Thistlewhistle 2014 - A Fresh Start

Thistlewhistle

Morning all,

Update:

I've got my spending spreadsheet up and running and I'm learning lots about my spending habits (some things I knew already, some things are very scary!!!!) It's making me stop spending on !!!! too as I'm thinking more about where my money goes so that's one good thing that's come out of it!!

The budget side is proving a little more tricky (mainly because my earnings are so erratic, and I've not got historical data, so I'm guessing for some things). I'm getting there though. It's thrown out a couple of terrifying things!

The contents insurance I have, is not contents insurance at all. It's a payment protection scheme on my mortgage, that I've been paying every month for 7 years. Do I need it? Being self employed, possibly! Not sure about that one. However it does mean that I've had no contents insurance for 7 years either. That IS scary. How could I have missed that? Head in sand? I don't think their paperwork is as clear as it could be.

My home insurance renews on 13th July so I'm going to see if I can get a better deal on both buildings and contents combined, maybe bag a few nectar points long the way. Get some quotes.

So I suppose analysing every last spend has been a good exercise.

Here's hoping!

Thistle x

Thistlewhistle

Just cleared my credit card #3 so almost back on an even keel with just the MBN@ card left to go (the 0% til Feb 2015 one).

Plan is to make the minimum payment £25 on this card each month (DD set up), plus £25 extra to show willing, but then to save all the other payments in my S123 a/c to bag the interest.

My S123 A/c is now partitioned (another spreadsheet - certain MSErs are going to be so proud!!) and I know exactly where I am with this now.

All my Direct Debits are transferred and I'm good to go.

Now to look at where I can economise......

Operation Freezer Gobble is moving on apace (although there's a limit to the amount of fish one guy can bear in a week!!) I'm getting to the scrappy bits now - the bits that are harder to use up, like 2lb of chicken livers! I feel pate coming on (and I've just found a SW recipe which is free on Extr@ E@sy plan!! - it'll use the bacon up too!) I seem to have had a beefburger fetish at one point too as there's quite a lot in there. Need BBQ weather!!

Sig update on its way!

Thistle is smokin'!!!!:dance::dance:

ljaneyr

Hi Thistle :hello: Wow you've had a busy morning!

:T on the credit card and spreadsheets! :T

I saved a lot when I renewed my buildings and contents in November, at least £80 I think so I'm sure you will find something good!

I'm not sure about the payment protection insurance, we are slowly building up an emergency buffer so that if anything happens work-wise we could cover the bills for a while. I'm aiming for 3 months first, then will probably increase it to 6 months at some point. Maybe that's something you could try? I know it's a bit of a pain because your money will only stretch so far, but we have saved a fixed amount each month since we moved in so don't really miss it.

Well done again :T You're sounding so organised :j

Janey x

greent

Hi Thistle Does the PPI you have for your mortgage cover you where you're self employed? I used to sell the stuff :o (many moons ago) and S/E was one of the main things not covered


Am sure you can get a good deal on C&B insurance - I moved our provider last year and got improved cover for £20/ month less cost!

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Thistle, it's such a delight to see you posting again and to see the progress you're making. GG will be delighted with your spreadsheet wizardry :T

Have a good weekend, Tilly x x

ljaneyr

greent wrote: »

Hi Thistle Does the PPI you have for your mortgage cover you where you're self employed? I used to sell the stuff :o (many moons ago) and S/E was one of the main things not covered


Am sure you can get a good deal on C&B insurance - I moved our provider last year and got improved cover for £20/ month less cost!

I haven't really paid attention to the whole PPI thing because I've never had any but it might be worth looking into. Maybe you could get a refund?

Thistlewhistle

Thanks for posting ljaneyr, greent & Tilly,

You've raise some good points, especially the one about it not covering me at all. I'll investigate and see what comes up.

Any ideas who is good for buildings and contents insurance at the moment?
I'll check out Martin's info.

Thistle x

ljaneyr

Hi Thistle, I always check martin's info then do the recommended comparison sites. It's a bit of a pain working out the value of your contents but I think there are online calculators to help and I always try to overestimate. Don't forget to check cashback sites too!

Have a lovely weekend:)

Thistlewhistle

Wowee!!

25% of clothing at S@insburys so I bought 4 (badly needed) summer t shirts, (saving £7), and thereby spending the required £20 to get 6p/ltr off diesel (saves me about £3), double nectar points and only one more voucher to go next week (£4 off a £20 spend) to get a further 500 nectar points.

Kerching!!!

Tx

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Thistlewhistle wrote: »

Wowee!!

25% of clothing at S@insburys so I bought 4 (badly needed) summer t shirts, (saving £7), and thereby spending the required £20 to get 6p/ltr off diesel (saves me about £3), double nectar points and only one more voucher to go next week (£4 off a £20 spend) to get a further 500 nectar points.

Kerching!!!

Tx

Thanks Thistle, I will grab a pair of slippers for DS :T