A Ditherer's Diary (again)

Naomim

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Hmmm...yes, I get that it's a quandary about the card accounts. I've personally got a bit of a down on MBNA because of the way their cards so often seem to rocket to higher than average rates when a 0% period ends - if it were me then I'd probably close it I think but I do appreciate that what's right for me isn't going to be right for everyone!

I'm sure MBNA offered me a money transfer which I was going to think about for the OD. I'll have another look.

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Can you point your friend to those forums or would you feel awkward about her potentially "recognising" you and your situation becoming more public than you'd like? Regardless, she definitely needs to switch her banking to a basic account somewhere that she has no debt and start having her salary paid in / bills paid out from there.

You could maybe show her the SOA calculator that we use on here and suggest to her that filling that in might be a helpful first step?

I've spoken to her again today. I'm not worried if she finds me on the boards, she knows I'm active on here and what my situation is. She's worried that what Nationwide have done is legally binding although she says there is nothing in writing. I have said she should open a basic account and treat the OD debt she has as another bill and complete an SOA. She's also worried about having defaults on the account as she rents and is looking to move this year if possible so doesn't want a poor credit rating. I'm pretty sure the Nationwide OD will be marked as Arranged Payments on any credit searches. (if that's right). She has said she is going to try and speak the CAB as she's done a DMP before and doesn't want to go down that road again.:( All I can do is be here with an understanding and sympathetic ear if she needs to sound off .

I've updated my snowball now my I've shifted some more of the debt to 0%. Apparently I've shaved a month off the debt free date :money::rotfl:

Also don't seem to have had as many prolific surveys this month yet but happy for anything that comes my way. I need to get some more bits on fleabay and FB. Will try tonight if I can.

Naomim

Naomim

Hello All,
I'm still here! I've just had a very busy time with work and have been tired of an evening so just vegging in front of the TV. Last week I also developed a twitch in my eye which inhibited viewing the forums on my phone. 

I seem to have had a bit of a spendy month and I can't rightly pinpoint where. Although my car insurance and MrM's car insurances both came out to the tune of £400.  Actually looking at my spreadsheet, I can pinpoint where it is. MrM signed 14yo up to our local gym so there was £40 joining fee. Good thing is it's only £20 a month, has a swimming pool as well as the gym, I can get my employer to contribute 50% and it's within walking distance so 14 has been going a lot. There's also no contract as it's a teen membership so can be cancelled any time without penalty.  The dog was groomed which also cost £40 and wasn't budgeted for. And there's a few other bits and pieces.  So if I look closely enough I can see where it's gone.

I'm still undecided what to do with the overdraft. I looked at the money transfer offers but there's not enough available on the cards to transfer it all. I'm thinking I could move bank accounts as I did the Nationwide eligibility calculator and we qualified. (our mortgage is with them). But then, what would our current bank do if we remove all income and leave the OD to be paid off? Funnily enough I have had a letter from them about the overdraft asking me to get in touch.  I'm thinking I ought to get in touch with them instead of ignoring them. I have my SOA already as I have my budgets sorted.

Talking of budget, I still have £16 of my own personal spending money left. I get paid on the 25th - 8 days to go. This is generally unheard of and I'm really pleased with myself.  I'm still not smoking, although the odd craving still wanders past my mind and I've cut out the daily latte. I'm still enjoying one at the weekend and I have had to amend my journey to work for now but it's working.
We've just had our appraisals at work so now waiting to hear if we get a bonus and/or pay-rise.  I should know about the pay-rise at the end of the month (I think).

Not much else going on. Work is REALLY busy at the moment with lots going on everywhere but it's all good.

Stay frugal

Naomim x 

Naomim

Not much happening on the money front. I still have £6 of personal spends left and get paid on Tuesday.  My Monzo pots are going great guns.  I have one more week of shopping left to do from the budget and still have £120.  The meal planning is working well, tonight was burritos and they were amazing!  

I was having a chat with my brother today and he has offered to lend me the money to clear the overdraft.  I have declined for now but said if I can't sort it I'll let him know.

It's half term but I've worked all of it except for Friday. I took 10yo to a ceramics cafe so spent about £20 all in. Not bad for a creative 3 hours

My Sister in law has been served a repossession notice on her house. She has 3 weeks to move out. She's been unable to meet her mortgage & bills since her ex husband left her four years ago. The bank took her to court last year but she has not been able to keep up the agreed payments.  The house is up for sale.  She's arranged an open house for next Saturday so the mortgage company have said they will wait and see what the outcome is. I just hope she gets an offer.  
Naomim 

Naomim

An NSD for me today. Payday tomorrow and I still have £5.91 left of personal spends.  I mentioned it to MrM this morning and he said he does too. But thinking about it, he certainly doesn't as he made a few unaccounted spends out of the bank account. 

Silly dog needs booking in to the vets this week to have his bum squeezed and a repeat prescription for his arthritis meds.  I need to pay £10 deposit for 10yo to go to Scoutabout then work out savings plan/monzo pot for it.

I've been trying to find an app where I can see my credit card debts in one place. I can see my Barclaycard if I log onto my Barclays app but would like to see all the debt on one go. And the total reducing!  So please let me know if you use anything phone/app based.

Naomim x

EssexHebridean

No apps in use here I'm afraid - I'm incredibly cagey about authorising anything else to access banking stuff so tend to just stick with looking at things independently. 

Good to know that you have the fallback of help from your brother should you need it - presuming that option doesn't come with emotional baggage attached. And you're doing brilliantly with your Monzo pots aren't you - so glad that's working for you! 

Naomim

Thanks EH,

My brother is one of the good people. We don't see each other that often (his g/f has issues with me) but meet in Starbucks covertly at weekends    I'm pretty sure if I really needed it he'd give me the money in a shot. A few years ago he lent me the money for 14's skiing trip and I just paid back by standing order so we already have that trust in place. 

We're supposed to find out about the bonus this week but my manager is in the US so not sure if we'll have to wait until Monday. 

I just love Monzo...   I've just transferred some bits over now I've been paid  There's just over £1,000 in there spread across my pots, budgeting slowly. In October when I had sleepless nights and finally had my lbm, if you'd have said I'd have managed to have saved that amount of money, continued to pay my credit cards + a bit more and not go over the overdraft limit, I would have not believed you one bit. But, here I am.  No way near out of debt but definitely more at peace with myself and my goals.

Naomim x 

astrocytic_kitten

You’re doing amazingly!

moving_forward

Hullooooo, I eventually noticed you had a link to your diary on your signature!! May take me a while to "catch up" but I shall make it a mission to do so 

Naomim

moving_forward said:

Hullooooo, I eventually noticed you had a link to your diary on your signature!! May take me a while to "catch up" but I shall make it a mission to do so 

Thank you.  I see you have the grocery challenge in your signature. I do it but just never "actively" join in on the thread.  I allocate £425 a month to shopping. 4 of us including a teenage human hoover with hollow legs.  My Tesco delivery is being made today, last of this month and left me with £8.81 which I'm about to sweep onto a credit card as an over-payment. 

Boss has whatsapped from the US to say he has our "letters" re the bonus and pay rise and do we want him to call us or wait for face to face on Monday. I think I'm going to have a phone call.   Exciting times!  Although the company do it oddly, the bonus gets paid to us in full in the middle of March then the tax comes out of the March pay at the end of the month.  So I'm going to have to move it to a "holding" place until the March pay is in so I know exactly where I am.

moving_forward

Glad I don't work for an american company! Id spend it all lol
Regarding your Grocery Shopping thats amazing £425 for a family of 4.  Its our first join in on the Grocery challenge so I've set what I want to spend.  I have a hoover husband, I work his portions out by literally doubling what a normal person would eat. Yes as you would expect hes the perfect weight and I'm the fatty lol. 
How do you do the link for the diary in your sig please? I tried but it wouldn't allow me to rename the hyperlink like I can in excel and it didn't work after all!