This Duo's debt free journey

EssexHebridean

That's brilliant progress on the debt DFD!

A new SOA sounds like a good plan allowing that the overall picture has changed quite a lot.

Willowtree222

Ah ok. I think planning for the summer is a great idea. At least if you start now, you have a chance of making sure you are not in your overdraft. x

DebtFreeDuo

Thank you both for stopping by. EH yes a lot has certainly changed, I anticipate that my outgoings should be quite low compared to previously, my debt will be cleared, I won't have a phone contract.

My overdraft for next summer is looking to be around the £600 mark, I'm hoping I can reduce this if I reduce my spending but if I can't then it will only be temporary, for around a month until my student finance comes through and I won't have that problem the following summer as my finances will be better balanced.

I have my car MOT and service due very shortly, my car needs some work this time around, I have a little over £500 in the car pot which I am really hoping will cover the cost. I need 2 tyres I think and possibly my brakes and an oil leak. There could also be other things that crop up.

In other news, uni seems to be going ok so far, I have had a couple of decent grades back although workload has increased recently. Trying my best to prepare early for my exams as they are fast approaching!

Willowtree222

I hate it when cars go in. Mine is in on the 27th December. I really don't feel like it to be honest with you. I dread it every year in case something comes back x

EssexHebridean

My foray from years ago into buying brand new cars was almost entirely focused on MoT test avoidance after some painful experiences in years gone by....having said that the last one I did buy brand new did last me for 11 years with NO real nasty surprises so something good came from it anyway!

Hopefully yours will be OK!

db2016

new cars tend to have more problems than old!

the rules that say a new car doesn't need an MOT for 3 years is stupid.

i've seen and heard many a car practically fall to bits because the owners think they dont have to have one for 3 years..

and obviously that also happens to be when most leases are for! so cars get handed back with lots of issues thrown up at their first mot, and fixed and sold on, you hope!

an ex had a motability car, serviced yes but that was only fluids, and no MOT
Mot just before she handed it back and the brake discs were paper thin, as where the pads, tyres barely legal and suspension issues.

DebtFreeDuo

I received a final bill recently from when I swtiched my energy months ago. It turns out that my previous company had my meter reading down incorrectly from a smart meter, they gave me a credit around 2 years ago on my bill that should never have been issued and so now have amended it back. Due to Ofgem regulations an energy company cannot back-bill for energy used over 12 months ago. I'm not sure if my case will be complex as it was previously an incorrect adjustment but I'm adamant that this is them chasing for energy used 2 years ago or more.

Fingers crossed they reduce this bill as its going to be a struggle to pay it right now!

DebtFreeDuo

MOT booked in, just over a week away. I have given them a long list of things that I think needs doing and no doubt there will be other things come up too! Booked it in with a garage I found on the good garage scheme website, hoping it will be a good one that I can trust that will become my new go to place for everything car related.

Been very busy with uni work, everything has hit at once which is stopping me from spending pretty much any money. I have barely even thought about Christmas! I did manage to get a couple of presents during nectar double up but was disappointed that they reduced the amount you could double up this year. I still have more than £200 in nectar points so I may just use some of it to get some other presents. I have bought DS a couple of small bits and a lego set, I'm tempted to leave it at that as there hasn't been much that he has asked me for. He gets loads from other people and still has some lego sets from last year that we are yet to build.

EssexHebridean

db2016 wrote: »

new cars tend to have more problems than old!

the rules that say a new car doesn't need an MOT for 3 years is stupid.

i've seen and heard many a car practically fall to bits because the owners think they dont have to have one for 3 years..

and obviously that also happens to be when most leases are for! so cars get handed back with lots of issues thrown up at their first mot, and fixed and sold on, you hope!

an ex had a motability car, serviced yes but that was only fluids, and no MOT
Mot just before she handed it back and the brake discs were paper thin, as where the pads, tyres barely legal and suspension issues.

All these issues should be being picked up when the vehicle is serviced though - at least if a competent garage is used. Even the backstreet places we use issue an advisory list with a service so you know about stuff needing done! As for tyres, you have a responsibility to keen an eye on those yourself in any event.

DFD it's invaluable to have a garage you can trust isn't it! We use two these days - a friend of MrEH's from rugby set up on his own a few years ago so one car goes there for everything, while the other alternates between going to Neil and going to the garage we used previously who we also want to keep on-side. Hopefully the one where you have yours booked in will turn out to be a good find!

Also hoping you win your battle re the energy - so much for smart meters meaning that these sorts of errors won't occur, eh?!

DebtFreeDuo

EssexHebridean wrote: »

All these issues should be being picked up when the vehicle is serviced though - at least if a competent garage is used. Even the backstreet places we use issue an advisory list with a service so you know about stuff needing done! As for tyres, you have a responsibility to keen an eye on those yourself in any event.

DFD it's invaluable to have a garage you can trust isn't it! We use two these days - a friend of MrEH's from rugby set up on his own a few years ago so one car goes there for everything, while the other alternates between going to Neil and going to the garage we used previously who we also want to keep on-side. Hopefully the one where you have yours booked in will turn out to be a good find!

Also hoping you win your battle re the energy - so much for smart meters meaning that these sorts of errors won't occur, eh?!

Oh it really is invaluable, I have not yet managed to find one that I trust for everything in the 10+ years that I have been driving which is very sad really.

Urgh I'm really annoyed regarding the energy, they have now put a late payment on my credit file even though I'm in dispute with them, I've been working extremely hard to keep my credit file clean as with being a student I already have a lot against me as they don't see my income as 'stable'. I'm not sure where I stand with that, might have to give the energy company a call and see if they can get it removed.