Debt, Endo but now Pregnancy and a now Reno-d rental

birdsfoottrefoil

Mixed blessings. So Santander have added on interest, it’s a couple of quid less then what they refunded so I’m guessing they refunded last months but have added on this months. Still better than nothing! 

I had £100 to go towards debt from the house, so I’ve put £33 each towards Lloyds, Santander and Tesco. I should have some more coming in this week so hoping to do the same again. 

With all the interest added on we’re back up to £27,927. With overpayments next week I’m hoping to get it under £27,800. Would ideally like to get it under £27,700 by the end of the month.

birdsfoottrefoil

Yoga was fab on Friday night, but I was sooo out of practice!! Been very stiff yesterday and today, just having a coffee then off to do a change over at the house. Trying to only have one change over on a weekend but also need the money, so I’ve had change overs on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Rest of the week is quite organised and I only have 2 changeover mid week and 1 on the weekend. 

On the endo note, GP is questioning if I am actually ovulating; so some more blood tests this month and she wants to refer me for further fertility testing. It’s not something I’ve really wanted to consider tbh! 

birdsfoottrefoil

Paid £50 each towards Tesco and Santander. It’s still pending on Tesco, so balance stands at £27,877. Hopefully a no send day today. Popped into home bargains yesterday to get some essentials (cleaning products, lightbulbs and cling film etc) both for our house and the let house. I’m still getting used to recording all my expenses for the cottage, I’m not 100% sure what I need to record with the changes on tax allowances last year for let properties. So I’m just trying to remember to save all my receipts and put my income and expenditure in a spreadsheet; then I’ll try and work it out at the year end. Should have some money come in tomorrow from the cottage so I’ll have another £50 to put towards debt. 

birdsfoottrefoil

Payments have gone through this morning so we are down to £27,778. Which is so exciting as I’ve paid off £1000, I think, it might be slightly under or over. £100 pound in from the house this morning, so I’ve put £30 into my current account and £50 towards Santander. I’ve worked out it’s about £260 a month of interest that gets added on, I’m not 100% on the loan as they add it daily so it’s a slight estimate. 

birdsfoottrefoil

We’re going away the weekend after next, the mini UK break instead of abroad trip. I’ve booked the accommodation this morning on my credit card (so I get cash back and so it’s “protected”) and then transferred the amount immediately from what I had saved up. Accommodation was £280 which I’m more than happy with for a weekend away, the boyf is going to transfer me his half. Also transferred an extra £60. So debt is down to £27,728.

I had to resist the urge to put off transferring the money out of my savings, kept thinking I should wait until I’d had my next booking payment in so I could increase my savings…. I think the fear of an emergency has made me useless at paying off my debts, when in reality I’ve just ended up spending any savings on non-emergencies! So I’m keeping it at £300 and above that is going on debt. Also aware that Christmas is coming up and January is quiet for bookings so I want to clear as much debt over the next month as possible. 

Work is busy I think my bosses job is finally going to be advertised. Debating on applying for it or not, I’m the only one internally with the qualifications. However one of the guys in my team is putting me off, he’s been awkward ever since I took on some of our old boss’s work and just blanks me in the office (turns his camera off when I speak  or just doesn’t turn up to the team meetings I organise). Also made a big carry on that it needed to be an external advert or the qualifications need not be essential as other wise “there’s only one candidate”.  

birdsfoottrefoil

Just a quick update. For the last 2 weeks of October I split house income between getting 1000l of oil for the house, the mini break and over paying for the credit card debt. It’s the first time in YEARS I’ve been away from home and not come back with more debt. 

So total debt stands today at £26,680, as ever it’ll go up a bit with interest added on. Aim for the month is to get as close to dropping under £26,000 as possible. Bookings aren’t quite as good as last month, so I’m not expecting as much progress. 

Lloyd’s keep offering me a 0% 15 months with 5% fee, currently I’ve only about £760 of space to use. I was aiming to pay more off and transfer from a few paying card, but equally I feel like that slipping back into my habits of just moving things around. It sounds odd as obviously that would save me about £14 in interest pm but increasing that balance just keeps freaking me out. I think I’m too scared I’ll go back to my old ways and spend the amount I’ve cleared off my other card, which is silly as I’m so far managing not to do that on the debt I clear. 

Humdinger1

@birdsfoottrefoil I hope you decide to apply for the job.   Colleague sounds horrible and riddled with envy but his behaviour won't improve either way.  You're doing brilliantly love Humdinger xx 

birdsfoottrefoil

Thanks @Humdinger1, I think I will. It’s definitely going to be advertised externally as well, so I guess it depends on if they want a new person. However I’m guessing it’s presumed I will apply so I might as well. 

Updated my signature today and given myself an aim for the end of the year! I think it will be a bit tight what with Christmas coming up, but best to set myself an aim. 

Debt is totalling £26,399 this morning and all interest has gone out. Had a £400 tax rebate through, I’ve used £100 to buy a steam cleaner which was in the sale. It’s a Karcher one so should be good and will help massively with the cleaning at the house (I’m regretting choosing a pale vinyl/lino in the hall as it picks up so many marks). I’ve put the remaining £300 in savings, so that can go towards Christmas. Otherwise the house money that is coming in is being split between debts straight away. 

Otherwise things are good, chickens are well and the tup went out with the shearlings last week. So we’re keeping an eye out for colourful bottoms, I bought the red this year so it’s bright pink! 

canvascamper

Hi fellow endo fighter! Following along, you're doing great

birdsfoottrefoil

Thanks @canvascamper

So I didn’t quite make my under £25,000 by the end of the year. Had a count up today and I’m at £25,420. I’m not too annoyed that I didn’t quite get there as there’s a few reason out of my control and it’s still gone down.  

I had a cancellation for 5 nights at the cottage the week before Christmas that came through the day before the 1st night. Found out from this that you could cancel up to 24 hours ahead and get a full refund… great I guess for the guest but it’s too late to fill the gap. So that put me down about £5-600. I’ve altered it now so there’s a 50% charge a week before. 

Other than that it’s the first Christmas in years that I’ve not had my debt go up!! 

Anyway a bit of a change is coming up as I’m pregnant…. Not been the easiest month or two as I’ve been quite sick and had a bleed so I’m not allowed to lift. Because of this I’ve had to get a cleaner (my mother who invoices accordingly!) for the cottage. It’s still good financially but not as good. About 10 weeks and full of cold currently, thought I’d got over the nausea but it’s come back today. 

I’m really relieved I’ve got the house done as I couldn’t manage financially otherwise.

Work got increasingly worse before Christmas. I won’t go into details. Colleagues behaviour has got worse to the point that other teams have commented on how he acts towards me, additionally when the other man in the team is with him in meetings he joins in. I’ve spoke to my manager about it who just keeps going on about how “resilient” I am, however I’ve spoken to other colleagues who’ve managed the colleague (he’s been demoted but apparently is too expensive to make redundant as due to his age and years of service in local gov they’d have to pay him full pension from now even though he’s only early 50s) and it’s clear the organisation hasn’t ever tackled it as he’s been like this with other women and managers. Just before I found out I was pregnant I set about looking for a new role elsewhere as I’d decided the managers role wasn’t worth it if I had half a team that won’t work with me and who the organisation won’t deal with. So I’ve decided to not apply for the role and take a full years maternity come back for the months needed and then leave. I have explained to my manager that their behaviour is why I won’t apply. 

To end on a cheery note! Should be able to get under £25,000 this week!