The Ultimate Incentive part 10. The only thing holding you back is you.

wendz86

Happy anniversary Dinah and NIM!

I would agree that it is the amex that needs looking at.

Only other thing is the gas and electric seem high but i know you need to keep it warm for Grace and have quite a big house.

I think i need to start getting cash out more as is so easy to spend on card.

Dinah93

That makes sense as regards putting money aside Cinny. I think one of our issues at the moment is we have a complex and unfinshed banking system in place. We tried to open new accounts for bills and spends to get cashback (ie santander) but we've not managed to get the internet banking to work reliably (read at all) so at the moment its more of a hinderance and for the sake of £18 a month I'm really close to shutting it down.

Definately Medicash is still worth it, I always use the £300 in optical, and then I'll tend towards about £80 of the dental, and I get £25 for each day assessment for Grace. I'm about to start up the relexology/accupunture again to try to help the blood pressure, and then I get the £750 if we have another baby, so that's one I'm keeping. It's worth raising but it still adds up to a saving for us.

Gas and elec is high, and it's painful, but as you say its the heating being on a lot in winter for Grace. NIM has had strict words yesterday about how often he leaves the lights on, not just when he leaves a room but when he leaves the house!

Thank you for the anniversary grats! Anniversary went a little sad, we were due our first date out in about 4 months (and we'd even decided on pizza express so we can get some tesco vouchers digitally and only have to pay for drinks - very inspired by this new enthusiasm as I'd never normally consider pizza express for an anniversary dinner!) but NIM was called to be offered the evening shift, and we just can't turn it down even for an anniversary atm. So maybe we'll go tomorrow evening as he's not currently working. Provided it stays free we'll just have a fake day tomorrow and do presents then, what's one day out in a whole lifetime? Mum got a present from Grace for us which is cute, no idea what Grace got us though

kavics17

I agree that you should keep medicash. I'm a true believer that insurances worth every penny.

Also agree about Internet banking. I loved lloyds but they shut my account down. Barclays is ok. Santander is a pita. So is first direct. I yet to find a bank where I love to go online.

shrimpy_80

Dinah93 wrote: »

what's one day out in a whole lifetime?

Exactly this Hope you manage a night out soon nonetheless.

I find Halifax good for online banking as you don't need a pin machine thingy. I used to have Santander and it drove me round the bend.

I have looked at Medicash a few times (usually when it is mentioned on here) but just can't decide if it would be worthwhile for me... (and I'm not sure I quite understand it...) Am I right in saying they pay a set amount for each treatment/hospital stay etc?

tinkerbel

Do you have the same problem I'm finding Dinah whereby you are always one month behind? I.e if you try to use cash this month, you'll have no money to pay the cc for e spends you made in August? That's the vicious circle I think I'm in.. I just need one cold turkey card month to catch myself up.. I'm hoping this is September but bought a wedding present the other day so that's already three figures on the card hopefully food etc will be cheap this month.. Any one got any good recipe for quinoa, dried beans or bulgar wheat? (Eating the cupboard-can you tell?!)

Cinny91

Is Santander that bad? I really love them as a bank, find the online banking super easy and the app all swishy The thought of switching to another bank makes me anxious :rotfl:

I'd just google the ingredients you have and see what comes up, Tink. I always do that when I'm putting my meal plan together, always find something new to make that way

Hope you and NIM managed to have a little time together for your anniversary. We don't make a big deal of ours, but it would feel weird if I didn't see OH properly on the day.

Dinah93

I have to say I really hate them, I was with them until about 5 years ago, and hoped they'd be better by now, but it's still a misery. I've had to call the call centre 4 times now and I'm yet to get anyone who understands what I'm on about, and I've given up and emailed each time. The thing that really, really bugs me though is without exception every single time I've used online banking I've had to request new log on details as despite being 100% certain I pressed log out, for some reason it didn't and when days later I try to log in again it thinks the account is being hacked! The online banking is really limited compared to hsbc which I'm used to, but I don't need all singing all dancing, I just want to be able to log on and move my own money!

No time for our anniversary, he's done another 70+ hour week this week. Will be worth it in the end though. He's working tomorrow night, off duing the day but was planning to push through tonight and sleep during the day tomorrow. He's now going to come to bed at 2ish, wake at 8 and see us for a few hours, then have a long nap in the late afternoon before work. We did get a really sweet card from Grace, entirely done by her. Inside is just a scribble and the front has an amazing volume of glitter on it, but I can't stop grinning that my tiny baby is now making me cards

Dinah93

£30.?? from Quidco today (not in account yet) and Graces DLA went in, so we're only £172 overdrawn.... need to get back up to level as that would be the debt going up if it's not cleared by the end of the month. Planning to list 2 of my slings on ebay tonight, and have £30 or so of DVDs to trade in to music magpie. I do have a LOT of work to do for dad today though so I think ebay might need to wait a couple of days.

clearmydebts

Does your Dad pay you for the work you do? You seem to do a lot of work for him.

If not, maybe you could tell him that you need to cut back on the hours until your debt is gone. I'm sure he would understand.:p

Dinah93

He doesn't pay me at present, or rather he slips me £50 from his personal account every month or so, whenever a big order comes in really. The idea is by neither of us taking money out now the business might be in a position to employ me two days a week by Easter or so. So while it's not great for time atm it's one of my long term plans.