The march to financial freedom

Ali-OK

I managed a NSD :j

Didn't manage to ring the GPs, was still working past the point when you can ring for same day emergency appointment. Ah well, I'll keep going.

Been a very busy work day and having to do the business banking in town tomorrow morning. DS wants some money out of his bank account, so that should be fun getting him up and out before 9am

There was a change to the meal plan tonight (will I ever get to make home-made pizzas?) and we had Lasagne - one of those bottom of the freezer finds that needed using up.

Usual checks on accounts made and nothing to report.
Quidco are doing some extra reward thing, the first £4 was easy to get, so have done that without spending anything.

Off to my Mum's after lunch and then onto friends to deliver birthday and Xmas presents. Dinner will be our usual chilli and have found the last one from the batch so won't need to do the new batch for another week.

eBay and Envirofone on my To Do list along with Christmas tree and housework. Some washing done tonight and hoping to get another load done and hung out in the morning.

That's my lot for today.

mooomin

How did you find out about the Quidco reward? I could use some free cash

Ali-OK

Had an email from them, but if you go on their site it's 'their Christmas Reward Game' - involves a number of challenges, the first was for the £4.

Click on the Christmas bar at the top of the page to get started.

The second part of the challenge is buying from 5 retailers for cashback, but that involves money and I'm trying not to spend any

Ali-OK

Back from town and I've done it again, when will I ever learn :mad:

Wilko's are selling £25 iTunes vouchers for £20 - so I bought one for DS's stocking. When in reality I didn't need to get him anything else. A good buy if anyone planned to be buying one, unlike moi.

He also needed a new protractor for school - £1.09. He wanted a book in Waterstones, so he paid for that himself on his DC. He did think twice about how much he wanted it and Bank of Mum was closed It's the last book missing from a series he has and he loves reading though he should have put it on his Xmas wishlist.

So town spends today:

£1.60 - 2 huge stuffed hooves for the doglets from the market. Ah, peace for a while
£20 - iTunes £25 voucher
£1.93 - more decongestant tabs and 3 pack of throat lozenges
£8.00 - 2 x Bold 2 in 1 on offer (I have funny skin and can't use much else for washing).
£1.09 - DS protractor

Picked up the sale tie-backs and they are fab, very pleased with those for £4. Thick chunky rope style.

£43.49 in WHSmiths, but that is all stuff Mum will reimburse me for later.

SB CC monthly pay off card has rolled over, so I've set the payment up from the bank. Noticeably lower than usual too by over £100 - I've made some decent savings with work purchases too so am pleased with that, though the Accountants annual bill has just gone up by 5% :mad:

Washing out on the line, great drying weather - sunshine and a good breeze.

We've just tried out home made hot choc with squirty cream, choc sprinkles and marshmallows - delicious.

I have a dilemma on buying a bottle of whisky, as I've run out and do enjoy an Irish coffee or two over the Christmas break. Think the last bottle lasted about 7 years :rotfl: Might have to grit my teeth and get one in Aldi with the weekly shop.

Looks like I need to replace my fab casual ankle boots as well - this was to be their 3rd winter (think I paid about £18 in Matalan at the time) and both heels are worn through to the hollow bit. One of the soles is coming apart at the front as well. I wear these pretty much all the time from about October to May outside of work so something sturdy, comfy and roomy for my thermal socks is a must. I do hate shoe/boot shopping. I'll look online first and see what designs are out there.

I've just clawed £20 back from a Jan birthday present - it's a 21st of a friend's DD and swapped it for a bottle of Champagne a customer gave me this week

Onwards to get some housework done before a quick lunch (beans on toast) and out again.

Ali-OK

So I've finally (fingers crossed) made a few more quid to throw at the debt. Of the 3 old mobile phones I have, 2 are so old they can only be recycled for free :rotfl: and 1 I've sold for £32.09 subject to the usual checks on its arrival at Envirofone and Nectar gives me 50 points too. I even found the boxes in the loft when I got the Xmas decs down but aparently don't need to send these, so can recycle those myself. A little bit more clutter going.

I've searched for a pair of ankle boots and have ordered some from F&F/Tesco in their 25% off sale and via Quidco too - so £22 reduced to £16.50 + 99p cashback and also a 5% Quidco Xmas bonus on the 99p. It's tracked ok as well.

There's also a Clicksnap offer as part of the Reward Challenge for groceries - one is buy a box of supermarket own brand mince pies and get £1, so effectively they are free. Will opt to do that in Tesco too when I collect the boots.

Not much other debt-busting happening - I really need to get some stuff onto eBay tonight whilst it's free insertion fees.

Nectar Canvass gave 10 points for DS completing a very short survey on career thoughts, he wasn't too impressed but did it whilst protesting that it was slave labour :rotfl:

Have changed P!ncecone research to paying by Paypal too.

Have taken gas and elec readings to bring them in line with the monthly cycle and both are showing as the energy company will owe me at the end of the year cycle. Great news.

Ironing done - was only DS's school shirts :rotfl:

House all cleaned, really pleased to have got everything done and also put the Xmas tree up. Watching the energy monitor though, I think we'll have to ration when the tree lights are on :eek:

Ali-OK

4 items loaded to eBay and one has a watcher already :j

I sacrificed X-Factor to photograph and list, aren't I good!

Ali-OK

What a manic Monday but warmer out this morning.

Very busy work day and still catching up tonight. Working at home tomorrow and Wednesday at the moment which is good as I still don't feel right and am living on decongestants and nasal sprays. Not so good for kettle, heating, radio and laptop power usage.

Good news on the energy announcement today - my supplier has announced their 3.2% reduction and a £12 rebate from 1st Jan = £53 a year, plus with the vigilance of use, I am hoping to see a slight reduction in the monthly DD.

eBay items - 2 have bids so off the mark with those. Another has watchers, 1 only has views.
Bank account checked - usual 1st of month DDs gone out and checked off my budget. Interest due tomorrow.
Nectar adpoints - only 5 for me, but looking at the Up Your Income thread, seems some have none, so counting myself lucky
Nectar Canvass - got another survey worth 40 points to start, hopefully won't be rejected for wrong demographic

A NSD today. Will need more milk tomorrow or Wednesday but nothing else should crop up hopefully.

As it's December, I can now do the BT of CC2 to HAX for 15 month 0%. Plan is pay £150 off CC2 this month and BT the £6k. 3% fee is £180 and will also pay that this month once it's gone through so it doesn't attract interest. £350 to CC1 and anything else I earn this month - hopefully some from envirofone and eBay. Emergency fund will reduce a bit doing that, but Dec income for Jan looking ok to support it.

Meal plan is sorted for the week. Tonight we had meat pies out of the freezer with veg. Want to start making these myself rather than buying the ready made ones.

Tues - Chicken pieces, probably casseroled with veg
Wed - Meatballs and spaghetti pasta
Thurs - Home made fishcakes, new pots and veg
Fri - aiming for home-made pizzas (again :rotfl:)
Sat - Chilli - new batch to make
Sun - roast gammon and use into Mon and Tues as that worked out very well for 3 days last time.

Am going to write a list of all the batch cooking I'd like to do over the Xmas break, as the freezers will be free from turkeys, duck and desserts. Thinking cottage pies, chilli, turkey pies and curries and any other easy recipes with ingredients DS will eat!

I've pushed back my Osteopath appointment into January, so that's a £40 saving this month. Back feels good at the moment too.

My line rental/internet supplier has emailed with another 'pay a year in advance line rental offer' of £126, which seems a good deal, but internet seems expensive at current rate of £14.38 per month, so going to phone them and discuss. Have until 31st Jan to sort.

Off to check weather forecast next - extra load of washing needs doing now that DS has PE lessons on muddy fields and would like to hang it out to dry. Don't talk to me about muddy football boots - they weigh twice as much as they did when they left home clean this morning :rotfl:

Ali-OK

Today's update.

Kept the heating on at a temp of 19C and repeat mugs of tea and extra layers. Felt quite cold this afternoon but warmed up again once I'd finished laptop work and could move around more and do other housey things.

Had it confirmed today that the single storey loft cannot be further insulated more than what I have due to difficult access and regs meaning blown in insulation cannot be done where there is electrical wiring and a vented roof. Suggestions now include extend upwards, insulate the internal walls or put a false ceiling in. Of course, got an endless supply of money to do all of those...not :mad: We are well and truly stuck with what we have.

Bank account checked - a nice monthly nett interest payment of £7.40 to current account
Nectar adpoints - more arrived and were done. Now at 37
Nectar canvass - demographic full up, nil points
Nectar points balance now at £9.34

Have done the balance transfer request to HAX for £6k. Fingers crossed that goes through ok.

Looking at budget, CC payments should be:

CC1 - £375
CC2 - £150 to clear
HAX - £205 - £180 BT fee and £25 to make sure no interest is accrued on the fee.

eBay sales and envirofone will be additional. Looking good and feeling upbeat about progress.

Another NSD too :j Will run out of milk in the morning so need to get some more and definitely need to get a GP appointment for anti-biotics. The sinus problem isn't going to go on it's own and needs sorting. So a spendy day tomorrow coming up.

DS is at the end of his cold, need to check tissue situation as suspect will need at least one box on the shopping list this week!

Ali-OK

I'd hoped for a quieter day with feeling unwell, but the opportunity for some billable work this afternoon was not to be missed. Saw my GP at 9am for emergency appointment and came away with 2 items on prescription - it's official I am poorly .

Needed A4 envelopes for work, so with Poundland selling 20 for £1, popped into town to get those. They're a refundable business expense

Parking £1.10
Prescription charges - £15.70 :eek:
6 pts milk - £1.99. Everywhere much more expensive than Aldi

Managed to get to Tesco to pick up the ankle boots I'd ordered on Sunday (and they're a nice fit) and also the £1 Mince Pies. Have scanned the receipt into Quidco for the £1 cashback, so they are free

Then work, then home.

Managed to stick to meal plan again tonight, all good.
Nectar adpoints - another 12 bagged, now at 49
Nectar Canvass - a nice big fat juicy 80 points earnt
Bank account checked
freepostcodelottery checked

Envirofone pack arrived in the post today too, so will spend tonight wiping the old phone clear and preparing that for posting. Will be at the Post Office tomorrow to send some business stuff out, so an ideal time to send phone off too (free and tracked).

Have also organised for the Police's Bobby Van to visit my mum tomorrow to get her a free door bar or chain on her front door.

Feel like I've done lots today and hoping the anti-b's kick in soon.

Ali-OK

Very tired today and waiting for the anti-b's to kick in fully.

Busy work day, all good there, though didn't get to Post Office, so a job for tomorrow, including sending the old phone off.

Bank account checked
Nectar adpoints - another 16 points and up to 65
Nectar Canvass - rejected for one, the other disappeared as was for DS to complete and by time he got home, the survey was closed.
freepostcodelottery checked

Did a Sainsburys survey for 50 points today too and my SB CC use for last month has yielded another 106 points.

eBay going reasonably well, still one without any bids which can go into the car boot box rather than relisting.

Weekly food shop done in Aldi - £14.82. Couldn't bring myself to buy a bottle of whisky at £10.99, will wait another week . It included a CFL 8w light bulb at £1.99 as my bedroom 11w one is dying after 4 years.

Following the Police's Bobby Van visit to my mum today, her house is now like Fort Knox Two extra back door locks fitted, a mega lock for the back gate, a front door bar and a full check of all her windows which have been deemed 'very safe' - all this for free. Amazing service for the over 65s and she is really pleased and her home less vulnerable. Highly recommended. This is a great MSE way to get protected, though not sure if it's free everywhere.

Think that's everything from today - still keeping a close eye on electric and gas usage, but heating is on most of the time now.

Hope everyone stays safe in the gales and flooding.