My Proper DFW Diary 28 September 2012 at 11:29AM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Debt Free Diaries 156 replies 18.1K views

Lucy5781

Hi all,

I've had a couple of threads in the main section before, one of which has become a bit diary-like so, I decided to put a proper one in here.

Background on my debts, going back to 2009 can be found in these threads:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=1406057
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3566567

Things should start really changing from the beginning of November now

Wishing you all lots of luck :beer:
Lxx

Lucy5781

So....

This morning paid what should be my last lot of travelcards... Should finish central London job Friday 12th Oct and start my local one the following Monday so I've paid for two weekly travelcards. £100-ish for a fortnight :eek: before I moved it was £160p/m, and I should have started the new local job this week

Can't wait to change job (same employer, different role on another site) as this one is just silly now, client is never happy, picks at everything and I'm doing what my old boss did for £8k p/a less....

Never a chance of a pay rise due to the contract here, but will get a pay review in March in the new job

So, for starters, my rent is now £50p/m cheaper having moved/downsized from a two bed to a one bed, and trust me, couldn't get anything cheaper, my old rent was established in 2007 and never went up....

My commute will be free, can walk to work in 15 mins I will need some money on Oyster top-up as I need bus fares as I don't drive and so have no car.

Being so close to home I may be able to go home for lunch, saving what I normally spend up here in town.... or, as I will be on a hospital site, I may have access to the subsidised staff canteen, even though I'll be there as a sub-contractor, not as NHS staff, have to investigate that one

Also, my new flat is a few mins walk from the local High Street which has numerous charity shops, an Iceland and other cheap outlets so lower spending, without a spend on bus fares either

One downside to the new flat, tiny freezer compartment... kind limits my budgeting/batch cooking options... Hmmm.

Lucy5781

Scary potential savings!!

Rent: £44
Switching from Sky to T-Mobile/Orange broadband and using my old Freeview box: £24.50
Monthly Travelcard: £160.63 (from November)
Buying lunch in London and not taking sandwiches (BAD I know): £120 (even worse, I know.....)

£348.50 - OMG

NewLeaf_2

well done! downsizing is super

Lucy5781

I'm a bit worried about the heating bills here though, my old flat was a relatively new build and 2nd floor above families who always had the heating on so I was able to avoid using mine....

This place is much older, lovely looking high ceilings, wood floors and wooden sash windows but it's quite cold and easily gets dampness too...

Having read the OS boards for a long time I knew what to expect etc so there is already bubble wrap at the windows, fleece pinned into the backs of my curtains and a small de-humidifier being delivered next week

To be fair, the access to the local charity shops has already been great, got a nice lined, long, single panel curtain for my bedroom window (which only came with a roller-blind :eek:) for £7.00 last week, hung it on my old mop handle :rofl:

owen_money

Hi, I followed you over from the other thread, now I feel like I'm stalking you! I'm quite intrested in what it must be like to live and work in London, something I would have liked to do when I was younger, but maybe a bit too scary for a country bumpkin like my, plus I dont think there would be too many jobs for a tool maker like I was when I was younger

Keep up the diary, and I'll try not to stalk too much!

Lucy5781

Will need to check new rent and other DDs have gone out ok tomorrow. Can't wait to have my internet back, no online banking right now

Only ten more days at my old job *breathe*

Lucy5781

Slightly confused, and really frustrated at lack of online banking right now as a check of account at a cash point indicates rent may not have gone out?!? Either that or it has gone out and my old deposit has been paid in (similar amounts!!) as I did get an email from the deposit service this morning saying it's been returned.

No local branch of my bank to be able to get a proper statement, will try and get a mini statement from a machine later, was only able to get a quick look at balance during lunch.

Techinically rent is not due until the 12th but I asked for the Direct Debit to be set up for the 1st of the month as I get paid last working day of every month. We shall see.

In other news, my annoying boss has now booked off all of next week so Friday should be the last day I see him!! :yay: I finish this job on the 12th October

Lucy5781

Didn't stop to buy any kind of breakfast today, actually managed to have something from the cupboard at home for once so saved there.

Only spent my normal lunch but will need to post something later so will spend there.

I want my broadband!!! My evenings feel so wrong without being able to catch up on things online!

Mum's curtain lining fabric arrived today though, need to buy safety pins to attach them with...

Lucy5781

Again, didn't spend on a breakfast

De-humidifier has arrived, contacts are in at Boots for collection and I need to go buy new boots lol

Lxx

Lucy5781

Contacts collected, boots bought (£49.98 for two pairs, black & brown) and mini de-humidifier tried, only on for less than two hours and it really did pick up a good tablespoons worth just in my little bath alcove!!

Have left it to run today, it has auto-switch off when almost full. I m pleased with it so far though