Hope is not an Effective Financial Strategy

velocity_girl

Hooray, well done SJ sounds like you've worked really hard :beer:

Ali-OK

Well done - hope Mrs SJ likes the colour now it's on the walls

choccielover

SJ we have the Santander 123 current account and CC too, did you get the long 0% interest on purchases? We use that to gain more interest by running the cc up to its limit (within £500) and keeping the money to pay it off in the current account gaining interest.
I shuffle enough to keep room to pay for food and petrol on the cc for the cash back but it's the interest that's getting us the extra cash back. We average £50 a month in cash back after fees across the 2 accounts.
Just something to perhaps think about.

debtfreeoneday

Well done you!

shangaijimmy

The good news is that Mrs SJ came home and was pleased with the colours so this room is signed off! The bad news is the living room is booked in for 4th/5th/6th September...

Choccie - to begin with i'll just be paying off in fully every month, as i'm ultra cautious not to forget things and end up mis-calculating. I suppose once i've started i may get more adventurous once i start seeing the cashback add up though!

Money news I TT'd the usual £1 this morning and I've returned some paint this morning so that's £20 back in the account. However mini schnauzer has gone for his haircut this morning so it is a spend day!

After a hectic weekend i'm very much planning a 'day off in work'!

lippy1923

Well done on jumping on the 123 bandwagon lol

I use mine as a home to my EF (monthly interest is great) and the cashback on bills is over triple the account fee you have to pay each month. Win Win.

shangaijimmy

Lippy The more people talk about 123 and the more i read, the more i'm thinking of everything being in that account other than the mortgage payments which can stay with FD.

debtfreeoneday

I'm thinking the same as ^^ ^^ SJ.. and will just use my app to track how the lump sum is broken up!

shangaijimmy

I've done small steps with the whole MF thing so i'll do the same with this 123 account. Fully expecting to be all out 123 account though by Christmas i've not much patience!

No money news really. Its that flat period between paydays and big OP activity. Mrs SJ has cancelled her gym now she's hit 18 weeks, so i'll redirect the £10 to mortgage for the next 12 months. I'm realistic though and no wont redirect it when restarts after baby 3! So i'm off to amend my OP standing order!

Schnauzer looks fab with his haircut and doesn't stink for now! He's costing me this week though as its annual booster day tomorrow.

shangaijimmy

Can't amend our standard SO online, so need to phone! Not sure why this is, whats the point in having online banking when you cant do things online!!