I'm going to do a diary too :)

THRIFTY_GIRL

gerbiljo wrote: »

My main areas of consideration are whether to do a gas/elect swap to get some cashback but i always get really confused about where to start. My other ongoing consideration is whether to sort out a combined internet/ phone account but I have been reluctant up til now as I hate an internet disturbances and I dont want to risk having problems.

Will update again when i win the lottery tonight:rotfl:

Gas and electric is a definite yes to compare. I found the easiest way was to work out our consumption in Kwh units for the prior year as a starting point. Then check the amounts paid. If you don't have it then phone up your provider. Once equipped with the figures go to Martins guide and go through the comparison sites.

I spent a good few hours experimenting but found Scottish Power best for me with various combos.

On the internet/phone front it should be very easy to switch, but first check you aren't tied into any contracts. I know BT do rolling contracts, but you may still be able to get out with the debacle going on re evenings starting at 7pm....I thought they always did...once the kids are in bed that is:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

uptomyeyeballs

I've just realised, the interest rate on my savings account is actually higher than the rate i'm paying on my mortgage!

financialbliss

Hi gerbiljo,
A belated hello from me too! I've amended your entry in post #1 of the MFiT-T2 challenge to point to this diary. I'll try and follow your progress.

Financial Bliss.

setmefree2

with your MF journey

gerbiljo

Hey everyone thank you for your comments

I will definately look up the gas/ elect, I kind of feel bad changing my company when I have no issues with them! My current payments are way over and I get money back nearly every bill, the other month they gave us a whole payment back which now means I am slightly in debt so perhaps I should wait til im not in debt anymore to switch. I guess the main incentive is the cashback.

I know I should switch the internet too. I have an apple mac and am on demon. They are really good for computer wallies like me and have a 24hour support line if it breaks down they literally stay on the line with u til u are reconnected, I had used other companies before ages ago and they had no mac support. Saying that lots more people have macs now so perhaps this has changed. I have for a while been tempted by sky, which we do not have but i know once I get it I wont want to lose it so currently we live happily and non dependantly without it. We dont use our mobiles and rarely use the phone so for us the internet is our 'necessity' we cant live without hence deliberating for so long whether to change or not and kind of justifying paying over for. Im not tied to a contract. I think i will start with the gas/elect! I like my demon email address too haha

uptomyeyeballs I will look into savings...Im just so addicted. I guess I look at my working full time temporary as its hard and so I am trying to think anything I can pay off means if we did end up on one income and the interest rate went sky high wed never be at risk of losing our home (though I think in reality we are at low risk of that happening). I'm just rubbish at having money it burns a hole in my pocket, the ability to access my savings is not good, I may have to do it all in my husbands name when we set something up as he is far more sensible!

We made good work on the chicken run yesterday which I painted purple (I paint everything purple) but the paint has run a bit in the rain overnight so I think we may not finish that now.

We did a big over budget food shop yesterday as I bought our little girl some clothes and some extra food as we got a 'raclette' with my tns vouchers so at least we get a bit of a treat.

Our next mission is to render the front of the house which will start next month and we need some cement etc. Taking everything into consideration we have made our final likely overpayment now of £20 until payday. That means we are £100 ahead this month though this is buffer money that can reduce payments in a few months time when hopefully we get our greenhouse.

fb thank you for that, I remember thinking about that then forgetting...!

Gonna have a poke around some other diaries

We have a free basketball match to go to tonight which should be fun, so not romantic valentines for us, we will try and have a fun pancakes day instead

gerbiljo

Motivational post today, no money to over pay at the moment but wanted to document a low so when I look back of this diary I remember these times!

Found my dream house today and really makes u think about just getting up and moving! It is everything we want and would probably be within our price range once we are mortgage free with a little mortgage, but not in our price range now. I'm so impatient!

I try not to look at houses and so I have to blame my sister who directed me to rightmove for her own search haha. I love our house if i could just pick it up, but the location isnt too great, parking is a disaster and not being able to park yesterday made me abit down about it all and want to move asap. Work is getting me down too, but I shall plod on because I'll probably feel better tomorrow knowing me...

I shall look at this post hopefully in a few years time and it will all be worth while. Anyway on the up (coz really I know I have nothing to moan about and should be grateful for what I have) we got 4 eggs from our brilliant girls today (so perhaps we will get some more pancakes tonight) and in 2 weeks I can make my big overpayment and submit my total for the MFiT2 challenge yay Jo

SmlSave

(hugs) and here's to feeling better tomorrow!

Enjoy your eggs

gerbiljo

Wel quick update

Did a gas /elect switch, supposedly this will save me £259 a year plus £60 cashback through quidco, though I prioritised the saving rather than the cashback as despite having earned £250 this year I'v only had £25 so I'm starting to lose faith in it!!

Decided to hold on my phone & broadband as really I was thinking about sky but I keep hearing bad stuff about them so ill stick for now, at least I have made a saving for now. PLus I feel once I sign up for sky I won't want to lose it.

Had a good food shop this week and got lots of discounted nappies which should last a while, might try and do a summary this month of my spending but this week 1/3 of our food was for the animals!

Going to try and get into pigsback this week but seem to have no time at the mo. Friday is payday so looking forward to going under the 100k mark

gerbiljo

We have been paid now for this month and so have paid our lump sum off taking our total down to £99500, last month I paid £100 extra but this month we were a bit tight so we paid £100 less off. I was hoping for a bit extra in my salary that never came so at least I'm not behind
We usually aim for £200 food budget a month but this month its going to have to be £150. Our house has been stripped of its hanging tiles and waiting for render for about 4months yikes so next week we are doing it hence needed to get some scaffholding plus we had to hand in building regs for our extension so expensive month.
We may have to put hold on the greenhouse for a bit. We are still building the chicken run so things have been slow there.
Should be due some money from our travel insurance plus quidco but trying to forget about these now as its been a while so when they come its a bonus :j

clearmydebts

gerbiljo wrote: »

We have been paid now for this month and so have paid our lump sum off taking our total down to £99500, last month I paid £100 extra but this month we were a bit tight so we paid £100 less off. I was hoping for a bit extra in my salary that never came so at least I'm not behind
We usually aim for £200 food budget a month but this month its going to have to be £150. Our house has been stripped of its hanging tiles and waiting for render for about 4months yikes so next week we are doing it hence needed to get some scaffholding plus we had to hand in building regs for our extension so expensive month.
We may have to put hold on the greenhouse for a bit. We are still building the chicken run so things have been slow there.
Should be due some money from our travel insurance plus quidco but trying to forget about these now as its been a while so when they come its a bonus :j

It must be a great feeling to be under 100k!!!