Small Steps Out Of Massive Debt!

GeorgianaCavendish

GeorgianaCavendish said:

Just logged in to HMRC to do the WFH tax relief claim for 2021/2022 - looks like the same deal as last year where tax relief is given for the whole year. 

It is the same as last year, in case anyone was thinking of doing it!  

GeorgianaCavendish

Just checking in to say hello Holding off doing my usual payday update because the LISA bonus is due soon and I really want to include it in my June figures. If it hasn't arrived after the long weekend I will update anyway. 

GeorgianaCavendish

My Norton anti-virus software and Microsoft 365 subscriptions are coming to an end soon (I got both free for 12 months when I purchased my laptop last year) - the autorenewal costs on the anti-virus software in particular are extortionate, where does everyone get their anti-virus software?
Is there a cheaper way to get Microsoft 365 (£59.99 for the year) ?
(I use the Microsoft 365 applications extensively for my degree course work, so I don't want to use an alternative like Google docs - I guess I'm happy to pay the £59.99 if no alternative)

astrocytic_kitten

I use free antivirus software, I can’t remember if it’s Avast or Avira. There’s another one staring with A I’ve used in the past too. For the Office 365, it would be worth checking if you can get it free or subsidised via either work or uni. My work heavily subsidises Office for personal computers, and I think some students can get it for free too (sorry this is all a bit vague!).

GeorgianaCavendish

astrocytic_kitten said:

I use free antivirus software, I can’t remember if it’s Avast or Avira. There’s another one staring with A I’ve used in the past too. For the Office 365, it would be worth checking if you can get it free or subsidised via either work or uni. My work heavily subsidises Office for personal computers, and I think some students can get it for free too (sorry this is all a bit vague!).

Thank you! I found a MSE article about free anti virus software and I've now downloaded AVG Virus Protection so that's one thing done. I will check with work and uni to see if they have any offers on Office 365 - I didn't even think of asking them so that is a great suggestion! 

GeorgianaCavendish

June 2021 Goals & Debt Totals

I've now been told that LISA bonus is delayed until end of June due to "delays at HMRC", but interest on that bonus will be backdated so that's something. Anyway, that means I can go ahead and update my figures for June  
I'm back on YNAB and tweaking my budget categories. I think the current budget will continue for at least the next three months, so I'm not expecting any big increases in my expenses.
There is a decent chance that my office might reopen in the Autumn but if so, it would likely be a phased return with employees going in a couple of days a week until the end of 2021. If that is the case then I can hopefully take advantage of the 8 day a month railcard that is launching soon to save some money on the commute, but even with that saving I would have a big increase in expenses. Not panicking but I'm keeping it in mind

Debt £1,750.00

Virgin - £1,750.00
0% until March 2022
(7 more payments to go!)

Deposit Savings

Total Deposit Savings: 31.29% 

GeorgianaCavendish

Anyone else having issues with Ipsos I-Say at the moment? Surveys keep crashing before the final page, in some cases points are added to my balance and not in others. Really annoying as I'm so close to a £10 voucher cash out! 

GeorgianaCavendish

July 2021 Goals & Debt Totals

I've now got the LISA bonus!   

I'm going to tweak YNAB again because some of my medium term goals have changed (things like hairdresser prices changing etc) so I need to sort out my pots to make sure I'm on track for next time. I had my hair done last week and had enough in the pot to cover the increased cost but I'm now starting again from zero which feels very weird.

The flexi season ticket is not as good savings-wise as I had hoped. Basically for 8 days per month it is only 20% cheaper than the cost of a monthly season ticket! Of course any savings are good, but it is quite disappointing as I thought it would be a bigger saving than this. Definitely something to keep in mind. 

July should be quite a cheap month for me in terms of variable spends as no big events such as birthdays or unexpected bills coming up. Hoping to do some decluttering too and get some things up on ebay. 

Debt £1,500.00

Virgin - £1,500.00
0% until March 2022
(6 more payments to go!)

Deposit Savings

Total Deposit Savings: 43.64% (big boost from LISA bonus finally arriving!) 

astrocytic_kitten

Brilliant progress, well done! 

I know what you mean about the hair, I need to make an appointment soon (it’s been several months and my curly hair has gone full 80s huge frizzy perm) but the thought of actually using the money earmarked for a haircut and then having to pay out again feels weird. Though I’m desperate to get it back into some kind of shape and don’t plan to ever go this long without a cut again 😂

WinterWarrior

Well done. Nearly half way to the deposit target!