Flying solo

FacelessNumber

I always go for the 0% fee even if it's shorter! So far I've always had a 0% fee available, and even though my CC is normally covered by the amount I have in savings (so I have a back up plan), so far I've never not found a 0% option.

Of course it won't always work this way, but as a previous poster said the fee will be on less of a balance next time. Also definitely worth moving even a lower interest amount to it if it's 0% and no fee!

Humdinger1

Loving your diary @twiggy86! I've now realised (I think) that acro is yoga.  I was imagining you in a troop of acrobats...keep going, you're doing brilliantly love Humdinger xx 

foxgloves

Lol, as I also thought Twiggy was alternately keeping fit with netball & acrobatics!

@twiggy86- You have paid off a good chunk of debt since your split with ex....defo sounds as though he was more than a small part of the problem.
Keep on keeping on,
F x

D123456789

Acro is acrobatics in London! Acro classes are often held in combination with cheerleading here. 

Purplelady65

I thought it was a combination of yoga and acrobatics usually done in pairs ? If you googles images it looks very impressive! 

twiggy86

Ha ha - loving the pondering about what acroyoga is! It's definitely one to google but my general explanation to people is "me balancing and twirling around on someone's feet"!!! 

So yesterday was my birthday and I had a lovely day! I went and got my tattoo in the morning, then went to confess to my parents (turned 38 but was still expecting a telling off!)! On my way home I stopped in Starbucks and sat there with a drink and a cookie - never treat myself to that, so it was lovely. Then popped to see a friend who has a birthday on the same day. AND then bf took me out for dinner! We didn't go where we originally intended (fancy/ expensive restaurant) but he was feeling very anxious/ stressed about handing in his notice today - so I said it made sense to save it until another day, but he still wanted to take me out. I would have happily stayed in with a takeaway as could see he was stressed, but we did have a nice meal out and he seemed ok (maybe he just masked it well). So it really was a nice day! 

Bf gave me £50 towards the tattoo and then un-expectantly (and weirdly) my ex's mum sent me £50 - so that covers the cost of the tattoo. Part of me feels like I should give it back, but I'm not sure how to best manage it! My bosses also gave me a £50 amazon voucher, so will keep that aside until there's something I want! 

Anyway, back to work today so here's today...

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Load of washing on 30 degree quick wash
• Update spreadsheet 
• Finalise October budget 
• Consider what to do with money I had set aside for tattoo now that the cost was covered by generous gifts! (I had £116 set aside) 
• Charge phone at work 
• Do a little "sweep up" and make £5 CC payment (pay day is Monday so will do proper sweep then, but enjoying making these little payments through out the month!) 
• Apply for new CC - taking the advice to go for the zero fee, thanks everyone! 
• Hang washing on airer
• Dinner from stores 

PennysIntoPounds

Happy belated birthday. Don't think about sending the money back to ex's mum, it probably helped ease her conscience about what a freeloading pillock her son was 

twiggy86

Thanks @PennysIntoPounds!

Well update re bf - he handed in his notice expecting to be sent straight from the building (he's going to a competitor). Well he's just messaged to say that he's being taken out for lunch and there will be a counter-offer and that his boss said "he's never lost a counter-offer"! Goes to show how valued he is but unfortunately it that hasn't been how he's made to feel day to day. But of course, if bf wants to take the counter-offer that is up to him but I don't think he will - and he knows my view that I'm not bothered how much he earns and have repeatedly said "happiness is more important than money". 

Purplelady65

It’s a shame your bf hasn’t felt valued on a day to day basis and only now he has another job offer are they pulling the stops out to keep him. The risk is he may stay and be paid more but potentially the day to day will remain the same or they will express their appreciation for a couple of weeks then everything will revert to business as usual. 

Re the gift from your exes mother you should definitely keep it. She obviously valued you and you were in her life for a long time so it’s understandable she would want to send you a gift for your birthday, I would think she would be upset if you returned it. I would be in that situation. 

twiggy86

You're right @Purplelady65 and that is exactly the point I made to him - assume nothing but the pay changes... will you be happy?! He's decided that the increase and the difference in the commission structure is enough to stay - plus the fact that it was handled in the way it was means he saw how valued he has been, even though it hasn't been demonstrated day-to-day. 

Fairly quiet weekend of family - both mine and bf's - which was really nice. Went to a local farm place on Saturday which bf paid for (as was mainly for his daughter and his sister's kids), was good but is so expensive to get in! Had fun feeding various animals! Then yesterday we also went to feed the ducks, as had some rolls which had gone hard. So other than a couple of drinks (non-alcoholic) and some food shopping, I didn't spend much. 

It's payday today, so I have done my "sweep ups" from my grocery and personal pots. Meaning this morning I have made a CC payment of £85, taking the total difference in my debt to £415 this month which is the most I've paid in a while! So the HSBC card balance is now at £360 - with the interest free period due to end later this month. I also started the process of doing the balance transfer yesterday, but needed to upload a payslip which I didn't have at home so will do today. Can't wait to make my payments (once the statements come in) and take my total debt to under £10k!!! First time it will be under £10k in a LONG time (possibly as far back as the start of 2021!)! 

On to today's bits and bobs...

• Do money sweep ups
• Make CC payment 
• Take leftover pasta to work for lunch 
• Wash towels on 30 degree quick wash 
• Update spreadsheet with weekend's spends 
• Do money shuffles once pay hits the account 
• Charge phone at work 
• Complete balance transfer paperwork
• Snap some receipts (been a bit rubbish at keeping up with this!)
• Work on crochet present at lunch 
• Chat with bf re plans for putting money aside for pooch vs taking out insurance 
• Dinner from stores