Handbags & Gladrags – Confessions of a Recovering Spendaholic

Swinstie73

urg123 wrote: »

Okay missus - I need to ask you something: What's the point of making payments towards savings if your budget is in deficit?

You need your SOA to break even - any extra money you make through your PT job can be overpayments.

I hope I haven't missed anything!

urg x x

Thanks Kerfuff & Urg,

Good question Urg, I know you should always pay debt with savings BUT, my loan still has 30 months to run and I'm basically putting £150 away til next Sept, where I will have enough to pay off the loan early. I can't make any overpayments at all, and the thought of another 2.5 years paying this loan is making me mad! :mad:. The other £100 is for going on holiday and should have £1.5K in it by next June, holiday next year will be a cheapy, £500 - £750 max if I have my way, so I will have £750 - £1K in savings by then. The plan is to keep at least half of what I have left in savings and use the other half to throw at the debt. Hope this makes sense .

The savings are also there just now as my safety net, if they need to be used then there will be no holiday next year, for me anyway, poor OH will just have to go alone :rolleyes:.

Just seen your post Laura - are you saying I'm a witch :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

laura2481

Swinstie73 wrote: »

Just seen your post Laura - are you saying I'm a witch :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

really you got that- from that?

Witch :D

urg123

Hi Swinstie,

I wasn't having a go - I would never do that.

I didn't really ask my question properly either - really my point is that where possible you should break even. If your income doesn't meet your outgoings you will always be a little bit over-budget. It might be better to reduce some of your payments to ensure that you always break even.

By the way: NEVER EVER forgt those dreams of being debt free. We all want it tomorrow but you're working so hard at it, the feeling will be so sweet when you get there.

urg x x

Swinstie73

Hey urg, of course I didn't think you were having a go! I know what you mean, on paper I do seem to be going over-budget every month, but strangely always have money left in my bank before pay-day, weird! I think someone is depositing money whilst I'm not looking, ha! It's because I haven't had a proper basic wage since June, I've had overtime, disturbance payments, a sharesave I paid has now stopped etc. Next month I will see where I stand, I hope.

I'm sitting here now trying to shave money off my list, it's not working cos think I need my bed. Have a great day off Urg xx

Swinstie73

Afternoon all,

Well managed to get my car insurance and breakdown cover combined for £285. My renewal was £265 and the AA around £70, so a saving of £50, yeah! The breakdown isn't with the AA, but does include 2 yearly home-starts! My car isn't too old so I weighed up the chances of it breaking down and went for the cheaper option.

Will score that off my list of things to do!

Some bad news, got a wee problem with my washing machine, and dreading going home tonight now. Last week I noticed a strange black line on my laminate in the living room, mentioned it to some guys in work and the minute I said my washing machine was in the kitchen right next door, they said my machine must be leaking. I'm hoping that's all it is, should be as did washing last night and it's working ok. OH not down this weekend, so don't know what to do, eek!

laura2481

Check it's all connected up properly at the back- this happened with our once and a tube or something had come loose- but other than that it was ok. Once tube properly re-connected- no more probs!! Bob's yer auntie and all that.

Swinstie73

Thanks Laura, have now checked it, all looks ok and the floor looks dry too. One tube looks a bit icky, like stuff has been leaking but nothing obvious. Might put a wash on and see if can see any leaks.

Going out for dinner tonight with my friends for her birthday, looks a nice place and not too expensive, I am starving. Catch up later x

Swinstie73

Well, wasn't as cheap as I thought, we all ended up with Chicken Balmoral and a combo starter between us, was £27 each, two of us paid for the birthday girl.

I did manage to speak to one of them about putting in a lucky dip for Christmas instead of buying two presents and she was very agreeable, just forgot to say to the other friend, but will see here again soon. Anyway going to put a wash on whilst the machine is pulled out and see if I can see any leaks, here's hoping not.

Then it's a cuppa and hopefully an early nite, might have a nice bath and see if I can use up some more products, ha. If not back later, have a nice nite everyone x

savingholmes

Hi Swinstie - you've had a busy few days. Sorry the meal ended up more expensive but if you do manage a lucky dip approach to xmas it should help out.

EssexHebridean

Washing machine - assuming that like most it plumbs into a sink outlet for drainage, try giving your drains a good clean (vinegar or salt and bicarb works well - check the OS board for ideas) - we had truly awful problems with our old machine leaking everywhere until we realised that the drain was clogged so it wasn't draining properly - this was also responsible for us being without a dishwasher for several months - we thought it had broken but it turned out to be just the drain being clogged! :doh:

Good work on your planning - have you got a programme for settlement figures for your loan? It's a great feeling when you manage to get one killed off early.

The not buying toiletries thing really works doesn't it - I bought shampoo last week for the first time in well over a year, and only bought it then 'cos I needed serum and it was on a 3 for 2 so got conditioner and shampoo as well to make the most of it. Another place I've found a massive saving is to buy the packs of toothbrushes from poundland - you get about 5 for your £1 and if they last slightly less time than the more mainstream ones who cares - for that price it makes no odds! Poundland are also excellent for the Arm & Hammer toothpastes too - they're usually foreign boxes/tubes, but do the same job!