The 'I'm less money-idiot more money-savvy' Diary

judi24 · 25 January 2015 at 12:49AM

Thanks kdalwayskint - it was great! The only thing that would have made it better would have been DD1 being there too - but good news from her in that she is applying for 2 jobs close to home so fingers crossed she ends up closer to home soon!

judi24 · 25 January 2015 at 12:26PM

Been playing with accounts and paying CC's today - and with the boiler purchase the balances will look like this (once the Greendeal grant arrives!):

Barclaycard = £6088 (added £1000 of boiler to this at a 6.9% LOB transfer - so £4088 on 0% until April and rest 6.9% LOB)
Nationwide = £3305 (Aim is pay this off by May)
Tesco loan = £4109
Smile OD = £500

Total = £14002

So an overall reduction of £455 - which I guess is ok with boiler purchase but need to up my game a bit if I am going to get debt free this year!!!:mad:

It means a monthly debt reduction of £1400 for the next 10 months and that seems like a very scary number!!!!:eek:

Dansmam · 25 January 2015 at 1:31PM

Hey Judi
Thanks for dropping in on mine. Harcombe diet thing is my latest fave eating plan. Seems to be working but time will tell...I've signed up for a daft charity hallenge in 18 months time (needed to be out of my rut and thinking global) so serious action is needed. Put it this way, the tyres on the girl bike are inflated for the first time since DD moved out.
DM

judi24 · 25 January 2015 at 2:24PM

Thanks Dansmam - I will definitely investigate the Harcombe diet in Feb (once DD2 has paid her rent next week) The next week is going to a little tight as paid every penny of spare money from my salary after DDs to my Debt leaving me with only the CSA, DLA, FA and DD2 rent to live on - it works out ok on paper but the actual flow of money into my bank is a bit challenging to keep on top of (thanks goodness for YNAB) and with the wedding it has been a little chaotic. I will be back on top of it by next week - just in time to get organised for DD2's birthday in Feb - it never ends!!! Luckily she has already had her main present (I paid for driving lessons for Christmas and Birthday jointly) so just need to pay for her hair cut (I always do this at birthdays!!) and plan lunch or go out on her actual birthday.

I also have 2 other spendy weekends in Feb as it is a friends birthday (we are off to see fifty shades film followed by tea and a visit to casino :eek:- I will definitely not be gambling so might skip that bit!) and another good friends 50th so planning a night away in Blackpool (I have a free overnight stay in a hotel so that's my contribution but will need spends!) luckily they are on a budget too so hopefully we can keep the costs down!

You go girl with the cycling :T- I have a great bike and don't use it much anymore my ex and I used to go for decent bike rides but not so much fun on your own!

Keeping_Motivated · 25 January 2015 at 3:26PM

Hi

I'm glad you enjoyed the wedding. Its great allowing yourself some luxury while being in control of the finances. I guess in the past you would have just enjoyed it and not given money a second thought so there are big changes and you seem happier for it.. Funny how we think spending makes us happy isn't it when in actual fact we all seem happier and more in control by making informed choices with our spending..

What is YNAB by the way?

judi24 · 25 January 2015 at 5:20PM

Hi Keeping Motivated YNAB is a budgeting software - you do have to pay for it although sometimes there are offers but it has completely changed how I manage my money - I don't even need to look at my bank accounts if I keep that up to date and I budget for everything sing it. When I let things slide over Christmas and didn't keep it updated I struggled to keep track of what I was spending. It takes a bit to get your head round it but there are tutorials that helped.

Yeah in past I would have not thought twice about sticking all the wedding expenses on a CC and dealing with it later (or not!!) feel much more in control now!

Just been to Al*I with a list and spend £18 on the things I needed to get through the week and put £10 of fuel in the car so that will do until DD2 pays her rent next weekend.

Now making fish pie for tomorrow and haggis, neeps and tatties for tonight! (Burn's night!!) Yum!!!!

TheMagician · 25 January 2015 at 5:44PM

judi24 please oh please do give yourself credit for not only not adding to the debt but taking it down by £455 in what is the most pricy, difficult, longest month in the year, as well as having replaced your boiler and attended a wedding! Just WOW and you absolutely rock! :beer::j:j:T

judi24 · 25 January 2015 at 7:42PM

Thanks Magician - I know its not too bad - I just like to see the figures going down faster (don't we all? Well up in your case!:)) I have no patience - I need to remember Ampersand's wise words about slow and steady - but I find it really hard. I wouldn't feel so bad if all my debt was 0% but its not and I don't want to apply for a new card as I am trying to improve my re mortgage ability so I can fix before rates go up - I keep hoping one of my 3 cards will give me 0% deal sometime soon but it just doesn't seem to be happening!

I don't want to wish my life away by planning for the next payday!

TheMagician · 25 January 2015 at 8:36PM

judi24 I know how you feel but every time I try to rush I read this and think

A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

We cannot be in constant fight mode knocking down walls every day. There's sometimes that long slog that leads to where we need to be, the key is not to stop. Maybe it is time to plant the prosperity seeds and your time to uproot them will also come. You're doing very well.