Flying solo

twiggy86

You can switch it at any time @badmemory via their portal - maybe there's a tax reason or something why its better to do it at the beginning of the tax year? However, I checked and I have £1,136 left to pay so I can let it run for a couple more months before switching it - rather than confuse things with changing employer. 

Bf went food shopping yesterday whilst I was working, so I just transferred him my half. He is very good at sticking to what we need - probably better than me as I like to pick up the "staples"!  I met my friend briefly at the pub before netball last night but didn't have a drink and parked for free, so just the netball game to pay for. 

Today I am working from home again meaning I had some time to do some knitting in the garden with a cuppa before work! I should make a point of doing that more often now the weather is starting to warm up. I have very much focussed on my "summer" knitted top that I'm making this week and haven't even picked up the jumper! I was thinking about it yesterday and whether or not to start another summer top next or something more "autumny". There is another summer top I'd like to make, but obviously that comes with the pressure of wanting to get it done quickly so that I can get some use out of it this year! Whatever I make, it will be from stash which is the main MSE thing! 

We have bf's daughter this weekend, but no firm plans what we're doing. We don't have his son as he is going to come up North we us next weekend to help sort out bf's dad's house - along with bf's sister and her son. Would be good to get outside this weekend, so maybe a picnic or walk down the beach with pooch. Will have a think if there's anything I want to get done in the garden - bf has a couple of things to do at some point, but don't need doing this weekend. 

Today's bits and bobs are along the lines of...

• Update spreadsheet
• Check student loan balance 
• Make small CC payment  
• Load of washing hung on the airer 
• Sort through clothes for Vinted - hopefully upload over the weekend
• Work on spending categories for last month (slight head in sand last month!) 
• Meals from stores 
• Work on knitted top 

badmemory

I thought the student debt thing (technical description obviously) was more a question of stopping the employeer from doing the deduction & them being notified properly & also them knowing how.  Which is why the new tax year was the way to go.  But things are far more automated now.  Still better for me to say & find me wrong than you discover later that I said nothing but knew there may be a problem.  It is why I say things like I wonder & I think or I believe rather than I know.  The username is also a clue, although some things from a long time ago occasionally come to mind.  This I suspect is more to do with Erudio than the SLC.

twiggy86

I always appreciate people's comments, so you're right that it's better to say something! And I think you were right @badmemory, but that led to people overpaying as it would only be looked at once a year. So now it's changed and it was actually SLC that are pushing me towards DD to avoid that happening - as SLC will know when it's paid and just stop the direct debit, rather than having to rely on the employer.  

twiggy86

Bit of a mixed weekend financially. Only spent £24 from my personal spends (although was on eating out so could have been avoided!) and I bought some hair dye and dyed my own hair yesterday - feeling much better for it! However, I had a speeding ticket come through the post!!! Very annoyed at myself! If I want to take the course, then it might fall just when I'm starting my new job which obviously doesn't look great! So that will cost either £100 or £130 depending on which option I go with. I may delay sending off the form to buy myself some more time. 

It's "funny" how much receiving that letter threw me on Saturday and made me feel like I just can't seem to get ahead. As soon as I make a plan, something seems to come along that throws it off. The fine is only a relatively small amount of money but really impacted my headspace. 

I did find a desk and chair which would cost £114 and I think would fit the space well and suit my needs. They are both on offer today so need to make a decision before the price goes up! Will order via top cash back and hope it tracks (it didn't last time I ordered via this retailer - but they're what I want anyway, so that would just be a bonus). 

Plans this week are acro on Wednesday and then netball Thursday before we go up to bf's dad for the weekend on Friday to start sorting stuff out. I think we may do a small food shop tonight (shouldn't need too much) and then possibly go for a walk down the beach tomorrow evening if the weather is ok. I may also suggest to bf that we pop to the shop on Friday to grab some bits to keep us going over the weekend as there won't be any food in the house - although I think the fridge might have been turned off as doesn't need to be. 

Anyway, today's bits and bobs...

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Order desk? 
• Work on knitting project 
• Small food shop 
• Snap receipt 
• Dinner from stores 

twiggy86

Thought I'd check in re my goals for last week before I set this weeks aims. 

Finance wise I did allocate the £35 to my "pots" as that aligned best with the plan I had set out until the pots are all topped up. I also caught up with categorising my spending - including for last month although it transpired that I hadn't summarised all of them clearly so had to stick under "miscellaneous" spending, so that is something to work on. I didn't however make any progress on listing bf's clothes on Vinted so that definitely needs to happen this week! 

In house sorting I did put the bits in the loft that had been lingering around and pulled a couple of bits down - which went straight in the bin! I also measured for the desk and so know what I want to order, and actually had a bit more space than I first though - helped when the stuff was in the loft out the way! 

I managed to knit about 3 1/2 inches on the top - doesn't sound a lot but it is fingering weight! I would like to get it finished in time to wear (i.e. show off!) at my stitch night next Thursday! I didn't however pick up the jumper at all! That was intentionally though once I realised that if I really focus I can possibly get the top done in time to wear next week, so that will probably remain abandoned until after the top is finished! 

So overall, fairly good progress but a couple of things to work on!

twiggy86

So on to this week's goals...

Finances:

• Look at budget for next month to work in paying the fine    DONE
• List bf's bits on Vinted 

House:

• Order desk and chair DONE
• Move spare bedroom around slightly DONE 
• Do some organising in utility area (few things been dumped in there!) 
• Pull up at least a few weeds from the front garden (not planning to sort it entirely but get it looking slightly more presentable!) 

Crafting: 

• Progress knitted top - now at the point of starting the ribbing so will probably take a bit longer to complete each round
• Consider next project.... (I mean I really should finish the jumper next!!!) 

Baileys_Babe

How long do you think it will take to finish the jumper?

What season/s is the jumper for?

Hopefully answer these questions will help you decide where your focus will be once you have finished the top.

twiggy86

I ordered the desk and chair last night - ended up ordering from two different places but got £3.48 tracked via TCB. Cost was £132 meaning my house/DIY fund is now back down to £59! Just can't seem to build it up at the moment so the larger projects are seemingly parked - which annoys me as there was something that I really wanted to complete this year! However, everything is functional it's just that the utility area is very ugly and want to add an extra loo! 

Speaking of DIY, I noticed that the gravel area out the front is very wet. There is a gravel area that is half ours and half our neighbours, but with nothing dividing the two properties. I know that last time it was wet, it was because the neighbours had a leak - so must text to ask if they're aware of an issue before I investigate. Is it wrong to hope that it's their problem again?! 

I did re-arrange the spare room to make space for the desk when it arrives - only meant shifting a kallax unit from one place to another. Also went food shopping with bf (my share was (£24) and then came back and had dinner. Did a small amount of knitting and looks like I have gauged it right when to start the ribbing as I am slightly playing "yarn chicken"! @Baileys_Babe - the colours for the jumper are quite "summery", although I tend to wear a lot of colour - but I'm not sure how warm it will be when it's done so whether it is suitable for summer evenings. 

Tonight we are potentially going for a walk down the beach this evening with the pooch. Think I'll suggest that we have dinner first otherwise I think we'll be tempted to grab dinner out! I'm not sure I'll have time, but I really should at least make a start on the Vinted pile - even if it's pulling out the bits that I won't be listing! Maybe that's a good idea actually as it will make the pile look smaller - although possibly not by a lot but I know there are at least a few things in there that won't be worth selling! 

Today's bits and pieces... 

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Make £40 CC payment 
• Text neighbour re drive 
• Text friend re POA forms 
• Work on knitting at lunch 
• Dinner from stores 
• Sort through Vinted pile 

twiggy86

Texts were productive...

Neighbour has confirmed they are aware of the issue and think it is the same issue as previously - which was a leaking water main under the driveway so for Wessex Water to fix. 

Friend came back to me and did still want me to complete the POA forms for him. He's now sent me the last bit of information that I needed, so I have updated the forms and will print today at work. Not sure when I will have time to pop them round to him but at least it will all be ready to go. 

Sarahwithlove

Sorry to hear about bfs dad, I know it was expected but still difficult. How is he doing? 

I like you am finding it hard to save in my DIY fund, so much to do and not enough funds available. But it's nice to see how much difference small projects can make. Just think how much extra spare cash you will have next year with the debts gone and student loan as well. Then you can focus on those projects being done.