mad at myself: £12K and counting

NotNormal

luffa wrote: »

Thanks. I forgot to mention Netflix (it's included in the £30 I listed in the SOA though) and also forgot my gym membership which is £50. I won't get rid if that as it's helped me lose weight and feel better and it's cheaper than PAYG if I go 2x per week (and I currently do 3x per week).

Hopefully I have not missed anything. Food for thought.

Making smart money choices is about thinking things through. So in regards to the gym membership you've calculated the cost and that works out the most cost effective, then it's very much a smart money choice

luffa wrote: »

PS. I just got 6 Amazon boxes. I ordered LED bulbs of different sizes and they came for some weird reason in separate packages... the look on the delivery guy when he handed me 6 packages.. a good one for my spending habits.

Oh I have had that one before haha. Ordered 3 small things, they sent in 3 large boxes haha. Literally think of putting a necklace in a normal sized jewellery box, then inside a laptop box... Now deliver three of those. I've yet to work out the logic behind that one to be honest.

If you ever want to feel judged for your financial choices head over to the credit rating board :rotfl: posted to ask a question and I have like one answer and the rest of the comments are honestly not necessary. Especially the person telling me that I have more important things to worry about than my credit rating if I need to borrow money.. It's a board for people who are borrowing money though...?

monz

Try doing surveys to! This cut costs for xmas and birthdays as well for me

Hi btw and good luck x

luffa

Thank you. I cannot do surveys - for various reasons I can't explain here... job-related.

So I've tidied up my credit card accounts, shifted v limited amounts from the Barclaycard to AA and BOS (basically maximized those as the 0% balance transfer rates are valid until early and mid 2018 - too bad I didn't have more room to transfer all).

Current balances:
BOS: £7600 @ 0% until June 2018
AA £3875 @ 0% until March 2018
Barclaycard £475 @ 7.9%

However the Barclaycard will go up significantly next week as I need to pay for the tooth abscess treatment... :depressed:. So that balance needs to go asap. I'll be paying £100 each to AA and BOS for now, and as much as I can - ideally £300 monthly - to Barclaycard. I have a bonus coming up in December and I hope Barclaycard & AA credit cards will be gone. I WAS planning on buying a new washing machine (with a dryer) but that can wait for another year. I also need to have some work done in the bathroom - resealing around the tub and installing an extractor fan, but I think the fan can wait. I don't dare DIY-ing the other job, will see how much it costs. There is a bit of mold and it got to the point where I think it isn't safe anymore. I have to get someone in during half term - will get some quotes...

My bank account isn't too shabby, I already bought groceries for this week and paid all bills except mobile (all bills are due between 26th and 5th, including CC payments) - and there's £240 in it until the 25th so that should be enough, right? Riiight?

Off to lunch now, paid one by the almighty employer no such thing as a free lunch, it's a work meeting.

wrigglepig

Re-sealing round a bath is actually really easy - have a look online to see if there are any DIY tutorials, you may be surprised. Sealant tubes are fairly cheap, you just need one of those and some Stanley blades to cut away the old sealant.


I'm not at all DIY savvy but would consider this an 'easy' job!

luffa

I don't know about that... I'm very good at assembling IKEA furniture and I dare to do small paint jobs and change light bulbs but that looks too difficult for me and I don't want to get water leaking issues...

I've recently learned how to 'quick fix' radiator valves and change window handles, but the sealant job looks messy.

The joys of singledom

Siebrie

"I do conference calling for work" - can work reimburse the cost of having a landline?


Would the dentist agree to a payment plan, so that you don't have to put it on a credit card?


Where do you get the clothes for your child? From friends, family and colleagues? My 2 dds are 5 and 8 now, and I have only ever bought a few pieces of underwear, and a new dress for both. And new shoes, we never seem to get decent shoes.

luffa

Thanks. It's entirely my choice to work from home - and they aren't paying for the privilege. It's saving me on commute costs anyway so I think it's fine...

Good idea with the dental costs plan, I will inquire.

Trying to be frugal with clothes but shoes are a fortune... esp school shoes.

louby40

Does your 4 yr old not get free school,lunches at school?

Siebrie

Sorry to press on, but have you asked your employer and checked with colleagues?

I can confirm what the others have said: resealing the bath is easy. I seem to remember wikihow has a very clear instruction on it.

Maybe this year, for birthdays and Cmas you can drop hints that you would like practical gifts, such as school shoes, gloves, shower gel? If you still like to use a special brand of shower gel/shampoo, that would make a much-aporeciated gift. You can alternate between the special shampoo and the cheapest you can tolerate to make further savings.

luffa

@louby40: "year 4", not 4 years old :-)

@Siebrie: I tried to get it paid but they don't do it unless WFH it is the company's choice - however, that might happen in the future as there is talk about hot-desk-ing and slashing the permanent desks in half. If that happens, I will be able to expense even my Internet connection, not only phone.

Thanks for the cool ideas re Christmas!