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A Ditherer's Diary (again)
Comments
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We are the same in not wanting any form of credit when buying a car.Naomim said:@Baileys_Babe I really don't want a loan or any credit to buy a new car. Who knows, one of these days I'll have a big PB win and get a 5 year old car! 😂
Fingers crossed PBs are generous to you 🤞Fashion on a ration 2025 0/66 coupons spent
79.5 coupons rolled over 4/75.5 coupons spent - using for secondhand purchases
One income, home educating family0 -
Definitely never want to go back to credit for car purchases - I've never done a dealer credit type deal, but back in the day a bank loan was standard. No more!🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her2 -
Evening all,
It's been a while. Life took over in December. It's an extremely busy time at work (financial year end) and Christmas etc.
January I was just catching my breath so to speak.
No debt added to over Christmas period. 🎉 I got paid on Friday so for me it's the trigger to start my month from zero. We had £94 left in the bank account so it was split three ways. £31.50 each to credit card, savings & mortgage.
MrM has been told he's getting a payrise. I think it comes on his payslip at the end of the month.
I've also lost an envelope that has a lot of important information in it regarding banking etc. It's in the house somewhere, I've put it in a "very" safe place and cannot find it anywhere! One of our fixed term mortgage products is due to end soon and I need the log in details. It's so frustrating. 😡
I hope everyone has survived January.
Naomim4 -
Hi 😊 Long time no see 😊
Very well done for the no additional debt over Christmas 👏👏👏 And very satisfying to have nearly £100 to divvy up after January’s payday 🤩🎉
As for the very important envelope - very frustrating! However, you know who you’re paying each month 😊 So pick up the phone to them and be ready to answer all the likely security questions. They should be willing and able to help you.KKAs at 15.01.26:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £222,084
- OPs to mortgage = £12,881 Estd. interest saved = £6,203 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 14 books of target 52 in 2026 as @ 15th February.
Produce tracker: £39 of £400 in 2026
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.4 -
Good to hear from you.
Well done on no additional debt after Christmas and ending January with surplus.
That is a great suggestion from KKFashion on a ration 2025 0/66 coupons spent
79.5 coupons rolled over 4/75.5 coupons spent - using for secondhand purchases
One income, home educating family1 -
Very well done for getting through December with not only no additional debt but also money to overpay!
Places to look for the envelope? Some where that, if you were a burglar, you wouldn't think to look. Under the bread bin? In a suitcase? Under the mattress? In a book? Down the back of something? Probably best to ring up as KK suggests.I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/222 -
Fab to hear from you @Naomim! Congratulations on handling Christmas with grace and decorum. Yes, I think you'll need to gird your loins and call. As soon as you've finished, the envelope will turn up of course. Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx5
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Brilliant result on getting through December with a surplus - I hope you realise quite how far you've come with this stuff!
Fingers crossed for the envelope turning up, I too would be scouring the house in order to try to dodge the phone call!🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her1 -
Hey,
Still online at work as waiting on a call with the US in 10 mins.
I have had the whole kitchen apart looking for the envelope. At least it means it got a deep clean at the same time 😂 I bit the bullet and called today to reset my online banking details. All sorted. I'll have to tackle the bedroom next. Already looked in all handbags and rucksacks.
@EssexHebridean I am pleased with myself. Especially as we have the early payday and the wages were squirrelled away until needed 👌
Looking forward to MrM's payday although my Gas & Elec payments are going up by £30 a month and one of our mortgage products is going up in March by about £60 due to the lovely 1.49% fixed rate ending 😫 so a payrise is definitely needed. I have however turned the thermostat down 1degree to help counter the rise in DD.
16yo is ploughing through her 2nd lots of GCSE mocks and not a happy bunny. 20yo has just been made "lead chef" at his place of work that will also come with a small payrise. So I MUST sit him down and budget at he is not getting it at the moment and short at the end of the month (he puts a chunk into savings at my insistance)
Right off for my teams meeting 😴
Naomim
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I take it you have checked that the increase in energy DD is needed, rather than just an account review thing that's not actually required? If it does turn out that your calculations suggest it's not required then you may be able to adjust it down again - or at least in part - in your online account?
Well done to 20yo on the promotion - and yes, definitely time to get to grips with budgeting!
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her1
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