Ruby's "Stop Spending, Start Saving" Diary

InaPickle

Actually, that's really good for driving lessons. And it's really not that bad. Once you know where the break is, you've got the main thing sorted and can take the rest from there.

And well done on paying for the boiler. Just watch out> breakdowns come in threes, so make sure the next thing isn't something you really like!

ruby_eskimo

Glad it's not that difficult!

GRRRR at Tmobile! Trying to get hold of them to change my mobile ownership details into my name rather than my dad's and the bloody automated menu thing is broken. I keep pressing the options I want but it goes back to the beginning saying that I haven't picked an option! Stupid thing!

On the plus side I have a bank shift booked at work tonight so that will be £100 in the Car fund then. And as it was payday today I have transferred my £500 to the house fund and then withdrawn the £43.20 I need for bus fare for the month. It's pretty cool withdrawing money from the post office from my co op account because she was happy to give me the money all in change so that I don't have to worry about annoying bus drivers in the morning with say a £10 note!

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

It's pretty cool withdrawing money from the post office from my co op account because she was happy to give me the money all in change so that I don't have to worry about annoying bus drivers in the morning with say a £10 note!

:rotfl: I like your logic, Ruby! :rotfl: I don't have a Post Office account, but maybe I should consider one.

ruby_eskimo

InaPickle wrote: »

:rotfl: I like your logic, Ruby! :rotfl: I don't have a Post Office account, but maybe I should consider one.

It's not actually a post office account, it's my co-operative bank account which you can withdraw and pay money into through the post office. I guess it's because they aren't many branches compared to other high street banks...anyway it works for me because my closest branch is a bit of a pain to get to!

Did my overtime shift last night and it couldn't have gone better. All the patients slept which is unheard of really! Did have a bit of a problem with a patient from the ward next door but it got sorted.

I really need to get going with the weight loss thing. Have 2 stone to lose in about 4 months! Well that's the aim. Going to join a different gym next week: £30 a month for unlimited use of gym, swimming pool and all the classes! Plus I found a really good healthy eating plan from the Potato Council (strange I know!)

ruby_eskimo

Ok so lets start with the good news: I passed the first year of my Masters! Woohoooo! Only took them about 3 months to tell me! And now for the bad news...

My parents finally told me what was wrong.

Basically they have a fixed rate mortgage at a rate of 7% which they can't get out of till September next year, and well they have no money because the mortgage payments are crippling. This all came out when my dad took me to work yesterday and asked to borrow £300 from me as spending money for their holiday next week. Safe to say I was a wreck all day at work thinking about me and it upsets me still to think that my parents are struggling. When I got home last night we didn't mention it but my mum then took me in the kitchen and explained everything to me. My first response was that I'll pay them £100 a month in rent but she said they don't want it. I really don't know what to do. On a plus note my dad hasn't had a pay rise for 2 years at work and he's going to ask his boss for one today. I think he stands a good chance of getting one because he opted out of the Bupa health scheme even though it's in his contract that he should be a member. That way he's saving them over £3k a year (because of his age and other health problems).

Going to go now and do some sums.

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

Ok so lets start with the good news: I passed the first year of my Masters! Woohoooo! Only took them about 3 months to tell me! And now for the bad news...

My parents finally told me what was wrong.

Basically they have a fixed rate mortgage at a rate of 7% which they can't get out of till September next year, and well they have no money because the mortgage payments are crippling. This all came out when my dad took me to work yesterday and asked to borrow £300 from me as spending money for their holiday next week. Safe to say I was a wreck all day at work thinking about me and it upsets me still to think that my parents are struggling. When I got home last night we didn't mention it but my mum then took me in the kitchen and explained everything to me. My first response was that I'll pay them £100 a month in rent but she said they don't want it. I really don't know what to do. On a plus note my dad hasn't had a pay rise for 2 years at work and he's going to ask his boss for one today. I think he stands a good chance of getting one because he opted out of the Bupa health scheme even though it's in his contract that he should be a member. That way he's saving them over £3k a year (because of his age and other health problems).

Going to go now and do some sums.

Oh pants, Ruby.

Right, well, let's face it: you are definitely in the right place here to be able to find them some good advice to help.

I imagine that it would have been hugely embarassing for your dad to ask to lend money from you, but do you think that there is any chance that they would let you see their household accounts and that you could apply some :money: logic to them in order to help out?

Also, with regard to the rent, perhaps you could take the initiative? Tell them that you have felt guilty for ages (whether true or not ) about living rent-free at home, but that you have known how it has been a bit of a sticky issue with them, and that while you were thought they were OK that it was something you were prepared to let it slide, but that you are absolutely NOT prepared to sit back any more and not pay. Explain that it is about making you feel better and that helping them is a fringe benefit. If you are insistent enough in a nice way, I think they will crumble pretty easily. (To make ends meet they might need more than £100, so if you get a chance to look at the accounts first and then suggest an amount, if might be a good thing, but you might be able to say to your mum 'I INSIST on paying X amount per month, but I could easily afford to pay a bit more: could I add a bit more to make your life easier? Don't feel bad cos you will make me feel good. I like being able to help as you have helped me so much.;))

There's little worse than thinking your parents are struggling, especially when you are living at home. I bet your parents would be delighted if you offered to help, but that they would feel guilty in asking. If you volunteer, however, I bet it would make them feel less bad.

P.S. Well done on the Masters! :T

ruby_eskimo

Thanks Pickle! My parents are still adamant that I am not paying them rent. But I have referred them to this site so hopefully things will change a little. Oh and I managed to shave quite a bit off their food shop by doing it on Asda online!

First driving lesson today wasn't too bad....I stalled 3 times but I managed to do a left turn! My steering does leave a lot to be desired actually...is there any computer games that simulate proper driving? I could do with some practice! Oh and the whole accelerator and clutch thing is more difficult than I imagined...my instructor had to go the "gas" but my clutch control is actually quite good apparently. The guy seemed really pleased and I was really relaxed with him. Did scare me a bit when he said he was only a year older than me! Still buzzing from the whole thing, can't wait till next weeks lesson!

InaPickle

The driving sounds pretty good! And in a way, clutch control is the most important thing as all your manouvres and starting are based on that.

As for a computer game to simulate driving, I wouldn't bother as it's very different to the real thing: you get no sense of the 'weight' of the car you are driving. I'm sure it will come, though.

Sounds good about the parents shopping, but if you still want to and they won't let you pay rent, perhaps you can suruptitiously buy odd bits and pieces that you can 'forget' to collect the cash for. Where there's a will, there's a way!

Best of luck. Keep us posted! x

ruby_eskimo

Thanks Pickle.

Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, they can. 3 people really close to me are really ill, work is awful, uni keeps mucking me around and my boyfriend is being an !!!! (he's not that bad but he's being a bit stupid about some things).

And to top it all off I had a really bad experience in a Lush store today (that place is my weakness) and it left me really upset and humiliated.

On a slightly better not it's the boyfriend's cousin's baby's christening tomorrow (does that make sense) and it's the first time I will meet the little guy! I went out today and bought a little book about Christening's with some simple prayers in it and a little Peter Rabbit teething ring. Hopefully I won't get too broody!

InaPickle

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

Hopefully I won't get too broody!

You're eager! The thought of babies makes me go :eek:: I see far too many little brats at work to be bothered. My recurring motto is 'Kids - never having any!'. (Knowing me, I'll end up with more than anyone I know!)

Things don't sound good: I hope the sick get better (as does the job), work pulls its institutional socks up and uni starts behaving itself, too.

Sorry about your Lush experience, but if you will not be returning for a bit it could be quite :money:, though. (Trying to think of a silver lining for you. x)