Fat, forty and financially f**ked

mothsinmywallet_2

Banana bread for breakfast, leftovers for lunch, plus got some free fruit and milk from work which DS1 made short work of. Fajitas for supper. DH was just whiffling on about needing to buy more wraps but I told him to make them instead. Doesn't take long and they only cost a few pence. 

I've been invited to a colleagues house for food tomorrow which is nice. Looking forward to someone else cooking for me!

No other money saving activity to report. Have checked accounts and updated transactions on YNAB. All still balancing and age of money currently 14 days! I'm extremely chuffed with that. 

Have been thinking about some targets but not quite ready to commit to anything yet, just happy things are on an even keel for now. 

mothsinmywallet_2

One frog well and truly swallowed. Spoke to Capital One and have set up a payment plan which will clear the balance by November 5th 2021. I have also got details so I can overpay. Went through all my income and outgoings in order to show we could afford the amount and the woman was very impressed with my thorough knowledge of our finances. I also told her that this website was the best source of debt help! Signature updated with exact balance of account. 

mothsinmywallet_2

Frog number 2 swallowed. I have worked out the exact amount owed to family 1. The emotional cost of this one is really very high. I would love to be able to start paying this off now but as there is no interest it does not make financial sense. Total of this one is £3950 so £50 less than my estimate. 

Current plan -
HSBC credit card £250pcm. Last payment January 2023
Capital One credit card £100pcm. Last payment September 2021

If I divert the Capital One money to HSBC from October 2021 then it should pay off the other one faster. Then will hit family loan 1. Theoretically should be able to pay off that in 11 months at £350pcm. Any extra money that comes in will overpay HSBC first and foremost.

Hopefully my pay will increase from September 2021 as I will go back to working 5 days a week and I will have finished my masters by then. I would like to start paying a nominal amount back of my student loan from then too. 

I have asked the kids for their Christmas lists. Usual £50 cap on main present with book, CD/DVD, stocking fillers on top. Plus pyjamas on Christmas eve. We have 2 small nieces to buy for and one other adult and that's it. Total budget £300. 

mothsinmywallet_2

Confession time. Family 1 loan is my children's saving accounts. Borrowed to keep failing business afloat. I could not feel worse about this if I tried. 

mothsinmywallet_2

Frog number 3 swallowed. Rang universal credit to find out what the tax credits repayment deductions were. They couldn't tell me (despite it saying if you want to query this ring this number) but they told me to ring tax credits. So I did. And it turned out to be repayment from our very darkest time when we didnt do the renewal properly so had to repay the previous year's tax credit award. So repay 2016-2017, no claim for 2017-2018 and no claim for 2018-2019. So about £12k worth of money I could have had in my bank. My fault entirely but pretty tough to take. 

mothsinmywallet_2

Trying to think of good things. Very cheap lunch. 25p packet of ginger nuts. 

mothsinmywallet_2

Trying not to think about the missing tax credits equalling my main debts...

teapot2

Well done with the frog swallowing, sounds really positive.  I get what you re saying about the missing tax credits equalling your main debts but maybe try to move beyond that and not let that regret throw you off track.  At the risk of being annoying 🙄 it is what it is and you are doing so well despite that.

mothsinmywallet_2

Not annoying and nice to hear from you. You are of course right. I have closed that chapter now and I've done a huge amount of positive things over the last few weeks and as a result we are in a much stronger position. 

mothsinmywallet_2

Lovely day so far.

Went to ALDI. Was there before 8.15 so it was really quiet and well stocked. Got everything we needed and did some shopping for my friend. Her son has just had a positive Covid test so she is trapped at home (MSE moment- I made a really thorough meal plan and stuck to the list. Shopping was £64!!! Take that, DH!).

Went for a walk in the woods with a friend (MSE moment - drove the slightly longer route to avoid bridge toll of £1 each way). Got there to discover that there is now a pay and display car park and it was £2 for 2 hours. Bit gutted as this has been free for my whole life and it is all starting to feel less wild and more London like. 

Gorgeous walk (MSE moment - my friend bought me tea and cake so the money I had with me for that covered the parking with some left over). 

Saw my delicious niece who is fast approaching 6 months (MSE moment- had lunch at my parents). 

Used my leftover treat money to buy some sweets for my sister- she was so chuffed! Made me feel great.

Took DD to opticians - her prescription has changed (MSE moment- she elected to keep her old frames so the voucher will cover new lenses, nothing to pay).

Now making banana bread and flapjack for lunches this week (MSE moment - this has HUGELY reduced teenage snack attacks). 

We're having butternut squash and ginger soup with toasted sandwiches for supper. Looking forward to that very much. 

Hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday.