New recruit: First steps (advice appreciated)

BaconandEggs

I've been busy working this week and spending my spare time exercising (aching alot today!) and sorting things at home.

I've turned my hand to quite a bit of DIY recently and have surprised myself. I removed some kitchen units, relaid some wooden flooring, removed tiles (without damaging them) and painted the wall, all ready to move a fridge.

I also managed to move an oven, that I'd just put off - which was also very easy. Put up a smoke and CO2 alarm on the landing. I've got one of two very basic tools. Went to Wickes yesterday to get a saw-but for the drill. Can't believe how expensive tools are!

Waiting for a delivery Sunday. If it's in the afternoon ({can find out the night before), we're hoping to go to the car boot.

It's a nice day - looking forward to the 2 days off.

BaconandEggs

Salads:

Love a good salad. Recently really enjoyed peppery flavoured salads containing things like coriander and watercress.

Thinking of some good MS/MFW salad making options. MrsB&E removes sultanas from her fruity cereal for some bizarre reason - apparently cold milk makes them too hard?! I'll definitely be adding these to my own salads. I think they go well in a salad with grated carrots.

Hmm. Grated salads: For some reason grating alot of things up in a salad makes it much nicer, bringing out the flavours (increased surface area?) and adding a different texture. Certain items lend themselved well to grating - like carrot. There are some new fangled conraptions that make light work of grating in a food processer, but for now I'll be using a regular grater.

I'm thinking of planting some herby additions to the garden - things that will go well in salads. Not is the time of year to do it.

Our garden is relatively low maintainence - and we'd prefer to keep it that way for now while we concentrate on getting the house in order. However, the border would lend themselves well to her growing. We already have an abundance of mint. Will definitely be adding chives and parsley.

BaconandEggs

Just checked the old bank statement and it looks like
a) we've received the deposit on our old flat - which will go partly towards our emergency fund
b) my car insurance company has charged me the correct amount for changing address but for some reason also paid £35 in to my account. Fair enough.

BaconandEggs

Now the new tax year is here, I need to look at my ISA. It will no doubt be giving a rubbish return unless I ring the bank.

Will do this later today. Thinking of putting £200/month in to this - depending on whether the interest is better compared to my current account (net). I'm also going to put a token £55/month into some NSI premium bonds.

BaconandEggs

Apparently I can't change my ISA over without going into branch - so will do that later or tomorrow morning.

It's a bit annoying how so many businesses rely on consumer apathy to make money. The list of ones that I am aware of is growing. e.g.:
-gyms
-any company offering protection (home protection for boilers etc., white good protection) at a reduced rate that then increases automatically.
-banks

BaconandEggs

Have been to the bank. Need to ring tomorrow apparently to get a B+C quote :S Know from price comparison sites that can get upto £60 per year cheaper. Will see what retentions say.

Turns out the ISA rate they gave me on the phone was wrong. Terrible rates at the moment.

BaconandEggs

Sold something overnight. £20.
Saved £10 per month on those life insurances.
Going to take back some wire strippers today which don't align correctly. Should get a few bob back.

Will put a couple of pounds on the National today.

BaconandEggs

Didn't get a chance to put any money on the horses yesterday. Just as well, as didn't get chance to watch the race either.

Worked out mpg on my last refuel. 33mpg? That's pretty awful right? Possibly due to the very short journeys I've been making recently and those speed bumps.

Managed to cut £2.50 off my broadband.

Got the money back for the wire strippers yesterday no problem.

Had friends over yesterday evening and we had a lovely buffet bought with blue-and-white vouchers - so it didn't cost anything. We might have got a take away in the past.

Didn't go to the car boot this morning as I felt really tired this morning. The Mrs went and got a few things.

It's another lovely day!

BaconandEggs

Amended SOA based on one or two extra savings (not including B+C saving yet):


Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2045
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1050
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 3095

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 492
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 124
Electricity............................. 36
Gas..................................... 10
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 36
Telephone (land line)................... 15
Mobile phone............................ 30
TV Licence.............................. 12.2
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 7.50
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 25
Petrol/diesel........................... 100
Road tax................................ 23.83
Car Insurance........................... 63.75
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 30
Car parking............................. 5.12
Other travel............................ 50
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 24
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 18.82
Contents insurance...................... 10.53
Life assurance ......................... 61
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 41.66
Haircuts................................ 23
Entertainment........................... 70
Holiday................................. 145.83
Emergency fund.......................... 20
Total monthly expenses.................. 1674.74


Assets
Cash.................................... 4150
House value (Gross)..................... 134000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 4250
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 142400


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Mortgage...................... 101495...(492)......4.19
Total secured & HP debts...... 101495....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 3,095
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,674.74
Available for debt repayments........... 1,420.26
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 1,420.26

Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 142,400
Total HP & Secured debt................. -101,495
Total Unsecured debt.................... -0
Net Assets.............................. 40,905

BaconandEggs

Buildings and Contents:
Saved £99 on B+C insurance.
Going to make sure laptops, glasses and phones covered away from home - around £30 for the year. Still a saving of £69/year.
Quite pleased with this.

Managed to do some more DIY over the weekend - saving me around £45.