Third time's the charm...

LittleMissDetermined

Monday again! I feel like I need a rest from the weekend. 

I had a fab weekend, but I did spend an awful lot of money, city centre prices for hotels, food, drink and transport are far more than we would pay locally!  The last time we went away together as a couple was October though so I think it was money well spent, we both had a wonderful time, despite the weather

I've had a little calculation @BadBookkeeper,  and the daily amount is £25.20 between now and my DFD.  At the moment that seems quite a high amount to be paying every day so I'm not sure how motivating it will be.  I will include the amount in my Friday updates and hopefully with the PADding we will see the amount reduce over time. 

Today is my long shift, but I started work even earlier (6:30) so I can pop out and put my sealed pot cash in which I can then transfer to Monzo.  To add cash deposits it costs me £1 and I can do this at the garage just around the corner. I was going to avoid this charge by going to my normal bank in town and then transferring the cash across, but it would cost me more than £1 to park, plus fuel used to get there so I am happy with the £1 charge considering the amount I'm adding in. 

I was surprised at how quick and easy it was to set up Monzo.  I did this just before we set off for the weekend on Friday morning and my cash card was delivered on Saturday.  Exceptionally fast!  I do realise that it will probably impact my credit score, but as they're decent I've kind of made my peace with that   

I have to do meal planning at lunchtime and then go grocery shopping after work, we would normally do this at the weekend, but no plans for the evening so time to chill out and relax a bit. 

Hope everyone has a lovely Monday!
LMD x

LittleMissDetermined

Good morning!

It's my early shift today so I'm already on my first coffee break.  I have another busy day but at least I have had a few hours before the majority of colleagues start and send emails to clear some of my admin and emails.

Last night's valentines meal was understated. Batch cooked meal from the freezer and then a glass of wine in front of the telly. We are too old for the soppy stuff and we celebrated at the weekend anyway. 

PAD made this morning, but other than that it will be a NSD, I did the grocery shop yesterday and there's plenty of food in the fridge and freezer.  Managed to download and have a look a Vinted yesterday so I'm going to add some things to my favourites and see if hubby thinks it's a viable birthday option.  I have a weakness for designer handbags and purses, one size fits all!  

Ttfn
LMD x

LittleMissDetermined

Midweek already and I am absolutely knackered, the wind kept me up most of the night, it's really quite scary how strong the gales are and there are woods beyond the bottom of the garden, the trees are taking a hammering. 

PAD made to CC4 but that's all that'll be on the cards for spending today.  The same tomorrow too as I'm not doing anything except working from home and walking the dog, he will need his little jumper on though in this weather!  We are out with family on Friday for a meal, but nothing extravagant planned. 

No changes on the credit scores as yet, but I'm expecting them from the new account I've opened. 

I'm thinking that a 'fortnightly finance update' would be better as there will be hardly any change from last week, perhaps I was over-egging it when I first started them [obsessive personality]

Having had a look through the Vinted app I've realised there's an opportunity to sell some items I no longer use. I might have a rummage through this weekend and see what I can find. It's better than taking a chance on eBay as you can set the price and there are no fees from what I can see. I can then pay any earnings off of the CC4...

I'll see what I can find... maybe it'll be like the old advert and hubby will come home to a bare house haha

LMD x

LittleMissDetermined

Second night of little sleep due to the storms, it's bin day for us today so lots of bins put out last night are casualties of Storm Dudley... Ours managed to survive so far, but someone's bin ended up in the bumper of a neighbours car. 

Fortunately, we still have power and I know that many across our region don't so for that I am grateful! 

£3.21 PAD to CC4 today, not much, but only about £6 more to pay for the minimum payment to be cleared so that should be done by the end of the weekend.  8 more days to pay day, but today is definitely a NSD, I am going nowhere in this weather!! Hubby's off work today and he's just pottering round the house doing odd jobs.  Pooch is barking at the wind... today's not going to be a quiet day! 

Good news is that I only have 1 meeting in for work today so I can actually get some work caught up on, which is a blessing given how busy it's been lately. I can also have frequent drinks and loo visits  

I added £5 to the Monzo sealed pot yesterday just to round it up, so that's still climbing as the debts are reducing. I like that the app makes a little cash register noise every time I add money - it's the little things! 

Whilst typing this I have just had a text from CC4 stating my 0% ends on 9th march - instead of May! I must've been muddled... So I need to re-jig my numbers and see how that will work as I don't want to pay any interest.

Toddles off to check the spreadsheet and have another coffee!
LMD x

LittleMissDetermined

Sorted the spreadsheet, paid the deficit and worked out how to pay back to the pot I have pilfered from... basically I get paid a car allowance but I put the money into a separate account which I never touch and then when I need a new car I have the money for it.  

Ordinarily I would not have made a withdrawal from this, but my car is still new, hardly gets used and I have just upped my car account payments for the rest of the year to account for what I have borrowed. Definitely better than paying interest!

Now, hopefully no more shocks for the remainder of the day, I can't take it on such little sleep!

LMD x

LittleMissDetermined

Hurrah for Friiiiiyay and a few days off ahead without anything planned in as the weather is set to be rubbish (and scarily windy) and we are on the final stretch to pay day.  We do have a family meal tonight but it will be low-key and low spend. 

PAD made to CC4 again this morning, not a NSD due to grocery shopping and above mentioned family meal. When I get paid on Friday next week I will be able to clear CC4 and start making extra payments to CC7 or the pilfered car account.

Update on credit files, Credit Karma has increased now, but Clear score has notified me of 3x BT hard searches from 22nd November. I'm not a BT customer so I will have to investigate this in case it's fraud...

As is my usual Friday of late, I have a day of meetings ahead so perhaps not so Fri'yay' after all  

Have a good day!
LMD x

RelievedSheff

You will be debt free before you know it  

LittleMissDetermined

RelievedSheff said:

You will be debt free before you know it  

I certainly hope so! But I still need to replenish the car account.  

LittleMissDetermined

Good morning all!  

It seems we have a bit of a break in the weather this morning (not sure if we are between storms or just lucky) so I was up early putting the garden back together and I've started cleaning the house and a load in the washing machine.  Hubby is still in bed but when he surfaces it will be croissants and orange juice for breakfast. I'm already on coffee number 2 so thought I would pop in for an update.  

PAD made this morning to CC4, slightly larger round down as we have a no/low spends week ahead of us to pay day on Friday and the accounts have some spare in them. Plus, I can't transfer less than £1 so it made sense to.  I have also ordered one of the 'Gruum' shampoo bars from the MSE link (free, just pay postage), I do love a shampoo bar and find they last ages so are really economical.

Other than that, it's a no spends day for me. The forecast isn't looking good for later so I can see a movie afternoon on the cards! I might even dig the popcorn maker out.

I had no luck in my investigations into the BT hard searches on my account. I contacted EE as my mobile is with them and they said they've not done any credit checks, so I found an email address to contact on the BT website and I'm waiting for the response.  I also did a bit of research though and it looks like sometimes BT searches can be added and then removed from Clearscore reports 'by mistake' but their FAQ says to contact the searcher... bit of a faff but they aren't showing on any other report so I am hoping it's just a mistake, especially as they are dated November. 

Right, off to finish the cleaning and do the hot tub chemicals before it starts chucking it down... 

Have a happy Saturday
LMD x

WinterWarrior

I also love shampoo bars. I use the AA skincare brand from Am*zn. They last for ages and after a getting used to it period my hair doesn’t need conditioner at all now. I’ve even switched to a dog shampoo bar for the hound (that was dearer than mine, but so much less plastic).
croissants and orange juice sounds perfect.