"Simply not solvent!

taxi73

I understand where you're coming from but the risk of losing your 0% is really high and so is the interest on 8k..that is why I suggested a DD as I would see any 0% CCs as absolutely needing a minimum DD.
Hypnos idea about rearranging the current accounts is a good one and maybe use one of them for priority bills.

Seaxwyn

Thanks everyone. OK, OK, you've persuaded me, I'll set up a direct debit.

Thought I will add this is the first time I have ever been late for a payment in 20 years of having credit cards.

Rearranging the current accounts isn't really an option as our incomings are so completely unpredictable. So while some of my clients pay by BACS into one account or another, most of my income comes by cheque and I stick it into whichever account needs it most. I do keep a systematic track of what's due out of each account, and what's due in, so I do have a good mental map of how things are going to pan out. Alas in this case the cheques were later than expected.

Anyway.... I'm wondering about whether to apply for a job which is 3 days a week. The salary is 'only' 29k pro rata (a good salary I know but I'm earning more than that freelance). It would mean commuting so I'll need to work out what I'd bring in and what it would cost. It would be good to have part of my income taxed at source and with perks of paid holidays etc etc. Any thoughts welcome.

Seaxwyn

I checked on a salary calculator and found the take home from the part-time job would barely cover the mortgage so probably not worth considering. I must get on with doing my CV and marketing myself as I was planning a week or two ago.

taxi73

Morning seaxwyn...didn't mean to sound heavy on that post..sorry.Was just going to answer you re...salaried job but see you've already decided.
Good luck with the marketing.Take care xx

Seaxwyn

Taxi you didn't sound heavy - and I always value your advice, heavy or not!

chevalier

I seem to remember you were going to contact those customers that are still paying by cheque and ask them to pay by BACS in future, so perhaps this is something to chase up if it is causing you an issue.

I take it there is no way you could have a bills account and then a personal spends account each for you and OH?

chev
ps did I miss the answer about the shelf life of the Alpro?:D

Seaxwyn

Hi Chev

I haven't been anywhere other than Sainsbury's yet. But I will remember to have a look at the Alpro next time I'm somewhere with shops.

Most of my clients do pay by BACS, one has refused, and there are just two more regulars I have still to ask.

I don't think we can refigure our current accounts at the moment. Our system might sound haphazard but it generally works for us. Eg one of the things I am most proud of is that my NatWest current account is never overdrawn - I lived in that overdraft for years. OH's account is feast or famine - there are months when he earns loads and months when he earns nothing. When he has money, he pays all the bills. My system of keeping track of what's coming in and what's going out of where does generally work.

August was an unusually difficult month, and obviously we need to keep a bit of slack so those kind of months don't mean disaster.

lucielle

Your sig is looking good, everything is moving in the right direction.
L

taxi73

Chev alpro soya from the sheves is about 6 months

Karmacat

Hi Seaxwyn

Just thought I'd pop over to yours and see how you're doing - nasty shock with the card there, horrible. I went overdrawn for the first time ever this month - luckily, I have a £500 overdraft facility that I arranged about 20 years ago that meant I didn't get any charges. It was because I needed to send extra money over to France, and the timings of my reshuffling were a bit too tight. Just a reminder of what can happen, I suppose. When I'm back to work next week, I'm going to really keep things very much tighter.

Glad to hear that your networking paid off, and that you *enjoy* it - for me, its like pulling teeth, I really do hate it. Enjoy your day!