DD's Journey to Financial Freedom

RainbowBridgeReturns

" a nice bimble on a reef wall! .... the mind boggles:). I enjoyed reading your diary and I hope the dog is making good progress and you manage to hang on to your body parts.

Well done on making the PPI claim, I have my fingers crossed for you there too.

When you have those pennies firmly under control, keep dreaming about the diving experiences those extra pounds will bring you. It will be worth it!

Divingmad

Hi Diary,


Had a visit to the vets today for microchipping our youngest pup, and a result...it was free, they are doing it in conjunction with the dog trust so I made a donation to the trust as a way of thanks.
However, I had to sort out the bill for the oldest dawg who was admitted into hospital last weekend for tests to determine the cause of his seizures...a total of £500.77 ouch! :eek:


That's undone quite a bit of my intentions to be debt free :mad:
What with that, the electricity bill and the tax for the car, I am virtually back to square one! Looks like this is going to be a loooooong month

Divingmad

Morning Diary,
Have finally recovered from the shock of the vets bill for dog 1. Not a very good nights’ sleep (dogs wanted nocturnal excursions at 3 am and then feeding at 6am – why do they wake me rather than Mrs DM?)
OK, the bill is presently on CC1 as didn’t have the necessary funds in my main account, so today I have a jaunt to town to pop into the building society to get the emergency funds as well as transferring some of the money from other funds to pay this off.
On the plus side, it means that I have more emphasis to check the bills and make sure we are getting the best deal. No.1 on the list: Electricity! After that, car insurance (due in July/August) and finally house insurance (due September).
We don’t have a gas supply, heating and hot water is done via oil fired boiler, and I make sure I get this as the cheaper times of the year.
Time for a cuppa, will include more later

RainbowBridgeReturns

Just be grateful that Mrs DM isn't waking you at 1 am and 4.30 am:rotfl:.

Microchipping DS would be handy, especially for when he is off on the D of E expeditions. I will tell the teachers about the free service, and see if we can pass him and his schoolmates through without the vet noticing!

Keep up the great work, with a bit of luck and good doggy health, those savings will start mounting.

Divingmad

Hiya Rainbow,

That would have made a change if she did rather that than a small furry four legged friend sitting staring at me and wagging her tail!

We were examining the vets bill this morning and we had some medication for eldest dawg, which came in at £148 for a months' supply :eek: We are now looking to see whether we can get this as a private prescription, that way we can get it at just over a third of the price...what a shock that is!

And now Mrs DM has reminded me that next year is our 5th wedding anniversary, so was wondering what the chances are of going somewhere warm...I was going to suggest Eastbourne...but I value my appendages too much
Looks like I am going to have to start a new budget!!!

Divingmad

Hi there watchers old and new

The letter for PPI reclaim is in the post now (would you believe their paperwork doesn't include an address to send it to?!?!) Anyway, got the address from their website so that's winging its merry way (fingers crossed for a payment).
Dog 1 had another cluster of seizures last night/this morning, so have had the day off to be here for him and clear up after him. So far, the medication to help him rest is doing its job, so at least it allows me to update my diary.
The savings have taken a pounding, got the water bill through and also had to get 2 tyres for the car, just in time for Mrs DM to pinch it for the weekend to pop up and see her parents :cool: However, I have been putting the money aside for the water bill, and the tyres are from the emergency budget.
Ok, time for a cuppa and check the bank account, have made CC payments and updated my signature,
More later
DM

Divingmad

Hi Diary,
Hope the readers had a good weekend

After a couple of no spend days, today was the day for shopping, so managed to get the weeks' shopping in, as well as doing ironing, washing and hovering the house from top to bottom.

Mrs DM is on her way home after being at her parents for the weekend, MIL has a degenerative disease similar to P4rkinson's and it's dreadful how much of her has gone in the last 12 months, not only that, FIL needs a hip replacement so no doubt there will be a conversation late into the evening regarding whether she needs to spend more time at home.

Anyway, looking at the budget, it looks like I will manage to stay out of my overdraft this month, hoorah . I was also looking at my emergency fund, and seen that the interest per year is 0.1%, with a 0.85% bonus each year, what a shock that was, a couple of years ago it was 1.5 and 3% respectively. Time to look at changing that account me thinks and put it somewhere where it can at least work harder (it's only a couple of hundred, but still, there's principals).

All bills have been paid so it feels good to be in the black - small steps and all that.

More Later
DM

giblet1979

Hi DM,

So sorry to hear doggy1 is still poorly and about the upset with the family. It can be hard to stay focused when there is so much going on, but it sounds like you're really focused, and well done on 'staying in the black'.

t2rry

Just caught up with your journey - considering the start being hampered with poorly doggy (sorry to hear) you've already done well organising finances & keeping in the black this month - I am envious!

Good luck...

Divingmad

Hi T2rry and giblet
Thanks for the replies. I have been busy with work for the last week or so, so have been neglecting my diary! However, this does mean that I haven't been able to spend anything. I don't get overtime (boooo) but time off in lieu (hooray) so I'll be saving the days up for when I have to take time off for the poorly doggy.


Also this week, our boiler decided that it wouldn't give any heating...hot water no problem, but heating...it say no!
The engineer was duly called and diagnosed the problem to a faulty valve, which was Ok for a day, then it decided no more heating. So the engineer will be back this week to (hopefully) resolve the issue. It's a good job they don't ask for payment straight away as that would have blown me into overdraft territory...however, they will be sending me an invoice, so that'll arrive in time for payday (phew).


I have lost a little of my focus what with poorly pooch and in-laws and dreaded work issues, however, I shall be back on the case. Now that I am starting to see the fruits of my labour (i.e. a bit more money in my account) I can start getting back on track with tackling the debts issue.
Anyway, gotta cook dinner, so will post more later
DM