Clawing back - the second half

Claw_back_money

Hi all
I've got a day off today, I've done my mystery shops, cleaned the bathrooms and done some surfing - including applying for a Y'urindicator :rotfl:(freebie - theres a link elsewhere on the site) and am feeling nicely chilled.
Also a tad guilty, as in the last week since I realised that all that money would be coming in I've fallen off the straight and narrow a bit. That has included - a book, monty python dvd (ours went missing), mah jong game for NDS, ready made pizzas for tea (rather than the budget DIY ones we normally make). So, nothing as horrendous as new kitchen worktops or a tv, but still really different to how we've lived the last year and a half. I think I need to spend time meditating on the spreadsheets to get back into the swing of being completely frugal.
DS came home from uni at the weekend and is now looking for work, his 'normal' vacation job is only going to be available from August this year.
I'm going round to a friend's house for lunch in a second, so that will be nice.

Cheers all
Cbm

Claw_back_money

Hello world
Middle of the week... middle of the month... things are ticking away ok. I forgot OH was going out quite early this evening and so was still working when he arrived home, tea not started :eek: it was meant to be OS curry. He rallied round and made pasta and sausages and stuff, so still MSE (as not from chippie) but I feel guilty. Actually that's not completely true, I'm just tired! Work very stressful at the mo - hence me still having my head down when he got home. Ended up working another v long day (started 8, finished 6.30 ish) and I don't seem to have made much progress. A member of staff has just lost a parent and resigned so have been offering and organising change of work instead - sounds like that will be a better option all round. But v draining and took most of the day to sort paperwork - other stuff is just piling up.

And makes me a bit of a rubbish wife; I'm off to bed early again tonight, and that will be 3 nights running! Although I was up early with good intentions (that included hoovering and ironing before I started work at 8am:A) I just don't seem to be able to hold things together (like conversations) at the end of the day.

Money-wise all ok, only groceries as I've no time to go shopping!!! I have Friday off, hair cut and opticians booked so might end up in Boots with my coupons that came today. I've also got an M&S voucher from ages ago (pigsback) in my purse so I'll go and see what they've got. I'm hoping to be able to get total debt to below £6,000 by the end of the month... but that will take sacrifice!

Cheers
Cbm

Claw_back_money

That's another week done then!
I had the day off today, which is a really nice way to end the week. Fairly MSE despite going shopping. I had my eyes checked, which work will pay for, and found one of my eyes has deteriorated quite a bit. I wanted 2 pairs of glasses, one for the car and one for when I work at home, so went for the bargain basement and paid £25 each for them. Boots - got DS a new toothbrush - half price, and paid with token, M&S - couple of bits I needed, and a pasta salad for lunch - paid with token from Pigsback. Then to the hairdressers. I can't really argue there was anything DFW about my haircut at all - full price, and a salon with a qualified hairdresser! Supermarket - went in for two items and came out with the two items only. Then home, 3 online surveys - that will earn another tenner although they will miss the deadline to get paid this month.
I've done the washing ready to hang out in the morning, and I'm hoping to get on top of the housework this weekend.

Have a good weekend everyone...
Cbm

Claw_back_money

Hi all
I'm working from home today and thought I'd come and say 'hi' during my lunch break. I'm really bad about stopping for lunch so thought a quick update on here then I'll stop working and go and do something else while I eat.
The DFW journey has suddenly gone the scenic route. I paid off the B'card at the beginning of the month, but have found that there has been loads I couldn't avoid spending and I think that the joint overdraft is going to end up a bit higher at the end of the month.:mad:

Spent or need to spend:
DS1 - flights home from uni at other end of country, + cost of accommodation for his belongings at uni for the summer - £300
DS2 - 18th birthday
OH car being fixed - £250
Shower (leaking inside wall - towel wedged under skirting board to soak up drips) - postponed to July

I will need to go grocery shopping this week, I can eeke (sp) it out mealwise for a couple more days but no fruit or snacky bits at all for lunchboxes, and we're going to run out of household stuff - shower gel, laundry etc.

There should be some money coming in - £30ish from mystery shopping, £150ish for working at the election, unfortunately I can't rely on that being in the next month.

Lunch in the garden I think - accompanied by Private Eye which was an unexpected but fab freebie in the post today.:T
Hello to anyone reading....

Cbm

Claw_back_money

Hi all
I'm feeling a bit fed up today. Got paid yesterday and queried the amount with payroll as it was high, and it turns out I've been overpaid for the last couple of months. I was doing extra hours and they didn't drop it down again when the hours finished. :wall: I don't know how much it will be, I reckon about £1,000 gross. They will be invoicing me but I have said that they need to deduct tax etc from that as I've paid it... No idea how that is going to work but am feeling a bit upset.
So that has delayed any DFW payments, although to be honest its the joint account overdraft I'm tackling now, so I could just put the money in there then withdraw from that account what I need to.
Its a bit deflating getting another debt when I thought we were doing so well!
I won a £10 voucher on the royal mail draw so I might see if I can find something nice with that next week, I love ear-rings and haven't bought any for ages, so they might have some in Samuels.

Hope everyone else is doing better....
Cbm

Swinstie73

Hi CBM,

That's a bummer about the overpayment! Must be something in the air, I just got a call from my 2nd job saying they paid me 10 hours that I didn't work, so I either have to pay it back (all £45 of it - after tax) or work for 10 hours. I suppose I don't lose out but going on hols soon so hope I can work it beforehand!

Hope you find some nice earrings, or some other wee treat, you sound like you deserve it x

Claw_back_money

Swinstie73 wrote: »

Hi CBM,

That's a bummer about the overpayment! Must be something in the air, I just got a call from my 2nd job saying they paid me 10 hours that I didn't work, so I either have to pay it back (all £45 of it - after tax) or work for 10 hours. I suppose I don't lose out but going on hols soon so hope I can work it beforehand!

Hope you find some nice earrings, or some other wee treat, you sound like you deserve it x

Hi all
No earrings Swinstie. Nothing at all I fancied in fact. I might get some phone credit in boots with it - boring I know, but then I get the boots points and vouchers too if I choose the right time.
Did you get your extra hours worked so you don't have to pay the money back? Lucky you going on holiday - hope you have a great time!

Cbm

Claw_back_money

Hi all
My work overpayment turned out to mean I owe them over £800 :eek:

They suggested taking it back in four payments, and my first reaction was that I would do it over two months... but clever OH pointed out it is in effect an interest free loan so can put the money into our overdraft account. Thats what we're doing - the challenge is going to be making sure the overdraft goes down and stays down! I should get paid from job #2 next week, and thought at that point I would phone the bank and reduce the overdraft as much as possible so we can't be tempted.


Not a lot else going on in the CB money saving household. I managed to get the last food shop down to less than £65, so was pleased. Our water monthly payment is being reduced by £11, probably due to water-baby DD no longer living here.

Cheers all
Cbm

Lemon_Tree

glad they're taking it back gradually and your OH spotted the 0% loan.
Did they take the tax element from it? make sure they do. I know payroll departments and you would think they know their job but boy are we wrong about that!
with your overdraft have you considered reducing the limit as you pay it off? that's the only way i was able to clear mine as i knew if there was a limit i would end up spending to it.

Claw_back_money

Hi Lemontree, thanks for posting.
You were right about tax etc, the first figure I was given I questioned on the tax/ni/pension that had been taken out, and they went away to work it out again - unbelievable! I would have been looking at an amount of £1200+!
How often did you reduce your overdraft? I didn't know you could do it frequently, and have been aiming at big chunks. I have found the overdraft the hardest thing to pay off.

Edited to add - I just noticed £22K paid off - wow!!!

Cheers
Cbm