Little by little, and with love

RosaBernicia

Well, I have got as far as logging on to the tax return thing, realising I have no idea where to put the info (this feels familiar) and deciding to ring them tomorrow (also feeling familiar... )

But dutifully did another MSE thing and checked my broadband contract - runs til May, no change that will get me out of it so far.  Time to start looking out for another deal.  Not sure if closing my unused one before then would be a help or a hindrance. 

Also checked my 0% CC deal and fortunately it's 15 months not the 12 I thought, so that can wait a little longer.  But I will need another one now that there is no chance of throwing big chunks of money at it. 

Buffythedebtslayer

Sending love for you Rosa, insurance is essential at moments like these. 

And as for work. !!!!!!. 

XXX 

RosaBernicia

Buffythedebtslayer said:

Sending love for you Rosa, insurance is essential at moments like these. 

And as for work. !!!!!!. 

XXX 

thanks Buffster. 

Work is just making such a mess of everything, I just dutifully checked my credit reports too and realised I need answers even to accurately make applications.  Hoping the union can help straighten things out. 

RosaBernicia

Well... small ploddings

• Tax return done, if it comes through with the original calculation that will be fab as it's over £500.  Good motivation to do the next one early, and it was actually much easier than I thought once the lovely chat advisor had clarified that the spaces to enter what I wanted only applied when I clicked an option. 
• Union have responded, said they will investigate and get back to me. 
• And I bought radiator brushes which is really sad but means it is actually possible to clean radiators with the grill things on top.  Didn't know such things existed til I went looking for a new version of my old microfibre thing and these are much better.  Maximising every efficiency on the heating front!  Also rescued an electric radiator from the shed and cleaned it up - it still works which is good, might be handy to have options (and it has a timer - it was worth every penny it cost me when I lived in an old house with rubbish storage heaters and woke up freezing!). 
• Made a note to buy frozen veg - I often don't finish the fresh so it would be less of a waste. 
  
• Grumbling at YNAB which has a new button to tell me about next month, and is currently insisting I have money to still to allocate for Feb but am in the red for March...
  

RosaBernicia

More small things...

• Tax return now claimed, just have to wait on it actually coming through but it should be within a couple of weeks. 
• Applied for another 0% card and confirmed accepted but no info on the limit yet - chose it via the MSE site but remembered to use TCB so that should net me £33.  Having another 20 months at 0% should give me a bit more leeway on paying things off, assuming the balance transfer is agreed.  When I looked at the details of the store loan I got for some house stuff, I'm horrified, so will be paying that off first (turns out they don't really mean interest free for a year, they mean 'we will delay adding interest for the first year until you're a year in, then wallop the whole lot on at once and charge you an insane rate as well'.  It still works for me I suppose but I don't want to encourage that kind of practice so will get rid of it asap and deal with the card later).  I also need to close the empty one as I've no need for that much credit and I worry that I'll forget about the account - will do once the new one is sorted.
• Made a note to close an empty savings account tomorrow - the CC thing reminded me.   

And had a lovely walk with the dog this afternoon - trees and quiet and the sound of sheep.  Came back feeling much better. 

Hope everyone is doing ok

RB xx

EssexHebridean

That's seriously cheeky on that interest thing - and don't you just wonder how many les financially savvy folk get stung by it because they simply don't think to dig deeper into the terms!  I'd definitely be looking to get rid of it ASAP as well! 

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean said:

That's seriously cheeky on that interest thing - and don't you just wonder how many les financially savvy folk get stung by it because they simply don't think to dig deeper into the terms!  I'd definitely be looking to get rid of it ASAP as well! 

It's hideous EH - and the cheeky barstewards have been sending me stuff with my balance quoted as if I had already gone past the interest free period.  That's what made me read it, because I've got the account noted on YNAB with its actual current balance after there was a reduction in the original costs, and I thought !!!!!! happened to make it an extra £1200!    Logged on to double check and no, it's fine, they presumably just want me to forget that I don't have to pay them interest at all   so they will now lose my business early instead. 

I nearly went with putting the stuff on a 0% card in the first place, but at the time I was wanting to pay off the card and figured it was just nice to have them psychologically separate.  I had forgotten how much I dislike this loan carp as it's so much more complicated and less flexible.  Anybody who had less options, or wasn't checking the details, could easily be caught out. 

RosaBernicia

The small stuff again, trying to keep myself on track...

• Meter readings done.  Currently about £140/month, which considering it's a 3 bed in winter isn't bad I suppose.  I have just reduced the times the heating is on again, as the weather's warmed up a bit and also I may consider using the electric radiator in the office when needed instead of heating the whole house.  Checked deals again but the loyalty fix is only just below my calculation for the October price rise, so would be paying more throughout the summer - decided against it.  Trying to think of anything I can do to keep the house warmer for next winter, but not coming up with many ideas.  It is already double glazed, though the units are old and not all effective, and the loft has as much insulation as can be in there without refitting the floor etc.  I am putting boxes and other cardboard etc on top of the insulation in the eaves in the hope that will also help insulate, but I don't think it's worth redoing the attic.  I will save for new windows as other things get done. 
• Not finding any info on what my local council is planning to do about the council tax rebate, so guess will just have to wait and see.  The percentage increase has been announced so hopefully bills can now be generated and that info will include what happens with the rebate. 
  
• Van loan is nearly gone!  Only a couple more payments.  Very pleased to see that go down.
• Still trying to get interlinked battery smoke alarms - everywhere is out of stock, currently it looks like buy a brand I've never heard of vs pay over twice the previous price for Which recommended brand.  Difference is now about £250.  Can't decide today so will sleep on it. I suppose I could go for mains ones, but that means having them fitted and presumably a plasterer back to sort the channels, not sure it would work out any cheaper   and also presumably they don't work in a power cut. 
  

kerri_gt

We a mains connected smoke alarm years ago Rosa. They may have changed now but that one also had a battery in it as back up.

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt said:

We a mains connected smoke alarm years ago Rosa. They may have changed now but that one also had a battery in it as back up.

Aha, thanks @kerri_gt .  In that case I might look into mains ones.  I don't like the idea of them not working in a power cut or if a fuse has to be flipped for a few hours during repairs or failure.