Tidying up the mess

BabyStepper

I have put the rest of this month's cash aside to pay for the car's MOT and road tax which will be due in May/June (can't remember exactly when) so no extra money in the emergency fund yet. I think I read somewhere that MOTs will be postponed by 6 months - is this automatic and for everyone, or would I still be able to get mine done? I don't fancy driving my old car without an up to date MOT, even if it is just to the supermarket once a month, doesn't sound safe to me. Maybe I'll phone my local garage and see what they're doing. 

My main focus just now is to try and keep as much of my work going as I can, although it's not very much. Still, bringing in anything would be a help and the government might come up with something but not until June. With nowhere to spend your money, it's much easier to survive on very little. Me and OH are thinking of increasing our sky subscription from the bare minimum to movies, boxsets, the works. No harm when we have the cash, right? Difficult to spend after being so frugal all this time. And we can always cancel it once we are out of lockdown. 

I hope everyone is staying well. Be safe. 

Pollie

Don't forget it is currently pointless accessing Sky sports.

BabyStepper

Hi Pollie, good to meet you and yes, we're not sporty people anyway but I was doing some matched betting and that had to stop when the football all got cancelled. Hope you are staying well in all this chaos. 

savingholmes

Good luck with the mot whatever you decide

BabyStepper

Thanks savingholmes, I'll keep you posted once I've contacted my garage. 

And good morning everyone! How is everyone getting on in lockdown? I've decided to tackle my garden, it gets a bit neglected at times, and managed to make some good progress. I'm a bit worried by all the sitting around I'm doing so need to keep active and get outside. 

Does anyone know what's happening with council tax payments? I found some info that April's payment will not happen, but I don't know whether to save the cash to pay it later, or if we are all missing a payment. Anyone know? 

My financial plan for the next couple of months is to try and increase the emergency fund (currently £500) and save enough to get my car through an mot. Who knows what this will cost or when it will happen, but no harm in being ready. My car fund has £300 of Christmas gift money in it so I'm going to take that back. Not that there's anything to spend it on but it is mine after all. I'll wait until this crisis is over and I'm back in work to start on my mortgage free journey. 

And I will probably change my plan 15 times but you know, I like changing things up.

I hope everyone is staying well.  

savingholmes

As far as I know you still have to pay CT payments - there are petitions about it but I am not aware of any firm answers. 

Kitten868

My April payment for council tax went out yesterday morning.

I definitely agree on increasing your channels in amongst this but check if now tv would be cheaper. You can cancel anytime too which makes it easier for you.

Xxxx

bd80s

Hi 
I've read through your diary start to finish yesterday and today, well done on getting to debt free! 
You've worked really hard for it and haven't let it get you down (too  much...haha) and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read  

BabyStepper

Thanks bd80s, glad you enjoyed reading. I managed to read through it myself too the other day, it's been quite a process and reliving it was not amazing...all those times I was planning for 'just in case' I really didn't expect anything like what we're all going through now. I am so, so grateful that I'm not having to phone up cc companies and banks to ask for payment holidays, or using a mortgage holiday, or anything else. It is so true that everything is much more manageable with more stable finances.  

Hope you're staying well. 

BabyStepper

Kitten868, thanks for the info about council tax, I'll just keep the cash in the bank and wait. I think delayed payments are for those who pay it in person, and my local council have closed their offices, so it could be that.