Finance companies, they just don't get it - I called them all again today and told them AGAIN what my situation is and all I get is "we are expecting $$$ payment...

First day back at work...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:21:33 PST

and I am tired. Just not used to getting up early and putting a full day - well almost a full day. At 3.30pm I had a terrible headache and decided to take some meds and lie down for an hour. Fell fast asleep but woke up feeling better at 4.30pm.

Went to the office today to collect...

Just made it...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:16:41 PST

to do my daily journal before I go to bed and keep my New Year Resolution

Had a good day today:
No Spend Day (Total for Jan:3 Goal: 20)
Finished laundry
Tidied DD's room (with her!)
My aunt visited for lunch
Checked DD's school supplies for the new year (our children start...

Hello I'm back...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:47:13 PST

after disappearing since August last year but it is one of my New Year resolutions to start blogging again here every day.
Had an okay 2007 but fell off the wagon and went on a gambling binge in Sept - I think I just became overconfident and not vigilant enough. Through faith and...

Just a quick note to say hi...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:55:42 PST

it seems like the time just disappears and the past couple of days has been a challenge.

I am commuting to work everyday at the moment - done about 9 days consecutively. Amazing how it drains you, what with the actual travel time and then working flat out at the office and rushing...

Updated Debt Balances...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:46:51 PST

We got paid on the 25 June and I have just finished paying all bills for the end of June and the debt balances are:

Start Debt:
7/12/06: $236 978
5/29/07: $29 150 + $55 600 = $84750
6/27/07: $26 859 + $32 894 = $59853

Car Loan: $11073 Now $ 6748
CC2: $ 13716 Now $ 6832
CC3:...

Looking back at lessons learned...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:21:56 PST

I was browsing through some of the blogs and reading a new member's blog and realised how much I have changed and how much I have learned since I have been blogging here.

Here is a response I left a new blogger:

Just some encouragement: I am also a Sales Exec & understand the...

Definitely not a No Spend Day...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 06:36:06 PST

Started the morning by stopping at the convenience store for colddrink - forgot my water at home and just had to have something with me for the commute.

Then met a client at a coffee shop (he paid for sandwiches and coffee) and thought I was doing so well. On my way back to the...

Just a quick update...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:41:30 PST

to make up for the lack of entries the last couple of days.

Got quite a lot of sewing done this weekend:
Finished my sweatpants: saved $15
Finished DD's sweatpants: saved $7
Altered DD's school slacks: no savings
Total Saved: $22 (to come off sewing machine cost).

Had another...

Cool Banana's, Happy Days etc etc...

bronwyn9@iafrica.com (Freeme) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:51:39 PST

Just the way I am feeling this evening.

Amazing this time last week I was so flat and now I feel like myself again. Yeah - what a relief.

Managed to get through a ton of stuff today and worked a while this evening.

The meeting with my boss wasn't too bad. I have been with...