Sort 7 financial things in 7 days

[mineallmine]

Hi,

If this thread should sit somewhere else can a Mod please move

I find the "What small DFW things will you do today?" thread really useful. I have some big DFW things I need to do but put off. I'd like to sort these things I hate doing quickly. The idea is to sort 7 financial things in 7 days. And not wait until the New Year to start. I need to:

1. Close an old savings account and cancel the standing order (yes I know this should be straightforward )
DONE!

2. Open a new savings account with best rate etc

3. Get an ISA for this financial year, again with best rate
DONE!

4. Check interest rate on old ISA. Consider transfer.
DONE... AWAITING TRANSFER FORM.

5. Do an up to date inventory of all monthly/yearly direct debits. Check through it.
DONE!

6. Reconnect the Energy Monitor. See what the thirsty lights/ appliances are. Think how to reduce energy usuage.

7. Research options for loft insultation top up (DIY, MSE newsletter offers)
DONE!

Anyone want to join me? I'm starting tomorrow 6/12/12.

Originally Posted by mineallmine

Achieved 5/7 last week so not bad considering I hate doing stuff like this and put it off

So here's the next list including any items not achieved last week:

1. Open a new savings account

2. Find paperwork for closing another old dusty savings account. Cancel the standing order

3. Find paperwork for old ISA

4. Get hubby to reconnect the Energy Monitor to highlight thirsty lights/appliances

5. Do an inventory of all Direct Debits in main account

6. Create a new budget spreadsheet for 2013

7. Sort an awkward goods return using Martins consumer guide in this weeks newsletter

So this is all about getting these ruddy bigger things sorted and done. Consolidating savings. Using ISA allowances/best deals.

[rising from the ashes]

Funnily enough, I've just done Nos 2, 3 and 5 in the past couple of days!

Best of luck Mine - I'll have a think and if I can come up with another 7, I'll join you!

First on the list would be No 1 ... now that No 2's sorted

ETA Right ... I'll give it my best shot!

1. Write to bank to close old savings account & request a cheque for outstanding balance (only around £3 but hey ...)
2. Write to old employer's pension agency to advise of change of address (moved in 2007 ) and request update pension forecast *
3. Write to CU to increase salary deduction to savings account to £20 / month (have been meaning to do this all year)
4. Financial filing - sorting through bags of old stuff from the "forgotten years" #
5. Start new DFW Diary DONE
6. Sort out new ISA for 2012 monthly saver money (boiler fund)
7.

* thanks lessonlearned - have been meaning to do that one for several years and keep forgetting!

# See Post 9

[mineallmine]

Thanks Rising! Let's do this

Thanks to LessonLearned over on the Fabbing thread who sparked the financial fabber in me http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...9#post57729593

[lessonlearned]

Well done on getting started.

Some great ideas to get me thinking.

My big push will start when we've moved house and a lot of things will need to wait until then.

At the moment I'm doing my research on where I can make improvements/cut backs etc.

I made a big start today sorting out what to do with my pension. Have filled out the forms and sent them back.

I've already researched our new broadband/tv/phone package which will start when we move.

So yes please count me in.

[mineallmine]

Thanks LessonLearned. Great to have you on board.

I'm liking the list Rising. £3 is £3 in your hands not theres to save or spend at will.

I'm determined to get these long standing things sorted. It's as much about consolidation (and shutting down things) as anything.

[rising from the ashes]

Might have to start with the 3 and try to add as I can .... is that OK?

Will have a proper think tomorrow (very tired atm!) as brain's a bit mince just now

[mineallmine]

It doesn't have to be 7 things Rising. Completing one thing is a positive start to shift the big stuff.

Anyone else care to join us?

[WelshWoofer]

I'm in too!
Will have a little think about what can be done and be back with an update

Good luck to everyone else!

[rising from the ashes]

Originally Posted by mineallmine

I'm determined to get these long standing things sorted. It's as much about consolidation (and shutting down things) as anything.

Think that's how I feel with the filing - I know might seem insignificant but having already cleared out loads of stuffed bags of paperwork (hidden under my bed for years) - I've managed to fill another 3 bag for life's

It's weird looking through the stuff as they were the dark, horrid days when everything was awful and I owed £000s ...... I'd forgotten how many c/cards I had .... how bad things really were so it was good in a funny sort of way to remind myself (as I never want to be there again!)

How on earth I think I can manage my finances properly without being able to file stuff, I'll never know I am better organised with newer stuff (although it can tend to accumulate before it's actually filed away!) but need to get rid of this old stuff once & for all.

Clearing the last of it out would be fantastic - bit like you've mentioned Mine .... drawing a line under it and moving on!

[WelshWoofer]

Have made a start!
Phoned my old gas/elec supplier and it turns out they owe me £50 that is now winging to way back to me account.


My mini goals (not all for the next 7 days!) ....

• Look into old accounts and suppliers to see if they owe me anything - success with the first one!
• Eventually build up £5k in an emergency not to be touched account (£k ish in there now)
• Reign in the supermarket shopping as its creeping up again
• Pay off the sofa interest free credit before the deal is up and the charges kick in in January - will pay it off next weekend when I get paid, have saved up the money in a separate account so no issues there
• See if there's anything I can declutter and ebay to tidy up and make a little bit of cash
• Look through the direct debits to make sure there's nothing I can economise on
• Pay off half of the credit card - not a massive bill but could do with getting rid of

That will do for starters!

[beadgirl87]

Hi I like the sound of this. Have been putting some stuff off for a while.

1. Contact Aqua to unlock my online account.
Have totally forgotten my password and want to check available credit as I want to spend on it to get cashback.
2. Move money from mum and dad to the right bank account. DONE
Bought Christmas present for mum and dad in a shop for them.
3. If I pass 6 month probation at work on Friday, email HR about the pension scheme and how I can join up.
4. Have a bit of a sort out as I feel that my money is in lots of different accounts and I cant trace it. Rearrange all of my money. Sort of done, for the month - Having a big sort out at end of year to get budgeting pots on track.
5.Check that DD for car HP has been set up by the garage (have already asked twice!) they dont seem to know why I want to know when £140 will leave my account every month!
6. Plan what to do with my Christmas bonus, put it all in an ISA, or spend a bit, or put it towards an annual bill?
7. Waiting for topcashback money to arrive...need to cash out survey monies aswell for Christmas presents.

[mineallmine]

WelshWoofer - Hey £50! That's brilliant. What a nice bonus before xmas. Get on the phone to those others. It's amazing how DDs can creep according to estimates and the like.

Rising - Think about all that negativity from those papers from darker times. Not good stuff to have hanging around. Paperwork/ bills are an enemy of mine too. I'm trying to start a simple system of plastic wallets. Lets see how it goes

Welcome beadgirl - glad to know I'm not alone in putting off. Let's get this stuff done. Maybe with your car HP contact your bank - see if any DD has been registered (I know thats not the right word!) with them.

[kururunfa]

My goals for the next couple of days:

1. Set up direct debits for my NI and my husband's (we're self employed and remembering to pay NI by debit card is a hassle).
2. Cancel credit expert free trial before I get billed!
3. Cancel that silly insurance thing on the Vanquis card (card is cleared every month, just using it to build credit history)
4. File my tax return online before the January rush.

Er... that's all for the short term I think!

[mineallmine]

Welcome kururunfa. Some good things there. Making stuff simpler too

[mineallmine]

[QUOTE=mineallmine;57728529]1. Close an old savings account and cancel the standing order (yes I know this should be straightforward )/QUOTE]
First part of this is complete
The account is closed. Cancelled standing order their end. Just need to confirm/ensure this happens at my bank too.

First bit of making everything shipshape and simpler has begun.

How's everyone else getting on?

[rising from the ashes]

I've not achieved very much this morning (well, depending on how you look at it!).

I've spent a couple of hours catching up on threads .... I've done a load of washing & hung it up, picked a chicken carcass, made stock and have soup simmering away (am starving so hope it's ready soon) but I've also spent a ridiculous amount of time sorting out my new Diary

I've re-done my SOA, written my opening blurb, decided how to do a few things, made a "action point" list, what I want to achieve etc etc but have spent AGES trying to think of a good name for it (still not succeeded).

Once I've had my soup, I will tackle the 1st of the bags of paperwork ....

[lessonlearned]

Contracts signed today, things looking ok, fingers crossed.

Today's financial task. I will cancel the broadband/phone/tv package. The new one will come to about half what we are currently paying.

Just remembered - received a letter from the Council Tax today. I have been overcharged by about £200. Wahoo.

[mineallmine]

Crack on with that 1st bag Rising. If you could do a bag a week that's quite a few dealt with by the New Year. Get that £3 back ASAP

Sorting the broadband/TV deal will probably appear in a future batch of 7 things for me LL. Probably a good thing you got your deal sorted now as after xmas I imagine lots of people will be feeling the pinch and will be ringing up for deals. Congrats on the contracts

So far then we have quite a tally of monies coming back to us. My £200 odd will go straight towards a new chest freezer. Better than knocking around some dusty account earning teeny tiny interest

[ChopinonaBudget]

I like the sound of this! I'd like to join
1) open savings account for yearly spends (done)
2) pay House insurance (currently 37% by dd) :eek
3) check debit for instrument insurance
4) pay professional fees

I'll think of the rest after teaching!

[mineallmine]

Welcome aboard ChopinonaBudget! You've some crunchy things to do there. That 37% is robbing you of funds that you could use elsewhere. That's a great one to sort out