Washing Away My Debts By 2024

stymied

Also a good opportunity to sound out your current employer on the possibility of a pay rise

Squirrelz92

Morning! Hope everyone has had a smashing weekend!

Two PADS made, the first being on Saturday of £5.32 from Prolific. I was finally able to cash out 🎉 The second being this morning for £3. This last overpayment has now taken my CC2 debt into the £1,700’s ! Very happy considering I started with this at £2,300  

Brilliant weekend with two great dog walks with the family (shaded with lakes on both to cool down further) and a bbq. Me and my partner had a serious heart to heart which was well overdue and now I feel as though a weight has been lifted relationship wise. Really needed the boost as things were getting difficult and we needed to address them before we couldn’t come back from it, so I’m glad that’s dealt with. 

Forgot to mention last week that because I have volunteered to be one of the office fire sweepers, I get an extra £3 a week to on top of my wages 😂 after tax I’m sure that will be nearer to £2 but oh well! 

LittleMissDetermined

Glad you had a fab weekend, did you give more consideration to the interview?

Squirrelz92

LittleMissDetermined said:

Glad you had a fab weekend, did you give more consideration to the interview?

Morning @LittleMissDetermined. I am waiting to hear back from the recruitment firm as they are liasing with the employer about times and dates  

Squirrelz92

Afternoon!

PAD made this morning of £4 to CC2. Doing exceptionally well for small daily overpayments since payday I think and would love to know how much has been thrown across but I don't want to count the total thus far on my statement as it will more than likely dull down the total figure come next payday! 

Well it's warm .... just a bit! Yesterday I could cope with but today it's almost unbearable. Decided to take my lunch outside for 45 minutes again as I hate staying inside all day. All was well until I got back into the office after 2 fights of stairs and now I look like a very red tomato! Just to make matters worse, the main depot warehouse is struggling to maintain optimum chilled and frozen temperatures so directors have just advised that the office air conditioning will be turned off to help aid the cooling systems downstairs. Doubt it will be turned back on for the rest of the day as we reach peak temps of 38 degrees at 3pm

Leaving work early today as it is last day of the summer term for my two at primary school and there is no afterschool club to allow me to work normal hours. Allows me more time to get the house prepped ready for my grandma who is travelling by train to stay with us for a few days to allow me to work due to there being no kids clubs on.

In financial news, I tried to get my £230 of credit back from Bulb today ahead of the next price cap increase. They wouldn't return the full amount to me as they said they need to keep back one months worth of charges to cover my next bill. Very annoying considering I always pay by direct debit and I always pay £50 more than what I use. Anyhow, £96.20 is to be returned to me in the next 5 days so this shall go to my EF. I will have £133 left as a credit for my energy and have told them to only charge me for what I use, not my estimated usage. Stupid as I regularly use between £70 to £85 a month and yet it has no issue in telling me I need to pay a minimum of £123 to cover my usage! Been paying this for a good while but sick of it now as I need the extra cash as a buffer elsewhere instead of it sitting where it isn't being put to good use. So, July's bill will be paid using some of the credit left in my account and then the other part of my credit will go towards my August bill on top of me paying the remainder via DD. At least this will save me £123 next month! Shall keep this in my energy pot maybe to help over winter but I may also put into EF... yet to decide.

Keedie

I think having an EF is good, and if you already have credit in your Bulb account, then although it's useful, if the direct debit value is making you struggle in some areas, it's good to get back what you can. Especially as the summer with kids can be super expensive.

I can't believe from £230 credit they'll only refund £96.20, that seems a bit cheeky but I don't understand how they calculate these things??? My direct debit was fixed at £162.86 for months on end and it kept saying I couldn't change it to April 2023., But with monthly meter readings Octopus could finally see that my usage was less than 1/3 of what they were forcing me to pay, and so I've managed to reduce the direct debit now to £100 to still keep a little credit going as I have to have the heating on throughout the winter so that my joints don't seize up. 

Will they lower your direct debit or not take a payment for July to allow the credit to be used?

Sarahwithlove

I hope you go for the interview you can always say no but sometimes it's nice to see what else is out there.

Are you on a fix or just standard tariff? Energy companies seem to be doing crazy things atm. They say its so it's not such a big jump in DD when new price comes in but I think its more they know people won't be able to afford it so worried they won't get paid at all. 

Keedie

I think you're right @Sarahwithlove. I think they're scared we'll all be in arrears and they won't get paid so they're trying to hold us to these ridiculous direct debits.

Squirrelz92

Hi @Keedie. Yes my EF does bring me a positive vibe when it comes to unexpected expenses or hikes in prices for things so I do feel as though my £96.20 being refunded shall be made of use in there. I haven't had an issue with paying my monthly DD of £123.47. My issue is more the fact that they are forever telling me on the app that my usage for each and every month is equivalent to £123.47 but then when they bill me for what I have actually used, I am always averaging out at about £80 (£55 before the spike in April!). I simply want to pay for what I use, not a ridiculously excessive amount when I need it to buffer me for other things. Ruddy stupid. 

@Sarahwithlove, I am on the standard variable tariff as at the moment there is simply no point in jigging about to another supplier when there are no better deals Hanging on in there until the price cap increases again in October and I shall make my move then. I have told Bu1b that I want my DD to be set to take out what my bill comes to for the month, not what they THINK i am using. They have now done this and have also explained that because I have £130 worth of credit in there (that they won't give back to me), my bills will be paid for July using this alongside a bit of Augusts. Gives me some breathing space for a month at least. I did intentionally leave my credit there originally to help with the cost of winter months, but to be honest I would rather just have it as a buffer in my own account instead of in a company's back pocket.

Made my daily PAD of £5 to CC2 again. The last £150 bill contribution from my partner for the month will be sent to me tomorrow which will leave me with £485 in the bank to last me until 5th August. CSA money of £228 should arrive on the 29th but this will be going straight back out to pay off the remainder of the holiday club for my kids so I can go to work. Also have £145 child benefit due on the 1st but will more than likely whack this into my EF too. 

My grandma was due to arrive last night at the train station so I can work whilst my children are off school but she rang me to let me know that the trains had been cancelled because of the hot weather Luckily my manager was understanding and said I could either come pick up my laptop to work from home or take it as holiday. Decided on the holiday as I am up to date with everything Feels weird sat here with a coffee at 7.40am as I would be leaving right now. Grandma has rebooked her train to arrive around 4pm today so I will be able to go back to work Thurs and Friday

Keedie

I hope you enjoyed your unexpected day off, and it's good that you were given the option to work from home and that they're understanding. I hope your grandma arrived okay this afternoon and is all settled.

Having your direct debit reflect your actual bill makes the most sense, I didn't even know that was a thing. And I agree, it's better that the money is with you and can be utilised how you need it to be. It's good that you have the buffer during the summer months as well.