Making money make sense

Franalamadingdong

Urgh. One step forward and three back. Water bill came in and a combination of them just supplying estimated bills, the boyfriend being around on weekends (so increased usage), a leaky tap and the time when the loo (built in cistern so needed to boyfriend to break off the tiles to access it) broke and was constantly streaming water means I got a delightful £250 (approx) water bill for Xmas.

Part of me feels like the minute I try to get serious about my finances I get screwed from every angle, and part of me reminds me that this is why I need to get serious about them. Yes, I have the funds now, but I need to make sure I have them in the future too.

At least I'll be starting the new year on solid ground... Hopefully!

In other news my bank offered me a credit card. My current one is 2 years old, is always cleared in full and has a limit of £450 and Apr of 19.9%. the new one will be 9.9% Apr and a £2,500 limit. I don't plan on using it generally and it's set up to pay in full automatically. I'm working on increasing my credit rating for the future (currently 412). The only thing holding me back at the moment is that my oldest credit isn't very old. The plan for the credit card is so that when I need to make large purchases with the credit card protection (e.g. oven, washing machine etc) it won't show me has needing such a large proportion of my credit as the limit is currently £450.

For now it's all made my head hurt. The boyfriend needed special shampoo conditioner for his scalp, he had the shampoo, but he needed me to order the £10 conditioner. I also ordered the other half of my dad's birthday present which had gone down in price!

So much for no spends!

Franalamadingdong

Yesterday I didn't spend anything. Hurray. Food delivery coming today, but after having my son's friend over I've run out of some basics, like lunch stuff, I just managed to get a packed lunch sorted for my son. So I'm having to pick something up at lunchtime as well as a stocking filler for my son that my boyfriend ate! I think that's all that's due out today.

Prolific surveys seem a little shy on the ground, but I've signed up to One Poll and built up £4.20 this morning. I used to do swagbucks and find myself kicked out of a survey midway through or complete it to be told that my answers meant I didn't qualify. I've found these two much better so far.

Franalamadingdong

Well, OP is up to £5.65 as of this morning. PA is just on 87p lol.

My boy was invited on a day out with a friend, but unfortunately he's not very well. He's tucked up at home watching movies with my boyfriend.

Rumour is that we might finish early today, but I've not heard anything for sure. As I'm in an office alone I don't always hear about stuff. I only finish at 3pm anyway so it's not a big deal. I got a Christmas bonus of £200 which was lovely, a lot of it's been swallowed up by pension, NI and tax, but it's still very nice ☺️ looking forward to have all my numbers to input into my new budget.

Mum's asked me to pick up some stuff for her. It drives me mad as I always check if she wants to add something to my online shop. Other than that not expecting any spends.

Made mince pies last night and they're awesome. I also finished off the pasty making some jam tarts and Bakewell tarts so I wasn't throwing anything out.

I'll pop the gammon in the instant pot (tea tonight and hopefully leftovers in the week) when I get home and make the pastry for the tart I'm making for boxing day. Looking forward to some quiet days with the family.

Blackcats

Great news on the bonus even with the deductions it will be extra money and it's nice to be appreciated.
Hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas.
It seems good to have started diaries ready for the shiny new decade ahead.

Franalamadingdong

Thanks Blackcats. Mum later sent dad round to see if we had salad and cucumber. Not so much shop from home, but shop from my home. Lol.

Little boy is still poorly. Poor thing. We've all been very fortunate despite that and he's in good spirits

Blackcats

Shopping from other people's homes is even more money saving than shopping from home.
Hope your son is feeling better.
Do you know when in 2020 your boyfriend will move in? You must both be very excited to start the next phase of your relationship.
Have a nice Boxing Day

Franalamadingdong

Thanks Blackcats. I then became ill boxing day and slept the whole day. In work today but still feeling rough. My boyfriend is the sweetest. While I was in bed the whole day he tucked me in with an early birthday present ..... A toy honey badger. We watched a documentary and I said he's a honey badger. I can't believe he found one!

The boy is still poorly and I tucked him up on the sofa before I left this morning.

The boyfriend is a teacher, so we'll probably be looking at the end of the school year. He'll be moving quite a way and wants to leave teaching so it'll be a career change as well.

Franalamadingdong

Happy birthday to meeee :beer:
My boy is still poorly so we didn't do anything exciting. I had a bath using my lovely smellies from Christmas and mum and dad visited and we had a yummy Indian takeaway. Been utterly spoiled by the boyfriend too. And yesterday I found a £20 note in a bag I've not used for a while!
I've also done some sewing trying to catch up a bit with a sewalong I'd abandoned in order to quilt mum's quilt.
I've set up an instant access savings account with my bank so I can transfer money for Xmas, birthdays etc over each month and then move it back into my current account as needed.

Blackcats

Happy birthday Fran.

Franalamadingdong

Thanks Blackcats.