Muriel's Diary - almost debt free

Muriel_Heslop

It's worked for me I think, it's not quite so overwhelming and tiring to decorate bit by bit. I know I've dragged it out and it's a pain to keep washing the brushes and paint roller, but splitting it in to 4 sections has been a doddle, and I've had 4 times the feeling of "oh I've nearly finished."  I have finished as much as I can do now and although the walls are uneven, at first glance it looks lovely and fresh. You can do it, a little bite of the frog at a time.

Ah thank you DIA, I can't believe I'm another year older

Muriel_Heslop

• NSD
• PA - 70p

In between finishing my decorating I've been deleting emails. Oh my! It's going to be quite a task I think. I put them into "from" order and started at the beginning, and despite deleting 1000 emails, I still have over 3500 unread and I'm only on the letter C   I haven't many emails from before 2015 yet so I reckon that was the last time I had a digital decluttering. I really must try and do this every 6 months from now on

Muriel_Heslop

• £5 on groceries
• £16.50 refund from my friend for tickets to an event that has been cancelled
• PA - 38p
• Onep0ll - 15p

I've deleted 1200 more emails tonight and I'm still only on F. I reckon there must be over 10,000. Gulp!

It's payday on Wednesday and I've made it without dipping into my pots of money. Pretty happy with my first month of financial control since I returned to MSE

Muriel_Heslop

Tuesday 23rd

• £30 for fuel
• £29.85 for groceries
• PopL1ve - £2
• PA - £1.97
• Onep0ll - 25p

Today

• NSD
• PA - £1.25
• Popl1ve - £1

I forgot to do my Sunday night round up of the weeks survey income which was £5.32. So in the 3 weeks I've been doing them again properly, I've made £33.84   I'm really happy with that!

This week I need to do a meter reading for gas and electric cause I'm sure I'm overpaying now, it's been months since I did one. I always put off getting a reading as the meter is right by my downstairs neighbours bedroom window and there never seems the be the right time to creep down there without looking like a weirdo.

In the digital decluttering news, I think my target of deleting 200 emails a day was a little unambitious so I'm just deleting what I can and so far in 4 days 4000 have gone. I've still got 2000 unread and I'm only up to the O's. Once I've done this I need to go through my photos on my phone and delete the rubbish ones which I think will take me ages. There's probably thousands, mostly cat photos and screen shots of funny memes 

I'm WFH for the next 2 days so hopefully they'll be NSD's.

Someone has announced in another team that they are leaving and I've heard rumours that there maybe a second. It's only a small team and they can barely cope as it is so I'm sure the job will need to be filled and if the time comes I might go for it. The plus points would be a band higher (about £1800 extra a year) with more potential to progress further. However, there's a lot more against it. It would mean studying, some of it in my own time, for about 2-3 years, there's been arguments and atmosphere and it doesn't seem to be a pleasant office to work in, there doesn't seem to be much leadership and the training for the last couple of people who started has left a lot to be desired.

My head says to go for it, I might not get it anyway, but the extra money would be nice. But the thought of studying again and all the other issues makes me think, nah, don't bother, it's not worth the hassle. I've got a nice little life, I can manage money wise, there's no real stress so it's quite a dilemma.

janb5

I do meter readings every month- yes there`s no need but suits my OCD nature.  It proved useful when my meter died.  I used to have a smart meter but swore I wouldn't have it again as when you switch companies the meter is obsolete which is crazy.  Currently with Bulb.

doingitanyway

It is a dilemma and I'm sure you will make the right choice.
It's good to read you 'have a nice little life' after all you went through in your last job.
Keep going on the emails!

BabyStepper

I just finished reading your diary and have enjoyed it very much. Congratulations on being debt free! What a great achievement! 

There is definitely a place on here for people who have got rid of their debt but still want help and encouragement with financial decisions. I'm in a similar situation. With house renovations (I'm after a new kitchen), jobs, pensions, everything else, it's still hard to make these decisions and know you're doing the right thing. 

I love that you have shared your debt free journey and that friends and work colleagues know about your financial skills. I've never heard of anyone sharing their story, I haven't shared mine, but it must be great to have people in real life know what's happening. 

Keep going, you're doing great, I've subscribed. 

Muriel_Heslop

janb5 said:

I do meter readings every month- yes there`s no need but suits my OCD nature.  It proved useful when my meter died.  I used to have a smart meter but swore I wouldn't have it again as when you switch companies the meter is obsolete which is crazy.  Currently with Bulb.

Thanks Jan, I think doing it monthly is a good idea anyway, you just never know. I always take pictures of the readings now in case there are queries. That's crazy, I've never had one but I really don't want one unless it is forced on everyone! Ah I'm with them, but I'm going to switch to someone else, the bills have been creeping up and I've had other issues.

doingitanyway said:

It is a dilemma and I'm sure you will make the right choice.
It's good to read you 'have a nice little life' after all you went through in your last job.
Keep going on the emails!

Thanks DIA, I haven't really thought about it much but they've not handed their notice in yet so plenty of time to weigh it all up. Aww thank you. I do feel so lucky and grateful to have this life now. It's a quiet life, no real drama, I don't do a lot, I love being at home with my cats and I am happy. I mean, I could always be thinner and richer and have a bigger home, but I'm lucky to have what I have. Oh the emails.....they never end. Like those little gremlins

BabyStepper said:

I just finished reading your diary and have enjoyed it very much. Congratulations on being debt free! What a great achievement! 

There is definitely a place on here for people who have got rid of their debt but still want help and encouragement with financial decisions. I'm in a similar situation. With house renovations (I'm after a new kitchen), jobs, pensions, everything else, it's still hard to make these decisions and know you're doing the right thing. 

I love that you have shared your debt free journey and that friends and work colleagues know about your financial skills. I've never heard of anyone sharing their story, I haven't shared mine, but it must be great to have people in real life know what's happening. 

Keep going, you're doing great, I've subscribed. 

Aww thanks so much for reading! I've just got £18 left to pay but effectively I am debt free which after 20 odd years of debt feels pretty good 

I think you're right, I feel that being on here gives some control and the support and advice is so helpful. I live alone so I've got no one to run things past. Ah house renovations! That's exciting and a bit worrying but it's lovely to think about things like that. I'd love a new kitchen and bathroom but there's so much to do first.

I know debt is a bit of a taboo subject and while I've not made it knowledge on FB, quite a few people know about my debt. I kind of want to spread the word and want people to know that it's ok, there is a solution. Lots of people just don't want to deal with it for whatever reason but for me, debt was trapping me in a job that I hated. I used to want to break my arm so I could have some time off which I can laugh at now. But dealing with debt gave me the option to change my job and I did and I'm forever grateful to this site and all the contributors.. Anyway, I'm waffling now. Thanks for visiting

Muriel_Heslop

Thursday 25th

• NSD
• Onep0ll – 10p

Friday 26th

• NSD
• Onep0ll – 25p
• PA- 53p

Saturday 27th

• C0-op - £11.35
• P0plive - £3
• PA - £1.15

Sunday 28th

• NSD

Today

• NSD
• Onep0ll – 20p
• PA - 80p

Up to Sunday night (when I work out my weekly survey income), I'd earned £12.06. Which is a rather fantastic £51.22 in the last 4 weeks   I've got nearly £11 to cash out of PA, I'm £2.65 away from £25 on Onep0ll and £10 away from £50 on P0plive so my C.H.E.F.S account will be given a nice boost in the next few weeks.

I've done a meter reading today so when that updates and I get my bill I'm planning to switch. My current supplier has messed up a couple of times, which I don't think was initially their fault as I think my previous supplier gave them a wrong reading when I switched to them, but they didn't really ever sort it out or listen to what I was saying when I tried to rectify it so I've lost trust in them. If I owe them I'm just going to pay it off so I can switch and not be completely narked every time I see their name!

One of my cats wasn't well before Christmas and it took a few vet visits to get him sorted so I claimed on his insurance although I've realised I never claimed for his final vet visit or the prescription. It's going back to just before lockdown so it might be too late to claim but I shall ring tomorrow to check. I'm just grateful they've paid out the bulk of it, less the excess.

My other cat, touch wood, is pretty well and I've never had to take him for emergency treatment. He's 4 now but I've never insured him. It's so difficult to know what to do and whether it was worth it but since my other cat wasn't well, I think I need to get the younger one insured. I currently pay £12 each a month for their injections and flea and worm stuff but I don't get my monies worth really. They're indoor cats so I don't give them the flea stuff monthly and because I've never had to take the little one, the 10% off vet treatment hasn't been used. So I think I'll cancel his vet care plan and use the money for insurance instead and I can split the flea and worm treatments between the two of them and just pay yearly for his injections. There's probably not much of a saving but it's peace of mind if anything should happen.

Some of the items I was going to eb@y I've just put in the charity box instead, I just can't be bothered anymore. Since I've K0ndo'd quite a lot (although I need to go through it again as I never finished) I've read about sunk costs so that's made it easier to let go. Back when I was proper debt busting, I would have sold everything I could but now I just want the space. I have kept some things back that I think will fetch a few quid so last night I listed 6 of them. No bids yet but a few watchers and one person made an offer but I think the item will go for higher so I declined.

I've lost momentum with my email deleting session but 4000 have gone, millions to go!

I've updated YNAB and moved money to my savings pots. I've saved about £12 a month on my broadband/line rental bill but as I'm now saving an extra £40 in my car account I can't squirrel it away just yet. I do have just over £100 that's not been allocated to a category so for now I'm moving it in to savings unless something pops up that I need, otherwise it will just get frittered.

I've been thinking about my mortgage lately and while I'm not in a position to throw much at it, I think I'm going to round up the payment from £276.12 to £280. I know it's only £3.88 but according to the overpayment calculator it knocks 5 months off which I was amazed at. I checked a few times and it's come out the same so it must be right! Once my flat is renovated, I've saved for a newer car and I've got a 3-6 months living expenses, then I will throw everything at it. 

janb5

Well done with your debt bashing- you`ve done so well

I`ve noticed you`ve done surveys with PA...every time I logo it tells me the surveys has ended!