FinancialBliss: My mortgage free journey…

setmefree2

Nat West seem very good at detecting changes in spending on my current account. Too good almost. I always have trouble at christmas as my card gets stopped because of "unusual activity" The "unusual activity" is me doing my christmas shopping:rolleyes:.

financialbliss

Quick bit of good news...

I've just logged in to our Barclaycard Goldfish card - been doing this daily since fraud problems started and they have refunded the final transaction of 337.78. Credit card shows a great big balance of zero, as I've just paid the statement too.

Mind you, I called them on Friday after I felt they were dragging their heels and my issue was going to be passed on to a manager. Looks like that did the trick.

Question now, is that after the poor customer service, do I continue to use Barclaycard Goldfish card or look for another cash back card. We have a 10k credit limit, and there's no guarantee that I'd get a limit anywhere near that with a new card, but the Goldfish points programme is good. Need to think this one over - stay or swap?

While on the subject of credit cards, I got an e-mail about my House of Fraser credit card from GE Money - despite not owning one. Quick check of the credit card forums suggests that GE Money have e-mailed the wrong list of card holders. Doesn't inject me with lots of confidence of them managing a credit card for me if they can't get an address right.

Financial Bliss.

Lunar_Eclipse

FB

A couple of tips re: car insurance.

Firstly, call you current insurer and tell them you don't think the renewal quote is competitive enough and could they do any better. If you have found better quotes, you might want to use them in the discussion. If you haven't, there is still no harm in asking.

I would suggest getting an online quote from Churchill and the AA. The latter was offering £70 cashback via Quidco when I renewed mine in April. Despite the AA searching the market for an insurance quote (which usually means expensive due to the middleman effect) they were the cheapest! Out of courtesy I called Churchill to see if they could match this offer and from memory, despite a c£150 difference (including the cashback), they got within £5 so I renewed with them. I think I pay something like £180 for the basic premium, plus claims protection. Two years ago my renewal came through at £460 hence a switch to Churchill (£330ish) and then further reduction this year. I think I'm close to the minimum now.

Re: credit cards. We have recently taken out FD's 1 year 0% with balance transfer credit card. This costs as little as £2.50 with a minimal balance transfer of £100, which you can then pay off immediately (they even suggested we do this.) I think we requested a 10k limit which was granted, although we do bank with them so our financial affairs are fairly transparent. I have also had their credit card for around 10 years; great service as always. Would recommend.

HTH.

rca779

With a young family FB, I can really recommend the Tesco Credit Card. You earn Tesco clubcard points with every £1 you spend on the card.

Then the Tesco club card points can earn you really good days out. Each £1 of Tesco club card points earned can be worth either £4 or £5 of days out voucher.

Last year we bought family season tickets to Thorpe Park, Madame Tousards, Warwick castle, Chesington World of Adventures & Alton towers with Tesco Club card points. It cost us less than £200 of clubcard points.

Mrs 779 & I recently enjoyed a weekend away at the Portsmouth Hilton, a visit to the historic docks, a trip upt he Spinnaker tower and meals at Cafe Rouge & Strada with EVERYTHING paid by Tesco club card points!!

financialbliss

Another little bit of good news. Managed to beat the renewal from esure of 261.08...

Had almost given up: standard quotes, cash back quotes etc, until I re-read the MSE car insurance article and noted a little paragraph that first direct would guarantee to beat your renewal quote by at least 10%

Well they did (just). Got a comparable car insurance quote for 234.93 - a saving of 26.15. Better in our pocket than theirs.

A further £2.50 coming from getting paid for doing car insurance quotes courtesy of quidco!

Nearly also signed up for green flag breakdown cover at an additional cost of £66 until I started doing breakdown cover quotes on-line and realised I could get this cheaper. Reason? Car is approaching 4 years old and it's not getting younger (bit like me :rotfl:). Going to investigate this separately nearer our Norfolk trip.

Lunar Eclipse / rca779 - thanks for the tips. On the insurance front, it amazes me how many people don't even bother shopping around - "Got my renewal, thought it was reasonable, so went with it". Was quoted that recently. I always shop around no matter what I'm buying.

FB.

SmlSave

Well done on getting the insurance sorted with a saving :T

afsha

Can I personally recommend you use quidco and go for a annual RAC cover which is next to nothing for the year if quidco pay up. I did this a year ago at the time it cost £10 for a years cover. I believe the offer is still available.

financialbliss

afsha wrote: »

Can I personally recommend you use quidco and go for a annual RAC cover which is next to nothing for the year if quidco pay up. I did this a year ago at the time it cost £10 for a years cover. I believe the offer is still available.

Hi afsha,
Thanks for the tip. Just done a quote for RAC and they come out at £384.99 :eek:

Even with £120 off (264.99), that's more than my renewal quote. I've actually gone with the First Direct quote of £234.93.

FB.

Double_Trouble

financialbliss wrote: »

Hi afsha,
Thanks for the tip. Just done a quote for RAC and they come out at £384.99 :eek:

Even with £120 off (264.99), that's more than my renewal quote. I've actually gone with the First Direct quote of £234.93.

FB.

I think afsha was referring to breakdown cover not insurance. I seem to remember that you don't shop at Mr. Ts but I used my clubcard vouchers to pay for mine.

DTxx

financialbliss

Been off work this last week and keeping a low profile as far as MSE is concerned. However, been busy / active with the kids with a money saving feel to it:

• Went to beach (free)
• Went to local park
• Went swimming using cheap voucher
• Went 10 pin bowling via a 2 games for 1 offer
• Went to cinema (free via Goldfish credit card vouchers)
• Paddling pool in back garden

All in all, had a good time without being too busy. Back to work on Monday!

FB.