Laura's K.I.S.S DFW diary

laura2481

ragstoricheswannabe wrote: »

also your phone line and broadband costs seem high at £30 or so a month. dont know if you are tyed into a contract but would look at reducing this. Have you tried getting the lowest tariff and using the override numbers??

Thanks, it's £34.50 altogether. That's for TV, broadband and phoneline. I negotiated them down from £45 but they wouldn't go any lower. It's virgin, by the way. It's a little annoying as the same package is £30 to new customers... grrrr

laura2481

Hmmm, just done a comparison on moneysupermarket and it looks like we are paying over the odds... I think I will spend the day tomorrow checking out what insurance we have and what we are covered for 'cos to be honest we are a bit clueless!! I could do with figuring out what my mortgage is going to revert to when the fixed period is up in April, too. It's 5.5% now but I'm sure its over 6% that it's going to go to...

laura2481

Have spent some time today looking at what my buildings and contents policy actually covers, excess and when policy runs out etc.

Have gone back and looked at comparison site and it looks like we could halve our monthly B+C premium and get £40-£60 cashback through topcashback.

Will certainly not just get whatever a mortgage adviser or similar advises again- I wonder how many other people they rip off this way?

laura2481

I must confess I have been worrying a little about this whole recesson thing. And the mortgage is coming up for renewal, and I've been trying so hard to pay my debts off..... so just worrying generally!
I've found a website called spareroom.co.uk. If the worst comes to the worst we could always rent out our spare room. it wouldn't be ideal. An we would have to sort out a bed/wardrobe etc. But it would mean we could have up to £4250 per year tax free income, which would help with the mortgage if we needed it.

But that woud be seriously worst case scenario... we would have to get rid of my boyfriends gym equipment somehow!!

I just like making worst case scenario plans... can't hurt!

laura2481

Also rent out parking space is an idea.... Hmmm. I shall muse upon this idea.

laura2481

Things I have done today in line with my plan.

1. Keep a track of all my incomings and outgoings Double checked online banking, updated spreadsheet. Budgeted rest of month.
   
2. Make at least one overpayment to a debt per month Paid an extra £30 off of credit card. Cancelled Barclaycard. Money transferred to Barclays account clearing off overdraft.
   
3. Always think 'do I NEED this, or WANT this?' before I buy anything. Haven't bought anything today!!
   
4. Always look for a cheaper option. Have been looking at insurance quotes ready for re-newal in next month or so. Looks like could halve the cost!
   Have also tried to get my head round or mortgage and what the interest rate will be... Looks like SVR will be less than what it was fixed at.

All-in-all a productive day.:j

laura2481

Well, I felt a little down yesterday after the last post above.

I've recently posted a thread on a different board for some ideas about my up coming mortgage renewal and what this means with the whole recession thing.

Anyway, another member posted a comment which I am sure wasn't intended to be hurtful, but came across a little judgemental and ...well... snotty really. And it made me feel a little bit carp. Hence, the info on my credit card debts etc has gone from my signature.

It took me a little while to think about I have achieved in the last few months. So here is a few things:

1. paid £437 off of debts since Nov
2. claimed £150 back from Barclays in charges
3. cleared Barclays overdraft
4. cleared Barclaycard and cancelled
5. started paying boyfriend back
6. Didn't put any money on credit cards at christmas and stuck to budget
7. Haven't had any overdraft fees or late payment charges since Nov
8. Set up spreadsheets for my personal account and our joint account and have been controlling and budgeting that.
9. Have been making overpayments on debts
10. Have saved £300 to replace savings I dipped into when at worst for overspending. Need to replace by May to pay 10% off of mortgage and I really shouldn't have spent that money.
11. Have got a clear plan for the next few months of things I can do to save more ie. change insurances and look at different electricity/gas tarrifs

All this adds up to me being a lot more in control of my money (an our bill money) than I ever was. And it feels good.

And I won't let one persons ill-placed comment take that away from me.

I just need to keep it up!

laura2481

And now another... I'm sticking to DFW board from now on. I'm sure people don't intend to be hurtful...:rolleyes:

Verbatim

Looks like you've achieved a huge amount AND completely taken control of yourfinances.

Did you know you can hide your signature when you post (for eg on other boards)?

mooomin

Don't let one muppet make you feel bad. You're in more control of your money now and that's a big and important thing.

Also, you have done really well, which shows in everything you listed above. Well done!! :T:T