Flying solo

twiggy86

Oh that's awful @badmemory. Thankfully that wasn't the case with OH (she passed away in hospital, so care home weren't even aware yet) it was just that he wanted to get it done. He's taken himself out for breakfast this morning and is playing golf later - he felt bad for not working (he works for a friend who is also going through some tough times at the moment), but I helped convince him that it was for the best. I was meant to go into the office today but opted to work from home so I'm at least around. 

OH insisted that I went to acro last night and I have netball tonight. I haven't managed to play netball over the summer (due to plans clashing) and then injured my ankle, so I'm only playing half a game as it will be a tough one tonight! 

I have paid the minimum of £60 on my remaining CC this morning, but nothing much else happening moneywise! It does mean I've paid off another 1%, so total paid is now at 65%. It does feel strange and slightly unsettling to not throw more at it, but this is the plan I'm working to for now! 

the_end_of_the_rainbow

So sorry to hear about OH mum - although he is coping with it now, you may find that the events of this year may suddenly hit him hard all at once (e.g. around Christmas)

Great news on your energy switch / non switch! Which company were you moving from? 

dawnybabes

Sorry to hear about DH mum, would he benefit from some bereavement councilling further down the line ? He’s had a tough tough year. 

Sarahwithlove

That's awful for OH, bless him. When my mum died I threw myself into work and getting property ready to sell. Then we had Xmas and my 30th birthday and it hit me then. I had to take 2 months off work. So just be there for him ready to catch him when it all catches up with him because it will.

Sarahwithlove

Do you think you'll wait now until OHs flat and share of 2 properties is sorted before moving? Might be less stressful if your house is working OK for you both at the moment. 

twiggy86

Apologise (again!) for the radio silence! Thanks for the comments re OH, it really has been an awful year for them all. Probate has now been registered for his dad (there was an issue as the will wasn't stapled) so at least they can start moving forward with that. I know that the hold up had been hanging over OH as he just wants everything sorted. 

We are continuing with our plan at the moment to sell both our properties as who knows how long it will take for his mum and dad's house to sell. OH had an offer on his flat but he didn't accept it, plus the person didn't even have a mortgage in principle so think that's gone away again. Have had another couple of viewings on the house but keep receiving the same feedback - small bedroom is too small!  So not something that we can change! 

Moneywise - everything has been ticking along! I got paid last week but am ignoring it until Friday to keep things aligned with the end of the month and when OH gets paid. I have now changed my student loan payments to come out by direct debit as I am finally getting close to the end! For some reason it means I pay about £40 less per month this way! My CC interest free period expires beginning of next month so I have been looking at the balance transfer offers I have available to me - annoyingly I have a slightly better deal but not a big enough credit limit to transfer the whole £5,435 (limit is £5,000). So unless I look for other cards/ offers, if I want to transfer everything over to one card, then I will have to pay £271 balance transfer fee. I currently have £247 sat in my "misc" savings, so can cover most of it with that! 

I think I have decided to start adding more to my EF. So my plan was to get £1,000 EF, pay off debt and then increase EF. Well as at the moment I have paused paying anything above the minimums off my CC (although I will pay the balance transfer fee off in full), then it seems wise to add more to the EF? But given that we also have the upcoming expense of wedding and potential house move, I'm also saving for that. So I've been feeling a bit like I've lost direction somewhat and so thinking maybe at least increasing the EF will make me feel like I'm progress. 

My other job for this week is to order a couple of bridesmaid dresses. I'm seeing one of my bridesmaids on 10 November so want to have a couple of options for her to try - in terms of quality, length (two are quite tall), colour etc - not that it will necessarily be the exact dress but to help work out if any of the websites I'm looking at are good/ bad options! I currently have £950 in my "wedding" pot to cover it (OH is keeping track of what each of us spends and then will work it out later down the line - bit convoluted but it's working for us this way). I do also have the balance of £400 to pay for my dress at the end of November. 

Other things to "report" is that I received the £200 credit from my utility company but will leave that sat in there for now. I also received £30 from my bank as they are stopping their reward scheme which usually pays me £5 per month - so instead they have paid what I would have received until it expired in March.  

Wow, that was a whole lot of waffle!!! 

twiggy86

Realised that the other thing that helps me feel like I'm making progress (even when the cards aren't going down) is to give myself a list of money/ organisational tasks! So here is a little list of things for this week...

• Find credit card that I need to transfer from DONE
• Look at balance transfer offers DONE
• Make balance transfer DONE
• Order "sample" bridesmaid dresses DONE
• Finalise budget for next month DONE
• Progress crochet blanket that has been long abandoned! 
• Declutter 3 items of clothing DONE (4 items so far!)
• Possibly re-organise my wardrobe at the weekend! (If so, that will probably result in more decluttering!) 

Sarahwithlove

Have you tried ever pretty uk? That's where my bridesmaid dress was from. I was surprised at how good the quality was for the price. They do normal and plus size and length was really good for me being slightly taller. 

twiggy86

Thanks @Sarahwithlove, I don't think I've come across that website but will have a look! 

Fairly productive day yesterday! I managed to find a balance transfer switch with a lower fee, so "only" cost £53! My issue is that I have a number of "open" cards with zero balances, and the fee free offers for those cards don't apply to me as an existing customer! I don't want to risk changing my credit score too much at the moment (due to mortgage application) but once we have moved I will look at closing the cards. I don't want to live with debt any more and the majority of them were only ever used for balance transfers so I don't need them anyway! 

I ordered 3 bridesmaid dresses yesterday from 3 different places - ranging from £54 to £107. I have 3 bridesmaids, so thankfully the cost shouldn't be too crazy anyway! I ordered 2 from places that do a range of styles (idea being same colour but different dress that best suits each person) and a multi-way one (which again they can choose to style as they wish). 

I think OH is now going to his dad's Friday night and back Saturday to clear out some more stuff and sort out the garden a bit as it is now ready for them to put on the market. I have a baby shower on Saturday (present already purchased but need to wrap!) so he is insisting that he doesn't want me to go with him - although the two of us could get things done a lot quicker! So Saturday morning I *may* sort out my wardrobe! I have already pulled out 4 things morning without even really trying!!! I have a few shelves which have stuff just rammed on there, but then the hanging space is also completely full - so my plan is to sort out the shelves first and then (if I can clear some space) put stuff that doesn't need to be hung up, on the shelves. For example, all of my summer, strappy tops are currently hung up, which obviously won't get as much wear over winter so can be *neatly* stacked! 

Right time to crack on with some work!

Floss

twiggy86 said:

Fairly productive day yesterday! I managed to find a balance transfer switch with a lower fee, so "only" cost £53! My issue is that I have a number of "open" cards with zero balances, and the fee free offers for those cards don't apply to me as an existing customer! I don't want to risk changing my credit score too much at the moment (due to mortgage application) but once we have moved I will look at closing the cards. I don't want to live with debt any more and the majority of them were only ever used for balance transfers so I don't need them anyway!

You might find these are impacting your score, as the total credit value is classed as "available" and some banks / mortgage companies will deduct that figure from what they're prepared to lend you.

Maybe close one?