I'm working for the cash machine - my diary

sarahb123_3

Ooh, a lovely new diary to subscribe to:D I totally agree with you re not using your savings to clear cc, I always have some put aside just in case, I like the security of having some money for emergencies.

Loved the "I must have has fun cos now I'm broke.":rotfl:

Good luck with your diary x

gwen80

Hello!

Lots of replies - thankyou

Holly and makeup - I totally agree This board is a great place whether you're in debt or not. It's friendly, non-judgemental and it's great to get ideas and inspiration for anybody managing their finances. I love it

cashwitch - Nice to meet you! It's good to meet somebody else also trying to pay off debt and renovate a house. I made a big mistake buying my house, had I known the amount of work it needed, I wouldn't have touched it. It's awful to say it, but I've never been happy living there since I bought it. That has been my motivation to save up to renovate it though and why I can't just pay off the debt with the savings. If I were to do that, I think I'd have to sell the house. I don't think I could stay in it while I start from scratch with the savings again, I really think I'd end up very unhappy. The only thing that keeps me going is the thought that I might have a nice house at the end of it all, which is all I want really. I think if I work really hard this year, it could be my year and it's about time too. Something needs to change, something has to change.

sarah - Hellooo! Yes, I have my house savings and about one months salary as an 'emergency fund'. It's really funny though, I've had my little emergency fund for years and have never touched it, even when there has been an emergency. I hate breaking into it, so it just sits there in an ISA as a little comfort blanket for me . I love that lyric too!! I remember when they released that song, I heard it on the radio and it was so apt.

On other news, I think I have found some motivation from somewhere :j. I certainly feel a lot better than I have for the last couple of weeks. I have lots to do this weekend, tidying, cleaning, more tidying, looking for broadband deals, refreshing my knowledge of matched betting...the list goes on, but I can't wait to get home and get started.

Cheerio

Gwenx

Dan29

gwen80 wrote: »

I made a big mistake buying my house, had I known the amount of work it needed, I wouldn't have touched it.

Sounds familiar. I think living in a house that's in a bit of a state saps a lot of happiness and motivation from life in general. I've done most of the major stuff to my house but the huge list of more minor things is so daunting that I never get started - and so am still living in an environment that saps my happiness and motivation!

gwen80 wrote: »

On other news, I think I have found some motivation from somewhere :j.

:T

gwen80 wrote: »

looking for broadband deals

I was thinking about this - it sounds like Vodafone as someone mentioned is best for your mobile dongle? If you're going to change home broadband too then it might be best to get the mobile one up and running first so that if the home broadband switchover goes wrong, you still have internet access?

With the home one I'm with Plusnet which is £5.99 a month and works fine, as you can see..! It's fast enough for 'normal' use; the only slight downside is that you have to commit to an 18 month contract.

gwen80 wrote: »

matched betting

Whuh? :huh:

gwen80

Dan29 wrote: »

Sounds familiar. I think living in a house that's in a bit of a state saps a lot of happiness and motivation from life in general. I've done most of the major stuff to my house but the huge list of more minor things is so daunting that I never get started - and so am still living in an environment that saps my happiness and motivation!

I totally agree. It's really gotten me down in the past. The number of times, I've nearly walked down to the estate agents to get rid of it.

I know for me and I'm sure for lots of other people, having a nice home is so important. Nothing flash or fancy, but just comfortable and easy to live in. I think if I work hard, by the end of the year I could have a good sum of money to make some real progress with the house and hopefully get rid of my credit card, but I'm not under any illusions, it's going to be hard work.

Dan29 wrote: »

I was thinking about this - it sounds like Vodafone as someone mentioned is best for your mobile dongle? If you're going to change home broadband too then it might be best to get the mobile one up and running first so that if the home broadband switchover goes wrong, you still have internet access?

With the home one I'm with Plusnet which is £5.99 a month and works fine, as you can see..! It's fast enough for 'normal' use; the only slight downside is that you have to commit to an 18 month contract.

Good idea to get the mobile one up and running first. Can't be without my internet Is vodafone the best? Is mobile broadband only available through mobile phone companies? I really need to look into this.

Plusnet sounds good, I will investigate. Can I get cashback through quidco too?

Dan29 wrote: »

Whuh? :huh:

Next week, I promise You're going to help me get this sorted and it's much appreciated - thankyou!

Dan29

gwen80 wrote: »

I totally agree. It's really gotten me down in the past. The number of times, I've nearly walked down to the estate agents to get rid of it.

Yeah I've got a few rooms finished now but I just ignore the rest most of the time - which isn't going to get the house finished!

gwen80 wrote: »

I know for me and I'm sure for lots of other people, having a nice home is so important. Nothing flash or fancy, but just comfortable and easy to live in. I think if I work hard, by the end of the year I could have a good sum of money to make some real progress with the house and hopefully get rid of my credit card, but I'm not under any illusions, it's going to be hard work.

Yep, better to work hard and/or make sacrifices for a limited amount of time rather than carry on in the same way indefinitely.

gwen80 wrote: »

Good idea to get the mobile one up and running first. Can't be without my internet Is vodafone the best? Is mobile broadband only available through mobile phone companies? I really need to look into this.

Yeah I looked into it and I'm pretty sure SBC was right in this post; the other companies make you top up every month which is bound to be more expensive if you're only logging on occasionally.

gwen80 wrote: »

Plusnet sounds good, I will investigate. Can I get cashback through quidco too?

Yep £28 according to the Cashback Checker.

I see Virgin are doing an offer that's mentioned in Martin's e-mail this week, but that's for tv, phone and broadband so you'd be cancelling your BT line and it might be expensive if you wanted to connect it again in a year's time; that's why I've never gone for cable broadband.

gwen80 wrote: »

Next week, I promise You're going to help me get this sorted and it's much appreciated - thankyou!

I wasn't nagging that time :cool:

Shoe_Gal

Hi Gwen

I have a vodafone 'dongle' and I think it's fab :j I pay £15 per month and never go over my limit (and you know how much time I spend on here )

Dan29

Shoe_Gal wrote: »

Hi Gwen

I have a vodafone 'dongle' and I think it's fab :j I pay £15 per month and never go over my limit (and you know how much time I spend on here )

I think you can have Contract or Pay as you Go; I'm guessing Pay as you Go is better for Gwenda if she's going to have 'normal' broadband at home too?

gwen80

Dan29 wrote: »

Yeah I've got a few rooms finished now but I just ignore the rest most of the time - which isn't going to get the house finished!

:T:T Maybe I can nag you about DIY/decorating? I've redone my bathroom since I moved in and my spare bedroom, but I really want to get my bedroom done and the kitchen (expensive). It'll be brilliant to have a gorgeous bedroom and I'd enjoy cooking so much more if I had a nice kitchen. I have to confess when I was really, really fed up with my house and couldn't see how I could fix all the problems that kept appearing, I used to go out after work (usually to the shops :rolleyes:) rather than going home, because I just didn't want to be there.

Dan29 wrote: »

Yep, better to work hard and/or make sacrifices for a limited amount of time rather than carry on in the same way indefinitely.

This is the conclusion I've come to. I don't want to die alone in this cr*p house...*dramatic sob* He, he!

Dan29 wrote: »

Yeah I looked into it and I'm pretty sure SBC was right in this post; the other companies make you top up every month which is bound to be more expensive if you're only logging on occasionally.

I need to look into this.

Dan29 wrote: »

Yep £28 according to the Cashback Checker.

This plusnet thing looks good. Apart from the cashback, I'd save 7.50/month (sorry I really need to convince my keyboard I'm not American), which I like and you say they're reliable.

Dan29 wrote: »

I see Virgin are doing an offer that's mentioned in Martin's e-mail this week, but that's for tv, phone and broadband so you'd be cancelling your BT line and it might be expensive if you wanted to connect it again in a year's time; that's why I've never gone for cable broadband.

This is why I hate sorting out phone/broadband/TV deals. It gets sooo complicated. At the moment I have freeview, which I'm happy with. I want to reduce BB and landline costs though and get mobile broadband, which I originally thought I would only use when I'm away, but now I'm wondering if maybe I should just get mobile BB and use that :think:.

On the plus side, I'm already saving money on my calls to Australia as I've found some numbers on this website that I can dial for 0.5p/minute :T.

Dan29 wrote: »

I wasn't nagging that time :cool:

gwen80

Shoe_Gal wrote: »

Hi Gwen

I have a vodafone 'dongle' and I think it's fab :j I pay £15 per month and never go over my limit (and you know how much time I spend on here )

Dan29 wrote: »

I think you can have Contract or Pay as you Go; I'm guessing Pay as you Go is better for Gwenda if she's going to have 'normal' broadband at home too?

Thanks I will look at vodafone, just going to get some food now.

Dan - I'm loving your adaptations of my name, so far I've counted Gwendella, Gwenster and Gwenda...

makeup

gwen80 wrote: »

Dan - I'm loving your adaptations of my name, so far I've counted Gwendella, Gwenster and Gwenda...

I'm sure I saw a Gwendoline???

I know what you mean, I think where you live can be really important and make such a difference to you.

I'm pretty jealous of you even owning something (even if it does need a bit of work!) I feel like I'm gonna be renting for ever!