A new chapter, An empty nest, Drama school & Last year of Uni

Yankee24

That is lovely….  I read a lovely quote today.  You are not an empty nester…. You are a bird launcher 

Spendless

Yankee24 said:

That is lovely….  I read a lovely quote today.  You are not an empty nester…. You are a bird launcher 

That's a lovely quote and I have a RL bird experience from this morning. Called to see my parents and for a few days I've been noticing several feathers in their garden - meant to comment about them having a guardian angel visiting but today I found the scientific reason. A whole group of white birds (they looked like pigeons but completely white???) in my Mum and Dad's birdbath and they weren't happy when I appeared and flew off and joined others on my parents roof. Mentioned it to parents who said they come everyday and have a bathe, take it in turns who gets in and fall out with each other if it gets too crowded . Mum called it a spa for them, imagine they all have a morning routine at the equivalent of Champneys hahahaha.

After that I went to pay my money in but have hit a problem. I'm a FD customer I can't pay the cash I had into my account because my debit card isn't compatible with HSBC machines! I did manage to pay the cheque in (my inheritance part)  but then had to input my a/c no as a receipt and am getting the wobbles I inputted an incorrect number. DH has pointed out the cheque is made to myself plus the paying in slip has the correct details on. It will be Monday before I can ring FD to see if they can see it (already rang!)

DH is returning from dropping the newly weds off and seeing DD. We gave her a little cash to cover that she has had her freshers but the rest of the school has yet to start so they'll be another! Also bought her a bedside locker/drawers £10 in BHF. Better than buying new when it would also have to be made up and took her to lunch. He also offered to take her grocery shopping but she didn't need to go as she'd done her shopping yesterday at - wait for it  - Waitrose! She went because one of her friends who was also on the same course as her 2 years ago went and told her that the deals weren't bad. Only this girl was educated at quite an expensive private school (in the same school year as a famous author's child who also attended) is from an expensive UK city and was having the waitrose shop paid by her parents as a birthday treat - meanwhile where we live even though a city isn't somewhere Waitrose is interested in putting a store - hahahahaha, don't think she'll make that mistake again and maybe she'll appreciate me shopping in Aldi -   

Spendless

I've rang the bank moved my inheritance over to savings and also the money needed for DD's rent next month. This should now have interest paid on the total in there on Friday. As the following months interest is due the day before DD's rental payment, I'd like to keep it in there if I could but realise this might not allow enough time to pay DD's rent. I will ask DH if paying by his CB CC is an option and then I can get the interest first then pay the CC off.

I did the spreadsheet for the next payment due of the CB CC and could see very easily  this month how we'd previously  racked up debt by not paying it back as this month we have the 2 flights to America on it (though we'll receive DH back as he is working) plus various miscellaneous stuff from both DD being at home and costs for her moving away again. So easy to post the problem to the future instead. However what we do now is wait for interest to be paid on the accounts and then pay off in full. 

Yesterday was the FIRST time in I don't know how long that I hadn't received a daily message from DD (with the exception of when she's been on hol abroad). When I was able to put the thoughts that would be because she was lying in a ditch somewhere to the back of my mind, I saw this as a very good sign that she's happy, growing up and moving on. 

Had  NSD yesterday and today. Was sorely tempted to go and buy a snack last night but read another diary about NSD and that stoped temptation.

Jury is still out on my coming home for lunch. Though I have little desire to sit at my desk for an hour, I'm not so sure about coming home every day either for what amounts to around 25 mins. Though I'm salaried my hours are logged via a fob so I have to ensure I'm back on time and can't risk being a minute or two late. I have considered a walk, though it's quite industrial with the odd block of residential thrown in. Maybe I need to have a week where I do various diff things at lunch then decide my best plan and just come home when I need to such as when my parents aren't able to look after the dog. I cam home today for that reason, only for him to refuse to go in the garden because it was raining, he literally took one look and ran off! Wondering what I was meant to do now as he'd refused to go out this morning, I got his lead and he was more than eager to go for a walk and do his business in the rain at the nearby park, just wasn't going in a wet garden - Dogs more contrary than the kids!  

EssexHebridean

My Mum's dog is very much of the same viewpoint about wet gardens - she doesn't want to know, but get her lead out and wave it about and all of a sudden it was thought the sun had just come out! 

Spendless

CC1 has got £100 left on it to be paid at the end of the  month and then it's gone. We then move the £300 we've been paying off this card towards paying off CC2. I do have the scores on the doors which I think is the first time I've spoken of them which I will detail further down.

As the interest hit the savings accounts yesterday it's time to pay off the CB CC but going to have to go through the finances first. The dog's injection cost more than I anticipated because I paid for Kennel Cough  too for  the first time, our regular kennels doesn't insist on it but when our dog sitters felt through, I thought another kennels  would, so booked it along with his regular booster and as it happens he's stopping with my parents initially followed by the usual kennels so I didn't have to have it. I had been told by the Vets the price (discounted cos a double jab) but I went when I was upset about the dog sitters (family) going back on their word so can't have been listening properly. Lesson learnt - don't go book something in an emotional state. 

DD has also cost more than anticipated. Ill (possibly freshers flu) I sent some money for her to go buy herself a care package (eg juice, paracetamol, soup etc) but have discovered she has twice ordered on uber eats (possibly because she couldn't be bothered to  make something  in the kitchen) and has skint herself. I'm annoyed if she's left herself with no money to live on - at the minute she's in the process of switching to a student account which will give her an overdraft - the early start of her course meant she didn't do it before leaving home so is currently just using her normal account with no overdraft! I'm especially annoyed because I  picked up one of those parent -child cards in Tesco for her yesterday and posted it to her as a surprise thinking it would be an additional help to her, not she's already got herself into a pickle, which is exactly what happened last year too, spending too much in the first couple of weeks there!


We also have to go buy E50 as we borrowed this from a friend last week so we could put Euros in DiL's birthday card for her birthday and friend asked for it back in same currency.

And now for the details on what the current debt stands at
CC1 - £100 to be paid off at the end of the month/beg of October. 
CC2 - The balance stands at £8905 - however there already is £1800 in a high interest account earmarked to pay this off- so really currently  a £7105 debt  . As we are already paying in the max allowed into this  savings account  we now need to look for an additional savings account to pay the money we were paying off CC1 with to pay into.
Debt to myself -  £960 -  When we balance transferred debt from a regular CC to  0% CC2 earlier this year there was a surplus that couldn't be BT. In order to pay it off I borrowed money out of my savings account and pay it back from wages  at a rate of £80 per month via a standing order.

The above debt is all at 0% interest.

I have created a spreadsheet with all details on. The DD for CC1 has been stopped and we will pay the £100.  left on it on DH's payday at the end of the month.
We are considering (not decided yet) giving ourselves a break from paying the additional £300 (used to pay CC1) in October - this is due to going away in Nov - plus anything additional we buy for Christmas inc us considering eating out this year and then resuming payments (ideally into a high interest account)  the following month.
My spreadsheet tells me that the DFD of CC2 will be on DH's payday in August next year (30th August).
I checked with the bank and the  £80 standing order has 12 more payments to be paid with the last on the beginning of September 2024. Checking the calendar it will be scheduled to go out on Sept 2nd 2024, which does give me a DFD of September rather than Aug (even if we're only talking about 2 days!). However I have not taken into account the interest paid on the savings account which could be used to further reduce the debt or that we will receive  CB on the CC and could do the same - we will assess this nearer the time.  

Unfortunately due to Tex and his antics towards DD as I started this diary my head was mashed too much to log the full total of what was owed but I believe it would have been in excess of £17k. Since the beginning of the year we have paid off the mortgage, both overdrafts that were running at £1k and £500 plus £2700 off  CC1 as well as building up £1800 savings towards paying off CC2. A total of  £6k since the beginning of the year. plus mortgage gone, also paid DD's student rent of £2500 in full from wages back in April and already have the full amount to cover next months incredibly high £3980! Though that figures does include her whole student loan towards it.

Bring on the next 12 months! . 

threepenny_bit

You are doing amazing - I love reading how you organize the money and how much you have paid off. 

Spendless

@threepenny_bit - Aww thank you, but you know what? I've ALREADY got the sums wrong - in a good way though!

This is because though Mr S  recently told me there was £1800 in the savings towards CC2, what he failed to say was that there was an additional £300 going into that account the same day! So, really £2100 to be deducted from the total CC2 debt making it 8905-2100 = £6805

This fetches the DFD forward to 31st July 24 with the exception of the 2 SO to my bank account for £80 per month. These are scheduled to go out 1st/1st working day of the month. I'm prepared to let the August payment slide because being completely clear  1st Aug rather than 31st July doesn't bother me as much as the late August versus early September does for some reason - possibly because one is the following day - the other is other Friday and Monday over a weekend which I'll spend getting impatient!  I've decided the way to deal with this is to cancel the SO once beg of August's has gone out but as I still owe myself back £80 to save this separately and pay it in. To achieve this I am using one of my numerous coin purses, for a few weeks I've been throwing loose change I find lying about into it and now have £9.90. I am going to continue to do this and include things like roadkill coins, money unexpectedly found in a pocket/purse and also think what I will do is if I achieve a NSD then I reward myself with £1 into the coin purse all towards the £80 target. This starts from tomorrow. 

For several weeks we've been receiving a message saying we have half price electricity on a Sunday between 11-4. We've been  done some chores during this time, this week want to achieve even more during this time with every wash completed and a full vacuum of the house. 

Yesterday we went through the month's CC expenses from the CB CC and paid if off. I truly think it is this monthly financial talk me and DH are having that is helping us. I didn't realise until my last post how much we had paid off/saved up for this year and again I believe I under-estimated it. We've actually paid off 2 overdrafts at £1k and £500, £2700 off CC1 and £700 off CC2. paid myself back £560   plus saved £2100 towards paying off CC2, paid DD's student rent in full at £2500  and have saved £1780 towards the next rent. A staggering total of £11, 840 since the beginning of the year! - Can't believe it myself - have checked the figures 3 times! In addition we also contributed to DS wedding (from a combination of savings and a bonus paid) are supporting DD financially and I've been able to accompany DH twice on works trips paying for my flight and any additional hotel nights and costs beyond his works allowances. Yes paying of the mortgage has helped with all  this but that amounts to under £3500  of savings from that source no longer being paid.  Roughly a year ago I felt we hadn't made much headway with paying back the debt and considered abandoning this diary, I think there was a period of 2-3 months where I didn't post , not sure I said but at the time I  was also ill as a sebaceous cyst developed  into an abscess, under my arm/side boob  which made typing painful.  Glad I kept going. 

Spendless

Well I'm wide awake. Remember the free repair I had on my engagement ring a few weeks ago, well after it was returned to it's correct shape it was loose on my finger - I've lost weight in recent years. I have a large finger  knuckle though so didn't think it could possibly go past it and fall off - I was wrong cos  it has!  I don't know where, as I can't remember when I last noticed it! Yesterday I went grocery shopping and also took the dog for a walk twice, once to a nearby park, the second time to a woods. I'm pretty upset and haven't a chance of returning to sleep. It is also pouring with rain and has been thundering - which had the dog coming to jump on the bed, which woke me and then I had a look at my phone because thinking of the DFD next year I started thinking about it being our silver wedding anniversary and how much I'd like a silver wedding band with diamonds for it to wear on occasions out when I'm wearing silver jewellery - which in turn made me look at my finger and discovered the ring was missing!

I don't know if the heavy rain is going to last all most of the day but there's also going to be  roadworks close to my workplace which'll quite possibly affect the ability to get to the place, so for that reason I'm trialling not coming home for lunch. I still have no desire to sit at my next for an hour so am thinking I will take lunch with me eat at desk and then for the remaining time remove myself to car in the car park. I have numerous unread books on my bookcase, if I find this works out then I will start taking one with me and also make the car cosy with blankets and cushions and have a little lunchtime chill time and only come home on any days the dog needs letting out. 

Yesterday we spent on a few things including DH ordering a car fridge/freezer from the money I said he could have from my inheritance. Due to him working away a lot he struggles with even things like wanting a cold drink on his journeys and spends quite a bit of cash this way and on keeping sandwiches cold. This should help.  DD wants to come home this weekend. I've rang my Nan and if her health is up to it, we will all go to lunch on Saturday close to where DS and DiL live. Then we have booked an eye test for DD and that evening I have got theatre tickets for me and her. I also bought a new phone I am considering this an early birthday present (birthday at the end of the month) and any money I receive will go towards paying it off. .  

Spendless

Ring not found. DH remains hopeful, I don't since I can't say exactly when and where the last time was I had it. He has offered to buy another one, but I do have my original (CZ instead of diamonds  cos we were skint) engagement ring. The ring I've lost was the replacement that was  promised the first time we had some money (from a house sale). I had asked for a silver (in colour not necessarily the metal) additional wedding ring next year for our silver WA. I was wanting it so I could switch rings if I wear all silver jewellery so because it would just be one ring wanted it to be ornate/diamond set. I've said that I'm thinking of getting my original ring cleaned up and wearing that, and just upping the budget of the 'silver' ring- possibly in white gold, don't think budget will stretch to platinum - hahahaha.

Yesterday my supervisor mentioned to the new starter that there was a snicket nearby that led to the shops. I went to have a look and to my surprise it leads to a wooded/grassy area complete with park bench! It's somewhere to eat my lunch - only wish I'd known about it a month ago when the weather was nicer!  Someone on here told me to go for a walk too and I dismissed the idea as it not being very interesting! So, it will be the desk/car on colder days and the grassy area when it becomes warmer. 

DH car fridge came and he went to work away last night putting into it sandwiches and snacks and bottles of pop. I will report back how he is finding it. My new phone has arrived too but as DH was setting off to work, it will be set up later this week.  

Whilst I never spent a penny yesterday I am not counting it as a NSD as we bought DD tickets to come home this weekend - as she's missing the dog! Normally I only count NSD if it's me that hasn't spent from any account and ignore what DH does but on this occasion even if he booked the journey, I was involved in the decision. I used some of the little leftover wages I have to book theatre tickets for me and her to go and watch - amateur production but usually of a high standard. 

I did find £1 coin on my bedroom floor, quite possibly fell out of my jeans pocket but into the coin purse it has gone. I have also just now found 5p in the mud of the front garden as I went to put something into my car. It's barely distinguisable as a 5p so I need to look up how to clean it so it's at least recognisable, so that makes it £10.95  off my £80 total in  order that I can cancel Sept 24 SO. 

Spendless

I've got to set off for work any second, but just wanted to say in the last few minutes I have FOUND my ring! With many thanks to the MSE'r who suggested I ask St Anthony for help!

Will update later.