From apartment living to buying my forever home

Flick85

It just occurred to me that the reason I hadn’t had any letters might be because they emailed instead as it was an online account… anyways, turns out they last emailed me to close the account due to inactivity in 2017, when it had a balance of £0.43. Prob not going to bother attempting to claim that back 🤣

Flick85

Well, it's been a couple of busy weeks, including November pay day. Woohoo! So, time to update... the visit with my mum and step dad was lovely, really nice to catch up with them properly. And had some nice meals out with yummy food and had a mooch around the Christmas market too, but without buying anything! Some good research was done though, and I'll def be going back for some cheese

I ended the month under my £800 flexi-spend budget, but only by about £20. In part, this was because I bought some Christmas-y bits that I probably didn't need. But, I'm hosting for the first time ever this year (just my mum and stepdad), and want to make it festive and special. Last year, I spent my first ever Christmas at home alone, which wasn't ideal but I couldn't travel as I was managing a terrible back injury that meant I could only stand up for a few minutes at a time and def couldn't drive. So, before the rules changed, I'd already decided I was going to have Christmas alone, which ended up being a good plan as I didn't have any last minute changes forced onto me. I did manage a tree and a few decorations last year, but it was fairly minimalist due to circumstances. So, with guests coming this year, I'd like it to be a little more festive in my flat.

Having tracked my spending again last month, one area that I could definitely do better on is takeaways. I only had a couple, but I tend to over-order so I can have leftovers the next day. The important thing is that after two I was a bit disappointed and underwhelmed, and wish I'd just taken the effort to even pop to the supermarket for a fakeaway instead. So, this month, it'll be fakeaway when I'm too knackered to cook, rather than takeaway.

In terms of savings, I opened a new Regular Savings account with Nationwide, because they were offering 1.00% interest which is better than my Marcus account and I'd rather shove money where it's getting more interest. It'll be tied up for a year, but that aligns okay with my house purchase plans. I uhmed and ahed about moving £1200 I had on a credit card (0% til Jan) onto an offer where it's 0% til June 23, because of the 3% fee. But, I ended up going for it, because at this stage, for the cost of £30, I'd rather have more money in my bank accounts. No wins on the Premium bonds, but as I only had £500 there, that's not unexpected!

Finally, I've got a TSB current account that I mainly opened to be a donor account for a future switching bonus. But, I learned they were doing a prize draw if you had a savings pot with minimum of £10 in. So, I dumped £20 in that account, and put £15 into a savings pot. Will leave it there til end of May and see if it wins me anything. The T&Cs don't require you to use the account, or add to the savings pot. So, why not? Unlikely to win anything, but you've got to be in it to win it, as they say.

Payday came, and I moved a bunch of cash into savings and moved a few things around too. So current status is:

Savings:

Nationwide Start to Save - £300 (1%, plus prize draw)
Nationwide Regular Saver - £400 (1%)
Nationwide Current Account - £1503.66 (2%)
Marcus - £1300.53 (0.60%)
Premium bonds - £1000 (prize draw)
Skipton eISA - £350.29 (0.45%)
TSB - £20 (prize draw)

Total Savings: £4874.48, up £1147.63 from last month

Other (for annual expenses):
Virgin Current Account - £1130.41 (2% up to £1000)

Credit Cards:
Tesco Bank - £1233.56 (0% til June 23, paying £40 a month)
MBNA - £3398.89 (0% indefinitely, paying £40 a month)

Total CC Debt: £4632.45

I've increased my flexi-spending budget to £850 this month rather than £800, with money transferred into my Chase account for the cashback. The extra is to account for some a bit of flexibility with Christmas socialising. On top of that, I've got an allocation of £400 from my annual expenses pot for other Christmas-related things. I've booked my Christmas groceries collection for 23rd December, and that comes to ~£85. I also bought a few bits and bobs for £15. So, there's £300 left in the Christmas budget. 

I'm hoping I won't need all this budget allocation for Christmas, but I've never budgeted for Christmas before. So, it's all a bit of a guessing game. Anything left over will get moved into one of the savings accounts in January. I'm thinking of making edible presents for family, as I've not had time and brain capacity to do so in years, and it's always really appreciated. This approach also has the bonus of being cheaper, and entertaining for me, as well!

Speaking of Christmas... my Christmas season kicked off last weekend with the annual trip to see Die Hard at the cinema. No better way to start getting festive, in my mind. I know it sounds ridiculous to some, but I love going to see films I've seen before at the cinema, especially films that I love. It was absolutely worth battling through the snow to get there, and slipping and sliding on the ice to get back! And this afternoon, I'm heading out to see Home Alone. Might treat myself to an Oreo Milkshake and some cheesy chips, before I come home to finish making some mincemeat for future pies.

Work is looking really hectic this week. I've got lots of things I need to finish off before taking a proper 2 weeks off from the 18th. Term here as ended (which doesn't massively affect me, as I'm on a research-only basis atm) but it means other academics are more available for things. So, my diary is silly next week with loads of meetings, and I need to be on campus 4 days(!) I allow myself to buy lunch at work an average of once a week in my budget, so although with time off work I'll still prob end up averaging out okay, I think I am going to prepare something to take in for a couple of the days because I don't want to spend that much at the office in 1 week. Maybe roast veg and couscous. 

No news on the house front. But, I'm wondering if I should tart up a few bits in the flat before it eventually goes on the market (or is used for part exchange). The big issue atm is that I've a recess in my bathroom where there used to be a shower unit, but is now being used for storage. It's got plasterboard, but is in a very unfinished state. The plan was to have a cupboard built in, but wasn't able to get that done when the bathroom was replaced a few years ago. Not sure if it's worth the money, but might try to get a quote for it in the new year. Hmz.

Anyways, Home Alone time! Happy Sunday folk :-)

savingholmes

Your Christmas plans sound lovely. I think if you are thinking of selling - I would try and tart it up a little but only if it was low cost and reasonably low effort. Even new mirrors can make a place look bigger etc.

Flick85

Thanks @savingholmes. I think you're right, will put exploring tarting up costs on the todo list for the new year.

This week ended up being more hectic than planned, but with much less time on campus, so only ended up in one day. Lots of people worried about covid, so moving meetings online, which is fine by me. I was supposed to be spending this weekend in London meeting up with the family for a pre-Christmas get together (as we will be at various locations on the day) but I was already super anxious about getting on the train before this Omicron stuff, and other family members similarly concerned, so we ended up cancelling the trip. Thankfully, was able to get a refund on the hotel, and the train cost refunded with vouchers, so no money lost. And, it's saved me a bunch too. Especially as I had planned to treat myself to a new piercing or two and some jewellery as my xmas present to myself, and that's not happened obviously. So, financially it's a win, even if it's really disappointing to have not been able to go.

Had an Indian fakeaway on Friday night, following through with me 'no takeaway' rule, and it was yummy and I only cooked up half of it so will have the rest tonight. Definitely much more cost effective than actual takeaway, so that's a win. And, have spent the rest of the weekend chilling out and tidying up the flat in preparation for setting up the tree and decs. Unfortunately, now that my spare room is a work from home space, I have to try laundry in the living room (otherwise people I'm meeting with can see it in the background), and the only space to dry laundry is the space the tree goes in. So, am going to wait til I've no more Zoom chats before sorting the tree, so laundry can be dried in the spare room.

Thankfully, this week is the last week at work before 2 weeks off. Got a huge amount to finish off, so will be a busy one. And yet still, in my mind, I might be able to squeeze a couple of half days to get into town and do some Xmas shopping. Maybe, maybe not. Either way, no plans for real life socialising or going to campus at all, so should hopefully at least be relatively cheap one

savingholmes

Sounds like some positives from a negative situation. Well done on the fakeaway. Good luck with resolving the laundry situation - mine needs doing too!! I'm lucky enough to have a utility - but can't get out the back door as it's all piled up in the way.

I still need to put my decs up. I have booked 2 half days off - although I'm using one for the hairdresser.

Flick85

A utility room is a non-negotiable item in my wish list for that new house. I can’t wait until I can shut the door on the laundry. I write this, sat on the sofa with a duvet and towels drying on the airier next to the tv and being able to hear the washing machine on its soon cycle from my completely open plan living/dining/kitchen. So annoying!

savingholmes

Yes I'm too noise sensitive to cope with that. Even through 3 doors in between it is too loud for me in the living room - or upstairs in my bedroom