The end is in sight

ShirePiskie

Woo, got all excited yesterday - A letter from AA Finance. PPI claim news!!!

Nope, annual statement, which was a sock in the teeth looking at the total, but then released that was the total this time last year and page 2 looked much better.

My original loan was for £10k and looking at the paperwork, they calculated the PPI for the loan period and added that to my loan amount actually making a grand loan total of £15k!!!

Looking back I realise how financially unsavvy (not that I'm an expert now, but like to think I'm more aware) I was and actually finding myself in difficulty was probably a blessing as it served as a wake up call.

ShirePiskie

Oooo, have just seen this.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2014/05/got-talktalk-tv-home-phone-or-broadband-heres-how-to-get-15-off-monthly-bills

Will definitely be doing this then! Is 'only' a fiver.. but that's £30 in total until I leave TalkTalk for their shocking customer service when my contract is up!

ShirePiskie

Another penny has dropped.

Had £9.42 in my PayPal account from eBay sales and rather than leaving it in there to re-spend on eBay, as I've always done, I've transferred it into my bank account and then straight on to my Tesco CC.

I'm going to do the TalkTalk quick payment discount next bill as well and that money that would have gone on the bill is going straight onto the Tesco CC. The balance isn't huge, but if I do a few things like this and it will be gone a month, maybe two, sooner!

This is all down to YOU DFWs! Reading diaries, getting ideas and inspiration. THANK YOU!!!

ShirePiskie

OK, this is strange (but good).

Because I use my Tesco CC (for the points) and then immediately transfer the money from my bank account on to it, even though there was an outstanding balance, because my payments (to cover purchases in May, not the existing balance) were MORE than the outstanding balance, I don't get charged interest. They obviously see that as me having cleared my balance and then just re-spent.... Fine by me!

That probably made no sense at all, but I know what I meant.

ShirePiskie

Hurrah, another NSD. Still have to get three in next week to hit my target though. I suppose it's the one advantage of being completely lurgified, no opportunity to part with £££.

Have been impatiently checking my mobile account all day as today is bill day. Last month I was dead chuffed with the two pound something under budget, but didn't do anything with that little bit left over. A month later and I'm becoming a little bit 'off-setting' obsessed. PayPal emptied on to debt, plans for the TalkTalk discount to do the same and anything that comes in at less than I expect.

ShirePiskie

Another NSD, this phlegm machine I have turned in to (sorry if you were eating) is remarkably effective at stopping me spending any money.

Annoyingly mobile company hasn't put my bill online yet, even though was due yesterday which is bugging me more than it probably should. Think I have spreadsheet withdrawal as no reason to update for a couple of days. Help!

ShirePiskie

After much poking about the orange website have managed to find my bill, despite 'at a glance' info not being updated. This month I am £3.74 under budget, so this is going on the Tesco CC.

Have just looked back and I had an initial date of September to pay this off... It's now AUGUST!!! Extremely chuffed. If I can find another £15 in the next couple of months, it could even be JULY. Is amazing how fortifying this feeling is. Tomorrow I conquer the world!!

I think today will be a NSD but I'm not going to jinx it. Did have plans to join the Guinness World Record attempt for the most people dressed as pirates in one place, but I'm still not 100% and husband's daughter sounds like she's been on the cigars so we're staying out of the mizzle. We have spent a big part of the day just mooching around the house in pirate attire though, as you do.

ShirePiskie

Ugh, back at work (they give us an extra day off after the Spring Bank Holiday), the shock to the system of getting up was immense and I'm to entirely sure how I'm going to cope without a mid-afternoon nap!

Took £10 out yesterday for bread, milk and butter. Bought me and husband lunch in town (sausage roll and a bag of crisps, he's a lucky fella) and a stamp and still have some silver kicking around in my purse.

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on keeping track of ££ once it's out of the bank and in your purse/ pocket? I put down, for example for yesterday, '£10 Cash - lunch and groceries' on the spreadsheet. Or maybe (musing out loud here) my running spreadsheet total should reflect what's (not) in the bank PLUS what's in my purse??? Hmmmm, something to ponder on.

Anyhoo, have to find another NSD before the weekend, not tonight as tea out with the ladies from work and not Friday as it's payday. Tomorrow is it then!!! Have joined the 'official' June NSD challenge after this trial run.

nellis10

I have YNAB as you know for my budgeting, but my weekly cash is still in a spreadsheet. I write down everything I spend out of the £40 and it should match what is in my purse down to the penny.

I admit I have gone off the rails the past week or more, but I am still within budget....just (OK OK I keep moving my budget limits!!!)

But yes, write down your cash spends and marry it up to your wee purse...keeps me on the straight and narrow!

P.S. Feel better soon...a lot of lurgy flying about this weather!!

ShirePiskie

Lurgy is being sent into retreat. I think the two glasses of wine out with dinner last night helped!

Have added a new page to the spreadsheet for 'purse'.

This makes me very happy (and probably quite sad, but I don't care).

Dinner was more than I expected (total fallacy this - I wanted what I wanted off the menu and had it, regardless of what I knew was in my purse - was yummy though) so paid for that on card, but I DO have more cash in my purse then I expected to, after initially taking cash out. See above

Today is a planned NSD: Oatcakes and peculiar spready cheese (will not be buying that from Lidl again) for lunch, bus home (with pass), chilli and rolls from the freezer for tea, then PAY DAY tomorrow.

Speculate to accumulate spend expected tomorrow, in addition to the usual end of the month activity. Compost and cheap containers so can finally sow my salad seeds. The herbs and chilli plants are already coming up a treat. Very pleased to see shoots after a week and now well on their way - appeals to my impatience!

The following month am planning to 'upcycle' (lah-de-dah, get me) our bedroom sets of drawers. Were ALL donated to me/us over the years from assorted friends and family and are very orange pine, some with handles missing. Perfectly usable, but not very pretty so will get outside with some sandpaper and some paint and see if I can make it [STRIKE]look worse[/STRIKE] worthy of a show home!