Clawing back - the second half

Claw_back_money

I can't believe that I spent most of the afternoon online trying to win a wretched scarf that will retail at £15! I thought it would make a nice present for my mum for Christmas, but what a waste of time! These comps are rather addictive - lucky its closed now. (I won one by the way, just regret spending so long doing it).

I spoke to OH - who was impressed at the total (look back a few posts). He has agreed the dishwasher can wait, this month the shower is finally being fixed and my car will need a service, but it may be possible to do the target of paying off the overdraft - it seems really really hard at the mo.

Cheers all
Cbm

mark55man

funny this site - you sometimes find a long established thread that you just never saw before.

Anyway well done - nearly there, just xmas to go through and you should be DF well before summer. Wow your survey total is really impressive - didn't have the grit to stick with that

do you do the Grocery Challenge - that's saved me a load of money - and we are eating very well on it?

Claw_back_money

Thanks Mark88man for popping by and posting. Sometimes I'm focusing so hard on where we're going I forget that we've done quite well - so your message made me stop and take a breath!
I quite enjoy the surveys, started them when I was threatened with redundancy at the beginning of the DFW journey, and have carried on doing as many as I can. From time to time I get bored with them and then I think of the money and carry on! Its eBay I can't face at the moment...

I haven't properly done the grocery challenge, but have been setting a weekly budget for shopping. I found that we eat better too, but I think that's because so much more thought and planning goes into shopping and cooking.

Cheers
Cbm

Claw_back_money

Just finally got around to tackling BT about our phone and broadband, which were a year out of contract.
I've negotiated a reduction from a total of £40.37 a month to £26.41! So that's either £167odd saved for next year, or £167odd wasted last year, which ever way you look at it.

On balance, I think I'm pleased, as it will make a difference over the next few months. We had started doing it loads of times but always got bogged down in the detail, and they decline to speak to me sometimes as OH is the name on the account and he really doesn't like doing stuff like that, preferring the quiet life.

Job done!
Cbm

Poorbuthappy55

Hi CBM

Haven't been around for a couple of days - your totals are looking great you must be able to see the light at the end of the debt tunnel now.

Well done for sorting out your BT it's a bit of a pain having to do these things isn't it?

Keep up the good work you have done soooooo well.

PBH xx

Lemon_Tree

well done on BT who knew you could negotate with them! well done for getting them to do anything.

Claw_back_money

Poorbuthappy55 wrote: »

Hi CBM

Haven't been around for a couple of days - your totals are looking great you must be able to see the light at the end of the debt tunnel now.

Well done for sorting out your BT it's a bit of a pain having to do these things isn't it?

Keep up the good work you have done soooooo well.

PBH xx

To be honest PBH it still feels like there is a mountain of debt to get over, just looking at the accounts it will be hard to keep the joint account at its current limit, let alone reduce it loads, but that is where the extra income I'm working towards comes in I guess.

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

well done on BT who knew you could negotate with them! well done for getting them to do anything.

I found a forum on broadbands (here on MSE) and read loads of messages where people were phoning up to cancel and got offered new deals. We were on an old tariff that was more expensive than it needed to be, but they have hacked a fair chunk off that for the next 12 months too.

Cbm

Claw_back_money

A day off, cold and raining here. I went on to TAB bingo early on, as I've accrued £20ish again. I've spent it all (bar 15p) on bingo over the next few days, and won £8.33 on the first game. I really need to get it to £10 so I can withdraw so fingers crossed.

So on this rare day off, my plans include the mundane bits:

[STRIKE]Plan a training course for job #2 in a fortnight - for which I'll get paid.[/STRIKE] Done
[STRIKE]Plan a training course for a charity I'm helping out next weekend - no pay there but quite good fun and I'll get my expenses paid (petrol) so no real cost.[/STRIKE] Done
[STRIKE]Loads of other paperwork for said charity.[/STRIKE] Done, but so boring!
[STRIKE]Stay in until OH parcel arrives.[/STRIKE] Just came
[STRIKE]Careful planning of food this week and shopping list.[/STRIKE] Done. I've included a joint for OH for Sunday & leftovers early next week.
[STRIKE]Hoovering.[/STRIKE] Done
Also had to wash kitchen floor as hoovering showed dirt!
[STRIKE]Put last night's ironing away.[/STRIKE] Done
[STRIKE]Wash sheets and towels.[/STRIKE] Bedding washed, towels in WM. Goodness knows how they'll get dried.
[STRIKE]Phone bank and reduce overdraft.[/STRIKE] Done. Weirdly instead of offering me a loan, I got offered a savings account :rolleyes:
[STRIKE]Change hairdressing appointment.[/STRIKE] Done.

And the more fun:

Finish the two cards I've started, mount the cross-stitch etc
If OH's parcel arrives at a reasonable time, try to get out the house for a walk/cycle ride or swim

I'll try and suss out how to do that crossing out thing, maybe seeing the list getting crossed out will give me some inspiration.... I'm feeling a bit 'flat' today.

Will update as I go...
Cbm

Lemon_Tree

can't you top up your winnings with a tenner then take out the £18? that's what i'd probably do as any more games played are likely to come out of the money you've won.
I'm with you on the feeling 'flat' day. Though i'm on the cusp of exploding at some lazy toad at work so getting very very quiet. (usually a danger sign for those who know me!)

Claw_back_money

Oooo good thinking Lemon Tree. The games are already bought and paid for though, so the cost is not coming out of the winnings (thankfully). I'll wait and see where I get to with all the games over the next few days and then add £10 if needs be.

Hope things are improving - nearly time for you to go home!

Cbm