Jo_R's debt-free diary, slow and steady progress!

thrifty_fifty

Oh Oops. Most sincere apologies. I have been lurking a bit too much tonight, and clearly should have gone to sleep a while ago. Nighty Nighty everyone.

Jo_R_2

*chuckles* The baby bit would have applied about a year ago as baby was late, however he's very much here and nearly a year old now!

I do have flights of fancy to do with household goods, mainly daydreaming of a new sofa, new matching sets of furniture for the bedrooms/living room/dining room/conservatory but really I know those are not for right now but some time in the future. I wouldn't really get out interest-free credit - I hate the thought of being tied again like that.

Still managing through the half-term, do quite like DD1 being at home Not much planned for tomorrow so not looking forward to being stuck in the house *files through mental list of things to do in half-term that don't cost much that we haven't done already*

Need to call up council tomorrow to check balance of Housing Benefit overpayment. By my reckoning it's £20 but I suspect I may be slightly off either way - whatever, I should be able to clear that one come the start of March and cross another debt off my list:j

We may be biting the bullet and buying the Vectra I mentioned previously. It would be great but very convenient, family circumstance aren't great at the mo and having our own transport would be really useful. I won't go into it all now as it's very fresh and recent but am sure will share in due course.

Take care all x

Jo_R_2

So we bit the bullet and bought the car. £750 transferred which means all is finally sorted, can transfer rest of PPI money to savings now. Need to check tax and when MOT is due and transfer into our names - OH is a terror for forgetting to do this:mad:

OH cashed his Tax Credits cheques into his account and has very MSE'ly decided to... pay off his credit card! V. impressed - obviously something has rubbed off on him somewhere along the line. Think it was talking about how existing debts could impact on applying for a mortgage in a few years coupled with him realising his last monthly minimum payment had only cleared something like 25p off his balance:eek:

Working on March's SOA yesterday. Playing around with the surplus, there's a few things I need to get, some bits of clothes for DDs and baby, plus could really do with another pair of shoes - but in true "I'm getting old now" fashion, I need something with a nice comfy sole - but quite nice to look at - do such shoes exist?:D Also am desperate for a new rug for the living room but can't manage it all in one go (looking at at least £80) so going to maybe put half aside this month and same next month.

One good thing is have persuaded OH to buy me a bookcase in return for lending him the money to cover rent so can cross that off my list!

beanielou

Yah to OH on bookcase & CC

EssexHebridean

Going well with you Jo - full marks and a round of :T to your OH for the credit card thing - funny how they pick up on these things eventually isn't it! The car sounds like a sensible purchase too - makes good sense to buy it while the money is there rather than transferring it to savings and then having that kind of, almost resentment that you have to take it out again to spend it later. Unless of course that sort of illogical nonsense is just me? I actually like saving for stuff now but don't like seeing the money go when it's time to buy the thing in question! :eek:

Jo_R_2

I do know what you mean EH - I know I'd have felt like that had I got the money actually in my savings account then had to transfer it out again!

I must admit the savings thing is relatively new to me; I mean obviously I know what saving is, it's only recently I've had the means to actually do it! It is very addictive to have some money sat there, although I do have to keep telling myself that I need to direct my energies into throwing spare money at my Tesco cc. Going to update my sig accordingly as a visual motivator.

Feeling quietly confident at the mo re: finances. I must say Jan and Feb haven't been ideal in terms of my SOA going to plan, but in all honesty things haven't gone out of the window at all, and come end of month are fine so can't complain.

Other news is I have been tentatively job-hunting and seen some potentially suitable vacancies so going to go for it - nothing to lose and all that!


Feeling super-organised so doing a list for tomorrow and poss. Tuesday depending on how I go.

• post letter re: OH's ripped Tax Credits giro to get replacement
• fill in and post car registration document to transfer ownership (won't leave this to OH or it'll never get done!)
• get (is it?) D1 form from Post Office for OH to replace driver's licence as he's lost the paper part of his
• [STRIKE]phone council to check balance of Housing Benefit overpayment and that March is indeed a payment-free month for Council Tax[/STRIKE]
• work on first job application (closes end of week so need to get moving!)
• [STRIKE]call up Tax Credits to query/double check extra payments that have found in my account (see below)[/STRIKE]

Edited to add: just checked my online banking as not been on for a few days and noticed two EXTRA payments from Tax Credits amounting to nearly £700 have gone into my account.


I can only assume it is from the same cycle of payments that OH got his three cheques from the other day. I am rubbing my hands together thinking how this could pay off a big chunk off my Tesco cc but I shall be calling up TCs tomorrow to double check before I do anything with it.

bevan840

Morning Jo

Glad things are getting easier, the balance on your tesco card is amazing!! £500 in 2 months! I hope I can tackle mine as quickly once I get myself sorted hehe

The D1 form, you can actually apply for a new paper licence online, I had to do it when I moved up here because during the move, it went missing, I wasn't too worried about it, until I got caught speeding and they needed to see the paper part :eek:

Good idea on checking the tax credits, there's only one reason I'm looking forward to turning 25 this year, and thats to see if 'hopefully' I can apply for them too.

Good luck with your list xx

beanielou

You are going to be very busy.
Love your new siggy

Jo_R_2

Thanks!

Not been super busy this last couple of days - you know how it is, family gets in the way sometimes! Nevertheless things on track still, just really passing the time until the end of the month.


Need to get on with the rest of the list tomorrow, so revised list as follows:

• [STRIKE]post letter re: OH's ripped Tax Credits giro to get replacement[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]fill in and post car registration document to transfer ownership (won't leave this to OH or it'll never get done!)[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]go online to sort out OH's replacement driver's licence (good idea Sal!)[/STRIKE]
• work on job application (due by Thursday so need to finish tomorrow!)
• [STRIKE]post ebay bundle of clothes [/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]buy jobs pages in local paper[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]phone letting agency about heater which is broken in bathroom[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]phone up Open Uni to check balance and when last payment is due[/STRIKE]

A bit of good news is I called the council about my Housing Benefit overpayment; I thought my balance was £20 outstanding, of which £15 would be paid by standing order next month, then would pay the difference to finish it off. Turns out this month's payment makes the balance £5 so a month 'ahead' IYSWIM, will call up at start of March and clear that so another debt to be written off!:j

Better go as think can hear baby crying x

beanielou

Great news on HB overpayment.