My Debt-Free-Wannabe Diary

gallygirl

DontDoDebtKids wrote:

Two no spend days this week.

Spending Diary

1.56 Coke in pub
23.03 Ebay postage
40.00 Buy Wine Society share emmm. you KNOW you shouldn't.......
24.36 Books (second hand through Amazon):eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: LIBRARY!!!!!!!!!
138.50 Christmas Ball tickets:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
38.00 Petrol
0.60 Lunches at work
1.50 Eurolottery ticket
43.00 Going out (dinner):eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
13.99 Goldfish supplies GULP - HOW BIG IS THE GOLDFISH:eek: :eek: :eek:

Total: £301.51

Urm. Oops?

I think it's the naughty step for you......

DontDoDebtKids

Hi ali,

I was wondering when my pet conscience :A was going to pop along :wave: (I remember your last comments)!

In my defence :think: I've got £1,419.54 :dance: to pay towards my debts in my other bank account....

I do realise that I can't spend this much every week :wall:

PS I like books :whistle: (I read tons from the library - these they (all second hand from amazon so quite a few actually) didn't have in stock or to order)

DontDoDebtKids

Hi all,

I occasionally surf the web looking for ideas to help pay off my debts, and came across this rather wonderful post:

http://www.violentacres.com/archives/32/drastic-measures

Unbelievable!

DontDoDebtKids

Statement from M&S, so:

Debt Totals

M&S: £7018.58
Egg: £6464.32
Capital One: £5098.12CR
Lloyds: £1880.06
Amex: £5594.31

Total: £15,859.15

DontDoDebtKids

It's a wonderful feeling just to be on top of organising my finances (paperwork etc.)

Anyone out there who reads this and hasn't yet done it - it will take a while but it is soooo satisfying when it's done.

Then all it takes is to file any new things every day or every other day (5 minute job) and you are on top of it still. EASY!

If, however, it's all just in a pile and you need to get to it, it will take ages to find anything!

DontDoDebtKids

Just completed a YouGov 75p (pah!) survey and a Pinecone £4 survey (yay!).

The YouGov one was funny - do you gamble? Yup. Would you ever place a large amount on a racehorse? Nope - don't like the mismatched rules at bookies and betting exchanges. Chuckle.

DontDoDebtKids

Hi all,

Sure enough, First Direct (in their infinite wisdom) have decided to charge £10 a month :eek: for having a current account with them.

Outrageous. I joined up to take their bribe, as did my girlfriend. I've stuck with them because of their customer service but the rest of the account benefits are pants, so I have no qualms shutting them down and moving elsewhere. Don't they realise that?

So I've phoned Nationwide and asked for a current account application form to be sent to me. I'll move the joint account to them (because it pays better interest - 4.75% - and you can get currency out abroad for nothing) and will close ALL of my accounts with First Direct.

My girlfriend will be doing the same.

The icing on the cake will be when I ask for the £45 back in charges that they charged me a while back now. What'cha going to do FD? Close my account!

They're just making work for me but I should really have moved the account elsewhere a while back. Too lazy.

Thanks for the kick up the backside FD, and so long :wave:

DontDoDebtKids

Right,

Just phoned FD (which I hardly ever do) and cancelled the three direct debits still on my account, transferred the £30 in there to my main debt busting account and closed my current account, savings account, e-savings account and ISA (all with £0 balances).

Then the CS rep said those fateful words..."is there anything else?"

And suddenly a lightbulb went off in my head :idea:

Isn't why they are now charging £10 a month because people reclaimed all their bank charges?

So why don't I claim back mine?

So I said "yes, I was charged £30 back in 2005 and I'd like that back"

...ongoing "discussion" about bank charges...

...put on hold while she probably filed her nails...

..."Hi Mr.DDDK, we can offer you £15 of that £30"

"No thanks, I'd like it all because...OFT...unlawful...my understanding of contract law...blah"

"OK, write to this chap <gives address> then"

"Bye"

"Bye"

Time to get one of those template letters from here or that charges website!

DontDoDebtKids

Letter written and in envelope. Will go to post office in lunchtime and post it recorded.

Take that FD!

gallygirl

Crikey, Mr Efficiency today!!!!! Putting me to shame!!!!!!:o

Wonder how many DFW's will be closing FD accounts? Think I'll open one so I can close as a matter of principle!!!