£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

Suffolk_lass

After we cleared our MBNA card we received a 0% offer for 15 months from them within two months. I would suggest you do not cancel it for this reason. If that happens to you - and it works with your re-mortgage timing, it is well worth you comparing what that would offer you compared with the £270 you would pay in interest on your Partnership card if you pay 18% APR on the £1520 (this was your balance in your SOA post at the start of October) - the fee (a one off, as opposed to compound interest) might be £50 but it would give you a £220 saving, over the next year or so, while your business gathers momentum.

Then when you do have to use your CC you can use the Partnership card, earn JL gift cards (that is what I do) and guarantee any purchases over £100 at the same time, through the credit card purchase guarantee scheme. I think I am right in thinking this would not impact on your credit file the way a search for a 0% deal would

Obviously (because you are doing well) all your future purchases will be planned and so you will be able to clear that new Partnership balance in full :money: to quote someone well known.

By the way, you should also update your mortgage broker if/when you clear the MBNA as it will help your mortgage application

Treadingonplaymobil

Yesterday's lists before I start on today's...

To do today
1. laundry (again). Done.
2. ironing (as always). Done, a bit.
3. make biscuits for clients. Done.
4. make soup for clients. Done, made a quadruple batch of tomato soup so plenty for dinner too.
5. make sourdough. Done - four loaves! Three in the freezer. Won't need to bake for a good few days.
6. tidy downstairs of house ready for clients. Done.
7. paint my nails (yay for gel lamp!). Done.
8. clear the other bits on my list (haven't counted, but it's definitely less than 39). Essentials done.

To do this week
1. Return/renew library ebooks. Done.
2. Declutter a couple of rooms in the house (preferably dining room and DC bedroom) - want to get all of them cleared again before December, the clutter has built up while I've been so mad with work. Dining room and sitting room done.

To do this month
1. keep the total spend for the month below £3,500. Well on track for this (around £3,100 expected), although haven't added to savings pots this month.
2. work a sensible number of hours, even if it means slower progress on the work and debt front. September was rubbish. This is going well so far.
3. make any homemade Christmas gifts. I think things like candles and knitting will have to carry over into November. Where did this month go?

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 37: Day 7

I have a professional assessment for one aspect of my work today. I'm not hugely nervous, but a bit on edge in case something goes horribly wrong today and I fail! Hopefully it will be fine though.

I have a small piece of paid work to do this afternoon once the assessment's over, and another client tomorrow, so it's a bit all go go go this weekend here. Then two more clients next week too (one already paid for). Nice to have a bit of an income boost though. Already have expenses paid and £120 of my £350 November salary ready to go, and my end of month invoicing will provide the rest.

To do today
1. work assessment.
2. work for other client.
3. ironing.
4. laundry.
5. make biscuits for tomorrow's client if today's eat all the biscuits (or I eat them in a fit of relief afterwards ).
6. get on with some knitting - DH wants a woolly hat for Christmas, and I'd like to knit the DCs something too. Would like to finish the scarf I'm working on for myself first if possible.

To do this week
1. Return/renew library ebooks. Done.
2. Declutter a couple of rooms in the house (preferably dining room and DC bedroom) - want to get all of them cleared again before December, the clutter has built up while I've been so mad with work. Dining room and sitting room done.

To do this month
1. keep the total spend for the month below £3,500. Well on track for this (around £3,100 expected), although haven't added to savings pots this month.
2. work a sensible number of hours, even if it means slower progress on the work and debt front. September was rubbish. This is going well so far, with the odd hiccup.
3. make any homemade Christmas gifts. I think things like candles and knitting will have to carry over into November. Where did this month go?

Chrystal

Hope your assessment goes OK

I don't know where you get your energy and drive from, but I wish you could bottle it... selling that would have you out of debt in a flash and I'd be your number 1 customer!

You seem to be finding ways to make everything work for you, and long may it continue. Huge admiration from me. X

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 38: Day 1

Another week! I can't do an round up of the debt totals because DH hasn't had a chance to sort the login for the Barclaycard or MBNA (both of which got wiped in a recent computer software update and neither of which we had written down anywhere!). I think they'll have held roughly static this month overall, because I've spent about £500 on the partnership card, and paid off about the same on other debts after interest.

I passed my assessment yesterday, woohoo! It's for the work that I'm having the issues with, but having passed the assessment gives me another string to my bow in the whole thing.

Another client today, then some work to do this afternoon, just limping on until the DCs go back to school tomorrow and I can crack on properly.

To do today
1. client this morning.
2. work for other client.
3. laundry.
4. ironing.
5. shopping list for next week - I've done the menu plan.
6. chase DH to sort banking logins.
7. plan next week's work.

To do this week
1. declutter and tidy DCs' bedroom.
2. plan November's budget.
3. Plan November working time/business goals etc.

To do this month
1. keep the total spend for the month below £3,500. Well on track for this (around £3,100 expected), although haven't added to savings pots this month.
2. work a sensible number of hours, even if it means slower progress on the work and debt front. September was rubbish. This is going well so far, with the odd hiccup.
3. make any homemade Christmas gifts. I think things like candles and knitting will have to carry over into November. Where did this month go?

Verbatim

Well done on passing your assessment. I know there was never any doubt about that but always good to get such things out of the way.
V

stvn1

I just wanted to say thank you for your diary. I realised this week how much trouble I was heading for and reading your diary and other diaries on here has been very motivating. Thanks.

Treadingonplaymobil

stvn1 wrote: »

I just wanted to say thank you for your diary. I realised this week how much trouble I was heading for and reading your diary and other diaries on here has been very motivating. Thanks.

That's lovely to hear, glad to have helped you on your way!

Treadingonplaymobil

A quick round up of today's lists. I'll hopefully be back to something more interesting/more MSE from tomorrow, as the DCs will be back at school and I'll have five seconds to think/drink tea in peace!

DH has gone away for work this evening for a day or two. I only remembered when it flashed up on my calendar about an hour before he was due to leave, even though we'd had the conversation about 18 times over the past week. Such a sieve for a brain at times.

To do today
1. client this morning. Done.
2. work for other client. Done, much more efficiently than expected, which is always nice.
3. laundry. DH did some, thankfully.
4. ironing. He didn't do this though. The mountain grows....
5. shopping list for next week - I've done the menu plan. Done, and DH did the shopping.
6. chase DH to sort banking logins. Not done, due to aforementioned forgotten work trip.
7. plan next week's work. Done, And have made a bit of a plan for November, as I'll have a month to really crack on with work before Christmas insanity starts (I swear I am required to watch a nativity/show up for a special assembly/look after a poorly child practically every day in December since they started school).

To do this week
1. declutter and tidy DCs' bedroom.
2. plan November's budget.
3. Plan November working time/business goals etc. Done.

To do this month
1. keep the total spend for the month below £3,500. Well on track for this (around £3,100 expected), although haven't added to savings pots this month.
2. work a sensible number of hours, even if it means slower progress on the work and debt front. September was rubbish. This is going well so far, with the odd hiccup.
3. make any homemade Christmas gifts. I think things like candles and knitting will have to carry over into November. Where did this month go?

armchairexpert

Oh, God, the November/December school insanity. Over here it's also summer, which means there's the end of year concerts and whatnot (Australia doesn't really bother with nativities, though, we're far too secular) and also lots of "bring a plate to share and we'll have a picnic outside" which sounds delightful until you're making 30 mini quiches at midnight.