Debt free by 40

jokono

I got scammed!!! 🥴 I thought I was so much smarter. 😳

One of the pairs I ordered last weekend was out of stock so I started looking for a replacement. I found the UK shop of a European brand of shoes and all of them were reduced by 50-60%. First red flag ignored. After adding a pair to the basket I realised I might as well get two pairs to qualify for free delivery. Once the second pair was in the basket, they added a bigger discount. Second red flag ignored. I added a third, the discount got even bigger. This was the third flag and really by now I should've known, but I was in a sort of euphoria that I decided to ignore this and the fourth flag - my main bank card wouldn't go through. I got a text to confirm if I was making the transaction, I said I was, but it still wouldn't let me pay. Do you think I stopped here? No. I used my chase card, and - after several fail attempts - I managed to complete the transaction. What an absolute and utter muppet. 🤪 It only clicked when I got the confirmation email from a totally different domain, with a support email address from yet another domain and also non-existent. A quick google revealed the domains are associated with scam shops that send you random stuff unrelated to what you ordered.

Anyway, I got in touch with the bank while the transaction was still pending but they explained I can only do a chargeback at a later point when I either don't receive the goods or receive something else. However, the following night I got another 'thank you for your order' email, from (you guessed it) another email address/domain, but this time the reply to address was functional. I have asked them to cancel the order and send a refund, and after a few emails back and forth they have actually refunded me! The refund is still pending in chase but I imagine will go through soon.

So a happy ending! I wasn't worried about not getting the money back, I started documenting all my interactions with them, I even had an email from the actual EU shop confirming the website I bought from had nothing to do with them even though the domain suggested it was, so I was ready to support my case. Luckily they made it easier for me.

Kudos to nat west, not only did the payment attempts not go through, but they called me later that day to discuss and also replaced that card with a new one.

On a lighter note I got accepted in the amazon shopper panel and I already submitted enough receipts to get the fiver voucher next month.
Oh, and I also got a switching incentive from holly fax even though I didn't really qualify as I had one in 2021. But they didn't ask me about it! 🤷‍♀️

jokono

I was paid today, one day earlier than usual. I got a bonus this month which was nice and got more than I expected after tax, I don't have the payslip yet to see exactly what's going on.

I also made almost £650 extra this month: two bank switches, one bank complaint related to one switch, surveys, selling and the £50 PB win.

I wasn't decided if I should buy more PB, but last month's win convinced me and I bought a few more this morning. Even with only 1 win, the £50 is more than I would get in interest for £1k after a year at 3%.

I have also spent on myself last month, doesn't happen a lot, spurred by the extra I guess. I got flights to visit mum in May, a pair of shoes, a sewing pattern and two race entries. The 'extra' pot still has a nice sum in and I'm expecting two more switch rewards next month. I've also put enough away for a treadmill - I really want one, I've wanted it for a long time, but I can't see where we could find space for it. I'm still thinking about it, might need to rearrange the conservatory.

jokono

New month update! I had a bonus this month so the savings went up by £3k instead of the usual £1k. I might be debt neutral before my 39th birthday this August 

April 3rd
CC: £10,603
Savings: £6,685.22 (63% of the CC balance)

March 1st
CC: £10,743
Savings: £3,680.77 (34% of the CC balance)

Feb 1st
CC: £10,963
Savings: £2,539.50 (23% of the CC balance)

Jan 1st
CC: £11,108
Savings: £1,536.19 (14% of the CC balance)

jokono

I spent a few hours at the allotment yesterday as it finally stopped raining. Lots of flooded areas, luckily on my plot were only parts that haven't be cleared yet. I have planted some peas, spinach, lettuce, swiss chard and romaine. The soil was very wet but it should dry out over the next few days. I hope! I am learning as I go. My worry now is I will go back at the weekend and won't be able to tell the seedlings from the weeds. 😬

I found some collapsible raised beds on fb market place, I got 4 for £20. They're used but still in good condition, B and Q sells them new for £20 each. They are 1,2m x 0,8m, I might use them for beans next month.

The tomato seeds I planted about 10 days ago are growing nicely, the peppers are barely sprouting. I think the compost I used was too heavy/ dense. I might get a different one and try again, it could be too late for peppers though. 

MissRikkiC

I used what sound similar to your raised beds, pallet collars but they were 600x800s so half a euro pallet. They’re perfect! 

I’m chuffed for you that you’ll be debt neutral earlier than your goal time, that must feel pretty special.  I’ve got a lot to do in the garden, but it’s none of the exciting stuff so I keep putting it off! 

jokono

MissRikkiC said:

I used what sound similar to your raised beds, pallet collars but they were 600x800s so half a euro pallet. They’re perfect! 

I’m chuffed for you that you’ll be debt neutral earlier than your goal time, that must feel pretty special.  I’ve got a lot to do in the garden, but it’s none of the exciting stuff so I keep putting it off! 

I looked up pallet collars and that's exactly what I got!
I kept putting off the allotment because there's just so much to do it felt overwhelming. In the end I started small and decided to go with only a few seeds and leave some for next year.

I'm in the office today and I splurged on a nice lunch from planet organic, it was absolutely delicious. Now I have £6 left from the weekly budget to last me until Thu night. 😬

MissRikkiC

I’d love the local allotment but I just know I wouldn’t have the time to tend to it like I’d want to! At least you’ve got something on the go 

jokono

Quick check in to report the new month numbers

May 2nd
CC: £10,403
Savings: £8,083.37 (77% of the CC balance)

April 3rd
CC: £10,603
Savings: £6,685.22 (63% of the CC balance)

March 1st
CC: £10,743
Savings: £3,680.77 (34% of the CC balance)

Feb 1st
CC: £10,963
Savings: £2,539.50 (23% of the CC balance)

Jan 1st
CC: £11,108
Savings: £1,536.19 (14% of the CC balance)

In fact the CC is now more but I don't count it. What happened is Mr JKN had a bonus from work but now has to give it back because he's leaving; it's a good move from a money perspective but also career wise. So I used a nat west BT card (no fee) to BT money to a spare t3sco card, then money transferred from t3sco to my current account to cover the bonus. All completely free and he will cover the amount before the BT offer ends.

I guess I could've used savings but they're all in regular savers or PB, I didn't want to mess up with them.

jokono

June 1st
CC: £10,059
Savings: £9,095.32 (90% of the CC balance)

May 2nd
CC: £10,403
Savings: £8,083.37 (77% of the CC balance)

April 3rd
CC: £10,603
Savings: £6,685.22 (63% of the CC balance)

March 1st
CC: £10,743
Savings: £3,680.77 (34% of the CC balance)

Feb 1st
CC: £10,963
Savings: £2,539.50 (23% of the CC balance)

Jan 1st
CC: £11,108
Savings: £1,536.19 (14% of the CC balance)

jokono

Every month I plan on writing in my diary more often and here I am again a month later with no posts in between.

The great news is money saving and being MSE has become a habit. I am now at 90% of credit covered by savings and on July 1st I will be debt neutral. I also have about £2k in ch4se pots so maybe I could say I am already?

The bad news is my energy DD will almost double in September. We've been on a 2year fixed starting before the crisis, so had an excellent deal with daily standing charges minuscule compared to the current ones.

The other bad news is we switched our mortgage to a 0.14% tracker and the rates look like they will keep going up. Our monthly payment has already increased by hundreds compared to the previous rate, I think I will try and fix it. Our current deal doesn't have an ERC but we have paid £999 to switch to it.