My Journey

bevan840

Hello all

Cold seems to be better but now have bronchitus developing, went to see out of hours GP yesterday and prescribed steroids (asthma) and anti-b's to catch it before it gets worse Have just picked them up so have to take 6 steroids in one go :eek: thank god they are small!!!! Still feeling rather crappy and tired but am at work.

Went to see the house on Sat, nice enough house, decent size, apart from the bathroom, it was tiny!!!!! Conservatory which wasn't advertised which was a plus, but after talking to a few people who have lived and know the area it's not one to leave a female in on her own, so seeing as that is what normally happens we're not going to apply for it. Going to see another tonight with DH so maybe some luck as this is a new build, only problem for us is the deposit is month + half rent, we also need to find the months rent in advance on top of that!!! Tried to get an overdraft on another account but didn't work, going to try on a different account, failing that I might need to do something I really didnt want to do and ask my Mum for more, I really don't want to but this money I would make sure I got her details and set up a SO so I make sure she get's it all back!!

Cant think of much else, getting rather tired and it's only 1:30pm Hope everyone is ok xx

bevan840

Well, went to look at the house, we were there 5 minutes early. The Agent was 15 minutes late AND he didn't have the right keys!! :eek: Not a very promising start but going back tonight and hopefully he will either be on time or have the right keys, preferably both Wasn't as new as we thought either, I think they took the photo when it had just been finished but someone has been living there since, all their rubbish was all over the driveway, bins were knocked over etc so first impressions weren't too good.

DH is now coming down with the cold and for a change is eating the Vit C pastilles I bought without me nagging :eek: although worked out last night that when he does the Night Nurse himself he doesn't have the full dose, so I put it in the cup for him and waited till he'd had the lot!! Seems to of slept better last night I think :rolleyes: While I slept ok I didn't put any Vick on, and boy do I regret that decision now! Woke up this morning with major migraine pain in my right side of my face Me thinks we need a holiday!!! lol If not impressed by this house tonight (although it is 3 bedroom with a driveway) DH found another which looks good, but if we don't find one soon I think I'll give up looking for a little while and start again in new year, I'll keep my updates on Rightmove going just so I can see whats going etc but unless we see a house we really like we'll leave it go for a bit and maybe get ourselves away for a week, I want to go home soon anyhow but not sure if will be on my own or with DH.

Nothing happened financially so far, just the norm, checking bank, updating spreadsheet etc etc Tried my hand at snowball but I don't think I got it right, will have another go today hopefully.

Hope everyone is well xxxxxx

bevan840

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household.................. 2 *Me & DH*
Number of children in household................ 2 *Mainly on weekends*
Number of cars owned....................
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax.............................. 876.61
Partners monthly income after tax............ 997.2
Total monthly income.................................. 1873.81
Monthly Expense Details
Rent.......................................................... 485 *£112 a week x 4.33*
Council tax............................................... 88
Electricity.................................................. 40 *Sometimes less*
Gas............................................................. 50 *Used to be £40 but I want the huge bill from last winter paid off before this Winter comes*
Water rates............................................... 29.37
Telephone (land line)............................. 40 *Internet Included*
Mobile phone........................................... 70 *2 phones, need to ring up about DH's as the new best plan is ready now*
TV Licence................................................ 12
Groceries etc. ......................................... 200 *Normally stay within budget unless we need Cash anc Carry bits*
Clothing.................................................... 10 *Very rarely buy clothes*
Petrol/diesel........................................... 175 *2 cars*
Road tax................................................... 25 *2 cars*
Car Insurance......................................... 69.47 *2 cars + AA*
Car maintenance (including MOT)............ 25 *Estimate of £50 MOT per car and £100 per car in case of any repairs needed*
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc)......... 10.25 *PPC*
Pet insurance/vet bills................................ 20 *2 cats*
Contents insurance.................................... 16.20
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)........... 20
Entertainment............................................. 3.91
Emergency fund.......................................... 60 *Honeymoon & Moving budget*
Total monthly expenses.................. 1449.2

Assets
Car(s)......................................... 3500 *2 Cars*
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 3500

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description..............................Debt.........Monthly.....APR
CC1........................................1917.83..........50.........20.9
CC2........................................906.97............30........17.8
Sofa.......................................1072.6...........31.55.......0
iPod..........................................288...............29.........0
Car Repairs.............................150................40........0
Car Loan..............................3117.46..........91.69.......0 *Cant remember % rate so £91.69 is what I pay each month*
Total unsecured debts..........7452.86...272.24....-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income............................. 1,873.81
Expenses (including HP & secured debts)... 1,449.2
Available for debt repayments.................. 424.61
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments......... 272.24
Amount left after debt repayments........... 152.37 *That must be what keeps us out of the overdraft every month *
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own).................. 3,500
Total HP & Secured debt......................... -0
Total Unsecured debt............................... -7,452.86
Net Assets.................................................. -3,952.86
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

Not looking too bad, putting this lot into snowball next and see what happens

According to Snowball I can be debt free in 20 months but when I put the extra snowball amounts into my spreadsheet it meant I'd be back in the overdraft, so will start snowballing in January depending on how financially stable we are.

Jo_R_2

Did you get that SOA done this morning super-organised laydee - I've only just gotten back from school/nursery run!:eek:

Looking good - are you happy with it?

bevan840

Morning Jo

Not so much organised as bored :rotfl: I start work at 9am, although I'm always here between 8:10-8:20, mainly to get my free parking space :rotfl: I started doing it yesterday but without the rent as was trying to work out what sort of place we could afford, I'm still going for as cheap as possible though so I can get rid of the CC's and loans asap.

I'm ok with it but I'm sure I can cut some corners on some bits still, mobiles will do once I can get hold of DH's phone long enough to ring Orange. Petrol I keep nagging at DH as he's always accelerating when you can see brake lights in front, which as we all know waste's petrol, nag him more when he's driving my car!! The telephone and internet will come down soon, they just wanted the majority of the bills paid and a little in credit, so another £40 this month but should be able to drop it next month, it says you can do it online but the only thing I can find is to change the SO same with gas bill, trying to get it gone and maybe a little in credit before the huge bills start to come back again!! Although sort of prepared for them in putting a little a month into the Bill Account so I know it's safe and won't be touched. On average I think we spent £700-£800 on gas alone, is that good? We have a 2 bed house, I live there full time, DH lives there whenever he's home and his boys come over most weekends. Last year we were rather generous with how much heating we used as we were unsure of the costs, we'll definitely be different this year!! We've been there a year now and we had the heating on from when we first moved in, but using a little fan heater now as electric is excellent!! Much cheaper for a quick burst of heat and wearing more clothes when cold, I have a hot water bottle in bed (not including DH when he's home :rotfl:) My Aunt bought us a silk duvet as a wedding present last year and it is MARVELOUS! Well worth investing in as you barely need anything else on you at night as it keeps you nice and snug, even when outside is freezing! Although I get extremely cold because of the ME/CFS so always have a blanket in my wardrobe

Cant think of much else, Sinutabs seem to be working and headache has eased quite a bit :j Still very tired though, week of early nights I think and suprisingly DH is coming to bed at same time with no fussing, not like him so he must be tired at the moment.

College again tomorrow I've managed to get 1 of the books I need from ebay, we only need 2 books but there is a third I found which will be helpful for some of the other units so got 1 that is needed and the one that isn't needed, so far cost me £26.50, probably half if not less than it would be if I bought them new. So long as they do the job, I'm not fussy as need to save money. DH is now saying that once I become qualified and get myself a job he's going to retire, told him there's no chance of that as once I am qualified I'll be getting better money per hour so will be cutting my hours so that I can concentrate on myself for a while and beat this ME/CFS back so that I can live a more normal life than I have been I look forward to that day!!! I think he was kidding anyway

Just had phone call from Estate Agent, needing to put it back half hour to 7pm as he has a viewing before us and won't be able to get to the property for 6:30. Please let all this hassle be worth it!! It will be an extra 1/2 hour onto my travelling already which at the moment is the only down side I can see as I'll need to get up at 6:30 to start work at 9 will ring about the other house DH found too now

savingholmes

Hi Sal you seem very organised as Jo says... 6.30am - my idea of hell. If I got offered / took the job from yesterday I would need to be up about 6/6.30am and only getting in around 6.30/7pm each night so I decided to withdraw - too exhausting!

bevan840

Finally found my loan interest rate :T:j (Forgot I'd written it down when trying for the new loan :rotfl: )

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household............ 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned........................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax............................. 876.61
Partners monthly income after tax............ 997.20
Total monthly income........................... 1873.81

Monthly Expense Details
Rent.......................................................... 485
Council tax............................................... 88
Electricity.................................................. 40
Gas............................................................. 50
Water rates.............................................. 29.37
Telephone (land line)............................. 40
Mobile phone.......................................... 70
TV Licence................................................ 12
Groceries etc. .......................................... 200
Clothing..................................................... 10
Petrol/diesel............................................. 175
Road tax..................................................... 25
Car Insurance........................................... 69.47
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10.25
Pet insurance/vet bills............................ 20
Contents insurance................................ 16.2
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Entertainment........................................ 3.91
Emergency fund................................... 60
Total monthly expenses.................. 1449.2

Assets
Car(s).................................. 3500
Total Assets............................ 3500

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts

Unsecured Debts
Description.............................................Debt...........Monthly..........APR
HSBC.....................................................1917.83...........50...............20.9
Asda......................................................906.97.............30...............17.8
Sofa.......................................................1072.6...........31.55...............0
Car Loan...............................................2747.06...........91.69..........11.9
Car Repairs.............................................150...................40..................0
iPod...........................................................288..................29...................0
Total unsecured debts..........7082.46...272.24....-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.......................................... 1,873.81
Expenses (including HP & secured debts)....... 1,449.2
Available for debt repayments........................... 424.61
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments.............. 272.24
Amount left after debt repayments................. 152.37

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........................... 3,500
Total HP & Secured debt.................................. -0
Total Unsecured debt....................................... -7,082.46
Net Assets.......................................................... -3,582.46
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.[/FONT]

My DFD is 19 months away and I will be DF in April 2011 According to Snowball (finally I learned how to use it!!!!! :rotfl:) Will try and make it quicker though I have £400 ish to use for Debt repayments (better wait till definitely out of overdraft before snowballing) so it might take a month or 2 longer.

Finally saw the inside of the house, looks ok, although don't think we'll be going for it, it's an added half hour on to journey time for work and the Bond may be more as Landlord not said anything about pets. Should find out this morning but we're thinking it's going to be a No.

Health is still wobbly, legs are Very painful, can barely walk but doing my best Will ask DH to swap cars tomorrow as his is automatic and if he can take me to college tonight and tomorrow, save me having to drive

Anytime before 7AM is hell for me I have 3 alarms to get me up in the morning, Radio comes on at 6:55, one phone goes at 7am and another goes at 7:05. Seems to work for me at the moment although really wanting to sleep through them at the moment. DH going away again on Monday Were told when he came home he'd be home for 2 weeks so a bit that it's not going to be the 2 weeks.

Hope everyone is ok xxxxx

bevan840

Right, shouldnt have to spend anything today so will do Month End

October Figures are:

Total Debt £11,152.86 Gone down a little but not much as had to pay for Accounting course on CC1.

CC1 £1917.83
CC2 £906.97
Sofa £1072.60
Home Learning College £0 :j Just had to add that one as I love it how it's all paid
Car Loan £3117.46 (total if I keep paying £91.69 till the end) £2747.06 is the actual balance.
iPod £288.00
Car Repairs £150.00
Mum £2200.00
Dad £1500.00
Total of £11,152.86

September GC £243.69/£200 Oops although we did have to go cash and carry for some bits so what we saved on other months was spent this month

Honeymoon fund £60/£6000
Moving Budget £0.02

Total Debt at worst £12,600.55
Current Debt £11,152.86
Paid off so far £1447.69
Paid off 11.48% Thats 2% more than last month including the added payment of the college course

Yay :T gentle pat on the back for me

savingholmes

Your figures are going in the right direction - and college is an investment! Well done you.

Sorry to hear your legs are painful at the mo.... I really hope and pray that I don't get sick or injured as I don't cope well with it at all! The interviewer the other day liked me - so now I have a bit of a dilemma.... I have asked them whether they would consider allowing me to work from home Friday or changing the hours as I think otherwise I will be absolutely shattered all the time... If I want to be debt free tho I need an income coming in....

bevan840

Thanks SH, college is going well, DH took me last night but may have to drive myself tonight as he might be working late. I've got his car though so makes things a bit easier for me, plus he's shown me a short cut so I can sit and relax for an extra 5 mins before having to go to college.

We have computer evening on Wed and theory on Thurs. The computer bits I'm flying through as it's learning how to use Excel :rotfl: It's going over a lot of things I already knew but also showing me a few extra bits I didn't know about, when doing my own spreadsheets I never really thought of presentation so this is helping me to know how things look better when you do this/that Very useful. The theory at the moment is on Payroll, I know how to use Sage which will be what we will be doing after but working it out without the computer I don't know so I'm definitely learning something new there

I think the longer I have this illness the more I get used to it, my 'down time' as I call it (hate the word relapse as it sounds horrid but use it on occasion depending on what state of mind I'm in) used to cause bad depression, I'd get so miserable with the pain but also with the fact that I can't do anything. Luckily this time the depression hasn't come into it, had a few tears when body gets extremely painful but that's pretty much it, trying to work through it as it's keeping me sane

Had a phone call from Estate Agent about that house yesterday with the amount of deposit the Landlord would want with having the 2 cats, he would of wanted 3 x months rent as deposit :eek::eek::eek: + the months rent in advance, so would of cost us £1580 to move in, and thats before we buy the fridge freezer we would need!! We have, not suprisingly, withdrawn our interest in that one. Keeping an eye on Rightmove but focusing more on Christmas now, if something crops up will have a look and get details etc but won't be looking as much as I have been, DH is in agreement on this, atleast this way we can focus on what we can do and spend to make Christmas enjoyable as it will be another where I can't see my family.
Hoping Mum, Dad, Sis and BIL might be able to do similar to last year and pop up for a weekend here and there before Christmas like they did last year Either that or I get down there for a week.

I'm thinking of ordering my shopping tonight to come tomorrow night, unsure of when DH is collecting the boys as he is working on Sat and I can't look after them at the moment so waiting to see what his XW says. If we have got them tomorrow night I don't want to have to deal with walking around supermarket as difficult enough to walk on my own, let alone having 2 kids running round driving me crazy! Will have a look for a free delivery code for Asda

I hope they can negotiate on hours SH, I'm sure if they prefer you to the others there would be room for some negotiation to make sure they get the best there is