Christmas Time! eBay madness and $ woes
It seems as though the holiday season is already upon us! I’m not at all ready for this hustle and bustle! HELP! I don’t plan on buying much again this year. Just a gift for each of the kids if I can manage that. Last year, I got away with some re-gifting and using the stuff in my closet as gifts. Had some good stuff in there. This year, I’m going to try doing something similar … except this time I’m selling as much of my ’stuff’ as I possibly can! I’ve been carting around a whole whack of used video games, CDs, computer parts and accessories, etc - now I’m selling them on eBay!
Check out what I’m selling on my eBay page!
[... more] Makes way more sense to get rid of them if I can, and use the proceeds to buy some small gifts for the kids. 
That’s the plan anyway. It’s not big money for sure. couple dollars each … have to keep selling prices low so buyers can still afford the item, taking into account shipping costs (which are far to expensive IMO - Canada post must me making a fortune!).
I’ve already sold some bigger items in the past month or 2 to help pay some bills, buy some food, and pay back a bit of the loan my Mom gave me this summer to help with my bankruptcy problems. Been fairly lucky so far. Sold my Lord of the Rings - WitchKing sword, a blender/chopper, a juicer, DSL modem, and 2 CD box sets. That’s about 350$ that I wouldn’t have otherwise .. stuff just sitting around in boxes for years. feels good to get rid of some of this stuff for a much of reasons. 1) when I move this summer, it will be easier, 2) if I happen to kick the bucket, less problems left behind (takes some worry away from me), 3) makes my day-to-day a bit more pleasurable not having to worry so much about money. My anxiety level shoots through the roof when there’s an upcoming bills due and no money coming in. not healthy for me.
We’re still in rough shape here financially though. 
Me not being able to work has really handicapped the household and it makes me feel sick to my stomach to know that the kids and sister have to go without certain things just so I can survive in this horrible state. Managing to keep food on the table with a little corner cutting … but the hydro and cable/internet/phone bills are getting out of hand. :S We just don’t have enough money coming in to be able to handle it all. I work as hard as I can shopping for stuff on sale, stocking up for the month when things are really cheap. Also making sure kids+sister have lunches to bring to school so don’t have to buy anything. I also felt I had to do a bit more so I humbled myself a bit end of last month … went down to the food bank for a food donation. It was embarrassing and I felt horrible about doing it … but I think it helped get us through a tough week. I also signed up for a christmas basket, so that will help at the end of this month also. The food they give isn’t that great for sure. Some canned stuff is ok (tomatoes, tuna, beans), but most of it I can’t eat because it’s too salty or fatty (like canned soups, sauces, marinades). The fruits, vegetables, and bread they give out is stuff that is about to spoil but ok. You either have to eat it right away, or do some work to preserve it. Like I got this huge bag of green beans … were probably going to spoil in a day or 2, but I cut them up, blanched them, and put in freezer. And now we use them in tangine or pot roasts, etc. Same goes for these jalepeno and habenaro peppers I got. Looking forward to using these in my chilli this week and in weeks/months to come.
Some hope for the future. When April comes, I won’t have to pay bankruptcy fees anymore - so I’ll be able to contribute a more fair share to the utilities and rent again I think. Then in July, my car payments will end .. and I’ll be able to pay for my own food. Right now, I can’t do any of that. I pay my car, bankruptcy, maybe 1/4 of the rent, and either my cell phone or car insurance. That’s it, uses up every dime I have just to do that. nothing left to actually live on. I don’t know how we are going to make it to April and July … that’s 3-7 months … losing about 3-500$ a month i reckon. Going to have to sell some of my cherished big-ticket items i guess. Problem is that once gone, I’ll never be able to get them back - no credit for 7 years. *sigh* Not going to be much of a life I guess. Health needs to improve NOW. grrrr.
December 7th, 2006 at 1:43 am
“Problem is that once gone, I’ll never be able to get them back”
Although many other people say “I know how it feels” or “I understand how you must be feeling”, I do not like saying that. Because quite frankly, I don’t. I will say that I really do wish that you were like the happier Peter I knew. It seems like your life is filled with so much trouble that it is almost impossible.
BUT! I really do hope that you get better. I do know that sacrificing something is not enjoyable or easy for that matter. Hopefully the sacrifice you make will be worth it.
I really do hope that you get better - even if it means getting a liver transplant (that would be scary). It seems like while the medication you’re on helps in some ways, it hurts you in others.
You gotta do whatever it takes…and I know that you’ll do it.
Peter (Polt)
December 7th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
1- money isn’t everythng, things have been much worse and its manageable
2- we have each other.
3- ur a wightman u cant help to be stubburn.
4- stop being so hard on urself, I would sacrifice my life for you.
5- you KNOW I hate numbers
6-bahhh humbug. we gonna have turkey..thats all we need !!!
HANG IN THERE…cause I said so !!