New Grad DFW

ab_saver

Quick update. Rest day today in preparation for weekend.
Insurance finally sorted - but ended up going well over budget £116.70/£85
As my address isn't in many of the main databases I had to do it over phone, meaning more expensive premiums and no cash back :mad: - but I did convince the insurer who was able to do it to knock £15 off to make it almost the same as their online price.

Amazon order arrived today (in spite of not paying for prime!). Much needed gloves and under gloves fit - and the under gloves fit under my 'fashionable' gloves too. My sports armband also arrived in time for me to take it to gym later (shoving phone into sports bra is both impractical and not a great look...)

Hoping for an NSD with the obvious exception of insurance. There is a possibility of some holiday booking with OH tonight - we shall see.

Feels a bit like I'm swimming madly against the current to stay where I am at the moment.

ab_saver

NSD today :A

(I don't count rent, bills, or insurance, but do count food and any other expenditure that could be considered discretionary)

Found out today that I may be eligible for relocation expenses for new job - wish I'd known sooner. My parents paid most of my expenses, so if I do get anything back most of it will rightly be heading their way. There are a few things I definitely paid for myself though, which would total over £100. Would probably go onto month after next's pay at this rate.

Payroll person from previous employer on holiday so unlikely to be any P45 joy until next week. Swings and roundabouts.

Will probably be quiet for a few days as I'm on long shifts all weekend. Hopefully will get in a few more NSDs. I even have enough points for a free coffee so there's no excuse!

ab_saver

Busy and chaotic work weekend over. Saturday NSD, Sunday booked airbnb for hols (£273).
I need to book return trains from London back here (about £100 for 2 with railcards... goodbye budget ) and our only paid attraction.
OH has paid for a hotel for last couple of days, and will book trains to London. Then we'll have everything except spending money sorted, and we don't anticipate needing much of that. We are staying at a friend's in London for free (well some wine and flowers, but definitely less than a hotel).

Paid for airbnb on cc for section 75 protection and immediately paid off. Will do same for these trains. By the end of the day the OD will stand at about £700 :eek: That does include rent, council tax, insurance, and internet.

Good news:
1. no food spends so far and have masses in stores
2. have everything I need for relocation expenses and even the things I paid for myself would come to just over £100

Not so good news:
1. No news on P45 front yet- will chase tomorrow
2. Got an email from the gym I just joined advertising a no joining fee offer... less than 48 hours after I signed up, to the email address they only have because I joined. If I'd known I would have waited :mad: - unlikely to accomplish anything but will email to complain as I feel a bit cheated!

Landlady coming over this evening so sprucing place up a bit.
I also need to inventory my freezer and cupboards and come up with some meals. I'm thinking of doing a few slow cooker ones this week - pulled chicken tomorrow and a couple of soups (spiced lentil and carrot; spinach, pea, and mint; carrot and coriander).
If I have time after landlady's visit I'll do my relocation expenses. I've probably already missed the deadline for having them paid with October pay. Since it's money I never expected to get back, I think I'll add it to the emergency fund. The overpaid tax will go to OD-busting as that's money I expected to have and use for that purpose.

I feel like this month is going to be treading water (yes I know it's partly my fault as I'm going on a holiday - but in my defence I wasn't expecting to be paid £600 less than a colleague on the same pay grade :eek: )

ab_saver

Quick update:

Landlady's visit went well
Booked trains - £114.20
Did freezer inventory and meal planning - and I should be able to get to the holiday without buying much - I should only need milk, cream cheese, fresh fruit, and hot chocolate. Going to be quite flexible with plan but I have more than enough in stores for a range of healthy and tasty meals.
Unfortunately I can't find the confirmation for the train for my expenses... I did make one direct journey but most of my trips up and down were to OH's as free accommodation... I have a couple of other queries about this to ask tomorrow.

Goodnight any lurking moneysavers

ab_saver

2 NSDs in a row since I was last on my diary. :A
AND I've been to 2 classes at the gym so making good use of it.

I currently stand at:

£664.93 OD
£114.20 CC (train tix bought on Monday)
TOTAL: 779.13 :eek:

I am definitely on track to keep the total lower than the end September total - I am desperate to keep things moving in the right direction in spite of tax and holiday. (without them I would be DF at the end of this month!)

ab_saver

Another NSD today - 6 of 9 days in my financial month so far.

Got my P45 and phoned taxman - sorted to get it back across payslips. Essentially I imagine I'll pay less tax per month the rest of the tax year to make up for the overpayment.

I'm slightly off my meal plan - but in a good way as I'm actually behind in terms of working through the freezer. I've also found out that there's free lunch at work tomorrow. I'll probably need to do a small top up shop in the fortnight between now and my holiday, but just for milk and fresh fruit.

I saw something that'd be great for OH's Christmas present quite reduced on 3bay - it'd take me over my gifts budget for the month but it's on my watch list - a potential £25 saving might be too good to pass up.

ab_saver

NSD again today and went back to the gym.

I might go to park run tomorrow but there's a fair chance I'd prefer a lie in as I've worked 8 days in a row.

I got a letter through to say that the line rental on my broadband is going up so I think that'll require a phone call tomorrow.

Hope it's all going well for any lurking MoneySavers

ab_saver

So.. today has had some financial ups and downs.

Phoned broadband company and they said I was sent this letter in error and as I'm on a promotional offer it shouldn't be going up... we shall see about that. I'll need to keep an eagle eye on bills next month.

My parents gave me £20 on strict instructions to buy myself steak with it. So off to Mr W I went... and did a bit of a top up at the same time. We had a long chat which included a bit about money. I didn't mention yesterday that the free pizza at work was paid for by an independent financial advisor. I know they are trying to sell me something - but a lot of people in my profession have income protection (also called permanent health insurance) and we discussed the pros and cons of it. In conclusion, I need to look into it more and wait and see. Anyone have any thoughts on this? My pay is likely to go up quite rapidly for a few years before plateauing... But as discussed with M&D (mum and dad) - alternative to squirrel away an emergency fund - which I should do anyway.

Other results of conversation with M&D relevant to moneysaving - they are going to send me the details of index linked savings certificates in my name so I can get the address changed to here etc. This is going to be the very start of my house fund. I think there's about £300 in there to mature in 2018 but will find out.

I also mentioned about saving for a KitchenAid (one of the big professional ones!) and how if I put a bit away each month I could get one for myself for my birthday next summer. They suggested I might like a contribution to the KA fund for Christmas. That's honestly probably the most useful thing they could give me, as I don't want or need much in the way of material goods. I am thinking I could perhaps use it as part of my first month HTB ISA as it looks like I'll be opening one in December/January - so it won't be open for long but better to get some in this tax year instead of nothing! Otherwise I'm unlikely to get much more than £200 together and it seems a shame to miss out on that first month's bonus of being able to put in more.

In less exciting news - got my first water bill today. They said it could take up to 6 months and I was secretly hoping to not get one until DF. Anyway £63 paid today, and changed to direct debit for the discount from November.

Since today has been a spend day, I'm also buying the £13 train ticket I need to get to OH's from mine to start our holiday (yes the NSD challenge means I've been putting it off)!

My meal planning has also gone out of the window a bit - partly because I'm eating less than I thought so my meals stretch further. I am still cooking almost everything from stores (with exception of steak tomorrow) so I think it's ok.

I'm now more worried about ending this month deeper into the overdraft than I started it... and I know it's avoidable because if I hadn't been going on holiday I'd be clearing an impressive amount of overdraft.

Littlebirdie

ab_saver wrote: »

So.. today has had some financial ups and downs.

Phoned broadband company and they said I was sent this letter in error and as I'm on a promotional offer it shouldn't be going up... we shall see about that. I'll need to keep an eagle eye on bills next month.

My parents gave me £20 on strict instructions to buy myself steak with it. So off to Mr W I went... and did a bit of a top up at the same time. We had a long chat which included a bit about money. I didn't mention yesterday that the free pizza at work was paid for by an independent financial advisor. I know they are trying to sell me something - but a lot of people in my profession have income protection (also called permanent health insurance) and we discussed the pros and cons of it. In conclusion, I need to look into it more and wait and see. Anyone have any thoughts on this? My pay is likely to go up quite rapidly for a few years before plateauing... But as discussed with M&D (mum and dad) - alternative to squirrel away an emergency fund - which I should do anyway.

Other results of conversation with M&D relevant to moneysaving - they are going to send me the details of index linked savings certificates in my name so I can get the address changed to here etc. This is going to be the very start of my house fund. I think there's about £300 in there to mature in 2018 but will find out.

I also mentioned about saving for a KitchenAid (one of the big professional ones!) and how if I put a bit away each month I could get one for myself for my birthday next summer. They suggested I might like a contribution to the KA fund for Christmas. That's honestly probably the most useful thing they could give me, as I don't want or need much in the way of material goods. I am thinking I could perhaps use it as part of my first month HTB ISA as it looks like I'll be opening one in December/January - so it won't be open for long but better to get some in this tax year instead of nothing! Otherwise I'm unlikely to get much more than £200 together and it seems a shame to miss out on that first month's bonus of being able to put in more.

In less exciting news - got my first water bill today. They said it could take up to 6 months and I was secretly hoping to not get one until DF. Anyway £63 paid today, and changed to direct debit for the discount from November.

Since today has been a spend day, I'm also buying the £13 train ticket I need to get to OH's from mine to start our holiday (yes the NSD challenge means I've been putting it off)!

My meal planning has also gone out of the window a bit - partly because I'm eating less than I thought so my meals stretch further. I am still cooking almost everything from stores (with exception of steak tomorrow) so I think it's ok.

I'm now more worried about ending this month deeper into the overdraft than I started it... and I know it's avoidable because if I hadn't been going on holiday I'd be clearing an impressive amount of overdraft.

Hey,

It sounds like you are doing a blooming great job. Putting money away each month for the kitchen aid makes it a lot less daunting and you'll feel so great when you buy it knowing you saved up for it yourself.

Well done on setting up the help to buy ISA. I'm in a similar position...I've set it up and put in the £1000 but my direct debit each month is a horrible £5. I know it's better than nothing but it does make me sad.

I've just started an emergency fund and it is honestly the best thing that I have ever done..I feel so much better know than I have £100 saved already for those emergencys.

I know what you mean about worrying about being more in debt at the end of the month. Through the 2 years that I have been more sensible about money I have learnt that some months it isn't about the number of your finances but more the lessons we're learning. Our finances arent always going to be in a positive state and as long as we are being rational, balanced and making sensible desisions then it is ok to spend a few months (not too many as then it gets silly) more in the overdraft than others. This oulook has stopped me going crazy and make sure I enjoy life.

Keep up the good work

ab_saver

Thanks littlebirdie!

I confess I haven't actually opened the HTB ISA yet (I wish I had as the new customer interest rates are getting progressively worse) - but as soon as I'm out of (or pretty much out of) my overdraft I will. I've now set myself a target of having one open in December - so I can just put any money I get given in there straight away.

I'm liking your message about the journey mattering - I agree that even if I do end up worse off at the end of this month I've learned valuable lessons - mostly about planning! If I'd had a holiday fund set aside, and an emergency fund to help me cope with being £500 short this month due to being overtaxed, then I wouldn't find myself in this situation and it would have been business as usual.

Overall, I'm not too far off track - I should make the end of November - but then have to work hard to stay in the black all month through December!

I hope it's going well for you

Thank you!