Debt Reset....

Humdinger1

@CRANKY40 congratulations! What an achievement!! You will rebuild the boiler fund and actually to get debt free ahead of a possible big change is so worthwhile.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

EssexHebridean

Oh Cranky I'm just  catching up and what fantastic news! Well done on getting to the point where you can clear the debt and still have savings left too, that's superb! How wonderful to know that here on in, the money that comes in is all for the benefit of you and the HT. 

CRANKY40

Thank you @Humdinger1 and @EssexHebridean. I've managed it before the HT finishes education too which is a relief. 

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi Cranky
I'm catching up as have been away for a few days.  Huge congratulations on becoming debt free!!
I paid off my debt in March 21 and it is a massive relief. 
love Deni x

Keedie

I'm so inspired by how well you've done! Congratulations on being debt free and having savings. I can't wait to be able to clear my debts and to do it before my son finishes sixth form will be a gamechanger.

CRANKY40

Thanks @Deni_debt-free_dreamer and @Keedie. 

I was a bit stunned once everything was paid but then reality kicked in after a coupple of days. My job finishes at the end of December so making sure that I don't get into debt moving forward is a priority. Hopefully that will mean that I have time to turn the bags of fruit in the freezer into real food.

Christmas shopping has been interesting as this is the first year in a long time that I haven't gone over budget. The HT has a new chair for his desk - it's an office chair but the gaming version with a head rest and back rest. I had budgeted £150 for his present but best friend went halves with me on the chair so I have £75 cash left that the HT can have as another present. This morning I've bottled the damson vodka and the damson gin that the HT and I started off in September. It's a lovely colour so fingers crossed that it tastes as good as it looks. 

I've used my credit card to pay for things but I've paid it off as I've gone along. I also took a young mum with no spare cash for Christmas to buy a couple of presents for her children (best friend went halves on that too). My mum died at Christmas so it's my way of cheering myself up and getting in the Christmas mood. Shopping with a teenager definitely isn't anything to write home about but the thought of little ones opening presents and being excited is fun. 

British Gas refunded me £49 in their 6 monthly round up of energy usage. I'm still £225 in credit with them and they have put my direct debit up to £178. Heavens only knows how that works....surely they could have lept the £49 and lowered the direct debit figure? One of my saving pots is for gas/electric so I have extra that I can make payments with but it's better in my account than theirs. 

The focus in 2023 will be saving in preparation for the HT leaving college. When he finishes education his pension will stop and also child benefit so there will be quite a drop in household income until he gets a job. He wants to do an apprenticeship in IT so once Christmas is over we'll be concentrating on finding a placement for him. Well he will be doing the concentrating but with a lot of encouragement from me. 

Take care all of you 😊

badmemory

I don't know if this is any help but not all suppliers do the £67 in the same way.  I'm with BG & they take the DD & then 7 days later refund the £66/67 to the same account.

CRANKY40

Yes @badmemory I'm with British gas too. They only produce a bill twice a year and the £49 refund was in addition to the credits that they have made to my bank account. They seem to have become faster after various complaints as the latest government credit was paid to me the same day as it hit my BG account. .

badmemory

That was very quick my Oct & Nov were both 7 days.  My next one goes out tomorrow so we will see how long it takes.  I must say that I hate them.  I got so used to People's Energy.  I used to put my readings in monthly & within the hour my bill was ready.  BG send a snooty email asking for them & if you are lucky they may bill a few days later.  They also keep cancelling bills & reissuing several quarters together.  With the rapid change in prices it's a nightmare checking.  The harder they make it the more carefully I am going to check.

Blackcats

Helping a young mum is a lovely thing to do and a nice way to remember your mum.  I've made a charity donation to a good cause that my mum supported - I suppose I've re-purposed her Christmas present money.