DD's accountability thread

DD265

I'm not convinced about the new forum yet... time will tell. Things like changing ALL subscribed threads to send an email notification, when you used to have the facility to not get notifications, and notifications were only sent once per thread between log ins, regardless of the reply... Suffice to say I've had a ridiculous number of emails this morning and had to turn notifications off completely. I work in software and design/test software as part of my job so I feel reasonably qualified to say that the data migration could've been better, and if it happened this way because that's the functionality... well they should've changed it! The double spacing as I'm writing this is horrid too. I can't imagine not using the forum, so hopefully we all get used to it.

I might've made a mistake on the number plates. I saw on a thread in motoring that somebody bought their number plates online and it saved a lot of money, so I did the same. Only I didn't want to send my physical documents off, so I found somebody on eBay who'd accept photos/PDFs. The listing said they were registered etc, though I didn't find them on DVLA as I didn't have their address. Then they asked for additional documents beyond what I felt was required, but I figured as they weren't seeing the originals.. They had good feedback and responded quickly, so I ordered and it got a tracking number on Thursday. Now, the tracking hasn't been updated, and the listing has been pulled by eBay so I'm concerned. Normally I'd be happy with buyer protection, but I need to drive the car next Saturday and I won't be able to escalate a case until after that. I've contacted the seller and hopefully everything is fine. Otherwise I'll have wasted £15, rather than saving myself £15. Suffice to say I won't be using them for the plates for the Tiguan. Wish I'd listened to my gut!

We've got our budget meeting later. I don't think we'll make any big changes this month; I was able to balance everything on my side thanks to the bonus from work, but I don't have much spare money left at all now. OH hasn't contributed to the cars, but I earn more, use one for work, get the car allowance etc... Sometimes it feels a little unfair as he still benefits and other times it feels totally reasonable!

DD265

I've heard back from the eBay seller, the tracking is updated and they sent the item special delivery so it should be with me tomorrow - I feel much better about it now. Fingers crossed it all works out. I think I'll still get the plates for the Tiguan made in person though.

I hope everybody is holding up OK with the weather. Back where we used to live is flooded again - first time since the boxing day floods of 2015. The flat is probably OK, but the car park is under water, and the rest of the valley has been hit hard. It's devastating to see, and whilst I'm glad we're out of it, I also feel bad that we're not around to help. We're pretty much just getting battered by the wind, though I can see fields getting waterlogged. We've a willow-ish fence panel that's gone and will need replacing, but the rest are holding up just fine; they're big wooden panels which slot down into concrete posts so they've room to blow around a bit. The bins went in the garage so they didn't damage the cars, and we'll definitely be giving the roof a once over when the weather has passed, but I think it just sounds bad.

OH has offered to contribute to the car, but I think we'll see what the Golf ends up costing at service and MOT first. I paid an extra £12.50 off the MBNA card, so the balance is £9700. I've set the direct debit to go at £100 a month (slightly more than minimum) and will throw the other £250 of the car allowance first at the Barclaycard (will be clear in 2 months) then at my emergency fund, before focusing on paying the MBNA card down. I'm hoping that by only having the one card to focus on, whilst I do need to pay it off at a higher rate than the car allowance alone permits, I'll ultimately have more disposible income to put towards home improvements.

I've found a blind that I'd like for our spare bedroom, but it seems that we need a custom size (naturally). It came in at £80 - I've ordered a swatch but will then try to hunt down similar fabric and buy a roller blind kit, or reuse the existing one!

DD265

Number plates arrived and they aren't road legal - definitely feeling like an idiot! They're missing the maker's identifying details and postcode so no good, but they want the (useless) plates back. I'm hoping that this was just a case of somebody out to make a quick buck/thinking I'm trying to get a free set of plates and not somebody out to clone a car/ID theft - I figure they already had my details before sending the plates and there's nothing stopping them making more so... I got the plates made locally (from a DVLA registered supplier) today, and will be keeping a close eye on car related post and my credit reports for the next few months. Lesson learned.

I also found out that when the car dealership did the cambelt on the Tiguan, they didn't do the water pump, and I've no idea about the tensioner. I've not had a response to my email yet. It's another lesson to slow down, check thoroughly and put more in writing. I guess I have to learn these things sometime!

I went to the dentist today - first time since we moved - and have found a good one. I was very impressed. Just the NHS fee, which I can claim back from Westfield Health, and I've booked in for a hygienist appointment too as I find those invaluable. I cancelled my additional Westfield Health cover so the balances aren't high and I've almost used up my chiropractic one too, but I did the maths last year and it just wasn't worth paying the premiums beyond what I get free at work. It means that I'll need to start budgeting more for 'health', probably as of March I should think.

beanielou

Boo to the number plates.

DD265

Well, today the 'third thing' happened so hopefully that's the end of it. I don't really believe the whole 'bad things come in threes' thing but it does feel like a few things have happened at once and I could do without any more! On the way to work, stopped at a roundabout, the car in front rolled back into mine. They rolled a good half a car's length, and I was on the horn but the driver was oblivious. No damage done to either car, so reported to my insurers and now to hope that they don't put a bogus claim in. Unfortunately the dashcam that OH bought me for my birthday isn't yet in the car - I'd said that we'd end up regretting it when there was an accident and the dashcam was still in the house! Partly it's been the weather/dark nights/time at weekends, and partly it's probably not a dashcam I'd have bought myself; I would've spent more for a better one. Yes it reviewed well but as OH has recently learned, a lot of reviews on Amazon are bought. Still, we'll give it a go, as he can't return it anyway.

We've spent a bit on the house tonight. With the weather, we've ended up putting the bins in the garage, so we bought something to attach them to the fence and stop them blowing around. We've bought a screen to replace that bit of fence, with a view to doing something properly later down the line. Nothing too expensive, but we need to get some jobs done.

beanielou

Glad that you are ok

Sarahwithlove

Hello just caught up on your diary. It's very exciting being in your own place. I've been in mine for just over 13 months now. I definitely agree that it's easier if you can have all your debt in one place. Does your other half have his own emergency fund or do you both contribute to it? 

DD265

beanielou said:

Glad that you are ok

Thanks, was a bit shaken but no harm done. The (front) dashcam is now in the car!

Sarahwithlove said:

Hello just caught up on your diary. It's very exciting being in your own place. I've been in mine for just over 13 months now. I definitely agree that it's easier if you can have all your debt in one place. Does your other half have his own emergency fund or do you both contribute to it? 

OH doesn't have a specific emergency fund, but maintains his bank balance around the £2000 mark depending on the time of year. I do feel like my emergency fund is the one that would get dipped into first, because it's the one with the label and it's me who does the budget/moves money around, but I just need to ask him to contribute in that case. I'd never be worried that he'd have run his account balance down at least - he's not a big spender.

We managed to change the number plates on the Golf today - took a bit of doing as the screws for the old plate were knackered, but managed it with some pliars. I won't be updating the Tiguan this month, as I'm not putting the hole-y personalised plates on it (holes in the wrong places) so I need to get another set made; they won't have holes put in them and they'll be made by the garage down the road. I've ended up buying two SD cards for the dashcam today; I'm a little miffed that OH talked me into a 32GB SD card which appears to only hold 4 hours of recordings and that's not enough so I've bought a 128GB one. Still, they weren't too expensive. I need to put the rear dashcam in the car still, but hiding the wire from that will be a little trickier - eventually I'll get it/one properly wired in, but I want to make sure it works properly first as the reviews are a bit hit and miss.

Have updated the budget and I'm low on spending money (been using it, rather than car maintenance, for number plates/dash cam stuff) but have no plans until the 29th so I should get away with it - and I've a bit of leeway in the fuel category. My emergency fund is now up at £129.60 so there's a way to go. Barclaycard first though, currently at £800 and come pay day I was hoping to pay £400 off. With any luck I'll get a bonus for January (not been notified yet) and can pay a bigger chunk off/put extra into the emergency fund.

I signed up for another charity direct debit this evening - RSPCA volunteer came to the door. It's so hard to say no when somebody's at your front door but I suppose that's why they do it. I may re-think before the direct debit kicks in. I don't necessarily hold the RSPCA as an organisation in the highest regard, though I appreciate that most of the individuals involved really care about animals and do great work, and I am already donating £25 a month to other causes of my choice which rather feels like enough right now.

DD265

My sister is moving in with us in a month as her relationship has ended and she can't afford to go it alone. I wouldn't hesitate to put any of our siblings up if they needed it, but I'm feeling a bit stressed about it. I struggle to relax when we have a house guest, she also has a cat who may or may not get along with ours, and the house isn't really optimised for three adults. Still, we'll manage.

I'm about to look at beds for the spare bedroom; we have one, but need to decide whether to get rid of it and move her sofa bed in (so it doesn't have to go into storage) or keep it. If we get rid, when she moves out we'll need a new spare bed as we typically have people to stay monthly. Then I need to go through what we have in under bed storage in there to see if we can free up that space. I think if I get rid of the sale stuff (conveniently it's a £1 FVF weekend on eBay) then we can move some drawers in the office and make space for her desk as well. Ultimately she'll have to fit around us, but at the same time, it's going to be her home too for a while so I don't want her to feel like an intruder.

The 'while' needs to be defined IMO, though OH is less bothered about putting a deadline on it. I would rather work out what we'd like her to contribute financially, and what she'll need to have achieved financially to move out, then see what she can afford/how long it'll take to get there, and then put a time frame on it based on that. I think having an end date gives me something to focus on, and also her an extra incentive to regain her independence.

DD265

Yesterday - and a bit of Sunday - was quite productive. I finally listed all of the sale items on eBay - it didn't actually take as long as I thought it would, though I also pulled a lot out to go to charity. I checked a few prices and although the brands were good, clothes just go for nothing on eBay generally. The wedding dress is listed, what's left of my horsey stuff (some on FB), some other wedding bits, including Mum's gorgeous mother of the bride outfit, and the rest of my my little ponies. Today I sold a lot of four jumpers - came out with £15 after fees & postage, but that's £15 more than I would've had if I'd donated them!

I also got rid of the Golf yesterday. The healthcheck on Saturday threw up quite a few things that wanted doing; I priced it about £500 though I'm not sure how accurate that was. Combined with the fact that it appeared to be worth much less than I thought - £1100 in mint condition, which mine was not, and wouldn't be without £750+ worth of work - I near enough gave it away at £200 to a local salvage yard. I'm hoping they'll give it the work it needs and it can carry on being a reliable car for somebody else. I'm not sure OH was too impressed with me, but it did it's job and I pointed out that selling it was all on me. I'm feeling very stressed lately and I'm in the fortunate position to be able to pay (or not receive as much) money to alleviate some of that stress. Don't get me wrong the £1500 I was hoping to be left with would've been lovely, but this way, I avoided a hell of a lot of hassle and didn't risk throwing money at it that I wouldn't get back!

The money I'm making is currently earmarked for the emergency fund. I've had ~£350 back from the insurance company, but I had to borrow from some of my budget categories to pay 1/3 of my sisters last rent payment (split it with my parents)  so I've repaid that. The £200 from the Golf sale is going straight into the EF, the leftover £200 from the insurance is sat in the new car pot until I decide whether to Barclaycard or EF it, then when I get the money back from my sister that will go into the EF too, so I feel like it'll build up pretty quickly.

I suppose today has been productive too! We went to IKEA to look at beds in person (OH thinks the website isn't helpful). Decided on the style and the one we'd get from IKEA - if we were buying it from there - and OH said 'watch us find it in bargain corner now'. Well we did! £150 instead of £215 for the Hemnes day bed, because it has a small scratch on the front panel, which you won't see under a duvet anyway. I got an extra 5% off through the work discount scheme, so it was £142.50 - but we're going to need two not-standard-single mattresses. For now, the new bed is boxed in the garage. I think we'll get rid of our double bed, probably FBing the frame and tipping the mattress as it's old, then let my sister bring her sofa bed in. She'll be able to set up her TV and games console, space permitting, and it might feel a bit more like she has her own useable space then. Part of me still would prefer a proper double bed in there, but I know the day bed makes sense because it allows us to have other furniture in there and still put the clothes horse up, or if we have a baby, we could fit a cot and have a bed for one of us if needed plus other stuff. If we end up doing the loft conversion, the bed will dismantle to go up and we have another sitting room when it's not needed for guests. I'm a big fan of future proofing purchases where possible.