I am being upgraded from Mum to Nan - I need a plan!

Mum2Nan

My new role hasn't turned out quite as I had hoped.  Everything with my team is going fine but I am having to deal wth a t*at on a power trip.  She has serious issues and previous form.  I am putting up with it for now but not for much longer.

In much better news, I have remortgaged.  My new rate will be 1.36% from 1 January but not locked in until then.  I can't believe how easy it was, all done online.  This new rate will save me £101 per month.  Apart from aforementioned t*at, all I have to worry about now is my final balance transfer.  Fingers crossed something comes up soon. 

Baileys_Babe

Great news on the upcoming mortgage savings. What plans do you have for your savings? increasing your debt repayments? overpaying your mortgage? increasing your savings? being more generous to your budget pots? or a combination?

Sarahwithlove

Great news about the mortgage. Hope you manage to get things sorted at work. 

Mum2Nan

It's been another busy few days but enjoyable in the main.

Last Thursday evening until yesterday morning BF was here and yesterday afternoon did my usual Sunday afternoon visit to my parents.  You can't beat mum's roast dinner! 

On Friday I managed to get to Aldi so cancelled Sainsbury's delivery for Saturday.  They are becoming ever more expensive despite their price lock down promise.  I spent £27 in there.  I didn't pick up a couple of items due to their short shelf life so changed my meal plan to accommodate.  My weekly shop wouldn't normally be that cheap but my freezer and cupboards are very full so it was a very easy win. 

On Friday morning I had another issue with the woman on a power trip who put a meeting in my diary at the same time I had another meeting so declined it with a response that as I already had another meeting could it please either be rescheduled or go ahead without me and someone feed back.  Well, I forwarded the response I received to my line manager which is something I would not normally do but I am not putting up with being 'spoken' to like that either verbally or via e-mail resulting in a catch-up with my LM this morning.  I am assured the matter is being dealt with so I shall watch this space.  Everything else is going well at work.  There is always one person that spoils it for the rest.  The funny thing is, she thinks she's very important and popular but she's neither.

Baileys_Babe said:

Great news on the upcoming mortgage savings. What plans do you have for your savings? increasing your debt repayments? overpaying your mortgage? increasing your savings? being more generous to your budget pots? or a combination?

@Baileys_Babe - I am not sure yet.  I can rule out overpayments on the mortgage whilst I concentrate on debt repayments and I am reasonably happy with my budget pots whilst WfH (I merged grocery, clothing and entertainment pots a while back) although still catching up on one or two from the couple of months I missed earlier in the year so I am thinking probably savings in a separate account that I can dip into if needed without feeling guilty (thinking of debt repayments here, rather than just wasting it).

Hopefully, once a BT has been sorted out for the dreaded MC by 3 December, by then I will have 1 more payment to make to Barclays Finance on 1 January but intend paying that a few days early so I don't carry it into 2021 which will free up another £87.42.  I will update my SOA then and see what position I am in.  I could snowball the TSB loan and get that paid off as it will be my only interest debt and seems like it's been hanging around forever.  Would love to see that gone.

In other financial news, I am waiting for a credit of £85.44 from my previous utility supplier now my switch is complete.

I've got a dental appointment first thing Friday morning, fingers crossed it's not cancelled this time as I really need my filling sorted out.

@Sarahwithlove - thank you!

Mum2Nan

I received an incoming call on Skype from the woman on a power trip this afternoon.  LM warned me to expect it on our call this morning.  I could sense the apology was stuck in her throat and there it remained.  I no longer have to deal with her thank God but she's been moved to another team so they will have to put up with her.  We've gone through all this redundancy process and somehow she's kept her job.  I think it's now onwards and upwards now she's gone, for me at least!

beanielou

That’s fine then 😊

Blackcats

Glad that you won't be directly impacted by that woman any more.  It seems that some people seem to stick around in organisations when it's obvious to most people that they are not an asset!  Hopefully you can now enjoy your new role.
money plans sound sensible - I think you will notice fast progress now. 

Baileys_Babe

Glad to hear power trip woman is no longer your problem, hopefully, the new team will either kick her into shape or kick her out.

Mum2Nan

@Baileys_Babe Thanks.  I really hope to see further progress over the next few months!

Several times I have logged in to update my diary over the last few days only to be interrupted each time although one was a welcome interruption as it was DD and DGS at the door.  I've had DGS twice this week due to child care issues so ended up having to book a day off work.  I kind of blagged the couple of hours needed in the afternoon but worked a bit later into the evening to make up for it.

BF has been around less this week due to his shift pattern changing slightly to cover a colleague.  Next week we will be back to normal.  Sunday, visited my parents and had dinner there.  I won't be visiting this weekend so boo to no Mum's roast dinner.

Work is going much better now woman on a power trip is out of my hair.  I still have to have minor interaction with her through group e-mails and Skype meetings but that can't be avoided but because it's a group she can't bully me.

My dental appointment cost another £90 so my Health & Beauty pot is now empty.

Financially, this week has been very spendy although I am doing very well with my grocery budget this month.  I cancelled Sainsbury's again this week and went to Aldi.  Spend there was almost £32.  I'm putting the savings aside for debt repayments which could see me drop into the next £1K bracket.  Fingers crossed this happens.

Thursday I desperately needed petrol so filled up the tank.  Cost was almost £44 but it will probably be another couple of months before I have to fill up again.

Last night I paid my car tax, £205 for the year.  I was surprised it didn't go up again this year.  

My car is booked in for a mini service and MoT on 9 November.  I booked and paid for it online with my usual garage, cost was £99.  Both these sums have come out of the car pot.  I've not used it nearly as much this year for obvious reasons so fingers crossed it passes.  It's had a new tyre and battery already this year and don't have enough saved for any major repairs.

I have applied for the WfH tax relief.  It's not much but as I am entitled to it, I have claimed it.  It must have taken less than a couple of minutes to arrange and it's been backdated to beginning of lockdown so worth doing.  HMRC confirmed they will amend my tax code.   I am missing going into the office one day a week but I guess I am saving almost £30 a day not going in.

I am still waiting for the credit due from my previous utility supplier.  I will have to chase them soon.

I've been shopping around for car insurance also due next month.  My current insurers have sent through a renewal notice for £321.46.  I have been quoted £271.82 by another company.  The policy is much better than my existing one with other benefits included along with breakdown cover with the RAC.  If I want to upgrade to include Home Start it's £298 so it's a no brainer really.  I will cancel the remaining 2 months membership of the AA so that won't need renewing in January so another saving there.  If I go through Quidco I will also receive £35 cash back.  My car pot will be empty after I have paid the insurance.

I have the day to myself and it's started very early.  It's lovely sitting here in peace, in the dark with a brew.  Once I get moving I have lots of housework to do today.  What an exciting life I lead...

beanielou

All sounding good.