Irishmanc's Debt free diary

irishmanc

Oh and Cathybird, you will be pleased to know that this lunch time (which I am having at home - leftovers from dinner), I am going to pop into tesco and read the National Enquirer (which I usually buy), saving 99p a week! Also, have asked OH to bring home the metro newspaper everyday, saving me having to buy a newspaper to read.

Trying to be good.

robnye

have you tried to the storecupboard challenge...... ie see what you've got in the cupboard and work out the next few days meals......

irishmanc

Hello,

Am taking up the storecupboard challenge. Have got huge bag of pasta, rice, lentils and freezer is full of frozen veg and bits, so should last a while. But that means i'll have to wash the dishes (sink is full!) gah! i WILL wash the dishes, i WILL wash the dishes...

Some good news, I've heard back from Barclays, they sent me all my statements, which I went through and totalled up on the MSE calcuator and added interest, came to £406! Very pleased. Have downloaded and filled in letter, put in envelope with calculations, just going to registered post it a bit later.

Also, had interest from a student who wants to rent my flat from Jan, she only wants to stay tues till thurs, and pay me £300 a month! Great! Shes going to check out the place next week so i really must wash the dishes.

Sorted out a new mortgage deal with BOI, which is good. Still on interest only though, can't afford repayment yet but hopefully I'll be in a better position next year to re-negotiate.

I put my Christmas tree on ebay, no interest as yet. Going to put a few other bits up.

Weight loss challenge is not going well, had lots of chocolate buttons yesterday. Doh!

irishmanc

Hello!

Barclays sent me back the £10 I sent them when asking for my 6 years worth of statements! Woohoo! Put it straight back into my account befpre I spent it on junk.

Got my Will Aid appointment rescheduled for next Friday.

Saw Martin on BBC this morning talking about the oyster type card for shopping. Felt kinds cool knowing seeing the leader trying to talk sense into the masses.

Follow the leada leada leada...

irishmanc

Hello!

I've had another ebay sale! £18. Not bad. Well chuffed. Going to send out item today. Also, went food shopping on Friday, got lots of stuff for making lunch at home during the week so no excuses. Went into London on sat (used OH's oyster card) so only spent £8.00 (friend's birthday dinner at nandos).

I did buy a coat becuase I don't have one (all too small). £160, but will last me a few years. The last coat I bought was in 2002. So although it was a tad naughty, I feel the spend was justified. However, the coat is so pretty I couldn't bring myslef to wear it this morning. Lol!

x

irishmanc

Hello! (and hello to my lovely BF who has recently joined up..xxx)

Well, November was my first DFW month. Spending diary opened my eyes. I spent approx £270 on junk! Never again. I am addicted to updating it and comparing it to my back balances.

On the down side, I had to pay £500 yesterday to various debt collectors for my father. Hope to get it back soon.

Ebaying and greenmetroplis havent been the gold mine I hoped for but its all about the baby steps. Who knows, I might make amint selling off unwanted xmas pressies in Jan. Also, its my bday in Jan so might make a little money there.

Still waiting to hear from Barclays about my charges. A lodger is coming to see the place on Monday.

Lots of xmas parties going on at work but I haven't bought anything new to wear. Its not like anyone remembers what I wore last year!

Also, paid £200 off my Virgin CC!

Overall, not bad, could be better.

irishmanc

Hello!

Been busy with work but still trying to be DF. I had a letter from Barclays offering me £150 (am claiming back £400). I have kindly declined. Also I have been chasing some long forgotten and lost premium bonds. Just wrote a letter to get them reissued, then I can withdraw them. Total is £550 which I will use to pay off some more of my debts.

Ebaying had not been going good, my brand new hobbs toaster didnt sell (it was a gift). Must be doing something wrong.

Also, I have a coin collection which I am willing to part with as it was my brothers, but I dont know if its worth much and i'm not sure how to check. Will need to research.

Another bit of good news is i'm getting a bonus for the first time ever. Bout £500 after tax which will clear off another bit of debt.

I will be spending a bit in Jan, going on holiday to Cape Town for 5 nights. Getting the tickets cheap off friends in the airlines (£150 rtn) and hotel is £40/night in gorgeuos hotel. I will pay half in Jan and half in Feb so I wont have to put any of the bill on cards.

A person came to see my flat on Monday so fingers crossed i'll be getting £300 extra a month if that comes through.

I think thats all my news for now,

x

robindunne1

irishmanc wrote:

I am studying in my own time for my CIMA qualification (which my company won't pay for) and I had an exam last week (which I passed) which cost me £42 plus travelling cost.

Results don't come out while Jan? Surely you can't be that confident in passing.

Yoiu may already know but the CIMA study systems are 15% off at the moment.

I'm supporting myself too - so remember exam fees, annual subs and books are all tax deductible.

irishmanc

Hi Robindunne1

I am doing the first level of CIMA which is computer based and tells you straight away if you have passed or failed. So I def know I passed becuase the computer told me, not through some false over confidence.

I'm borrowing my book from a friend, but I didnt know the exams were tax deductable. Very handy.

Thanks for the info!

climbgirl

One thing that struck me about your situation is your mortgage - it's dreadful! :eek:

Paying £760 a month and interest only is really not a good situation. You aren't making any capital repayments at all, so you don't own any part of your house. You're effectively renting off the bank and relying on capital increases to make any money. If you don't start making capital repayments ASAP and the house price steadies or even drops (as more and more people are starting to predict), you'll be in negative equity territory and that's not good!

I really, really don't understand why young people rush into huge mortgages and pay interest only instead of renting for a while longer and building up a decent deposit. It makes no financial sense at all, the housing market will not outperform other asset classes in the long run, it's not necessarily the soundest investment.