Danni R's little road to riches?

Danni-R

Well I'm back firmly on the band wagon.

Having a bit of a blue day. Things are just going wrong. I'm grumpy and sad and just want to get away from it all.

I'm thinking about getting a new job which I think will help solve 80% of my issues. But I want to go further away which means leaving the flat and renting out my room as well :-(

Still have my Credit card to clear which is a pain and to get some savings first.

Had a big de-clutter the other week and got rid of 5 black bin bags of rubbish which should have made me feel better but it really didnt.

Nothing does at the moment which is a horrible feeling. I think I've got a case of the grim so should probably go get it sorted but then I never feel that the doctor takes it seriously.

Like I said, I'm moany and grumpy and feeling blurg.

If anyone has any cheesy jokes, please feel free to post them. Could do with a giggle.

Danni-R

It's really weird reading back my posts.
I'm still not doing great with the OP's.
Turns out the Grim I mentioned in my last post lasted for about 2 and a bit years and involved therapists etc. Still don't think my doctor took me seriously!

My credit card is now sub £2k which is amazing for me! I don't have 'savings' as such but I have money put aside. I'm managing to not spank all my money each month.
I also don't have takeaways once or twice a week.
I do still pay for the gym.
I don't have a contract phone
I don't have sky for tv and have negotiated a better deal for the internet and land line.
My car passed it's MOT
I did not settle down and have babies with my ex.

Life sometimes isn't too bad.

Danni-R

So Natwest don't make it easy but once they've agreed to it I've asked to also over pay by £20 a month every time they take my mortgage payment.

It's not much but it looks like they also will allow me to make one off payments. Capped at 10% each year but if I even get close to that I'd be amazed.
£20 a month over payment reduces my term by 2 years and saves me over £3k in interest. How mental is that? For the sake of probably less than a take away a month.

Back to paying council tax this month. Thats a bit annoying.

Danni-R

So NW have agreed in writing to the extra £20 a month. I can't help but feel that the hassle that I had to go through was pretty off putting but it's done now.

It's only taken me how many years.....

Danni-R

Just checking in.... Mostly for me in a few years time but if you are around please say hi! 
It's been a while that's for sure! 
Recently re-mortgaged and its at £81,500. When I first started on this site there were people with CC and loan debt that totalled that amount so I think I'm doing ok. I'm still OP'ing by £20 but did agree with myself to top it up to £50. 
COVID is still going in full bloom so I've been shielding and not spending much money. 
I was kinda shocked at how quiet the forum is now is most sections that I've dipped into. I'd like to think it's because so many people are now super debt wise that the don't need the support anymore. And I was sad that they closed the MoneySavers arms. 
My wage has gone up which is nice and Im paying more into my pension. Looked at the thread about becoming a millionaire and that was very inspiring so just focusing on paying off what I can (CC is still going) and I finally got the bottle to check my student loan amount. A tad under £4k. Drunk me from 2002-2006 has so much to answer for! 

Hope you're all keeping well and safe. 
Danni :-) 

Frith

Hello!
I just read your whole diary! Did you ever get a new lodger?

Danni-R

Hi Frith,

You must have been bored! I did I'm afraid. I let a friend move in to help him out as he was in financial troubles. He worked for a place that offered him reduced rent (win!) but then he wasn't paying that so they asked him to leave. He was here for about 5 months and he took the opportunity to learn nothing and get himself into more debt. The kicker was when he couldn't pay his very reduced rent because he "had to pay his professional fees" which then meant I couldnt pay my own professional fees. 

I've managed to shift the "grim", moved jobs and earn a bit more now. Still got my CC left to pay down but covid has meant that I've been able to save and pay off. 

And the ex... we never did get back together but she "pops up" every year or so for a few months before we go our different ways again. She did move back to the area though so \o/ who knows! 

Do you have a diary or challenge that you follow for inspiration? 

CrowdieSaver

Hi. I've also read your whole diary, well done so far! Any overpayment is better than no overpayment!
Also, could you point me in the direction of the millionaire thread..could do with some inspiration at the minute...thanks ☺
Please keep posting.
CS x

Danni-R

Hi Crowdie,

It's 400+ pages and started in 2011. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3222528/millionaire-challenge/p411

What I found interesting (I didnt read it all) was that in 2011 they were talking about house prices in 10 years time which is kinda now and how if you owned a house worth xyz you'd be a millionaire by now. Not sure that held up for a lot of people. 
I don't think I'll be a millionaire but I'm enjoying learning a bit more about investments. My shares in the company I had with my job I didnt like in this diary were pretty good. $45 to buy through a salary sacrifice thing and are now worth $160. I only have 19 of them but thats $3k.
NW emailed to say that my savings rate was dropping from 1% to 0.75 which is pants. Its the account I've been using for the savings for my Niblings (Legit a word) and as long as the total grew by more than £50 I'd get the bonus. 
Tempted to move to Premium bonds for a little bit. Was talking to my brother and he worked out that he was getting 4% on his investements. Obviously not guaranteed but is still safe with my money. 

Oh and checked my experian credit report (it was for the cashback on TCB) and its 999. Had to check it was real. You know how you question all your financial choices. I'm not late on my payments but I'm pretty credit averse. PAYG still with my phone and buy my sofas out right. Just really surprised me. 

Still not getting a HP or CC or anything else but nice to know that the banks don't think I'm a complete mess! 

Careful in the sun today peeps. Stay hydrated and in the shade. 

Danni :-) 

Danni-R

How Frustrating!
I've been paid, I was sitting waiting for my mortgage to go out at the normal amount (plus the OP) and was going to up the OP by £30 whilst I'm WFH and saving on fuel etc. I tried to pay using the NW app and it wouldn't let me. Fell at the first hurdle. Can't over pay if they wont take my money.... 
I've stuck it in a savings account and will just leave it in there until I can work out how I'm meant to transfer money into a mortgage account. 

Everything else is going ok. I went to the shops today (I dont tend to go out) and treated myself to nachos for dinner. By that I mean doritos and guac as I had everything else in! It's easily over a month now since I've had take away. It's weird. I think and feel like I'm spending more on food but realistically it's less than I was which is worrying! But I feel like I've been eating better/ more expensive food as well so its a bit of a weird thing. 

I hope you're all doing ok and happy weekend!