In hell: the B.W. Fox debt journal

catewithers

Foxy that's fantastic!!!!!!!!!! :j

So chuffed for you.

dubgirl

Hi Mr Fox, just been catching up with your thread, seems like a lot of positive stuff has been happening for you, which I'm glad. I hope things continue to improve for you, you deserve it.

B.W._Fox

Took all my cycling shortcuts this morning while driving and knocked 31 minutes off my car time. 45 minutes in total, to work in very good shape.

So far so good. Lots to do.

It's been cold the past couple of days, so I bought some basic hot chocolate to use at the office ... 59p. My oldest nephew's birthday is coming up and I'm going to make a handmade card with my daughter's help (she's only met her cousin once, two years ago). Need to do something similar for my sister-in-law, the one who calls us the 'fun' part of the family.

Waiting on the next paycheque. Hopefully the payment will go through on Friday so I'll have enough dosh to pay all the monthly outgo at once.

B

B.W._Fox

Oh, and I 'paid' for the shopping on Sunday with the new credit card. So unusual to not see the money go out of my account. It's still being tracked in my spending spreadsheet, though!

When I activated the card I set up the direct debit to pay the full amount. So I'll keep tabs on it and make sure the cash is available.

B.W._Fox

I felt confident enough in my savings that I paid for the milk bill this month, something I hadn't done in about 6 months.

Got my statement from the bank yesterday. £400 to the good due to there being an extra week of income. Interest on the overdraft is £13 this month - my plan is to pay the childminder money to my wife in weekly installments, thus keeping my average balance higher and less interest will accrue. Next month I will be able to pay everything in one wallop at the beginning of the month.

I'm thinking about cancelling Additions next month. I did some nerd maths and found that cancelling right now will save me 50p per month with my current status. But I'm still worried about job security, so a cheaper overdraft will benefit me if I don't have income. Weighing up the pros and cons still.

It's time to start sending cheques to the States for my student loan again. £95 goes out this weekend; can't wait 'til I can stop that malarkey.

B

Storm

Hey Mr Fox,

Just had a quick catch up and it seems that things are going well for you - great news about the hourly pay rise too :T

I agree that keeping the money in your account for as long as possible can make a big difference on the amount of interest charged, and if you've got internet banking you can easily set up a weekly standing order to your wife's account. Did you look into the A&L account?

B.W._Fox

Storm wrote: »

Hey Mr Fox,

Just had a quick catch up and it seems that things are going well for you - great news about the hourly pay rise too :T

I agree that keeping the money in your account for as long as possible can make a big difference on the amount of interest charged, and if you've got internet banking you can easily set up a weekly standing order to your wife's account. Did you look into the A&L account?

I have looked into the A&L. I would need to be in the black for two days - I'm hoping that I would be able to get my balance high enough on the 29th of June (a payday) that my wife wouldn't have any qualms about lending me the money (it'll be about £1000-1300, need to re-do my budget to be precise) to put me above zero for the 29th and 30th. Then I can return the money when all my direct debits go out on the 1st.

I may be able to hit up a friend to get me a little closer to zero so my OH doesn't feel oppressed by the amount of money. But I'll take the direct approach when the time comes.

B :cool:

B.W._Fox

May in review

Income: £1457.63
Outgo: £1324.22
Difference: +£133.41

Spending outside of necessaries: £22.75 (mostly sandwiches from Tesco)
Panic buying for wife's birthday: £80.97 (could cut that down drastically by planning ahead)

I also could save on birthday and anniversary cards by making them myself.

I was paid today. I plan to hold on the high balance as long as I can.

'Bills' payment to my wife will go out on the 4th, the day before the money is pulled out for the mortgage.

I'm paying the childminder money in weekly installments to keep the balance higher, especially since I'm paying for an extra week this month.

I'll use the credit card for shopping a little longer, then ask my wife for ~£1000 on the 28th, which I'll hold in my account until the 1st, when the first load of direct debits go out.

I'll cancel Additions, saving me £11.50, then (status willing!) transfer the overdraft into the Alliance & Leicester current account, putting me at 0%.

If this goes to plan I will get socked with a large credit card bill (£400 or so), but it will be covered by 0% money.

Storm

Sounds like a plan to me - so is your wife in agreement with the short-term loan plans?

Are you enjoying your new job? I think when you first started you found it a bit strange, so I'm hoping you've settled in & are loving it!

catewithers

Sounds like things are going well for you Foxy. So glad for you.

Like Storm, I hope you're feeling a bit more settled in your new job.