It's not a lot, but it's enough

SpekySquarehead

Good morning!!

It's Monday!!

After a super busy week last week, I done very little over the weekend and reset the batteries. The foreseeable future is back to normal.

Is it just me, or is January dragging in?

In the off chance it's of use to someone who reads this. My PCP deal with my old car is all done and dusted. I've 2 invoices sent to me. The first is for 'damages' which include a scuff on the alloy, stone chips on the bonnet and a slight dent in the door. I would argue these could be considered fair ware and tear for an old car. The total amounts to £244.

The second is for the mileage. I knew I was over my agreed limit, and this comes to £277.

However. My step-dad is a bit of a wiz with sort of thing and he said that neither of these have to be paid as I took a Voluntarily Termination and it's a bit of a loophole. I'm sceptical. It would be good if I could avoid it, since I don't have the money for it. Updates to follow.

Meal plan sorted for the week ahead and all food bought in. I feel I need to reign in the food spend in February, getting a bit much for a single guy eating for 1!

Mustache. Have a good week everyone.

louby40

What’s your weekly food spend Speky? Just curious....

SpekySquarehead

louby40 wrote: »

What’s your weekly food spend Speky? Just curious....

On YNAB, I budget £120 for the month and I'm usually there or there abouts. If I needed to, I could cut it but I rarely have wastage. I also like to make in bulk and fill up the freezer.

I'm not really sure how that compares with others...

SpekySquarehead

Morning all,

Deary me, time just flies. Apologies for the lack of posting the last week.

So, on the financial front, not much to report really. I've not had any major spends, and I plan on keeping it that way. My budget is looking fine, but I don't really have much disposable income. Even if I did, I'd chuck it into savings.

There's talk that I may get a 'promotion' in work. I use inverted comas because it's not really. My day to day job would remain the same but my title and - I hope - my salary will change. Even if it does, knowing this place, it won't change my much.

I've a telephone interview coming up for a job in Manchester. It's double my current wage, with a huge bonus potential. Should it come off, I think I'd rent out my current flat in Scotland. One of my neighbours flats are for rent at £500 p/m and my mortgage is £319 p/m. So potential for an extra little earner.

This week, I'm down in London for 2 days with work. Most expenses should be covered. But I'll no doubt have a couple of drinks and the like to pay. Not ideal, but unavoidable. Aside from that, I've literally zero plans. Should it stay like that, my spends will be minimum, which is fine by me.

Right. I need another coffee I think. Bloody freezing!!

Jenjenjen17

Good luck for the interview Specky! Manchester is a really nice city, that’s exciting for you.

louby40

Good luck Speky. Manchester is somewhere we go to a lot, it!!!8217;s only 40 minutes away on the train from us.

Great city.

SpekySquarehead

Thank you both. I've never been around the city. I've only visited Manchester United and Manchester City's ground. Telephone interview scheduled for 1pm on Friday, so I'll need to discreetly disappear out of the office for a bit.

With me being in London for work (with my boss) all of Wednesday and Thursday, I'll need to do my research either discreetly or before and after the trip.

I hope the trip is inexpensive. I doubt it will be. My work aren't too forthcoming with covering expenses. Hope my boss covers somethings as he's more likely to get it back from expenses than I am.

It's 17 days to pay day. So really not far away at all, so I'll keep costs to an absolute minimum!!

Hope everyone is warm today and avoiding the snow!

SpekySquarehead

Where does the time go?! My God, this year is flying by already.

So where am I.

Yesterday I had a telephone interview with a company in Manchester. It only lasted 15 minutes, so I question how much you can really get to know someone. I didn't really get a good vibe from it either, but we'll see what comes of it.

As usual for me, a weekend with no plans usually means impromptu plans, which usually means spend. Saturday there was lunch and a few drinks with friends. Great to see them and all, but I really need to hunker down.

In saying that, I've another night out planned this weekend, although it's a free bar. So in theory, my only spend should be my return train ticket. In theory.

Aside from this, I've not much to report really. I'll endeavour to post most often and try to make it financially relevant as possible too.

Have a good day everyone

SpekySquarehead

I restrained from making card payments for a while to let my bank catch up with YNAB and unfortunately I was off a bit. I'll never understand how that happens. Anyway, sorted now and all is in order.

I'm much tighter than I'd like, so I really need to behave.

My black work shoes split, so i need to buy new ones. I've also got a slow puncture so god knows what the cost will be for that too. Aside from that, everything else is budgeted for the rest of the month providing there are no surprises.

I technically owe my mum £750; £500 to help with my car deposit and £250 for my flights to our holiday in September. I'm really grateful for her help and fortunately she's in no rush for it back. Nonetheless, as this diary will show, I hate debt and I want to get rid of it ASAP and continue saving.

Update on the interview situation; I got through to 2nd interviews, so they're looking to schedule another call at some point. The salary is £50k (WOWZA!) with an even higher potential bonus, although I don't expect that'll be easy to achieve. That money is more than double what I'm on at the moment and would sure make a huge difference to my financial situation, so keep your fingers crossed.

SpekySquarehead

2nd interview confirmed for later today!!! Nothing ventured, nothing gained - which is probably why I'm not feeling particularly nervous about it.

I've no plans this evening, which should - no, it will - mean there's no spend.

Tomorrow however I need to get a new tyre, a haircut and then I'm joining my friends for a night out. it's a free bar, so all I'll be paying for is food and trains, so spend should be relatively low.

Sunday, as always, will be spent with the family. No better way to do it.