Paying the car tax via EBay, and other shenanigans.

in_need_of_direction

You're doing well, just stay strong.

mfmaybe

Grr. Just lost a long post. Short version. Signed up for fibre broadband (haha, don't believe we will get it for a second, even though apparently we can). But I need to remember to follow up on the cashback (£100 plus 40 M&S)

mfmaybe

Will try to catch up on what I nearly posted yesterday. First a hello to INOD :hello:

Then to say I was about to mistakenly claim a NSD. Except I forgot about the pint of milk (45p) and the upfront £257 for the phone bill :eek::rotfl:. However after cashback it won't work out any more than we are currently paying, and the speed will be 10 times as fast, allegedly. Still doubtful because of where we live, but I do know "our" cabinet has been done, and my BiL says the fact we have copper wire doesn't matter because as the crow flies we aren't too far away from the box. So let's see, it's apparently all going ahead but I've taken screenprints of the various pages telling me what the guaranteed minimum speed is.

I've bought a couple of Christmas presents now, and budget seems on track for that.

WFH today so hoping it can be a NSD but might get a couple more presents bought online.

Oh yes also got an update from S123 about the card I currently have my 0% on. They've put the interest rate up a couple more percentage points (From when my 0% runs out), so need to decide come January whether to pay it all off, or transfer. I could transfer to my T@sco card (seem to get offers quite often) but would obviously have to pay a BT fee. That's also the card I use when I can't use my monthly Amex, so would need to decide whether to ditch the S123 card or use that for spend instead. I do also have a NW card still live I think, which I could maybe use temporarily; it just doesn't earn any cashback or similar.

mfmaybe

Quick one. Must follow up on GAP cashback which hasn't tracked yet (although the order isn't shipped so that might be why)

Handily our nursery bill is less this month due to Christmas closing. We'd already transferred the money into the joint account, so the extra will cover a good bit of the BT upfront bill. It will also be less in January as it's closed on the 2nd and 3rd as well.

In less good news, I found my horse injured in the field this morning - 2 separate injuries. Vet was called and between sedation, call out, and meds it won't be cheap. However they were due vaccinations so got those done (makes the call out part "free" as I'd have had to have that done anyway); and I save some money each month towards regular vet bills. I also have a bigger emergency vet pot, but that's for the horse that isn't insured. This was the insured one, but I won't claim - unless he doesn't heal as expected. I've also to keep him stabled for at least a week, which means both have to be in; so some extra bedding cost there as well. Main thing is he mends up fine, of course.

brizzledfw

Just popping by MFM to catch up..sounds like you're doing a lot of detailed planning, which is great, and hanging on in there. Well done on all the bits and pieces you are pulling together to make it work, alongside working, selling a house, being a parent to a LO, etc etc :beer: I will raise a glass to you!!

Hello Fresh has been good to us in the past, our Dd1 very happily cooked the meals. But you do need to remember to stop the orders, reminders on the phone was out best way.

Hope everything works out, will try and pop by more frequently

brizzledfw

Didn't see post re horse..hope he's OK xx

mfmaybe

Ah thank you Brizzle, that's very kind of you. Life is a bit manic sometimes (see below ) but we are lucky in many many ways. I've just been reading some other diaries and I sometimes wonder what on earth I am playing at. DH and I both earn incredibly decent salaries, don't have a ludicrously expensive mortgage (it's big but very soon will start with a 1), eat very well, have taken amazing holidays etc. If I did an SOA on here I think you'd all be horrified. I am lazy about selling stuff; lazy about shopping around for things etc. I've been a bit better recently but I must try harder.

In terms of this week though, it's been a bit rubbish. The horses have had to be stabled until an injury clears up (to stop the mud going in to it) and then DS got sick and had to be off nursery, meaning I had to take 2 days off work. I've been a bit run-ragged, as DH was away, so trying to care for everyone - mucking out while a fearless toddler runs about is not fun. But everyone seems on the mend now and DH is home and all is well. Horses also got chucked back in the field last night and are happy again.

GOAL 1. Nothing else on CC for next 2 days DONE
GOAL 2. Next month's card (to 25 Dec) to be food, fuel, Christmas only. I have money set aside for presents. Excluding presents, £300 maximum. Need to check
GOAL 3. Other card to be only £80. Mainly horse feed. Should be less. £118.50. Forgot about hairdresser. Also put £40 off feed on it
GOAL 4. Spend no more than £30 on DS (main present already bought) Must add up but think I'm ok.
GOAL 5. Each niece/nephew £25 (£50 my share). Family secret santa £60. Friend secret santa £10. DH £100 plus £50 from DS. Might make this less. Aim for £300 all in. Going ok.
GOAL 6. Continue with £10/week in office. Ok so far
GOAL 7. £400 into CC account at least. Currently £65 with £40 due from DH. Yikes, no idea how to do this. Still £65. I am truly rubbish at this bit.

brizzledfw

Aha..we are the same. Really good salaries and yet still getting in a pickle. YNAB has been good though, we can see exactly where it all goes. I like the data reports so I can rebuke and be rebuked accordingly! Data is power!

Have a good weekend

mfmaybe

brizzledfw wrote: »

Aha..we are the same. Really good salaries and yet still getting in a pickle. YNAB has been good though, we can see exactly where it all goes. I like the data reports so I can rebuke and be rebuked accordingly! Data is power!

Have a good weekend

Hmmm I know it gets raved about on here, but I'm not sure it will help me. I'm an accountant (oh dear) and have no problems knowing where my money goes. I allocate to future expenses, I track my spends all the time and have no shortage of data. I reconcile everything, run pivots, variance reports etc, so I don't think I need to spend the money. The issue I have is right now my income is much reduced but I can't reduce the expenses accordingly. I am still managing to put savings away and I am not a "shopper". My money always goes on bills, albeit random ones like the farrier or the vet or stuff on our old house or car stuff etc etc etc. But there are little bits I might need to look at. Charity DDs or the magazine subscription I have, for example. The thing is the £15 every 6 months that I pay for the magazine seems pointless worrying about, when I'm down £600/mth on income.

One of the things I am thinking about, when I start earning that income again, is putting everything related to it, income and costs, into a separate bank account. At the moment obviously I'm covering the costs out of my own salary, and if I was without the income again I'd have to do that; but I have tended to use the "profit" to buffer my regular spending. Instead I should have been treating it like a completely separate business.

Anyway enough musing for now. Must sleep as it's a school night. Am hoping for a more orderly week than last. Oooh and our fibre broadband is allegedly go tomorrow. Let's see.....

mfmaybe

Notes to self. Have had DDs taken out by both old and new electric suppliers. Check for any overpayment (unlikely !) Also ensure get refund from $ky as bill paid in advance.

Start searching car and home insurance deals.

Right better get on with the day.