Flying solo

kayannie

Thinking of you - saying goodbye to an old friend won't be easy, but personally I think you'll have no regrets of seeing him one last time, even if it is hard. He must have been much loved & cared for to have lived to such a ripe old age. 
KA

twiggy86

Thank you. It was absolutely awful seeing him and I didn't want to leave him. I don't regret going though and it confirmed it was his time - which I knew it would be if ex was saying it. I'm incredibly sad but I'm working from home today so can snuggle new pooch to cheer me up - her bouncing around like a kangaroo was what I needed this morning. 

On to MSE things... Looks like balance transfer has gone through as the payment is showing as pending on the card I was transferring from. I'm hoping that will count as this month's payment so that I can throw the payment I'd set aside for that CC towards the CC I want to clear this month. Need to wait for paperwork before I can log into the new CC's online account. Yesterday was a NSD but I need to pop out for a couple of bits this morning (i.e. milk!) and will possibly do a proper shop later if I can face it.

Today's list of bits and bobs...

• Load of washing on 30 degree quick cycle (may do a second load) 
• Hang washing on airer 
• Try on fancy dress outfit for this weekend - didn't come with socks but just tried on with a pair of bf's long white socks and that works perfectly! 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Try to make myself eat
• Write shopping list 
• Shop to list (if I go)
• Snap receipts 

kayannie

The new pooch to cuddle would have been just what you needed today,  I think they know instinctively when you're feeling sad. 
KA

twiggy86

Thanks @kayannie. 

I've opted to work from home again today - I spoke to ex yesterday morning and he was taking pooch to the vets to get his meds topped up to try to keep him going another day but I haven't heard anything since. So I'm not sure if he was put to sleep yesterday or whether it will be today. Which means my emotions feel slightly in limbo. 

On to money related things... Balance transfer went through and did count as this month's payment on the MBNA CC. So I now that has freed up some money in the budget, I am tempted to just pay the full £250 that is left sat on my HSBC CC (I paid £70 off it yesterday). That would take me under the £10k mark, which I think is the motivating factor I need to pay it off today! My Virgin CC statement came in today so I have paid the £25 minimum off that (this will be my priority once the HSBC card is cleared). 

Current balances stand at:

• HSBC - £250
• Virgin - £800
• MBNA - £2,838.71
• Natwest (new) - £6,250 

Today's list of bits and pieces...

• Load of washing on 30 degree quick cycle 
• Hang washing on airer 
• Make CC payment(s) 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Lunch and dinner from stores
• Work on crochet present in any breaks
• Pop out to bank to pay cash in 
• Pay lowest amount at acro 

in_need_of_direction

If you’re sure you can afford it, clear the card. It doesn’t just bring you into a new band of debt, it reduces the number of debts.

twiggy86

I ended up going with ex yesterday to have pooch put to rest. Horrible but peaceful and I'm pleased I ended up going, as I wasn't going to. I did go to acro in the evening as I wanted the distraction - although I actually feel better now pooch has passed than I did when I knew he was suffering. It's definitely easier for me as I haven't had pooch living with me for the past year, feels heartless saying that though.

I did pop to the bank yesterday... well tried to as apparently it isn't there any more!!! I don't need the money any time soon, as it's going back into a "pot" but I just want the spreadsheet to stack up again! 

I'm back working in the office today, although bosses did say I could work from home - however I didn't feel it was necessary. I didn't pay off the CC yesterday but I am resolved to do it today! Then I need to turn my focus to the Virgin CC as the interest free period expires next month - I could transfer to the new Natwest CC, but I feel like the push to get it gone asap will do me some good, even if it means paying a small amount of interest. However, I will need to see how much I can throw at it once I know what the minimums will be on MBNA/ Natwest follow the transfer. 

Bits and pieces for today...

• Make lunch to take to work - used up ham that was about to go out of date 
• Clear HSBC CC!
• Update spreadsheet 
• Cancel TV licence 
• Order present for nephew
• Buy dog food on way home 
• Snap receipt - which will take me to the payout amount in my app! So that will be £5 to come! 
• Small dinner from stores 
• Park for free at netball 

kayannie

I know just what you mean when you say that you're pleased that you went with your ex yesterday.  I've been through the experience 4 times over the years - it's not easy but you know that you're doing what's best for your pet. I'm sure your ex is very appreciative of your support. 
KA

twiggy86

So I did it... I cleared the HSBC card yesterday!!! Meaning my total debt is now under £10k!!!

My spreadsheet history is a little bit patchy but this is possibly the first time since 2021!!! Unfortunately because I did the balance transfer and added a new CC it doesn't take down my total number of debts, although it does mean I stay at 3 CCs rather than increase to 4. So the next challenge is to clear Virgin asap as the interest free period runs out on 30 November - I've started by making a £10 payment this morning. £5 of that came from a Shoppix payment that I received yesterday for scanning my receipts! Currently sitting at 24% of my total debt paid off this year (working from the opening balance for the year) - which isn't bad going, but don't want it around for another 3 years! 

Oh and I also remembered that I have the excess left from my insurances - need to decide what to do with that. Options are to throw at CC or top up some of pots e.g. my present and animal pots are a little low. Need to decide! It's £56 so a good little chunk! 

However, for the first time in I don't know how long, I bought a meal deal for lunch! £3.60 out of my personal spends (not groceries) and I feel incredibly guilty about it! So funny, as I used to buy lunch all the time without a second thought as it was "only a meal deal"! 

Bf has the kids this weekend and I am going out with all my friends tomorrow - annoying that it fell that way as I'd love for him to spend more time with my friends (some he's met and others he hasn't yet). So he will pick them up and then we'll have a quiet night in tonight. He did offer to drop me off tomorrow, but friend said she'll pick me up on the way past. Going to an "oktoberfest" thing, so we're all dressing up and I'm sure it will be a good laugh! I will have a few drinks but conscious of bf's kids seeing me tipsy (it's a day time session) - also bf hasn't seen me drunk either! Ticket was paid for ages ago (which I think includes food), so it will be a few drinks and a taxi home - hoping "drunk me" doesn't spend too much! Sunday will no doubt be a quiet day - bf's son has football in the afternoon before we drop them back. 

On to today's list... 

• Update spreadsheet
• Make CC payment
• Snap receipt  
• Cancel TV licence 
• Work on crochet present at lunch
• Order present for nephew! 
• Dinner from stores

Moneywhizz

Well done on paying off the credit card. It is motivating to get rid of one so that you can move on to the next one to go. Regarding the extra in your insurance pot, You could just leave it in the pot to build up for next year so that you don't have to increase your payment into the pot this year. Not sure why some of your pots are needing topped up? Have you worked out how much you need to put into each pot monthly to cover the expenses that come up during the year? If you are short in some of your pots do you need to increase the monthly amount. It is better to work to a realistic amount than to have to top them up at random times. It is a good place to be if it bothers you to spend money on unnecessary things. Once your debt is paid off and you have decided how to use the extra money you have you might be able to relax your budget and spend more freely. That is another phase of the journey! 

twiggy86

Thanks for your comments @Moneywhizz. Not that you need a detailed explanation but thanks for questioning me, as made me think about it in a bit more detail (although still haven't made a decision - but there's no immediate rush!)

There are 3 pots that are a bit low:

• Pets -  the shortage is due to getting the new pooch so have had some initial expenses, but shouldn't have too much of an impact long term. It is something I need to look at though. 
• Gifts - Think it's due to having bf's birthday in August (hadn't accounted for having a boyfriend!). It is quite low and have a present to buy for my nephew (procrastinating though as not sure what to buy!). Note, I have a separate pot for Xmas which currently has £250 in there 
• Clothes - but that one isn't important as just need to wait! It's low as I bought a few new things (well new to me, as purchased from Vinted) for the festival at the end of August and pot hasn't been topped up yet! 

I'm torn though as I do want the Virgin CC gone asap to keep impact of any interest as low as possible!!! Plus there isn't any real immediate urgency to get the pots topped back up - future goal is to get them to set amounts and then just top back up as utilised!