The march to financial freedom

beanielou

Not a fanof the new necter adds website

Ali-OK

Agree with you there Beanie, the previous one was better, though I do like that the 'watching' button is bigger and I can hit it first time around :rotfl:

beanielou

Agree om watching button right enough :rotfl:

Ali-OK

It seems I spoke too soon when I said the panic stuff was a thing of a past yesterday, as some symptoms came on whilst I was driving on a dual carriageway today, not so bad that I needed to stop but not nice all the same. Managed them so it didn't turn into a full blown shaking one and carried on with my plans, but by time I got home I was exhausted, so instead of visiting Mum this afternoon, I've had a sleep. .

The day started so well until that happened. Alot of housey bits done, business banking and paying myself done, elec and gas readings done and opened the tap and waste parcels that arrived yesterday! Unfortunately the waste seems to be the wrong size for the sink, so I'll phone them on Monday to sort.

Financials:
- bank account checked and I've changed the mortgage capital payment back up by £10 to £835! Talk about indecisive.
- freepostcodelottery checked
- Nectar adpoints - only 29 points this week
- Nectar Canvass - spurred on by wondering why I'd been credited 688 points from the site, I've done an 80 pointer tonight!
- Nectar card - a nice jump up to £87.55
- Inbox Pounds - up a tad to £13.12
- Qmee - 11p today, and 55p in the pot

Spends today. I buckled and bought a pair of jeans in M&S at £15, thought that was very good value for a decent thickness pair. Bedroom furniture (halves with DB) came in at £124.

After an expensive August, September is about knuckling back down again. There's saving for the holiday, sorting Christmas (but most presents bought in the Xmas sales so not too much to get this year) and balancing emergency fund vs. paying off the final bit of debt -which I've started the process of moving over to the 0% for 18 months card. I don't think it'll take that long and I've budgeted £260 plus the fee for next month.

in_need_of_direction

Sorry to hear about the nastiness creeping back. Grateful to hear that you're managing it and taking care of yourself afterwards. Fingers crossed for those September plans.

Ali-OK

Even more bizarre now INOD - I've deliberately driven up the bypass of a dual carriageway and no symptoms at all (thankfully). Now to work out the difference between yesterday and today and see if I can pinpoint anything from it.

Kept it MSE as the journey had a second purpose, I had a boot full of rubbish to take to the tip from the office move! Job done

September is planned out including the weekends. It's quite a busy month with DS's birthday, guests staying with free tickets for a day out and various people doing DIY jobs in return for roast dinners and tea on tap.

The card shop have got their Christmas cards out already :eek: I need to scan in the 2 birthday ones I bought last weekend to get the £1 per card back. Added to the To Do List!

Pottering at home today - lots to do, but no rush. The sun is out and am just going to do things at a relaxed pace.

Ooh a worthwhile edit - just refreshed Nectar card balance - it's up at a whopping £112.95 :j That'll be the 5,000 points from the house insurance policy. Great stuff!

Ali-OK

Sunday evening and I've spent way too much time fiddling with spreadsheets today. That's relaxing though, right?

My debt repayment plan is £260 per month minimum with any additional money going to as well - so change bags, Inbox Pounds, Qmee, rounding up, etc. 10 months max.

I'm putting £200 into the regular saver in September - or might split that £100 reg saver, £100 into e-savings (interest is pants) for the holiday fund.

At the end of September, I am looking at the Emergency Fund being a combination of £5,200 in the current account and £1200 in savings. I've been very lucky that the office costs and extra spends have been absorbed mostly by better income, a little by the EF.

Financials:
- bank account checked
- freepostcodelottery checked
- Nectar adpoints - 29 this week
- Nectar Canvass - tried but only profile updates
- Nectar Search - another month starts tomorrow
- Nectar card value - £112.95
- Inbox Pounds - a survey and tasks done - up at £13.58
- Qmee - nothing new, 55p in the pot still

The Mortgage

£835 capital payment goes out tomorrow. Part 1 sits on £25,138, Part 2 will go down to £101,485. Just 2 more to getting that bit under £100k :j

Feeling good about it all and know that the remaining £2,600 is well and truly covered either by the longer 0% duration or the EF.

Ali-OK

Got loads done today and pleased with progress. It was a No Spend Day, but Osteopath booked in for late tomorrow so that's £40.

I've booked a GP appointment but soonest is almost 2 weeks away. Just realised DS's glasses are ready for collection but need him to come with me to try them on and check behind ears fit. That'll be a job for the weekend then.

I've also booked the Springy in for his annual jabs - that's early October and also both doglets into the farm kennels for our Easter holiday. 10 nights :eek:

£835 came off the mortgage today :j now at £126,623 and 5.11% paid off this year :j Interest should fall into the £380's down £20 a month from January - will find out when the new interest letter arrives. Will update sig in a moment.

Other financials:
- bank account checked - monthly use and pay off CC payment set up for 15th September
- freepostcodelottery checked
- Nectar adpoints - hmm, tried to play one and it wouldn't, refreshed and it disappeared. Not liking this new layout at all and only 12 points (saw 7 points disappear from the refresh :mad:)
- Canvass and Search not looked at today
- Nectar card value - up again to £113.13
- Inbox Pounds - up a tad to £13.65
- Qmee - nothing new today

Work isn't quite so manic until Thursday at the moment, which is probably good given the panic situation on Saturday. Yesterday was fine. Today, on receiving news that I'll be driving a fair whack for our free day out with our guests who are staying on 13/14th, some symptoms started up, so I hot footed off for a drive on more fast roads, A roads, country roads and different dual carriageway - including the road I had a panic attack on originally. 40 mins and I was completely fine during all that time. Think it's a case of building confidence as I simply can't pinpoint what brings them on now. I'll try and drive a different road tomorrow to keep pushing myself forward.

Luckily some plans that would have involved a long drive have changed for later in the month, so we'll be local for that now. Ridiculous I'm planning stuff like this but seems best until the underlying issue can be found.

The next 3 weekends are busy and I'm going to have to watch I don't get stressed. So early night, keep eating well and pace myself.

in_need_of_direction

Has it only happened when you're alone in the car?

Ali-OK

No, first one (though I didn't know what it was then) was in the GP surgery waiting room! I guess if you're gonna have one that's as good a place as any!

Next one was alone in the car on a fast road, pulled over into a lay by as I felt unwell, the full blown bit then followed as did a paramedic and ambulance crew.

Next one was the day after that with my son in the car, again on a fast road. And then they were whilst alone in the car after that. Had a good run of none at all, until Saturday just gone - but managed that so not a full blown one, just the initial symptoms (hot/cold, fast heart rate, weird vision but not blurred more like slow motion vision).

None since that one.