Debt and Caring

WelshmansDaughter

Sitting in Starbucks with a coffee Teacup bought me. She may not be aware of her generosity until she gets her credit card bill...

Have rediscovered my love of spreadsheets thanks to reading Supersecretsquirrel MFW diary. Doing the paper equivalent at the moment to brain dump. 

Finally found a calculator that tells me the information I want and got the shock of my life when it said:

Debt payoff is estimated at more than 30 years

WelshmansDaughter

Spent €59 in Tesco this morning. I have selected that particular one as it is small enough for me to run around with Dad in the car outside. But nonetheless does mean I tend to speed through the aisles throwing things I think we need willynilly.
I really just wanted the Sunday papers and something to eat for lunch. Bought chicken, salmon and goose fat roast potatoes all yellow stickered. 
The intention was to do a small shop to keep us going as I didn't manage to do an online order yesterday. Whoops

WelshmansDaughter

Taking advantage of Teacup being away and cleaning out fridges and freezers. Pre-pandemic frozen meals and some mystery items binned. Briefly considered buying freezer de-icer but decided it was a bit ridiculous. 

To Do

finish clearing fridge

Clean shelves and door

Buy dog food

Use up some hm chicken liver pate

Look up caring for tomato plants
Try and get to charity shop to see if they have chair

doingitanyway

If there are YS goodies it makes sense to buy them. When I was doing better with my finances I had a YS kitty in a separate purse for impulse purchases. I'm planning to do this digitally with a discretionary spend account (M0nzo) Have I done it yet? Nah...but it is still a good idea...

I love the Sunday papers. I know I can read some of them online but it isn't the same is it?

Debt payoff can be quicker if you set up a little fund for overpayments. @jwil is particularly good at this.

HM chicken liver pate? I applaud you...

WelshmansDaughter

In the interests of reminder that a little goes a long way, this morning I have:

Gotten up. 
Made a breakfast I like

Showered.
Taken dog for walk

Taken out food waste

Taken out recycling
Watered plants that appear to exist in some sort of rain proof vacuum
Cleared one shelf of fridge

Excavated Dad from bed

Yesterday proved a lesson in not shopping when you're tired. Filled the online shopping basket to the tune of €108 (stock up) only to realise that Teacup's credit card had vanished. Cue panic. 
Attempted to phone tesco but no answer so heavy looked after dad while I drove up. Turns out I'd left it in the card machine. Tesco customer services have now redeemed themselves which is a relief as I can't afford a new phone. And the new pixel isn't out til July...

@doingitanyway the Sunday papers are an experience really that doesn't translate to screen. 
There are a few big what ifs money wise the next couple of months so am focusing on affording the payments plus a little extra. 
The pate is impressive just for the sheer amount of butter that went into it. Sadly it has proved to be more enjoyable to make than eat ...

WelshmansDaughter

Arrived at the dentist for my teeth and cash removal to find a post it on the door saying the surgery was closed. Somewhat perplexed and annoyed by this.
On the bright side, the €450 earmarked for the dentist has been transferred to uk account to meet this month's expenses. So I won't be late with those.
Might be shopping around for a new dentist also.

Tiredbutdetermined

How blinking annoying to find the note on the door but at least you have escaped the cash extraction!

stymied

May I ask if your debts have already defaulted and you’re on a DMP or if it’s still a bit up in the air?

Could you rent out your Scottish flat while you’re in Ireland? Or ask a friend to house sit for a nominal sum? I assume a form would be needed for mortgage company to allow this.

WelshmansDaughter

@Tiredbutdetermined a post-it sellotaped to the door on a rainy day doesn't seem like effective client communication to me...

@stymied no so far I can make the minimum payment on all cards. I will hopefully be able to pay one off thanks to a grant next week. The flat is not in rentable condition, I left in 2020 on an emergency basis as I was starting to renovate. Have only been back for short trips and can't yet afford to pay builders.

WelshmansDaughter

Randomly messing about with calculators last night. Thought how much do I have to pay to be debt free (credit card) by the end of 2024?
The answer was a frightening £323 on one and £120 on t'other. 
I did have a brief moment of the Wants To Punch Past Self in the Face.
Have entertained wishful thoughts of being able to save so I was a bit gutted. Just went on again now and did the calculation for 31 months which took it monthly payments down to what I can afford anyway. 
I have to remember that my payments are based on my circumstances now which includes a somewhat limited earning power. 
If I am still here this time next year (always adding a touch of morbidity to one's budget) then likely that will mean another grant payment so a larger chunk to be paid off. 
I cannot find the spreadsheet calculator I used to use that let you put in random over payments so can't check that.

Now am off to make today a spendy day because somebody didn't go to sleep until midnight and now am knackered.