Working towards being debt free and a new house.

dipdap

Hey Abba.
Just spoken to them on the phone and they said the same as you, which is that we'll be able to pay monthly. We won't get a letter about our overpayment until somewhere around June which is a bit of a relief as I thought it would be April.
It's currently an estimate and they said it will finalise at the end of the tax year so could be less.
We're not disputing owing it as we obviously do (my wages have gone up by about half) it's just frustrating as they had an estimated figure for my new earnings back in June and have only decided to stop paying us based on this new figure around Christmas :mad:
Luckily we have plenty in savings to pay for the car, so if it came down to it they could have it back tomorrow.
It's a good job we stopped relying on that money when I changed to my new job. We worked out I'll have earned an extra £5k this year from it :j
Makes all the long shifts and silly hours seem worth it

dipdap

Good evening diary
Well I took the plunge today and paid off the rest of my credit card with some money I have saved in the ISA. It probably could have waited but indeed a little morale booster for my debts
that means the only money we owe now is currently £900 on my other halfs credit card (not including the car and any money owed to HMRC for overpayment)
Still need to have just over £10k in the ISA to pay off the car (only got £6k in there at the moment) as they don't except overpayments only payment on full
Need to work on a spending plan to try and save extra money up each month. Will have to sort out a new savings account or 2 for various savings (envelope method)
I think I need a new bank account

dipdap

Good morning diary
That pesky credit card is still empty :j
DH has been given permission to look for a new car (so we have one each) so that may be a new debt to have cleared off by the end of the year.
Found out the car tax rules are changing in April so if DH gets a new 17 plate car in March it will still be charged at the old current tax rate (we keep our new cars for years - last ones was 7 years till it got written off )
Hopefully he doesn't spend a fortune on this one, at least he gets a new toy out of it and I finally get a car all to myself

dipdap

Morning diary.
Payday is nearly here
Well DH is shopping around for his new car, im getting a bit twitchy about it though
Ultimately we'll need 2 cars (I should pass my test pretty soon, been learning long enough!) I think it's because it's such an expensive purchase I'm worrying slightly.
The finance shouldn't be more than £150 a month (affordable, our £150 nursery fees stop in April) and that quote was on a straight finance purchase and not a PCP so no large final payment at the end.

Anyhoo, I'm currently enjoying a few days off work :j housework is such fun
Work have refused me holiday in the summertime but it may work in our favour. We were going to take the kids to a theme park for a couple of days (same as last year) and we've now given them the option of still going or staying home and spending £500 (theme park would have cost much more) on various trips, restaurants and toys over the summer holiday.
Needless to say the kids have gone for the 2nd option sensible children!
There's plenty to do here (bowling, playplace, laser tag, McDonalds, Pizza Hut etc..) so £500 should go quite a way (fingers crossed)
Better get on with more housework!

dipdap

Good morning diary
Well payday has been and gone and most of the wages have gone on bills
We splashed out on a freeview aerial this week so now all rooms have TV and I've rung up and cancelled sky :j
We are currently paying out over £100 a month :eek: so that will come to an end, am reducing it down to about £30 a month for phone and broadband.
DH isn't happy that he'll lose his access to sports but I've told him there's other ways to watch the odd footie match (I'm hoping he can bribe the neighbours with beer.... )
Time to sit down with a calculator and work out what debts we have remaining.

dipdap

Debts outstanding

CC1 £800 (0% till January 2018)
Car loan £11,450 (based on most recent amount shown on credit report)

Total amount outstanding £12,250

This figure isn't worrying me, the credit card debt is so low now I'm not even bothered by it.
Car finance is one of those things we can't really do much about
Come on February, let's make this a good month for debt clearing :j

dipdap

Good evening diary
I'm currently sat with a pen and paper about to rewrite our SOA.
I need to work out if I can afford to drop hours/change hours/change job.
Work isn't much fun at the moment
It's all well and good working a job that pays more money, but it's stressing me out too much, I don't think it's for me

angelpye

Hi dipdap,

Just popping in to say well done...what a difference 6 and a half years make!

I understand the job thing, I left a nicely paid job due to stress and although I am money poor I am much happier.

Just thought should say to check with tax credits what will happen if you reduce hours income - they usually take the previous year amount for calculations and my friend ended up with no tax credits for a year even though was earning less. Just something to consider. I don't regret changing things one bit though

dipdap

Hello diary
Works still as busy and stressful as ever I've requested flexible working but just waiting for them to look into it (apparently they can take up to 3 months :eek: )
Still on the lookout for a new job, although would stay out where I am if things improve.
Feeling pretty optimistic about our finances for this year just need to try to reign in the food shopping a bit (it does run away with us sometimes)
Cancelled the sky package down to the bare bones :j very pleased with myself for doing that, gone from £122 a month down to £35 with no sky, just broadband and phone line.
DH not overly happy he has lost the sports but I'm still looking into NOW TV which seems to be a cheaper option for accessing the football matches he wants to watch.
Better get the kids out of bed, they'd stay there all day long if they could!

dipdap

Hello diary
Well it looks like I might be moving job again :j
I currently talking to my old manager so I may be going back to my old job on less hours than I did before
I know it will be the right decision (assuming I can go back) as it's putting a big grin on my face
I've tried this new current job, it's really not for me, I think I'll be a lot happier back where I was.
We can cope with the drop in wages (it shouldn't be too bad)