Flying gleefully into 2009 - One Fresians adventures in debt-busting

mooomin

Evening all!

It's been ages since I have done a proper post with smilies :rotfl:so it's about time I did another one I think!

I'm cooking dinner at the moment, so had better type quickly so it doesn't burn! I have done everything on my list today - apart from go to the movies I'm getting picked up at seven for that! By the time I get home I am going to struggle with being awake enough to add up the PAD figures, but I will soldier on!

Better go and check on the pasta, have a nice evening all!

flying_fresian

mooomin

Good morning all

I've been up since half five this morning which is quite upsetting!

Still, it has given me some time on the internet to do some things I have been meaning to do, like catch up with how my Ebay listings are doing and apply for the new Alliance and Leicester Current Account. If my cashback tracks I will get £50 from Quidco and £100 from A&L for signing up with them. I will also be able to transfer my overdraft to them and it will be interest free for a year which will help me to pay it off early.

I have been a customer with Halifax for years, but they are changing my account from Moneyback (Cashback on debit card purchases, low rate on the overdraft) to one which charges you £1 per day for being overdrawn, even within your arranged limit. So, I would be charged £25ish per month instead of the £3 in debit interest I pay at the moment. Good grief. Time to say goodbye to Halifax methinks...

So, my normal list for today:

• [strike]Apply for Alliance and Leicester account to get £100 and £50 Quidco payment[/strike]
• Annoy boyfriend by deleting all his cookies to apply for Alliance and Leicester account (He's asleep and doesn't know yes!)
• [strike]Check online banking[/strike]
• [strike]Make PAD[/strike]
• Breakfast and dinner at home
• Take lunch to work
• Take flask for coffee to work
• Package up Ebay stuff ready for posting tomorrow night

And that's all so far!

Have a lovely Thursday all

mooomin

Hello all,

I know that some people say that you should just go PAYG for mobiles, but I prefer to be able to budget monthly and in the 5 years I have had a contract phone I have never gone over my monthly allowance. So, with that out of the way, please don't tell me to go PAYG, I'm a contract kind of girl :rotfl:

Now, here's why I'm posting.

I am currently in need of:

• A new contract
• A new iPod

I know that nobody needs an iPod, but mine is too small for all my music, so I do! I have seen a deal on Dial-A-Phone which offers:

• New phone
• iPod Touch 16GB
• £115 cashback
• £60 via Quidco

The cashback is by redemption, but I would make a note of it and remember to send it off. Has anyone dealt with them, are they any good?? The deal is for £30 per month, which is what I am paying now, and am happy to continue paying, and I would make £175 in cashback, effectively reducing the monthly cost by £14.50 per month on average. I would also get a shiny new iPod.

Tell me what to do DFWs!!!

mancbird

Sounds like you have a lot planned for today!

I have only once dealt with Dialaphone and that was many moons ago. From what I remember they were ok, I don't remember having any problems with them, but it was some years back!

Are there not any threads on here about them already? It might be worth looking at them to see if there is anything you need to be aware of...

OliveOyl_2

DD got a cashback phone and complied with ALL their niggly coditions, but when it came to claiming the fly-by-night company had upped sticks and gorn. BUT, the price and package was right for her, the cashback was a cherry on top.

Quidco give Dialaphone a goodish rating, so they look like a reasonable company. Is it still a bargain/what you want if any of the cashbacks fail?

As you are already paying that amount and are happy with that, I'd go for it

mooomin

Nom nom nom - bought M&S lunch using a giftcard so had muckle big sandwich, banoffee dessert and Percy Pigs. Mmmm....

Just got an email saying I have been approved for the Alliance and Leicester account, so will transfer my direct debits etc over soon, and hopefully that will go smoothly :eek: I should get £100 from A&L and £50 from Quidco for doing this so yay! :j I have decided I'm going to go for the phone deal, so will call up Orange tonight and give notice on my contract then sign up for the new deal. I might have a duplicate phone payment next month, but my mortgage has reduced a lot with the base rate cuts (Not even including todays!) so I will be able to cover it.

All in all a good day so far

katie2407

you could always sell your old phone and ipod on ebay therefore maikung more money

OliveOyl_2

there are even easier/more lucrative ways of selling your phone if you look at the MSE homepage........

Silaqui

Hello again hows things?

A mate of mine had a phone through dial a phone and found them fine so you should be ok. Did you decide to go for it yet or still making your mind up? Its a pretty good deal though especially if you get the Ipod and all the cashback. Agree with you about contract phones, I used to spend more topping up when I was on pay as you go than I ever have on a contract.

A&L account thing is fab, can't believe they give you £100 for switching now??? I switched to them 2 years ago this month and got nothing :mad: . That halifax overdraft charges thing is extortionate though, bloody hell.

When I upgraded my phone I gave the old one to my mum in exchange for doing some repairs and sewing type stuff on my clothes :T

xx

mooomin

Hello all!

I have totally b*ggered my budget today :eek:

I have done most of my DFW things though, which is quite good. However, bad things I have done are:

• Bought pizza...t'other half gave me £20 he owed me, so I bought noms. I was hungry and tired and would have had to clean the kitchen before cooking. Sod that.
• *shamefully declares* Bought tickets to go and see High School Musical at the theatre with my pal. £70 for the two of us :eek: Paid for on theMastercard, but will be cleared on payday with my overtime. I promise. This is the credit card without a balance, so I'm not leaving it on there. And I did get 50p cashback through Quidco.

So yeah, oops.

On the plus side, I have been approved for that A&L account, and I phoned Orange to cancel my contract. I can cancel it on the 13th of January. The call with the retentions department annoyed me though.

Me: When can I close my account?
Retentions Lady: 13th January. Can I ask what kind of deal you're getting?
Me: iPod touch, £175 cashback and £30 per month for the contract
RL: Well, an iPod is about £80, let me see what we can do.
Me: No, it's about £160 and the cashback on top means you would have to find me a deal with £350 cashback, unlikely
RL: If you'll just let me look..
Me: No thanks, I just wanted to know my cancellation date, I'm getting a free iPod touch, but thanks anyway
RL: But I'm already looking up the deals
Me: Thanks *hangs up*

They don't just listen to you and go, "you're right, that's an amazing deal, thanks for your customer, we hope you come back". Instead it's "let me waste half an hour of your time while I figure out what you as a savvy consumer already know, that we can't beat that deal"

Good grief.

In other news, I had my annual review at work today. Was pretty good to be honest, but the whole process is always really stressful for me. I'm not good at going into meetings like that and talking myself up, it makes me feel like a bit of a tw*t. I'm just hoping that I don't get made redundant in 2009 (Work in financial services) and anything else on top of that will be a bonus to me :rotfl:

Right, t'other half is going to be jumping on the pc soon, so I had better go.

Thanks to all those who advised on the iPod/phone thing. I'm quite excited at the thought of a shiny new iPod!

ff