Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean wrote: »

It's getting there Rosa! Something we did which we found was really helpful was ran a specific "mortgage overpayments" savings account which we used to drop oddments of money saved into - so if we negotiated a utility bill down a bit by changing supplier, the money saved went there each month. If we were going to get a takeaway but decided against, we'd transfer the value of the "no takeaway" across to that account, and so on. Each time it reached a certain level we'd transfer the contents across to the mortgage and start again. Meant that every now and again we had the boost of making an extra OP, and we never noticed the money that went to it as it was what we always thought of as "money we didn't know we had" because we'd been parting with it in any case.

We still have the account now - and the monthly DD for money saved on things still goes across to it. It's now known as the "Account Formerly Known as" (The Mortgage OP Pot) - it's now what pays for extra trips away with friends, and our Christmas holiday.

That's a nice idea EH - I used to keep an 'extra fun money' pot for guilt free spending of unexpected income, until I realised I didn't actually feel guilty about spending any more :rotfl:... so could run something similar

kerri_gt

That's the same sofas we bought (after much deliberation) last year Rosa. Can vouch that so far they're really comfy and good value for money. I have had to wash one cover once, colour stayed really well.

I did get a big can of scotch guard which I sprayed all the cushions with last year (do it outside) which I'd recommend doing with any sofa.

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt wrote: »

That's the same sofas we bought (after much deliberation) last year Rosa. Can vouch that so far they're really comfy and good value for money. I have had to wash one cover once, colour stayed really well.

I did get a big can of scotch guard which I sprayed all the cushions with last year (do it outside) which I'd recommend doing with any sofa.

Brilliant, thanks Kerri :A

I'm thinking of getting it at the start of next month, just need to decide which size - and whether it's worth spending a bit more to get the 0% and be able to spread the cost so that I can spend more on the garden and going away over the spring and summer. Though it's just occurred to me I could close my oldest CC and get an interest free offer on purchases, that would solve the question with both benefits. Will go see if either of my banks have any deals on.


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

I would suggest to go as big as you can comfortably fit in the room, no one ever complains about a sofa being too big to sit on.

What colour are you looking at getting?

I would suggest getting someone to give you a hand to put it together if possible, you need to flip the back up and attach the arms by slotting them on (I ended up sitting on one arm it get it to slide down in place :rotfl:) and then put the legs on. It's not that it's hard to do, but getting it all out of the cardboard box is deff easier with 2 people if possible.

RosaBernicia

Today's lessons...

Take time to check stuff. In the process of closing my old credit card, I checked up on a recurring payment for a website I've never used and found they were about to starting charging me for extra support. That's now cancelled, and it may turn out I can actually get out of the contract after all which would be a further £35 back in the pot. Hopefully sorting that tomorrow.

Start small. If I had just started out with a free email account and basic webpage, instead of listening to the well meaning professional who told me I needed the paid for package, I'd have saved about £150. Ok, if the business had taken off I might have needed to upgrade, but in hindsight that looks more sensible.

Anyhoo, card now paid off and I will call back and have it closed shortly. I had been keeping it for emergencies but don't really need to as the other one has plenty of space and is cleared every month. I think I will apply for the 0% one to use for house improvements - it will mean I can spread costs for larger things across 3 months, but still get them done in the summer rather than leaving everything til autumn. I don't think temptation will be an issue doing this as it will have quite a specific purpose. (I'm not going to look at transferring the loan, as it is on a low interest rate anyhow and the benefit of 0% would be wiped out by the transfer fee.)


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Earlier than usual shuffle on a very chilled Sunday

All looks accurate, still over budget for the month and effectively budgeting into March's paycheque due to the vet bill and insisting on including buffer fund money. Plus I have a couple of events this month that need funds. I suppose if I took the buffer allocation out it would look clear, but I feel a bit reluctant to do that as it's important to me to remember to build it back up again - this way I feel I'm reminded, and I can always use the buffer money if needed (so far the buffer is more than the overspend, so it's all theoretical anyway).

Contract cancellation is hopefully underway though not entirely clear as they sent a charge to the credit card I want to close... fortunately they have also sent the refund and it is going via PayPal, so have paid to clear the card and will call to have it completely closed in a couple of days. Then will apply for the 0% one from my bank. Not the most ethical of my banks - I am trying to avoid the worst companies - but the C00p doesn't offer a 0% and this one is about halfway up the Ethical Consumer tables so better than many.

Spending... a very cheap day out with a friend yesterday, coffee and a couple of charity shop finds; lash tint; the usual embarrassing amount on groceries. Also ran in Ald1 yesterday and got a handtruck for £13 (apparently this is the proper name for a wheely thing to move boxes) which will be really helpful now I am going to store stuff in the garage, it will mean I can easily shift boxes back and forth. And I picked up a heated airer as they had them at half price, £14.99, and that will hopefully mean stuff in the spare room dries quickly enough that it doesn't smell and I don't have to open the window in there (which always seems mad in winter).

House progress... spare room is presentable, yesterday I swopped the curtains with a pair previously in the office as they go with a throw shifted out of the living room... and with a picture also previously in the office. So that looks a little more co-ordinated, even if it is still messy thanks to the rail and bags for 3bay in the corner! Must chase handyman tomorrow - and if no luck will try an ad in the local area magazine.

So mostly still in the right direction


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

In small :money: things... checked all credit reports which look accurate, and sent in ShopN5can wotsit (including receipts this time, I haven't bothered recently but was close enough to payout that it means I can get a voucher later in the week if I want).

Think I am going to close the Ipsos account as so far I've had nothing of use - I refuse to spend 18 minutes on a survey :eek: unless they're paying me a decent amount for it and I don't seem to get to most options fast enough anyway.

Should be due some vouchers from the points CC card this month too. That might help with the ever-mortifying groceries bill :rotfl:


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt wrote: »

I would suggest to go as big as you can comfortably fit in the room, no one ever complains about a sofa being too big to sit on.

What colour are you looking at getting?

I would suggest getting someone to give you a hand to put it together if possible, you need to flip the back up and attach the arms by slotting them on (I ended up sitting on one arm it get it to slide down in place :rotfl:) and then put the legs on. It's not that it's hard to do, but getting it all out of the cardboard box is deff easier with 2 people if possible.

Thanks Kerri, that's useful insider info!

I'm looking at getting the grey-beige one. I originally wanted the dark grey, but they seem to have sold out of that cover and apparently don't have plans to bring it back.

I'm debating getting the smaller one and a chair from family, as that would resolve the seating situation... will have a look at the chair this weekend and see.

RosaBernicia

Shuffling all very behind, after a visitor this weekend... clothes spending has happened, but some is going back including what I originally budgeted for, so hopefully a bit of a swop around and not disastrous. No house progress either.

I applied for and got a store card as it saved me £15 and will get me another fiver, completely forgetting the plan for a 0% card. But think I will keep the limit down on the store card to very minimal, and reduce the limit on my current CC who have just offered me an increase. The sofa can go on the current card and just be paid off with the following month's money, and I will only get a 0% if I really feel I need it later.


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Thanks Kerri, that's useful insider info!

I'm looking at getting the grey-beige one. I originally wanted the dark grey, but they seem to have sold out of that cover and apparently don't have plans to bring it back.

I'm debating getting the smaller one and a chair from family, as that would resolve the seating situation... will have a look at the chair this weekend and see.

We looked at the dark grey too when we got ours as have quite a lot of grey accents in the living room...then got brave and opted for the teal.

There are places online that make non Ikea colours for the sofas too, I guess they're prob pretty easy to make a pattern out of if you have the loose covers. I haven't ever used any but here's a link to one I found on Google.

https://comfort-works.com/en/stocksund-sofa-covers-177?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvdPUlJ3L4AIV7TLTCh2moAXqEAAYAiAAEgJjMfD_BwE