Needs some TLC

urg123

Hi OliveOyl,

Thanks - you're right. The internal politics has a lot to do with it. I had hoped changes in tbe immediate management might help but waiting it out hasn't helped me.

I have already put in the new rate for the student loans which is good because its been over 4% over the last year.

Still waiting for that cheque from the long lost uncle so, you are right, I am going to have BT again (I've really got to put a hole in the BTs as I'm sure that this is part of the problem - I just keep BTing!). I'm going to see what the current providers are offering before I look for a new one. I have a couple of CCs with nothing on and might be able to get one of them to offer me a 0% or a very low one rather than applying for another one.

Going to advertise for a new lodger this week - I don't like to show the room while the tenant is still in. A new lodger will boost the income by over £400 - all that will go straight on the CCs. I have got the gas man coming over to to a gas safety check this week - it will cost but it is an investment and a good thing to have.

Can I ask some advice - I have averaged a few of my annual bills in the SOA but really I pay them on a CC and try to pay them over the following months. Do people set aside this money monthly so that they have some savings to pay the annually? Or do you do what I do?

URG x

urg123

Hi Ali,

Thanks for your comments.

I haven't got a water meter. Bit scared of the thought as I can be a bit of water fiend! Will look into it more closely this week.

You are right about the frivolous spending - sadly don't have a lot to show for some of it. This month was the start of really taking control and I have had 2 NSDs; taken in lunch 3-4 out of 5 days; Stopping the morning trip to the shop; shopping to a list; using old-style for lots of ideas. I like nice pretty things and bought stuff because I could rather than because I needed it. I have been keeping a spending diary and there are still things that I need to work on but it is really enlightening. It helps me to see the silly spending in black and white.

Some of the £300 ends up on household repairs etc. I spent £200 in July and again in August.

I have been always been pretty good with the earnings from the lodger - I have used it towards:
pay back a loan from a relative (she loaned me the money to help to wards the deposit for the flat);
pay off the overdraft; it was nearly £2000
pay for some improvements on the flat.
The priority for the lodger's income will be paying off the debt. £400 extra a month will mean nearly 1100 towards debt repayment which would bring forward the debt free date and allow me to start saving towards more home improvements (see already spent the money!).

Thanks for the advice - keep it coming.

Burlesque_Babe

I had something happen to me very similar to yourself in 1996. My manager and myself started up and developed a small and successful new department. She left and I was given her job for 6 months with an honorarium payment(but didn't back fill my post so I was on my own!) It was advertised internally and I applied. Only 1 other person applied who didn't have the experience and I was told to make it fair they would have to advertise externally. They did, I applied and they gave it to someone else who was described more than once over the coming months as 'just like me!'

Anyway, I decided to get out and I was given an amazing opportunity to take a huge jump up the career ladder, both in terms of job and money.

I left and 6 months or so later, I was at a Civic dinner representing the company. One of the Directors of my old job was there and came up to me 'what are you doing here?' he sarcastically said. I said 'I work for X now and I'm representing them'. He looked shocked and wandered off and 10 minutes later the Chief Executive of my old company came up all sweetness and light 'oh, hi BB, it's great to see you, you've done so well, really pleased for you'.

What he didn't know is that I found out just before I left that he'd said about me 'I don't care how good she is, I want someone from outside' because they were trying to change their image as an organisation and thought that 'outside' was better than anything internally.

Stupid man, I just smiled smarmily, stuck 2 fingers up to him in my head and walked off. In a way, it was the best thing they ever did to me career wise, but seeing the shock on the Director's face was priceless.

elona

If you have a week off it is a great opportunity to go round agencies in person and to apply for jobs.

DH was in a similar position years ago and it took me ages to persuade him to try for other and better jobs within the company but in other divisions.

The place he worked and was treated so badly was sold a couple of years later as the boss ran it so badly and the boss and all his "blue eyed boys"
lost their jobs.

DH is still with the company and very happy and well thought of.

When DH finally got a transfer after his boss piling on the work onto him, teling him he could never have a day off but at the same time that he was not doing anything special or better than anyone else- his boss screamed at the director for "poaching his staff!":T


Remember that it is not you - it is them and work on getting your sparkle back.

OliveOyl_2

The trouble with paying your bills by credit card is that you're not really accounting for them properly - unless you have the money in an interest bearing account and are using the +/- 60 days credit terms to stooze your bill money

If you pay your utility bills by monthly direct debit you can usually get better terms from the supplier-though not for TV licence. And you can't avoid budgeting for it

Annual bills like insurance and -what else? I see you have a no car. You could still pay by monthly DD.
Saving in an account requires a discipline I do not have - I would be borrowing that money the 2nd month......:o but it is probably better money management.

urg123

Hi

Burlesque Babe - how sweet it must have been to see his face.

OliveOyl - I think this is the 'hard' side of budegting that I need to get used to. I am usually okay at stashing money away if I know what it is for and I think this is what I am going to do. It seems strange to be putting money into a savings account when I have these debts but that is the only way I see this budget/SOA working.

I have decided today is going to be an NSD. I just popped into town to pay in my change - why do banks limit the number of bags of change you can deposit? Very annoying!

Going to see the folks this afternoon and have dinner at my grandmothers. I had promised myself that this holiday would also be a chance to clean the flat - I've let it go! Today I am going to focus on the living room using all the tips I've picked up from this site. My hallway has been split into three areas - rubbish; stuff to sell (ebay and amazon) and charity.

I work in education and September is like a New Year for me. All these changes feel like New Year's Resolutions!!!!

Thanks for the all the inspiration.

URG

Greenshieldstamp_2

Hi Urg123,

Just wanted to wish you well on your journey to get your sparkle back.
Hope all of us here on MSE can help you on the way.

Best wishes and good luck
Greenshield

urg123

Not sure what it is but there is definately a good vibe about today.
My lodger has just asked if he can stay on til next May:j . He was only planning to stay for a couple of months. He's not the best lodger I've had but he keeps himself to himself and he's tidier than me! It also means that I don't lose out on any rent while I'm looking for someone. Seems like a win-win to me.

That's an extra £400 per month that I can put towards clearing that debt.

Woo hoo!!!!!!!!

Right - back to the cleaning!