Countdown to a new life...2.5 Years to Debt-free ....Revisited

Sellurgranny

Well its been a few weeks since I last wrote in my diary.

I've got one week left before I go back to work. Its been a nice summer but oh so expensive. I am still haemorrhaging money left right and centre at the moment so in that respect, I can't wait to get back to the routine of kids at school and me at work all week.

Having had a look at YNAB I've decided its not for me. I know alot of people on here swear by it but I just dont think I can be bothered with that much forensic detail of my accounts. Im going to stick with my weekly spreadsheet for ins & outgoings. Its served me well enough for the past 2 years.

Had time to pop a few bits on fleabay this week; got a few bids too so that should help the bank balance a little.

I've also had a letter from my CC company to tell me that any money or balance transfers are at 0% until Nov 2016. This would potentially allow me to pay a small lump sum off my Legal aid bill and shift the debt to 0%. Need to do some maths before I go ahead to see how much I will save. Legal aid charge 8% on the debt so potential savings on interest there but I need to ensure I can pay off the additional CC borrowing before the 0% ends. Im a bit wary of this what with all the talk of mortgage interest rises on the cards next year.

Sellurgranny

So today has been very productive in terms of not spending very much and getting some household chores done. Unfortunately my tax credit payment was reduced today due to my DD2 staying on at school to do A levels and HMRC being their usual slow selves in sorting out things at their end. Despite being advised correctly regarding her staying on at school back in July. So this has led to hasty belt tightening this week. Not that the belt isnt already tight!

So I will endeavour to cook from the freezer this week as much as possible. Went to LIdl today for the weekly shop which came to £24 odd. Usually around the £40-45 mark. Will see how I do in not going into any other food shops for the rest of the week. No doubt I shall need something or other though.

My mum also lent me the 'Rug Doctor' machine that she had hired for the day to clean her carpets. I managed to get all mine done too so that's been brilliant. They've come up really well, especially the hall carpet. Feel that I need a carpet protector now though so as not to get it all dirty again. They do nice cheap ones in DuneLm so I'll pop in there soon.

Made tea from scratch - Pork Meatballs in a HM tomato sauce with spaghetti. Very tasty and kids enjoyed it. Washed down with a piece of New York based cheesecake that DD1's BF brought round last night. His mum made it and sent us some over. Twas scrummy and best of all, free.

Tomorrow will be jacket spuds or, chicken legs in some kind of marinade with salad or maybe a combination of the two.

Need to get some pics for fleabay uploaded tonight before corrie starts then I can relax.

Bobarella

Just made the connection from the small things thread to your diary. Interesting to get the background on your situation. It sounds like you've worked very hard to get sorted. Will subscribe now

Bob

Sellurgranny

Morning Diary (& any readers)..... thanks also to INOD and Bob for popping in - its nice to know that Im not on my own in all this. I get enormous support from this forum, its somewhere to go when everyone else is busy with their lives to be with people who are in similar situations as me.

I subscribe to a variety of diaries and get them notified every day. Its part of my wake up routine while Im still in bed to read everyone's updates. Sets me up good and proper for another day of MSE-ing.

So, what to do today? Not sure - will take it as it comes.

Had a confusing payment from tax credit people today. My weekly one was down yesterday which I think is because DD2 has just started 6th form and they take a while to sort out the payments. Now had another bigger payment today which I dont know if its a rounding off of the old award and the payment i had yesterday is the new amount I'll get each week. Really need to know this as its £40 less and I'll need to adjust my budget to take account of this. It would help if the HMRC got the award notices out to us before changing the payments. Really really hoping its not my new amount as things will be even tighter than they are now. BUT, Im sure I'll cope somehow.

Phoned the LSC yesterday to request a statement so that i know where I am with the balance. I think its about £10k but with the interest I might be slightly out. In any case, need to know what it is so that I can consider whether to take advantage of the MBNA money transfer at 0% deal.

Think that's about it for now. Have a good day everyone.

Sellurgranny

Quick update on the days activities:

Bought a cheap rug for hallway from DuneLm for £3.50 ish. This is MSE as it will save the carpet from getting filthy once the weather turns rubbish.

Cleaned all my downstairs windows and frames this afternoon while the sun shone.

Just been blackberry picking with DD3, unfortunately whilst we found a very good spot it looks like it was heavily plundered at the weekend. I think my DD3 ate as many as she picked which was lovely to see. Managed to get enough to make a job lot of blackberry & apple crumbles that I will freeze. May be able to get some more at the weekend when Im down at the Farm. Won't have any competition for them there as its private land.

I love the hedgerows this time of year, all the sloes ripening, berries on the hawthorn & blackthorn bushes and a lovely mellow sun. I wish I could bottle the essence of September in a jam jar and watch it glow warmly all winter.

Listed a couple of items on fleabay too but they're not scheduled to start until the weekend. Always like to have things finish on a Sunday evening if possible.

Tomorrow I am getting my hair cut by a friend of a friend. Shouldn't cost more than a tenner plus I'll be dyeing it at home tomorrow evening with a hair dye my friend gave me in my colour. So I;ll be all groomed and dyed to perfection before I return to work. lol.

DD1 is planning on going back to Uni in a couple of weeks so my shopping bill should reduce a bit once she's gone. Its been lovely having her here so much so that it feels like she never went to Uni.

Well that's about it from me today. Have a nice evening everyone.

Sellurgranny

Coiffeured Granny reporting.... got my hair cut as planned. She charges £5 but I gave her £10. She doesnt charge enough tbh and I'd rather she kept on cutting it than feel resentful and stop.

Went charity shop shopping with my friend afterwards, only got a couple of things; a new Per Una t-shirt with tags for £3 and 4 teaplates + 2 cups/saucers by Denby (Imperial Blue design) for £1.99. Pleased with both my bargains especially the Denby - they are in immaculate condition and go with my other Denby set that we use day to day.

That's my last proper day off with my best friend before I go back to work. I won't be able to spend a day like this until xmas now when I am next on leave. Honestly, I've spent most of today feeling wistful and a little bit mournful that my days off are numbered. You'd think I was leaving everything I know not just going back to work.

Hmmm, I applied this afternoon for a Virgin money transfer card - the one that is on the MSE email today. Its 40 months 0% - Im not sure if I;ll get it. Ive had an email to say they will be considering my application which I think means NO! But, i seem to recall that aswell with my MBNA one so perhaps all is not lost. If not then I'll look at taking advantage of the 12 month money transfer one that MBNA have offered me.

Right, better go and put that hair dye....

Bobarella

Ouch £40 a week is quite a difference to get used to isnt it? Imagining your swanky hair do though & thinking envious thoughts, nothing like a good trim to lift you

Sellurgranny

Sure is Bob...Im hoping that things will sort themselves out next week or I will at least get the award notice that lays things out clearly.

Sellurgranny

Morning Diary,

Had a very early start this morning..... DD1 rolled in at 4.15am after a night out - I don't begrudge her - she rarely goes out and has worked hard this summer in her part time job - she'll be going back to Uni next week so last chance to live it up with her friends from home.

Then it was time for DD2 to get up as she's off to London on a school trip for Art. That was me at the school in my pjs at 5.45am.

So now I find myself with a bit of spare time before my usual alarm call.

Im back at work now, its been truly hectic this week. I'll be glad to see the weekend. Its helped being back as I don't spend so much. Although that being said, there seems to be alot of school related expenses at the moment. DD2's trip today has cost me £38+£15 spends all of which were unaccounted for. Wish the school could have given us more than a week's notice! I hope she makes the most of it.

Im hoping to be able to get started back on my debt busting once I get paid on the 25th. I;ve been doing some fleabaying so should have some extra to add to amount I send to the debts.

Need to get start batch cooking ...this week has been a bit 'flying by the seat of my pants' with regards to what we have for tea. I've forgotten how little time there is between getting home and the kids braying for their chow.

Hoping to make some damson jam at the weekend, I have 6lbs of them waiting patiently in a tupperware box that me and BF harvested from the hedgrow trees around the farm last weekend.

Planning a trip to our local national trust property this weekend if the weather is ok. They are having an elizabethan weekend with falconry displays etc. I absolutely love watching those. So in awe of the way the birds swoop and soar.

Well thats about it for me.... soon be time to get the wheels of the day in motion. Its Jeans for Genes day at work so at least I can go in wearing my civvies for a change.

Have a good day/weekend all.
SurG x

Sellurgranny

Evening Diary,

Its payday week - on Friday. Have just been updating my budget and appropriating the anticipated fund arrivals. This will be the first month since about May when I havent had unexpected extra expenses to deal with. Im hoping that October is a much more settled month for me. Only DD2's bday to deal with but that will be ok I think.

Have been wrestling with myself over whether to go for another % money transfer on my MBNA card. They've offered me about £2k on 0% until November 2016. Whilst Im very tempted, I dont know how much of an impact that it will realistically have on my Legal Aid debt. The £2k would be paid straight off that debt which costs me 8% in interest.

As I say, sorely tempted but the thing holding me back is being 100% confident that I could pay back the additional debt within 13 months. Not sure that its worth saving 100-200 in interest over that period for the added worry of making sure Im meeting the repayments. Who knows what's going to happen in the future?

It would be lovely to see that debt go down though. Im finding doing the maths for the whole situation quite confusing. Theres not only the increased CC debt to pay off but I would also want to continue chipping away at the LSC debt too.

Given that its likely that my taxcredits will decrease next April I might be overstretching myself for a short term gain.

Will give it some more thought, I've got the offer available until end of Oct so no need to rush to decide.

Well DD1 goes back to Uni this week. I've weakened and bought her a few bits and pieces for her new digs. Plus today I put £30 on a Tesc0 giftcard for her so she can at least get a few groceries when she arrives in London.

Did ok with fleabay at the weekend, so have made an overpayment to the LSC debt. I have a few more bits on at the moment so hoping to continue with sending more £££s to the LSC debt over the coming weeks. But need to keep some to one side for DD2s birthday present in October.

Must update my signature as its a bit out of date but will wait until I get paid on Friday.