The end is in sight

ShirePiskie

Eeeek. It's been a few days since I've managed any time on here. Work and home are super busy, but in a good way.

Had a wonderful anniversary and did go with the Bolly. Was a very classeh laydeeee and necked the remaining half glass left straight out of the bottle the following day.

Husband had arranged to visit where we went on our first date (free) and a night in a lovely hotel in Penzance where we spent our wedding night, which is run by a friend of his so I would presume if not free then discounted, so a very MSE coupe of days! But also and most importantly, so very lovely.

Finally sat down with YNAB last night and watched the first tutorial. Quite a different way of thinking - budgeting the money you HAVE not in future. Is going to take a lot of unclenching to release my spreadsheet back into the wild and just use that, but have the app on my phone so will give it my best shot.

Hope everyone is well, must catch up on a few diaries.

t2rry

ShirePiskie wrote: »

Finally sat down with YNAB last night and watched the first tutorial. Quite a different way of thinking - budgeting the money you HAVE not in future. Is going to take a lot of unclenching to release my spreadsheet back into the wild and just use that, but have the app on my phone so will give it my best shot.

Sounds different to our spreadsheet madness...I'd be interested to know what you think of YNAB as I'm in two minds as to whether paying for a budget tool is just an unnecessary spend or whether it will actually be really helpful...I would love to have my spreadsheet on my phone/tablet...that would make life so much easier at home where I am generally without access to it!!

ShirePiskie

I think it will take couple of months to give it a fair chance. Because I got it for £7.49 I won't be too annoyed if it doesn't work out for me, although I am really hoping it does, be a bit different if I'd paid the full whack. This makes it sound like I'm not really going to try with it, but I AM!

Have yet to watch other tutorials which I'm hoping will showing me how to record paying down debt and also building up savings.

Tesco have, woo hoo, switched my credit card to one I get points on for using. Was a very drawn out process. Had to apply, be declined then be processed manually (sounds painful!!), but got it, so happy with that. Had ONE contact who kept in touch over the three days it took, so hurrah for the blue supermarket bank.

Had an email from the ex asking me for all the details on the 'joint' loan (amount, dates, monthly payment). My initial thought is that he wants these to pass the security questions so he can get 'his' cheques redirected to his current address and I'll never see a penny. I would rather the loan company keeps the money than he gets it. Anyhoo, am trying to draft a suitable response that doesn't outright call him a liar/ thief. Gaaah!

In other £££ news have switched bank accounts to First Direct so will be opening a savings account with them when this is all set up, which pays quite good interest rate, and, hopefully, after a few months get my £100 switching bonus!

And finally, as a public sector worker, I get a 1% pay rise in September. Part of me as a bit "pfthb!" (raspberry blowing noise) at such a paltry sum, but I am mostly grateful to even get that, when I know many in the public sector in Cornwall aren't and my job is (seemingly and for the moment) more secure than lots.

giblet1979

Hey SP
Your anniversary sounds lovely
Good luck with the diplomatic e-mail - what a palaver just to get your money
As a fellow public sector worker I don't know if I'm joining you in a payrise (I hope so) but it is a sad state of affairs when we're grateful for anything after years of nothing; it's a shame, and I realise that the country has to save money, but it doesn't make people feel very valued when they're often working way beyond their contracted hours / roles due to cuts elsewhere. Fingers crossed something can be sorted out, because I know that our services are losing good people, as they can't afford to live on what they earn, and are moving fully into the private sector, regretfully and with much guilt and sadness.

Anyway, that was a bit depressing for such a sunny day sorry. Hope you're well x

ShirePiskie

Hmmm, terribly slack at my diary recently. Is the busiest time of year at work at the moment so no opportunity for ten minutes at my desk (apart from now) and the last thing I've felt like doing when I get home is looking at a screen some more. All I want to do is lie on my NEW BED!!!

So what's new with you?

I am fully immersed in YNAB and have watched, understood and enjoyed their free tutorials. Officially a convert, especially when I found out I could track cash using it as well - I have an 'account' set up on there for 'Purse'.

Bank account switching date is tomorrow and am confident that will go smoothly (and looking forward to my £100 switching bonus at some point).

Next month is quite spendy, so won't be paying off as much on the Barclaycard as I hoped. I have a five day holiday (camping/ beer festival) which isn't massively expensive, but it's still over and above a normal month, plus a family wedding at the end of the month near Brizzle, so hotel to book on pay day, petrol to cover and drinks (is just an evening do). Uming and ahing about getting a new frock so will either sell the Phase Eight dress I bought a couple of months ago and use that ££ to buy one, or just wear that dress (more likely).

Am also applying for a new job (only been in this one 8 months) but it is a new position (with the same company) which seems to be exactly what I did before but with £8k-£10k more salary attached to it. It makes me a bit cross as if I'd stayed in that post I'd be doing it for the same salary I was on/ am on now. Anyway, application to do this week and although it means having to get a car again, even with buying and running a car I would be £4k-£5k better off a year... Not to be sniffed at.

Am replying to the ex today, don't expect a response, but am not giving him the answers he wants and re-asking if he deems it acceptable that I get all of the payment!

What else, what else? Have also been monumentally rubbish at tracking No Spend Days as well, although don't think there have been many.

I KNOW since the wonderful PPI windfall, I have lost a bit of my focus, and while it is lovely not to be scrimping every penny to make a dent in debt, I absolutely DO still have some to clear and there are things I want to save for. I MUST NOT spend easy-breezy so when something big happens I turn to borrowing because there's nothing in reserve.

Savings goals are:

• One month's budget 'in hand' (following YNAB's rule)
• £1000 emergency fund
• £300 for next year's Easter holiday - inc spending money (5 days on the IoW just booked)
• £10,000 (yes, ten thousand) 5th anniversary holiday to the Maldives (four years to save)
• Long term savings goals to have 6 month's salary in savings as 'worst case scenario' fund

Looks quite scary when written down but another of YNAB's 'rules (oh lordy, I'm SUCH a YNAB bore now) is to have reasons for your saving, not save 'just because').


^^^That was a rather epic post, serves me right for leaving it so long.^^^

giblet1979

Great update SP - my ears (?eyes?) pricked up at the Maldives holiday. I'm currently trying to decide whether putting some money aside for a break with DH is feasible (given the imminent house expenses). On one hand, I think it would do us good, and it'll be our anniversary in September, but on another, I'm loathe to spend whilst I have so much debt.
Reading your post I thought 'what a great savings goal' and I guess if we budget and save for something, that is a big part of the reason we are following a more frugal life, not total deprivation.
Anyway, sorry for the confused ramblings. It's too warm......
Lovely to see you update

Btw....I also love YNAB.....

ShirePiskie

giblet1979 wrote: »

Anyway, sorry for the confused ramblings. It's too warm......

I was about to reply that I think it's too warm too... but t hen thought how ridiculous to then be saving up for a holiday in the Maldives :rotfl: Slightly different in an air conditioned bungalow out over the ocean than in a sweaty office though!

t2rry

So you would recommend YNAB??? I'm mostly interested to understand what you mean by the rule about 'one month's budget (in hand)'????

I'm spread sheet fidgeting every day atm to try and free enough pennies for various things, and this fidgeting is concentrating on Aug/September budgets!!!!

ShirePiskie

Oh T2rry, it is fantabulous. I probably won't explain it very well, but the principle is you have a month's worth of expenditure saved which you then put back into the budget so you're not living payday to payday. You could, in effect pay a month's bills without touching that month's income. They have tutorial videos on their website which you don't have to buy YNAB to watch.

ShirePiskie

Whoop! Just 'saved myself' another fiver a month.

About five years ago I got a dongle for mobile internet when I was lodging in someone's granny annexe. This was paid for along with my mobile bill each month and had completely forgotten about it until someone mentioned dongles today.

Had a look on my Orange account online (also £3.34 under budget on mobile bill this month, yay) and it costs me £5 per month - and I haven't used it for at least a year. Trying not to dwell on the £60 I've wasted, but being happy for having sorted it.

Just goes to show how many companies make money from our complacency (and who can blame them?).