The Call of Cornwall

Danny5

Finally its September, and so far so good! brought some Cider and a couple of nibbles on the way home from work last night (it was Friday after all!), but that's the only money I've spent from my spending money! Had to buy some materials for landscaping my garden through the week but that comes out of an account I saved money in for doing the house and garden so doesn't count against spending money.:D


Managed the max OP again this month, and already over halfway to next months without being paid my first wage of the month yet, so I'm still on for a 100% maximum OP for the year.


There's a few things I need to sort out moneywise this month, so I thought if I list them on here it might give me a nudge to actually get on and do it...

• 18 month Fixed rate ISA matures this month so I need to move it to another fixed rate, maybe a 2 year one this time, They're talking of interest rates going up at the end of next year so I'm thinking it'll take a while until savings/ISA rates start going up by any amounts worth shouting about? Anyone have any thoughts on this?
• Need to put the second half of the money I've saved for my mum and dads 60th into a decent 1 year fixed savings account as its my Dads next October
• Finish SOA and post it!
• Cancel old 0% credit card (moved balance to another 0%one)
• Need to sort out a pension as I've been out of one for about 2 years now. I have asked the question at work a few times but nothings been sorted yet. I think the company I work for has at least 30 or 40 employees (maybe even more) on the books, and I was under the impression that legally they should have an auto enrolment pension sorted by now, am I right?

That's about all I've got to sort financially. Its just difficult because I'm so busy at work I don't have many opportunities to go to the banks to speak to them. I can sort most things on the internet, its mainly the ISA as I want advice on what I can and can't do in one financial year.


Well, I've had a day of grafting on my garden today (making the most of not having to work a Saturday) and my OH is away for the weekend so I'm going to have a well deserved chill out and a few cheeky ciders tonight and maybe even a lie in :j


Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Danny5

Another good week so far on the MFW front!:money:


I've had a really good week at work, done some long hours including 3 hours travelling a day & I'm completely shattered from it but next weeks wages should make it all worthwhile.
Did a small maintenance job yesterday for a few extra pennies too!
My only spending all week/weekend was a £10 Pizza delivered Friday night & a £10 toy for my little boy as he's been really good on his first week back at school. It means the last 2 weeks I've spent around £35, which given that I was spending massively over my £45 self imposed limit every single week before, is a big improvement! Just need to keep it up now.:D


Got an email to tell me my fixed energy plan has ended so straight away signed up to a new 12 month fix that should save me near enough £200 a year. Going to try and book an appointment with one of my banks to discuss my ISA and a couple of savings accounts I want to move and open, plus cancel a 0% credit card I've now moved to a new one. I should clear 3 of the 5 bullet points from my previous post with one appointment!:j
Will try and grab my manager next week and aim to tie him down to what's happening with regards to pensions too. SOA will follow this week (I'm sure I've said this before!). That should clear the list of things to do this month...
I've also got Octobers OP in full sat in the bank already, really happy with this! Got to keep my head down and get a big head start on Novembers OP now! I't would be so nice to have November and Decembers full OPs covered before the end of October. Not because I will be taking my foot off the pedal, once this years OPs are covered, its onto 2016s!:T


Have a good week everyone!

Danny5

My jobs have all been switched around now so I won't get to the bank this week, and I'm working on Saturday as of today so I won't be able to get then either. On the plus side, working Saturday means more money in the OP pot. This weeks earnings at work are going to be an 'ok' week, nowhere near as good as last weeks but more than my basic, so the wages next week will have a bit to go in the OP account.
Just realised that October has 5 Fridays in it so 5 pay days! Which increases the possibility of having the rest of 2015s OPs by the end of next month...

Luckyinlife

Danny5 wrote: »

Just realised that October has 5 Fridays in it so 5 pay days! Which increases the possibility of having the rest of 2015s OPs by the end of next month...

This is great new danny :]

hope your job settles down soon as well

Danny5

Ok, so here is my new SOA (finally)


Figures are monthly, based on a 4 week month.


Outgoings

Energy - £108 -
Home Insurance - £12.23
S*y TV - £15
Internet & LL - £18.25
Mortgage (Standard Payment) - £671.73
RNLI Charity - £3
Council Tax - £111
Credit Card 0% - £31.20
Life Insurance - £10.13
ASU Insurance - £29.51
TV Licence - £12.12
Mobile - £15
Contact Lenses - £30
Water - £25.83
Child Maintenance - £150
Cancer Research Charity - £6
Gym (Me & OH) - £35


Personal Spending Money - £180


TOTAL OUTGOINGS - £1464


Savings

Social Lending - £50
Christmas/Birthdays/Holiday Money - £200
ISA - £100


TOTAL SAVINGS - £350


Income

Wage (Basic) - £1600
OHs Contribution - £250


TOTAL INCOMING - £1850




£1850 - (£1464 + £350) = £36 Spare!!:rotfl:

Danny5

Obviously every quarter there is 5 Fridays in a month so that is my safety buffer for the odd extra expense that goes out, not to mention the council tax & water rate 'free' months.


I need to take a look at my internet/Landline cost as that's just gone up, and I have just swapped my Energy over so that will hopefully come down slightly.


Other than that I'm pretty set. Gym membership has had zero use in the last month but I'm determined to change that and get back into it. With work being so busy and my little lad I'm struggling to find the time or opportunity to go at the moment. If things are no better by Christmas though, it'll be on my new year cull! :j

edinburgher

I need to take a look at my internet/Landline cost as that's just gone up, and I have just swapped my Energy over so that will hopefully come down slightly.

There was a MSE newsletter item re. £5/year 5ky broadband and line rental for new customers, we're worth them and it's a great offer.

D'oh! Just realised you're an existing customer too...

Danny5

I'll have a look at that thanks Ed, I'm not a Broadband customer so hopefully I might still be eligible!

Danny5

The rest 2015 OP's are now in the bank, This weeks wages took me over the finish line!


I've decided that the rest of this years bonus will go half towards the OP account and half towards the France holiday next year account as the regular £50 a week savings I put away for Christmas/birthdays/holidays won't cover it.


Really pleased though, feel like a massive weights been lifted. If I can have another good couple of months up to Christmas and make a head start on next years OPs it'll have been an amazing year!:beer:

Dalradian

If you are an employee they should have a pension scheme. They may treat you as independant contractors or min hours worked so need to check out regs.

I would suggest a balanced approach would be beneficial - pension for long term tax efficient savings, stocks and shares isa for medium term accessible savings, merging into cash isa / other emergency fund and finally mortgage overpayments. You don't want too much into each one - 3 to 6 months salary in emergency funds is recommended for example.

Good luck