The march to financial freedom

Ali-OK

Hi OF, thanks for popping in.

Unfortunately it's the lesser value car that I will probably sell in the Spring. It maybe worth up to £6.5k as a private sale - difficult to value as only 300 of them in the UK and not in the usual valuation guides (it's also held it's value reasonably well). But would be good debt busting money.

The more expensive car is 18 months old - which leads into the saga of why I had to change my old 5 door hatch.

Had a problem when it was 2.5 years old and all paid for. The dealership kept it for nearly 6 months trying to find the problem and gave me a courtesy car. Ultimately 'computer said no' as did the manufacturer so they returned it to me with an extra 2k miles on it, only for it then to break down weeks after it's 3 yr warranty had run out. Funny that. The guy dealing with it was also 'released' a couple of days before they asked me to take my car back.

The cost to repair the underlying problem was just shy of £3k which I didn't have, aside from the £300 repair from the breakdown, which was a symptom of a major issue.

Dealership and manufacturer refused to help or engage, so I ended up trading it in for a new car from a different manufacturer, hence the £144 monthly payment over 2 years at 0% with the balance payment of @ £5,800 at the end in March/April 14.

The lesser value car is 2 seats sports convertible and I've only driven 500 miles in it this past 12 months. Can't take dogs, DS and aging parent - well I could try :rotfl:

The expensive car I use for my business and can get everyone in, so I have to go the practical route and keep that one. I know I could sell and get something older but being on my own, I rely on it and at least I know the history of my new one. It's a great little runaround so I really want to try and hang onto it if I can.

Ali-OK

A lovely bright sunny morning here today, but no washing to do and hang out! I am sure I jinx the weather :rotfl: The dishwasher is full so that is running at the moment on it's economy cycle. I run it about twice a week.

Well, the electricity and gas usage curiosity got the better of me this morning, so I read the meters and keyed the figures into my supplier website, the costs for 4 Oct-3 Nov are:

Elec £30.76
Gas £38.59

I have a gas hob and the boiler also heats the water. The heating has been on in the mornings for 1-2 hrs max since it turned cold then off the rest of the day. I've also got padded foil behind the outside wall radiators and it definitely made a difference last year. Radiators are off in the rooms we don't use too.

I've priced up a new dog collar and retractable washing line in Wilkos, along with the Xmas table cloths and napkins, so will be heading there this morning as parking is at its cheapest on a Sunday (£1). I will see if I can get the last Xmas present too.

Plan today is quick trip to town, prepare for DS back at school and me back at work tomorrow. Long dog walk with dog No.1 having a collar on.

Debt-busting activities include starting to sort more things for eBay and car boot from the loft.

Ali-OK

Yesterday was productive, but cost me £3.50 to keep No.1 dog legal for a new collar and £4 for a replacement retractable washing line. I fitted it too - time will tell if I've done a good job or find it on the floor complete with a lineful of washing :rotfl:

3 table cloths and 2 packs of napkins out of the Xmas budget cost £11.50. I've downsized from large to small napkins this year too.

Last Xmas present purchased - total Xmas spend £555.75 :eek: At full price I would have paid £810.

As part of that saving, my inner craftsperson has created 'pub parcels'. Two bottles of ale and a very large packed of peanuts per parcel, [STRIKE]beautifully[/STRIKE] dodgily wrapped in white spotty cellophane (sure I ordered plain but who cares :rotfl:) tied off with gold ribbon.

Sounds great, except a corner of cellophane caught my DFW candles and 3 metres became quite a bit less :rotfl: Quick action averted anything worse and my 3 parcels are done

I spent ages yesterday playing with figures and what to do come March/April when I need to move the car loan to avoid a high APR taking effect.

The first was that I can't do a money transfer from MBNA card as I'm already using that for the £6250 on 0% until July. Doh!

The second was that given I'd probably need to do 2 x 0% BTs (at 7%), I looked at putting eveything onto a loan as a) % rate is 5% lower when borrowing £7,500+ and b) I can start getting lump sums to the mortgage to get that back on track.

The third, sell the sports car come spring when prices and interest are usually higher and pay that either off the loan to shorten the term or off the mortgage to get slightly ahead.

I've not consolidated before and I know it's not the recommended route, but I doubt I'll be able to extend my mortgage term due to age (46 in a few months) and the capital payments will keep getting higher the longer I leave it.

Thoughts anyone?

Ali-OK

I'm hoping for a good run of NSDs this week excepting what's in the budget and can't be avoided.

Yesterday - NSD - Achieved
Today - NSD - Achieved. Osteo £40 from budget paid

I'm not a foodie, chocoholic, alcohol lover, DVD, book or toiletry buyer. I hate buying shoes. Comfort comes before trend with me.

I do like clothes, though not good at having a capsule wardrobe, would love to be better at that. I'm bad at shrinking stuff in the tumble dryer, but cured now by not using it :rotfl: I tend to buy what I need, when I need it and from the likes of Primarni, SB sales, Matalan. Usually staples like jumpers and t-shirts for casual, using scarves for work to jazz up my appearance.

I do like a nice home, but not expensive things and there are a few things left to do to the house/garden before it's finished...she says knowing it's a never-ending cycle :rotfl:

I digress...the 3 online ordered Xmas presents have arrived at my mums. I would normally rush over to collect them and not think of the 30 mile round trip and close to a gallon of fuel, but a change of mindset means I shall wait until Saturday when I'm taking DS to stop there whilst I go and do some work, avoiding 2 trips and saving fuel.

Keeping up the candle lit evenings, so romantic for 2 dogs, DS and I :rotfl:

Have braising steak cooking at the moment and that will last us tonight and tomorrow night with veg out of the fridge.

Bank account checked - next DD is due out on the 8th
Adpoints done - only 81 available so have to wait now to see if more comes
Joined freepostcodelottery - I live in hope :rotfl:
Heating on an hour this morning and an hour late this afternoon and is now off. Oven and candles creating enough heat where we need it.

Time to get my slow cooker out too - I only tend to use it in the winter months for stew and dumplings over 2 days, but will look out for other ways. Not sure if it's a better energy saver though.

Oh and finally, I have to stop being lazy and letting the dogs in and out of the garden door whilst I am sat in an armchair :rotfl: I need to get up and let them out of the freezing cold utility room instead and retain the heat in here.

Over and out for another day

Rosepetal1701

Ali-OK wrote: »

Yesterday was productive, but cost me £3.50 to keep No.1 dog legal for a new collar and £4 for a replacement retractable washing line. I fitted it too - time will tell if I've done a good job or find it on the floor complete with a lineful of washing :rotfl:

3 table cloths and 2 packs of napkins out of the Xmas budget cost £11.50. I've downsized from large to small napkins this year too.

Last Xmas present purchased - total Xmas spend £555.75 :eek: At full price I would have paid £810.

As part of that saving, my inner craftsperson has created 'pub parcels'. Two bottles of ale and a very large packed of peanuts per parcel, [STRIKE]beautifully[/STRIKE] dodgily wrapped in white spotty cellophane (sure I ordered plain but who cares :rotfl:) tied off with gold ribbon.

Sounds great, except a corner of cellophane caught my DFW candles and 3 metres became quite a bit less :rotfl: Quick action averted anything worse and my 3 parcels are done

I spent ages yesterday playing with figures and what to do come March/April when I need to move the car loan to avoid a high APR taking effect.

The first was that I can't do a money transfer from MBNA card as I'm already using that for the £6250 on 0% until July. Doh!

The second was that given I'd probably need to do 2 x 0% BTs (at 7%), I looked at putting eveything onto a loan as a) % rate is 5% lower when borrowing £7,500+ and b) I can start getting lump sums to the mortgage to get that back on track.

The third, sell the sports car come spring when prices and interest are usually higher and pay that either off the loan to shorten the term or off the mortgage to get slightly ahead.

I've not consolidated before and I know it's not the recommended route, but I doubt I'll be able to extend my mortgage term due to age (46 in a few months) and the capital payments will keep getting higher the longer I leave it.

Thoughts anyone?

You've probably already tried the snowball on www.whatsthecost.com If not its a good tool to try and it stopped me taking out yet another consolidation loan when I realised how much it was going to cost me in interest.

mooomin

Not sure if you've seen this but it might make your Adpoints worthwhile!

Ali-OK

Rosepetal - thank you so much for that link, I hadn't snowballed so will definitely do that.

Moomin - Thank you too - perfect as I will need to get 2 frozen desserts for the party of 19 and 2 tubs of ice cream. 'Tis the one time everyone has a second pudding (we don't even have a pudding during the week :rotfl:). I've earnt 800+ points from Adpoints in under a month and have enough for the £10 voucher.

So my NSD today was under threat at 7am this morning when DS announces he wants 50p for a poppy. I'm a supporter of Help the Heroes and Royal British Legion, but to avoid coming from budgets, I was scrabbling around in the car park pot change in the car that I keep for work and took it from that.

As we walked to his transport pick up, we saw a 1p and 2p - 3p of roadkill added to the change bucket.

Then the NSD was blown when my electrician friend announces he can come round today - which fitted my work schedule, so I grabbed the opportunity. Cost £3 for the flex and making him a cup of tea. I can't complain at that and he'll do my 2 lounge lights another day if I want (I do, to save on energy usage) as I had to then get off to a client meeting.

Up to 84 Adpoints this week, picking up another 3 this morning.

Have used Quidco for 3% cashback for M&S with free next day delivery to store - this is on behalf of my Mum for a present she wants for her friend. It has tracked quick too :T

I've organised to collect that, the Wilkos order and Bhs Xmas order from town tomorrow afternoon. I think I will try getting a space where I can pay 60p for 30 mins, then the Wilko order I can get by taking the car to their rear entrance for free.

DS came home with parents evening slip last night - he has to book the appts with his subject teachers, so I've put a line through the 5.30-6.10pm times - meaning I don't pay for car parking, as it's free after 6pm. :cool:

These are the sort of small things I wanted to achieve and having my diary is keeping it in my conscious mind.

Ooh and free listing weekend on eBay...I'm ready for more of that! Have 4 ending this Sunday as well.

Ali-OK

Evening all,

Spurred on by my seemingly new addiction to collect Nectar points, I did 2 surveys on the Nectar Canvass site last night - another 120 points added to the pot. 60 points for a 20 min survey, 3 points a minute - I didn't earn them that quick when I shopped in SB many moons ago

Adpoints only gave me 4 today, so that's up to 88 this week.

Freepostcodelottery checked.

Town this afternoon to pick up the presents - couldn't get parked where I wanted, so that cost me £1.10 in the end and I'd cocked up on the M&S collection date, somehow I'd set it for next Thursday. Even more annoying is that I got an M&S email today saying 20% off all clothing :mad: I know it's my Mum's purchase but I did think about cancelling the current order and placing a new one for the same thing with the discount.

DS came home with a letter from school needing £7, another spend not anticipated.

Dental check ups went fine and as I thought it was x-ray time for me, so was expecting a £50 bill. However was only charged £40 and I know the check up cost is £26 and x-rays £24.... hope they don't make a note and add it to the next bill in May 14.

I asked to move from private to NHS but they have full allocation and no more funding, so will wait and ask again next visit.

I've written a shopping list and would normally go tonight but feel under the weather, have put off until tomorrow. Dinner tonight was out of the freezer - chicken in breadcrumbs, chips and beans.

I've meal planned the eve meals for the next week, though it might change a bit depending on Aldi's Super-6 as I swap things around if it means more money saved on the bill.

Tomorrow - Sausage casserole, mash and veg
Saturday - Our 'take away' night of batch cooked chilli from the freezer, rice and garlic bread
Sunday - Roast lamb, roast pots and trimmings
Monday - Spaghetti and meatballs
Tuesday - Chicken pieces, savoury rice, peas and sweetcorn
Wednesday - Gammon (if I can get the steaks reasonably priced), chips and something :rotfl:
Thursday - Beef stew and dumplings in slow cooker
Friday - Remainder of beef stew - possibly turned into shortcrust pastry pie

I've played around with the snowball calculator and confused myself silly now, especially as Halifax and MBNA have just sent through 12 month 0% BT offers. I would have to BT MBNA to HAX, then BT Car Loan to MBNA to get everything on the CCs and not go the loan route. It's doable but want to plug figures into my spreadsheets to get an idea of the BT costs I think it'll take about 2 years and 4 BTs in total over that time period.

The excitement over the new rose and flex replacing the megawatt 5 bulb light was short lived. I prefer the candles :rotfl:

Ali-OK

Oh and my Personal Pension Plan annual statement arrived today. Looking much better than last year and I have a 5% auto increase on the 3 parts of it, so that will change my budget next year. I need to sort seeing an IFA I think - a goal for 2014 - sure he'll confirm I'm going to be as poor in retirement as I think :rotfl:

I was badly advised (should have gone into company scheme as was final salary and company contributory), but my claim was rejected.

Similarly with PPI - had one car loan back in 1992 where I had to have PPI in order to be given it - that was rejected too.

And the endowment policy from 1986 - claim rejected for that as well.

They say you win some, you lose some...in this case, you lose all :mad:

mooomin

I found this post on the grocery thread really useful when it came to ideas on how to stretch meat. You reminded me when you said about finding gammon steak cheaply!

My aim for next week is to keep my food spends down as Mr Mooo is away, so that should be good for the budget