A New House For Her , A Rugby Shirt For Me

andy1886

Started back to work yesterday after 5 days off where I have had a few health problems , nothing too serious but the onset of old age I feel . Going to have to seriously try to lose weight for my benefit although this means finding time to exercise .
Well I did arrange a couple of house viewings with the result that we will not be moving . It is not what we want to do so my focus is now on about becoming debt free and then we can decide what to do with our surplus money each month with my feeling that we deserve a bloody good holiday so although I don't want to plan to much I am looking and listening for ideas as to where we could venture to .
OH is currently listing what we need to do and it is a massive list but I am male with a love of lists and planning so it will keep me busy researching projects off t'internet .
On friday we attended the cake and bake show , and as virgins to this kind of thing thoroughly enjoyed it . We will return to this kind of thing but in future plan who is demonstrating and and watch more of those and spend the spare time in between browsing the stalls and asking the stall holders advice on various projects . Listened to Eric Lanlard which although a subject I know nothing about the enthusiasm and willingness to offer advice was great to see . There was a happiness about the building and a feel good feeling . Next up then is the Good Food Show in Birmingham in June , a subject I am a lot more interested in so my deal is to eat sensibly and exercise regularly between now and then and I can attend this show and enjoy myself .
Finally both cars fully serviced with mot , tax and insurance for one of them so target now to save up between now and September for other one .

andy1886

Oh no ! Drove home from work on saturday night and whilst following a lorry a stone flew up and chipped my windscreen . Quite a large chip and a crack covering the passenger side . Got up early on sunday to report it to my insurance , they were shut but the claims line I deal with for them have no record of me or my car . They are an on line company who don't send you any documents and to be honest I don't understand computers so don't know how to download things so I don't have any record of my policy other than my email with payment record . The office doesnot open until today so I asked the claims line to contact them for me as I will be at work during office hours today and tomorrow and for them to email me details of my policy , windscreen excess and how to book an appointment to replace my windscreen . I hope everything is ok but the best result is I have to find my excess and get a new windscreen which I can't afford but the alternative is I have no insurance or there is some problem with my policy . Worried about this until it gets sorted , hopefully , on wednesday on my day off .

beanielou

Hope all gets sorted out.

andy1886

Thanks Beanielou , spent 2 hours on the phone on wednesday trying to sort it out . I am insured but when I rang the claims line they transferred me to the windscreen replacement company who told me totally different information so no appointment made , back on to the insurance company . I spoke to a different person and tried to sort out my online details which he couldnot so asked for them to be posted to me which takes 5 working days . So until this arrives I've no idea about my excess and am no nearer booking that appointment .

beanielou

Blimey that is dire .

andy1886

Finally got my insurance details and yes my excess is £80 . I got an inbound call from my insurers complaints team who have misplaced my calls where I have been told wrong figures but as a gesture of goodwill if I pay £80 they will refund me £55 so I only pay £25 which I was told initially :j Lesson learnt that although I always go for the cheapest price , perhaps I should think about the service I will get if I ever need to claim , luckily my car is driveable but what if it wasnot ?
Good news aswell that I have received my electric bill and negotiated and my monthly payment has dropped and also the £400 I was in credit they are refunding me , why do I need to ring up to arrange this though , it is my money sat in their bank accounts ?
Also although no pay rise for the fifth year we have been given a one off bonus equivalent of 3 weeks wages :T plus the first part of my mortgage has finished so another £120 a month to repay my debt , feel awash with money at the moment :rotfl:

beanielou

Great news on first part of your mortgage.

andy1886

Right , been busy this last few weeks with work and other things . Firstly , finally got my windscreen replaced , paid £80 to fitter , rung up my direct line to complaints person and sure enough they refunded me £55 , result .
Health wise I have seen the doctor and am now trying to control what is wrong with me and make it bearable and hopefully in a few weeks I will be ok again .
Father - in - law had been unwell this year and 3 weeks ago we were told there was nothing that could be done for him and tragically he passed away last week . Obviously this has been the priority for the past week and will be next week as well so I have not kept on top of the finances as I would normally , I guess it puts into perspective that yes paying back the debt is a priority and I want it done asap , you also can't get back time lost that other things could be done instead . Still need to pay the debt off but am reflecting on what we can do once we become debt free .
Off now to plan our visit to the good food show next month where delicious foods I shouldnot and wouldnot buy will now be purchased and enjoyed .

beanielou

Sorry to hear about your FIL & your health problems.
As you say it puts in all in prospective.
Getting a balance that is right for each of us is so hard.

andy1886

Another month comes to an end and this months update is as follows . Financially I am approaching the halfway point of paying back my dmp although time wise I hope this half is a lot quicker than the first half . My latest statement shows under £10k balance , yippee .
My health issue is now under control so more good news . In just over a week I have a week off work although we are not now going to the Good Food show , I can't justify the outlay of petrol , parking , tickets and buying which would run into 3 figures . I am sure in a couple of years the show will still be going and I can visit and spend then , hopefully I will have lost a few pound around the midriff by then too . Hopefully the weather will improve in a couple of weeks so I can enjoy my time off .