Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

SandyShores

I have been a bit spendy this month though   But the difference between now and then (debt days) is that its cash money or free money (not credit card money) and items that I am actually going to use / need.

The good news is that I now am past babystep 2 with a clear £1k in the savings account, and otherwise debt-neutral.  But I haven't accounted for the mortgage OP (about £70), plus I really wanted to pay an extra £200 off this month.  The car is due a service this month, although that will come out of my personal saves (which are quite depleted due to a couple of largish spends anyway).  Almost all presents are bought, just one cash present to find that we usually give, and that can come out of the food money as I have lots of vouchers saved up to compensate us.  So I just need to get a premium bonds win to pay a bit off the mortgage please or a lottery win (or use the EF, or no overpayment this month ).

I need to root around tomorrow to find something to sell to make sure the OP gets made.

savingholmes

Have you taken account of all the bank switching opportunities Sandy? I've done 2 tonight and between them will get £250 in the next 1-3 months. Not bad for 20 minutes effort. A cashback credit card with a £40 giftcard may have fallen in my lap too...

savingholmes

Well done on having £1K saved again.

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes.  I did one switch and got £125 but have spent that on some new specs.  I've got two other accounts which are joint accounts, but I'm reluctant to change them (one we use all the time and the other was my very first bank).  Silly I know, but I may consider changing the second one to get that money - its a good idea for an easy £100+ thank you.  I had a lovely relaxing day today, did the food shopping and cleaning.  Tomorrow I am going to start on the ToDo list in earnest.  I found that having lots of things in need of doing, bothered me, which just stopped me from doing anything else enjoyable.  But now all those awkward jobs are corralled in one place on my list I can relax because I know they won't get forgotten, they are just parked for a bit.  I'm going to make sure I make a bit of time, maybe an hour a week, to tick them off - then it will be freedom!

Well done on the two switches savingholmes and the giftcard.  That's almost £300 - a nice sum.  

I logged onto Vodafone rewards yesterday and saw there was a Tesco £2 gift voucher again.  So I took DD's voucher as well and headed off to the local express to do some shopping.   Well it was £4 so worth a local trip.  I've also got my £10 in points to use up, so will be heading to the superstore for a top up shop mid-week.  I've also just realised that I'd left £80 in the xmas saver account, so that will be my usual mortgage top up sorted.  Just got to decide on how/whether to make the £200 OP now - I'll do my best (been watching debtfreeoneday's sofa fund build up slowly, so I may take a tip there).

I've decided to spend the £10 off £20 Boots voucher I picked up on mascaras.  I'm going to treat myself to two - which will be £5 each and I think its triple points as well so it will increase my advantage points.

1st January 2022 should see us with that £1k starter emergency fund, 15% equity and a resolve to start seriously saving again.  A good start to the new year for us.  We had a lot of spendy years, then about six or seven very stringent ones, then this last year has seen the money flow out again but all on good things.  So next year will be 'normal' i.e. not too spendy, not too stringent, not too flowing   Looks like we've made it (well, making it - but I like that song ).

debtfreeoneday

My DH is the same with his bank account. It was one of the first few thousand opened with this bank and he is really sentimental about it!  It has 1p in it.   

SandyShores

That's me debtfreeoneday.  I am sentimental about the times when you actually went into the bank - there were two branches in our town.  And I knew people who worked there.  I remember going upstairs to the offices to get my mortgage.  Its like letting go of my youth - honestly what am I like.  I have a 'paid for' account and it has my RAC cover and travel insurance - and it works out cheaper than buying them separately, so I'm not letting go yet. I feel like I should use it a little more than I do, but I prefer the other two.  Still its good to hear I'm not the only one

I've booked my slot at the fruit shop to get my phone done.  I'm sure its not such a big deal as I'm making it out to be, but I have my train ticket booked (cheaper than driving and parking) and I need to remember to take along my password etc.  I think I need to get out a bit more as it feels like a big adventure.  I think I'm a bit worried about not coming home with my phone, it says if they can't fix it they'll send it away and it will take a week.  I might take MrShores old phone with me just in case.  My family say I am such a worrier but I think I'm a girl scout - be prepared!  Fingers crossed everyone.

savingholmes

Hope fruit shop visit goes well. 

I have kept one account for 30 years. I plan to keep it. I am switching an account I only opened in July - so no real attachment to it. Plus an NW one that I got as it had a 5% regular saver attached to it and 2.75% interest on the credit balance... those days have gone sadly...

You could always open one and set up a couple of direct debits and then switch that in a couple of months...

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes.  I just popped into your new diary to say hello.  It must be lovely to be at the point where the mortgage should never be as high as that again - the only way is down now   I know its very sad that those interest rates are no longer around.  My lottery ticket didn't come up, so just got to hope for the PBs now.

Popped into MrT's today to pick up a few bits for Christmas.  Managed to spend my £10 in CC vouchers, plus another £20 on top - some good CC offers today.  Made a £5 sale on the bay this afters.  Will post it tomorrow and pop a fiver into the mortgage OP account.  It means I've got about £8 towards the £200 OP I want to make.  Few things to do tomorrow, and then I really am going to get on with that ToDo list.  I think I need a new thread called 'the never ending todo list'!!  Its actually made me think about all the things I do, that aren't on the list, just the regular things we do to make our day to day lives run smoothly.  I'm a lot more productive than I ever thought - and I've also said no to MrShore's requests a couple of times. I'm not sure why I end up running errands for him when I've enough on my own plates, I think its just one of those habits we've both developed but which needs to change.

savingholmes

Here's hoping you find a way of making your desired OP. 

Yes - I do have more time now I'm not running around after my family as much. Although today - cooked for DS and DD although DS helped. Ran DS to the station and DD to the shop (in the snow) so still got quite a bit on. Also put her washing in the dryer. Spilled 2 litres of milk - so am now washing all the stuff I used to mop it up!!

Hope you get a winning ticket soon... 

debtfreeoneday

I still had to stop and think ‘slot booked at the fruit shop’. What?  It’s too early snd to be fair I haven’t had a morning cuppa!  Hopefully they can fix it there for you. I’d be lost without my phone!