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

beanielou

Ampersand is not really scarey!!!!!

judi24

No Ampersand pretends to be scary but we know different!!:o But she is MIA so I hope all is ok!


Well I have decided not to do the Easter holiday and save for a summer camping trip! Like you said Busy Me we have lots going on in the spring and early summer (just got the letter about DD3 residential its £266!:eek: and now kids dad is paying CSA he definitely won't contribute any extra!!) and the story telling festival is something I really want to do and didn't last year as I was anxious about camping on my own with the kids - I'm over that worry now as I took kids to family cub camp and managed fine (actually liked it better than when I went camping with my ex as he was such a control freak it wasn't fun! perhaps more organised though!)


So my plan now is to save for those trips - on top of my challenge of getting debt free, getting on top of the house, finishing my masters, working full time, raising happy kids and getting fit and healthy etc etc etc - my friend said to me at the weekend that I maybe over commit myself!!! I think he might be right! ( at this point Ampersand would normally step in and tell me to slow and calm myself! - but I'm not sure I know how!)


I didn't go to the running club - I mentioned I was going to a medical colleague - she looked a little concerned and suggested it might not be good for my knees ( I think it was polite way of saying I'm too fat to run!!! - which of course might be true!!!:rotfl:) so thinking about walking more for now (doodle will be happy!) with swimming with DD3 on a Thursday, maybe zumba on a Monday and something active with the kids on my weekends with them. Once my masters is done (July) I will look for something active to do on the weekends just for me (found a walking club that looks good) - scuba diving will have to wait until I'm debt free!!!!


Amanda - I am with you on eating from the freezer this month - I am trying to only buy the basics but do need fresh stuff as I am trying to make sure we are eating a bit more healthily too - If I can keep my shopping budget right down it means I can pay less towards my cousins wedding from next months budget - the hotel is so expensive and I am really regretting booking it now (although I am still hoping my gran will contribute towards it!). We all have outfits already only DD3 got something new for £20 in the sales) and the train is paid for but we will need some spends and a present! - it will be fantastic and great to have the whole family together - so I know I need to not moan about it! I can afford it and it is budgeted for I just guess I hate spending money these days!!!!:D

vasseur

judi24 wrote: »

I can afford it and it is budgeted for I just guess I hate spending money these days!!!!:D

Nothing wrong with this!! If I had only had the same mindset before xmas as I have now I could have saved myself a fortune :cool:

girlsmum

Hi judi
I am trying desperately to loose 3 stone, so exercise is a must.

I have downloaded the couch to 5k app on my phone and use that, it starts as a 25 min work out alternating between walking and running. I am only on day 2 lol so lets see. the good thing about is i can listen to music whilst out and it pings and tells me what to do, i also tells me when i am half way through so i can turn around and head home rather than go further. tonight i am going power walking with my neighbour we live near the sea so will walk along the seafront, downside is its going to be pitch black and currently p***ing down with rain fingers crossed it eases off a bit.

I have the Wii fit too, but i do find that boring.

I work at a school and one of the teachers is a Zumba instructor so is offering free Zumba classes after school for staff and students only problem is its Friday 3.30 and i don't finish until 4 so that's out I can use the swimming pool at school , but don't want to get into my costume in front of some of my work colleagues.

I have had to dip into my clothing budget as i needed a decent sports bra, but it was in the sale so did not feel too bad :eek::eek::rotfl:

Busy_Mee

It all makes me feel shattered Judi - maybe I should step into Ampersands shoes and tell you to make sure you have some "Judi" time.

You are doing so much and doing great but don't burn yourself out.

Btw inspired by your plunge into the diary world I decided to do the same, but after deliberating where to put it I ended up on the Mortgage Free thread ( you will see why ) - pop over and see me

judi24

Vasseur I could have done a bit better at Christmas too - which is why I am so stressed about spending on the wedding - a little bit more belt tightening would have been beneficial this month!!!


I am shattered at the moment Busy me - I am not sure if its post Christmas tiredness, lack of fitness and too much good food and drink or a post viral thing after me having the lurgy a few weeks ago! Just need to take a step back and slow my pace in something's I guess! But assignments won't wait and kids still need cared for!


Had a bad night tonight with DD2 fighting with DS and DD3 and ended up in a real mess with everyone feeling miserable! DS and DD3 were both grounded from things they wanted to do - but DD2 is actually a little bit big to ground these days but no less frustrating! Anyway I have ended up cutting my nose off to spite my face and told her I don't want her to baby sit tomorrow for me to go out - as I won't be held to ransom by her!!! Which has now really upset me as I had promised my friend I would se him and had him change his plans to suit me!!!:mad: - I want and easy life just for a few days - and a little bit of me time!


Ok rant over and time to stop feeling sorry for myself! NSD today so 4 so far this month - so that's positive! and no plans to spend much over the weekend (if I don't get my self out of this grump I won't be getting out my PJ's anyway!!!)


And for those who are concerned Ampersand is alive and well - just having computer problems and needing to be away from home for a little while - but her nagging and finger wagging is very much with me and I have no doubt she would be giving me a good telling off with all this negativity!!


Right off to bed in the hope that I wake up in a better frame of mind - not sleeping well and had some vivid nightmares last night to fingers crossed for a good sleep!!!

Busy_Mee

Hi Judi

So sorry you had such a fraught night - kids eh who would have 'em. Oh yeah us !

It does sound to me as if your DD2 is causing you a lot of strife at the moment and I suspect that her behaviour is a indication that she needs to live independently. My DD was a nightmare before she went off travelling but came back a much nicer person. Living independently does make them appreciate their family and everything you do for them much more. Would it be worth sitting down and talking to her about how she could achieve this - house share with a friend or whatever

Anyŵay I hope today is a much calmer and happier day for you and hope you get to see your friend tonight

judi24

Thank Busy me - I totally agree I do think living independently would do her the world of good - but she has no intention or desire to do this anytime soon! She has a good group of friends - some of whom have just finished uni and are planning on going traveling so have no plans to set up home ad her other work friends have boyfriends so again not looking for house mates.


Feeling a bit brighter as had a better sleep so hopefully today will be better!


On a completely different (and more positive note!) I was thinking last night about my credit report - this thinking was stimulated by reading some of the diaries (Busy me and Beanilou) on the MFW board and I started thinking about 'what next' when this debt has gone - My current mortgage is about £145k left over 18 years. My rate is ok (2.9% SVR I think) but I could get better and its not fixed in anyway anymore so I would like to re mortgage - possibly reduce the term and make overpayments with a view to being mortgage free in around 14 years. Based on what I am paying off in debt now that should be possible whilst still giving me a little more money to have fun with while the younger 2 are still kids.


My question is - a year ago just now I took out credit with Simmplybe - for one reason and another I had an emotional breakdown and a had put my head in the sand about many things - money being just one of them and I never set up a standing order and 'forgot' to pay the minimum (which was so stupid and I didn't even need to buy the outfit on credit - it just kind of happened when I ordered online!) when I finally got my act together a bit I had missed 3 payments of about £20 - clearly its not the amount that matters - but this is now on my credit file and although the account was settled in full after those missed payments my credit rating is rubbish according to noddle - I wondered if anyone knows how long it takes to repair a credit score? I have 2 open credit accounts that are not being used so will close them and apart from that I have 3 current accounts (2 in use and one - FD - that is just sitting there but I wanted to keep FD account as the best regular saver is attached and I wanted to use that eventually) I have my 3 credit cards in use now (well 2 with balances and one that I am hanging on to in the hope they will offer a balance transfer rate - but I will close that if there is no joy by the time the Nationwide is paid off in May) I have 3 mobile phone contracts which I have never missed a payment on. I applied for a 0% CC in October last year and was turned down but resisted the urge to apply for any others so there shouldn't be any searches since then except insurances. So I wondered how long it takes to repair my credit file with a view to getting a decent re mortgage rate? and is there anything else I can do to help it?

betsycat

Not sure if it helps (my situation is a bit different!) but a while ago I had a poor credit rating due to quite a few applications, a few missed credit card payments here and there (due to lack of organisation) and generally a large amount of credit. I got a loan to cover a lot of my credit and once I'd started paying that back regularly my credit rating started to creep back up and after 8-10 months it was pretty good. It's gone down a little bit now as I switched my loan and credit card over to my main bank for cheaper rates and a 0% deal, but slowly creeping up again.

From the very little I know it sounds like you're doing the right things – not missing payments, getting rid of cards you don't need etc. I'll be interested to hear others advice about what you can do to make it better as I'm sure there are things I could be doing, too!

Eager_Elephant

All you can do is continue using credit in the way you are (no missed payments) and that will help improve your credit score.


Are you paying more than the minimums on your credit cards? If you are not, just paying an extra 50p will help because when you pay minimum they note the credit file that you are only paying minimum and this can hinder your credit score as it looks like you are in trouble.


The catalogue account will remain on your credit file for 6 years - but after a few years it shouldn't make much difference providing nothing else bad is on there.


Also remember that mortgage companies have got a lot stricter now so you might not meet the criteria of remortgaging despite paying your mortgage fine. Have a read of Martin's mortgage info and see what that says.


You might also need to go through a broker as they know all lenders criteria and can tell you (based on your credit report) who is likely to accept you for a mortgage or if they won't at the moment what you can do to improve things for particular lenders.