Drawing a line under the debt. Take two.

Drawingaline

Well daily grind has hit hard and I am already feeling blue! When I did my fresh start I seemed to forget they we needed to eat and didn't budget for food for the month 😱🤦 so now my car maintenance and haircut lines are empty as I had to move the money from somewhere! 

New mattress ordered for the girl, this was budgeted for, also a new trampoline for the garden, the old one was scrapped before we moved it did four years and was well ised. Am hoping this one will do similar and by then it shouldn't be needed. Apart from sorting a catio for the cats (again money set aside) there should be no more large purchases needed. 

The girl has paid some money towards her new MacBook, and I will do a balance transfer in a week or so, that way the rest of the debt will be at 0% and she needs to have laid it all back by November. Her work has got very quiet now, but she is still being scheduled three shifts a week so far. I have said this is a priority so if she earns less she still has to pay the same amount off the debt and have less to spend. Hopefully a lesson in priorities. 

I have signed into the mortgage account online and seen how easy it will be to set up a recurring overpayment. We need to overpay around £250 a month in order to reduce the term down to 20 years which would bring us to paying until we are 65. I am determined to find it as I don't want a mortgage until we are 70! It was ok to do it like that so we could get the mortgage, but we really need to get the term down and we have the ability to overpay right now. Our only debt is to family so 0% and no pressure on paying it back. Although I want to do it asap. We can't overpay online until May, so once the new tax year starts and we know what we will be losing via tax credits (it will probably be halved at least) I can organise the budget better. But definitely something that needs doing. Am hoping to do £250 mortgage o/p £250 to the debt. 

Also need to find funds for the girls driving lesson. She turns 17 next month (how?!!!) So once they start up again we will have to enquire about them. Good job we are not planning on a holiday this year! Although I am hoping the theatres reopen this summer and we can do some trips. It is getting somewhat monotonous.

I also want to redo the two shower rooms and bathroom. Will be having a look into the best way of doing this. But not being able to browse the tile shop is frustrating! 

Anyway lots of plans, just not a lot can happen right now. I have limited funds left for decorating, think I will wallpaper one of the walls in the kitchen, found one I like and it won't cost too much. And just make me feel like I have made my mark on it. 

savingholmes

Good luck with the juggling funds.. I doubt we'll be allowed near hairdressers for some time to come!

Drawingaline

True, although me and the girl were both due the week lockdown began so we should be booked in first once restrictions ease. I spent a good half hour pulling out my greys today, a visit is definitely needed!

I painted part of the downstairs hallway, am not convinced with the colour, I would have preferred a shade darker I think, but I cba to paint over it again. I hung some pictures and mirrors and I have purchased a little table shelf thing which will go over the radiator. 

Tomorrow I am working most of the day, I really need to organise the smallest to do some sort of work, but neither of us are feeling particularly focused right now tbh. It's half term next week, maybe we can crack on and do something then. 

savingholmes

I am past the stage of being able to pull out greys. DD now has the 4-6 weekly job of dyeing my hair...

Drawingaline

Today we built a trampoline. It was -1c, I couldn't feel my feet once we had finished! But once done the small two spent a good half hour outside bouncing so it was well worth it. We knew it was going to be hard work, we built one five years ago. It had to be dismantled before we moved as the canvas ripped. If this one lasts five years we shouldn't need another one.

This month looks better for my wages. Will be very welcome after the past two paydays. A decision needs to be made regarding my bookkeeping job too. They are happy to keep me on until furlough ends, but if it isn't extended I will probably put my notice in to coincide with the end of the scheme. I need to have a chat with the directors in a month, but I think I would rather resign than be terminated. 

We had the council tax bill through, we are a band higher than I thought so having to redo the monthly budget. But we only owed about £50 more than I had set aside so not too bad. 

This weekend will be busy. Want to finish painting the downstairs hallway, the middle hallway and wallpaper a wall in the kitchen. Next week is half term but the smallest rely needs to crack on with the project we promised he would do and haven't started 😱

Also need to remember to call and cancel the life insurance. We took out a new policy when we moved and increased the mortgage so need to cancel the old one. I keep forgetting, and then if I call I can only cancel mine so need to plan it for when hubby is availability to talk to them too. Think they are open tomorrow morning so going to look out the poilcy and leave it somewhere prominent. Might actually remember to do it then!

savingholmes

Is there a window where your new policy won't pay out? Do you need to keep it a little while as a crossover thing or is that not necessary?  I wouldn't resign - you might get a pay out if they terminate you...

Drawingaline

I will have only worked for them for just over a year so no payout, and I wouldn't take one anyway. I am hoping they will reemploy me if necessary in a year or so.

Not sure about the insurance, good point. Will double check.

Drawingaline

Well I had a crazy busy weekend doing loads of painting. Also wallpapered a wall in the kitchen. Today has been a very relaxed day. Hubby came up out of work in a foul mood, and basically grumped about what I had planned for tea and I don't want to talk to him right now. He has taken himself off back downstairs. Hope he stays there until he is in a better mood!

I feel I should carry on with the painting but I just cba right now. I am working the next four days, Thursday and Friday are full days, going to kill me after not doing much since Xmas 😱

I got paid today, less than £200 for last month which is very very low. Anyway I will use it to pay for bits for the house. I need to get a locksmith out to replace the back door lock as it keeps sticking, and we might as well get the front door and patio door done, we don't know who has keys. Been a bit lax at sorting it. Also need to buy six more light fittings and get someone around to fit them. But at least all the bills are paid so anything I earn is extra right now.

I have looked at the budget going forward, we need to make sure we prioritise paying dad back, but the shower cubicle is broken in the main bathroom. No point in replacing it as I want to redo it all, but not in a position to actually redo the bathroom right now. Frustrating. It is useable, but the door keeps coming off the rails and one of the fixing is snapped. It's not a massive priority and doing the whole bathroom will cost quite a bit, just because of the tiling. 

savingholmes

Well done on the decorating. DH was similar about my soup - so feel your pain... 
Changing locks is a good idea...

bd80s

your still as busy as ever sorting everything out, must be great to be in an doing things the way you want them though. All the big things will get done in time and you can just enjoy the space at the moment