Gemmzie's DFW Diary

Gemmzie

Since this is my first page of my diary now, I've decided to edit it to make it like a proper diary. SOA to be added shortly, debts aren't there because they are almost gone :j

Am starting the SOA from 1st January 2008, good place to start I think...

Income
Wages - £285 (basic wage)
Foresters - £12 (averaged)
DLA - £74.10 (not included in budget)
Expenses - £30?
TOTAL - £ 327

Outgoing
Contact Lenses - £22
Health Insurance - £22
Laptop Insurance - £12.99
O2 - £15
DVD Rental - £14.99
Car Insurance - £30
Car Tax - £10.50
Petrol - £50
Clothing - £25 (saved if not used)
ISA - £50
Holiday - £20
Birthdays and Christmas - £10
TOTAL £282.48

Leaves £47.52

Gemmzie

Also have sorted Health insurance. But they pay back the money in cheques. Anyone know of a bank where I can pay in cheques but don't have to put my regular wages into? Online access is a must too.

Gemmzie

Just got email back from confused. Looks like my car insurance for next year will be around £500 in October. So need to find a way to pay for this too.

Oh pants

scottishspendaholic

Hey Gemmzie,

How are you doin'. Sorry no-one's replied so far - sometimes threads get a bit lost in the DFW board as its a bit busy.

1. Car insurance - at least if you are renewing your car insurance, quidco have some brilliant deals on just now - £110 cashback and the like. So that might help a bit. I would ask this question on the insurances board - but sometimes there is a reason why its so high - if you haven't ticked the right boxes etc - we hadn't ticked courtesy car or legal cover and this brought our premium down - would you believe?!?!

Do you think you could save anything (eBay/car boot/babysit like mad) between then and now to enable you to save up enough money to pay this in full - they add a crazy amount in APR if you pay monthly for car insurance.

2. Again quidco will pay you cashback to open a current account with most high street and internet banks. OR you could go straight to SMILE who are offering 12 bottles of free wine if you open an account with them (let me know via email/PM if you are going to do this and I'll refer you - then I get some free wine too!). Smile are an ethical bank (don't invest money in unethical activities) and has good online facitilities and you can pay in chqs at any post offices.

3. Re. your finances for the month. Again - is there any chance of doing any work locally such as babysitting/dog walking/leaflet delivery or doing some mad eBaying/selling on amazon/car boot sales? Or any overtime going?

I hope everything works out for you and I'm looking forward to keeping up-to-date with your diary!

Love

scottishspendaholic x

Gemmzie

The car insurance is really high because I'm still on a provisional license - although hopefully won't be by the time of renewal, will only have 2 years no claims and will be 19. I'll have a look at doing it through Quidco though.

The job situation is a complicated one... am going to enquire about overtime tomorrow though.

I tried doing Avon but they signed me up to a terrible Sales Leader so I still don't have the correct numbers to actually put any orders in. The final order date is tomorrow, so I'm hoping they'll phone and say my account has been closed so that I can re-open it with someone else and start over.

Can't carboot because I don't drive and work weekends. Will try and dig some stuff out for selling on Ebay, although I've not sold before. I do have a PayPal account though which seems to be helpful.
Allergic to animals and I live in an area of older people so no-one to babysit for as I've tried that before.

Will have a look at Smile, didn't realise they offered the PO as a cheque deposit venue. Thanks!

It will work out. Have to stay positive

Gemmzie

Just got back in from work. I don't get paid and I don't get paid SSP because I don't earn enough, but I can get OSP ?? So will pop down the job centre on Monday and see if I can sort that - no idea what it is mind you.

But, on the plus side - I just got a 50p an hour payrise Which gives me an extra £20 a month

PeachPickle

good luck with the bingo Gemmzie!

Gemmzie

Thanks PeachPickle - I have the £17 from so far and £3 left to spend of my original £10, might play that out now.

Can anyone direct me to finding out what the heck OSP is and how to claim it?

Gemmzie

Have spent original, and no more wins

Anyone got another reliable Quidco bingo type site for depositing a tenner? Have been given an extra £10 mum owed me so why not make something on it.

Gemmzie

*bump*

Anyone?

Gemmzie

Okay, still £15 in credit on bingos, wondering if it's worth withdrawing and paying £5 to gain £10 as Quidco won't kick in until I've spent my £10 bonus - correct?