Raychee's DFW diary - cutting back to move forwards

Raychee

Unfortunately I didn't get the job. I'm sure there's something for me out there (apart from supply teaching), I just wish I could find it now! I did buy 2 interview tops, with the understanding that if I got the job, then I'd keep both, and if I didn't, then one would have to go back. So, tomorrow, I'm off to visit Mr Marks and Mr Spencers to return a top. Before, I would just have kept them both. Now, that £35 matters too much to let it stay. That has to be some kind of improvement...

I've had family come to visit this weekend, which has made it really expensive - obviously I want to give whatever I can, but I've spent so much this weekend (well, it feels like I have). And that doesn't include a MaccyD's, or the extra bits my sister bought to supplement what I did. I now need to go and buy groceries for the week too. I have no meal plan, and tbh, I just can't really be bothered! (That's cos I'm too tired, not because I've lost motivation!) I suppose the good thing is, I AM looking at my spending, and thinking about my choices.

This shows in my signature, where in 1 month, I've paid off nearly £1000 from my OD and CC combined. :T I hope I can keep this up - it will mean I'll be debtfree much more quickly than I could have anticipated.

It is half term this week, and I have to make sure I don't go out and spend, like I normally would, as I won't get paid next week. However, I do have the full week booked up with work when the holidays are finished, and I am now working through the Local Authority which means that I get an £25 a day more than my work through the agency, but I will have to be more proactive in getting work. (Which I can do... )

beanielou

Sorry about the job

Raychee

Today was a first... I took my top back to Mr Marks and Mr Spencers. In the past I would have put it in the back of the wardrobe, and tried to justify it. Instead, I had a return of £35, which just about paid for the weekly shop.

I also went into New Look to think about buying jeans. (I buy their £10 ones from the Hula range - the only ones which are a lovely fit for me.) Just for a challenge, I decided to try on a pair of size 16s - and...

THEY FITTED!!!

I mean, OMG - how exciting is that? I was struggling into an 18 just 6 weeks ago, now I spend my time pulling them up - even my belt is too big! (But OH can do another hole in that for me. ) I have been Wii-fitting, and because of the 100 day challenge, I've not been buying the junk that I normally would. I tend to cook from scratch most days. (The nearest I get to not scratch-cooking is a couple of jars of curry sauce - so that OH can cook when I need a day off from it!)

Anyways, as the next couple of weeks are going to be tight (no wage going in next week), I chose not to buy them. My thinking being that if I wait a few weeks, they may fit much better, I'll have a little more money, so a little more paid off my CC and OD and I'll feel that I really deserve them.

After reading the Old Style Board, I have now bought a bottle of Stardrops - Everyone seems to rave about them, and if they get my sink clean (and the oven door) then it will be well worth the 79p I paid for it.

I always find half term difficult. I live a long way from my family, and most of my friends are not teachers. It's difficult as I'd normally treat holidays as my time to spend, and I so don't want to. Maybe this holiday will be the week of sorting out cupboards, and decluttering... :rolleyes:

Raychee

Today I am cross! That's not good, seeing as it's only 10.30am, and I am enjoying my first PROPER day of half term (still wrapped in my dressing gown! )

OH is due to go on a stag weekend this weekend. It's in Edinburgh, and he should have booked flights to go there and back. When he first knew and checked, he could have got there for £60 return. However, he chose not to book, and now has decided it's just as cheap to drive there. (Up on Saturday, back down on Sunday.) Now, I'm aware that he needs his nights out, and I am happy for him to go. What I am NOT happy about is him now saying that he may not be able to afford the petrol home again! I mean, COME ON!!! If he'd got his a*** into gear back in October, then this wouldn't have been a problem. He earns 2.5 times as much as me, and spends the same percentage on household bills (mortgage, council tax etc) as I do which is about half our salary, yet doesn't have enough to spare.

I'm now feeling guilty because obviously my 50% of bills is smaller than his (IYKWIM), and am wondering whether I should give him £50 toward petrol. (400 miles to Edinburgh to go to a comedy club, stay in a hotel, and then travel 400 miles back again the next day...)

I hate feeling like this. I feel like I'm sponging off him, that I'm a burden etc. But I know that's not the case. The more I do this, the more I'm letting him know about my finances. (If you've read regularly, you know that I didn't want to tell him at the beginning.) He knows about my CC and my OD (though not quite how much the OD is...) and understands that I want to be debt free. He's helped me set up my spreadsheets too.

Maybe he's starting to realise that disposable income isn't as disposable as he thought. Maybe I'm starting to convert him into a moneysaver... maybe this time next year we can have our adopted child, AND be looking at moving house. Then again, maybe not...

I suppose that I just need to be a bit more patient and understanding. Still wondering whether I should give him the £50 though...

Raychee

This is the beginning of my tough week. It's tough, because I don't get paid next week. This is because I (obviously) haven't been teaching in half term. However, I am due my wage from the pub, but judging by past perfomance from my lovely landlord, I'll be surprised if the wage turns up on time. (Still haven't had an official wage slip from him.)
Had an enjoyable pub shift yesterday afternoon. At 5.30pm, I accepted 1/2 a pint from one of the regulars. We (including the landlord) spent a long time chatting (there were only a few of us in there), and I said it would be lovely not to go home after my shift, but to just spend the evening chilling with a few pints and chatting to the locals. But I live quite a distance from the pub, and would have had to get home somehow. They suggested I stayed with friends who live across the road, and just do it. But I'd only bought enough money out with me for a lemonade. (Yeah, I work in a pub, and I have to pay for my drinks while I work!) The regular offered to lend me £20, and the landlord told me to just take £20 advance wage out of the cash register. I sooooo wanted to.

2 things stopped me. The first was that I didn't have a toothbrush with me. (Though I could have bought one from the SpAr round the corner...) The other was the thought that £40 is more than half my weekly grocery budget, and I didn't feel I could justify it.

So, I went home, and was in bed by 9.45pm. What an exciting Saturday night!

Raychee

So, I need a little advice...

My aim is to pay of my CC by July. (June would be better...) Since January 12th, I have paid £585.26 to my CC account. I have paid out £40 on my card (by mistake - took the wrong one to by petrol with) and I have paid £64.83 in interest.

I have no idea about changing CCs, transferring balances and all that. I just wondered whether it was worth doing... I'd appreciate advice from people here who are in the know, and what card they would recommend. I only have the one CC.

I know there's a forum on Credit cards, but I quite like my cosy corner here in the DFWs!

Thanks.

mooomin

Raychee wrote: »

So, I need a little advice...

My aim is to pay of my CC by July. (June would be better...) Since January 12th, I have paid £585.26 to my CC account. I have paid out £40 on my card (by mistake - took the wrong one to by petrol with) and I have paid £64.83 in interest.

I have no idea about changing CCs, transferring balances and all that. I just wondered whether it was worth doing... I'd appreciate advice from people here who are in the know, and what card they would recommend. I only have the one CC.

I know there's a forum on Credit cards, but I quite like my cosy corner here in the DFWs!

Thanks.

Hello!

I'm assuming that the £1745 is the balance outstanding on this credit card. Advice follows!!

How is your credit rating? If it's pretty good, you should apply for a 0% credit card. Most of them will charge a fee to transfer the balance of around 3%. On your balance - assuming £1745 - this would be £53 approx. If you are paying £64 per month in interest then this is more than worth doing, as you will make the money back (As it were) even if you are only paying off the balance for a few months.

My balance was only £1100 when I transfered onto my Barclaycard (0% for 13 months at the time) and I will have paid it off well before the end of the balance transfer period, but it was better than paying interest as far as I was concerned!

Oh, and you said that nobody ever commented on your diary when you popped into mine, but I'm subscribed now and you won't get rid of me

Raychee

Yay! F-F! You found me! :j :j :j

Thanks for your advice - I'll look into it!

Raychee

Oooh, just to add that although it's still alot, that £64 is 2 months worth of interest, not one! (The interest rate isn't THAT bad! )

Primula

Hiya Rachee
Just catching up with your diary, you doing great girl. Glad to hear you got your wages at last. :beer: Keep up the good work.
P
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