Spent 4 years pretending it's all OK

PennySaving

Terrific news on your 1% reduction. How motivating to see all your efforts are paying off!

JustAboutThere

NoOneAround wrote: »

Just submitted meter reading and bill updated but still over £80 in credit! did all the sums and found that even if usage goes up 25% in winter months the monthly DD should keep me in positive balance. So Thank You Lilt!! in an earlier post here you told me they had to refund anything over £5 is asked.
I checked on this site whether my supplier has a threshold and it was £75 so I called and asked for refund. Lady said that if I waited until 19th Nov my annual review was due anyway and it would get automatically refunded. So I said that was a month away , could she not do it now, she got quite uptight and said it would be automatic in November. Then she proceeded to explain that if I was in debit next month at time of review my DD would go up. I said that I could make up the deficit IF ANY at the point in time and she said that wasn't really the point of doing DDs. I said that I would take the chance, as I have worked out our elec usage and theoretically it should not go over (may do in Dec?) - she tried again but I just said I would prefer to have full refund now. Job done - will be £80+ in my pocket next week, not theirs
Satisfied with today's debt-busting - off to do some work (hopefully);) if I don't lurk incognito
xx

Congratulations - you're doing fantastically.

My energy company tried to fob me off about a refund a few years back. They changed their tune when I said I was happy to cancel my direct debit and pay in arrears by cheque - or go elsewhere

NoOneAround

Puzzcat wrote: »

You didn't come across as scroogie at all, you can't be if you host for that many people!!! Sounds like a lot of fun in your house!


I remember when I was about 15/16 I really didn't like christmas and didn't get back into it until I had my dd, its all about the little people isn't it...


Puzz.x

Noisy and fun -lucky we don't have any neighbours otherwise we wold be in the wars -my nieces and nephews are too young to be cool and aloof so after Xmas lunch we put on loud music and we dance to Monkees, do locomotion and twist and funny action songsand anything goes .....my DD and DS too old and too cool to watch their embarrassing mummy:rotfl::rotfl:
I should invite you all this year...now there's a thought !!!!!!
xx

NoOneAround

crazycatlady2014 wrote: »

Nearu 1% is awesome :j Well done! Considering you have had the expense of DD going to uni that is brilliant I think you deserve a big pat on the back The only way is UP for the percentages but DOWN for the debt

I would probably wait until they get in touch with you but there will be others that maybe know more than me and have better advice?

You seem in a very positive frame of mind compared to your early posts which is great. Keep going, that next 1% will be here in no time!

CCL
x

Thanks for dropping by CCL, pat on back accepted and appreciated!:) and you are right about waiting....perhaps they willforget about me?:D
xx
NOA

NoOneAround

Igamogam wrote: »

Ah Christmas ............that old chestnut! We got very strict with Christmas many years ago when our DDs were quite small. Started with a falling out in the family ( OH side) but then it seemed the thing to do............we only buy presents for our DDs no other relatives or friends or the hairdresser's cousin's-dog-walker............or each other. Now that is bah humbug! We made a decision at a time when money was VERY TIGHT, told all our friends and family that whilst they may wish to buy gifts we would not be buying in return, just for the sake of it, not even token ones and almost all have been OK - those who weren't dont matter. We saw it as self preservation at the time but now its a rule that we have stuck to except in recent years as we each have a 'Secret Santa' at work with a limit of £10.........cos we are not that 'bah humbug';)

hazeldreams wrote: »

Hi NOA, just wanted to pop in and say well done on the 1%! Congrats on saving £85pm on the oil too - that's tremendous! Good to hear DS birthday went well too! Xmas is a tricky one isn't it?! Apart from in laws and parents we've always stuck to just buying for the kids. But this year we've also asked my parents if they mind not getting us anything if we don't get them anything and they've been great about it. DH has yet to ask the same of his parents but I think they'll be ok about it. I was thinking of making some chutney/chilli jam as a token gesture instead....Any hows great to hear how positive you're sounding!

Hi Igamogam....Hi Hazel....Thanks for popping by:)
We cut down a lot a few years ago as the families grew because it was all getting too much for everyone...cost and effort! We don't buy for each other or for siblings just the children....especially my little nieces and nephews..they are all little enough to be excited by it all - spend round about 25 on each ish plus usually buy mum and dad things they need/use or will eat eg toiletries, vitamins! anything that needs replacing in house etc. Mum buys Pjs for all her grandchildren -she loves shopping for bargains! so its not expensive in the grand scheme of things! but it is an expensive time of year as we have a chain of birthdays leading up to Xmas - DS last weekend, then mine, then my sibling, then my dad, then DD then niece just before Christmas then sibling in January!!
We eat so much cake this time of year.......and light enough candles not to have to put the heating on!!!!
fallings out at xmas - have had a few near misses, toput it mildly glad everyone comes here and we don't have to decide which side of the family we have to go to!!!!
xx
NOA

NoOneAround

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

Hi NOA

I am sorry I meant to say about the road tax, had you thought about paying for half a year, followed by a full year in 6 months. The slight increase in the cost to do that would mean that you had 6 months between cars and time to save. Bit of useless information now though isn't it?

Christmas at yours sounds utterly bonkers. After I moved away from my family and spent 6 months living on my own in a county where I only knew 2 people and didn't like anyone at work, I went home for Christmas and felt completely overwhelmed on boxing day when everyone descended. They may have thought I was scrooge but there were 15 people other than me there, nowhere to sit except on the floor with the kids, and it was bewildering and noisy for someone so used to living alone with a cat. I am glad you get the pleasure from it that my mum gets from having us all under one roof.

I spend on nieces and nephews, mum & dad get token lovelies from Jellytot/me combined and something made by Jelly. Brothers and sisters buy little things for me but I don't return it. I get my uncle a bottle of wine. Him and I don't spend on each other, and Jellytot has token presents from us as I organise everyone's willful spending on her into things that are very much needed or wanted, saving us a fortune over the year. It will stop when she is no longer as small and cute, but for now it is useful. My problem is I have 4 birthdays between November/December for those self same people!! And I will never be the auntie to combine gifts for my nephew who is unfortunate enough to have a birthday 2 days before Xmas!

PS, woohoo to nearly 1% - well done you!!!! :D:D No mean feat considering your income/outgoings ratio. Obviously careful planning on your part xx

Hi Lilt, Totally sympathise regarding birthdays leading up to Christmas! Yes Our Christmas is bonkers !! - but I love it because it gives my mum a rest and its probably the only time of year we all see each other together - it is all my family as DH does not get on with his and is not close to them. We luckily have the space for the kids to charge around and play and make noise generally. I think if we had a at it would hide and not appear for those few days...would probably have a nervous breakdown!!


Re road tax...that would be a good plan but my MOT n
and car insurance renew in 6 months and I did the six month trick 2 years ago to separate the road tax from the other two as if I left MOT too late I used to not be able to get tax in time et etc and I was always getting caught out! The monthly seemed safest solution this time round - hopefully in the next 12 months we'll get some safety pots in to pay for these things....fingers crossed. Work going quieter now , still waiting to hear about two enquiries to see if they translate to work. Feeling jittery as only have enough in bank for Novembers payments and tax for January. :eek: In fact everything crossed!!!!
xx
NOA

NoOneAround

grannyx2 wrote: »

Well done on 1% reduction.

I wouldn't bother writing to anyone, those predators will write when they think a review is due anyway. I've self-managed for 3 years and never offered them more. They've accepted it each time and never restarted interest or charges.
X

PinotGrigio41 wrote: »

Need to have a serious catch up with your diary Noone, but just wanted to say, I agree with Granny. Don't get in touch with the Predators. Lie low, they will contact you when they feel the need. I only have one predator who likes to do a six monthly review, in three years they are the only ones who have bothered. All others have remained quiet and we plod along quietly paying what we can. xx

Thank you Granny and Mrs PG - I will take your good advice and the voices of experience and keep silent! :)Thank you both for your time -how do you manage to follow so many.....
I really appreciate it. I have been hopping around random pages in your diaries but now have a little chart to try and work through systematically!!!!! So much to learn yet:(
xxxx
NOA

NoOneAround

PennySaving wrote: »

Terrific news on your 1% reduction. How motivating to see all your efforts are paying off!

JustAboutThere wrote: »

Congratulations - you're doing fantastically.

My energy company tried to fob me off about a refund a few years back. They changed their tune when I said I was happy to cancel my direct debit and pay in arrears by cheque - or go elsewhere

Thank you PennySaving and JustaboutThere!!!!
Feeling good ....only 99% to go!!!!!
Please that I was assertive today ...normally would have been persuaded to wait. All thanks to the lovely people here,:)


xx
NOA

Brogden

NoOneAround wrote: »

Thank you Granny and Mrs PG - I will take your good advice and the voices of experience and keep silent! :)Thank you both for your time -how do you manage to follow so many.....
I really appreciate it. I have been hopping around random pages in your diaries but now have a little chart to try and work through systematically!!!!! So much to learn yet:(
xxxx
NOA

I agree with Pinot and Granny

Most of mine will send a letter / phone every six months and often want to do a new income and expenditure statement. I found as the debts were passed to DCA's that a 24 hour discussion on the 'ins and outs' of the family household was not required and in answer to the question 'have your circumstances changed,' I would say 'no...can I have my lunch now?' That's it.

If there isn't an agreed payment plan in place (even only £1) they are a complete pain in the b*m. Make sure there is an accepted agreement with everybody and peace will mostly prevail

Big congrats on paying 1% :T I wish I was going to do as well as that this month

Brogden x

debtfreewannabe321

One step at a time NOA and you're doing brilliantly with it having reached 1%! Might seem trivial to many but all us on here having gone through the same know how satisfying it is :T. I agree about laying low. I never ever called my creditors unless I had letters from them!

Xmas at my nan's house used to be a nightmare. 15-20 adults (depending on who turned up) and over 20 kids. She has a normal sized mid terraced house in London so space was not huge, I am pleased to say I usually only have my little family! I don't think I could cope with a big crowd, I have enough trouble cooking for just 5 :rotfl:

Have a lovely day