Mizmir's "Determined to be debt free by Christmas 2009" diary

mizmir

Karmacat wrote: »

Just found this from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00302

Thanks karma - that's brilliant.

mizmir

Well it's been a few days since I updated here but am plugging away. Managed two NSDs this week - today won't be though as need shopping and petrol! But all budgeted. Debt not shifting at the moment but not going up either - and we are expecting a couple of expense payments soon which will knock a chunk off. I am also doing some dog stuff at the weekend which should bring in about £180 if I am lucky - enough to keep me going till the end of the month at least! So am feeling much more optimistic than I did earlier in the week. Back is also easing quite a bit which I am sure helps.

Logged onto dooyoo and found that I have had a review crowned! Extra points and a ridiculously huge sense of pride! All more exciting than it should be - I need to get out more! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Today is going to be devoted to getting a work report done - 5000 words to draft :eek:. Then I need to gather my tax stuff asap.

Oh - and I have a confession - we have bought a new front door and a couple of windows..... OH has an additional payment this month which covers the cost (though we are getting it on a delayed payment scheme so that can sit in the offset for a year first) and to be honest it is unavoidable. You can see the light through our current front door (and it is made of wood not glass!) - and gales literally roar through it. In the long run this will be cost effective as we won't be heating the street anymore. Windows are the remaining couple that are not yet double glazed. Anyway we decided that for both financial reasons and the environment we should spend this extra money on improving the heating efficiency of the house - we will also put some more loft insulation in and look into cavity wall insulation. So no new debt - and doesn't effect debt free date - I guess we could've brought that forward instead but it seemed sensible to do this in winter while we would still get the benefit.

Anyway better get on!

The_Dragon

That does make sense Mizmir and you will gradually claw back some of the money as your heating bills go down! Also if you decide to rent out the house it makes it more rentable as well!

Good luck with the dog training at the weekend - the money will come in handy!

mizmir

The_Dragon wrote: »

That does make sense Mizmir and you will gradually claw back some of the money as your heating bills go down! Also if you decide to rent out the house it makes it more rentable as well!

Good luck with the dog training at the weekend - the money will come in handy!

Thanks Dragon - I do feel guilty spending anything but you are definitely right about the renting out - or indeed selling - since everyone now needs this efficiency rating. This way we can get our bills down and be able to demonstrate that before we need to look at moving.

Have just also worked out that since we have been very frugal since new year I can pay off another £100 - so made it £101 so that I duck under the £19K barrier again!

The_Dragon

Woo hoo! Go Mizmir!

Karmacat

Spending on double glazing and heat loss prevention definitely comes under "sensible" - for the future (sale and renting out), and for the present (heating bills, comfort) - totally agree. I've done it too, after all!

mizmir

Frustrating day - not made anything like the progress I needed to on the report - and it is due Friday - so I suspect there will be midnight oil to be burned for the next couple of nights

But great news just in from OH - a cheque has arrived for nearly £900 worth of expenses!! So once that has cleared through the account a credit card is going to be hit! Should be able to clear one and knock a bit off another - yoohoo! :j And get the overall down closer to £18K.

boredofbeingathome

That is good news re the cheque. I too am getting a quote on windows as we found yet another leak on one of ours. My front door wouldn't even shut last year, luckily it was a porch door..but we could see the Watford gap in ours i reckon:rotfl: :rotfl:

mizmir

Weekend update time - am struggling to keep up with the diary at the moment during the week - but at least I can take time out at weekends!
Cheque paid in and waiting to clear - hopefully Monday or Tuesday will be able to pay off one of my cards and get the debt down a bit. Today my main task is self assessment - must get it done - time is running out!
Just hoping there is enough in the offset to pay it! Apart from that just bits and pieces.

So list for today (breaking down the self assessment into chunks!):

• Sort out my receipts
• Finalise my accounts
• Sort out OH's receipts
• Finalise OH's accounts
• Submit OH's return
• Decide if mine needs accountant!
• [strike]Check online banking[/strike] DONE -hanging in there!
• [strike]Do another WR bet for b 365[/strike] DONE - only £450 to go! Won that one at BF (yeah!) so did another - now if Blackburn don't win today I will have busted out with £40 profit - fingers crossed!
  
• [strike]Do a dooyoo review[/strike] DONE - over £10 now earned - heading for £50!
• [strike]Scratches[/strike] DONE - 20p!
• Set up OH's wireless

The_Dragon

I'm cheering you on from the sidelines Mizmir!