Hello everyone, please help AuntieMabel on her mortgage free mission!

AuntieMabel

Radish72 wrote: »

£1000 Whoop Whoop indeedy :j

Are they all going to be that big? as it will be gone in no time

Am hoping/aiming for £1000 OP most months but accept that some months will be less. Have really got the bit between my teeth now and just want rid of the financial burden ASAP.

DH and I are both in fairly well paid jobs and although we've never really been fritterers, with 3 children it's amazing how much money vanishes just on bits and bobs. But seeing the balance decrease is such a good motivation to be so much more aware of what we're spending.

AuntieMabel

Hi guys,

Won't be here for a week as going on our first hot, beachy holiday since 1996! Believe me, that ash cloud freaked me out last week when it's been this long since we've had a sunshine break. I know this will make us look most un-money saving with us having the kitchen done as well, but the holiday to Menorca is in recognition of my 40th birthday earlier this year . It's the first time the boys will have been in sea that's not the North Sea (brrrrrrrr) so I expect they'll feel a difference . I've got a suitcase full of books packed and just want to forget about 'normal' life and the NHS for a week and chill............

Be good whilst I'm away.

BTW tried to pay the joiner for his fabulous work by internet banking. Went through all the internet security plus the extra super duper security screen to set up a one off payment for £3000. Guess what?? The bank cancelled it! :mad: Took me 30 minutes on the phone to sort it out. The £3000 has been taken from my account but has not arrived in the joiners bank account. My bank say it won't return to my account until Tuesday. They wanted to take another £3000 out to pay him today as I had now authorised it verbally and seemed surprised that I was unhappy to trust them to put the original £3000 back on Tuesday with no fear of them messing up (and me on holiday and unable to check up on them, & all the direct debits due out on 1st June). In the end to shut me up/get me off the phone they agreed to do a CHAPS payment on Tuesday only when the original £3000 is returned. Will see what they've done when I get back.
This is the same bank that left us with no access to our current account for 3 weeks last summer when they mistakenly cancelled both our debit cards when DH lost his card; and almost had me blackballed by my CC company for taking 28 days to set up a standing order. Which bank?? Answers on a postcard.........

Lois_E

I'm guessing Santander.

Is there a prize for the first person to guess correctly?

yukkibear

Barclays did that to me when OH had a prob with his card a couple of years ago.

have fun in the sun x

AuntieMabel

Hi guys :wave:

I've missed you!!

We had a fab holiday, really enjoyed getting away. Weather was mixed but we made the best of it like true Brits. All came in within budget so there'll be no unexpected credit card bills to face.

Have had a frantic week since we've been back, absolutely no time to be on here, so now am trying to catch up with all your diaries. I will try to read them all even if I don't post much

Having a final push to get the kitchen finished, just needs flooring and tiling now. Can't wait for it to be finished

Froggy-G

Welcome back Auntie! We missed you too!
Glad you had a great time!

Froggy

CathT

Welcome back, glad you had a good holiday. Did you sort out the problem with paying the joiner? It amazes me that they couldn't put the money back in your account.

yukkibear

Welcome back, good to hear you had a lovely time

AuntieMabel

CathT wrote: »

Welcome back, glad you had a good holiday. Did you sort out the problem with paying the joiner? It amazes me that they couldn't put the money back in your account.

Yes, the joiner got paid whilst we were away, but what has annoyed me afresh is that on my statement it just appears as a payment to him on 30th May, there's no record of a payment being stopped and re-sent or that it didn't arrive in his account until several days later (I checked with him). Whilst I am pleased that he got paid, I am annoyed that if I complained (which I would do if I had could be bothered ) there's no record of any of this, so it would be my word against theirs.

What this latest hassle has done though, is make us decide to move the current account. We've just had far too much trouble over the 18 months or so we've had this account (BTW - it's Santander). We were thinking of moving to First Direct as they seem to have a good reputation. Anyone have any opinions about them?

AuntieMabel

Have had some great news - have got a part share in an allotment

My friend has been on the council waiting list for about 2 years and had finally got the call saying she can rent an allotment for £40 a year. It's too big for her alone, so another friend and me are going to share it with her. Not sure what condition it's in as we can't view it til the 21st. Probably won't be able to be entirely self sufficient in veg but hope it will make a big difference. Probably a bit too late to get much in for this year but we are prepared to just get it ready this year for next year if it's in a state. Will have a look on the gardening/old style forums as I know there are loads of allotment types on there.

Also was very impressed with fonebank.com, got £10 for a mobile phone with a cracked screen and the cheque came within 4 days :T

Also, thanks very much to Cath & Michelle for telling me how swagbucks works - will definitely have a look