Don't hit me with those negative waves Moriarity

LzzyIsGod

Pulling Teeth (Green Day)

I survived the dentist! And still currently have all my teeth so the denture or turkey teeth bill can be pushed down the line for a little bit! Huzzah.  Dentist bill was also less than I had anticipated so all reasonable news all round. Usual issues with teeth - mispent youth and impact of longer term health issues but dwelling on that wont change things so rocking it overall as bit of a positive.

The dentist is located in a small shopping centre and I was tempted to nip to a home furnishing shop to get supplies for an upcycle project I am planning next month. I resisted though as I didnt actually NEEEEEED to get the things today plus I hadn't budgeted for it this month and I might as well go through Squidco and claim a few pence back. Plus it isn't actually next month yet and i may change my mind. This is Lzzy Progress.

I did pop into the £stretcher shop and managed to spend the mighty sum of £3.36 on a new car airfreshner (49p) 2 damp trap things (for the coat cupboard and my car - useful when you transport soggy yoofs home after sporting activities) 59p each and a pack of ladies razors (1.69) I did look at other things but didn't really feel an urge to spend plus I was feeling tight and save whatever pennies are left for the weekend.

Payday 1 is Friday, payday 2 is Monday (2 jobs) - most months these land usually on the same day but this month they are a few days apart. I'm pretending to myself they are both landing on Monday so next month doesn't feel too long hence saving for the weekend out the play money pot.

 I do want to pay my (small) Vinted money off the big CC but as I am twitching to get everything down have decided to "Lzzy Tidy" the other 2 cards down to the nearest Zero or 5 number (inspired by the Tilly Tidy Method). Bonkers I know but psychologically feels a good thing to do. Small Nibbles help to fell Mighty Oaks. I will wait though til Sunday to do this incase of any major disasters, although 11 quid and a few pence probably won't avert much tbh but you never know.

browneyed_girl

 I do want to pay my (small) Vinted money off the big CC but as I am twitching to get everything down have decided to "Lzzy Tidy" the other 2 cards down to the nearest Zero or 5 number (inspired by the Tilly Tidy Method). Bonkers I know but psychologically feels a good thing to do. Small Nibbles help to fell Mighty Oaks. I will wait though til Sunday to do this incase of any major disasters, although 11 quid and a few pence probably won't avert much tbh but you never know.

Not bonkers at all!!  I always had to do the same thing with my CCs - I needed to get the balance to a nice round 50 or 100 which drove my DH mad (I made him do the same thing with his accounts!).

Glad the dentist was a relative success - since moving the whole family over to a private practice it's astounding how much some things can be!  A friend who is a dentist tried explaining all the billing to me and turns out they often lose money on NHS patients (they are essentially self-employed and a patient needing lots of procedures for a single issue actually costs them quite a bit).  No wonder NHS appointments are like gold dust!  You've reminded me that the kids all have a check up next week - DD1 could do with braces but wouldn't get it on the NHS anyway because it's not seen as necessary (I mean, her teeth are fine but I know having them straighter would give her more confidence).  Facing forking out a few thousand over the next few years and probably the same for each of the other kids - probably need to start another Monzo pot!

LzzyIsGod

Hold on (for one more day)

Good old Wilson Phillips and never was a truer line sung in late January 🤣

I'm twitching to tidy down the CC balances but Patience is the name of the game. Not quite a NSD as once again I required a quick pit stop so got a coffee from the Golden Arches but resisted any food options as I had my packed lunch in the car with me. £2.69 spent (and a penny lol)

Food shop is ordered, quite pleased as had just enough out the planned grocery budget without having to steal anything from anywhere else - there will be a few "eat the freezer" meals thrown in next week though.

One thing I am keeping an eye on is my phone contract which ends in March this year.  Currently the airtime offers from my current provider are all more expensive than I am paying now and it won't take a genuis to know that I have no intention of paying anymore silly money for a Sim only contract. I'm reading the mse emails and watching the sim only deals and monitoring what my data usage is to see what will work for me. Hopefully I can knock a good 15 to 20 quid off which can be redirected to Virgin overpayments.

 Ignorantly I hadn't twigged the phone handset payment actually counts as an unsecured loan - I've put myself in Idiots Corner for not realising this sooner. Fortunately what I owe is down to £154 (starting point was £385, I dont particularly have expensive phone tastes!!) and due to end in 15 months time otherwise I think i would have had a mini freak out at that thunderbolt. With a few overpayments I can significantly reduce that, if I don't twitch and use some EF or overtime monies to clear it completely asap. 

I'm almost starting to not recognise myself - it's been a very long time since I last finished a month on budget, not used a CC at some point, paid down debt and still have money in the bank a few days before payday. As today's song goes "things can change" and I think I certainly am for the better.

LzzyIsGod

@browneyed_girl ugh yes private braces are not cheap but they are possibly the one thing I don't regret getting into debt for as yoofs teeth were affecting him so very much from a bite perspective. The difference it's made to his confidence and bite are astounding.

 We are lucky to have nhs dentists but how much longer that will last I don't know. The wait for nhs orthodontics here was several years and the poor kid really couldn't wait. I have, however, told him in no uncertain terms that whilst I have paid for them once, if he doesn't follow the post brace advice due to laziness or neglect he will have to pay for repeat work himself. Harsh maybe but money does not grow on trees (be bloody marvellous if it did!)

browneyed_girl

LzzyIsGod said:

@browneyed_girl ugh yes private braces are not cheap but they are possibly the one thing I don't regret getting into debt for as yoofs teeth were affecting him so very much from a bite perspective. The difference it's made to his confidence and bite are astounding.

 We are lucky to have nhs dentists but how much longer that will last I don't know. The wait for nhs orthodontics here was several years and the poor kid really couldn't wait. I have, however, told him in no uncertain terms that whilst I have paid for them once, if he doesn't follow the post brace advice due to laziness or neglect he will have to pay for repeat work himself. Harsh maybe but money does not grow on trees (be bloody marvellous if it did!)

I think that's a very reasonable stance - might tell DD1 the same thing!  Thinks it's important that kids know the value of money from a young age - I'm hoping it means they make more sensible decisions than I did! 

LzzyIsGod

browneyed_girl said:

LzzyIsGod said:

@browneyed_girl ugh yes private braces are not cheap but they are possibly the one thing I don't regret getting into debt for as yoofs teeth were affecting him so very much from a bite perspective. The difference it's made to his confidence and bite are astounding.

 We are lucky to have nhs dentists but how much longer that will last I don't know. The wait for nhs orthodontics here was several years and the poor kid really couldn't wait. I have, however, told him in no uncertain terms that whilst I have paid for them once, if he doesn't follow the post brace advice due to laziness or neglect he will have to pay for repeat work himself. Harsh maybe but money does not grow on trees (be bloody marvellous if it did!)

I think that's a very reasonable stance - might tell DD1 the same thing!  Thinks it's important that kids know the value of money from a young age - I'm hoping it means they make more sensible decisions than I did! 

I'm trying instill good values money wise but who knows if it's getting through 🤣

LzzyIsGod

Back in Black (AC/DC)

Woohoo happy payday Friday- well payday 1 atleast but it puts me Back in Black even though I've not actually been in the red in all of 2025 so far! Could have gone for Amy Winehouse Back to Black but I have been singing AC/DC in my head all day.

I have tidied up the balances today, impatience got the better of me as i like things Neat and Tidy. I also allowed myself had a little tot up of the current position - still a bit daunting i wont lie - but hopefully you can all see some progress is being made. Every time a debt goes down I hear the tiny thud that a dart makes hitting the board in my head.

Loan 16416.19 / 17144                  
CC2     7175.00 /   7911     
CC3     9175.00 /   9665     
CC4     4230.00 /   4312       
Cc1             zero /   9100        
OD               zero /   1750        

Total 36996.19 vs 39121 at start.

NB - yes the 19p is really annoying me too but the loan only accepts min payment of £10 and I really really want to get those CC 2 and 3 balances down.

Haven't included the phone in the total (which is now down to £145) as yet but in the overall grand scheme of things isn't probably important at the moment.

I am a tiny bit worse due to balance transfer fee of £14ish as the lowest i owed in Jan was      £36 992 but overall considering LBM was Oct/Nov 2024 it's been a positive start to the year. Long may it continue. I do wonder if i can make the overall amount start with a 35 next month ....... could be a tall order though.

I hope my blurb isn't boring the pants off everyone yet - we have a long way to the top if we want to rock n roll DF Style so we could be here some time but Happy weekend!           

browneyed_girl

Love the double AC/DC reference! 

I would be annoyed by that 19p also but at least all the balances are going in the right direction!

I've noticed that my phone deal is included on my credit report (something like £134) - never even considered that I could pay this off!  Have you made any additional payments towards yours yet and (for fear of sounding completely stupid) how would you even do it?! 

LzzyIsGod

browneyed_girl said:

Love the double AC/DC reference! 

I would be annoyed by that 19p also but at least all the balances are going in the right direction!

I've noticed that my phone deal is included on my credit report (something like £134) - never even considered that I could pay this off!  Have you made any additional payments towards yours yet and (for fear of sounding completely stupid) how would you even do it?! 

I can do overpayments via the V***fone app looking at it. Ive just been sat checking if I have to stay with them for airtime /sim only deal or if I can get a cheaper SIM and keep paying the device plan (seems i can when the contract ends in march . I don't get attached to phone providers although ive personally haven't had any issues with them and the coverage is decent given it can be pretty patchy where I live.

jwil

That's great progress, well done!