Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

beanielou

Blimey, go you 

savingholmes

Thanks Beanie.

Well after a nerve-wracking week - the gift has been returned this morning and I can breathe again. In stopping my panic - I found a spreadsheet error of double counting -£400 which is why it felt like all my pre-gift money had also suddenly disappeared. So now I am doubly blessed - I've found the missing £400 and the gift has come back.  It shows what a haze of panic does to you!!! I thought I'd over-spent in my unplanned category but was struggling to work out on what - so I double checked my NW account and there it was. Having 4 major bank accounts was a definite disadvantage this month!! Although I do partly do it to hide £ from myself - I was a bit too successful!

Given the recent furore - I'm going to wait until after payday to make any other big decisions. I will set up a Sant regular saver. I tried earlier but it didn't take me through to the right page - I don't know why. They are offering 2.5% now as a fixed rate. I've had it confirmed I'm getting last year's back pay this month - so I should then be able to clear my CC completely and be debt free by this time next week!! Woohoo! I am already back to debt neutral.

Tomorrow I'm at the hairdresser (I have cash for that) and then optician so that could be fun. I can claim some of the money back through a cash plan.

I've filled in a referral form to try and get SW free (potential saving £60) but don't know when they'll reply. My weight crept back up today - it didn't like the microwave banana loaf I ate... 

I am getting another 0lio collection tonight. I'll let you know afterwards what I got - as sometimes it's 'gone over.' I'm due some fruit and veg.

jwil

Great bargains!  Fantastic news about the gift and even better about the missing money!

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil.

I nipped in MnS for my fave cake to celebrate - and got 45p off something DD asked for and got YS ratatouille so happy. Put it in my freezer for now. 
 
I just picked up free cauli, grapes, cucumber and tomatoes via 0li0 - but that may be my lot for a week because of the way their app works. Only my third ever pick up.

I also redeemed an airtime reward so that should be £10 off my mobile bill but it may be too close to the direct debit date for it to change this month's bill.

Now my CC is almost gone, I am reviewing my financial options. I may set up a Vngd S1PP. I'm considering going 100% equity on the basis that my DB pensions act a bit like bonds. My other separate pension has a 4/7 risk score. If I do this it would be a 5/7 risk. It has a minimum £500 investment if one off or £100 per month if recurring. I'm going to sit back and think about it for a few days. I'm quite frustrated with @v1v@ as they seem really slow to invest the £ you give them - meaning that you are missing time in the market. I don't know whether they are all like that. I may post on the pensions board and ask. Either way I'll ring Av1v@ and ask what's going on on Monday. They could be holding back because of the conflict but I feel like I'm missing out. On their website they also have a different pension option that is charging less than my current one so wonder if I need to switch - or whether I should transfer the lot to Vgd as their costs are capped lower than @v1v@ seem to be.

I'm trying to balance having access to some ready cash - and trying to invest in my long term future. 

Hope you are all well. It's raining here which doesn't bode well for the weekend's weather.

MovingForwards

You're doing well with the food bargains.

I've had that SIPP and their ISA for a while. I send £2 - £10 over per month, my SIPP DD has been £10 since August, without any issues. I've never paid extra into my A so can't say whether they're normally slow with buying.

Fantastic news about the back pay and gift, take a few deep breaths and let it all sink in.

beanielou

Great news on the £££'s.

Cauli, grapes, tomatoes & cucumber=all my favourite things.
Lucky you.

jwil

Hope you have a lovely weekend

skint_spice

I am glad that the gift has been regifted, that will be a great relief.

Drawingaline

I cleaned my oven today. Used two lots of the box stuff and some paste for the glass. It was grim. Needed doing last year when we moved in and have just been putting it off. Still not perfect, but so much better than it was. Should have taken a before and after picture!

savingholmes

Thanks MF, Beanie, Jwil, @Drawingaline and @skint_spice

Today started off well. I got my hair done - paid cash. Went a collected a free 4 cube unit - cost around £3.50 in fuel.

Went to Opticians. On top of the £25 for the eyesight test - they wanted to charge me £673 - and that was if I reused my existing frames - for which they were charging £138 for the privilege of reuse!! I gaped. She dropped the price to £600. I said including frames last time (2 years ago) it was closer to £450. She said that's because we had a half price offer on at the time!!! I'm just in shock. I was hoping for around £300 I could have my appointment and both sets of lenses replaced. But at the prices she was quoting that wouldn't even pay for one. It looks like £co are doing a 20% off code and 3% cashback at that optician. I reckon I could probably get the 'reglazing' charge knocked off if I go back in but not rushing. Still gobsmacked!!!

I'm safe to drive and not getting headaches. I can tell the difference though. It's changed 0.25 in both eyes for close up stuff but not for distance. I need to find one of the frames I was hoping to reglaze anyway. Maybe I just reglaze one pair for now... But even that was due to be £25 for eye test plus £450 as the second pair was 50% off. I can get £75 from work - £25 for the appointment and £50 for the glasses but that still leaves a big amount to find. I'd mentally allowed £300 including the appointment so if I just went for one pair I am about £175 short or £100 short if I count the work contribution as extra. I have used both pairs previously but if I buy a replacement of one where there's a magnetic sunglasses bit that helps resolve that need.

I have previously used Mr A but wasn't happy with the quality when I moved to varifocals and moved to VE as they have a nicer choice or frames and upgrade options... but still!! TBF to VE they had cheaper lense options but I could really tell the difference... 

If it's not one thing it's another. It does however incentivise me to get listing stuff. I was hoping sales would go towards holiday spends but at this rate they'll need to go towards new glasses. So that's my next target as I don't really want to get out of debt - only to go in it again or have to use my EF to buy specs!!