woah... are those MY finances??

Fmess

Morning,

Can't believe you two are up this early! Are you both at work or on way to early shifts?

I've just been woken up by the dogs and can't go back to sleep, so thought I'd pop on here

Stewby supporting your OH is very lovely of you and I completely understand how complex his situation is. My OH however is just financially unsavvy and struggles to accept he is no longer a care free 21 year old. I am determined that if we go on holiday this year, it will only be after he pays for half. I often book it, as he has no ccard, and then other expenses crop up and he doesn't pay me back However, as you say looking at the positives, he has made improvements this year

I'm off to try and snooze some more, the weather here looks wild atm with rain lashing at the windows!

stewby

Sorry fmess... I was struggling to sleep (side effect of sleeping all day after a nightshift) so that was me still awake.


As a result, I have now traded places with my parents and am lying in their bed with some fresh hot water bottles.


Maybe you could convince him to take part in the weekly challenge with you so that you could save for holiday together maybe?? I do think he has improved so we don't want to scare him off. maybe do the £1 a day one together?? That maybe won't seem as dramatic/harsh and yet he will see how both of you putting £1 a day away has given you £700 at the end of the year. Might be a nice way to ease him into saving.
:undecided

Weather is not too bad here, if you don't include the fact that is freezing!!
Brrrrrrrr.

Hope you have a good day.
Hugs.

stewby

Well, hush my mouth, I am a bad bad person... OH has suddenly remembered about the stuff today and asked me how much I wanted for it. So I have £50 winging its way to me. Which means he has now bought my xmas (that makes me really happy).


I did ask what had made him suddenly remember and he said that he had just been checking his bank account and realised... however, just in case he got it off here, hi sweetie, love you.
:kisses3:

so... back to finances. I have spoken to my dad and we have come to a decision. The "bank" money that I am owed is heading to a fourth account which is attached to my mortgage. The plan is to use it as a billing account (this used to work really well before I took unwell and couldn't afford it).
Basically, I put £150 a month into an account and any major bills come off it such as car insurance, house insurance, etc. My electric and gas used to come out of it too but that is now a monthly direct debit from the main account.
:undecided

In other news, I have asessed my insurances... my housie one is due in February and d1r3ct l1ne are no longer getting my services, unless they do something blooming outstanding as they quoted me a new price so I didn't change last year and then didn't give me the reduction (this was before the LBM so I wasn't really aware). But they are charging me heaps... and tescimos have quoted me £100!!!! for it (annually) plus I should get clubcard points.
:j

Using m0n3ysuperm4rk3t, my car and bongo insurance are both about £200 - £380 which includes all the named drivers!! (the bongo is a japanese import which puts the costs up a bit). I am quite pleased though as it means about £700 for all the insurances which is a lot more do-able.
The insurances are spread out across the year too so I should hopefully be able to save for it without using my credit card. Hooray!!
_party_

I spoke to my Dad and the pla is to throw as much money at the credit card as we can so if I work some extra shifts then I might be able to get more money sent across and pay it off faster!!


Oh... and I can't believe this thread has not been xmas-ifed yet so:

:rudolf: :xmastree: :snow_grin :snow_laug :xmassign: :snow_laug :snow_grin :xmastree: :rudolf:

Fmess

Sounds like a great plan! Congratulations!

I'm a bit confused, what is a bongo? And why does it need insuring?

My OH is too hard to talk to about money but I didn't buy him a sealed money box, as he needs a new car (his other one will never pass the MOT this year and isn't worth repairing). He has been putting his change in it everyday, so far! I hope this continues!

Hole you've had a lovely evening

stewby

The mazda bongo is a campervan...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Bongo

... if you look at the 1995 - 2005 mazda bongo friendee with the raising roof, that's what we have (but in a really nice purple-grey colour).


We "inherited" it from my parents last year. The plan is to use it a lot next year as we can wild camp (in Scotland you can camp in certain places for free as long as you leave it how you find it) and it will only cost us some diesel.


Aw, your OH sounds like he is trying. He obviously likes to know what his money is for (in terms of saving) and whats to get a reward for saving.
:undecided

I would feel a bit proud of him for managing to save a wee bitty. His light bulb is maybe flickering.


Hope you have had a lovely relaxing day. (although I can't remember if you were the one on the other thread who was temping and getting their last xmas pressie. If it was, I hope it was a successful day).


Hugs.

Fmess

Ah a campervan, that makes sense! I thought you meant a bongo like a drum!!!!

How exciting about going wild camping, that sounds like such fun!

Yes it was me who was temping and buying my last gift. All done now, so just one half day of temping tomorrow and then I can rest for a few days

I have massively overspent on Christmas gifts and treats and food, I have nearly spent my entire January personal budget Oh well, I'm just going to have to stay in for the month, but I guess it will make me use my new one month gym membership

How was your day? Do you have to work over Christmas?

stewby

Don't worry. Xmas pressies is where I fell down as well. As with everything else, Xmas crept up on me and was a completely unexpected event so I hadn't saved anything for it.
(how I wish for a rolling eyes smilie).

Ah... very good plan for January. Help get your healthy living lifestyle kicked off with a bang.


I am thinking about going down the envelope route. The problem is that I would be worried about just dipping in whenever I wanted and I have gone full-bore into saving which isn't leaving much room for manouvre. Do you use the envelope system??
:undecided

Yeah, I have worked nightshift every xmas since I qualified (about 7 years), it means that I get to spend new year at my granny's house (she does an amazing new year party and she really enjoys having the family round).
OH has gone down south for his xmas so I have moved in to my parent's house for a fw days. Love xmas time (plus saving the money I don't have as they supply the food and electric and gas, etc).
:j

What's your plans for xmas??

stewby

I am so excited that I have just woken up my parents to tell them and now I am going to blurt it out on here too.

I am probably going to destroy April's budget. In fact it is pretty much a certainty. Sorry NSK if you are reading this.

Drunk OH (yep, I am going to keep thinking positively that this is not just drunk talk) is booking us a trip to Paris!! For two nights!! And it includes our fourth anniversary of being a couple.
He wants a hotel with a view of the eiffel tower (I have been put in charge of finding it) so we can watch the sparkly lights together and he wrote about: blankie + paris + sparklies + tower + ring + us. Ring!! Ring!!
:eek:

I really hope he remembers writing that in the morning so that when I talk about it, he doesn't think I am being pushy. I am not going to let him forget this. I am so excited. Woooooooo!!
:j

Erm... I would say that I will try and be budget conscious whilst over there but that would be a lie. (I don't buy clothes and shoes and stuff but I love all the touristy stuff which isn't cheap.
Oh me... Sorry. I just needed to tell the world then.

runforlife

Hi Stewby, I've just been reading some of your diary. Great reading. Inspirational, funny and warm hearted.

Sounds like you're on the way to getting the finances under control. Great!

As for weight loss try http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ There is a useful phone app and I suspect you'll find it'll help with cutting down on food purchases too.

At first it looks a tad complicated but once you get into it then it really does work! Certainly did for me!

I've not logged food on it for some time now but it made me very much more Calorie aware. That lemon drizzle cake at Costa was worth a hard 35 minute run!!

Fmess

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! How exciting for you and a trip to Paris too! How romantic! :T

What did your parents say?

I haven't done the envelope system yet but like you I am thinking of starting it in the New Year. I prefer to carry a card rather than cash but I guess I would never have to carry much cash as my food shopping is approximately £40 a week.

I only live 20 minutes from my parents so I am going to drive over tomorrow for Christmas lunch. My OH makes Christmas dinner at our house with his best friend as neither of them have families that they want to spend Christmas day with.

I suppose I had better get ready for work, hope you have a lovely Christmas Day with your family