10 years later yikes

1stTimer

The weather has finally switched on us, it’s been quite a shock the way it has dropped but I guess we are at the end of Nov so it was inevitable.
I looked into my PSA and provided I did my calculations correctly and there is nothing else I have forgotten then I am still within my limit but not by much which means from now until April any money I save bar the regular savers will need to go straight into my ISA.

Payday next week so will spend the weekend sorting out my spreadsheets and working out the plan going forward.

1stTimer

Nothing major to report, payday has come round and everything has been moved to where it should be. Some of my pots have actually built up a bit since I started as I haven’t spent as much as I’d allocated so I’m debating on what to do with the extra when the new year comes round. The annual bill pot I will keep where it is as that was the intention but not sure about the others - the dog and car pot I think I should also treat like the annual bill pot as they do have form for hitting me where it hurts when I least expect it.

I’m still looking at cars but all I see is the price tags and it just shocks me to think that soon I will have no choice but to pay out. I keep writing down all the ways I will fund it, If I get a loan for some of it then it won’t knock my savings down as much but then I see how much interest I will have to pay them and I change my mind again. 

I have time and I could be in a worse position so need to just stop fretting and what will be will be.

Cara_

Cars are expensive and when I was in your position, it took a while but I did find one at the mileage and price I wanted to pay so I have sympathy for you in your search. I hope you find a new car soon.

katsu

Your SoA had £25 for lottery.  Whilst you are paying off the debts how about cancelling that as its a fairly painless £300 saving?

We wouldn't focus on the chances of being hit by lightening so lotteries feel like a gambling hope tax to me. 

1stTimer

Yes Cara I think just waiting and browsing every day something will eventually come along, I just have to remain patient.

Hi @katsu I don’t actually have any debts that I am paying, I’m saving at the minute for both house deposit and a new(ish) car.

1stTimer

I had an email from PRA yesterday about one of the sums I owe, this one is £3213 and for at least 18months I have trying to see if I can get a reduced settlement from them and they haven’t budged. Yesterday they emailed to say they will give me a discount of £300 off.
I’m going to ignore it, everyone on the debt free wannabe board says that PRA are really hard to get any good offers from so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise but I will be at the 6 year mark in Jan which means it falls off my record so was hoping they might have been a bit more generous with the discount.

leftatthetrafficlights

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with your car! 🤦‍♀️ I always buy second hand ones and have a limit on how much I'm willing to pay - and I never buy one until I have no option!! I absolutely detest car shopping - I've been pretty lucky with mine (current car has been with me for almost 9 years now) but dh has had a few nightmares with his so I can empathise with spiralling costs 😔 

You're doing really well with your saving - hopefully you'll be in a position to be house-hunting soon! 🤞😁


ETA: I've had my debts for over 20 years now and the occasional discount offers I receive (on the two who offer them) are still mediocre 🙄 The other thing is they state that it would be registered as a partial settlement, not a full and final one so I ignore them - I'm waiting until I am debt neutral then approaching them with full and final offers 😉

1stTimer

I’m the same regarding car shopping! I hate it and I think that’s 1/2 the problem. I will not buy private as I am convinced I will get scammed somehow and I am not comfortable viewing and test driving them trying to look like I know what I am doing 😂 I have a terrible poker face and all the pressure of being around sales people who are confident really intimidates me!

BUT I think I may have found one.. Of course it is more money than I’d like to spend but that will always be the case. I have compromised a bit and used 5k of my savings and got a small loan for the rest. This means my deposit savings doesn’t take a huge hit and paying the loan will be recorded on my credit file to show I can pay monthly responsibly.
I am currently just trying to get a few quotes to see my car and whatever I get for that will be my first overpayment to the loan, then whatever wages I have left over each month (if there is any) will be split between house/car.
The car is also only 3 years old so will hopefully see me through a good while.

The most important bit will be when it is here and the other car is gone I will not have it hanging rent free inside my head for 24hrs of the day!

1stTimer

Lots of little Christmas presents purchased this week so I’ve made a start whoo! I really do not like Christmas it just feels like pressure for everything and I am already counting down the days until Boxing Day is here.

Everything seems to be moving in the right direction with the car, it should be here on Friday. Once it is here I will then make a start on making my current car look at least semi reasonable in order to sell it to WBAC. I made the mistake last week of filling the tank up full with petrol as I do every pay day so it will not be going anywhere until I have driven it a bit more and got my moneys worth!

I had an email from HMRC this morning and my tax code has changed as I went over my PSA ☹️ I’m so annoyed with myself for that

Cara_

That's good news about finding a car - I hate car buying too. That's annoying about the full tank of petrol but at least you can use it before selling it.

I know what you mean about Christmas; I'm not against it but the pressure to have a great time is too much. In the last few years we have stopped buying presents and now get together for a meal and everyone contributes. It is so much easier plus, I have a lot more time becasue I am not shopping for presents, wrapping etc. 

Roll on Friday.