Flying solo

Hazelnutty

In terms of your questions, I'd probably go for a split approach, keep clearing debt but maybe stash a proportion in as high paying an account as possible? What the split is 50/50 or 60/40 or whatever can change over time as your plan starts to take shape.

twiggy86

I do agree @Hazelnutty that this is a decision that needs time and thought! Whilst we would do it in a way in which my greater share is reflected should anything go wrong, as you've said there is the emotional/ stress side to be considered as well. I don't want to be jaded by the past but it did prove that things can "go wrong" (even though ex actually did me favour as apparently I'd spent 16 years with my eyes shut to the reality of the situation!)   

twiggy86

Working from again today after being in the office yesterday. There isn't a proper tea making facility in the office (while there kind of is, but no milk), so it is impacting my caffeine intake - which isn't a bad thing! I did buy one at the cafe on site yesterday but need to watch out for that creeping in as a habit - I wouldn't mind so much if I drunk fancy coffee but it's £2.90 for a bog standard brew!!! 

I have been paid from new job today but have shuffled aside until pay from old job comes in and I know exactly how much I've got for the month. I have however updated my provisional budget as I got paid more than I thought - plus I've had a play around as need to update a few things. I think I'm going to make a CC payment today to get my MBNA CC total under £1k! However I am still debating my plan moving forward re paying off the debts and saving for any future house move costs... bf is currently at his old flat with an estate agent to get it valued! 

Tonight I am going to see a friend and bf is going to play golf work, so will just be sorting myself out dinner. Before I o I am planning to wax my legs - although annoyingly I checked to see how many strips I have and I can't find any! Could have sworn that I had some around but maybe I used them all last time! Also, all my pants seems to be breaking at the moment so I need to buy some more! 

Bits and bobs for today...

• Update spreadsheet - including working on July budget 
• Withdraw funds from Vinted (whole £2!)
• Make CC payment 
• Meals from stores 
• Pop to Tesco for a couple of bits 
• Post Vinted parcel whilst at Tesco (for another whole £2!)
• Wax my own legs 
• Pop a couple more bits on Vinted 
• Pop to friend's for a natter 

Floss

I would suggest you both start to save towards moving expenses - estate agents & solicitors won't be cheap with 3 properties to be sold (although the probate house costs should come out of the estate before being shared).

Sarahwithlove

I'd probably say take the stage approach and sell his property and dad's. Only because of the stress of trying to time all 3 correctly would do me in! Last thing you want is to find somewhere you like and it fall through due to one of the other properties not going through. Also probate can be a nightmare. 

Re debt, if you're not being charged interest I'd focus on saving for potential moves. Debts can then be cleared as part of the consolidation 

twiggy86

So I have now received the £1,000 as the very generous gift from my parents! At the moment I have set up a "house savings" fund (separate to my previous DIY fund) and have put it in there! I have £995 on a CC where the interest free period is due to expire in August but I haven't used it against that at the moment. 1) because I want to put it towards something "better" and 2) whilst things are a bit unknown! In the interim I at the moment I am going to try split between creating a savings pot and get the CC gone before the end of August! Of course, I can always use the savings to pay off the debt if I change my mind at any stage! 

Otherwise I have just been ticking along the last couple of days! Still need to buy some pants but I did wax my legs (after finding the remaining strips - although I did still need to buy some more!) I was in the office yesterday but at home today. 

Plans for the weekend include line dancing tonight with bf(!) and going to a little outdoor local music/ food thing with some friends - ticket was £12 which has already been purchased. So there will be some spending involved but hopefully should be able to cover it all (no strike that, I WILL cover it all) from my remaining personal and grocery budget - won't need to spend all of the £77 on food shopping which is currently left for groceries. I'm still waiting for my pay to come in from my old job before I can properly finalise my July budget. 

However, today's bits and pieces...

• Update spreadsheet
• Continue tweaking July budget
• Lunch from stores 
• List some more bits on Vinted (keep saying I'm going to do this!)

badmemory

Preaching to the converted I'm sure, but better to say it.  Make sure you have & will be paying enough tax.  Especially with having both paying in the same tax month.

twiggy86

So I have been paid and done my monthly sweep ups of my accounts! So I feel it's time for a 6 month check-in!

This year I have cleared £2,270 of debt - which equates to 15% of my starting total! Meaning my total debt now sits at £6,535! Feels so good to feel like the end is in sight now that the number isn't quite so scary! It feels equally good and bad that it also means I have now paid off just over £9k from the starting debt - oh to think what I could have done with that money instead! 

I am only at 45% of the target total for the year of paying off £5k, so slightly behind. However, I have had a few unaccounted for expenses (boiler!) and changed how I did my pots. So although I'm behind, I am happy with what I have achieved - especially now all my pots are topped up to their minimum levels! These "issues" meant that the second quarter has been better for debt busting - £815 for the first quarter of the year, compared to £1,455 for the last 3 months! 

I'm not quite sure what the second half is going to look like for the year... bf really wants me to just pay the minimums for the time being and him clear the rest when he gets his inheritance - which is likely to take some time as house is still in probate and then will need to be sold. I completely understand his thought process behind it but feel uncomfortable him "taking on my debts" - his thought being that I will be contributing the greater amount to any new property we buy and so this is his way of thanking me (albeit the shares will be reflected in the paperwork). So at the moment, I have budgeted to pay £600 off the debts but can always re-allocate it. I also have to consider that my smallest CC is currently interest free but that expires towards the end of August - currently has £860 left on it. The rest of my debt is also interest free which expires in November - so would probably need to move it at that stage in any event (i.e. even if I do continue overpaying). 

I also have the £1k that I received from my parents that I have opted not to throw at the debts as I would like to be able to show them where it goes - rather than clear off the debts. So I have currently set up a "house costs" pot and popped it in there. 

So I am happy with what I have achieved so far but need to come up with a plan moving forward!!! 

twiggy86

If you understood any of the waffle above - it's that I find my "money focus" again slightly torn! It's funny how you think you come up with a plan and then life changes! However, I have completed my budget for the month and shuffled all the money accordingly for now! Things may change and I may re-allocate money but at least it's all just a spreadsheet issue as the money is in the bank! 

I need to go back and look at the goals I'd set myself for June - not sure I achieved all of them but then I knew I was going to need time to adapt to the new job/routine and so that may have been the case! With that in mind, I need to consider what I want to achieve for this month! I thought I would feel like I have more time at home to get bits and bobs done around the house, but that isn't how it feels at the moment! I'm also need to get used to having a joint account with bf - we have agreed on the amount to put in there on payday and said if it runs out we will discuss what to top it up with. I'm not sure how I'm going to account for the spending in my spreadsheet - don't really want to make it more complicated but I like to track the spending throughout the month! 

Anyway, on to today - working from home today...

• Finalise budget
• Do money shuffling
• Make CC payment with "sweep ups" 
• Pop tortoises in the garden
• Wash bedding on 30 degree quick cycle
• Hang washing on airer 
• Lunch from stores - really not sure what as we have very little in!!!
• Food shop later with bf 

rachmac3

Oooo I like the idea of a 6 month check in. It would be good to focus on what I've achieved rather than what I haven't.
You're doing great by the way 😌