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

beanielou

Good news on card :j

Busy_Mee

Great news Judy - but probably need to do the Maths when you have had a bit more sleep and a clearer head. I think if you ring your loan company they will be able to send you a settlement figure which will help you work out the best thing to do - now have a early night or & will be on here telling you off !

Busy_Mee

Forgot to say we have a water meter and have 5 adults showering at least once a day, washer constantly on etc and our water is £40 per month

judi24

Thanks Betsycat - yes I know I can't do the keeping up with appearances thing and to be honest the friend I have downscaled the birthday event also doesn't have any money so it probably suits them too! The other friends birthday would be fine (cinema ticket £8 mini bus £8 and tea out) but the casino bit after worries me a bit as it really isn't my thing at all and I don't want to look like a party pooper but I know I will hate every minute of it!!! They have organised the minibus to come back at 1 am too! so a long night of hanging around and hating It (and not gambling!)!!!


Thanks Beannie - yes I was really pleased - the interest was annoying me so much - and now feel at least things are on the up in relation to my credit rating which will help when ready to re mortgage some time soon.


Busyme you are right! I can't work out the maths tonight!!! Sleep is badly needed but difficult to come by at the moment!!! Hoping for abetter night tonight!

judi24

That's great to know Busyme - its one area I just assumed wouldn't be any cheaper - but looks like it is worth a try! Every penny counts! The more I can shave off my monthly bills the more I can pay off my debt! and once I am debt free that will go towards my mortgage

ampersand

judi - a few years ago there was a piece in our parish magazine re:
-surface water drainage charges.
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/chargesbills/prs_lft_090715swd.pdf

I followed this up and had all my years here refunded. It's worth a yea/nay dig around to ascertain one way or t'other.
#
What distance back is it from gambling finale birthday? Why pretend? The birthday girl knows about your work and studying, presumably - and children at home. Even this - '[cinema ticket £8 mini bus £8 and tea out]'has the look of a likely £25min spend.... Why not offer b'day girlfriend the chance to be a true and understanding friend?
judi: 'I'm really looking forward to cine+tea. but won't stay on for the casino. It would be great if you came round for a special girls' night in. [agree date] You can have my good luck though:-)' No reason not to add 'this is my debt-busting year' if you're on those sorts of terms. If not.....ask yourself again why you're working yourself up to kill hours in a way that's not you and fearing what £££s it may kill.
#
Utilities - as they stand. Give a half-day to badgering truth out of your suppliers. Have current meter readings to hand and insist on a current bill for these. Ask how much you are currently in credit. As Martin exposed some years ago, the companies create fictive estimated bills, hang on to often ludicrously inflated mthly dd's and earn interest on your money that could be in your a/c during this same period.
Have you joined Martin's Energy Club? - it's worth doing at any stage.
https://cheapenergyclub.moneysavingexpert.com/collectiveswitch

In the last 4 years, I have had over £1200, £400 and £740 returned on this basis, with much lowered mthly figs and no nasty surprises when accurate bills arrive, calculated on nothing but my accurately supplied readings.
#
Sound as though you and friend 1 will have a really good time out. Does she know about mse? It could be a boon for them.

On first blush, your sums seem a little askew - certainly there's money to be saved, but hold off until you have a good time to look at this. You have passed 'Go': you have a 0% card. Dedicate a bit of time to putting it where it'll do most good. No harm in having figs checked through by an accountant-y type pal within your orbit/workplace perhaps, if non-prejudicial?
#
Hmm - look at clock. 17 mins to beddy-byes time judi. Matron's on warpath:-)
Hope ds feels better through tonight.

Never 'struggle to get to sleep' - at that point, radio 4x/warm water or black tea from bedside thermos, or a bit of a read....nothing else. Really and truly.

Consecutive nsd's is a real achievement - well done!

judi24

Definitely going to investigate the water meter looks like I could save a pretty packet. I do use the Energy Club and it was that that alerted me a to cheaper deal. So once next assignments are done I shall investigate more fully!:)

The Birthday night 2 is probably about 12 miles away by car and not really on a public transport route - might see if I can ask the Rev to come and pick me up! Or might even try to excuse myself from the whole night! I am in work and the kick of time is 5.30 so going to be a real struggle to get home and out with kids around - the group either don't work or have significant others who can mange the kids! - I also rarely ask the Rev to baby sit for me to have a social life (I tend to keep that for the weekend when kids are at their dads) as I feel she does enough for me so I can work - so it all feels not quite right!


The other birthday event feels much better and that friend is really struggling with lots of things including money so it should be a cheaper but lovely night (just had to retire due to ill health at 46! They are having a rough time!) I have pointed her this way in the past but I don't think their heads have been into anything but trying to get well!

I did get to sleep a little better last night but still woke in the wee small hours!!! I guess my head is a little full at the moment!!!

I do not have to rush into doing anything with the new CC as I haven't even got it yet - just plotting and planning! So will make sure I have sussed out the best savings before I do anything.


Anyway - not a NSD today - needed fuel and also needed to get dishwasher tablets (and some how 2 £1 bargain chocolate oranges seemed to have managed to come home with me!!!! Yum yum! ) - its for brain food - to get me through my assignment writing this weekend you understand!!!!


Should have a cheap weekend though as I have so much work to do while kids are at their dads! so feel free to shout at me if I linger too long on here!


Anyway - plan for tonight is pick up DS from cadets, bath, book and bed - need a good sleep so I can get on with my assignments tomorrow - I only have a half day in work to give me a head start!!! :T

kdalwayskint

Hey Judi

I've managed to hit my NSD target so I'm pretty chuffed with that and I've managed to get a 0% card and done a balance transfer, bit easier for me to see that this will help as I've only got the one debt, but have had problems in the past and to be honest I'm a bit pleased that I got the new card as it's with my bank account and must mean that my credit rating is looking up, I think?!

Re the birthday outings, If I was you I'd decline the casino thing, sounds like it could be expensive and not my cup of tea, and make a great night with my other friend. But that's just me x

Hope you're having a great weekend x

judi24

Hello kdalwayskint - great news on the NSD's well done :T- I didn't really keep track of the number I had in January but I will in Feb - its going to be another expensive month I fear!!!


Good news on your 0% card mine hasn't arrived yet and I am still mulling over what to do with it so I pay the least amount of fees and interest. Spent yesterday reading for my assignments but still haven't written a word!! Need to get a move on although I am only in work tomorrow afternoon and have Tuesday off to get them finished!
Then last night went to visit a friend - we ended up going out for a drink so I spent £7 on 2 drinks - then he cooked dinner for us (well I cooked but he provided the ingredients!!!) It was lovely and pretty cheap night


I really am in two minds about the casino night out - I want to see my friends - we haven't seen much of each other since Christmas and the cinema and tea out is not so bad - its the casino I really can't be bothered with - I have only ever been to a casino once before and I hated it!!! I cant bear the thought of throwing money away gambling and I will look a right party pooper if I just stand around!


Well I did a meal plan and a shopping list and went to As*a - I haven't been using the big supermarkets recently as I just get so tempted and spend far too much - but I needed a new lunch box for DD3 (she has finally decided to go back into packed lunches which suits me as its a lot cheaper!) I went at about 3 and ended up with a whole load of YS bargain (and I mean real bargains not just a few pence off!) so my freezers are bulging and I shouldn't need to do another big food shop for most of the month - shopping came to £89:eek: - a lot more than I had planned to spend but it was definitely worth it! (treated myself to a curry too - but making my own rice rather than buying the little tray so not too naughty!)

TheMagician

judi24 don't go to the casino, it'd hate it too!
If you don't want to tell straight up why you dislike the casino and don't want to come, then just come up with a reason why you need to be up early the next day and have to leave but wish them good luck at the roulette tables

Always go with how you feel, that's all you need to know. And you feel like you really don't want to participate so honour your true self and I'm sure you can do it in a diplomatic way as not to offend anyone