Preparing for the biggest move of our life

bellevie

Hi Lincs,

I don't have a great number of accounts. 2 current accounts. Both have an esaver attached to them online for short term savings eg saving for a new hoover or a birthday. One has a regular saver which I save the most in because of the interest. My second current account at the moment I transfer just enough to cover food & petrol. Makes me think a bit more about my spends as I know its not an endless pot.

lincs1205

Thanks Bellevie, are they both with the same bank and do you have to put a certain amount of money in?. Who are they with please if you don't mind me asking?.

bellevie

Nationwide has the regular savings account, I think its only open to main current account customers which has good interest rates.

If you have online banking with your current bank, just see what savings accounts they have that you can apply for on line - they are normally set up very quickly, and they link your accounts so its just a couple of clicks to transfer the money across.

There are better accounts out there though lots of accounts give cash back on bills - there's always a section on the main home page of MSE which lists the best accounts right now. Some accounts give cashback on utility bills which sounds good!

lincs1205

Hi Bellevie, I've just switched to nationwide and am finding them really good. Will definitely look more at savings accounts next year once the busy Christmas and new year period is out the way. Happy Monday.

bellevie

Not a huge amount to report today. Somehow I'm still feeling very tired, and its only Monday!

I changed my bank details at work. Decided wages will go into the second account to cover rent & food. I will transfer a set amount back to nationwide to cover household bills & savings, which means I still get the regular savings benefit.

Being the worrier that I am, I know I will have a sleepless night before payday, worrying that it wont come in. I checked and triple checked my digits. I've set my first rent payment for the day after payday just to buy me some time in 'worst case' eg posted to wrong account, or payroll make a mistake etc.

I know its pessimistic, some kind of inbuilt mistrust thing, until I know it works as it should I wont relax!

MuffinTops

Hello bellevie,

It's not mistrusting, it's being careful and not relying on others to do everything correctly. Back up plans are always good, and hopefully your back up plans are good enough to allow you to sleep too.

I smiled when I read you found your syrup, but even better that they give great service and aren't too far out of budget for your shopping. I'm considering doing online shopping again as I tend to spend too much when I go as I don't go often enough to have sufficient food in!

Well done on your MacMillan contributions!

MTx

bellevie

£20 added to emergency pot, I'm happy with the progress that's making, slowly but surely climbing.

I've started to transfer little amounts to my second account that my wages are going into, part of my back up plan that along with my emergency, moving & xmas funds combined will cover my rent in 'worst case' scenario.

Hopefully all will be fine and I wont need to make any transfers!

Once that's all working OK, I will sign up for the rewards and start saving a little more.

I've been a little bad in not taking lunches to work every day so I have spent more than I'd like, I've brought snacks just not the main part - ie the sandwich! I need to nip this in the bud as this is all money that should be going in my savings pot.

We have had a range store open near us, I am planning on going Friday when I have a day off. I haven't been for years as there hasn't been a local one - but previously when I lived close to one I loved it. Could be a dangerous spend day, so I may take cash to limit the damage.

firesidemaid

I hate spending money on lunches etc - I always make sure I have some crackers/crisps & fruit in my locker and if that's all I have then I make do. Occasionally I might get a £1 sandwich and make it last 2 days, but even then I feel guilty!

bellevie

So I got to the range today. I do love that shop! I still spent more than intended, a couple of small Christmas gifts for my brother and sister in law, DD chose a teddy and an LED candle for her room, and I replaced my kitchen roasting tin, oven tray, grill pan and a couple of kitchen utensils.

There were so many nice things I could have spent so much more, but my refusal to pay for parking meant I only had 2 hours so I reluctantly had to stop somewhere!

We also went to the local bowling place, where I am thinking of doing DD's party. We will be scaling it down this year - if I decide to go ahead thankfully there are less than 10 girls in her class which will keep the costs low.

I got a letter from HR officially confirming my new role. Official start date paywise was going to be next month, but as I am doing the overtime on some of those working hours, in a short staffed team it has been referred to a director to make the decision on what happens. Pay wise it should be similar to what I have been earning with the overtime, so I am flexible either way.

The person I am covering for is still off. I am hoping that he does return to work when we are expecting him as whilst I am loving this job, I don't like the uncertainty of what's happening with the new role approaching, I kind of want a definite 'end date' so I can get my head in the right gear for the upcoming changes in my main department.

I think if the job came up permanently I would like apply, but I know many other's probably more qualified who would as its a very sought after role in our company.
I'd also have big restrictions that others may not have, such as I wouldn't be booking visits after 4pm, I'd need to be in the office finishing my reports so I can leave at 5pm. Starting early isn't an issue, but its just not possible to stay late. After school club finishes at 6pm, there is no one else to pick up DD and to be honest she is already shattered when I pick her up at 5.45. I would have a lot more to offer when DD is at secondary school and capable of safely making herself some tea, so I have some years to go yet!

Chilled weekend planned, I am going to be moving the kitchen cupboards around tomorrow trying to make more space to stop things spilling out onto the sides!

bellevie

Kitchen almost done, switched a few cupboards around, it seems to 'flow' better but not a huge amount of additional space!
Took the chance to use up almost empty bottles of cleaners etc so cleaning cupboard is at least looking neater.

I did last night order a new dining table and chairs in a sale. We have a functional table, its small and was a £25 charity shop purchase 6 years ago I think. Its done well, and is still decent but we seem to have outgrown it - even though there are only 2 of us!

I should have used my savings but I couldn't face seeing them drop, so I used my credit card and will pay off on payday. This may mean I put less into my savings this month, but I will at least not reduce them. It's not being delivered until 1st November as I needed a weekend delivery, still gives me time to get everything in order. I did manage to get cashback via quidco on top of the sale so I was pretty pleased with myself!

Next task is to sort out our sideboard. Its messy, somehow has bits of everything from everywhere. Bit of a dumping ground.
I'm going to hunt on Amazon see if I can find some of those A4 size boxes, I have 2 at the moment. I may have a couple of shoe boxes hanging around to get me started so will dig those out.

I don't often have these sorting 'urges' so I had better get as much done as I can whilst it lasts!