A mission to secure my future!

StrugglingYouth

Well my frugal plans went out the window again. I did expect this outlay so I had money set aside for it but still. Two new tyres on order including fitting, balancing and an alignment check.

-£188

Im going to have to work extra hours to reimburse my accounts for this last ridiculous spendy week. I do have two extra shifts booked with more coming next week so that will net me circa £250 on top of my regular salary. All I have to do now, is work them. Easier said than done right. But if im working, I cant spend anything more!

StrugglingYouth

Been a while since I posted here.

I've been working a quite a lot recently across both jobs, so my accounts are all healthy. I believe I have enough in the car budget to sort two niggly issues its developed.

I have been adding fifty pences, pound and two pound coins to my sealed tin. Decided I will open it when I go home over the christmas period. My father has one, so we will hacksaw them open together. Im hoping for circa £200 as its about 3/4 full.

I have bought two pairs of winter boots, with the view to returning one of them, probably end up keeping both I think. Small christmas gift to myself.

Apart from that everything is healthy. Had a really positive meeting with my employer about training as a nurse too, so that will become reality next September too! A little work from my required in preparation but its nothing I cant do.

StrugglingYouth

Well I certainly neglected to post here for a while! Wow. Not even sure if anyones following my adventures but here goes. I have good, bad, super and some other news for you.

Bad
My car cost me £1850 to get it through its MOT. A combination of specialist parts requiring a dealer and general bad luck resulted in this bill. I've paid it, but I have also put the car up for sale and have bought something a lot cheaper to run and maintain. It isnt as nice and its an awful colour, but it makes sense financially. Who needs heated leather seats anyway..?

I will save £200+ a year in tax and insurance alone, let alone the reduced fuel bill and the cheap maintenance. Bulbs are £3 instead of £59. Hurrah!

Good
Have had a monumental clear out of stuff I have at home. I have A LOT of stuff to take to a big local bootsale here in the south east. Its on Sunday April 17th, the last one was cancelled due to rain, so I am hoping this one goes ahead.

Also started growing my own vegetables recently and the seedlings are starting to come through!


Better
Got accepted to go back to university to train to be a nurse. Employers on board too and everything is good for that to start in September.

Other
Needed a pack of batteries. Usually get a big box, so looked on Amazon, after choosing a medium brand and best price per item. It came to £9.05. I then had a brainwave and checked an old survey site I used to use. Had enough points to turn it into £5 of vouchers. Also signed up to Prime for the free delivery. Will cancel it before im charged. Saved £9.75 in total though. Very MSE!

Also recieved £83 interest from my ISA this year also. I am about to swap to the Help to Buy ISA which gives 4% interest and the government bonus of 25% also. I should be able to max that whilst I study and get the full £3000 bonus towards a future house. Then on to the MFW boards!

ChicaBonita

Just thought I'd say hi :hello: Well done on being accepted back to Uni Must be so exciting! My mum was a nurse for years back in the day, she's always bemoaning the lack of people who choose it as a profession these days. They're so vital to the NHS and yet they seem to be in short supply!

StrugglingYouth

More bad news im afraid:

There is damage to my inner headlight surround, when I say inner, I mean its behind the glass at the front. Its the same light BMW worked on a month ago. I took it to them and asked what they would do about it. 'Not prepared to do anything sir, sell it as it is' I suppose someone could have knocked it in a carpark perhaps. Still sucks.

I've also had no power at my flat for 3 days, all my frozen and fridge food is spoiled. Estimate maybe £25 worth. UK power fixed it this morning temporarily till they can resolve the issue at street level.

jodles16

Hey StrugglingYouth, have read through your diary, lots of car up and downs, hope once you sell this one the new one though a non desirable colour will be better behaved! Best of luck with the Nursing, I am sure you will be grand especially as you already have skills with the caring aspect! Boo to the power outtage, is there any scope to get compensation for the spoiled food?

Jodles

StrugglingYouth

jodles16 wrote: »

Hey StrugglingYouth, have read through your diary, lots of car up and downs, hope once you sell this one the new one though a non desirable colour will be better behaved! Best of luck with the Nursing, I am sure you will be grand especially as you already have skills with the caring aspect! Boo to the power outtage, is there any scope to get compensation for the spoiled food?

Jodles

I hope you are right re the car thing.

Thankyou, im looking forward to it.

I doubt I will be able to get anything, my electricity company will say speak to UK power, who will ask do you have some sort of 'power outage spoiled food insurance policy?'

Just one of those unfortunate circumstances I think.

StrugglingYouth

The carboot still hasnt been on due to waterlogged fields. They run it once every two weeks so I still own all the stuff I want rid of.

In other news, my partner and I have been saving for a motorhome! We put random coins in a cup and notes in an envelope. We counted it up the other day, I guessed at £45, she guessed £37. We actually had £58!

Apart from that everythings alright, I expect to have about £425 left over from my last paycheck so I will split it between my car maintenance fund and general savings unless anything else arrives and ruins my plan.

StrugglingYouth

Good news update!

Finally did the carboot this morning! Sold a lot of things, minimal amounts bought home. Got a bit sun burnt but overall it was excellent! Met some real characters.

Also did a little extra part time work this week too. Had a count up of our motorhome fund this afternoon too, have £235.

Summary:
Carboot: +£54
Extra shift: +£30

StrugglingYouth

Just viewed my Experian credit score and it showing as 839 in the "Fair" category. It also tells me I have no previous credit applications in the last six months which is good, but I have no 'settled credit accounts' which is negative.

I only have one credit card, which I clear in full monthly, I've never paid any interest on it.

I also cannot see any reference to my settled CCJ on there. Can anyone tell me where I should look for it?