Raphael's DFW Diary ~ The beginning of the End

postingalwaysposting

Raph congratulations on all the results you ae doing so well. Is your brother still doing that competition with you?

x_raphael_xx

postingalwaysposting wrote: »

Raph congratulations on all the results you ae doing so well. Is your brother still doing that competition with you?

Well, he's still not started his lessons, so I doubt it. :rolleyes: I'm still aiming for my target thou.

I've come to a major decision, I am getting rid of my car!
I went to get diesel yesterday and it was up to £1.15!! :mad: And probably rising again in a bit. My step-dad has found a bicycle for free for me, so I will get that in June next time I see him. I live down the road from work & gym so I shouldn't miss the car, and my friend can take me shopping, or I can get it online, even with the £5 delivery fee it is still cheaper than running the car!
I will save £31.92 a month in insurance, £7.15 a month in breakdown cover, and no tax or maintenance to pay. The MOT is due end of May, so I'm hoping to get rid of it before then. I've stuck a notice in the car window for £200 ono, and I've had one guy interested already, but not sure if anything will come of it.

beanielou

Wow, thats a big decision about the car.
Do what you feel is right.

x_raphael_xx

beanielou wrote: »

Wow, thats a big decision about the car.
Do what you feel is right.

Been thinking about it for a while, I don't use it that often, it's more a luxury than a must have. At least I can throw the extra money at my debts, and it should cut down on shopping trips, so less money spent & will help my diet!
If I find I can't cope without a car I will save up and get another at the end of the year when I am debt free.

postingalwaysposting

Wow raph that is a big decision. Hope it pays off for you and think of all that extra money saved How will you get to and from your dads though?

x_raphael_xx

postingalwaysposting wrote: »

Wow raph that is a big decision. Hope it pays off for you and think of all that extra money saved How will you get to and from your dads though?

Well Dad is coming down in June, so I prob won't see him after until the New Year, I usually go up for my birthday. I'll go up on the train, I've done it before & it's not a bad journey.
I'm going to Asda tonight after work to stock up on shopping, I'll just need fresh fruit & veg which I can get in the local grocers. Then I can go up with my friend.

x_raphael_xx

Morning, finished work at 6am, went to Asda to stock up on food, came to £100!!Hopefully that should last me a good month & half, with just fresh fruit & veg top ups.
After shopping I thought I would use the £15 worth of diesel I put in the car & took Shadow up on the moors, it's gunna be one of the last few times we go, she enjoyed it. Especially woofing at the little lambs.
Then I went to Halfords to pick up a bike helmet, I'm not getting the bike til June, but I thought while I've got the car & it's full of fuel I might as well use it.
When I got back I stripped the car of all my things, it feels weird now, not having my little Raphael sat on the dash board. I gave it a scrub & a vacuum too, looking nice now.
The bloke who seemed interested wanted to go for a test drive this morning, but hasn't called. I'm not too fussed, the only thing that annoys me is that I could have grabbed a couple of hours sleep if I knew he wasn't coming. I'm back in work at 2pm, and not had any sleep yet.
On the plus thou, Bank of Scotland have sent me a cheque for £44.19, they obviously think I've paid too much for my settlement! Nice little surprise

Sorry if the post seems a little disjointed, but I am sooooo tired! Roll on 10 pm when I can get into my bed.

x_raphael_xx

3.6 lbs loss this week! :j Happy happy happy!

Still no interest in the car, I might try listing it on eBay & see how that does. The only thing that annoys me is that I spent all Saturday cleaning it and I came out on Sunday and some bird had cr*pped all over the back of it :mad: I don't clean it for months and nothing, I give it a wash & the next day it's a mess!!:rolleyes:

A friend from work came round today to drop off a bike she isn't using, it needs some work doing to it, brake cables & the like, but it will do until my step-dad comes down with his in June.
I'm going to choose whichever bike I prefer & sell the other for what I end up paying out for this one.

The builder is coming round tomorrow morning to drop off supplies & rip down the ceiling. He'll leave it down tomorrow & repair it the next day.

I was playing with my budget today, and depending on the settlement figure from HFC I reckon I will be about £200-£300 short to pay it off mid-May. I rang my mum and she has agreed to loan me what I need
I am going to wait for the 1st May payment to go out, then request a settlement figure & re-check my budget. Mum would want it back ASAP, but paying off the loan will free up £85 a month. Then I'll just have the credit card to worry about
Fingers crossed.

The_Dragon

x_raphael_xx wrote: »

3.6 lbs loss this week! :j Happy happy happy!

Still no interest in the car, I might try listing it on eBay & see how that does. The only thing that annoys me is that I spent all Saturday cleaning it and I came out on Sunday and some bird had cr*pped all over the back of it :mad: I don't clean it for months and nothing, I give it a wash & the next day it's a mess!!:rolleyes:

A friend from work came round today to drop off a bike she isn't using, it needs some work doing to it, brake cables & the like, but it will do until my step-dad comes down with his in June.
I'm going to choose whichever bike I prefer & sell the other for what I end up paying out for this one.

The builder is coming round tomorrow morning to drop off supplies & rip down the ceiling. He'll leave it down tomorrow & repair it the next day.

I was playing with my budget today, and depending on the settlement figure from HFC I reckon I will be about £200-£300 short to pay it off mid-May. I rang my mum and she has agreed to loan me what I need
I am going to wait for the 1st May payment to go out, then request a settlement figure & re-check my budget. Mum would want it back ASAP, but paying off the loan will free up £85 a month. Then I'll just have the credit card to worry about
Fingers crossed.

Best of luck with all of this Raph - it sounds as though you have the bit between your teeth and you are really going for it! I can't wait to see a sig with DEBT CLEARED on it!!

x_raphael_xx

The_Dragon wrote: »

I can't wait to see a sig with DEBT CLEARED on it!!

Neither can I! It's so close now I can taste it

Builder came today & ripped down the ceiling. He was going to put some of the boards back up but apparently there is nothing to nail them to. So he is coming back tomorrow with some wooden batons to finish it off.

Dropped my bike at Halfords today to get the brakes replaced, looks like it just needs new brake cables & handle grips, shouldn't be more than £30. I'm picking it up tomorrow, I think I shall walk in and ride it home. Getting it into the back of the car to take it there was a nightmare, I've only got a small Corsa! Rather not bother trying again.

Just got back from the gym, it's been raining heavily here this morning and I was expecting the running club to be cancelled. But it brightened up by late afternoon so I was hopeful. However I got down there to find both the instuctor, and the substitute instructor off sick :rolleyes: so I just did my usual routine in the gym.
Next week, unless I can swap my shift, I won't be able to go.
My leg was aching after my set so a rest day due for me tomorrow.