Hurdler's Race to be Mortgage-Free

Lois_E

The way in which the daily rate relates to the annual rate depends on how often the interest is compounded. How often do your statements show the interest being added to the balance? If you tell me that I can tell you how to work out a more accurate daily rate.

Hurdler

Lois_E wrote: »

The way in which the daily rate relates to the annual rate depends on how often the interest is compounded. How often do your statements show the interest being added to the balance? If you tell me that I can tell you how to work out a more accurate daily rate.

ahh - the Statements show the interest as a one-off annual figure but the Woolwich guy said that they have a daily accrual balance (which I guess is what (eventually) gets updated on Barclays Online banking).
I have seen that figure change... I'm sure!

I did a very simple calculation on last year's Interest (£1722.45) and the interest rate (from last year's statement as well) was 0.97% and it averaged out to about a daily rate of £4.85... and that seems about right, as my calculations were average daily interest this year to be around £4.38 or so.

Hurdler

Part one of "make Hurdler's life more happy" came off today - a free professional certification course & voucher that was given to me by the recruiter who got me my job paid off. I got my first real externally recognised qualification beyond my degree *cough* years ago!!!

I passed with 75% and it was one of the suggestions from many contracting recruitment consultants to perhaps spend some time and redundancy money on having the certification to back up the 18.5 years experience. Just need a couple more care of new job and I will hopefully try and work for myself in a couple of years time!!!!

Wish me luck y'all for the 2nd part of Hurdler's happy life - my interview and entrance exam for the Journo Diploma on Friday!

Hurdler

I had my interview, workshop and entrance exam for the Journalism Diploma. I start my new job on Monday and should also hear back as to whether I passed and got on to the course.

And thus starts the next part of my roller coaster life!!!

In other news - I got my Amex Platinum credit card so will start putting diesel on there (£60 to fill up my car!!) and for any work related stuff.
I also had ordered an MBNA play.com visa card to get play points as well as quidco cash back. But I had to chase them today as I had heard nothing at all from them!!! Apparantly it has been approved and will be used primarily for Internet purchasing.

Hurdler

A trip to the Chinese buffet and outlet stores with my mum this weekend as I wanted to get some new togs for new job, tomorrow.
Ate little and often, and am lying here stuffed now while mum is quickly taking up the trousers for the 2 suits I got. I also picked up 4 pairs of trousers which need no taking up, and 2 tops so that's a good start for work clothes while I get the lay of the land. I used to wear suits all the time, and then smart business casual of trousers, suits and jumpers - from what I saw of very few women in the London office where I had my interviews, business casual should be ok but it's as well to have some newer suits as I have become slightly, umm, (un)healthier in the years since I quit hurdling!!!

I have been driving myself a bit barmy trying to second guess what my SOA will be and what my overpayments will be if I put x or y in as an overpayment.

I think I have settled on transferring the tax free lump of my voluntary redundancy in as a lumpy pay off and I think I will see about refreshing the double glazing that is pretty woeful in the house. It is pretty much the last thing that remains to be done so that's not too bad really.

I meet my new manager tomorrow and my first client in the new job.
My next countdown is to my first payday so that I can FINALLY do an SOA.

fishfins

Good luck in your new job!

Hurdler

Hurrumph - I called my bank a while back to put a stop on the automatic sweep into my savings account as it was geared around my always being paid on the 6th and I couldn't find a decent day to sweep on for being paid in arrears. The guy was helpful, if a little pompous ... And lo ... Money swept as per usual.

So change of tack. This account is going to be my virtual mortgage pig and I think I'll ask them to leave a balance there to cover all bills instead and then anything that sweeps won't leave me short!
What's left is my overpayment. Simples!!
But grrr, anyway!!!

Hurdler

First day - met the client, talked about a few other projects, finished at lunchtime...
but the icing on the cake?

I GOT ON THE JOURNO DIPLOMA... I totally smashed the entrance exam!!!!

Hurdler

Just testing - while things are settling down at work and I'm waiting for IDs to be created, I thought I'd create a drawing of a house (I apologise for my lack of artistic integrity!)



There's a wee path to the house ... I think it gets it across!

Edit: further thoughts
What I think I will do is each time I make a monthly payment, I will cross off the month itself, and any payments made as extra months (and I will store money in "Vernon" the virtual money pig) will come off the top of the house so eventually the bricks will meet in the middle sometime (a lot) ahead of 2033!!!

Hurdler

I started my move away from using Barclaycard after their shocking behaviour when it came to a dispute. I got an Amex platinum credit card really quickly and used it to buy my Journalism Diploma books today.

I also applied for am MBNA Play.com card but that seems to take forever to come through. It's not like they're making the card from unobtanium ... Why so damn long???