Catriona's Credit Card Countdown

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

Thanks Ena. I'm feeling better now, and hopefully next week at work is going to be ok.

I think your self control with regards to budgeting and keeping on top of your spends is amazing. Very disciplined.
I'm nowhere near as disciplined as you, so I'm having to make up for that in other ways.

I've now totted up all of my Christmas spends and returned all of the gifts that were not needed and also returned a large chunk of my online sale shopping- I did well and got some cheap but smart clothes for work and a few more relaxed. I now don't need to shop until the summer.

It means that, together with uni fees and new phone my CC bill is a humongous £2k :eek: but oh well, uni fees are expensive and the phone was too. It was however much cheaper than getting a contract, and my old phone was useless as it was so old. So sensible(ish) money spending.

I haven't been able to use YNAB since changing my phone, which is annoying. I did some work on that yesterday already, and hopefully will finish it off tonight. I'm going to try and limit my spending now, but on 20/1 my godfather arrives at mine for 4 days and so I'm going to spend a bit more then.

Also, reshuffle with lodger, who politely pulled out (no hard feelings), but had another one on the back burner, so I was able to speak to her on the same day and she will move in probably on same day as old lodger. It was my fault really as I hadn't made it clear that the house wasn't suitable for someone who wants to have lots of guests. Her boyfriend lives nearby and would stay over often and she'd have liked to have visitors stay. The house is just not big enough for that when there's three of us living here; it's at full capacity then. I think it was the right thing to do.
New lodger is much more introverted but a real sweetie. INFP, I think. Very gentle and softly spoken. L1 not keen due to her introversion (she says), but I think it's more her not wanting to share with two people. But she continues to pay me the lower rent we agreed for the period when there were 3 of us in the house. You can't have it both ways...
And she'll be buying by herself soon, and moving out. Six months at most I think.
I have to be careful with L1, because she's a very strong girl, and while helpful and sweet, I have seen that she can sometimes act like she wants to assert herself a little more and that makes me back down on a lot of things. While I want to be flexible, I need to remember that with some stuff I need to do what is right for me, and not what's best for her. This is one of them.

I have to say, that on an emotional level, I got a bit shocked how L1 said L2's introversion was the reason she didn't want her to move in. It really upset me, because naturally introverts have a harder time making themselves liked, but I've never seen anyone feel so strongly negatively about a person just because they are quiet. But maybe that was just a smoke screen, and the reason is that L1 likes to commandeer the living room and TV, and I let her, while another person may make it more difficult. Quite difficult dealing with people at this close proximity, everybody pulling in their own direction.

Back to money matters:

1. Lodger moves in at the end of January, so that means February should be a good month savings-wise. For the moment I've decided not to pay off the cards fast, but carry on saving cash.
2. Meal plan to be done, and eating out of freezer and cupboard till the end of the month, except for uncle's visit.
3. Sunday lunch with friends today, but I need it and it's budgeted for.
4. Finances to be sorted properly once returns get back on my credit card
5. Santander card to be moved onto new B@rclaycard, and following that both S@ntander and H@lifax cards to be closed down.

I have also closed down my P@st Office card, which I had for spending abroad, and which had a limit of 4k. As I don't intend to travel soon, I won't need that one and it means less credit exposure.
I will have to see how all those moves have impacted my credit score.

Have also lent a reliable friend £1k. I will get it back in May/June time and that's fine. I know I will get it back, unlike with other friend.

Think it's time to get up! I may be back with an update at the end of the day, when I've sorted my accounts. Have a good Sunday everyone.

Hope work was ok today and that you're feeling 100% well.

Ah thanks but I still spend and sometimes I get tempted to fritter but I'm a lot better than I used to be. If I'm about to buy some pointless tat, I think what would I prefer? To waste £20 on this item that I'm likely to declutter months down the line, or to be debt free and able to leave my job? No brainer! :rotfl:

Some spends are good and uni fees definitely count. And as for the phone......its good to talk You'll have that paid off in no time anyway.

Thank goodness the lodger situation was swiftly resolved. I think if she was moving in as a proper flatmate, then guests would be ok, but as a lodger, I wouldn't be that keen. When I do get a lodger, I'm hoping for a bit of a loner, who works nights and likes gardening!

L1 does sound like she's getting a bit too big for her boots. It's your house at the end of the day and if she wants control then she needs to buy her own place, which she's doing anyway! Maybe it's good to have a change and if she's going anyway, the new lodger will be L1 and you can get a shiny new L2 that fits in well

Money shuffle looks good, great plan. Roll on payday eh! 15 days for me for my main pay. But 11 days until my final 2nd job pay :j:T

catriona79

Orange_Ena wrote: »

Hope work was ok today and that you're feeling 100% well.

Ah thanks but I still spend and sometimes I get tempted to fritter but I'm a lot better than I used to be. If I'm about to buy some pointless tat, I think what would I prefer? To waste £20 on this item that I'm likely to declutter months down the line, or to be debt free and able to leave my job? No brainer! :rotfl:

Some spends are good and uni fees definitely count. And as for the phone......its good to talk You'll have that paid off in no time anyway.

Thank goodness the lodger situation was swiftly resolved. I think if she was moving in as a proper flatmate, then guests would be ok, but as a lodger, I wouldn't be that keen. When I do get a lodger, I'm hoping for a bit of a loner, who works nights and likes gardening!

L1 does sound like she's getting a bit too big for her boots. It's your house at the end of the day and if she wants control then she needs to buy her own place, which she's doing anyway! Maybe it's good to have a change and if she's going anyway, the new lodger will be L1 and you can get a shiny new L2 that fits in well

Money shuffle looks good, great plan. Roll on payday eh! 15 days for me for my main pay. But 11 days until my final 2nd job pay :j:T

Oh, to me you're the paragon of self-restraint. I mean it genuinely. So it's the job situation that's your biggest motivator? I guess that you're reminded every week day morning why you're saving... That's a cool motivator.

Ha, re your perfect lodger! and mine. Penchant for mowing the lawn wouldn't go amiss.

How many days till payday? 16 till my job (looooong timeeee...) but 13 until both lodgers' rent is due and one lot of deposit. That will be a lovely amount to help bring down my shameful increased total.

Now waiting for the Barclayc@rd to clear my to clear my other cards. Come on, get moving.


Strange thing happened today. I went to a meditation class at a local Buddhist centre and saw a man who I'd "met" online and sporadically chatted to. He came over in the break, was nice a very spiritual and principled, which I liked. Also a bit serious, and I need someone livelier to balance me out, so that's not so good. But he's asked me out, and I'm going to give him a whirl. Unexpected, but in a nice way.

Goodnight, lovely money savers.

beanielou

Interesting
I chant

catriona79

Hehe Lou! Wink wink. Let's see what happens. I fear it may be another perfectly decent man that I have no affection for. Hmmm.

catriona79

Money matters to report

1. I have been a good girl and made umpteen meals out of one poor chicken! Lovely soup to keep me full in the daytime.

2. L2 has signed the contract and put down a bit of the deposit, so it's definitely happening on 24th.

3. I've returned lots of bad shopping decisions and the money is now back on my card, bringing down the total significantly.

4. Had to pay out £153 in uni fees. Eek.

5. Still no balance transfer to B@rclaycard, or no card in the post, but it's only been a few days.

6. Finally a purchase of L2 bed and mattress complete via eB@y at £210 in total for a metal bed frame and a 25cm thick mattress and very happy with my thrifty ways. It's a decent bed, easy to keep clean and hopefully the mattress will be comfortable. Here's hoping! Now need a mattress protector and I'm done.

So quite spendy in some ways, but it will all be ok since it's an investment. The room is rented out for 5 months. Maybe at the end of it there will be no need to rent it out again. Definitely I will be debt neutral.

Fingers crossed for a good 2016. The start of the year has been so so with some family troubles and my tonsillitis, but I think it's going to improve from now on! I can feel it in my bones! 2016 is going to be the year!

catriona79

Hello my dears.

Here I am on the sofa watching Restoration Man
No work tomorrow, so it's the weekend!

The guy in it has just said, when asked about his budget: I started off with nothing, and I've got most of it left. :rotfl: I can relate!!!

So, My B@rclaycard has arrived, though the balance transfers haven't gone through yet. I have downloaded the app for it, it's so much better than any other card I've ever had, so user friendly.

Only one card to be moved onto It now, my Santander. This means only having one card now, with a high balance, agreed, but it was a free move. And psychologically, a boost.

I've just realised that we are going to get paid earlier this month! Not sure when, perhaps Monday 25th? That would be rather good. I've paid cash for the bed and mattress, so that's all done and v pleased with that.

Now off to try and work out my finances. It's going to start moving in the right direction!

beanielou

All sounding good

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

Money matters to report

1. I have been a good girl and made umpteen meals out of one poor chicken! Lovely soup to keep me full in the daytime.

2. L2 has signed the contract and put down a bit of the deposit, so it's definitely happening on 24th.

3. I've returned lots of bad shopping decisions and the money is now back on my card, bringing down the total significantly.

4. Had to pay out £153 in uni fees. Eek.

5. Still no balance transfer to B@rclaycard, or no card in the post, but it's only been a few days.

6. Finally a purchase of L2 bed and mattress complete via eB@y at £210 in total for a metal bed frame and a 25cm thick mattress and very happy with my thrifty ways. It's a decent bed, easy to keep clean and hopefully the mattress will be comfortable. Here's hoping! Now need a mattress protector and I'm done.

So quite spendy in some ways, but it will all be ok since it's an investment. The room is rented out for 5 months. Maybe at the end of it there will be no need to rent it out again. Definitely I will be debt neutral.

Fingers crossed for a good 2016. The start of the year has been so so with some family troubles and my tonsillitis, but I think it's going to improve from now on! I can feel it in my bones! 2016 is going to be the year!

It's all sounding good Catriona, all necessary spends with the bed and uni fees. And we'll done on sending some stuff back :T

That's amazing to think that in 5 months you might not need to have lodgers. Wow. Or you could keep going and be a MFW :eek::D

2016 IS going to be the year, it's all happening, and you're doing it! :T

Orange_Ena

catriona79 wrote: »

Hello my dears.

Here I am on the sofa watching Restoration Man
No work tomorrow, so it's the weekend!

The guy in it has just said, when asked about his budget: I started off with nothing, and I've got most of it left. :rotfl: I can relate!!!

So, My B@rclaycard has arrived, though the balance transfers haven't gone through yet. I have downloaded the app for it, it's so much better than any other card I've ever had, so user friendly.

Only one card to be moved onto It now, my Santander. This means only having one card now, with a high balance, agreed, but it was a free move. And psychologically, a boost.

I've just realised that we are going to get paid earlier this month! Not sure when, perhaps Monday 25th? That would be rather good. I've paid cash for the bed and mattress, so that's all done and v pleased with that.

Now off to try and work out my finances. It's going to start moving in the right direction!

Ooh the lovely George Clarke, forgot he was on Happy weekend to you :beer:

I love the Barcl@ycard app, I find it so much better than FDs app. Just a shame that in a couple of weeks, I won't be using that app as my Barcl@ycard will be history :T I'm very jealous of you just having the one CC, sounds so much better. No CC's sounds better still. We'll get there

Have a lovely day off tomorrow and a great weekend :beer:

catriona79

beanielou wrote: »

All sounding good

Thank you Lou!

I've just been working out my current total, eek. But it's going to get better after the new lodger moves in!